US921097A

US921097A - Grain-drier.

Info

Publication number: US921097A
Application number: US44511208A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wynn E Ellis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1908-07-24
Filing date: 1908-07-24
Publication date: 1909-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1926-05-11

Description

W. E. ELLIS.

GRAIN DRIER.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 24,1908.

921,097. Patented May 11, 1909.

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W. E. ELLIS.

l GRAIN DRIER. APPLIOATION Him) JULY 24,1908. v

Patented May 11, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Patented May 11, 1909n 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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V'WYNNE. ELLIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Application Vfiled. .uly 2e, 1908. Serial No. 445,112.

To all whom it may concern: A

Beit known that I, WYNNVE. ELLis, a resi-` dent of Chicago, in the county of @ook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Driers, of hich the following is a full, clear, and exact escription.

The invention relates to grain-driers, and more particularly to the type in which the grain is dis osed in vertical 'shafts or comparatively t. in layers and submitted to the action of air currents.

In Letters Patent No. 620,432, granted February 28, 1899, there is disclosed an ap` paratus in which the grain is disposed in vertical shafts or columns and in which there are air-inducts or pressureeiiues, and educts or exhaust-fines through which air under pressure is applied to both sides of the graincolumns to cause the air to pass lengthwise of the column and then be discharged at.

both sides thereof into the `exhaust flues. VIn practice it has been found desirable to provide vertically extending walls between the pressure and' exhaust-iiues to cause the aircurrents to traverse thegrain-column vertically some distance greater than the thickness of the horizontal division-walls between the pressure and exhaust-flues to effect a uniform and even drying of the` grain throughout the grain-shafts. Mere increase of thickness of the horizontal divisional` walls renders the drier costly in construction and furthermore results in additional height of the apparatus due to the lack of utilization of the space between the iiues. Furthermore, at present it is regarded as preferable to avoid the use of wood in the construction of grain-driers.

The invention designs to obviate `these structural features of grain-driers by provid-V ing a construction which is metallic through-` out and further, to provide a drierin which the capacity thereof is not lessened by employment of dead air-spaces or thick solid division-walls and to provide a construction in which the grain may be eiiiciently and uniformly treated.

A further objectof the invention is to provide an improved grain-drier in which the grain will be disposed -in comparatively narrow-shafts or columns and in which both sides of the grain-column are subjected to the action of the air-blast which will meet in the grain-columns and pass longitudinally thereof to the exhaust or educt iiues.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a grain-drier which is simple in construction and may be formed in sections which may ,be assembled to form a drier of the desired capacity and which may be produced at a low cost. 4

The invention consists in the'several novel features hereinafter set forth andmore particularly defined by claim at the conclusion hereof.

In thedrawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sec tion of a grain-drier embodying the preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the drier partly in end elevation and partly in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 8-3 of Fig. 2.` Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a perspective parts being shown in section illustrating a portion ofthe drier. Fig. 6 is a section illustrating a 1nodified forni of the invention.

The grain-drier comprises a series of vertical shafts 10 into the top of which grain is usually discharged from a suitable garner, as well understood in the art. The ends of each of the grain-shafts are closed by columns, `each consisting` of a pair of channel-beams 12, yand to` the outer ianges of each column, screen-cloths 14 are secured byrivets 14. Said screen-cloths forni foraminous sides oi' the grain-shafts for holding the grain and permitting the passage of air to and from the grain-columns. rlransverse induct and educt-flues fer the air-blast are formed between each of the grain-shafts and these flues vcommunicate with the sides oi' the grain-shaft through the screencloths to permit the air to pass into and out of the grainshafts. These iiues are arranged and disposed to cause the air to pass into the shaft through both sides thereof, thence vertically through `the grain-column and shaft into correspondingly disposed exhaust-nues.

