US1500923A - Drying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

J. L. BUCKLEY mmm APPARATUS July 8, 1924.

Filed March 1 9 Patented July 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENTjoFFlcl-z. 1 f

JOSEPH L. BUCKLEY, OF TREN TON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PROCTOR & SCHWARTZ, INCORPORATED, OF 1HILADELPHIA,v PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION PENNSYLVANIA.

DRYING APPARATUS.

Application mea March 1s, i920. serial 110.367,108.

To all whom t may cof/mera.' K y LBe it known that I, Josnrrr L. BUGKLEY, a citizen of the United States, and fresident of Trenton, in lthe, county rof Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented anew;l

and useful ImprovementinfDrying A ppa`- ratus, ofwhich the following ris a Ispecification. "op

This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for drying or conditioning articles composed of clay, porcelain l or they like, with the object in view of providing such an apparatus which occupies a mini-kV mum of Hoor space while being capable of rapidly and simultaneously drying a large number of articles. v

Another object is to provide such an apparatus, in which the articles to be dried may be progressively .subjectedy to appropri- Y,

ate conditionsl of treatment and in appropriate positions, kin order to yproduce a uni! form product. i'

Another object consists in providingy certain improvements, in lthe form, construction and arrangement of the several parts, whereby the above named and other yobjects" may be effectively attained.:

A practical embodiment of the ,invention is represented yin the accompanying drawings, in wh1ch- Fig. l represents a longitudinal vertical section through the apparatus. l

Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 8 representsa detail elevation, partly broken away, on an enlarged sc`ale,-sho`wing the tray with articlesto be dried thereon. Proportions are not maintained in this view in order toy better illustrate the construction.r Y c The apparatus includes-a rectangular enclosure or housing v1, whichk is preferably' composed of angle iron framework and thermo-insulated plates 'removably secured to the framework. K

This construction is conventionally shown in the drawings but is fully described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 353,226, filed January r22nd, 1920. This construction is, generally considered, of standard form but, as set forth in saidvcopending application, I prefer to make use of certain special features such as composing the inner surfaceof the plates whichr constitute the walls, of galvanized steel, in

order to prevent rust, and soldering allv openings into thel interior of the plates which may be made during the fitting of the parts, in. order to prevent access of moisture tothe insulatingmaterial\` -The enclosure l" is divided into several dierent compartments by means of transverse partitions which extend vfrom side to side thereof. One of these partitions is denoted by 2 and is vertically disposed near the right'hand end of the enclosure (as seenv is located vertically` at thek end of* the .env closure oppositethe partition 2. Partition 5 is yalso spaced .from the bottom andftop of the enclosure 1 and itA has substantially theV same extent as ypartition 2, though itY is somewhat nearer the adjacent end ofthe enclosure than is the latter. Another partition4 6 is horizontally disposed in spaced relation` to the bottom of theenclosure.

One 'endl is bent, as indicated yat 7, andL formed integral" with or connectedl to the .lower extremity of the partition a.. The

other end of the partition' 6 is spaced a shortv distance from they lower end of partition 5.

These partitions are somewhat diagranrI matically illustratedk andit willbe understood that they are appropriately secured to yand ysupported by the angle iron framing'of f the housing. v `Asa result of this arrangement of partitions, the 'enclosure yis'A divided into what *may4 Ybe, considered as four compartments vertically arranged. One of these compart-v ments may be called'the dryingcompartment and its scopefis ydesignated by the bracket 8. Another may be called the heating compartment andis designated by the bracket 9.y The third may be called Vthe auxiliary4 Il (l compartment and is designated by the bracket4 10, lfhe,l fourth may be-called the auxiliary channel and is designated by the bracket 11. Means is provided for generating',v an air current within the enclosure, and this means consists of a fan 12 that is mounted on a shaft 13 which is journaled in a bearing 14, that is fitted in the partition 2. A beveled gear 15 is fixed to the end of the shaft 13 and meshes with another beveled gear 16 that is fixed on a shaft 17, which has its inner end mounted in a bearing 1"8l`securedl to the partition 2, and eX- tends outwardly to the exterior of the housing 1. lts outer end is journaled in a bearing 19 fixed in the wall of the housing and carries a pulley 2O which is designed to be driven from `any suitable source of power, not shown.

