IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF REFINED SUGAR AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Allen of Stepney in the County of Middlesex for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF REFINED SUGAR
AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Allen at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1883.
JOSEPH ALLEN of Stepney in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF REFINED SUGAR AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN.
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of refined sugar and
in apparatus to be used therein.
As is well known, the impurities which contaminate raw sugar, and render
necessary the
process of refining, exist for the most part in the form of a coating of
syrup on the exterior of the grains, which may be removed by washing with steam
or water in a centrifugal apparatus. The ordinary method of refining raw sugar
is to dissolve it in hot water, separate mechanical impurities from it by filtration,
decolorize by passing it through animal charcoal, and concentrate in the vacuum
pan to re-crystallize the sugar.
This process of purifying the raw sugar is costly, as it requires a large piant with
its attendant expenses, and the granulation of the sugar in the vacuum pan
requires great skill and care, particularly the formation of the first grains, the
ultimate result depending entirely on the proper formation of the first granulation.
Attempts have been made to accelerate the formation of grain by the introduction
of grain sugar into the vacuum pan either before the boiling operation or between
successive boiling operations, but with uncertain and unsatisfactory results, as no
provision existed for maintaining the vacuum at the moment of such introduction,
and consequently the boiling was liable to cease at a moment when it was essential
to maintain it.
According to my invention, I introduce raw or refined grain or crystal sugar
into the vacuum pan in such a manner as to avoid the difficulty and uncertainty
hitherto experienced in forming suitable grain from the solution in the vacuum

page_text: .
pan, and I effect thereby a considerable saving of time, and obtain with greater
certainty a better grained sugar than has hitherto been obtained by the ordinary
method of manufacture.
Moreover, if raw sugar is thus introduced into the vacuum pan, the ordinary
method of refining may be dispensed with, as the liquor in the pan which has been
purified in the ordinary way will rapidly remove the adhering syrup containing
the impurities, and when sufficiently concentrated, would deposit pure sugar on the
grains, the impurities being removed with the syrup by means of draining or
centrifugal action.
In manufacturing refined sugar, according to my improved process, I draw a
suitable quantity of sugar liquor into the vacuum pan, and when it is sufficiently
concentrated, I introduce the grain or crystal sugar into the vacuum pan by means
of special apparatus to be presently described, and in such a manner that any
desired or regulated charge or charges of sugar may be admitted to the pan at the
discretion of the operator, without breaking the vacuum or arresting the boiling
operation.
By this method of introducing the sugar, the grain is immediately disseminated
evenly throughout the liquor by the ebullition of the liquor itself, and does not fall
in a mass to the bottom of the pan, or gather in clots, as it would be liable to do,
were the vacuum broken and the boiling temporarily arrested.
Successive charges of sugar liquor are drawn into the pan until it becomes full
and a sugar of the desired kind or grain is produced, or a part of the contents of
the vacuum pan may be discharged, and the operation of adding fresh liquor and
boiling continued.
The apparatus by which I am enabled to carry out my improved process of
manufacturing sugar consists, in addition to the ordinary and well known plant, of
a vessel preferably of cylindrical form and of a tapering shape at its lower
extremity, which is fixed to the upper part of the vacuum pan, and is provided
with a valve, cock, or equivalent mechanical device for regulating the discharge of
the contents of the vessel into the vacuum pan.-This vessel is fitted with a suitable
movable air tight cover, slide, or valve, by which the air may be entirely excluded,
and with a small pet cock or tap for admitting small quantities of air to facilitate,
when necessary the discharge of the sugar into the vacuum pan, or to entirely
destroy the vacuum when the air tight cover requires to be removed.
The air tight cover or valve preferably fitted with a washer of rubber or
équivalent material.
By the use of this apparatus, regular charges of grain sugar may be added to the
contents of the vacuum pan as often as may be desired, without breaking the
vacuum and interrupting the boiling of the sugar,
By the above described means, a marketable refined sugar can be produced with
greater certainty, cheapness, and ease than has been possible hitherto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Allen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th November
1883.
JOSEPH ALLEN of Stepney in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF REFINED SUGAR AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN
"
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of refined sugar and
in apparatus to be used therein.
As is well known, the impurities which contaminate raw sugar and render
necessary the process of refining exist for the most part in the form of a coating of
syrup on the exterior of the grains which may be removed by washing with steam
or water in a centrifugal apparatus. The ordinary method of refining raw sugar
is to dissolve it in hot water separate mechanical impurities from it by filtration,
decolorize by passing it through animal charcoal, and concentrate in the vacuum
pan to recrystallize the sugar.
