US2584727A - Storage system for treating material - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5, 1952 J. G. MELLEN 2,584,727

STORAGE SYSTEM FOR TREATING MATERIAL Filed Nov. 6, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 5, 1952 J. G. MELLEN STORAGE SYSTEM FORy TREATING MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 6, 1945 nvezze A@ Feb. 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 6, 1945 Abm. km. Q

Tum E Sb W l@ www 6m mm hm uw m I vl@ u@ NW Bm. QW Nm Feb. 5, 1952 J. G. MELLEN STORAGE SYSTEM FOR TREATING MATERIAL I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 6, 1945 Patented Feb. 5, 1952 .UNITED i JosephGrenvilletMelleneGmfportpMissz 4"Apntic-ation Nvemuer s, 192:5; seriar,mcz7;u`1a

asgelaims. (o1. 34e-e225)- 1f This invention relates tof-a lvstorage system or' installation for-'xna-terial-packaged air-pervibus bags; lbei-ngv in particular directed to--the-storagel and treatment of bagged refined sugar.

Due-tothehygroscopicJcha-racter of sugar; lits storagev `presents problems LWhich- Viheret'ober'orehave never been satisifaotorily"met. the 'best priorsystem, the-'bags of-suga'r (fthe bag material being ordinarily an air-pervious textile ifa-briciare stacked fon-elevated' dunnage 'mats-- in-a lstorage room, heated1e3-iri`s-openly supplied intothe upper room atmosphere. and partially circulated by ceiling fans. The "increased-higher* `tempera- .tui-'e` of 'the upper .zonesfof k:theroom-atmosphere is vof -`value but A#limi-te'dfinl a generalway -to -th'e'f upper and vouter vbags Ikbeeai-isethe tempera-turex of" the-room atmospheres shades 2011*" downwardly with reduced heating Aeiect as fthe iioor' `is approached; andi-With anfextendedffdefieiency inA the/area under theibottomibags andilowerlcentral': partA of the stack'. Thel priorv systemsyare based" upon-aheat-transfer Strom-fthe heatedfroomatmos phere to the sugar by slow/*conduction -tovandthrough the outer bags inward land Athrouglrtle' upper bags downward?. The stagnant `Aair spacesL between the stacked bagscons'titute thousands of insulation cells and potential humidity pockets; tolsayf-no thing off-'the millionsfof fsma'llerla'irfspaces between the grains off sugar ltli'efbagSz y 'If' it were merely 'a Yquestion/offstoringf sugar in r'a continuing hermeti'cally sealed room, l'and'. assuming the sugar tos be in good condition at the. time IitisstaGKed'-, y'the vcare -ofF-itfwould be simple, -either Aby an adequate reduction- /of the absolutefhimidity Vheld in the roomv atmosphere o1'` by an adequate increase A:in :the temperature` of the'froom--atmosphere, orpartlyffb'oth. 'How-'- be at a heat zlevel below y'the rhygr'o'scopic- 'dewf point' of the air coming in 'con-tact withV it'v lfor' anV appreciable- 'l'ength =of time', 'thenv'the sugar willabsorbfmoistureffrom'thatair; `AIffit-'hislatter condition" continues -or' repeated, the sugzairf mass-wilr-takefup considerable moisturearidesuixsequently become crusty and 'the earl-'yf stages,r fand at 'times contents -o' ibags becomes-hard' 2amalgama-ted masses lump* ing, crusting and hardening, -aiects'f many#l'afaaigs; particularly in the bottom layersuand lowerfeore-f portions ofthestaek. l Y Y iIn accordance with the@pres'erit'-inventiom#the baggedL sugar iis'- 'stacked r'on fperforate for" PIaitieedV supporting means suelr especiallyputter-medi duim-age mats; orvelevated' Agraifngs;V of fkin lumber oref iight. metal llaeam's orwH beamsy and channels embracing, lor beneathlwliicm -are conduits-for ithe ,supply-through theop'enin'gsi-'last by' blowerhea'ter units; :of heated aaiirirr'moti'orrv under. pressurepthefainbeing#causedf tot `.rise andi spreadk upwardrand ihorizontallyfthroughoutache stack, or for a suiiicient height throughout lower. ,.partion.: su ithatzithenstackusameated; ifrnm the bottomiupwandzandzfmmtthe innenareas ward. jay 'zquickenesi heat suc--v cession fof `moving` heated Lair .contacting :the numerousL bags. )by enlfnrced' displacement-fand: imparted convectionv the snacesbetweent the bags andsupplemented .quckenedfeonducton, from :bag to bag. Thehottestppantlof ,thevgstack is thus lat the. bottomy and. v`the dinected andi-gaar tially confined heatedfair. motion andgunder ever, in factual commercial practice; Warehouse' rooms .are not-absolutelyv airtight nor ipositively' moistureproof. 'Furtherthan this iwarei-muse" rooms.'have:toI be provided with-roneformore doors and thezsroomldoor orfdoo'rs :mustbe opened-"16er"- loading in-oand outatyaryingintenvalsf throughout all -seasonsfof thef year; :being ,sometimjesmperiv for the vfull working day for several .consecutive days. Thus Vin actual l.practice theroomzatmosphere is subject to harmful modification vby' admittedaoutsidea-ir.

