IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF AMYLACEOUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman. for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF AMYLACEOUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN. A communication from abroad by Albert Fesca, of
Berlin, Prussia, Engineer, and Luigi Chiozza, of Cervignano, Austria,
Professor.
Sealed the 20th October 1877, and dated the 7th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th August 1877.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. * IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF AMYLACEOUS SUBSTANCES,
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN. A communication from abroad by
Albert Fesca, of Berlin, Prussia, Engineer, and Luigi Chiozza, of Cervignano,
Austria, Professor.
This Invention relates to the treatment of amylaceous substances, and in the
apparatus employed therein for effecting either the entire or partial solidification of
amylaceous substances, such as milk of starch, that is to say, of starch granules
suspended in water or in any other fluids, such mixed materials being converted
into a solid or into a semi-solid condition by the employment of a vacuum in
conjunction with the apparatus herein-after described.
In carrying out this Invention the milk of starch or other substance to be treated
is placed in a vessel, the sides of which are composed of india-rubber or other similar
elastic material, and surrounded by a removable frame of wood or other suitable
material during the time the amylaceous substance is being solidified. The top or
mouth of this vessel is open to the atmosphere, whilst the lower end is closed by
means of a conical or inclined bottom carried upon a hollow pivot connected to an
air pump or other suitable apparatus for producing a vacuum.
In the interior of this vessel, and in close proximity to the conical bottom (an
india-rubber packing only intervening) there is fitted a perforated plate forming a
false bottom to the vessel, which perforated plate is provided in the centre of its
IPS.7 1

page_text: under side with a hollow boss or projection for the purpose herein-after described.
This perforated plate is covered with a filtering cloth composed of any suitable
textile material, and provided with eyes, through which passes the boss or projection
for the purpose of connecting the cloth thereto. A space is provided between the
perforated plate and the conical bottom of the vessel, which space is caused to com-
municate either with the exhausting apparatus or with the atmosphere, as required,
by means of a cock or valve fitted in the hollow pivot herein-before described, upon
which the conical bottom of the vessel is carried.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, viz. The amylaceous material,
such for example as milk of starch, having been introduced into the vessel, the cock
herein-before described is turned so as to establish a communication between the
exhausting apparatus and the space provided beneath the perforated bottom, thereby
creating a vacuum and causing the moisture to be partially exhausted from the
material through the filtering cloth and the perforated false bottom assisted by the
atmospheric pressure upon the surface of the material.
The atmospheric pressure, in addition to assisting the expulsion of the moisture,
causes the flexible sides of the vessel to continually press upon the material, as it
reduces in bulk, under the action of the vacuum, and thereby prevents the occur-
rence of chinks or cracks in the material under treatment, which would otherwise
take place and destroy the effects of the vacuum.
When the moisture has been sufficiently exhausted from the material the cock
herein before described is turned so as to cut off the communication with the
exhausting apparatus and admit atmospheric air beneath the perforated false bottom,
which air then passes through the perforations, and by acting upon the inner
surface of the flexible vessel causes it to assume its normal condition, leaving the
partially dried block of starch or other substance acted upon free upon the perforated
false bottom.
The flexible vessel containing the block of starch is then removed from the hollow
pivot by which it is connected with the exhausting apparatus, and is conducted
to a second apparatus for discharging the block. This apparatus consists of a base
plate provided with guide bars to receive the bottom of the vessel herein-before
described, and in the centre of the base plate there is fitted a column, the top of
which is made to fit the hollow boss or projection herein-before referred to, formed
on the under side of the perforated false bottom of the vessel.
The vessel containing the block of starch is placed upon the top of this column,
the top entering the hollow boss, and the flexible vessel with its conical bottom is
then allowed to descend, being guided between the gaide bars herein-before
described on to suitable flexible material provided for the purpose on the base plate,
the perforated false bottom, together with the block of material, remaining supported
upon the top of the column, from which it is detached, and the block placed topside
bottom upon any suitable receiver, and the perforated bottom and filtering cloth
removed therefrom.
By means of the apparatus herein-before described, blocks of starch and other
amylaceous material of a uniform shape and bulk may be produced; but if the
uniformity of the material is not a consideration, the following modified and simple
apparatus may be employed.
