US235342A - oubtiss - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. E. GURTISS Fruit Drier.

No. 235,342. Patented Dec. 14,1880.

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I. E. GURTISS. Fruit Drier. No. 235,342. Patented Dec. 14,1880.

(No Model. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Witnesses: ."i ventor:

ETERS, PHOTO-LITHUGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D Q

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICEO THOMAS E. GURTISS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,342, dated December 14, 1880. Application filed June 14, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. Onn'riss, of Bufi'alo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements on a Fruit-Drier; and I do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has general reference to fruitdriers, and its object is the production of an evaporator in which the fruit can be perfectly dried in the shortest possible time with the smallest expenditure of fuel. To accomplish this end I construct my drier substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a sectional plan in line as 00 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a transverse section, and Fig. 4 a sectional plan in line y y of Fig. 1.

Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in all the figures.

In these drawings, the letters A B represent the outer front and rear walls, and O D the side walls. These latter walls are double walls, so as to produce between them spaces, which, by means of vertical rails or partitions E, are formed into four or more separate ducts, F, G, H, and I, respectively.

In the inner walls, 0 D, there are openings J, leading from the ducts F G H I into the interior or drying chamber, there being one of said openings J for each duct. Below each of these passages J there are placed into the vertical ducts slides K, passing through the outer walls, 0 D, into said ducts, and serving as means to establish or interrupt communication between said ducts and the openings J.

The inner Walls, 0 D, are not continued downward as far as the outer walls, 0 D, but stop short a sufficient distance to permit the introduction of a curved bottom, L, connecting said inner walls, 0 D, the object of said bottom being to deflect the heated air rising in the chamber M and to lead it into the ducts F, G, H, and I.

The walls A, B, O, and D are covered by means of a roof, Q, in which there is a suitable aperture for the passage of a conductingpipe, B, said pipe extending downward into a chamber formed by transverse walls S S and a bottom plate, T, the walls S S stopping short of the roof Q, to provide for passages Q Q, for the object hereinafter more fully described.

Above each of the passages J in the walls 0 D are placed perforated diaphragms or plates Z, reaching from said walls to near the center of the drying-chamber. In the lower part of the walls C D are provided apertures V, having sliding shutters U to admit cold air into the chamber M.

In operation, this drier, which may be made of any desirable or requisite capacity, is either placed upon a stove, furnace, or other heater, or provided with a heater, X, placed into the chamber M. Now, cold air is led into this chamber through the passages V, which air is being heated in said chamber and rises therein. In ascending the air meets the curved bottom L, and is thereby led into the ducts F G H I, from whence it escapes through the 0penings J into the interior or drying chamber of the apparatus. On entering this chamber the air is partly led along the perforated diaphragms Z toward the center and opposite side of the said chamber, and partly passed through the perforations in said plates Z, whereby said air is equally distributed within the drying-chamber.

It will now be observed that the ducts F, G, H, and I have each a sliding shutter, K, whereby the amount of air passing from the ducts through the passages J into the drying-chamber can be regulated to a nicety, to either distribute said air equally within to dryin g-chamher or, by closing one or more of said shutters, to direct the same to any particular spot.

By this construction the drying operation can be perfectly regulated, and, if necessary, all the heat concentrated and directed to any desired place within said drying-chamber, so that the fruit placed upon the racks P, placed upon slats N fastened to the walls 0 D, can be perfectly dried without being moved.

Heretofore fruit-driers have been made in various manners, some of which have the peculiarity that the drying proceeds from the top downward, while in most of them the drying naturally proceeds from the bottom upward. In both driers, in order to dry the fruit speedily, the grates or racks have to be constantly moved up or down, so as to dry the fruit equally. This moving of the grates, whether done by mechanical means or otherwise, is more or less obiectionable, and is a continuous source oftrouble, but is entirely obviated in my drier, wherein I can concentrate the heat and direct it to that place in the drying-chamber where the larger part of the heat should be required.

In my drier the lowermost grate or rack P has no hot-air supply, the fruit on said rack being dried by the heat radiating from the curved bottom plate, L, which, for this purpose, is made of metal.

The hot-air from the drying-chamber is led through the passages Q Q over the walls S S, and then caused to descend in the chamber X before reaching the escape-tine It. By thus constructing the outlet for the heated air I obtain several beneficial results-viz., that the escape of heated air is retarded, that the bottom plate, T, is heated and deflects heat downward upon the uppermost grate or rack P, and that cold air is to a greater or lesser extent prevented from entering the dryingchamber through said escape-pipe It.

It is obvious that to obtain access to the drying-chamber the front wall, A, will be provided with doors Y, corresponding in number with that of the racks P.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure to me by Letters Patent of the United States, the followmg:

1. In fruit-driers, the combination, with the double walls 0 D C 1), having the partitions E, forming in the space between said walls ducts F G I] 1, having outlets J in the walls 0 D, of the shutters K, curved bottom plate, L, heating-chamber M, racks P, and perforated diapliragms Z, as and for the object specified.

2. In driers having double walls 0 (J D D, provided with ducts F G H I, the curved bottom plate, L, connecting the lower ends of the inner Walls, 0 D, as and for the object stated.

3. In driers, a drying chamber having a curved bottom connecting the lower ends of the inner walls, 0 D, in combination with the ducts F G H I, having outlets J in said inner walls, a series of shutters, K, placed into said ducts below said outlets, and a series of perforated diaphragms, Z, placed above said outlets in the drying-ehamber,wherebythe ascending air from the heating-chamber M is passed into the ducts and from them into any particu lar place in said drying-chem her, as specified.

4. In fruit-driers having a series of ducts leading hot air underneath each of the shelves or crates except the uppermost one, the chamber X, having the vertical side walls, S S, and a flat horizontal bottom, T, in combination with the escape pipe R, said chamber being located in the uppermost part of the dryingchamber and in communication therewith by the passages Q Q, as set forth, whereby iiigress of cold air through the escape-pipe into the drying-chamber is prevented, and whereby the fruit in the uppermost crate or tray 1 is dried by heat radiated and deflected by the flat bottom T, substantially in the manner as and for the objects specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have hereto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS E. CURTISS.

Witnesses:

MICHAEL J. STARK, FRANK HIRSCH.

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