-If' the relativehumidity ofthe air connediinz.

thestorageroom is reduced-by Yeitheralternativef hutfwithout regard vto the. adequategheati-ng ofthev sugar itself, and. it the storedzsugan: assa result of the disregard of its temperature, happens-"tos l pressure.. blanketsK .the .bottom off the bottom. bags' and distributes. amidstthe. lowerlayersy part ,of v'the 'heated-'air -..wh'cl`1.escapes horizontally from' the sides and ends at .thelower levels,risesA in contact with the kouter .'suraceslofrthe ,Ilower outer bags, provides a Iieatingenve1op. 'Ilese features are oi great.importance'inlater'prenant? ing damage'etoth'e condition of sugara's areslt of"y .coolerv or` damper air' eutering'fi'oru the outside: and spiiling "'a:lbng*theHoon 'particularly when theroomdbors'arecpen.

practicingthisinventionthe'relatiiveumid; itwfor :the ai-r'iny ytheStorageuoorn duringsubisce quent fiole storageperiodsiszinaintiainediatcome phere, as itA is extremely'fidesinahleiathatixevemlth;

That] sugar that# canbeiadversely affected as a resulty of hygroscopic action is limited by the quantity of water available to its hygroscop-ic action. It.

then follows that air containing Va.lfiighmeasuree of absolute humidity contactable'with the sugar possesses potentialities of danger even though the immediate relative humidity of thatl air1is within the lower percentages. To illustrate, 1 present the following: Take air at VF: of '100% 'relative humidity in comparison with air at 90 F.v with` w a relative humidity of 867g The former is already at .dewpoint and evenif it gave up allrof the water it contains,` it could aiect but a limited supply of sugarwhereas in the latter case a steep dropn temperature could force the air to give upa quantity ofwater far in excess of the entire amount present in the former, and could affect milch more Suear,-

1.ljIhe illustration is based upon normal dewpoints, and thenconvertible WaterV potentially available further Vincreasedrunder hygroscopic capacity O f sugar If the quantity of absolute humidity is abnormally high, there `will be required an abnormally higher temperature toV reduce its relative humidity to the desired lower`r percentage. It is desirable to `vavoid heating the yroom air to unnecessarily high temperatures. Therefore, if and whenthe lxqzorilfiriued. room zlirtmosphere,` during idle storage, contains -an absolute humidityr in excess of the-ratio of onepound of water 4to seven hundred cubic vfeet of theroom atmosphere, it is desirablefto remove .theexcess absolute humidity by any means available.. I

i If. the air isdelivered .from .the blower-heater units at 130". F., then,underrmymethod` the air at v this temperaturecomes into direct -contact with the sugar and-is delivered in full and rapid succession thereto at a high temperature differential; whereas,'-bloWer-heater units used under prior systems '-merelydeliver theheated air into the roomy atmosphere into which it diiuses. While-the number of vheat units delivered `respectivelycould be the same, the heat is injected by my-methoddirectly into thesugar at a very substantial temperature differential;l whereas, under priorsystemfafter vthes diffusion into the room atmosphere, very little temperature differential is available for heat transfer' tothe sugar, and then only'toth'e 'outsidebags.v l f Proper andeconomical'functioning requires a properly fde'slgned`- and well-constructed warehouse" with .emphasis VVon` insulation against the escape of heat from the room` atmosphere and with every practicable precaution against the admittance of Amoisture throughthewalls and roof, ,andlwith; double emphasis on a. moistureproof floor'. yThese vrequisites apply equally to the. points atjjunction Vofthe wallsLthe walls and floor, and thewallsfand roof. v

