The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-09-04
THE RECIPROCITY CENTRIFUGAL.

In our last issue we noticed the importation of
n new style centrifugal machine by Colonel Z. S.
Spaldmg, and promised to give our readers the
benefit of our opinion when we should have seen
the machine under motion. We yesterday paid
a visit to the establishment of Mr.. j. A. Hopper,
on Fort street, where Colonel Spalding has had
the new centrifugal set up and attached to the
shaft which serves to drive the several machines
in Mr.. HOpper's Brass and Iron Works. This
shaft is run by a light belt, not over two inches
wide in places, which connects with the main
power in the keg establishment naakai, and is not
intended for heavy work. But we found the
reciprocity centrifugal (s it is called) running
at as high rate of speed as the size Of the driving
pulley would permit, and without interfering
with the power required by Mr.. Hopper for the
regular work of bis lathes, planners, &c. This
was conclusive to us that the centrifugal required
much less power to run it than is necessary in
the ordinary style of sugar drying machines, and
would thus be n saving in the item Of steam,
which every planter will appreciate.
Without being conversant with the technical
terms used by machinists, we may describe the
machine under notice, as follows \ nearly
square, substantial iron frame, which goes to-
gether with screw-bolts and may be placed upon
even an ordinary solid floor, serves to hold in
position not only the centrifugal machine itself
but also the gearing by means of which it is
worked,-a great advantage in setting up the
machine in a sugar house, as the power may he
applied from any direction, and no heavy beams
or uprights are required. The "tub" is of
wrought and cast iron, and is suspended by
means of three strong arms, entirely out of the
way of the person tending the machine, and is
held in position by four rubber bands which
admit of q certain amount Of lateral motion in
starting the machine and before it acquires its
full speed and equilibrity. As the q basket " is
set or stepped in the tub, as we'll as suspended
from the top by means of q spindle, these rubber
bands serve to steady the machine in starting
the work of two men in using the suspended CEN
trifugal manufactured by Weston. In fact, the
centrifugal exhibited by Colonel Spalding COM
prises the principles of both styles of machine
heretofore used in this country, without violating
the laws governing either, and seems to be the
perfection of mechanical ingenuity.
The . gearing" to which We referred, consists
of a horizontal shaft, also held in position by the
iron frame, upon one end of which is placed the
driving pulley, where the power is applied. This
shaft also carries the driving-wheel, from which n
three inch belt runs to the top of the spindle,
changing direction by means of a tightening pull
ley, and furnishing the motion required. This
d~riving-wheel is SO arranged that by means of a
patent clutch it can be made to run with tie
shaft or remain stationary while the shaft con-
tinues to ~rev0lve, and is under the control of the
man tending the machine, who has only to move
an iron lever, within easy reach, to apply or shut
off the power to any one machine without inter-
fering with any of the others that may be at
tached to the same shaft. Then a " brake "
upon the upper part Of the spindle, serves TO stop
the revolving basket almost instantly.
The basket has four openings in the bottom,
through which the dry sugar is discharged, and
the molasses runs off through Il pipe as in ordi-
nary machines. 1t can be cleaned by means of
water or steam, introduced through an opening
on one side, by simply turning a cock. From its
arrangement it is impossible to hurst it, and there
is no more danger attending its running than
from a sewing machine.
With proper facilities for charging and dis
charging, and working good, free vacuum pan
melado, the reciprocity centrifugal is capable of
drying one thousand pounds Of sugar in an hour,
and one man can attend to two machines without
the least trouble or loss of time. Altogether we
regard this invention as one of great value in 4
country like ours, where the scarcity of labor is
the great drawback to our national industry
and We but give expression to the favorable judg-
ment passed upon it by all our practical engineers
when we advise our planter friends to see it for
themselves.