IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, APPARATUS, AND PROCESSES FOR EXTRACTING, DEPURATING, FORMING, DRYING, AND EVAPORATING SUBSTANCES
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of the Firm of J. C. Robertson & Co., of 166, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Sixteenth day of
August, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in the thirteenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, ny exors, adñiors, and assigns, and such others as
I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, in the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and
also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, APPARATUS, AND PROCESSES FOR EXTRACTING,
DEPURATING, FORMING, DRYING, AND EVAPORATING SUBSTANCES," Communicated to
me from abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I,
the said Richard Archibald Brooman, should cause a particular description of
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months

page_text: next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, hereby declare that the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Firstly, the said invented improvements have relation to the centrifugal
acting machine, known generally by the name of the hydro-extractor, and have
for their object to render the same more applicable to the extraction of various
substances, and to facilitate the working of the same.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a machine embodying part of these
improvements. A is what is commonly termed the cylinder. It is made of
two concentric drums a², a², which are a little larger in diameter at bottom
than at top. a³ is a flat ring, forming a cover, fastened on the drums a', a,
and extending inwards, as shewn; and E is a lid which covers over the remain-
ing portion. a' is the bottom, and a7 a false bottom. a³, as, are vertical wires
affixed to the inner surface of the inside drum, which reach from the top to a
little below the false bottom a'. These wires serve as supports to a wire gauze
or other reticulated strainer a, introduced within the inner cylinder, but with-
out offering any obstacle to the free passage of the extracted substances down-
wards into the space beneath the false bottom a'. B is the cylinder spindle,
which communicates at one end through a stuffing box C with a steam
generator, and also by a pipe c' with the space between the drums a', a. D is
a tap to the outer drum a! for drawing off the water of condensation. The
drum should be covered with some non-conducting material to prevent the
escape of heat; and D¹, D', are small valves placed opposite to one another,
and fixed in short pipes communicating with the inner drum a², and by which
the extract is drawn off. The substances to be operated upon being put inside
the said double cylinder, which is then partly filled with water, and the lid E
is fastened down and steam admitted between the drums a¹, a³, and a slow
rotary motion given to the machine until such time as the liquid becomes
thoroughly heated. The valve D' is then. opened and the machine caused to
revolve at an increased speed, until-by-the-centrifugal-action-of-the-machine
the liquid containing the extract is completely driven off. The valve D¹ is now
shut, and fresh hot liquid admitted into the cylinder, and the operation pro-
ceeded with as before. The same operation may be repeated until the whole
of the substance to be extracted is obtained.

page_text: When it is desired to 'extract substances without immersion, such as the
saccharine matters from beet root, the wire gauze or strainer must be fixed at
a greater distance from the inner cylinder a² than 'the preceding example, being
supported by suitable framework as fixed to the bottom. In this arrangement
only a small quantity of liquid is put into the cylinder (the substances being'
held from contact with the liquid by the framework), the liquid being quickly
boiled by the admission of steam' between the drums a¹, as; the steam arising
therefrom penetrates the fibres of the substances, and dissolves the matter
required to be exracted, which may be drawn off as before. (If, however, dried
roots or substances are to be operated upon, they should be moistened pre-
viously to being put in the machine); or, when it is desired that the steam
should act directly on the materials in the cylinder without the interven-
tion of liquid, the steam pipe c¹ may be arranged to open into the space
between the inner drum a² and, wire gauze strainer a³. Again, the extraction
may in some cases be effected without the use of the framework or strainer a³;
by making the inner drum a perforated.
.*
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:
Secondly, the said Invention consists of an improved method of working a
pair of centrifugal machines for extracting, depurating, forming, and drying
purposes. The machines, as represented in the sectional elevation Figure 2,
and plan Figure 2, of the Drawings bereunto annexed, are shown as
adapted to purifying purposes. A¹; A, are the cylinders, the outer pans of
which B', B, are bolted upon a common bed plate B³. C', C³, are the
cylinder shafts, on the lower ends of which are fixed cones D', D³. D³, D', aré
two other. cones, the spindles of which D, D, are connected by bevilled
gearing E to the main shaft F, which is put in motion by an oscillating steam
cylinder G. D', D, are loose pulleys on the smaller ends of the cones D³,.D*:
H', H, are belts which cominunicate motion from the cones D³, D', to the
cones D D These belts, are guided along the cones by guide forks H³, H',
which slide up and down upon round bars H, H, by means of bosses K, K,.to
which bosses the endless cord I is fastened, which passes over the four
rollers I; I', and around the pulley I, which is turned by the crank handle L.
Motion is given to the endless cord I by the handle L, which raises the guide
fork of 'one machine while it lowers that of the other. The power that is
accumulated in one machine when at its highest speed is thus transferred
to and assists to get up the speed of the other machine. Suppose, for
example, the cylinder A' to be working at its highest speed; and the
extracting operation' is completed, and that the other 'cylinder A' is ready
loaded for working, at which time the belt H will be at the large end of the

