US2657032A - Grain drier - Google Patents

Description

0d 27, 1953 B. L. ToMLlNsoN GRAIN- DRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet .l

Filed Sept. 17, 1952 Oct. 27, 1953 a. L. ToMLlNsoN GRAIN DRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1952 Patented Oct. 27, 1953 GRAIN DRIER Ben L. Tomlinson,

Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to Arid-Aire Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a

corporation of Minnesota Application September 17, 1952, Serial No. 310,014

12 Claims.

This invention relates to grain dryers. More particularly, it relates to grain dryers of the type using an endless conveyor continuously passing grain through a drying chamber, the grain being Vcompletely dried While passing through the chamber and thereafter discharged for storing.

This invention "constitutes improvements over the grain dryers shown in patent application, S. N. 244,972 entitled Grain Dryer filed by Donald E. Carlson and myself as joint inventors on September 4, 195]., and also to the grain dryer disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,490,176 issued December 6, 1949, to William E. Tomlinson and ma Although the grain dryers shown in this patent and this application function in a highly satisfactory manner, I have found that there is a strong demand among the larger grain elevator operators for a grain dryer having increased capacity. One such dryer, as is disclosed in this prior patent and application, will handle the normal operating load of most elevator installations, but for the larger ones such dryers do not have suiiicient capacity individually and hence two or more of the same are required. Since these dryers represent a substantial outlay for construction and materials, any means by which the capacity of such a dryer can be increased is of vast importance to the grain industry. My invention provides a solution for this problem and need.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improved grain dryer of increased capacity.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved grain dryer of the type utilizing an endless conveyor upon which the grain is dried, this dryer functioning in an improved manner and substantially increasing the amount of grain which may be dried therein.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved grain dryer wherein the grain is carried throughout the length of the unit through a heating chamber and then reversed in direction and carried again throughout the length of the unit while being cooled whereby the capacity of the `unit is increased and improved drying is attained.

Another object is to provide a grain drying unit which will have a greater capacity without increasing the overall size or" the drying unit.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the follow- 'ing description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference Acharacters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one 'embodiment of my invention with portions thereof broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken approximately along line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of my device taken from the side along which the cooling conveyor passes;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary .plan view of a side portion of one of the conveyors;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical and longitudinal sectional view taken approximately along line 1-1 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical setcional View taken through the agitator.

One embodiment of my invention, as shown in Figs. 1-8, may include an elongated housing indicated generally as I0 and having insulated side walls II and I2, a front end I3, a rear end I4 and a. top I5, a portion I6 of which is open to permit `air to pass readily therethrough. The entire housing is mounted upon a pair of spaced longitudinally extending skids Il and I8. As best shown in Fig. 1, the housing IB has a grain intake I9 and a grain discharge outlet 2D.

Extending longitudinally of the housing I0 throughout its interior is a partition 2l which 'divides the interior of the housing ID into a hot chamber 22 and a cooling chamber 23. The hot chamber 22 has an air intake 24 and the opening I6 serves as an air discharge outlet therefor.

The cooling chamber 23 has an air intake 25 and the lower portion thereof is open as at 26 to prokvide an air discharge outlet for the same.

' Immediately beneath the grain intake I9 is a hopper 2l which has a divider plate 28 therewithin to distribute the grain across the entire Width of the hopper as it enters the same. One side ofthe hopper is provided with a vertically movable gate 29 and this gate has a control mechansm 30 for moving the gate vertically to regulate the flow of grain downwardly therethrough.

As the grain passes through the gate 29 itis deposited upon the drying conveyor indicatedi generally as 3 I, this drying conveyor being of the endless and porous type. It has a receiving end '32 and a discharge end 33 and extends through.-

out the length of the housing I0. As can be readily seen in Fig. 1, this conveyor 3| is mounted for revolution about a pair of longitudinally spaced horizontal axes one of which is at each end of the housing. At the receiving end 32 of the conveyor the conveyor passes around a shaft 34 which has a sprocket 35 at each of its ends, these sprockets having relatively wide teeth 35 and being separated by a relatively narrow recess as can best be seen by referring to Fig. 7 which discloses the shaft 31 at the discharge end 33 of the conveyor bearing a sprocket 38 formed similarly to the sprocket 35.