According to this modification of the apparatus the vessel for containing the
material to be treated is permanently connected to the exhausting apparatus, and
the filtering cloth is attached to the under side of the perforated false bottom by
means of a series of studs in lieu of securing it to the central hollow boss as in the
first arrangement.
The fluid portion of the material is exhausted therefrom in a similar manner
to that herein-before described, but in lieu of conducting the vessel to another
apparatus for the purpose of removing the dried or partially dried block of starch
or other material, such material is discharged from the vessel by raising the false
bottom out of the vessel and breaking the material therefrom in pieces, for which

page_text: purpose a column surrounded by an india-rubber or other similar ring, and having
an eye in its upper end, is screwed or otherwise secured to the centre of the upper
side of the perforated bottom, to which any suitable hoisting apparatus may be
connected for the purpose of raising it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
January 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF AMYLACEOUS SUBSTANCES,
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN. A communication from abroad by
Albert Fesca, of Berlin, Prussia, Engineer, and Luigi Chiozza, of Cervignano, Austria,
Professor.
The said Invention relates to the treatment of amylaceous substances, such for
example as milk of starch (that is to say) of starch granules suspended in water or
other fluid) for the purpose of effecting the entire or partial solidification of the
vacuum of the
same, and it consists in the employment in conjunction with_a
peculiar apparatus, herein-after described, and illustrated by the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a vertical section of an apparatus constructed
according to one modification of the said Invention for the treatment of milk of
starch or other amylaceous substances for the purpose of converting the same into
a solid or semi-solid condition.
Figure 2 represents a vertical section of the lower portion of the apparatus
detached.
Figure 3 is a plan, with some of the parts assumed to have been removed; and
Figures 4, 5, and 6, are details of the said apparatus, herein-after referred to.
Figure 7 represents a sectional elevation of an apparatus for facilitating the
removal from the apparatus, illustrated by Figures 1 to 6, of the substance which
has been wholly or partially solidified therein; Figures 8 and 9 are plans, the former
Figure shewing a portion of the vessel, herein-after described, in position; and
Figure 10 represents details, herein-after referred to.
Figure 11 represents a vertical section of an apparatus constructed according to
another modification of the said Invention in which the milk of starch or other
amylaceous substance is wholly or partially solidified, and from which it is removed
in its solid or semi-solid condition without the employment of a supplementary
apparatus.
Referring to the arrangement illustrated by Figures 1 to 6, the amylaceous
substance to be treated (milk of starch for example) is placed in a vessel S, the sides
c of which are composed of india-rubber or other similar elastic material surrounded
(during the time when the starch is being solidified) by a removable frame n of wood
or other suitable material. The top or mouth of this vessel is open to the atmosphere,
whilst its lower end is closed by means of a conical or inclined bottom a carried
upon and (by means of a flanged ring or tube b) fitted to a hollow pivot d, the latter
being attached by flanges to a vacuum tube leading from an air pump or other
suitable air-exhausting apparatus.

page_text: Above the conical bottom a, and separated therefrom by an india-rubber packing f
there is fitted a perforated plate g (shewn detached in Figure 4), which forms a false
bottom to the vessel, and is covered with a filtering cloth ; this cloth, which is shewn
extended in Figure 5, is composed of any suitable textile material, and provided
with eyes k; it is wrapped completely round the plate g, and its eyes k are threaded
on to or passed over a boss or projection h formed on the under side of the plate so
as to securely attach the cloth to the latter, as shewn clearly in Figure 6.