page_text: cone D³, and the belt H* on the loose pulley of the cone D', then, on motion
being given to the guide forks H, H, by turning the crank handle L, the belt H
will descend and give motion to the second cylinder A2; the belt will at the
same time ascend and give off the accumulated power of the cylinder A¹
through the medium of the bevel gearing and main shaft, to assist in driving
the cylinder A. As soon as the belt I comes upon the loose pulley D7 the
accumulated power will have been transferred, and the machine will be ready
for unloading.
Thirdly, to facilitate the discharging or unloading of the machines last
herein-before described, where granular or loosely-divided substances are
operated upon, the following arrangement is adopted. The cylinder spindles
have screw threads cut upon, them at their upper ends, and are fitted with
nuts M1, M2, each of which has a plate N fitted upon it, which is free to turn
round, but it is prevented from coming off its place by a collar formed on the
nut. 0, 0, is a bag of some woven flexible material, the wider end of which is
affixed to the top ring x of the cylinder, the other end of it being fixed to the
plate N. This bag is made of a shape to cause it to fit to the inner periphery
and bottom of the cylinder, and also upon the dome a¹. When the machine has
been brought to a low speed, and the nut M² taken hold of so as to cause it to
rise up the shaft by means of the screw, the bag O will at the same time be drawn
up along with it, as indicated by dotted lines, and the materials thrown out by
the centrifugal action. A suitable receptable ³ should be placed outside the
pan to receive the substances operated upon, and a ring, fastened by ribs to
the pan, for the purpose of guiding the materials into the receptacle.
Fourthly, the said Invention consists in the employment, in extracting, depurat-
ing, and drying machines worked by centrifugal action, of a cylinder of the follow-
ing improved construction:-Figure 3 is an external elevation of this cylinder.
Heretofore the peripheries of these cylinders have generally been made of wire
supported by metal straps fastened on the interior surface, which straps interfere
with the free escape of the fluids. Now this improvement has for its object the
placing the metal straps on the external surface of the periphery, and increasing
the firmness of-the-cylinder_by_ combining diagonal straps therewith. In
making this cylinder wire is first wound in the ordinary way into the form-of-the...
cylinder; a number of upright straps of the form shewn separately, Figure 4, arc
soldered on the outside of the periphery, and rivetted and soldered by the pro-
jection a to the ring B at top, and by the projection a¹ to the bottom c. D, D,
are straps of metal, which can be made considerably lighter than the uprights,
and laid diagonally outside the upright straps, and are fastened to the top and

