AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING, CLARIFYING, AND DECOLORIZING SYRUPS AND SUGARS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR
MANUFACTURING, CLARIFYING, AND DECOLORIZING SYRUPS AND SUGARS."—A
communication from abroad by Henry Dundas Gloag, of Brisbane,
Queensland, late Captain, H.M. Royal Artillery.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th March 1871.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING, CLARIFYING, AND DECOLORIZING SYRUPS AND
SUGARS," to be as follows:-
The improvements forming the subject of the present Invention aro
threefold, and comprise, (1), the construction of closed vessels or pans

page_text: for the concentration of cane juice and other liquids at low temperatures;
(2), a mode of applying steam for the concentration of cane juice and
other liquids; and (3), an apparatus and means for the clarification and
decolorization of syrups and sugars.
After the juice has been extracted from cane or other vegetable
substance in the ordinary manner it is clarified by passing it through
an improved form of filter which consists of a circular or other form of
vessel of wood or metal furnished with pivots on which it swings in
bearings so as to be reversible, in order that the upper or lower orifices
may remain up or down as may be desired. The interior of this vessel
is filled with vertical tubes screwed from the lower surface in the bottom
plate. These tubes are closed at the upper end and may be made of
perforated copper, fine wire gauze, or any other suitable material. They
are covered with fine calico or flannel bags which are secured round
the lower extremity of each tube close to the bottom of the vessel, which
bas close fitting covers on both ends with orifices in them. In filtering
the liquid enters at the upper orifice and passes from the exterior of
the vertical tubes to their interior and then escapes into the under part
of the vessel through the lower ends of the tubes. When the filter
requires to be cleaned it is turned over on its pivots and water is s
introduced through the other orifice. This clears away any sediment
that may have settled on the outer surface of the tubes. Steam may
also be used for this purpose.
After the juice has been passed through the filter it is introduced into
a closed vessel or pan for concentration. This pan according to the
new process may be made in two or more parts, viz., body and cover,
and of any suitable forms, and bolted together by nuts. In the body
is a coil of pipe into which steam can be admitted, and which after
traversing the coil escapes through a nozzle into the atmosphere. In
the cover of the vessel there is a chamber and man hole with a pipe
connected with a steam boiler. This pipe terminates in a nozzle which
is inserted in the exit pipe.
In concentrating any liquid in the pan, say cane juice, the proper
charge is introduced and steam is admitted into the coil, the quantity
being regulated by a valve. This steam heats the air and liquid in the
pan and then escapes by a nozzle into the outlet pipe, thus creating a
downward current therein and driving the air out of it. The heated
air and vapour from the liquid will rise and pass into the upper chamber

page_text: from which the air has been drawn by the current of steam escaping
from the nozzle in the exit pipe, thereby creating a partial vacuum in
the pan and causing evaporation to go on at low temperatures. If
the steam and condensed water escaping from the nozzle are not
sufficient to draw off the vapour rising from the liquid in the pan an
auxiliary jet can be used. When a partial vacuum is obtained in the
pan it may be preserved by closing the valve in the exhaust pipe before
shutting off the steam jet or jets. A measuring vessel may be used
for admitting specific charges into the pan, also for the decolorization
of syrups in the course of concentration by admitting to the pan a given
quantity of rectified spirit obtained by the distillation of the refuse in
sugar making. In the decolorization of sugars, it is also proposed to
pass a jet of such spirit raised to vapour into the centrifugal machine
after the sugar has been drained and dried.
For the more economical use of such spirit in the decolorization of syrups
it is proposed to pass a current of it in the form of vapour through the
contents of the pan. The apparatus for effecting this in an economical
manner, consists of two parts, viz. :-(1), a closed vessel heated by a steam
coil and furnished with a thermometer; and (2), a condenser contained
in a vessel or barrel with a worm communicating with the interior of
the pan and condenser. This apparatus is used and worked as follows:
-Steam is admitted into the coil in the vessel by opening a stop-cock;
this vaporizes the spirit. This vapour can be sent through the condenser
from which the air is driven, and when all the air is expelled, the cocks
are closed, and cold water is admitted into the barrel, through which a
constant flow can be maintained. The vapour in the condenser is thereby
condensed and a vacuum created. The cane juice in the pan being at
the proper degree of concentration and the vapour at the proper tem-
perature, the cock is opened, and the spirit vapour admitted into the
perforated annular pipe in the pan, and the vapour passes into and through
the contents of the pan. The vapour can at any time be allowed to
escape from the pan into the condenser. While the cocks are open
a current of vapour will run through the pan, and when this current
has been maintained for a sufficient time the cock is closed. The
valve is then opened and steam again admitted into the coil in the
pan, and the concentration of the contents goes on till the required
density is reached. The spirit in the condenser may be readmitted