The conveyor 3i isformed ofv a plurality of parallel transversely extending panels 39 which have a plurality of apertures formed therethrough throughout their length. These apertures fit are evenly spaced and are of approximately .0525 inch in diameter. The side edges of these panels 39, as best shown in Fig. 6, are reversed upon themselves, the leading edge 4l being reversed upon itself and then bent downwardly as at d2 to provide a downwardly extending flange 43. The trailing edge is bent downwardly as at 44 to form a depending flange 45 and then reversed upon itself to extend upwardly and then forwardly again as best shown in Fig. 6. rhese edges are reversed upon themselves to provide strength. it should be noted that the leading edge Iii ofr each panel extends slightly "f" above the trailing edge of the preceding panel but in close proximity thereto so as to prevent any appreciable passage of grain therebetween. As these panels 39 pass around the horizontal axes at each end of the conveyor, the space bef tween the trailing edge of the preceding panel and the forwardmost portion of its following panel widens and permits any grain which may have worked therebetween to freely dropffro-m the conveyor. Thus the conveyor has a unique selfcleaning feature due to its construction.

Mounted on each end of each of the panels 33 is a side guard 45 which is comprised of a horizontal plate member 41 and an upstanding flange member 48. Each of these ange members 48 is formed slightly diagonally with respect to the horizontal portion 41 so that the forward end 49 thereof extends inwardly slightly farther than the rearward end 5i? thereof. This causes the forward end 49 to extend inside of the rearward L end of the preceding ange as can best be seen in Fig. 6. In this manner, the side guards overlap and prevent the escape of any grain over the sides of the conveyor. The inner link strapi 5i h as an inwardly extending horizontal ange 52 which extends inwardly beneath the horizontal portion i1 of each side guard and is connected thereto and to the end of the panel 49 by bolts 53. Each of these link straps 5I has a roller pin 54 extending outwardly therefrom and carrying a spacing roller 55 thereupon. Mountedl on this roller pin 5e outside of the roller 55 is an outer link strap 56 which is held in place by a cotter pin 51. As can best be seen in Fig. 5, the positioning of these outer link straps 56 is altered so that alternate link straps are positioned inwardly of the others. The length of these inner and outer link straps 5I and 56 is equal to the spacing between the recesses or grooves in the sprockets so that the rollers 55 will fit thereinto and serve to drive the conveyor when the sprockets turn.

The drying conveyor 5! empties at the rear end of the unit intoa trough 53. This trough 58 has a transversely extending auger 59 mounted in the bottom portions thereof. As can best be seen in Fig. i, the auger 59 has opposite nights .at the opposite end portions thereof which carry the grain to a chute 5G which has a divider plate 6I mounted centrally thereof '50, 311.56 the grain to spread out evenly upon the upper surface of the receiving end of the cool-ing conveyor indicated generally as 62. A leveling gate 63, as best shown in Fig. '7, is pivoted at 64 to perm-it the same to ride upwardly and downwardly over the grain and to level the grain into an even stratum upon the upper surface of the cooling conveyor 62.

The cooling conveyor 62' is constructed similarly to the drying conveyor 3l with the exception that it is substantially narrower. It is operated at approximately three times the speed of the drying conveyor 3| and hence can easily carry the entire load of grain which is discharged from the drying conveyor 3 i. The panels and linkage of the cooling conveyor 52 is constructed identically with the panels and linkage of the drying conveyor so that no further description of these parts is deemed necessary. The cooling conveyor 64 has a receiving end 65 and a discharge end 65 the latter of which discharges the grain outwardly through a discharge outlet 61 upon a conveyor or other equipment (not shown) for conveying the dried grain to a storage location.

The driving power for the conveyors is provided by a motor 68 which has a variable speed mechanism known as a Reeves drive 69, a gear reducer 10 and a chain 1I which extends downwardly to drive the drive shaft 12 which is the shaft which carries the discharge end of the cooling conveyor B2 and causes the latter to revolve thereabout. The countershaft 13 is provided with a chain 14 which passes around a pair of idlers 15 and drives the drying conveyor 3l by passing around a sprocket 16 mounted on one end of the shaft 31. Thus it can be readily seen that the motor 68 not only drives the cooling conveyor 62, but it also drives the drying conveyor 3 I.

Extending longitudinally of the unit and mounted at the bottom of the generally V-shaped lower walls of the heating chamber, is a cleanout auger 15. This clean-out auger is driven by a bevel gear 11 which is carried on the outer end of a countershaft 18 which in turn is connected by a universal joint to the other end of the countershaft 13. This clean-out auger 15 carries the dirt and dust which normally collects in the bottom of the heating chamber to the rear end I4 of the unit and discharges it outwardly therefrom, thereby substantially eliminating a nre hazard.

A motor 19 having a double pulley ismounted within the housing at one side thereof and is connected by a belt which drives an agitator indicated generally as 8 l. As best shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4, this agitator extends transversely of the unit and is positioned immediately adjacent to and above the drying conveyor 3i. A second belt 82 extends from the motor 19 to a pulley 83 which is mounted on one end of the shaft carrying the auger 59. Thus the motor 1S serves to drive the auger 59 and the agitator 8|.