"The fan 12 is disposed in an opening formed in the partition 4 and bounded by aliange 21 and the partition 3. These last named parts yserve as ashield around the periphery"lof the fan and compel the air current f generated thereby to proceed substantiallyeclusvely in an axial direction from the fan.

large'perforatedbale plate 22, which may befreferred to as of grated form, is vertically disposed and extends transversely froin side to side of' the enclosure 1 'in parallelism'with andftoward the inner part ofthe enclosure from. the partition 5. This baffle plate 22 abuts'thetop ofthe enclosure and i'sjspaced from and directly above the end ofi the partition. G which is .adjacent the.. partition 5; the distance between the paiititions and 6 being substantially the saine the distance between the Ypartition the baffle plate 22. The baffle plate 22 isA spaced from the partition 5 aboutthe saine` distance that the said partition is spaced from the adjacent wall of the en closure. The part of the baffle plate which projectsy above the partition 5 is solid, for a reasonto be hereinafter set forth. The arrangement of these parts is such as to: subdivide the drying compartment into threefsections. One of these may be called the main or diffusing chamber 225, since the ai'r current is diffused therein. Another may be called the duct 24, which is bounded by the baffle plate 22 and partition 5i; while the third'. may be called the hori- Zont'al branch 25, which is bounded by the partition 6 and the bottom of thefenclo'sure. `As; a result of the@ arrangement justdescribed, it will beseen that the air current generated by the fan 12 passes longitudh nallythro,ugh the enclosure 1, moving to the left` in` Fig; 1, until it encounters the baflie plate 22, This baille platel will impede e andzbreak up the air current, but alconsiderablQ amountfwill pass through the baflie into the duct 24'and impingeagainst the partition 5, after which it will take a downward course passing through the opening between the partitions 5 and 6, then along below the partition (3 through the branch 25 and lina-lly be drawn bythe fan up between the partitions 6 and 4 on the one hand and the partition 2 on the other, and again sucked into the fan to be propelled a second time on itscourse. The bent portion 7 of the partition 6 facilitates the return of the air to the fan since it provides a sort of funnel shape at this point. The action just de-` scribed accounts for the major portion of the air current, but it may be mentioned that a certain amount will proceed directly from the fan to and between the batlie and partition 6, then between the partitions 5 land 6 and so on back to the fan. The solid upper portion of the battle 22 prevents the air from passing over the partition 5 and out of the feed opening in the enclosure, to be hereinafter mentioned; while the fact that the partition 5 is solid, prevents theV air which passes through the perforated or grated part of the baffle 22 from passing out the said feed opening. Hence, the air current is conserved within the enclosure and required to take an open circula-r course through the drying and heating compartments, 8, 9. V

l also provide within the enclosure means for heating the air current and this means preferably consists of a large radiator 2(5- and a pair of small radiators 2T, 28. The largev radiator 26 is located immediately in front of the fan 12 and extends substantially vfronrthe partition?) to the partition 6. The smaller radiators are located, one about the middle of the diffusing chamber 23 and the vother somewhat nearer to the baiiie plate 22. These radiators are preferably composed of cast iron in order to eliminate rusting and 'may extend transversely from side to side ofthe enclosure and be supported on suitable angle iron' framing. l prefer to equip each radiator with its own controlling means so as to be able to regulate the supply of steam to each independently of the others, for the purpose of vary` ing the temperature in different parts of the enclosure when desired, and, as they are well understood by those acquainted with this art, no illustration or description is necessary. I also prefer to attach steam traps to the discharge end of each radiator so that the water of condensationinaypass out of the coil while the trapfretains the pressure within the radiatonthereby securing the maximumheat output with a minimum, number of,v radiators, and thus also. effecting aneconomy, i