page_text: bottom of these straps by rivets and soldering, and are further fastened, where
they cross each other, by solder. The other parts of the cylinder are constructed
in the usual manner.
Fifthly, a further improvement in the said centrifugal acting machines
consists in the method of fixing the wire gauze or other strainer so that it may
be readily taken out and again put into its place. The strainer is made a little
longer than the, circumference of the cylinder so as to lap over, and of a
breadth sufficient to reach from the top of the cylinder inside to the bottom of
it, and is fastened by means of two wire rings, one of which is placed at the top
and the other at the bottom of the cylinder. Figure 5 is a plan of one of
these rings. The two ends are joined by a nut, having a right and left hand
thread cut in and screwing upon corresponding threads on the ends of the wire,
so that the ring may be expanded or contracted for the purposes of fixing and
loosening the wire gauze or strainer. The overlapping of the strainer is
further secured by a metal strap laid along the joint, and held on its place by
the rings.
Sixthly, the said Invention consists of a method of forming or moulding
substances, and also, when required, of depurating them at one and
the same time by means of centrifugal agency. Figure 6 is a vertical
section, and Figure 7 a plan of an apparatus suitable for applying this
part of the Invention to the manufacture of sugar. B is a cylindrical
receiver, open at top and closed at bottom, into which the sugar is con-
veyed; b, b, are mouth-pieces in the sides of this receiver, which open
into and support at their small ends a series of sugar forms or moulds D, D,
which are disposed round the cylindrical receiver with their broad ends outer-
most. The receiver turns at bottom in a step B, and at top in a bearing B⁹.
C is a drum, which is fastened at the top and bottom to the outside of the
recciver B, and has openings C', C', in which the larger ends of the forms rest.
The openings C, C', are made a little larger at the top to allow the forms to
enter, and the projection D³ to fall into the ring E. E, E, are a series of rings
of T or angle-shaped iron, held in their places by brackets E' fastened to the
drum C, each ring holding a row of forms D, D, firm, and preventing their
moving outwards. The forms D, D, have at their larger ends two lids, an
outer and an inner. The outer lid D¹ is solid and entirely closes the opening
in the end of the form when screwed up against the inner lid D³ by nuts
D', D. The inner lid is formed of a suitable metal framework, covered with
wire gauze, and fits into a recess in the forms D, D. . It has a round piece of
metal D³ projecting from it, which passes through the outer lid D' and reaches
the ring E, which thus holds it tight upon the form. The entire framework

page_text: of this apparatus consists of a bottom F of the shape shewn, to which a strong
frame F¹ is fixed, carrying the bearing B', and of two moveable sheets of
iron F, F, which are placed in recesses on the form F, and thus forming,
along with the frame F', a casing to inclose the apparatus. G is a pulley
connected with differential cones, which, in work, gradually encrease the
speed of the machine. G₁ is a pipe for conducting the crystallized sugar into
the machine; and F a pipe, by which the purifying liquor ejected out
of the form, as afterwards explained, is carried off. The mode of working
the. machine is as follows:-The forms D, D, and casings F³, F³, being
put in their places, and the lids D', D', screwed up tight, the sugar in
a suitable state is brought through the pipe Gto the receiver B. On
motion,being given to the machine the sugar is forced into the forms by
centrifugal power. The machine is kept at a slow motion until the mass
is set. The lids D', D', are then loosened by slackening the nuts D* to give
passage to the liquid expelled from the forms. The machine is caused to
revolve at a speed suitable to the condition of the sugar to be purified, and as
soon as the syrup contained in, the sugar has been thrown off; a proper quantity
of the liquor used: for purifying is poured into the receiver B, which,. by the
centrifugal power, is equally distributed among the forms and caused to pass
through the sugar. The latter operation is repeated until the sugar is suffi-
ciently purified, when the moulds can be taken out and the sugar.removed.
Instead of forming in the machine, in manner last described, the substances
may be first shaped or moulded in the ordinary way, and when the mass is
sufficiently set the moulds must be placed in the machine, when, by putting
.the machine in motion, the purifying process' may be completed as before.
Seventhly, the said Invention consists of an improved apparatus con-
structed on the same principle as the preceding for giving shape and form to
plastic substances. Figure 8 is an elevation, partly in section, of this arrange-
ment, and Figure 9 a plan. A is a circular plate fixed on the spindle B,
which is supported by proper bearings.. ;A' is a cylindrical drum fitted on the
plate, and fastened thereto by bolts. D is a circular frame fixed inside the
drum A', and fastened to the bottom. A. It is divided into compartments
D, D, which are placed one over the other, these compartments being of the
desired, shape; such, for example, as segments of a circle, as represented in
the Drawings. The working of this machine is as follows:-The material in
a prepared state is introduced into the centre of the drum, and the centrifugal
power imparted, to it by the speed given to the drum the material is forced
into the compartments. When the compartments or forms are filled, any
surplus material must be removed, and the cylindrical drum A' unbolted and