The agitator 8l is comprised of a shaft 84 upon which a plurality of discs 85 is mounted, at least one of these discs being secured at each end of the agitator to the shaft. Extending between these discs adjacent the circumferential portions thereof and longitudinally of the agitator are a plurality of strips of angled metal 85. Secured to these strips of angled metal 86 and extending 85 so that the outer edge thereof brushes across the upper surface of the drying conveyor 3| as the agitator 8| rotates. 'I'his agitator serves to draw the more highly dried portions of the grain, which will be immediately adjacent to the upper surface of the conveyor, to the upper surface of the grain stratum and brings the more damper portions of the grain stratum downwardly in close proximity to the upper surface of the conveyor so as to facilitate the drying of the stratum.

A blast-type oil burner 88, which can best be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided to supply the heat for the drying operation. As seen in Fig. 1, this burner is provided with an oil pump 89, a pressure blower 90, and a motor 9| to drive the two latter elements. An oil pressure regulator 92 and a solenoid valve 93 along with a filler 94, is provided to complete the combustion unit. A foot switch 95 is provided to start the unit and a fire eye 96 serves to maintain the unit in operation after it has once been started. A high limit control 91 prevents the temperature within the drying chamber from reaching a level where there would be substantial danger of fire. A similar control (not shown) is provided to stop the entire unit in the event the temperature of the air as it leaves the grain exceeds 160 F.. a limit set by fire safety authorities.

Cool air is drawn inwardly through the cool air inlet 24 and is mixed with the hot combustion gases discharged by the burner 88 and are drawn rearwardly by a huge fan 98 as can best be seen in Fig. 1. The air is driven rearwardly by the huge fan 98 and upwardly through the drying conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon throughout the entire length of the drying conveyor. This fan 98 is provided with a motor 99 which is connected to the fan shaft by a belt |0| and a pulley |02. The belt |0| and the fan shaft |00 are encased in a metal tube |03 which communicates with the exterior so that as the fan 98 rotates, cool air is drawn through this tube to prevent the fan shaft |00 from burning out its bearings.

Above the cooling conveyor 62 and mounted inside the air intake 25 of the cooling chamber, is positioned a fan |04 which is driven by a motor |05. This fan draws the cool air inwardly and drives it downwardly through the grain stratum upon the upper surface of the cooling conveyor 82 to cool it sufliciently so that the grain may be stored immediately upon its discharge from the unit. A panel I 06 extends inwardly to the inner wall of the cooling chamber and directly beneath the fan |04 to prevent the air from being turned immediately downwardly against the stratum of grain and permitting the flow of air to dig an opening in the stratum of grain and thereby destroy the cooling effectiveness of the unit. This same panel |06 extends slightly forwardly from the fan so that the air flow will be applied indirectly rather than directly to the stratum of grain when the drying operation is initiated.

In operation, the grain passes downwardly through the hopper 21 and is deposited upon the upper surface of the drying conveyor 3|. The fan 98 forces the hot combustion gases discharged by the burner 88 and mixed with some cool air drawn through the air inlet 24, rearwardly into the connes of the hot chamber and upwardly through the porous conveyor 3|. The hotmoisture-laden air is discharged through the open portion I6 of the top of the unit. It should be noted that the grain travels the entire length of the unit and When it reaches the rear end of the unit it is discharged into the trough 58 and therel upon transported by the auger 59 into the chute 60 from which it is discharged upon the receiving end 65 of the cooling conveyor. From there the grain passes forwardly again throughout the entire length of the unit until it is discharged through the discharge outlet 6l. The cool air is drawn in by the fan |04 and driven downwardly through the stratum of grai upon the cooling conveyor 62, this air passing outwardly through the open bottom of the cooling chamber. It should be noted that this entire unit is designed to be mounted several feet above the ground so that no difculty is encountered in the free escape of the air which has passed through the cooling conveyor.