Means is provided for transporting, the articles to bedried through the enclosure in contact with the heated air current, and this means consists of a pair of endless liu sprocket chains 29, 30, which are mounted adjacent each side ofk the `enclosure 1 and pass around sets of sprockets.y One set of these sprockets is diagrammatically repref sented in Fig. l and includes the sprockets 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38. It Win be understood that the other set of sprockets is exactly like that just described and `is similarly mounted at the opposite side lof the enclosure. Each pair ofk sprockets is fixed to a shaft which is mounted iny the framework of the sides of the enclosure rand extends transverse-1y through the enclosure. These shafts are denoted by 39, 40, 4l, 42, 43,44, 45 and 46;

In order to provide means for actuating the chains 29, so as to cause them toy travel on-theirendless course, the shaft 44 isdriven through a worm wheel 47y which is fixed thereto. This worm wheel Vis engaged by a worm 48 which is` carried on a shaft 49 that has a worm wheel 50 thatis xed to a shaft 52 journaled in bearings 53, 54,

Aon the top of the enclosure.` The shaft 49 has its lower end mounted in a bearing 55 secured. to the side of the enclosure and its upper end mounted in the bearing 54. A

stepped pulley 56 is secured to the end of the shaft 52 in order to receive a belt drive from a source of power not shown. It will be noted that the drive for the chains 29, 30,

is separate from the drive for the fan 12,k

so that the latter ymay be continued in operation `even though the chains 'are 4motionless. Y. f r

As an immediate means. of supporting the articles to be dried, I provideltrays, eachof which consists of end members 57 and a shelfmember 58. The end members 57 are pivoted yto pins 59 that are securedto the chains 29,30, so that the trays are suspended in a swinging manner from the said chains and will thus be carried throughoutthe endless course of thecliains When thelatter are driven. rThe shelf members 58 are preferably composed of woodv and provided with a series of vertical pins 60, which are preferably composed of copper. Thesepins provide means for supporting the articlesvto be dried, such as plates v61, ontheir edges so as to enable the heatedfair current to thoroughly contact with al1 surfaces of the said plates. f i

The housing is provided ,with` a'loadin'g opening or doory 62 anda discharge opening 63; although, in some cases, it maybe desirable to both load and unload through j the opening 62.

In operation, heat will be supplied'to the radiators 26, 27, 28 andthe fan 12 and chains 29, 30 lset in operation. The articles to be dried are now placed upon the shelves 58 of thel trays as the latter slowly passthe of the housing it will be ynoted that they are out of contact with 'the heated ar'cur-` rent, being shielded by the partition 5. Nevertheless, they are subjected toa certain elevated temperature which serves to initiate the drying operation. After the articles have passed'the sprocket 3l and start their downward course through the duct 24, they begin to be impinged upon by the heated vair current shifting through the perforations in the batHe22. The air which passes through this baiile will be vbroken up so that its full force will not be exerted against the articles to be dried andk furthermore it will, as a result` of passing through the perforations in the battle 22, passy into the duct 24 in various angular directions soy as to contact vthoroughly with all parts of the articles. `rIt will be noted that-this contact of air on the articles in *theduct 24 will at firstbe in a direction substantially at right angles then, as the current is deflected downwardly 'by the partition 5, 'the contact will be in rcurrent,-as\they will then Abe passing between 'the radiators 28 and 27 and also be nearer the fan l2.- Afterlthe articles have passedithesprocket34 and move toward the `to the path of movement of the articles and d sprocket 35, they 'will be subjected to the .Y

.hot-test ofy the air blast for the purpose of finishing the drying operation. ,Upon rounding the `sprocket 35 the articles will move'along 'in the upper part of the en closure past the sprocket 36 anddown in the auxiliary compartment 10 until they reach Vthe Aopening 63, at which time they maybe unloaded from the trays. Under certain cir-y cuinstances, if desired, the articles may be permitted topass'the opening 63 and continue on throughv the branch 25 until theyy reach the opening y6,2 where they may be unloaded.. f f