The spaces between the grain-shafts are divided into a vertical series of transverse iiues by horizontal division-walls 21. Each -flue has one open side 22, opening into the grain-shaft at one side of said space and a closed side 20 adjacent the grain-shaft at the other side.V These horizontal and vertical divisionfwalls are formed by extending a plate or plates of metal continuously across the space between the shafts, thence vertically at one side to forni the side wall for one liuc, thence across the space to the other side, thence vertically to form a closed side adjacent the grain-shaft at the other side and so on. rlhis manner o'l' 'forming or dividing the spaces between the grain-shafts into `tlues is important because it provides a construction which maiT be metallic throughout. As a result ol' this disposition of the divisionwalls vl'or the llines, the i'lues ol' a vertical series open alternatelyv into the grain-shafts between which the series is disposed and the closed sides for the 'llues i'orm iinperforate vertical walls at the sides oi the sha-tts by which the air blast is caused to pass vertically through the shal't and grain therein between the i'lues and the vertical wall forms a division-wall between the iiues and one o'lI the grain-shafts as well as an imperforate wall 'l'or directingI the blast vertically in the grain-shalt.

Air under pressure passes into the graincolurnns in the shafts through some of the ilues which are open at one end for communication with a supply-chamber (L to which hot air under pressure is supplied by a fan l) as well understood in the art, and said tiues are closed at their opposite ends and constitute pressure-ihres e through the open sides of' which the air blast passes into the grainshafts. @ther ilues are closed at that end of the shafts at which the supply-chamber is located and are open at their opposite ends at which the exhaust-chamber is located, and these .tlues constitute exhaust-fines d through the open sides of which the air-blast passes from the grain-shafts and into the exhaustchamber. The closed ends of the iiues are formed b v horizontal strips or beams 24 which extend across, and are secured to, the ends of the end-columns of the grain-shafts b v bolts 25. These beams 2st are alternately disposed on the opposite ends of the shafts to close the exhaust-hues at that end it which the supply-chamber is disposed and to close the pressure-fines at that end at which the exhaust-chamber is located. Crossbeams 24 being secured to the beams l2 which Jform the ends of the grain-shafts serve also to secure the columns in connected relation. The screen-cloths 14t are secured to the vertical division walls by rivets let so that the latter will serve to bach the screencloth and prevent it from bulging so that the shaft-sides will remain straight and smooth to facilitate gravitation of the grain in the column when desired.

The pressure-dues for each of the grainshafts are oppositely disposed at the sides thereoitl and the exhaust-fines are correspondingly disposed so that the air blast will pass into the grain column at both sides thereof and will be directed vertically between the imperforate walls 20 of the intermediate ilues for the next adjacent grain-shafts. l?. esultantly the air blast passes into the graincolumn at bothsides thereot` and thence vertieally through the column a distance correspendingr to the height ol' the intermediate hues to the e.;liaustllues, as indicated b v arrows in Figs. Li and 5. rlhus, the closed sides ol the [lues i'or one ol the shafts serve as divisitm-walls for directing the blast. vertically in the adjacent grain-shaft. a result of this construction, the division-walls 20 and 2l l', et\.veen the llues and the grainshatts may be formed oli sheet metal and may be et continuous formation so that a lireproof structure will be provided. Further. the use et dead air spaces or thich division uf'alls to cause the air blast to pass .'ert ierullf. through the `grr-.in shafts are avoid ed. z result of this formation, the vert ical series o lues between two shafts open alternately into the sha" respectively and have closed or imperiioate valls at one side ulrich form the division wall for directing the hlest verticallyA in the adjacent llue and the gu'essure und exhaust-lines tor one shalt are :-1e.e.rated h v the intermediate llues lor the a d iacent shalt. lesultant all oll the space between the grain-shaft is utilized for [lues and the hlnst is forced through the grain-columns between the llues in such manner that the grain will be unitormlv treated.

Pressure-dues for a column are oppositeljf disposed at the sides of each grain-she it and the exhaust-'dues are cm'respoiulingli' disposed with V.lines for the adjacent shells therelretween. nherelorc, the airblast passes lroni the pressure-lilies into the sides of the grain-shaft thence vertically upv` nrdly and downuf'ardly between the imperlorato walls of the lines for the adjacent shafts and into the next series eil press e and exhaustflues for the same grain-shalit7 the current entering the shaft Vfrom both sides will meet in the grain-column and he forced upwardhv therethrough to an cxhaustchamber. Therefore, the air docs not pass directly through the grain-column but passes into it and thence longjitudinall)v theret'it to :m exhaust-flue. Furthermore, the imperlornte walls of the pressure-cliambers become heated b v the air-blast therein and aid in drying the adjacent grain-column.

