HOWARD’S ROTARY CYLINDRICAL GRAIN DRYER. 
Editors Cultivator —In the last number of the 
Cultivator, you request some one to furnish you a . de¬ 
scription of the process of kiln-drying grain, especially 
Indian corn, with the expense, See. Agreeably to your 
request, I have procured, and enclose to you, a copy of 
Mr. Sebre Howard’s patent for a “ Rotary Cylindrical 
Grain Dryer.” A great number of these dryers have 
been put up in different parts of the country, and give 
the most perfect satisfaction. I have been informed 
that the expense of kiln-drying corn in one of Mr. How¬ 
ard’s dryers, is not over one fourth of a cent per bushel; 
and that an apparatus capable of kiln-drying sixteen 
hundred bushels per day will not cost over five hundred 
dollars. The operation of the machine is clearly set 
forth in the specification. Respectfully yours, 
Z. C. Robbins, Attorney for Patents. 
Washington , D. C., March 23, 1847. 
To all whom it may concern; be it known, that I, 
Sebre Howard, of Adrian, in the county of Lenawee, 
and state of Michigan, have invented a new and im¬ 
proved Kiln-Drying apparatus, which I denominate 
Howard’s Rotary Cylindrical Grain-Dryer; and I do 
hereby declare the following to be a full and accurate 
description of the construction and operation thereof, 
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, 
making a part of this specification. My Rotary Cylin¬ 
drical Grain Dryer is composed of three metalic cylin¬ 
drical casings, of different sizes, combined concentrically, 
the one within another, forming annular spaces between 
the central and the interior and exterior casings. The 
concentric combined casings are placed within a heat¬ 
ing chamber and suspended on a horizontal shaft pass¬ 
ing through the centre of the inner casing, on which 
In the accompanying draw¬ 
ing, fig. 1 is a vertical lon¬ 
gitudinal section through the 
centre of my kiln-drying ap¬ 
paratus; and fig. 2 is a per¬ 
spective elevation of the in¬ 
terior side of the head or front 
end of the heating chamber, 
detached from the other parts 
of the same. Similar letters re¬ 
fer to corresponding parts in 
both figures. A-, is the interi¬ 
or; B, is the central, and C } 
is the exterior concentric ca¬ 
sing; e, is the annular space 
between the casings A and B ; 
and f is tire annular space be¬ 
tween the casings B and C; R, 
is the chamber, enclosing the 
combined concentric casings; the enclosing wall L, 
of the chamber R, may be composed of brick or other 
suitable material; t , is the horizontal shalt. passing 
through the centre of the combined concentric cas¬ 
ings; v, v, are radial arms by which it is secured to 
the front end of the same; V is a head which closes 
up the rear end of the inner concentric casing. The 
shaft t, has its bearing in the head D, and rear end 
of the heating chamber, R-, at. its rear end a crank w, 
or a pulley, or cog wheel, is attached, for the purpose of 
communicating motion to the combined concentric ca¬ 
sings. On the rear side of the head D , of the chamber 
R, circular projecting flanges n and p, are secured 
concentric with each other, the inner circular flange, n, 
passes a few inches within the front end of the inner con¬ 
centric casing A, fitting accurately to the same.' The 
exterior flange P, fits accurately to the central concen¬ 
tric casing B, and passes a few inches within the same: 
the annular space between the circular flanges, n and 
p , communicates with the chimney l , and connects the 
annular space e. with the same. J is a furnace, placed 
at the front end of the chamber R. underneath the com¬ 
bined concentric casings, constructed in any well known 
or usual manner; i. are the grate bars; x. are the fur¬ 
nace doors. 
The heat of the furnace, and gaseous products of 
combustion, first act upon the exterior surface of the 
outer concentric casings C, (as it is revolved.) from front 
to rear; at the rear end they enter the annular space e, 
and are carried forward through the same to the chim¬ 
ney Z, acting upon the exterior surface of the casing A. 
and the interior surface of the casing B. 
The grain (or other substance) to be kiln-dryed, is 
placed in a receptacle or hopper m, attached to the front 
head D, of the chamber R, and passes through a spout 
r, into the heating chamber A, within the interior of 
the inner casing A; here it is acted upon by the heat 
occasioned by the passage of the hot air and gases from 
the furnace, through the annular flue space e. to the 
chimney, and is gradually carried from the front to the 
rear end of the circular heating chamber A. by the ro¬ 
tary action of the continuous spiral thread d. projecting 
from its interior surface. 
The grain being carried to the rear end of the cham¬ 
ber A, against the head v. which closes up the same, 
falls through connecting tubes h, h, into the annular space 
f, between the concentric casings B and C. In the an¬ 
nular space /, a spiral thread g, is placed, winding 
around in the same from rear .to front, in a reversed po¬ 
sition to that in the chamber A, which carries the grain 
back again to the front end of the concentric casings by 
the rotary action of the same, arriving at which, a hook 
q , attached to the front end JD, of the chamber R, and 
extending into the annular space takes the grain 
xney revoive. 