It is .desirable todivide a 'spacious warehouse intoI :several x separate E compartments Vor store- .v r-u rooms,.eachwell:insulatedl U 2,584,727 Y ,l .j

In the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a room equipped in accordance with the invention, six storage platforms with heat supplying means being shown, the platforms being empty,

Figure 2 is a section substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing in elevation a loaded platform and associated heat supplying means,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Figure 4,

Figure 4 shows the left hand portion of Figure 2bn an enlarged Scale, ,y Y

Y Figure 5-is a plan vie'won fanenlargedscale of a platform which appears in Figure 1, .Figure 6 is a section on line B-S of Figure 5 on a further enlarged scale,

Figure 7 is a section on line 1 1 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a View like that of Figure 2 showing a modiedstacking arrangement,

Figure l9 is a diagrammatic plan View of a stack showing another stacking arrangement,

Figures 10 and 11 are side and end elevations,

y respectively, of the stack of Figure 9, the platform being shown in section,

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of a stack showing still another stacking arrangement,

Figures 1,3 and 14 are side and end elevations,

. I3, and I4 provided with doors I5, I6, I'I, and I8,

and a ceiling I9. Desirably, with the doors closed, the room is as air tight as possible. Reference letters PI and P6 designatel identical platforms in accordance with the invention, vthese being .5 spaced from each other and inwardly of the side walls throughout and preferably not less than 21/2 feet. VReference numeral 23 designates posts in the aisles between the platforms. As above stated, the platforms are all identical and platform PI and its appurtenances are shown in Figures 2 to 7 to which reference will now be made.

Y'Iheplati'orm PI comprises a head portion Pla and a foot portion PIb, each made up of a number of square units, as here shown, two units disposed side by side constituting a section and establishing the width of the platform.

The rst section, SI is made up or" units UIa. and UID. Unit UIa comprises parallel stringers 2l resting on the floor I and extending longitudinally of the platform and, as here shown in Figure 7, there are ve of the stringers in equally spaced relation. Secured on top of the stringers and extending throughout the length thereof is animperforate' covering 22 -and this may conveniently be a plywood panel, or boards nailed" in place. Reference numeral 23 designates .the stringers of a series of stringers on top of theV covering. 22 and directly above the stringers 2I respectively.

:Secured on tcp of kstringers 23 at their forward end isa board 24, Figures 5 and 6,' and reference numeral 25 designates slats secured to the top of stringers-23 in spaced relation t'o board 24 and to'each other, the spaces between the slat ends above the'o'utside st1inger723 being filled with blocks 26so thatan'mperforate lateral margin isprovided: f

assayed? Uni'tlfU lbscompriseslower :strangers 2.1.,.1a4covering128',rupperstringers's,:aiboard 1i@ aligned with boardid',slatsil.,:andnllerblocksit.. Preferably, thecross portions .of the units. project beyond the: outerstringersso thatwhen .the unitsare buitted together as showninFigure .7,.spaceswillexist between the.adjacentstringers. Vg

Sections S2. to Sr'li are .exactly yilike 'sectionySfi except that theirtop surface is .'cornposedof slatsA throughout, the boards as at .2li .and :iii being omitted. The .slats lof adjacent .sections .are so placed that a normal space will exist vbetween the adjaoentsl'ats of the two sections. vThe nal seotionrSBLof 'the .platiorm portionP I a: is.-lil;e:se^ tionSll .except that .boards .35. and 36, extend along. the rear .edge of thexsection. .It will be 4understood that the .stringers of the several sections are in respective .alignment with w.the result .that bottom conduits s? andtop rconduits .38.; vextending. `throughout the length .of platform portion Pla, are provided. The Ldunnage .mat structure provided by the slats constitutes a perforatesupporthig surface with imperiorate lmargins throughout its perimeter as provided-:by .the end boards 24, 33,35 and 3S, and the slat ends and ller blocks.

