Improvements in Centrifugal Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Machines.
I, MARIE JEAN LÉON MARIE, of La Martinique, West Indies, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved continuous-acting centrifugal machine for
use in sugar making in which the layer of sugar introduced at top is caused to pass
in a downward direction through the machine without variation in form or thickness
and whatever may be the size of grain to be treated or obtained, which is the reverse
to what takes place in similar machines hitherto employed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical section, and Figure 2 a plan,
of my improved apparatus. Figure 3 shews a detail of the method of jointing the
helical blade to the drum and Figures 4 and 5 shew longitudinal and transverse
sections of the perforated casing or basket, the three latter figures being drawn on
a larger scale. The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the
figures.
The apparatus consists of a rotating perforated basket H within which revolves
a drum K encircled by a helical blade N between which and the basket the mass of
sugar, which is introduced in a continuous manner, at the shoot L, passes.
Both the basket and drum are made of cylindrical form, the advantage of which
is that the layer of sugar once formed at top travels downward between the basket H
and drum K without change of form or variation in thickness and is conducted
continuously by the screw bladed drum without any disturbance, whereas in the
conical form of apparatus the sugar introduced at top of a given thickness is
distributed over a gradually increasing circumference which continually varies in
thickness causing a constant disturbance of the layer of sugar and forcing the grains
to slide one on the other.
The screw bladed drum K is driven by a belt on pulley A. The basket H is
driven through the aid of friction wheels B D fast on their axis by the friction
wheel C. By slightly varying the diameters of wheels A and C a slight difference
of speed of the drum and basket is obtained, as desired. The contact of the
wheels B D is ensured by mounting them in an eccentric bearing M which is capable
of adjustment by means of the screw E.
By a suitable modification of the framing, the wheel C may be driven direct by
the belt.
The friction pulleys above described for producing these slightly varying speeds of
rotation may in certain cases be advantageously replaced by screw-gearing in order
to obtain (1) perfect adhesion (2) an absolutely constant ratio between the speeds
of the basket and drum (3) absolute regularity in the passage of the sugar through,
and its delivery from, the apparatus. When screw-gearing is employed in lieu of
friction pulleys, the wheels may be mounted in the same position as the friction
pulleys before described or upon outside brackets having conical bearings, to com-
pensate for wear. When screw gearing is employed, the eccentric pressure lever M
would be dispensed with.
The steam supplied by pipe V is injected into the apparatus at V1. The separa-
tion of the drainings is effected by gravity at spouts 1 and 2. The direction of
rotation should be such as to cause the screw bladed drum to draw in air at the
bottom; the steam injected will thus produce its maximum effect at V₁ and be then
carried in an upward direction by the air current, with reduced intensity, for

page_text: reheating the mass of sugar which is cooled before leaving the apparatus by the
current of air introduced at bottom through apertures in the foot-step bearing of
the drum.
A1
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Machines.
I, MARIE JEAN LÉON MARIE, of La Martinique, West Indies, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to an improved continuous-acting centrifugal machine for
use in sugar making, in which the layer of sugar formed or deposited at the upper
part of the machine is caused to travel downwards through the machine without
variation in form or thickness whatever may be the size of grain to be treated or
obtained, which is the reverse to what takes place in centrifugal machines hitherto
employed.
Reference is to be had to the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specifica-
tion, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical section and Figure 2 a plan of my
improved centrifugal machine. Figure 3 shews a detail of the joint of the helical
blade, and Figures 4 and 5 shew longitudinal and transverse sections of the per-
forated cylinder or basket, the three latter figures being drawn on a larger scale.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
The apparatus consists of a rotating perforated cylinder or basket H within which
revolves a drum K encircled by a helical blade N, the mass of
sugar introduced in
a continuous manner at the shoot L passing into the space between the drum and
the basket. Both the basket and drum are made of cylindrical form, the advantage
of which is that the layer of sugar once formed at the upper part travels down
between the basket H and drum K without change of form or variation in thickness,
the screw blade conducting it continuously downward without any disturbance,
whereas, in the conical form of apparatus, the layer of sugar is distributed over a
gradually increasing circumference with a continual variation of thickness, causing a
constant disturbance of the layer of sugar and forcing the grains to slide one on the
other. The screw-bladed drum K is driven directly by a belt on pulley A in the
same direction, whilst the basket H is driven through friction wheels B, D, C. By
slightly varying the diameters of wheels A and C, the difference of speed of the
drum and basket, necessary to produce the above described motion of the layer of
sugar, is obtained. The contact of the wheels BD with wheels A. C is ensured by
mounting their shaft in an eccentric bushing M adjustable by means of the
screw E.
The friction gear may in certain cases be advantageously replaced by skew toothed
gear in order to prevent slip, obtain a constant ratio between the speeds of the
basket and drum, and absolute regularity in the passage of the sugar through, and
its delivery from, the apparatus. The gear wheels may be mounted in the same way
as the friction pulleys or upon outside brackets having conical bearings to compen-
sate for wear, the eccentric bushing M being dispensed with. Instead of either form
gear, the wheel C might be driven direct by a belt.
of
Steam supplied through pipe V is injected into the apparatus at V₁ and the
separation of the drainings is effected at spouts 1 and 2.
The direction of rotation should be such as to cause the screw drum to draw in
air at the bottom; the steam injected will thus produce its maximum effect at V₁

page_text: and be then carried upwards by the air current for heating the sugar which is cooled
before leaving the apparatus by the incoming current of air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described cylindrical continuous-acting centrifugal machine consisting
of a rotating helical-bladed drum within a cylindrical perforated basket rotating in
the same direction as, but at a different speed from, the helically-bladed drum, so
that the latter will carry the layer of sugar continuously downwards without dis-
turbance or variation of its thickness, substantially as specified.
2. The herein described continuous-acting cylindrical centrifugal machine com-
prising a helically-bladed drum operating as described in combination with a
perforated cylindrical basket, wherein a jet of steam is introduced and an upward
current of air induced by the action of the helical blade whereby the steam is
carried upwards and the sugar cooled before its exit, substantially as specified
car 1 1001
UL VATIVI
M. J. L. MARIE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.