Opinion of the Court.

and also fit over a similar one below. For the lighter forms of driers I propose to make these trays of the ordinary sieves, or build them in the same manner, with perhaps two or more braces beneath the foraminated bottom, to give it sufficient

strength to support the weight of fruit. K is the main body of the tray, having a surrounding hoop, L. The several trays being of one size (save the uppermost, to be hereinafter described), it will be observed that each one will form a section of the wall of the drier, no matter what its position, and that this wall may be increased in height as much as desired or found necessary.

Opinion of the Court.

"A is a crane and B a rope or chain running over it and controlled by the windlass O. From the cross-bars C the ropes or chains G depend, and these are made to suspend the drier through the medium of the handles II HI, &c., upon each tray. In order to prevent the drier from tipping when elevated, three or more handles should be employed in connection with a corresponding number of chains or ropes, G.

I

K

Fig. 4.

"At M is shown an iron ring, supported slightly above the top of the stove N, and upon which the lower tray rests. The drier is built up as follows: Fruit having been suitably disposed in a tray, the hooks upon the lower ends of the ropes G are placed under two or more of the handles II H, on the lowermost tray of the drier already over the stove, and the whole is elevated, by means of the windlass O, a trifle more than the depth of one tray. The fresh tray is then placed upon the ring M, and those above lowered upon it, being so guided by the hands that the hoop of the one to which the ropes are attached will fit over the top of the one placed thereunder. In this way the drier may be built as high as desired by the successive introduction of trays below. The swinging crane and windlass combined is regarded as the simplest means likely to be employed for elevating the drier.

"As the drying progresses and the trays are elevated, the fruit therein becomes more and more compact or shrivelled up, leaving a comparatively free passage for the heated air through the body of the drier, in consequence of which very

VOL. CXX-27

Opinion of the Court.

much of said air would pass off without accomplishing the work intended, and, the partially-cured fruit occupying considerably less space than the fresh, it is desirable that one or more smaller-sized trays be provided for its reception. Upon the top of the uppermost of the main series of trays I place a flange, F, having a circular opening, with upwardly-projecting collar, over which flange is located the tray E, made in all respects similar to those below save as to its size. This flange serves to contract the flue formed by the series of trays below, and, if the partially-dried fruit be placed in the tray

Fig. 5.

E, it will partially retard the flow of the air, and thus utilize so much thereof as would otherwise be wasted in the completion of the drying process. Above the flange F any number of small trays, E, may be placed, being matched one upon the other in a manner similar to those below.

"Within each tray I propose to place a metallic lining, t t, (preferably of bright tin,) the object of which is to protect the wood of the trays from heat and prevent moisture from penetrating the same.

"In Fig. 2 the series of trays forming the dry-house is shown as located over a large furnace placed below the flooring Q. This form is intended for the larger sizes of dry-houses, and is not different in principle or construction from that already described, except in that no hoops are illustrated as being placed upon the trays. These may be connected or matched with each other by any desirable and appropriate means.