US2197325A - Air heating and conditioning device for curing tobacco and the like - Google Patents

Description

April 16, 1940- a R. L. SPIK'ES 2,197,325

AIR HEATING AND CONDITIONING DEVICE FOR CURING TOBACCO THE LIKE Filed Aug. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .120 z: INQVENTQR ATTORNEYS April 15, 1940- R. L. SPIKES 7,

AIR HEATING AND CONDITIONING DEVICE FOR CURING TOBACCO AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 10, 1938 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 t l v l l l v i I 44 ff 14": v I I W I 1 I 1 14 Z Z7 2.9 1.9 1a

)INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 1c, 1940 PATENT OFFICE AIR HEATING AND CONDITIONING FOR CURING TOBACCO AND'IHEIJKE 'm! n Spikes, Fannville, N. c., asalgnor, by direct and mclne assignments, to O. L. Hardy Corporation, Maury, N. 0.. a corp ra Curing tion of North Carolina Application August 1., 1m, sci-i No. 224,18; (m (or. 34-11 This invention relates to heating devices and has more particularly to do with such devices for use as an air conditioning. unit in a tobacco curing ham or otherspace utilized in the curing 5 of tobacco, the principal object being to improve generally upon heating devices to be utilized for the particular purposes outlined so as to simplify the regulation and control not only of the fuel combustion in the operation of the heater but m also in the control of the supply and circulation of the air in the space to be conditioned.

With the foregoing and other objects and'advantages to be attained, the invention consistsin the general structure and particular parts and combination and arrangement of parts thereof,

as hereinafter described and set forth with par ticularity in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical adaptation of the invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an assembled heating unit; v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the unit;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the unit;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on or about the line 4--4 of Figure 1; 1

Figure 5 is an inverted plan view, and partial horizontal sectional view, taken on or about the 1ine5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating a practical arrangement of a plurality of the heating units as installed ina tobacco curing barn.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral -|0 designatesthe heating unit as an entirety, the body of the unit being of a general rectangular form and mounted atits opposite ends on transverse base members H which, as shown,

are heavy plain wooden boards. The body structure is made up of metal sheets which are flanged marginallyto give rigidity to the structure and permitting the use of relatively thin gauge metal.

As shown, the body comprises upright end sections l2 formed of rectangular sheets provided with upright angular wings at opposite sides thereof and being flanged outwardly about its lower marginal portions, as at l3, and along their vertical inner .marginal portions as at H.

The lower marginal flanges l3 of said end sections l2 are nailed, screwed, or bolted, to the wooden base members II, as at l5.

Secured to the upper portions. of the side wings of the and sections l2, as at It, preferably by I bolts as shown, are opposite elongated side members II which are flanged along their lower margin, as at It, and along their middle upper marginal portions, as at I9, said side members being tapered inclinedly outward from theirmid dle upper portions to their opposite ends and the marginal flanges l9 continuing along said inclined portions.

The end sections l2 and upper side members formed and joined as just above described, m constitute, in effect, a substantial main body frame which is reinforced at its middle portion by cross braces 20 and 2|, each comprising relatively rigid flat metal bars, the upper cross brace 20 having its opposite end portions bent downwardly at right angles, as at 22, and secured to the adjacent -side members IT by bolts 23. The

lower cross brace 2| has its opposite end portions 24 also bent at right angles and abutting the adjacent end portions 22 of the upper cross brace 20 and being secured thereto by the same pairs of bolts 23 which fasten the adjacent portions of the upper brace to the side members l1. These cross braces 20 and 2| span a rectangular opening 25 provided at the top of the main body of the heater between the opposite middle portions of the side members l1 and the inner ends of cover plates 26, the opposite side marginal portions are rebent as at 21, to be fitted slidably over the adjacent inclined flanged marginal por' tions of said side members l1 and being fastened 30 in place by bolts 28 located at the inner corners of said plates 26 and inserted through registered apertures provided therefore in the coinciding adjacent rebent portions 21 of the plates and the flanges IQ of the side members I! therebetween. 85

