Crop drying apparatus
OwnerJohn M. Monck, Charles S. P. Monckinventors
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Abstract
Crop drying apparatus comprises a horizontal rotatable drum divided internally into a plurality of outer chambers for containing crop to be dried, and a central, axially-extending, multi-sided duct which receives an axial air flow. The inner surface of each chamber has a perforate area to permit flow of air from the duct into the chamber to dry the crop therein and the outer surface of each chamber has a perforate area to permit discharge of moisture-laden air from the chamber to the surrounding atmosphere, the inner perforate area of each chamber leading the associated outer perforate area in the normal direction of rotation of the drum. Control flaps are provided to control the air flow through the inner perforations during rotation of the drum.
Claims16
Crop drying apparatus comprising a rotatable drum mounted with its axis extending generally horizontally, means dividing the interior of the drum into a plurality of outer chambers for containing crop to be dried, and a central, axially-extending, multi-sided duct having an inlet at one end portion to receive an axial air flow, doors on the outer surface of the drum, each door being associated with a respective chamber to enable filling or discharge of the crop into or from the chamber, each chamber having means defining an inner perforate area to permit flow of air from the duct into the chamber to dry the crop therein and means defining an outer perforate area to permit discharge of moisture-laden air from the chamber to the surrounding atmosphere, and the inner perforate area of each chamber leading the associated outer perforate area in the normal direction of rotation of the drum, and means for controlling the air flow through the inner perforate area during rotation of the drum.
Apparatus for drying forage crops comprising a drum having a generally horizontal axis, means for rotating the drum about its axis, means dividing the interior of the drum into at least three outer chambers for containing the crop to be dried and a central, axially-extending, flat-walled multi-sided duct arranged to receive an axial air flow, each side of the duct defining an inner wall of each respective chamber and the peripheral wall of the drum defining an outer wall of each chamber, a door associated with each respective chamber to enable filling or discharge of the crop into or from the chamber, said doors being located on the outer peripheral surface of the drum, the inner wall of each chamber comprising an inner perforate area located adjacent a corner portion of the duct to permit flow of air from the duct into the chamber to dry the crop therein and the outer wall of each chamber comprising an outer perforate area to permit discharge of moisture-laden air from the chamber to the surrounding atmosphere, and the inner perforate area leading the associated outer perforate area in the normal direction of rotation of the drum, flaps for controlling the air flow through the inner perforate areas, said flaps being located inside the duct adjacent the corner portions thereof, and means for operating the flaps during rotation of the drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.