US1621651A

US1621651A - Walnut dehydrator

Info

Publication number: US1621651A
Application number: US71108A
Authority: US
Inventors: George I Bauer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-11-24
Filing date: 1925-11-24
Publication date: 1927-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1944-03-22

Description

Mmh 22, 1927. 1,621,651

G. l. BAUER WALNUT DEHYDRATOR- Filed Nov.24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Al 4J 215 6 46 5v 47- moooo@ 04752 '57 V 5a n 2 2 "M -.15

2.1- K 'I j March 22,1927. 1,621,651

G. l. BAUER WALNUT DEHYDRATOR Filed NOV. 24, 192.5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inl/enfer eoree lauer Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE I. BAUERfOF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

WALNUT DEHYDRATOR.

Application led November 24, 1925.

My invention is a dehydrator, adapted particularly for dehydrating walnuts.

An object of my invention is to provide a dehydrator suitable for walnuts or the like. One of the objects thereof is to utilize a series of bins through which air may be circulated transversely, having means to shut oli' bins which are empty or suihciently dry.

Another object or' my invention is to provide means for heating and circulating the air for dehydrating in such a manner that the air inside the dehydrator is saturated with moisture and then substantially all eliminated, being replaced by fresh air or t0 combine the circulation and recirculation of air while admitting a fresh stream ot air and at the same time exhaust a certain proportion ot the air being circulated.

Another object of my invention is to circulate the unheated air as drawn from the outside atmosphere, passing it through the dehydrator and out.

In my dehydrator I construct a towerlile structure, preferably cylindrical, with 5 a series ot bins spaced in an annular manner around the tower, the bins having a screen on their inside and outside circular walls and the center of the tower having a compartment in which is installed the fan drawing air from the said compartment. ylhis air is forced downwardly through the floor of the compartment to a heating chamber where the air is deiiected laterally, passing to the sides of the tower where it flows up an. annular space.

My invention will be more readily understood from the 'following description and drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ot' my dehydrator, taken on the line 1-1 ot Fig. 2, in the direction of the arrows.

2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, omitting the elevator.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross section on the line EN?) of Fig'. l.

Serial No. 71,108.

The general external construction of my dehydrator is substantially as 'tol-lows, being illustrated particularly in Figs. 2 and 8:

The dehydrator structure may be designated as .a tower 1, preferably ot cylindrical form, supported on a base 2 and having a roof 3 with a stationary cap 4, this latter having a rotatable lling hopper 5, the hopper being fed by the elevator 6 having a discharge trough 7. The roof is formed with a series of solid sections 8 and with a series of removable sections 9 through which the walnuts may be fed into the bins hereafter described. A series ot discharge chutes 10 are spaced around the tower, one lea-ding from each bin.

The internal construction ot the dehydrator is substantially as follows, being illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6:

An inner circular wall 11 is constructed of screen material and an outside concentric wall 12 also of screen material is suitably supported in the tower. These walls extend downwardly from the root to the licor 13 ot the air circulating chamber 14. This cham ber 14 is thus situated in the center' ot the tower and immediately below the cap 4.

A. series of bins 15 are constructed by building vertical partitions 16 extending radially outwardly between the inner and outer screen walls and extending beyond the outer screen. wall to the wall of the tower 1. These partitions between the screen walls extend downwardly to substantially the same level as the floor 13 as indicated by the numeral 17 in Fig. 1, and inclined iloorslS lead to discharge spouts 19, the latter' connecting with the chutes 10 outside of the tower. rThe walls of the spouts are pref# erably made of screen material but the floors 18 of the hoppers are made of solid material. The radial partitions in the space between the outer screen wall and the wall of the tower extend downwardly below the spouts substantially to a position designated by the numeral 20.

It will thus be seen that the screen walls together with the radial 'aartitions form segmental-shaped bins and tliat the outer screen wall with the wall of the tower 'and the outer portions et the radial partitions form seg= mental air spaces; all these air spaces forininglan annular space surrounding the outer wa A series of pivoted gates 21 hinged at their inner side and formed substantially as segments of an annulus, form closures for the lower and segmental air spaces 22. These gates have hinges 23 positioned on substantially the level of the bottom part of the radial partitions' between the said segments.