Located above the main body of the device is a hood 29 which is supported with'universal tilting androtatlve movement on the cross braces 28 and.2|, said hood being in'the formof a generally rectangular inverted pan of substantially 40 the same width and length as the main body portion of the device.' Preferably, the hood is crossbraced near its opposite ends and substantially midway, therebetween, as at 30, while its marginal portion is stiffened by an embossedbeading 45 3| extending therearound. -A mounting for the hood, as shown, comprises a stem 32 which is inserted downwardly through aligned apertures provided therefor in, the upper and lower cross braces 2|! and 2|, and being supported on the upper cross brace 20 by a cross pin 33 which may be an ordinary cotter pin. At the upper end of the stem 32 is a spherical enlargement 34 secured fixedly thereto or formed integrally therewith. The spherical head 34' of the stem 8 plate 35 which is attached to the spider by bolts 31 with adjustable tension springs 38 sleeved on the bolts and interposedbetween said plates 35 and the securing nuts 35 of the bolts. The spider '35 and retaining plate 55 are obviously provided with registered apertures of lesser diameter than cally opposed arms, two of which extend longitudinally of the hood and'upwardly into engagement therewith as at hand being secured thereto by bolts 4], the other pair of arms 42 extending laterally in a lower plane and being secured at their ends to the adjacent portionsof the hood by bolts 43.

Any desirable or necessary number'and suitable type of fuel burner element may be provided in the device. As shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2, four. of these elements of the oil-burner type are indicated conventionally, as at 44, the same being spaced apart and arranged in a longitudinal row with their respective oilsupply and flame controls 45 serving as supports therefor, said controls being mounted on a horizontal supply pipe 45 which is supported at its opposite ends on the base members II and fastened thereto by suitable clips or other fastening devices as at 41. In this connection, it is noted that in the installation or a plurality of the heating devices of the present invention, for example, in a tobacco curing barn or the like, for which purpose the devices are primarily intended, the same is practically accomplished by first placing the boards or base members H on the floor at the respective locations where the several heaters are to be placed and then mounting on said members ll assemblies of the pipes 45 with the burner elements 44 mounted thereon as separate units over which the heater bodies are next placed and secured to said members II by the fastening means l5, it being understoodthat the lower edge portions of the end members l2 of the bodies are notched, as at 48, to fit over adjacent end portions of the pipes 46 with ample clearance therebetween. It is further noted that the respective oil-supply pipes 46 of the several units are connected to a main supply by pipe 49 which is in turn connected to a source of oilsupply (not shown). A conventional installation and hook-up of the heating devices for air conditioning a tobacco curing barn or the like is shown diagrammatically in Figure -6, the side walls of the barn being shown in horizontal section and designated by the numeral 50.

By the peculiar construction of the main body of the heating unit "I, as herein shown and described, elongated rectangular openings 5I are provided at opposite sides of the device of relatively large area and through which the air is supplied to the burner elements 44 in suflicient quantity to support combustion at all times. Convenient access is also aflorded through these side openings 5| for adjustment of the respective fuel and flame controls 45 of the burners. The

heated air in the upper portion of the body of the unit passes out through the central opening in the top of the body and is deflected laterally by the overhanging hood 29,which, as hereinbei'ore described, may be tilted on its universal mounting so as to deflect the preponderance of v a 2,107,396 p 32 is clamped between-aspider 35 and aretaining the heated air in any desired-direction as it is discharged from the opening 25.

In conditioning the air within a tobacco curing barn or other enclosure used in the curing of tobacco and for other purposes it is not only essential that the air be heated but it, is also necessary to admit air from the outside and in regulated volume. Provision forsupplying outside air in connection with the heating device is a most important feature of the present invention, and to thisend an air duct 52 is located in one end portion of the main body of the heater and extended outwardly and downwardly through an opening in the wall 50 of the ham or other enclosure, as the case maylbe. This duct 52 in every installation is disposed at an inclination which is upward from its outer air receiving end to its inner air discharge end, theangle of inclination varying in diflerent installations and depending principally upon the particular height of the usual brick or concrete base or foundation which supports the side wall 50 of the barn, in some instances, or depending upon the permissible distance above the floor where the opening may be provided in the wall 55 for the projection of said duct 52 therethrough. In any case, however, a substantial inward and upward inclination is necessarily maintained so that a circulation of air is induced inwardly through the duct 52 when the latter is heated, as occurs when the burner elements 44 are in operation.

For effecting the angular adjustment of the duct 52 it is swingably supported at its inner end adjacent the inner marginal portion of the overlyingcover plate 26, the attachment of the duct to the plate being preferably by means of a bolt 53 which is inserted with a rather loose -fit through registered apertures provided therefor in the adjacent portions of the .plate and duct, while to permit up and down swinging movement of the duct on said bolt 53 the end wall portion of the adjacent upright member of the body is provided with a vertically elongated opening 5| through which the outer end portion of the duct is extended.

In practically all instances the inner end por tion of the duct 52 terminates closely adjacent to the centre opening 25 of the heater body, but said duct may vary in length, depending upon the particular installation of the heater. Obviously, the duct may be madein one piece or comprise two or more sections telescoped or otherwise joined endwise together.