From thekforegoing,it will `be seen that d the articles aresubjected to a progressive e drying operation in which the effect of the heat and air is increasedV as the articles movethrough the enclosure; and that the heated air current; is maintained within the enclosure, travellingv in an,y endless course throughout kthe operation. 'lhejarrange-y mentof all partsis such as to provide a' thorough and intimate contact of vthe dry n ing air with the articles; and it may be yinentioned that thek blowing of the air through the radiators not only heats it, but also serves tosomcwhat dissipate or diffuse it andv thus increase its effect.

lt will be understood that various-changes may be resorted to in the form, construction and arrangement o the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; and hence l do not intend to be limited to the details herein shown and described, except as they are included in the claims.1

what l claim is: 4

l. Apparatus oi the character described comprising, an enclosure, carrier means for transporting` articles to be dried through said enclosure in a course including substantially if'ertical elements, a 'fan located at one side of a majority of' the said elements tor generating an air current in a substantially horizontal direction, heating means between the` fanv and the said majority of elements, and heating means between other elements. i

2. Apparatus ot the character described comprising, an enclosure including a drying compartment, said compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, whereby auxiliary channels are formed between each end of the said drying compartment and the walls ot die enclosure which channels are substantially tree from the drying medium. y

Apparatus of the character described comprising, an enclosure including a drying compartment, said compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, whereby auxiliary channels are formed between each end of the said drying compartment and the walls of the enclosure which channels are substantially free from the drying medium, the wall of the enclosure raving a loadingl aperture opening into one of said channels. y

e. Apparatus of the character described comprising, an enclosure including a drying compartment. said compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, whereby auxiliary channels are formed between each end of the said drying compartment and the walls of the enclosure which channels are substantially free troni the drying mediunii, the walls ot said enclosure having loading and unloading apertures opening into said channels.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising, an enclosure including a drying compartment, said compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, whereby auxiliary channels are formed between each end of the said drying' compartment and the walls of the enclosure which channels are substantially free from the drying medium, and carrier means traversing the drying compartment and the channels.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprisingan enclosure including a drying compartment, said compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, whereby auxiliary channels are formed between each end of the said drying compartment and the walls of the enclosure which channels are substantially free from the drying medium, the wall of the enclosure havingr a loading aperture opening into one'of said channels, and carrier means traversing the drying con'ipartmcnt and the channels.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising, an enclosure including` a drying compartment, said compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, whereby auxiliary channels are formed-between each end oit Athe said drying compartment and the walls of the enclosure which channels are substantially free from the drying medium, the walls or' said' enclosure having loading and unloading apertures opening into said channels, and carrier means traversing the drying compartment and' the channels.

8. Apparatus ol the character described comprising, an enclosure including a drying compartment, said compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, said partitions being spaced from the top and bottom of the enclosure, means between said partitions for generating an air current moving longitudinally or said compartment, and a baille for inter.- rupting the course of said current and preventing it from vpassing' over one of said partitions and `out of the drying compartment.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising, an enclosure including a drying compartment, said compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, said partitions being spaced from the top and bottom of the enclosure, means between said partitions for generating an air current moving longitudinally of said compartment, a battle for interrupt ing the course of said current and preventing it from passing over'one of said partitions and out ot' the drying compartment, the bottom ot the drying compartment having an opening therein.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising, an enclosure including a. drying compartment, said compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, said partitions being spaced from the top and bottom of the enclosure, means between said'part-itions for generating an air current moving longitudinally of said compartment, and a bams for interrupting the course of said current and preventing it from `passing over oneiof said partitions and out of the drying compartment, said baffle being connected to the top of the enclosure and being perforated below the level of the top'of the adjacent parcomprising, an enclosure including a drying f' compartment, said Compartment being encompassed at its ends by solid transverse partitions, said partitions being spaced from the top and bottom of the enclosure, means between said partitions for generating an air current moving` longitudinally of said compartment, a baffle for interrupting the course 0f said current and preventing it from passing over one of said partitions and out of the drying compartment, the bottoni of the drying compartment having an opening therein, said baiie being connected to the top of the enclosure and be1- ing perforated below the level of the top of the adjacent partition. e

In testimony, that I Claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this seventeentlrday or" March, A, D. 1920.

f JOSEPH L. BUCKLEY,

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