The conical bottom a is recessed or made of such a shape that when the perforated
false bottom y is in position there will be left beneath the same a space or chamber
v, which may be placed in communication with the atmosphere or with the vacuum
tube at will. This is effected by means of a two-way cock or valve m' fitted in
the hollow pivot d, and arranged in connection with ports c¹ and n, the former in
communication with the space or chamber v, and the latter (the port m) in communi-
cation with the atmosphere in such a manner that by turning the cock or valve m
into the position indicated in Figure 1, a communication is established between the
space and the vacuum tube /', whereby the moisture is partially exhausted through
the filtering cloth i from the starch under treatment, and that when this action has
taken place by turning the cock or valve m into the position represented in Figure
2, the communication with the vacuum tube will be cut off, and air will be
admitted at m. The action of the vacuum in exhausting the moisture is assisted by
the atmospheric pressure upon the surface of the starch under treatment, which
pressure moreover causes the elastic sides e of the vessel to continually press upon
the starch as it gradually reduces in bulk under the action of the vacuum, and
thereby prevent the occurrence of chincks or cracks in the same, which would other-
wise take place and counteract the effects of the vacuum. When, on the moisture
being sufficiently exhausted from the starch under treatment, the communication
with the vacuum tube is cut off, and atmospheric air is admitted at m, as before
mentioned, such air passing through the perforations in the false bottom y acts
upon the inner surface of the elastic sides c of the vessel, so as to cause it to resume
its normal condition, leaving the partially dried block of starch free upon the
perforated false bottom. The elastic vessel S, containing the block of starch, is then
removed from the hollow pivot d by which it is connected with the exhausting
apparatus,and is conducted to the supplementary apparatus for dischargingthe block,
illustrated by Figures 7, 8, and 9 of the Drawings.
This apparatus consists of a base plate p, provided with guide bars q, for the
reception of the bottom a of the vessel S, and having mounted in the centre of such
base plate a column r, the top of which at is arranged to fit the boss or projection
(made hollow for the purpose) formed on the underside of the perforated false
bottom of the vessel S. This vessel containing the block of starch B is placed
upon the top of the column r, the top entering the hollow boss h, and the vessel
with its conical bottom a is then allowed to descend, being guided between the guide
bars 7 on to suitable elastic or flexible material t.provided for the purpose on the base
plate p; the perforated false bottom g, together with the block of starch B, which
remains supported upon the top of the column r, is then detached, the block B
being placed inverted upon any suitable receiver, and the perforated false bottom g
and filtering cloth i removed therefrom, as will be understood on reference to
Figure 10.
The apparatus herein-before described admits of the production of blocks of
starch and other amylaceous substances of a uniform shape and bulk. When,
however, the uniformity of the material is not essential, the apparatus may
be modified and simplified in construction in the manner shewn in Figure 11.
According to this modification of the apparatus, the vessel S for containing the
substance (milk of starch, for example) to be treated is permanently connected to
the vacuum tube 7', and the filtering cloth is attached by means of a series of
studs h to the under side of the perforated false bottom g, in lieu of its being secured
to the central hollow boss, as in the preceding arrangement.
The fluid portion of the milk of starch is exhausted therefrom in a similar

page_text: manner to that herein-before described, but in lieu of conducting the vessel S to
another apparatus for the purpose of removing the dried, or partially dried, block of
starch, such block is discharged from the vessel by raising the false bottom gout
of the vessel, and breaking the starch therefrom in pieces. In order to facilitate
the raising of the false bottom g, a column r, surrounded by an india-rubber or
other similar ring or tube is provided, such column being screwed or otherwise
secured at its lower end to the centre of the upper side of the false bottom g, and
formed at its upper end with an eye, to which any suitable hoisting apparatus
may be connected.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I am aware that it has previously been
proposed to employ a vacuum for exhausting moisture from amylaceous substances
for the purpose of effecting their entire or partial solidification, and therefore to
this lay no claim, except in combination with the peculiar apparatus herein
described, but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First. The combination with an exhausting apparatus of a vessel having elastic
sides for containing the substance to be operated upon, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
Secondly. The employment in a vessel for the purpose herein set forth of a
removable perforated false bottom and a filtering cloth arranged and combined
together and with the bottom of the vessel, substantially in the manner herein-before
described.
Thirdly. The application and use to and in the discharging of the consolidating
apparatus of a supplementary apparatus constructed, arranged, and operating,
substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by Figures 7, 8, and 9 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The peculiar construction of the apparatus for effecting the entire or
partial solidification of amylaceous substances, and facilitating their discharge when
consolidated, without the employment of a supplementary apparatus, substantially
as herein-before described, and illustrated by Figure 11 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of January, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)