For controlling the volume of air passing through the duct 52 and for cutting ofi the supply of air entirely therethrough, a gate 55 is provided at the outer end of the duct. Preferably, as shown, this gate comprises a generally circular plate of ample diameter to cover the opening in the adjacent end of the duct, said gate having a peripherally ofl'set portion or car 56 which is apertured for the reception of a pivot-bolt 51 which is in turn secured'in an aligned aperture provided therefor in an angular supporting bracket 58 riveted on the adjacent end portion of the duct. For reinforcing the gate 55 and at the same time providing a handle for conveniently manipulating it, an angular piece59 is riveted on the outer face of the gate, one end portion of said piece 59 extending in overlapping relation to the ear 56 of the gate and having a coinciding aperture for the reception of the pivot bolt 51.

In the operation of the heater the heated air in the upper portion of the main body of the unit is discharged through the central opening 25 and deflected in the desired direction from the unit by the adjustment of the hood 29 as hereinabove described, and at the same time, if the gate 55 at the outer end of the duct 52 be opened, the air in the duct being heated as it is due to the particular location oi the duct in the upper portion of the main body and set at an inward and upward inclination, the circulated air as induced in the duct is discharged into the stream emanating from the opening 25 with a dehumid- I ifying or other tempering efiect on the air within the barn or enclosure, depending upon the degree to which the tobacco or other content is to be treated and the amount of moisture given oii in the dehydration of the bulk being treated; it being of course understood that from time to time during operation of the heater or heaters as installed, the gate or gates 55 will be adjusted to vary the volume of air passing through the duct or ducts.

While the structure herein illustrated and described embodies a practical adaptation of the invention, it is obvious that considerable modification may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention therefore is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heating device of the character described, an elongated, generally rectangular, hollow main body having air heating means therein, said body having horizontally elongated openings in its opposite longitudinal side walls and a top closure above said longitudinal side openings and the air heating means, the top closure being provided with a central outlet opening for the heated air, and an air duct tube located in the upper portion of the body substantially in a vertical plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body and entering through an end wall of the body and extending at an upward inclination throughout its length from said body end wall, the duct tube being disposed with its major upper portion in the efiective zone of created heat above the heating means whereby the duct tube and the air thereinis heated and the heated air caused to flow upwardly in the duct tube and the upper end of the duct tube being open and terminating within the hollow body and adjacent the heated air outlet of the body top closure.

2. In a heating device 'of the character described, a hollow main body having air heating means therein and provided with an outlet opening at its top for the heated air, an inwardly and upwardly inclined air duct hingedly supported at its inner end in the upper portion of said body whereby to be swingable vertically for angular adjustment, said duct extending beyond the adjacent end of the body whereby to be projected operably through and beyond an adjacent building wall, and a gate on the outer end portion of said duct for regulating capacity of said duct and closing the duct, at will.

3. In a heater of the character described, a main body having air heating means therein and provided with an outlet opening at its top for the heated air, a hood mounted above theoutlet opening with universal adjustment for directing the air discharged from the heater'in different directions laterally from the heater, an inwardly and upwardly inclined air ductlocated within the upper portion of the heater with its inner end hingedly attached to the top of the body adjacent the outlet opening of the heater, and extending through the effective heat zone of the heater.

4. A heating device of the character described, comprising a generally rectangular elongated main body section having elongated rectangular openings in its opposite side walls, the top of said body having a central outlet opening for air heated in the body, the top sloping downwardly from opposite sides of said outlet opening to the ends of the body, burner elements arranged in longitudinal series in the lower portion of the body, an inwardly and upwardly inclined air duct extending into the heated zone in the upper portion of said body, the inner end of said duct being hingedly supported on the top of "the body adjacent the outlet opening of the top whereby to be swingable vertically for angular adjustment, the lower end of said duct extending'beyond the adjacent end of the body and provided with a gate .for regulating the capacity of the duct and closing the duct at will.

5. A heating device of the character described, comprising a generally rectangular elongated main body section having elongated rectangular openings in its opposite side walls, the top of said body having a central outlet opening for air heated in the body, the top sloping downwardly from opposite sides of said outlet opening to the ends of the body, burner elements arranged in longitudinal series in the lower portion of the body, an inwardly and upwardly inclined air duct extending in the heated zone in the upper portion of said body, the inner end of said duct being hingedly supported on the top of the body adjacent the outlet opening of the top whereby to be swingable vertically for angular adjustment, the lower end of said duct extending beyond the adjacent end of the body and provided with a gate for regulating the capacity of the duct and closing the duct at will, and universally adjustable deflector means located above the body for directing the air discharged from the outlet opening of the body in difl'erent lateral directions at will.

ROBERT L. SPIKES.

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