page_text: at the proper time into the vessel and the steam from the coil may
be passed into the exit pipe, or if the pan is supplied with a condensed
water box it may be passed into the box.
From the foregoing brief explanation it will be seen that the process
comprises a means of clarifying cane juice or other liquids by a tubular 5
reversible filter; the use of a closed vessel to which steam is applied,
so as to produce concentration of a liquid in partial vacuum with or
without the use of a condenser and without the use of an air-pump;
a method of using spirit obtained from the refuse in sugar making
for the purpose of decolorization, and two methods of applying the vapour
of such spirit, for more economically decolorizing syrup and sugars,
without using animal charcoal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 30th September 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, GG, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward Newton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING, CLARIFYING, AND
DECOLORIZING SYRUPS AND SUGARS," being a communication to me from
abroad by Henry Dundas Gloag, of Brisbane, Queensland, late Captain,
Her Majesty's Royal Artillery, upon the condition (amongst others) that

page_text: I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :-
-:
The improvements forming the subject of the present Invention are
threefold, and comprise (1), the construction of closed vessels or pans
for the concentration of cane juice and other liquids at low temperatures;
(2), a mode of applying steam for the concentration of cane juice and
other liquids; and (3), an apparatus and means for the clarification
and decolorization of syrups and sugars.
After the juice has been extracted from cane or other vegetable
substance in the ordinary manner it is clarified by passing it through an
improved form of filter such as that shewn in section at Fig. 1 in the
accompanying Drawings. This filter consists of a circular or other form
of vessel of wood or metal furnished with pivots P, P, on which it
swings in bearings so as to be reversible in order that the upper or lower
orifices F or D may remain up or down as may be desired. The interior
of this vessel is provided with vertical tubes t, t, screwed at their lowor
ends into the bottom plate b, b. These tubes are closed at their upper
ends, and may be made of perforated copper, fine wire gauze, or any
other suitable material. They are covered with fine calico or flannel
bags, which are secured round the lower extremity of each tube close to
the bottom of the vessel, which has close fitting covers on both ends with
orifices F and D in them, as shewn in Fig. 1. For filtering the liquid
the latter enters at the upper orifice and passes from the exterior of the
vertical tubes t, t, to their interior, and then escapes into the under part
of the vessel through the lower ends of the tubes, as indicated by the
When the filter requires to be cleaned it is merely turned over
on its pivots P, P, and water is introduced through the other orifice D.
arrows.

page_text: This clears away any sediment that may have settled on the outer sur-
faco of the tubes t, t. Steam may also be used for this purpose, when
stop-cocks must be adapted to the orifices F and D. This apparatus
presents a large area of draining or filtering surface, and permits the
use of a very fine material as a filtering medium, and the operation
may be rapidly effected.
After the juice has been passed through the filter it is introduced
into a closed vessel or pan for concentration. This pan, according to
the new process, may be made in two or more parts, viz., body and
cover, and of any suitable form, and bolted together by nuts at the
flanges. This apparatus is shewn in section at Fig. 2 and in clevation at
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modification of the apparatus. In
the body B is a coil of pipe p, p, into which steam can be admitted
through a regulating valve S, Fig. 3. The steam after traversing the
coil p escapes through a pipe p' provided with a nozzle, which is inserted
in the pipe R, O. The steam will thus escape downwards, and pass
into the atmosphere at O. In the cover of the vessel B, Fig. 2, there
is a chamber and marole C with an elbow pipe A through which
passes a pipe 1 connected with a steam boiler. This pipe E terminates
in a nozzle which is inserted at the upper end of the exit pipe R. At
any convenient place in the elbow pipe A or chamber C a valve may
be placed which can be closed from the exterior of the vessel by a
screw shaft II, Fig. 2. This valve closes the communication between the
interior of the space B and the atmosphere. The pipe E may if desired
pass through a stufling box so as to permit of its being raised or lowered
in the elbow pipe A. It terminates in a nozzle, and is intended to
bring steam direct from the boiler or source of supply, and it is
furnished with a valve at its upper end for regulating the quantity of
steam.
In Fig. 2 V is a vacuum gauge; D, the discharge orifice for emptying
the vessel B through the cock m; P is a vessel screwed into the cover
of the pan B for the purpose of introducing specific charges into the
pan without the admission of air; W is a steam jet for washing the
interior of the pan B when required.
An arrangement for taking samples of the contents of the pan
without admitting air is represented in section at K, Fig. 2, and acts
something after the manner of a pump or syringe. It consists of a

