GRAIN TREATMENT APPARATUS

• US 3,604,126 A
• Filed: 02/11/1970
• Issued: 09/14/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John C. Whelan
• Original Assignee: John C. Whelan
• Inventors: Whelan, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matteson, Frederick L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramey, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US05/010,506
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 34/57C,57A,10,169,171,64,65 99/237 263/21A,21B
• US Class Current: 34/591
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 17/001 the material moving down superimposed floors superimposed belts F26B17/08
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 17/106 the drying enclosure, e.g. its axis, being substantially straight and horizontal, e.g. pneumatic drum dryers; the drying enclosure consisting of multiple substantially straight and horizontal stretches F26B17/107 takes precedence

Abstract

Grain treatment apparatus has a plurality of air boxes arranged one above the other in a column, each box having a perforated upper, horizontal surface constituting a tray. An air circuit includes a manifold for receiving air from spaces between the boxes and leading to an air-grain separator and a source of heat. Grain is fed to the uppermost tray, travels thereover and descends in a zigzag, series path over the other trays to a valve releasing the treated grain at a predetermined rate. There are walls and curtains and weirs within the column to define the air and grain passages.

Claims

2. A grain treatment apparatus as in claim 1 in which at least one of said air discharge openings is in part bounded by a wall upstanding from the next lower tray.

3. A grain treatment apparatus as in claim 1 in which at least one of said grain conducting means is in part bounded by a curtain depending from the upper tray to a height a predetermined distance above the lower tray.

4. A grain treatment apparatus as in claim 1 in which the airflow from an air box tray is predominantly in one direction and the grain flow across said air box tray is predominantly in a direction at right angles thereto.

5. A grain treatment apparatus as in claim 1 in which the perforated upper surfaces of said air boxes have their perforations in the form of louvers directing air flowing therefrom in a direction across said upper surfaces.

6. A grain treatment apparatus as in claim 1 in which said means for regulating the passage of grain is also an air lock.

7. A grain treatment apparatus as in claim 1 in which said source of hot air is a flame supplied with combustion air and discharging the products of combustion into said air inlet manifold.

8. A grain treatment apparatus as in claim 1 in which said means for supporting said air boxes is connected by a horizontal pivot to a base.

9. A grain treatment apparatus as in claim 1 in which the grain travels over successive rows of said plurality of trays in series and the hot air travels through said plurality of trays in parallel.

10. A grain treatment apparatus as in claim 1 in which a weir is provided at said other end of at least one of said trays.