Kiln Laying Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing hops or other particulate material in a drying room, said apparatus comprising an elongated conveyor assembly with a transversely sloped moving belt for advancing the hops in a manner that they tend to roll or slide off to form an elongated pile which builds up to the level of the belt, a spreader board mounted beneath the moving belt, and means for intermittently advancing the conveyor assembly in a transverse direction, whereby the spreader board levels the hops to form an even layer for uniform drying.

Description

The present invention is generally related to drying kilns and, more particularly, to a kiln laying apparatus for automatically distributing an even layer of particulate material onto the perforated floor of a drying kiln.

Over the years, it has become common practice to dry hops and other particulate materials by spreading a layer thereof onto a foraminous floor and forcing dry air or other gases upwardly therethrough. The gases were passed through the hops until the desired amount of moisture had been removed. The dried hops were then removed from the kiln either manually or mechanically, a new layer of hops was spread, and the cycle was repeated. While this procedure generally provided acceptable results, it was difficult to maintain a uniform drying of the hops due primarily to variations in depth or thickness of the layer of hops above the floor. It was necessary to manually rake or spread the hops in an attempt to achieve even distribution and uniform drying of the hops. Such conventional procedures were strenuous, time-consuming, and costly to perform. With substantial increases in labor costs in recent years, such conventional kiln laying techniques have become prohibitively expensive. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a more efficient means of handling the hops and distributing such in an even layer on the drying kiln floor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel kiln laying apparatus for automatically distributing hops or other particulate materials in an even layer on a drying kiln floor, whereby controlled uniform drying of the hops is assured without the need of costly manual labor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique kiln laying apparatus which includes a movable conveyor assembly suspended over a drying kiln floor for producing elongated piles of hops across the width of the floor and spreading each pile after it is poured to form a layer of hops of uniform depth on the floor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a versatile kiln laying apparatus including an elongated continuous conveyor assembly with a transversely inclined material-carrying belt or the like for handling the hops, such that the hops tend to roll or slide off of the belt until a pile builds up to meet the belt along its entire length, the pile being levelled by subsequent transverse movement of the conveyor assembly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel kiln laying apparatus including an elongated conveyor assembly which is suspended at a preselected level above a drying kiln floor by way of a motorized trolley mechanism which is effective to advance the conveyor assembly transversely to spread an even layer of hops on the floor.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a versatile kiln laying apparatus which may be installed in most conventional kiln drying rooms at a reasonable cost, whereby the distribution of the hops previously done by hand may be performed automatically and at a reduced cost and provide more uniform drying.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the kiln laying apparatus of the present invention mounted in a typical drying kiln room.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along section 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along section 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the control circuitry associated with the present invention.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the kiln laying apparatus of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 and is illustrated as being installed in a typical drying kiln room defined in part by vertically extending walls 12 and 14 and a perforated or foraminous floor 16 with openings 17, through which dry air or other gas is passed as indicated by the arrows at 18. The floor is illustrated as being partially covered with a uniform layer of hops 20 or other particulate material, through which the dry air is forced as indicated by arrows 22. In actual practice the drying air would not be applied, however, until the entire kiln floor has been covered.

The kiln laying apparatus includes a conveyor assembly generally indicated at 23 with a continuous moving belt 24 or the like which is adapted to carry hops which are delivered to one end of the belt by way of a supply pipe 26 connected to a hopper or other storage means, not illustrated. A conventional trolley mechanism is suspended above the drying kiln floor and includes a pair of elongated I-beams 28 which support a pair of movable trolley carriages 30 by way of wheels 32. The trolley carriages may be advanced along the associated I-beams by way of drive cables 34 connected to a motor 36 by way of cable reels 38 or other conventional means well known in the art. A scissors framework 40 depends from each trolley carriage and is adjustable in height by way of a flexible support cable 42 which passes around pulleys 43 to a crank mechanism 44. A rigid support framework 46 is carried by the lower portion of each scissors framework and supports the conveyor assembly by way of adjustable couplings 48.

The conveyor assembly is provided with a gear motor 50 drivingly connected to a main conveyor drive roller 52 by way of a conventional belt and pulley arrangement 54, or similar means. As hops are delivered to one end of the conveyor through supply pipe 26, the conveyor belt 24 is advanced in a direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that the elongated conveyor belt is transversely inclined such that the hops or similar particulate materials tend to roll or slide off of the belt to form a pile which builds up to the level of the belt's lower edge. As the pile initially builds up to the lower edge of the moving belt near the supply pipe, the hops tend to remain on the belt and tumble along over the top of the pile until they are advanced therepast. As such, the pile continues to build along the length of the belt until an elongated pile extends across substantially the entire width of the drying kiln room.