A heating chamber 24 is formed between the floor 13 and the heating plates 25, which are preferably formed conical in shape and situated above the furnace 26, the latter being supported on the base 2 in any suitable manner.

The type of furnace shown has a ringgas burner 27 with an inlet pipe 28 leading through the base. A series of spiral bafflesl 29 formed on the lower surface of the heating plates 25, are adapted to give the products of combustion a circular motion and spread the flame and burnt gases uniformly over the heating plates. An aperture 3() is formed in the apex of the heating plates and a stack 31 leads upwardly through the heating chamber 24, the air circulating chamber 14 and out through one of the bins to a chimney 32, through one of the stationary parts 8 of the roof, these stationary or solid sections being preferably directly over the partitions.

Each of the bins is provided on the inner wall 11 with a series of cups 33 formed by upwardly inclined portions of the screen leading to openings 34 which allow access to the nuts in the bins for testing to see if they are sufciently dry. The spouts 19 are provided with an inner screen gate 35 substantially in the same line as the outside screen wall 12 and with outer gates 36 which are closed, these being on the outer end of the Y chutes l0.

The air circulating system is provided by a fan 37 preferably driven by an electric motor 38, this fan discharging through the floor 13.

Double air pipes

39 and 40 have a common inlet end 41 connected to the discharge of the fan, the pipe 39 having a discharge outlet 42 outside of the tower and the pipe 40 having a discl'iarge 43 adjacent the heating plates 25 and positioned substantially directly over the apex of the cone formed by such plates. A damper 44 is secured on a pintle 45 and is operable to open or close either pipe or to provide the air in any proportion between the

pipes

39 and 40, this damper being controlled from outside the tower. The air is sucked in the tower through pivoted doors 41 which are situated in the lower portion of the heating chamber 24. `These are preferably secured on the inside and may swing in accordance with the inward draft, but prevent the air from blowing4 out, thus acting as check dle 47 to vertically rotate the ring. Thus the openings 44 may be wide open or coinpletely closed or any desired amount of opening. rlhese may be used as an auxiliary means of ventilation.

Screens 48 formed of flexible material preferably burlap or stout canvas are secured by the upper end 49 to the upper part of the bins on the outside of the inner screen wall 11 and may extend downwardly adjacent the screen and horizontally as indicated by the numeral 50, thus covering the walnuts in a bin and forming asubstantially impervious covering for the screen wall above the walnuts, thus forcing all the air that goes through the bin to travel through the walnuts.

The operation and manner of using my dehydrator is substantially as follows:

It will be understood that anyone or more of the removable sections of the roof may be lifted out of place for charging or filling the bins through the medium of the hopper 5, the nuts beinglifted by the elevator 6. After all the bins or a suitable number are filled, the flexible screens 48 are draped over the walnuts as above described and the removable roof covers replaced. If the out side air is sufficiently dry and hot it is not necessary to utilize heat in the furnace but the fan may be operated with the damper 44 positioned to discharge the air through the pipe 39, the. incoming air being supplied preferably through the doors 41 and possibly partially supplied through the adjustable apertures 44. If heat is required to heat the air, the furnace will be ignited and the damper 44 will be. turned so that part of the air will blow downwardly in the pipe 40 and part of it be exhausted through the pipe 39. Thus an amount of air will be drawn into the tower equal to that which is expelled through the pipe 39 and this graduation may be made so as to dry the walnuts at the proper rate and utilize heat with the greatest economy. l Y

In certain drying operations it is desirable to close the outlet pipe 39 absolutely, 1n which all the air pumped is driven through the pipe 40 and continuously circulates through the various bins of the dehydrator and as no air is being expelled none will be drawn in. Then as this air becomes saturated to a sufficient extent the damper 44 is opened wide, allowing substantially all the air pumped, exhausted out of the tower, a

new supply being,l dra-wn in through the doors ell and through the apertures 4l if desired. This complete renewal of the air only takes a confiparatively short length of time as l preferto pump a large volume of air at a comparatively high velocity.