The platform portion Plb is made upaofsouare units of the same area as the units. of portion. Pto. They differr from the latter in vthat theyupper stringere and covering are omitted. v.Unit Uta, Figure 6, comprises stringers as at'lii aligned. with the stringere 2i ofplatformportion Pl a. Secured on top yof stringers 39 are an end'board dii and slats il `with end ller Vblocksthe saine as inunit Ulu., and, in these respects, unit Ugh corresponds with .unit Ulb. The nalsection of platform portion Plb is composed of units corresponding to units U80. and Utl) in top.-structure, including end boards as at 32, Figure 6. Thus, platformvportion- Ptb has a top perforate surface except .for a continuous imperforate marginal portion. and 'has conduits between the stringers 39 in continuation of the conduits 31 of platform portion Pla. Reference numeral 4-3 designates a block rresting on the floor ii! and extending across the end of the nal platform section lSie and adapted .to serve' as a damper at the ends of .the ducts;v A similar damper te restson'the boards at the forward end of section S9 and serves as a damper for the control of conduits.

The bags E of sugar are stacked on the platform portions in overlying relation 4to. theimperforate margins, as. particularly shown in Figure .'7, some clearance being left atthe kbottom of the stackzbe tween the two portions to vpei-.mit adjustmentof damper element de. As here shown, the stack comprises sixlongitudinally extending. .tiers'Tl vto T6, each tier being two bags wide with alternate courses laid cross-wise.

twenty bags high so ythat the stack ,is substantially square in cross section withits vtopwell below the roof. Y

.Supported in any suitable manner-ibetweenthe top-of,A thefstack and the. adjacent roomwall7 lil -isfa blowerf on' axis extending-.parallel -tothe 6. wall?. The blower has. axial inletscommunieating.' with inlet chambers A@ and .M which :have controhdarnpers.e8y and149, respectively, vfor-auxiliary. air. Additionally, chamber f3.7. isincommunication with a heater unit 50, here assumedto .be a.

gasfiheater with .aiiue 5J l.extending .through vthe roof and-lanfar inlet .extending .through wall lil.. Ordinarily--dampersd and .damay .be closed.'

so that the .enti-re intake. to .the blower will. be through the. heater unit. The 'blower includes ashaft 52. which extends through chamber :i6 .to be'. driven. Yby a motor 53, andlhas a .bottom .outlet connectedby a spreader .54 with a .head .box .5d which has. aniopen .side Vextending entirelyiacross. thelh'eadzend of the platform. andregisteringwith theconduits andl. Mountedwithin theheadbox. ona. transversaaais at the level of thecovering; 22. is aidainper E13 by means .of whichdelivery to the.top.andbottoinconduitscanbe apportioned tolti-ie exten-t vof b.eing..f.fii.fertible entirely torone or the other.

iith the .stack unizormly occupying the entire platform, the heated airv delivered uniformly across the head box will be supplied substantiallyequally .to the top and bottom conduits, or perhaps .favoring somewhat the lower conduits in view of theirxgreater length. The air in the .top conduits of portion .Pta .is caused to rise through the periorationsof the latter dueto back pressure. caused by damper fill. However, the damper should be .arranged `topermit some escape at 'the endet the conduits in order ,to allow some .longitudinal movement of .the air at the. conduitvextreniities so as to insure proper delivery under the end bags.

The heated air delivered to the lowerfconduits Si is led to `the conduits of platform Asection Plb, damper i3 being ordinarily adjusted to cause a back pressure while still permitting of some escape. j