It will be appreciated that as the hops roll off of the conveyor belt, they tumble over an elongated spreader board 56 which extends downwardly from the lower edge of the conveyor belt. Once the elongated pile of hops reaches the end of the conveyor assembly, its buildup actuates a level responsive switch 58 mounted to an adjustable spill board 60. Actuation of the level responsive switch 58 is effective, through control circuitry, to energize the trolley mechanism which advances the entire elongated conveyor assembly transversely toward the pile of hops whereby spreader board 56 rakes the top of the elongated pile to a preselected level. As the conveyor assembly is advanced forward, the hops tend to slide off of the spreader board and switch 58 is returned to its original position, thereby deenergizing the trolley mechanism. This operation is followed by the buildup of an additional elongated pile of hops and the spreading cycle is repeated. The conveyor assembly continues to distribute the hops in elongated piles and spread each pile as explained above until the entire kiln floor is covered with a layer of hops of uniform depth.

Subsequent to completion of the kiln laying operation, dry air or other gas is forced upwardly through the foraminous floor 16 and the layer of hops for a predetermined time period of provide adequate drying. Since the hops have been distributed in a uniform layer, it will be appreciated that the amount of moisture removed from the hops is substantially the same throughout the entire layer.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the conveyor assembly is provided with an elongated spill board 60 pivotally supported by a hinge 62 and with a lower edge 64 oppositely disposed of the lower edge of conveyor belt 24. The lower edge of the spill board defines an exhaust opening through which the hops must pass as they roll or slide from the moving conveyor belt. Thus, by adjusting the spacing between spill board edge 64 and the conveyor belt, the rate at which the hops fall from the belt may be controlled within certain limits. This spacing is adjusted by way of a lever mechanism 66 pivotally connected to the conveyor assembly at 68 by a friction fitting or in another well known manner such that the spill board will be maintained in its position until manual adjustment is made.

The angle of conveyor belt inclination may be adjusted through couplings 48 each of which includes a pair of meshed plates with serrated surfaces thereon in engagement with each other. Thus, the inclination of the conveyor belt may be preset depending upon the moisture content, size, or quality of the particulate material being distributed. This adjustment, together with the setting of the spill board, provides adequate control of the distribution of the particulate material to assure proper formation of the elongated piles and actuation of the level responsive switch.

The conveyor assembly includes a rigid framework 70 carried by couplings 48 and rotatably supporting a plurality of idler rollers 72 spaced along its lower side. In addition, the spreader board 56 is hingedly connected at 74 to the conveyor framework and is engaged by a plurality of adjustable stops 76 spaced along its length in threaded engagement with the conveyor framework such that the angular position of the spreader board may be adjusted, if desired. It should be noted that the spreader board, or a similar elongated member for the same purpose, may be mounted in a different manner or location then that illustrated in the drawings. For example, it may be desirable to mount the spreader board at a location behind the conveyor framework and still achieve the desired pile leveling effect.

Preferably, level responsive switch 58 is of a conventional type and is provided with a sensor or actuator 59 which is angularly displaced by the pile of hops as it builds up under the switch. In addition, the switch may include an emergency sensor or actuator 61 which responds to excessive pile-up of the particulate materials to effect signalling or automatic shutdown of the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be observed that the circuitry associated with the present invention is connected to a source of voltage 78 and includes a control transformer with a primary winding 80 in parallel with the voltage source. A secondary, low voltage winding 82 associated with the control transformer is serially connected to a relay coil 84 through level responsive switch 58. Conveyor motor 36 is connected to one side of the voltage source through line 86. The opposite side of the motor windings are connected to normally opened contacts 88 which are closed upon energization of relay coil 84. Closure of the normally opened relay contacts is effective to complete a primary voltage circuit through the motor windings, whereby the trolley motor 36 is energized to advance the conveyor assembly, as described above. Thus, as the buildup of an elongated pile of materials is completed, switch 58 is closed to energize an appropriate relay which, in turn, effects energization of the trolley motor. Transverse movement of the conveyor assembly is effective to level the pile of hops until switch 58 is returned to its normal position, thereby deenergizing the trolley mechanism.