'In the above description l have not set forth any particular means for turning the various gates and dampers to open and close them as these are merely matters of mechanical sliill and may be differently adapted to different circunistances.

lt will thus be seen that l have developed a dehydrator which has accommodation for a large supply of nuts to be dried, conveniently supported in bins so that the air may circulate transversely through the bins and the circulation being controllable as to the amount of air being' supplied, the recirculation being controlled and the au'iount of fresh air entering; and damp air exhausted beinel also controlled.

As an additional means for providing circulation of air l install air pipes and 56 leading through the outside' wall of the tower and through the bins to the-central chamber where they discharge, the pipe having a discharge 57 adjacent the fan and the pipe 56 a discharge 58 adjacent the motor. These pipes have suitable valves or dampcrs to shut them off when they are not being utilized.

The air circulation when the

pipes

55 and 56 are used is substantially as follows, and is usually utilized in hot dry weather when the air is dry and readily absorbs moisture:

The damper ifi would be shifted to close the outlet pipe 39 and discharge the air downv-Jardly into the heating` chamber, although in this case no heat would be required. The air would be drawn in through the

pipes

55 and 56 blown by the fan into the heating' chamber, up adjacent the outside walls of thc tower, through the bins and into the central air circulatinpl chamber and then exhausted through the apertures` in the cap The amount of air flowing in and that being` exhausted through the apertures in the cap nay be accurately adjusted so as to give the proper amount of air to dry the produce in the bins satisfactorily.

lt will be seen that besides the structure of my dehydrator l have developed method of dehydiating in controlling the circulation of air, one feature of which may be considered as circulatin` hot air heated by a furnace tlirough the bins and recirculating this until. it becomes saturated with moisture, then enhaustinp,` or discharging such air suddenly and replenishing with fresh air. This procedure is frequently used in starting, say in the morning', when the nuts are cold and it requires considerable heat to raise their temperature and to raise the temperature of the air generally in the dehydrator to such anextent that it will properly take up moisture.

Another feature of my method may be considered the continuous circulation of air by exhausting a. certain proportion of the air and continuously introducing a certain definite proportion so that the fresh and the recirculated air passing through the bins may take up the moisture.

A third feature of my method may be considercd` drawing fresh air frein outside the tower, passing this through the dehydrator and exhausting` without the application of heat. i

The type of structure in the form of a tower is of convenient shape but it will be understood that my invention may be changed considerably in general structure and in specific details without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes being within the scope of my invention asset forth in the description, drawings and claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A dehydrator comprising a series of bins arranged substantially in a circle, said bins having` foraminous side walls and means for circulating` air from outside inwardly through the walls and transversely through the bins.

2. A dehydrator as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner Walls of the bins form an air circulating chamber and in which the means to circulate the air comprises a fan positioned in said chamber adapted to draw air substantially radially through the bins and circulate the air to the outside of the bins.

A dehydrator comprising' a tower-like structure having a series of bins in the form of segments of a circle, the'outer walls of said bins beiner spaced from the outer wall of the tower-like structure and forming an annular air space, thc'walls of the bins being `formed of foraminous material and having the inner wall of the bins forming` an air circulating` chamber in the center of the tower, and means for circulating air through the walls of the bins and substantially transversely through the bins, the air circulating from the said annular space to the cu'culatl ing chamber.

4l. Adehydrator as claimed in claim 3, having in addition a heating chamber for air positioned below the bins, the air circulating chamber and the said annular space, and means to circulate the air through said heating chamber. l

5. A dehydrator comprising in combination a tower structure having an outer wall, a circular wall concentric therewith, formed of foraminous material, the said walls having an annular space therebetween, an inner circular concentric wall formed of foraminous material, the space between the foraminous walls being adapted to hold thev material to be dried, the space inside the inner wall forming an air circulating chamber, and means to circulate air between the annular space to the air circulating chamber.

6. A dehydrator as claimed in claim 5, having in addition a heating chamber positioned below the air circulating chamber, pipes positioned therein, one pipe having a discharge outside of the tower and the other discharging adjacent the center portion of the heating chamber, means to circulate the air between the air circulating chamber and the heating chamber and a damper in the said pipes to divert the low of air from one pipe to the other.