page_text: lifted up, when the substances may be removed from the forms in a moulded
state. The application of this method to other suitable forms and materials
will, from the preceding description, be easily understood. When it is desired
to purify and form at the same time, suitable. arrangements must be made for
allowing the purifying liquor to escape, as in reference to Figures 6 and 7.
Eighthly, the said Invention consists of certain improved methods of
forming, the details of which are represented in Figures 10 and 1.1.
A is a
circular plate which is fastened to a spindle B, as before. A¹ is a cylindrical
drum with an internal flange A2, which is bolted to the plate A. The
patterns C are placed round the periphery of the drum upon sand, and rest
against brick or sand plates C¹, C, which are supported by the drum. The
sand for moulding is poured in gradually while the machine is revolving
rapidly. When the machine is full, and the sand by centrifugal force is
sufficiently pressed on the patterns, the cylindrical drum A¹ is taken up to
remove the patterns and prepare the moulds, suitable channels having been
formed in the sand from the centre to the pattern. The sand plates and
drum A' are now put in their places and metal poured through the channels
into the moulds, and before the setting of the metal a speed, according as it
is desired more or less to solidify the castings, is given to the.drum, whereby
forms of great solidity can be produced.
Ninthly, the said Invention consists of an improved process for depurating
liquid substances and substances in a liquid state by the combined action of
steam and centrifugal motion. Figure 12 is a vertical section of the machine
for effecting such process. A is a steam-tight vessel or chamber; B is a
cylinder of finely perforated metal or wire gauze, and. provided with an
internal flange B' to hold the liquid at top, and with divisions B, B³, for pro-
ducing centrifugál force in the liquid contained in the cylinder in proportion
to the revolving speed. This cylinder turns on a spindle in the middle of the
chamber A, and is made to rotate by any first mover. C.is a pipe by which
the matters to be depurated are conveyed into the cylinder B. The chamber
A being charged with steam, and :oil or other substance beneficially acted
upon by steam conducted into the cylinder B, a rapid motion is given to the
cylinder, which causes the substances within the cylinder to. be dispersed in
minute showers throughout the steam chamber, and to be thereby purified.
A similar process is made applicable to the purification of liquid substances by
the combined action of gasses and centrifugal motion. This may be exem-
plified in the application of this process to the purification of sugar solutions,
when containing.'impurities removable by known gasses, by passing the
solutions through such apparatus as that last described in contact with the

page_text: gas.. The sugar solution to be purified is brought into the cylinder B, as
before, and carbonic acid or sulphurous acid gas is brought into the vessel A;
and the solution, being forced out in a finely divided state, passes in contact
with the gas, as before described with respect to steam, and is thus purified.
Tenth, another improvement in depurating sugars and other matters in
centrifugal filtering machines is by the application of a convenient method of
arranging and introducing such filters. Each filter is formed of a bag of some
woven stuff enclosing a bed or layer of charcoal or some other filtering medium,
and is of a length and breadth sufficient to cover the internal periphery of
the cylinder, and the two sides of it are prevented from separating beyond a
fixed distance, equal to the thickness of the desired bed (of charcoal), by cords
properly adjusted for the purpose, as shewn in Figure 13. At each end of
the bag there are overlapping pieces left, as shewn in plan, Figure 13, which
represents the form it assumes when filled. The bag, after being put in the
cylinder, is fixed in its place by rings .similar to those shewn in Figure 5, and
as employed for fixing the wire gauze strainer. The materials to be purified
are brought into the machine thus fitted, and rotary motion given to the
cylinder by which the purifying is effected. A number of such bags should
be in readiness, so that as soon as one becomes clogged up, its place may be
supplied with a fresh one.
Eleventh, the Invention, in so far as it relates to drying and evaporating
substances, consists of the new arrangement of apparatus, of which Figure 14
is a plan and Figure 15 a cross section. B and C are two enclosed spiral
channels, which are formed of sheet copper. These are made steam-tight at
top and botton by strips of metal soldered in between them. The bottom of
these channels form a regular spiral incline from the centre towards the out-
side, to enable the condensed water to run off by the pipe E, which dips into
a' vessel F, and so prevents the escape of steam. B', B, C, C³, are tubes
joined to the inlet and outlet, as shewn. The tube B is connected to the
exhaust pipe of the engine, and along with the tube B' forms part of the
passage for the escape of the waste steam; F¹ is an air pump or fan connected
to the tube C', the tube C-being-connected with the drying stove. If air be
forced through the channel C, and at the same time the waste steam from the-
engine is passing through the channel B, the heat of the steam is speedily com-
inunicated to the metal partitions of the apparatus, and readily taken up by the
current of air passing through the channel C on its way to the evaporat-
ing or drying stove, and thereby very quickly causes the moisture in the
goods in such stove to be evaporated and the goods dried. Instead of the
waste steam of an engine, steam direct. from a generator may be used, in

