Tobacco curer

June 1, 1937. g. e. hodgin 2,082,289

TOBACCO CURER

Filed Nov. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Ejum'e Hod&amp;n

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June 1, 1937. g. e. hodgin 2,082,289

TOBACCO CURER

Filed Nov. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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dd/mis Id i'-fodnin

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Patented June 1, 1937

2,082,289

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,082,289

TOBACCO CUBEB

Gurule E. Hodgin, Goldsboro, N. C.

Application November 24, 1936, Serial No. 112,589

Claims.

This invention is directed to an apparatus for curing tobacco in the use of which the tobacco when cured is of a desirable bright and golden color with full maintenance of its light tissue.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus wherein the barn or other housing in which the tobacco is stored is appropriately heated by the circulation of a dry heated medium, the source of heat for 10 which is located entirely beyond the bam to avoid the possibility of fire in the bam.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby air brought to a requisite temperature by the heating unit is circuit lated more or less freely in the bam structure and wherein the air in the barn is further heated by the circulation of a heated liquid medium with the source of heat in the heating unit·.

The invention is illustrated in the accompany20 ing drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly broken out, Illustrating the improved tobacco curing apparatus.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the heating 25 unit showing the means for delivering heated air for circulation within the barn and the means for heating water to be circulated through a pipe. arrangement in the barn for heating the air therein.

Figure 3 is a broken perspective view showing the upper end of the heating drum.

Figure 4 is a broken perspective view of the barn showing the pipes for the circulation of the heated liquid.

The improved apparatus comprises a barn I or other appropriate enclosed area, in the upper portion of which by means of racks 2, the hands of tobacco 3 are suspended in the conventional manner. Located beyond the barn is a heating 40 unit shown more particularly in Figure 2. This unit includes a fire-box 4 which may be of any desired or conventional type using either coal, wood or oil for fuel, with the primary purpose of creating sufficient heat units for the purpose.

Overlying the fire-box and open to the products of combustion therein is an elongated casing 5 through which the products of combustion pass to a flue or chimney 6. Within and spaced in all directions from the casing 5 is a heating 50 drum 7, the air in which is highly heated by the products of combustion which completely envelop the drum. The upper end of the drum communicates with an outlet hot air pipe through which the heated air in the drum is directed to the interior of the barn. This outlet pipe 8 (Cl. 131—6) extends vertically from the drum and then laterally at 9 to and within the barn below the tobacco. This length 9 of the outlet pipe 8 is open at the end remote from the heater, as at 10, and is formed in that portion within the 5 barn with a series of openings 11 in order to permit the heated air to escape more or less freely within the bam.

A return pipe 12 presents a length below and substantially parallel to the length 9 of the out- 10 let pipe, being open at the end within the barn at 13 and leading to and communicating with the lower end of the drum 7. Provision is thus made for highly heating the air within the drum, circulating the air through the barn, and 15 returning it to the heater and drum for further heating.

In addition to the heating of air beyond the barn and circulating the same through the bam, provision is made for maintaining the air within the barn at a desired degree through the medium of a circulating pipe medium. Thus, the barn is interiorly provided with connected pipe lengths 15 extending longitudinally of the barn in spaced relation on each side, with return 05 loops 16 from each set of pipe lengths covering the ends of the barn, with such loops at one end leading outwardly from the barn through pipes 17 and 18. The pipe 17 of each set of radiator sections within the barn lead to and communi- ₃₀cate with a coil L9 extending into the fire box and to and closely encircling the drum 7 while the pipes 18 communicate with the opposite end of the coil. Thus, the water is heated by the products of combustion and by the heat of the ₃₅drum 7 and caused to circulate through the radiator pipes in the barn at the lower portion thereof to further heat and dry the air within the barn. The water circulating system is provided with an inlet 30 for replenishing the water 40 in the system when desired, a drain outlet 20, while valves 21 in the water circulating system and dampers 22 in the air circulating system provide for appropriate control of the heating mediums and therefore the control of the heat 45 to which the tobacco is subjected.

In order to utilize as much of the heat as possible for the curing of the tobacco, the casing 5 is surrounded by an auxiliary casing 23 which is arranged in spaced relation to the casing 5 50 to provide an air space 24. The casing 5 extends to and surrounds the fire box. Air is admitted to this space through a controllable door inlet·. 25 at the lower end of the burner, and the space at the upper end is in communication with 55

9,069,986 pipe sections 28 which lead Into the outlet pipe 8 of the air circulating means. Air is thus heated in the space 24 both from passing over the fire and from the wall of the casing I. This 5 heated air is delivered to and augments ^fhe air passing from the drum 7, and thus adds to the volume and heat of such air.

The barn is preferably provided near the upper end with an Opening controlled by a door 21, 10 a similar opening and controlling door 2· being arranged near the bottom of the barn. Any conventional means may be provided for holding the doors in various degrees of opening in order to appropriately ventilate and admit fresh air to 15 the interior of the barn. Of course, the ventilating doors and openings may be arranged at any appropriate points and in any number sufficient to control the ventilation, as may be desired.

From the above it will be noted that the heat20 ing unit, which ordinarily constitutes a considerable fire hazard is located entirely beyond the bam, so that there is no liability of fire. The air within the bam and the air delivered thereto and circulated therein is dry and heated 25 to the desired degree. This eliminates completely the damp, stagnant air in the bam which invariably causes a sweating and sponging of the tobacco with a consequent deterioration of its value. With the use of complete circulation 30 of hot, dry air within the bam, the tobacco is cured to a bright golden color with even less heat requirements than heretofore, with the result that the tobacco retains a material portion of its light tissue which, together with its 35 color, constitutes its value.

Of course, the air circulating pipes will be of sufficient diameter to deliver and circulate an appropriate volume of air, and while the water radiator pipes are shown as located at the lower 40 portion of the bam, they may, if desired, be located at other appropriate points to Insure the best heat transference for the particular work in hand.