The grain-shafts are open at the bottom so that the grain therein will keraif'itate when re,- leased. The bottom oll each shaft is norina-lli,T closed by a suitable valve e which is adapted to be shifted into posit-ion to hohl the grain-columns in the shafts while the vrain is being' treated and which. when open,

will permit the grain to pa out ol the sha `t. Any suitable valve-operating mechanism ina-y be provided as well understood in the art.

The operation ot the improved grain-drier will be as vfollow-i: itssuniiug hot air under pressure to be present in the supply-chainber at one side oit the drierl it will pass into the ends of the pressure-ehembers which are in communication with the supply-chamber Utl llt)

l llt) and pass into the grain-shafts through the open sides thereotl and thence upwardly and downwardly through the grain-column and escape through the sides of the grain-shaft into the exhaust-fines and thence through the open ends of said iiues into the exhaustchamber.

ln erecting the drier, a channel-beam 12 is secured to each edge of one of the screen sides 14 of the shaft and then two of such sides with the channel-beams thereon are secured to the sides of the vertical walls 20 of the sheet metal flue-structure, so the division-

walls

20 and 21 are formed to constitute a frame, any number of which may be secured in connected relation by the horizontal beams 24. Rcsultantly, these frames constitute units any number of which may be secured together side by side to provide a drier of the desired capacity. In Fig. 6 is illustrated a modified form of the invention, in which the horizontal division-walls between the pressure and exhaust-'fines respectively for the adjacent shafts are omitted. In lieu of dividing Vthe pressure-fines and exhaust-fines for the adjacent shafts respectively and providing a continuously extending wall of sheet metal, the ilues are formed by a series of angular-ly bent stripscomprising vertical portion 30, forming a closed side for one of the shafts, and an oppositely disposed vertical wall 31 forming an imperiorate side for the next adj acenty grain-shaft and an intermediatehorizontally connecting wall 32.

The invention possesses several important advantages. lt provides a structure whereby the air-blast enters the sides of the grainshafts and passes vertically through the grain-column or shaft to the exhaust-chambers, thus causing the grain to be uniformly treated and avoiding the necessity of forming vertical passages for the air to the grainshaft by solid division walls or decreasing the number of flues in a grain-shaft of a given height, and furthermore increasing the capacity of the apparatus.

While the structure has been described in connection with the use of hot-air, it may manifestly be employed with equal advantage in cooling grain.

rlhe invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modiiied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grain-shafts, laterally extendingwalls dividing the spaces between the shafts into a vertical series of iiues having sides opening into the grainshai'ts, and vertically extending walls between the laterally extending walls, some of said flues being open at one end for communication with an air-supply, and others being open at their opposite ends to form cxhaust-flues. 2. ln apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination of a series of grain-shafts,

vlaterally extending walls dividing the spaces between the shafts into a vertical series ol iiues having sides opening into the grainshafts, and vertically extending walls between the laterally extending walls, some oi said lues being open at one end for communication with'an air-supply, and others being open at their opposite ends to form exhaust-hues, said pressure and exhaust lues being oppositely disposed at both sides ol' the grain-shafts respectively.

3. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination oi'l a series of grain-shafts, laterally extending walls dividing the spaces between the shafts into a vertical series of iiues having sides opening' into the grainshafts, and vertically extending walls between the laterally extending walls, some oi' said flues being open at one end for communication with an air-supply, and others being o en at their opposite ends to form exhaust-ilpues, said ressure and exhaust ilues being oppositely ispose'd at both sides ol' the grain-shafts respectively, so that the blast will pass vertically between said vertical walls from the pressure iiues to the exhaust ilues.

4. In apparatus of the Vcharacter described, the combination of a series oi' grain-shafts, laterally extending walls dividing the spaces 'between the shafts into a vertical series of ilues having sides opening into the grainshafts, and vertically extending walls between the laterally extending walls, some oil said flues being open at one end for coinmunication with an air-supply, and others being o )en at their opposite ends te form exhaustues, the vertical walls being connected to the laterally extending division walls.