page_text: small cylinder provided with a piston. The cylinder is screwed in any
convenient manner (and at any suitable place) into the lower part of the
pan.
There are two small stop-cocks shewn in Fig. 2, one at the end of
the cylinder nearest the pan for closing the communication between the
interior of the pan B and cylinder, the other cock shuts the outlet from
the cylinder to the atmosphere. In taking samples of the contents of
the pan B, the piston being close up to the cock nearest the pan, and
both cocks being closed, the one next the pan is opened and the piston
is pulled outwards, the cock next the pan B is then closed, and the one
communicating with the atmosphere is opened, and the sample is pro-
cured by pushing the piston inwards and driving the liquid out through
the lower cock.
In concentrating any liquid in the pan (say cane piece) the proper
charge is introduced and steam is admitted into the coil p, the quantity
being regulated by a valve at S, Fig. 3. This steam heats the air
and liquid in the pan B and then escapes by a nozzle on to the outlet
pipe p' (thus creating a downward current) in the down pipe R, O, and
driving the air out of it. The valve at the end of the elbow pipe A
being open the heated air and vapor from the liquid will risc and pass
into the upper chamber C and elbow pipe A, and from thence the air
will be drawn by the current of steam escaping from the nozzle f below
in the exit pipe, thereby creating a partial vacuum in the pan B and
chamber C, and causing evaporation to go on at low temperatures. If
the steam and condensed water escaping from the nozzle of the pipe p
are not sufficient to draw off the vapor rising from the liquid in the
pan B an auxiliary jet ƒ can be used. When a partial vacuum is
obtained in the pan it may be preserved by closing the valve in the
exhaust pipe before shutting off the steam jet or jets. The temperature
of the contents of the pan B is always shewn by the thermometer T.
A measuring vessel P may be used for admitting specific charges
into the pan B; also for the decolorization of syrups in the course of
concentration by admitting to the pan a given quantity of rectified spirit
obtained by the distillation of the refuse in sugar-making, such as juice
from cane tops, skimmings from clarifiers, or molasses.
In the decolorization of sugars it is also proposed to pass a jet of such
spirit (raised to vapor) into the centrifugal machine after the sugar bas
been drained and dried. The spirit is raised to a state of vapour of the
required tension by means of a steam coil in a closed vessel.

page_text: For the more economical use of such spirit in the decolorization of
syrups it is proposed to pass a current of it in the form of vapor
through the contents of the pan B. The apparatus for effecting this
object in an economical manner is shown at Fig. 3, and consists of
two parts, viz., (1), a closed vessel B', heated by a steam coil p³, and
furnished with a thermometer, and (2), a condenser C¹ contained in a
vessel or barrel 133 provided with a worm to communicating with the
interior of the pan B and condenser C'. This apparatus is used and
worked as follows-Steam is admitted into the coil in the vessel B' by
opening a stop-cock on the steam pipe S'. This vaporizes the spirit in
the vessel B, and this vapour can be sent through the condenser C', from
which the air is driven; and when all the air is expelled the cocks aro
closed and cold water is admitted into the barrel 13 through which a
constant flow can be maintained. The vapor in the condenser C' and
worm to is thereby condensed and a vacuum created. The cane juice
in the pan B being at the proper degree of concentration, and the vapour
in the vessel B' at the proper temperature, the cock 3 on the pipe com-
municating from the top of B' with the pan B is opened and the spirit
vapour is admitted into the perforated annular pipe Q in the pan B,
and the vapour passes into and through the contents of the pan B.
The vapour can at any time be allowed to escape from the pan B into
the condenser C. While the cocks are open a current of vapour will
run through the pan, and when this current has been maintained for a
sufficient time the cock 3 on the connecting pipe is closed, and shortly
afterwards the cock on the pipe connecting the chamber C with the
worm to is closed. The valve S is then opened and steam again
admitted into the coil p in the pan, and the concentration of the contents
goes on till the required density is reached. The spirit in the con-
denser C¹ may be re-admitted at the proper time into the vessel B', and
the steam from the coil p² may be passed into the exit pipe R, or if the
pan
B is supplied with a condensed water-box it may be passed into the
box.
From the foregoing brief explanation it will be seen that the process
comprises a means of clarifying cane juice or other liquids by a tubular
reversible filter, and also the use of a closed vessel to which steam is
applied, so as to produce concentration of a liquid in partial vacuum
with or without the use of a condenser and without the use of an air
pump. A method of using spirit obtained from the refuse in sugar-
making is also employed for the purpose of decolorization, and two