The heated air, thus-supplied, rises and spreads throughout the stack, or at least the lower vulner-able portion thereof, lateral escape directly at'the bottom of .the stack being minimized by the imperforate marginal portions which the bottom outside bags overlie. Directlateral escape is minimized throughout the height of the stack due to the close stacking of the outside bags. The best totalpermeati-on is secured when the stack is not too high in relation to its width. The air now is indicated by the arrows in Figures 2, 4, 6,

and '7.l

Thus, the heated. air delivered substantially throughout the bottom area of the stack is caused' torise and spread through the stack with an eX- tremely efcient heat transfer to the bag c011- For thejbest results,v the outside tiers T and T6 are closely stacked, fthat tents and an air temperature is .maintainable in and around the stack such that thesugar can be kept at the required temperature. In short, the stack is enveloped in a heated atmosphere, hottest atl the bottom, the sides and top of the envelope deriving from the air which shades downwardly in temperature as it rises and spreads through. the stach and escapes therefrom. The blower intake, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, is near the height to which the stack is intended to be built so that the air at this level will be taken in and re-circulated. As above stated, the conditionand temperature of the heated air are such that the relative humidity is maintainable below 60% and the sugar at a temperature .tdprevent hygroscopic section thereof. If these conditions are maintained, the sugar can be stored indennitely with noA cakng whatever. Y Also, asfthe temperature of the room-air outsideof the-stack is only about that of the heated sugar, the temperature in the room is relatively comfortable, in contrast to any system that relies upon sufciently heating the room as the sole medium for heating the sugar.

Loading out of the stack may begin at its foot end. When the final section SIB has been unloaded, the section can be removed and damper 43 associated with the end of section S|5, and so on, and damper 56 appropriately adjusted. If the platform were not made in removable sections, it would be desirable to cover over the unloaded section to prevent waste of heat and unnecessary heating of the room atmosphere.

Where the platform is of any considerable length, the stepped construction, which has been described, is desirable for proper heat distribution, but the invention is not limited to this arrangement. On the other hand, in the case of an exceptionally long platform more steps could obviously be provided.

It is contemplated that the system may be used for the storage and treatment of other materials packaged in air pervious bags, for example, gran- -ular material such as cereal grains and legumes. If it is merely a question of drying, the heater unit can be turned off or omitted and air drying chambers may be provided in connection with the blower intake or output in known manner. If desired, fumigants or insecticides can be introduced into the blower intake chambers for the treatment of the stacked material. Generally speaking, the new system is designed for the supply of any gaseous conditioning medium to stacked bagged material. n

In Figure 8, the stacking arrangement differs from that of Figure 2 in that a space 59 is left between the stacked bags on the foot and head portions of the platformthat is, separate stacks are built on the two portions. The adjacent stack ends are closely stacked in overlying relation to the imperforate margins, but additional lateral air escape results as indicated by the arrows.

Assuming proper warehousing conditions with the room atmosphere adequately heated, the part of the stack vulnerable to hygroscopic action -rarely reaches a height of more than eight feet from the door, with the bottom bags and lower core portion of the stack the most vulnerable of all. Therefore, as a matter of actual necessity, the upward distribution and diffusion of the heated air need not ordinarily be extended above about the 11th orr12th layer up from the floor. Using my hereinbefore described preferred stacking procedure (close, normal, and loose), it can be terminated at the eleventh or twelfth layer, or thereabout, and the added layers superimposed solely by normal stacking.

In order to promote diffusion in the lower part of the stack I may utilize the stacking systems illustrated in Figures 9 to 14. Referring to Figures 9 to 11, reference numeral 19 designates a single-level duct platform in accordance with the invention and reference numeral 1| a stack of bagged material thereon. Reference numeral 12 designates chimney-like spaces left in the central portion of the shaft and extending from the perforate mat up to the tenth or twelfth layer, or thereabout, with the layers thereabove in normal stacking relation. In Figures 12 to 14 the arrangement is similar except that a continuous elongated space or chimney 13 is left in the central portion of the stack. y The purpose of these two stacking patterns is to permit easier movement upwardly and, thence,

the latter.

8, horizontally outwardly, of the heated air rst injected under the bottom bags. In all cases care must be taken to prevent depriving the bottoms of the bottom bags of a full spread of the injected highly heated air, especially with respect to the bags remote from the duct inlets.

In Figure 15 I have shown a modified design of platform insuring adequate delivery of heated air lengthwise throughout an elongated stack. In this case, bottom stringers as at 14 support a solid floor 15, say for half their length from the head box 16, the floor being composed of spaced slats 16 with closure blocks 11 throughout the remainder of the length of the stringers. Stringers 18 supported on the platform above stringers 14 extend the full length of the latter and support a slatted mat 19 which extends from end to end of the stringers and includes the lateral closure blocks. In this manner, upper and lower series of ducts extending throughout the length of the platform are provided, both being controllable by an apportioning damper 8|) and an end damper 8|. The upper series of conduits deliver throughout through mat 19 whereas the lower series carries the gaseous medium, heated or not, past the solid oor 15 before upward delivery occurs, thus insuring adequate supply under the far end of the stack.

