US159014A - Improvement in grain-driers - Google Patents

Description

I49 I FF Patented Jan. 26, 1875.

1 12..- :2 I 1 Cu 431 H. H. BEACH.

Grain-finer.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY n. BEACH, or none, new YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAlN-DRIERSQ Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,014., dated January 26,1875; application filed August 11, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HYDE BEACH, of Rome, Oneida county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (.lrainJJriers, of which the following is a specification:

This apparatus is characterized by the combination, within a shaft or case having imperi'orate sides, of inclined perforated metallic shelves and steam-heating piping-one range of piping for each shelf-located below said shelves, and serving to impart heat to the shelves, as well as to transmit heat directly to the grain through the perforations in the shelves. The steam-heating surface is coextensive, or practically so, with the shelf under which it is placed, and the pipes in each range are placed apart from one another, leaving intervals, through which the heat from the lower part of the apparatus can pass up through the successive ranges of shelves and piping to the top of the apparatus. This formation also allows of the ascent of the vapors and moisture to the top of the drier. The shelves are at such an inclination that the grain will pass down from one to the other by its own gravity, and that there will be formed a grain-column of practically uniform dimensions, extending without interval or break from the top to the bottom of the drier. This column, in passing down by gravity through the drier, is acted on or brought in contact alternately on opposite sides with the shelves, that portion of the face of the grain-column which is undermost and in contact with one shelf being uppermost when it passes to the shelf next succeeding. Thus all portions of the grain-column areheated equally, and the grain is thoroughly and evenly dried through out by the time it reaches the bottom of the am aratus, the passage of the grain being ef- 3 is a plan of a range of steam-piping for a single shelf.

The box or shaft that incloses the shelves and piping is shown at A, of suitable dimensions to contain said devices. Atthe top is a hopper, a, and at the bottom a discharge spout or opening, I), controlled-by any suitable valve or gate, as, for instance, a slidevalve, 0, or a drop-valve, c. The shaft, as to that portion of it which contains the perforated shelvesand steam-piping, is impel-forate, so that the heat and vapors must pass upward through the body of the shaft to the top before escaping. The inclined. shelves are shown at d. They are placed vertically one above the other, and extend alternately from opposite sides of the box or shaft A. These shelves are made of perforated metal, as seen in Fig. 2, and are preferably about fifteen inches wide by seven feet long. They are placed at such an inclination that the grain will run from one to the other naturally and easily without any inclination to bank up. I prefer to arrange them with a fall of about six inches to the foot, whiclris at an angle of about thirty degrees. The outer and lower end of each shelf is distant two and a halt inches from the adjoining side of the box, with the same distance intervening between it and the nearest point on the shelf below.

With this formation and arrangement of parts, when the apparatus is filled with grain there will be a continuous grain-column of sinuous formation seven feet wide and two and a half inches thick extending from top to base of the drier. The movement of the column is induced by opening the dischargespout I). That portion of the grain which on one shelf is uppermost will on-the next'sueceeding shelf be undermost, and in contact with the shelf.

Beneath each shelf is a range of steam-piping, 6, (shown separately in Fig. 3,) covering an area coextensive, or practically so, with that of the shelf. This piping is parallel with the shelf, and is preferably made of one-inch pipe, there being pipes united at the ends by usual bends or necks, and with intervals between the pipes, for the purposes hereinbefore explained. Steam enters the upper end at 0 and discharges at the lower end, 6 All the ranges of pipe communicate with a common steam-supply and a common. discharge or drip.

Under the arrangement described all the heat is availed of, and. escape of moisture and vapors is also provided for. These naturally ascend, and make their way through the steampiping and the perforated shelves, until they reach the top of the apparatus, where they can escape through a suitable opening. At this opening I contemplate using a fan; but the any kind.

I have described seven pipes of one-inch diameter under each shelf but a greater or less number of the same, or a different diameter,

may be used, depending upon the width of the shelves and the amount of heat desired.

I have also described the arrangement of shelves to form a column of grain two and a half inches in thickness; but a column of any required thickness maybe had by making the distance of the outer end of each shelf from the side of the box and the shelf next below correspond with the thickness desired,

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

In a grain-drier, the combination, with the shaft or case A, having imperforate sides, of the steam-pipes e and the stationary perforated inclined shelves d, arranged and operating together as described, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I. have hereunto signed my name this 8th day of August, A. D. 1574.

HENRY H. BEACH, Witnesses:

W. H, SMITH, HENRY B. Tirr'r.

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