page_text: | methods of applying the vapor of such spirit for more economically
decolorizing syrup and sugars without using animal charcoal.
A slight modification may be made in the application of the steam in
the pan Bas shewn at Fig. 4. The steam for heating the contents of
the pan passes into a condensed water box C the water escaping at O.
The vacuum is created by a small jet of high pressure steam issuing
from a very small nozzle h. The air and vapor are drawn out through
slits in the periphery of the lower cone in the direction indicated by the
arrows a, a, a.
'
Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section of a vacuum pan on the
improved plan. It is square and very shallow, so as to afford great
surface for evaporation; it is made of wood lined with very thin sheet
copper. This plan of construction is recommended on the score of
economy as less copper will be required, and the wooden cover will
serve to retain the heat. In all other respects this pan is similar to
that shown at Figures 2 and 3, except that there is no auxiliary steam
jet. Instead of that there is a surface condenser arranged below the
vacuum pan and shewn in section in Fig. 5. The condenser C2 is placed
inside another vessel filled with cold water, and it is provided inside
with a number of circular flat vessels, which are all connected together
by a common vertical pipe that admits of water passing through them in
the direction of the arrows. These vessels and the outer lining are filled
with cold water. To create a vacuum in the condenser C³ (supposing
the pan B to contain juice or not), open the valve in the elbow pipe A,
turn steam into the coil p in the pan B, and by means of the two way
cock in the pipe between the pan B and condenser C² let it escape
at b, till all the air which was enclosed in the pan has been carried off,
then change the direction of the steam from the nozzle by means of the
same cock, so that it shall pass into the condenser C² having previously
opened cocks 1 and 4, the latter being on the pipe leading to the boiler
and close to it. This being done the steam from the nozzle will fill the
condenser C and will escape at 4 carrying out the air in C² and in
the pipes. The plunger p is of course supposed to remain as shewn
till forced downwards. When all the air is driven out stopcocks 4
and 2 are shut, and cold water is let into the vessel containing the
condenser C, a flow of cold water is maintained by means of a cold
supply pipe and the overflow f which carries off the heated water from
the surface in the outer vessel. The steam thus confined in the con-

page_text: denser C is converted into water. The heating steam is then turned
into the coil in the pan B by the regulating cock at S, and concen-
tration goes on.
This steam escaping into the empty vessel in which a
vacuum has been created is condensed, and there being no resistance
to its escape from the nozzle e steam may be admitted into the coil at
as low pressure as will suffice to evaporate the liquid in the pan B.
By this arrangement economy of steam is effected, as it is evident a
better vacuum will be produced in B, and therefore the liquid contents
will boil at a lower temperature, taking less beating steam.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, and having explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me
by Letters Patent as aforesaid,-
First. The use of a tubular reversible filter for clarifying cane juice,
or other liquids as herein set forth.
Second. The use of a closed vessel to which steam is applied as herein
shewn and described for the purpose of concentrating liquids in partial
vacuo, either with or without the use of an air pump or condenser.
Third. I claim the use of the vapour of alcohol as herein set forth for
decolorizing syrups and sugars without the use of animal charcoal.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, the Twenty-ninth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and
seventy-onc.