In Figure 16 I have shown an air delivery and treating system of preferred design. As hereinbefore mentioned, it is desirable once the stacks have been built to establish quickly the required temperature-humidity effect, although once this has been established, relatively little heat is required in the case of idle storage. It has also been stated that if during idle storage the absolute humidity is in excess of the ratio of one pound of water to seven hundred cubic feet of room atmosphere, the excess should be removed. During the hottest period of the year with the roof of the warehouse directly subject to the heat of the sun during the afternoon hours, and in sustained idle storage, air from the upper part of the room may be drawn from, without need of being additionally heated. But generally it is preferable to draw the room air into the heater from the Zone adjacent the floor since the hotter air of the upper room atmosphere is serving a useful purpose. The arrangement shown in Figure 16 illustrates a means for applying the a1- ternatives.

In that figure, the blower 45, compartments 46 and 41, and distributor 54 are the same as before. Arranged in connection with the intake end of compartment 41 is a conduit 9|) in which are arranged independent heaters, here shown as two electrical heating units 9| and 92 of which the former has a greater heating capacity than Reference numeral 93 designates a manually operable switch connecting the power line with a control switch 94 for unit 9|, andy reference numerals 95 and 99 designate, respectively, a humidostat and a thermostat in joint control of the switch 94. With the control instruments set as required, switch 94 will remain closed until both settings are satisfied, whereupon the switch will open. The power line is in connection with unit 92 through a manually operable switch 91.

In connection with the inlet end of conduit 9U is a box 98 having an end opening 99 and a bottom opening |90. Beneath box 98 is -a box |0|, illustrative of any suitable drying means, containing a desiccant, for example silica gel, and

directly below opening 99 box |0| has anopening I 02-1of the same size. Ashere shown, opening: L .isLclosed .by .a .slide IML-and opening4 L02 isclosedbyaslideild. v

i f A conduit'. |05. .hasan .opeiriend adjacent the oor and: extends .upwardly-` in. communication with openings. v$39 .and v|025'. MOpposite opening 99 conduit |05j has .an opening |06 shown as closed by a slide |01. Below the level of opening |02 cond-uit |05 is equippedlwith a slide |08=shown in open position-but adapted to-'close ofE the conduit.

Assiinfing` that storage conditions are@ be. BS- tablisbed after thebuil'dins. :of `the stachwitches .93"andy91f are.v closest and! withth .Slide vaVeS arranged asshown, air will be drawn upwardly through conduit from Iadjacent `thelfloor 'and willn pass to theheatersthrcughgbox gli, icy-pass- .ing the drying means im'. Bothotthe heating Units are activ ,but as sooniasv the Y ceriditions are dS.tablished for which instrumentsil'fa'nd Se, or the stack thermostat, are set-heating glunit 91| will be cut out while unit 92 willc'ont-inue to supply the predetermined relatively small amount of heat necessary to maintain the condition, blower 45 remaining in operation until the supervisor manually shuts olic the blower and secondary heater after determining that even the operation of the idler heater is no longer necessary for the time being. The blower may be operated with or Without the operation of either or both heaters but neither heater will be operated unless the blower is also operating.

If it is desired to draw air from the upper part of the room, slide |08 is closed and slide |07 is moved downwardly to free opening |06, Regardless of whether air is being admitted through the top or the bottom conduit inlet, it can be made to pass through the drying means by moving slide |03 to the right to free opening |00 and by moving slide S04 upwardly to free opening ld? and close opening 99. As indicated, conduit |05 is disposed at the end of the aisle between two adjacent stacks and, hence, ,does not interfere with stacking and unstacking operations,

The stacks have been shown herein as hori- Zontally elongated, this enabling the localization of the heater-blower means along only one wall, simplifying installation, and conserving space. 'Ihe stacking could, of course, be arranged on square bases, but this would require the installatcin of numerous heater-blower units or elaborate air ducts either of which might obstruct handling operations and would sacrifice storage space. Moreover, in the case cf stacking on a square cr nearly square base, the bags would have to be removed from the top'in loading out, whereas by stacking as illustrated in the drawings, the bags may be loaded out either by removing from the top or from the end remote from the source of heat injection, end removal being preferable.

