An Improved Drying Apparatus so Erected, Inside Kilns, as to Expedite the Drying Process of Hops, Malt, Tea & the like when Placed on Floors Above

3379. Ferkins, A. R. Feb. 12. Kilns.-Relates to a kiln for drying hops, malt, tea, and other goods by hot air, the products of combustion being discharged without contaminating the goods. Fig. 1 shows an interior view of the lower part of the kiln. Air enters the body of the kiln by a single opening A', and passes around a deflector V and through the floor J and the goods placed thereon. A furnace A is arranged within the opening A', and the furnace gases pass around baffles W, X into a flue A, which is carried round the furnace and which, after passing centrally through the kiln and floor, discharges the gases into the external atmosphere in the upper part of the kiln (not shown). A current of air passes through the heated space between the flue A and a pipe B around it, and, striking the underside of the hood E, is deflected upon the goods on the floor J. The hood may be adjusted in position by a chain H. Where the flue A passes through the roof, it is surrounded by an open-ended pipe which conducts the reek rising from the goods into the atmosphere. The reek may also pass into the upper part of the flue A by a small pipe having a damper controlled from below. Air-tight firing and ash-pit doors are fitted to the furnace A, and the air supply for combustion is obtained through dampered pipes R from the reek above the drying-floor. Opening the small pipe in the upper part of the kiln, in addition to increasing the escape of reek, thus serves also to reduce the down-draught in the pipes R, R .