US1477682A - Convertible drying kiln and crib - Google Patents

Description

Dec; 18,1923. 1,477,682

G. W. ATHERTON CONVERTIBLE DRYING KILN AND CRIB Filed July 29 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll TTOR/VEYS Dec. 18 1923.

G. W. ATHERTON CONVERTIBLE DRYING KILN AND CRIB Filed July 29. 1921 III WITNESSES G, M4 Ater 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIV E/VTOR A TTOR/VEYS Dec. 18, 1923. 1,477,682 I e. w. ATHERTON CONVERTIBLE DRYING KILN AND CRIB Filed July 29 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 y a 1 I \I" h .X 2 O jag/Wm Patented Dec. 18, i923.

GEORGE VJ. ATHERTON, OF LIVERIVIORE KENTUCKY.

CONVERTIBLE DRYING KILN Ali?) CRIB.

Application filed July 29,

To (LUV/0710771 it may, conccm:

Be it known that I, Gnonon VJiLLmi-r ATHiJnToN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Livermore. in the county of McLean and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Drying Kilns and Cribs, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a convertible drying kiln and crib for corn or other grain and has for its object to provide a structure of this character constituted entirely of cement and steel so as to be fire proof, lightning proof and rat proof. and which is adapted to efficiently operate to dry corn too succulent or sappy for storage or to be. readily converted into a crib for receiving and storing corn or other grain.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in certain novel features of construction. combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed outin the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification. and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view illustrating; the preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 2 is a view thereof in transverse vertical section;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse horizontal section;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the shaft; and

Figure is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one f the ventilating openings and its shutter.

Referring to the drawings wherein for thesake of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1O designates the base upon which the cylindrical body 11 of the convertible drying kiln and crib is arranged. The cylindrical body 11 is preferably constructed concrete and is provided with a door 12. An in'iperforate bottom wall 13 closes the lower end of the cylindrical body and is preferably integral therewith, the upper end ofthe cylindrical body being closed I a. sloping roof 14 having a central openlug 15 provided therein.

Ventilatin openin 's 16 are provided in A to n 2 the cylindrical body portion and )reierably are arranged in circumferential series, each 1821. Serial No. 458,399.

circumferential series being spaced vertically from the other series. Steel screening 17 extends across the opening at the inner ends thereof and at the outer ends of the 50 openings swinging shutters 18 are arranged the shutters being pivotally connected to the body portion and being imperforate so that when they are closed they prevent flow of air through the openings 16.

A. slatted floor 20 is arranged within the body 11 adjacent the lower end thereof but spaced from the bottom wall 13 so as to define with the bottom wall a heat distributing chamber or space 21. A central shaft designated generally at 22 rests at its lower end upon the slatted floor and extends axially of the body 11 and through the central opening 15 of the roof. The shaft com- )rises a plurality of spaced longitudinal bars 23 arranged in circular series and secured in position by means of flat rings 2% connected with-each of the bars by a suitable fastening means 25. A cap plate 26 is associated with the upper end of the 89 shaft and includes a depending annular flange QTfitted down around the bars 23 which go to make up the shaft and secured to these bars by fastening means 27. At the intersection of the shaft and roof, a cir- 8o cular band 28 embraces the shaft 22 and has its lower end abutting the roof. The band 528 is secured in this position by suitable fastening means and preferably the fastening means which secure the flat. ringsto the bars of the shaft are also utilized for this purpose. Screening 29 which may comprise reticulated steel fabric completely encloses the portion of the shaft 22 projecting above the roof, the screening 9 extending from the annular flange of the cap plate to the circular band 28.

A plurality of bridge bars or rats 30 are arranged within the cylindrical body ll and. extend longitudinally thereof. These bridge bars are arranged as shown in Figure 3, one being arranged along each side of each of the ventilating openings and others being arranged intermediate certain of these openings. The bridge bars are preferably constructed of metal and are attachec to the bodv portion 11 by men. of attaching; hr" l' arranged to one side of Z. bod and below the floor 13 heater 37 is arranged in the heati An oiftake pipe 38 leads from the heater through an iinperforate partition 39 which extends across the lower end of a flue extending vertically and along; of the cylindrical body portion ll. A heating duct 42 leads from the heater to the heat distributing space 21. The partition 39 serves to prevent the products of combustion from finding their way into the crib or hollow body 11 and also constrains the heated air to flow through the duct -12 and through the hollow body and shaft.

In operation when it is desired to use the apparatus as a drying kiln for extremely succulent or opy corn or other grain the shutters 18 as well as the door 12 are closed and the heater 3? is started. The heater furnishes the supply of heat to the heat distributing space 21 by means of the heating duct 42 and from the heat dist "ibuting space the heat rises through the slatted floor 2i and is uniformly distributed throughout the grain arranged in the cylindrical body portion 11 drying the grain to the desired degree. When it is desired to use the apparatus as a corn-crib for storing or preserving; corn or other grain the heater 37 is rendered idle and the shutters 18 are opens l.

by insuring a free ingress of air into the cylindrical portion.

1 claim:

1. in an apparatus of' the character described, a body having an imperforate bottom wall, said body having a. plurality of screenedventilating openings a roof having an opening, a shaft extending through the body and the opening of'the roof, and bridge bars arranged within the body and extending longitudinally thereof adjacent said ventilating openings. 7

2. In an apparatus'of the character de scribed, a hollow body having an imperfo rate bottom, a floor spaced from the bottom and having openings therein and de fining with the bottom a heat distributing chamber, said hollow body having a plurality of screened ventilating openings provided with closures, a roof havinga central opening, a shaft extending through the body and through the central opening of the roof, the lower end of the shaft resting on the floor and said shaft comprising,- longi tudinal bars, a ring secured to the bars for maintainingthem in proper position, a cap plate on the upper end of the shaft, a band encircling the shaft and abutting the roof at the intersection of the shaft and roof and screening extending around the shaft between the cap plate and the band, and means for supplying heat to the heat distributing chamber.

GEORGE lV. ATHERTON.

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