Preferably, the conveyor belt continues to move during the trolley operation and, at the same time, hops continue to flow through the supply pipe which is moved along with the conveyor assembly. However, if desired, the control circuitry may be modified as indicated in dash line to effect automatic deenergization of the conveyor motor and terminate flow of the hops during the trolley mechanism operation.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the kiln laying apparatus of the present invention provides a relatively simple, yet effective means of automatically distributing hops or other particulate material in a uniform layer on the floor of a kiln drying room. The relatively simple construction of the apparatus and the manner in which it is supported from an overhead trolley mechanism, makes it possible to convert existing hop drying kilns utilizing manual spreading techniques to automatic dispensing and spreading operations. The basic components of conventional continuous conveyor assemblies may be utilized with the apparatus of the present invention, and it is not intended that such conveyors be limited to belt types, chain and other types of continuous conveyors adaptable to the apparatus as well.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An apparatus for distributing particulate material at a predetermined level on the floor of a drying room, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for receiving the particulate material and distributing such in an elongated pile extending substantially across the entire width of the drying room, the top of the elongated pile being above said predetermined level, and means associated with said conveyor means responsive to the formation of said elongated pile of particulate material for leveling the top of said pile to said predetermined level, said conveyor means including an elongated moving member for carrying said particulate material in a longitudinal direction, said moving member including a carrying surface which is transversely inclined relative to said longitudinal direction of movement such that the particulate material tends to be displaced from the moving member under the influence of gravity to form said elongated pile.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said leveling means includes spreader means moving transversely of said elongated pile subsequent to the formation thereof.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said apparatus includes motive means located above said conveyor means and supporting said conveyor means for selective transverse movement relative to the elongated pile of particulate material.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein said motive means includes mounting means supporting said conveyor assembly, said mounting means being selectively adjustable for adjusting the vertical position of said conveyor means, thereby setting the level of the layer of material being distributed on the drying room floor.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said leveling means includes an elongated spreader member and means for advancing said spreader member in a direction transversely of said elongated pile.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said carrying surface of said moving member includes a lower moving edge, said spreader member depending downwardly below said lower moving edge for engagement with the top of said elongated pile subsequent to its formation and upon said transverse movement of said conveyor assembly.

7. An apparatus for distributing particulate materials in a layer having a generally planar upper surface, said apparatus comprising an elongated material carrying conveyor assembly extending between first and second locations, said conveyor assembly including an elongated, moving member transversely inclined at an angle to the horizontal such that the particulate material being conveyed tends to fall from the moving member between said first and second locations to form an elongated pile of said particulate material which extends upwardly toward said moving member, means for supplying material to said moving member at said first location, means for sensing the buildup of said elongated pile of material at said second location, motive means responsive to said sensing means for moving said elongated conveyor assembly transversely thereto, and leveling means associated with said conveyor assembly for spreading the top of said elongated pile to a predetermined level.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said sensing means includes means for disenabling said motive means in response to the leveling of said pile by said leveling means.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein said sensing means includes level responsive switch means carried by said conveyor assembly.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said motive means includes trolley means located above said conveyor assembly and supporting such for said transverse movement.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 10 wherein said trolley means includes adjustable mounting means for supporting said conveyor assembly with said moving member at a preselected angle of inclination with the horizontal.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 10 wherein said trolley means includes means for selectively adjusting the vertical position of said conveyor assembly, thereby setting the level of the layer of material being distributed.

13. An apparatus for distributing particulate materials in a layer at a predetermined level, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for receiving the particulate material and distributing such in an elongated pile, the top of the elongated pile being above said predetermined level, and means associated with said conveyor means for leveling the top of said pile to said predetermined level, said conveyor means including an elongated moving member for carrying said particular material in a longitudinal direction, said moving member including a carrying surface which is transversely inclined relative to said longitudinal direction of movement such that the particulate material tends to be displaced from the moving member under the influence of gravity to form said elongated pile.

14. The apparatus set forth in claim 13, wherein said leveling means includes an elongated spreader member and means for advancing said spreader member in a direction transversely of said elongated pile.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said carrying surface of said moving member includes a lower moving edge, said spreader means depending downwardly below said lower moving edge for engagement with the top of said elongated pile subsequent to its formation.

16. The apparatus set forth in claim 13, wherein said leveling means includes spreader means moving transversely of said elongated pile subsequent to the formation thereof.