It can be readily seen that I have substantially increased the capacity of such a drying unit by permitting the grain to pass throughout the entire length of the unit and then concentrating the grain into a relatively narrow area and drawing it again throughout the entire length of the unit in an opposite direction and discharging it from the end at which the grain enters the unit. In this manner, I have substantially increased the capacity of the unit since the entire length of the unit is used for drying purposes, and it is no longer necessary to utilize a substantial portion of the length of the unit for the purpose of cooling the grain. In addition, it can be readily seen that I have provided this added capacity without increasing the amount of equipment and materials necessary for construction of the unit so that the entire unit may be manufactured at a cost comparable or even less than the cost of the units previously known in the grain drying industry.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housing having a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudinal partition dividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamber and a cooling chamber, a blasttype burner mounted in the lower part of one end portion Vof said housing and directed longitudinally of said housing, an endless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined direction and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hot chamber having an air inlet below said conveyor and an air outlet above said conveyor and said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamber below Said conveyor, means for delivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing the same thereupon, a second endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout the length of said housing within said cooling chamber and traveling in an opposite direction than said first mentioned conveyor and having a receiving end and having a discharging end which discharges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outletone of which is disposed above' and the other of which is disposed below said second mentioned conveyor, means for receiving the grain from the discharging end of said rst :mentioned conveyor as itis discharged therefromand for depositing the same upon the receiving end 1 of said second-mentioned coriveyon meansl for driving the hot air from said burnervupwardlsl' through said rst mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and means for driving cool air through said second mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambers air outlet.

2. A continuous grain dryer having in oombination an elongated housing having a grain intake and a discharge outlet, a longitudinal partition dividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamber and a cooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lower part of one end portion of said housing and directed longitudinally thereof, an endless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined direction and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hot chamber having an air inlet below said conveyor and an air outlet above said conveyor and said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamber below said conveyor, means for delivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing the same thereupon, a second endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout .the length of said housing within said cooling charnber and traveling in an opposite direction than said iirst mentioned conveyor and having a receiving end and having a discharging end which dischargesthe grain through said grain discharge outlet, said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which is disposed above and 4the other of which is disposed below said second mentioned conveyor, the receiving end of said second mentioned conveyor receiving the grain discharged from the discharging end of said nrst mentioned conveyor, mechanism for driving hot air from said burner upwardly through said iirst mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism for driving cool air through said second mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambers air outlet.

3. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housing having a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudinal partition dividing the interior of said housing into a het chamber and a cooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lower part of one end portion of said housing and directed longitudinally thereof, an endless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined direction and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hot chamber having an air inlet below said conveyor and an air outlet above said conveyor, said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamber below said conveyor, means for delivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing the same thereupon, a second endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout the length of said housing within said cooling chamber and traveling in an opposite direction than said first mentioned conveyor and having a re.- ceiving end and'having a discharging end which discharges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, said cooling chamber having an airinlet above said second mentioned conveyor and an air outlet below said second menr tioned conveyonmeans for receiving the grain from the` discharging end of said rst men- .tioned conveyor as it is kdischarged therefrom and for depositing the same upon the receiving end of said second mentioned conveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air from said burner upwardly through said rst mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism for drawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its air inlet and for driving the same downwardly through said second mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grainr thereupon and outwardly thro-ugh said cooling chambers air outlet.

l.1.. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housing having a grain receiving end and a grain discharging outlet, a longitudinal partition dividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamber and a cooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lower part of one end portion of said housing and directed longitudinally thereof, an endless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially `the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined direction and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hot chamber having an air inlet below said conveyor and an air outlet above said conveyor and said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamber below said conveyor, a hopper in theA receiving end of said housing adapted to deliver continuously a stratum of grain upon the receiving end of said conveyor, a rotary agitator mounted directly above and immediately adjacent to said conveyor and extending transversely thereacross in position to engage the stratum of grain thereupon and agitate the same, a second .endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout the length of said housing within said cooling chamber and traveling in a direction opposite than said rst mentioned conveyor and having a receiving end and a discharging end which discharges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which is disposed above and the `other of Which is disposed below said second mentioned conveyor, means for receiving the grain from 4the discharging end of said rst mentloned conveyor as it is discharged therefrom and for depositing the same upon the receiving end of said second mentioned conveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air from said burner upwardly throughsaid rsi; mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet and mechanism for drawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its air inlet and for driving such cool air through said second mentionedy conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambers air outlet.

5. continuous grain dryer having in com bination an elongated housing having a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudi nal partition dividing the interior of said housing intro a larger hot chamber and a cooling chamber said cooling chamber extending longitudinally ot Stil@ hOu-Sing 1011s 011157 one .side portion thereof 21 blttype 101111161' mOlnted in the lower part of one end portion of said housing and along the other side portion thereof laterally of said C001.. ing chamber, an endless porous conveygr extend.

ing throughout substantially the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined direction and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hot chamber Ehaving an air inlet below said conveyor and an fair outlet above said conveyor and said burner discharging hot air into said chamber below said conveyor, means for delivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing the same thereupon,

a second endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout the length of said housing within said -cooling chamber and traveling in an opposite direction than said first mentioned direction and having a receiving end and having a discharging end which discharges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an air said burner upwardly through said first mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism for drawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its air inlet and for driving the same through said second Kmentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain .thereupon and outwardly through said cooling 'chambers air outlet.

5. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housing having a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudi- -nalpartition dividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamber and a cooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lower part of one end portion of said housing and directed longitudinally of said housing, an endless conveyor extending horizontally throughout substantially the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined direc- 'tion'and having a receiving and a discharging end, said hot chamber having an air inlet below s'aid'conveyor and an air outlet above said conveyor and said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamber below said conveyor, means for delivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing the same thereupon, a second endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout the length of said housing within said cooling chamber and traveling in an opposite direction than said rst mentioned conveyor and having a receiving end and having a discharging end which discharges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, at least one of said conveyors including a plurality of closely adjacent, parallel, transversely extending porous panels, each of said panels being hingedly connected at its opposite ends to its adjacent panel to form theendless conveyor, said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which is disposed above and the other of which is disposed below said second mentioned conveyor, means for receiving the grain from the discharging end of said iirst mentioned conveyor as it is discharged therefrom and for depositing the same upon the receiving end of said second mentioned conveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air fromV said burner upwardly through said rst mentioned conveyorand the stratum ofvgrain thereupon and outwardly through said hot cham- `extending throughout only the lower portion of said housing and along one side thereof, a blasttype burner mounted in the lower part of one end portion of said housing and directed longitudinally of said housing, an endless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined direction and having a receiving and a discharging end, said hot chamber having an air inlet below said conveyor and an air outlet above said conveyor and Said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamber below said conveyor, means for delivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing the same thereupon, a second endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout the length of said housing within said cooling chamber and traveling in an opposite direction than of grain from said grain said iirst mentioned conveyor and having a receiving end and having a discharging end which discharges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which is disposed above and the other of which is disposed below said second mentioned conveyor, means for receiving the grain from the discharging end of said first mentioned' conveyor as it is discharged therefrom and for depositing the same upon the receiving end of said second mentioned conveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air from said burner upwardly through said rst mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism for drawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its air inlet and for driving such cool air through said second mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambers air outlet.

8. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housing having a grain intake and a grain discharge outlet, a longitudinal partition dividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamber and a cooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in the lower part of one end portion of said housing and directed longitudinally of said housing, an endless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined direction and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hot chamber having an air inlet below said conveyor' and an air outlet above said conveyor and said burner discharging hot air into said hot chamber below said conveyor, said housing having walls defining the lower portion of said hot chamber which meet at the bottom in a generally V-shape, means for delivering a stratum intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing the same having a discharging end which discharges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which is disposed above and the other of which is disposed below said second mentioned conveyor, mechanism for receiving the grain from the discharging end of said first mentioned conveyor as it is discharged therefrom and for moving the same laterally toward one side of said housing and for depositing the same upon the receiving end of said second mentioned conveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air from said burner upwardly through said iirst mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism for drawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its air inlet and for driving the same through said second mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon outwardly through said cooling chambers air outlet.

l2. A continuous grain dryer having in combination an elongated housing having a grain intake and having a grain discharge outlet, a longitudinal partition dividing the interior of said housing into a hot chamber and a cooling chamber, a blast-type burner mounted in one end portion of said housing and directed longitudinally thereof, an endless porous conveyor extending throughout substantially the length of said housing within said hot chamber and running in a predetermined direction and having a receiving end and a discharging end, said hot chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which is disposed above and the other ber adjacent said air inlet, mechanism for delivering a stratum of grain from said grain intake to the receiving end of said conveyor and depositing the same thereon, a second endless porous conveyor extending substantially throughout the length of said housing within said cooling chamber and traveling in an opposite direction than said first mentioned conveyor and having a receiving end and having a discharging end which discharges the grain outwardly through said grain discharge outlet, said cooling chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet one of which is disposed above and the other of which is disposed below said second mentioned conveyor, means for receiving the grain from the discharging end of said rst mentioned conveyor as it is discharged therefrom and for depositing the same upon the receiving end of said second mentioned conveyor, mechanism for driving the hot air from said burner through said rst mentioned conveyor throughout its length and outwardly through said hot chambers air outlet, and mechanism for drawing cool air into said cooling chamber through its air inlet and for discharging the same through said second mentioned conveyor and the stratum of grain thereupon and outwardly through said cooling chambers air outlet.

BEN L. TOMLINSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,293,830 McCaw Feb. 1l, 1919 2,406,822 Fox Sept. 3, 1946 2,490,176 Tomlinson et al. Dec. 6, 1949 2,558,338 Clements June 26, 1951

Images