US237958A - Fruit-drier - Google Patents

Description

(N o Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. T. CAMPBELL.

Fruit Drer. A

No. 237,958. Patented Feb,."22,1ss1.

N.FETER5. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, n C.

(No Model.) l 2 sheets-sheet 2.

Y J. T. CAMPBELL. Fruit Driel.

N0. 237,958. Patened Feb. 22,1881.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-L11 HQGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. u c.

V Unirse S ATES JOHN T. CAMPBELL, OF EDGEWOOD, ILLINOIS.

FRUIT-Dalen.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,958, dated February 22, 188]..

Application tiled October 11, 1880.

To all whom it may concern,

Be it known that I, JOHN T. CAMPBELL, of Edgewood, in the county of Effingham and State of Illinois, haveinven ted certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Driers 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a view, in perspective, of a fruitdrier embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a vertical lateral sectional view. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the line mw in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the notched trays, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the double indicator and bar.

The invention has relation to fruit-driers 5 and it consists in the improvements in the construction of the same hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A indicates a double-walled furnace, located within a chamber, B. The flue for the escape of the products of combustion leads from the front ofthe furnace through the wall of the chamber B. The bottom of the chamber B is provided with a transverse central openin g, C, above which is located a damper, D, which may be used to admit cold air to the chamber, either in front of the middle or in rear of the middle of said chamber, accordingly as the damper D is pushed forward over the opening or rearward over the same. rIhe damper D may also be used to close the opening() to exclude cold air entirely. The furnace A being double-walled presents a chamber, E, below the fire-box F. The lower wall of this portion of the furnace has an opening or longitudinal slot, G, which registers with the opening O. A damper, H, is interposed between walls of the chamber E, to deiiect the hot air either to the front or rear of the iniddle, or to entirely close the opening G. The cold air, when admitted to the chamber B, passes upward around the furnace, and hinged dampers or valves H H2, provided with manipulatin g rods, are located immediately at the (No model.)

either end of the drier to open or close it, or

to cause the heatto be deflected to either side, as may be desired.

Immediately above the chamber B is the chamber K, into which the trays containing the fruit are to be introduced through a door, L. Cleats M are secured to the sides of the internal flue, I, upon which the trays are to be rested and pushed in. The tray-chamber K has vertical slotsNin its end walls, and through these slots N arms O project inwardly from the arms or vertical guide-rods p of a lever, P, fulcrumed outside of the walls ofthe chamber K.

Near the front and rear of the end walls of the chamber K, and let into the same, are shouldered springs Q, the object of which is to support the trays R after the latter have been introducedinto the cham ber K, and afterward elevated by the lever P and arms O.

Let into the rear wall of the ue I, so as not to interfere with the elevation ofnthe fruittrays, is a metal bar, S, extending 'the entire vertical length of said flue.

Opposite the door L, and upon the exterior of the rear wall of the flue I, is a two-armed indicator consisting of the pivoted arms T and U, connected by a rod or wire, V, the arm T being pivoted to the lower end of the metal bar S. This indicator is to be operated by the contraction and expansion of the metal bar S, to indicate the state of the interior of the flue I.

Upon the top of the flue I is hinged a cap, W, having sliding sides X and a verticallysliding central cap-piece, Z,working in grooves. The object of thus constructing the cap W is to adjust the cap by moving the sliding sides X and the cap-piece Z to give the iiue I either a side or a central escape, or to 4give it both a side and acentral escape for the heated air. The object of hingin g the top or cap WV is to permit it to be turned back upon the arms a a, to enable the operator to remove the trays R when the fruit has been cured. A ladder, b, is provided to enable the operator to reach the top of the iiue I for this purpose.

The trays R may be of any ordinary construction, except that the corners should be notched on the under side in the direction ot' the springs Q, in order that when a tray has been elevated by the lever and arms in the Hue I the Weight of the tray will be removed from the springs to permit thelatter to return to a normal position to support the elevated tray until the next tray can be inserted into the chamber K and elevated to the place occupied by the first tray. Y.

It will be readily observed that the operation of inserting the trays containing freshlyprepared fruit may be continued as rapidly as the fruit alreadyintroduced has been subjected to arequisitc amount of heat, and that the trays will be elevated at each introduction of a new tray, and as they reach the top of' the iue I they should be removed by the attendant.

In order to prevent too rapid cooling ot' the lue I, an outer Wall, d, is made around the flue I, and is secured by staples and keys, or in any other suitable manner that will permit its removal, if desired. vWhen this auxiliary Wall is employed a door, e, is arranged to permit the inspection of the indicator.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as ne\v and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. rI he herein-described tray for fruit-driers, having the corners notched to relieve the springs from the weight of the trays, in combination with the elevating-lever l? O, chamber K, and iue I, as set forth.

2. In a fruit-drier, the hinged cap W, having sliding sides X and vertically-slidingeentral cap, Z, in combination with the flue I, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In afruit-drier,the doublewalled furnace A, located within the chamber B, in combination with the dampers D and H, operating to govern the openings C and Gr, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a fruit-drier, the combination, with the double-Walled furnace A, chambers B K, and Iiue I, ot' the slatted damper or dctlector J, located above the furnace, and the dampers H' H2, hinged at the sides, beneath the chamber K, all substantially as shown and described.

5. In a fruit-drier, the iiue I, having the chamber K, provided with vertical slats N and springs Q, in combination with the levers I", having vertical guide-rods p, earryin g arm O, for the purpose of elevating the trays, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN THOMAS CAMPBELL.

Titnesses G. H. C. ANDEnsoN, J As. H. FURBER.

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