7. A dehydrator comprising in combination a heating chamber, a series of segmental bins above the heating chamber, said bins having inner and outer concentric walls, the said walls being formed of foraminous Inaterial, there being a central air circulating chamber centrally positioned in relation to the bins, an outer wall surrounding the bins and forming an annular space and means to circulate air between the central air circulating chamber, the heating chamber and the said annular space.

8. A dehydrator as claimed in claim 7, having in addition a pair of pipes in the air circulating system, one of said pipes discharging outside of the outer wall and the other discharging adjacent the base of the heating chamber, a damper in said pipes adapted to divert the low of air from one to the other, and means in the outer wall to admit air.

9. A dehydrator comprising in combination a tower having cylindrical walls, an outer concentric foraminous wall situated inside the tower walls and forming an air space therebetween, an inner concentric foraminous wall, a series of radial partitions extending between the oraminous walls and the walliof the tower, said partitions dividing the space between the foraminous walls into bins, spouts at the base of said bins leading through the said air space, discharge chutes outside the tower walls connected to said spouts and means to circulate air substantially radially through the foraminous walls and the bins, between the air space outside of the bins and the air space inside of the bins. Y

10. A dehydrator as claimed in claim i), having' in addition a heating chamber positioned below the foaminous walls, a series of segmental pivoted gates to separate the said air space from the air heating chamber and means in addition to circulate the air through the heating chamber.

11. A dehydrator comprising a tower, a heating chamber at the base, a central air circulating chamber, a series ot bins annularly arranged around the circulating chamber, air spaces between the outside of the bins an d the tower, the inner and outer walls of the bins being formed of Jforaminous ma.- terial, and means to circulate the air between the air circulating chamber, the heating chamber and the said air space.

12. A dchydrator as claimed in claim 11, in which the heating chamber is provided with a conical-shaped floor, a stack for the products or' combustion connected to the apex of the floor, the said stack passing through the heating' chamber, through the air circulating chamber and through lthe roof of the tower.

13. In a dehydrator, a tower having a central air circulating space with annular bins thereabouts, a rotary cap covering the air space, a discharge hopper mounted on the cap and adapted to discharge material to be dried into the bins.

14. In a dehydrator as claimed in claiml 13, in which the cap is provided with a series ot' apertures and a ring slidable on the cap having apertures adapted to register or be moved out of register with the apertures in the cap.

15. In a dehydrator, a tower having a central air circulating space, a series of segmental bins arranged annularly around the air circulating chamber, the said bins having inner and outer foraminous walls and a flexible screen attached to the upper ends of each bin adjacent one of the foraminous walls, the said screen being adapted to cover the material to be dried and part of the wall to which it is attached.

16. In a dehydrator, a tower, a central air circulating space, a series of segmental bins annularly arranged, the inner and outer walls of said bins being formed of foraminous material, a fan mounted in the air circulating chamber, a pair of pipes leading from said fan, through another part of the tower, one of said pipes leading outside the tower and the other discharging therein, and a damper to pass the air through either or both of the said pipes.

17. In a dehydrator having a central air circulating space and a series of bins situated annularly in regard to said air circulating space, said bins having inner and outer foraminous walls and the inner wall having a series of openings with cup-like pockets positioned on the inner screen adjacent said openings, adapted to allow sampling of the material being dried.

18. In a dehydrator, a tower-like structure having a heating chamber in the lower part of the tower, the heating chamber having a conical-shaped floor, a burner positioned below the oor, a series of spirals extending downwardly from the floor in the path of the products of combustion, a stack connected to the apex of the cone floor, a central air circulating space above the heating chamber,

annular bins around the air circulating space and means to circulate air between the air circulating chamber, the heating chamber and through the bins.

19. In a dehydrator having a tower, a Series of segmental bins arranged in the orin of an annulus, a central air circulating chamber therein, an air space between the bins and the outside wall, pipes to introduce air directly into the air circulating chamber, a fan 10 to force air from said chamber, through the bins and means to exhaust the air from the tower.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE I. BAUER.