page_text: which case, where circumstances admit of it, it will be advantageous to place
the apparatus above the level of the water in the steam generator, when, by
connecting the pipe E with the generator, the condensed water will run back
again into the boiler.
Twelfth, another arrangement for drying and evaporating consists in
combining with the apparatus last described a similar apparatus, in which the
air escaping from the evaporating stove is made to give back its heat to further
accelerate the drying processes. In this arrangement two such apparatuses
as that last described are joined together by the pipe L, one end of the pipe
being connected to the tube of one apparatus, and the other to the tube of the
other apparatus, as shewn in Figure 16, in which A is the steam-heated
apparatus and B the air-heated one. The cold air from the atmosphere is
drawn by a fan M, and enters at C' of the apparatus B, and is forced through
the tube C, and by the pipe L enters the tube C¹ of the same apparatus A*,
and through which it is also forced in a heated state, being conducted into the
stove from the tube C². The hot saturated air is drawn by the fan F from
the stove, and forced through the apparatus B, entering by the tube B², and
making its escape by the tube B' after having parted with its caloric to the
cold air, passing inwards through the machine through the medium of the
metal partitions. The steam enters the apparatus A* in manner before
described.
Thirteenthly, another arrangement for drying substances consists in the
use of the machine represented in Figure 1 for extracting purposes. The
goods to be dried are placed in the cylinder, being supported from contact
with the periphery by the framework a³. The larger portion of the liquid is
now extracted by centrifugal agency, and the steam then turned on, entering
between the drum a and framework a³. As the steam comes in contact with
the goods it will be condensed thereon; at the same time the goods become
heated the water of condensation will be thrown off by centrifugal action.
By the time that the steam has penetrated the mass of goods, and begins to
escape on the inner surface, the steam may be shut off, and the valves opened
to allow the condensed water to escape, and the operation will be completed.
And having now described the said Invention, and the manner the same is
to be performed, what I claim is,―
First, the improved centrifugal acting apparatus for extracting purposes,
and the modes of using the same, firstly herein-before described, (that is to
say,) in so far as regards the introduction of steam into the space between the
two drums a¹, a2, and also into the space between the inner drum a and the
strainer, the causing the steam to act from the outside towards the inside, and
retaining the steam in the apparatus during the process of extraction.

page_text: Second, I claim the improved, method. of transferring the power, which has
been accumulated in the working, of one machine to. work or assist. in working
the other machine, as before described.
Third, I claim the improved method of discharging or unloading centrifugal
machines, as before exemplified and described.
Fourth, I claim the employment in centrifugal acting machines of cylinders
of the improved construction before described, (that is to say,) in so far as
regards the mode of supporting and strengthening the same by a combination.
of vertical and diagonal supports.
Fifth, I claim the method of forming or moulding and depurating sub-
stances by means of centrifugal agency, as before exemplified and described.
Sixth, I claim the method. of depurating substances by centrifugal agency
when the substances are in forms or moulds, as. before described.
Seventh, I claim the method of forming or moulding substances by centri-
fugal agency as represented in Figures 8 and 9, before described.
Eighth, I claim the improved method, of forming castings, and of forming
moulds for castings, as before described.
Ninth, I claim the method of depurating liquid, substances and substances
in a liquid state by the combined action of steam and centrifugal agency, as
before described.
Tenth, I claim the method of depurating liquid substances and substances
in a liquid state by the combined action of gas and centrifugal agency, as
before described.
Eleventh, I claim the employment of filter bags of the improved construc-
tion before described in centrifugal acting machines.
Twelfth, I claim the application of steam to a drying and evaporating appa-
ratus constructed as represented in Figures 14 and 15, before described.
Thirteenth, I claim the employment of two apparatuses, of the construction
last claimed, combined and applied in the manner before described for drying
purposes. And,
Fourteenth, I claim the application of the improved centrifugal apparatus
described under the first head of this Specification to drying purposes, (that is
to say,) in so far as regards the mode by which steam is made to act from the
outside towards the inside of the cylinder.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
R. A. (L.8.) BROOMAN.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixteenth day of February, in
the year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid Richard Archibald Brooman came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and speci-
fied, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.