5. lnapparatus oi the character described, the combination of a series ci' grain-shafts, laterally extending walls dividing the spaces between the shafts into a vertical series oi ilues having sides opening into the grain-v shafts, and vertically extending walls between the laterally extending walls, some oi' said lues being open at one end for ccm- Inunication -with an air-supply, and others being open at their opposite ends to form exhaust liues, the pressure and exhaust-hues Jr'or each sha'lt being alternately disposed in each vertical series, said vertical walls extending between the pressure-hues to the exhaust-fines.

6. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination ci' a series oi' grain-shafts, walls dividing the spaces between the shafts into a vertical series ol' transverse lues, some Walls for the 'lines dividine' them 'from the I, being open at one end for communication of said flues being open at one end for communication with an air-supply and closed at their opposite ends to 'forni pressure-chambers, others being' open and closed at their opposite ends to 'form exhaust-chambers the flues having one of their sides opening into one of the adjacent grain-shafts, and sideoth er ad acent grain-shaft.

7. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grain-shafts, Walls dividing the spaces betvveen the 'shafts into vertical series of transverse flues at each side of each grain-shaft, some of said flues with an air-supply and closed at their opposite ends to form pressui'e-chambers, others being,r open and closed at their opposite ends to 'forni exhaust-chambers, the flues having' one of their' sides opening` into one of the adjacent grain-shafts, and side-'Walls for the flues dividing them from the other adjacent grain-shaft.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grain-shafts, Walls dividing the spaces between the shafts into vertical series of transverse lflues, some of said flues being open at one end for coinmunieation with an air-suppljT and closed at their opposite ends to forni pressurechambers, others being open and closed at their opposite ends to form exhaust-chambers, the tlues having one of their sides opening into one of the adjacent grain-shafts, and side-Walls for the flues dividing them 'from the other adjacent grain-shaft, the pressure and exhaust-ihres for each shaft being oppositely disposed at the sides thereof.

9. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grain-shafts, Walls dividing` the spaces betvveen the shafts into vertical series of transverse fines, some o'l' said flues being open at one end for communication with an air-supply and closed at their opposite ends to form pressure-chambers, others being open and closed at their opposite ends to form exhaust-chambers, the lues having one of their sides opening` into one of the adjacent grain-shafts, and side-Walls 'for the flues dividing,` them from the other adjacent grain-shaft, the pressure and exhaust-fines 'for each shaft being oppositely disposed at the sides thereof, said side- Walls being oppositely disposed at the sides of the shaft to direct the blast verticallyv between the pressure and exhaust-fines.

10. n apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grainshafts, Walls dividing the spaces between the shafts into vertical series of transverse flues, some of said flues being open at one end for communication with an air-suppljT and closed at their opposite end to form pressure-chambers, others being open and closed at their opposite ends to form exhaust- 1 chambers, each Vline having an open side, the open sides of the A[lues of a vertical series opening alternately into the sides of the grain-shafts between which. they are disposed.

11. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grainshafts, walls dividing the spaces between the shafts into vertical series of transverse fines, some of said flues being open at one end 'for communication with an air-supply and closed at their opposite ends to iforin pressure-chambers, others being open and closed at their opposite ends to Aform exhaust-chambers, each flue having an open and a closed side, the open sides of the fines of a vertical series opening' alternately into the sides of the grain-shafts between which the)T are disposed, the closed sides dividing the tlues from one of the adjacent grain-shafts.

l2. ln apparatus of the character described the co 1 bination of a series of `grainsha'fts, Wa ls dividing` the spaces between the shafts into vertical series of transverse lines, son-'e of said if'lues being' open at one end for coi runication with an air-supply and closed l at their opposite ends to fore n prcssnre-clntnbers, others being open and closed at their opposite ends te form exhaust-elmebers, each 'flue having an open and a closed side, the open sides of the fines of a vertical series opening alternatelv into the sides of the grain-shafts between which they :1re disposed, the closed sides dividing` the Yllucs 'fron one of the adjacent lrain-shaft's, said side-Walls being' disposed in horizontal series at both sides of the shafts to direct the blast verticall)ir fro in the j'n'essure-llues to the e h aust-f'hi es.