This process of purifying the raw sugar is costly, as it requires a large plant
with its attendant expenses, and the granulation of the sugar in the vacuum pan
requires great skill and care particularly the formation of the first grains; the
ultimate result depending entirely on the proper formation of the first granulation.
Attempts have been made to accelerate the formation of grain by the introduction
of grain sugar into the vacuum pan either before the boiling operation, or between
successive boiling operations, but with uncertain and unsatisfactory results as no
provision existed for maintaining the vacuum at the moment of such introduction,
and consequently the boiling was liable to cease at a moment when it was essential
to maintain it.
According to my Invention I introduce raw or refined grain or crystal sugar
into the vacuum pan in such a manner as to avoid the difficulty and uncertainty
hitherto experienced in forming suitable grain from the solution in the vacuum
pan, and I effect thereby a considerable saving of time and obtain with greater
certainty a better grained sugar than has hitherto been obtained by the ordinary
method of manufacture.
Moreover if raw sugar is thus introduced into the vacuum pan the ordinary
method of refining may be dispensed with as the liquor in the pan which has been.
purified in the ordinary way will rapidly remove the adhering syrup containing
the impurities and when sufficiently concentrated will deposit pure sugar on the
grains the impurities being removed with the syrup by means of draining or
centrifugal action.
In manufacturing refined sugar according to my improved process I draw a
suitable quantity of sugar liquor into the vacuum pan and when it is sufficiently
concentrated I introduce the grain or crystal sugar into the vacuum pan by means
of special apparatus to be presently described and in such a manner that any
desired or regulated charge or charges of sugar may be admitted to the pan at the
discretion of the operator without breaking the vacuum or arresting the boiling
operation.
.
By this method of introducing the sugar the grain is immediately disseminated
evenly throughout the liquor by the ebullition of the liquor itself, and does not fall
in a mass to the bottom of the pan or gather in clots as it would be liable to do
were the vacuum broken and the boiling temporarily arrested.
Successive charges of sugar liquor are drawn into the pan until it becomes full
and a sugar of the desired kind or grain is produced; or a part of the contents of
the vacuum pan may be discharged and the operation of adding fresh liquor and
boiling continued.

page_text: .
The apparatus by which I am enabled to carry out my improved process of
manufacturing sugar is illustrated in elevation in the accompanying drawing and
consists of a vessel A preferably of cylindrical form and of a tapering shape at its
lower extremity which is fixed to the upper part of the vacuum pan B, and is
provided with a valve, cock or equivalent mechanical device, C, for regulating the
discharge of the contents of the vessel into the vacuum pan.-This vessel A is
fitted with a suitable movable air-tight cover, slide or valve, D, by which the air
may be entirely excluded; and the cover is fitted with a small pet-cock or tap d
for admitting air in small quantities to facilitate, when necessary, the discharge of
the sugar into the vacuum pan, or to entirely destroy the vacuum when the airtight
cover D requires to be removed.
.
To render the cover or valve D airtight it is preferably fitted with a washer of
rubber or equivalent material d¹.
The cylindrical vessel A is also provided with an airtight glazed slit a, or
inspection glass, and with a scale adjacent thereto for the purpose of enabling the
operator to regulate with precision the quantity of crystals admitted to the
vacuum pan.
By the use of this apparatus which forms an addition to the ordinary and well-
known plant, regular charges of grain sugar may be added to the contents of the
vacuum pan as often as may be desired, without breaking the vacuum and
interrupting the boiling of the sugar.
By the above described nieans a marketable refined sugar can be produced with
greater certainty cheapness and ease than has been possible hitherto.
. Having now set forth the nature of my said Invention of "Improvements in the
manufacture of refined sugar and in apparatus to be used therein " and explained
in what manner the same may be carried into practical effect, I wish it to be
understood that I claim -
:
First As an improvement in the process of manufacturing refined sugar, the
introduction of successive charges of sugar into the vacuum pan during the boiling
operation without breaking the vacuum or arresting the boiling of the liquor, in
the manner above set forth, whereby the immediate dissemination of the charge of
raw or refined grain or crystal sugar throughout the liquor is automatically
effected, and the formation of the grain within the vacuum pan is accelerated.
Secondly The apparatus described with reference to the accompanying drawing,
by means whereof a charge or charges of raw or refined grain or crystal sugar may
be introduced at the discretion of the operator and in regulated quantities, into the
vacuum pan during the boiling operation, without breaking the vacuum
interrupting the boiling of the liquor therein.
or
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Allen have hereunto set my hand and
seal the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.