As stated at the outset, the bag material is ordinarily an air-pervious textile fabric. Attempts have been made to use impervious bagging, but however impervious the material mal7 be, it has been practically impossible to keep it absolutely air-tight after handling and stacking the filled bags.

Any bag to the contents of which air has subsequent access in any manner is considered herein to be air pervious and, hence, subject to treatment in accordance with the invention.

lt will be understood that the disclosure hercin is intended to be illustrative and that variations in procedure and in the construction, and

10 arrangementifoffi parts@ are contemplated under the claims which follow.

Iclaiin: t,

l. In combination, a storage room having a door through which "-bagged.- material can be loaded in or out, a rst plurality of stringers disposeddn parallel relation on. lthe roomwiioorjand Vspaced jfromthe room' walls ,fa "mperfora'tef'cov- @rrg'llsupported by the stringersiland extending tramp-,erregend thereof' a., distant? Shdrt 0f, the other .fend thereof, a perforateinat supported by thclstringels and extending from the inner end ofjsaidjcovering to said other endof thes'tringers 'forniesupporr of the bagged material instacked relation, a second plurality ,ot stringers supported by thenrststringers therea'bpvaand in parallel relation thereto, the second'stringers .extending from s aicl` one end ofY 'the r's'tsftringerstdfthe inner `end `of said covering, ,a "p, rforate matsupported; bysaid second stringersjpr thesupport Qfgithdibagged material in sytackedvrelation', eigtlst duct means being defined between said first stringers and a second duct means being defined between said second stringers for the delivery of a gaseous conditioning medium through the mat perforations substantially throughout the bottom area of bagged material stacked thereon, and means for supplying a gaseous conditioning medium under pressure to both of said duct means at said one end.

2. In combination, a storage room having a door through which bagged material can be loaded in or out, a first plurality of stringers disposed in parallel relation on the room iloor and spaced from the room walls, an imperforate covering supported by the stringers and extending from one end thereof a distance short of the other end thereof, a perforate mat supported by the stringers and extending from the inner end of said covering to said other end of the stringers for the support of the bagged material in stacked relation, a second plurality of stringers supported by the first stringers thereabove and in parallel relation thereto, the second stringers extending from said one end of the rst stringers to the inner end of said covering, a perforate mat supported by said second stringers for the support of the bagged material in stacked relation, a rst duct means being defined between said first stringers and a second duct means being defined between said second stringers for the delivery of a gaseous conditioning medium through the mat perforations substantially throughout the bottom area of bagged material stacked thereon, means for supplying a gaseous conditioning medium under pressure to both of said duct means at said one end, and means at the other end of each of said duct means providing for restricted escape of said medium from the duct means.

3. Structure according to claim l wherein said mats have imperforate marginal portions adapted to be overlaid by the bags 4whereby to minimize lateral escape of the gaseous medium at the bottom of the stack.

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein means is provided for apportioning the supplied gaseous medium between the two duct means.

5. Structure according to claim 2 wherein means is provided for apportioning the supplied gaseous medium between the two duct means.

JOSEPH GRENVILLE MELLEN.

(References on following page;

11 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of ythis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Number m 414,037

Name Date Carson Apr. 6, 1937 Colby et al. June 6, 1939 Campbell May 13, 1941 Pirnie Aug. 5, 1941 Skinner Apr. 7, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 24, 1934 OTHER REFERENCES Barn Hay Drier; Agricultural Engineering Publication No. 6, Agricultural Engineering Development Division, Commerce Department, T. V. A.; Knoxville, Tennessee. Page 20 relied on.

Sugar Handbook; Spencer and Meade, Eighth edition. Pages 242, 243, 273 and 274 relied on.

Drying and Processing of Materials by Means of Conditioned Air, published by Carrier Engineering` Corp., Newark, N. J., pages 59, 169 and `170 relied on.

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