13. 'ln apparatus of the character described, the co bination of a series of grainshafts, fora i inous sides for the shafts, and sheeti etal walls extending' transversehv and \'ertic.-'lly in the spaces between the shafts and dividing such spaces into a vert ind series of transverse fines having' one of their sides open, sore of said 'flues being;l open :it one end Vfor roY` Aunication with an sir-snpphv to forfn pressure-fines, and others being open at the opposite end to forni exhaust-fines.

14. in apjliaratus of the character described, the co :bination of a series of grainshafts, fora inous sides for the shafts. and sheetfetal Walls extending transverselv :nid vertically in the spares between the shafts and dividing such spaces into a vertical series of transverse 'flues having' opposit el v disposed open. sides, opening` into the sides of the grain-shafts between which the llues are disposed, sonxe of said flues being' open at one end for co nniunieation with an air-supplyv to forie1 pressure-ihres, and others being open :lt the opposite end to forfn eXlnmst-flues.

15. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grainshafts, foraminous sides for the shafts and sheet-metal walls continuously extending transversely and vertically in the spaces between the shafts, and dividing such spaces into a vertical series of transverse flues having one of their sides open, some of said iiues eing open at one end for communication with an air-supply to form pressure-titles, and

Y others being` open at the opposite end to form exhaust-flues.

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grainshafts, foraminous sides for the shafts, and sheet-metal walls continuously extending transversely and vertically in the spaces between the shafts and dividing such spaces into a verticalseries of transverse iues having oppositely disposed open sides, opening into the sides of the grain-shafts between which the flues are disposed, some of said flues being open at one end for communication with an air-supply to form pressureflues, and others being open at the opposite end to form exhaust-lines. 1

17. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grainshafts, foraminous sides for the shafts and sheet-metal walls extending transversely and vertically in the spaces between the shafts and dividing such spaces into a vertical series of transverse-nues havingone of their sides open, some of said iiues being open at one end for communication with an air-supply to forni pressure-flues, and others being open at their opposite endto form exhaustlues, the open sides of the flues being oppositely disposed on both sides of the shafts.

18. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of grainshafts, foraminous sides for the shafts, and sheet-metal walls continuously extending transversely and vertically in the spaces be-V tween the shafts, and dividing such spaces into a vertical series of transverse flues having one of their sides open, some of said iiues being open at one end for communication with an air-supply to form pressure-fines, and others being open at the o posite end to form exhaust-lines, the open si es of the flues being oppositely disposed on both sides of the shafts. 4

19. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of vertical grain-shafts, columns forming the shaftends, walls dividing the spaces between the shaft into transverse flues, and beams exshaft into transverse flues, and spaced beams extending across each ofthe columns at each end of the shafts respectively and alternately disposed to leave the flues open at one end and closed at the other.

21. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of vertical grain-shafts comprisinga pair of columns forming the shaft-ends and foraminous sides,pressure and exhaust-flues between the shafts having sides opening into the shafts, and means for closing one end of each shaft.

22. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of vertical grain-shafts comprising a pair of flanged columns forming the shaft-ends and foraminous sides, pressure and exhaust-fines between the shafts' having sides opening into the shafts and means for closing one end of each shaft.

23. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of vertical grain-shafts comprising foraminoussides and a pair of columns forming the end of each shaft, pressure and exhaust fines between the shafts, and spaced beamsV extending across the columns to form closed ends for said flues.

24. In vapparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of vertical grain-shafts comprising foraminous sides and columns forming the shaft-ends, sheetmetal walls in the spaces between the grainshaft dividing them into flues, means securing the foraminous sides to said walls, and means for closing some of the flues at one end and the others at their op osite ends.

25. In apparatus of t e character described, the combination of a series of vertical grain-shafts comprising foraminous sides and columns forming the shaft-ends, sheetmetal Walls in the spaces between the grainshafts dividing them into flues, means securing the foraminous sides to said walls, and beams extending across Vthe columns for closing some of the fiues at one end and the others at their opposite ends.

WYNN E. ELLIS.

Witnesses:

LEONE S. RUssELL, FRED. GARLAND.