IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, Í, FREDERICK
STEINER, of Hyndburn Cottage, near Accrington, in the County of Lancaster,
Turkey-red Dyer, send greeting.
WHEREAS, in consequence of a communication made to me by a certain
Foreigner residing abroad, I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR ;" and whereas Her present most Excel-
lent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at West-
minster, the Ninth day of September now last past, did, for Herself, Her
heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Frederick, Steiner,
my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence that I, the said
Frederick Steiner, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Frederick Steiner, my exors, admors, or assigns, should atany 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, the
said Invention; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Frederick Steiner, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the
same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said recitor
Letters Patent, as in and by the said Letters Patent, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Frederick Steiner, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention
consists,―
First, of an improved apparatus for evaporating and concentrating in vacuo,
to the granulating or chrystalizing point, saccharine fluids.
Secondly, the Invention consists of an improved means of condensing the
steam of vacuum pans used in the manufacture of sugar.
Thirdly, the Invention consists of a self-adjusting vacuum regulator, and self-
regulating apparatus, for admitting steam into the above-mentioned apparatus
at a uniform degree of temperature.
And in order that the Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to explain the means pursued by me,
reference being had to the two Sheets of Drawings annexed, and the figures
and letters marked thereon, where similar letters and figures are used to denote
similar parts, that is to say:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents an elevation, taken partly in section, through the centre of
the improved evaporating apparatus and condenser, and shews also the
vacuum regulator and valve for admitting the steam. The pan into which
the saccharine fluid is first received on its arrival from the cistern, is also
shewn in this Drawing.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, taken in section through the line A, B.
Fig. 3 is a section of the trough i, and steam tubes n, o, and p, on an
enlarged scale for shewing their construction.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of my self-adjusting vacuum regulator.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 8 is a front elevation, of my self-
regulating valve for the admission of steamat a uniform degree of temperature.
a, in Figs. 1 and 2, represents the pan into which the syrup is received when
it descends through the pipe 6 from the cistern in which it is kept for the
purpose of supplying the said pan. c is a floater, which acts on the valve d by
means of the lever e connected with the floater, and the lever f connected
to the valve, and as the level of the syrup becomes lower the floater descends,
thereby elevating the long arm of the lever e, and the lever f which opens the
valve d and admits more syrup into the pan; when the pan a is nearly full the
supply the shut off by the same means. g is a pipe for conducting the syrup,
by atmospheric pressure, from the pan a into the vacuum pan h, in which the

page_text: boiling process is carried on. There is a stopcock g¹ in the pipe g for stopping
off or for regulating at pleasure the supply of syrup which comes from the
pan a, and drops into a spiral-shaped trough i in the vacuum pan h. This
trough forms several convolutions or coils before it reaches the lower part of
the vacuum pan, for the purpose of exposing the syrup which runs down the
trough to the evaporating influence of heat and a vacuum. I have in this
instance placed eleven coils of the trough in the vacuum pan, but this number
may be varied at the discretion of the manufacturer, who will take care that
the syrup is of the proper density for being drawn off into either of the
receivers j and k when the syrup arrives at the bottom of the trough. At the
bottom of these receivers are placed the stopcocks 29 and 30, by means of
which the boiled syrup is drawn off into the sugar moulds in the ordinary way.
The syrup is guided into the receivers jor k by the double stopcock, above
which is placed the saccharometer m for indicating the strength of the syrup,
and in each receiver is fixed a thermometer to indicate the temperature of
the syrup.
The construction of the trough i is better seen in Figs. 3 and 4 of Sheet 2,
in which n, o, aud p, represent three steam pipes or tubes, forming part of the
bottom of the trough, and q represents the brackets on which it rests. s,s,are
bars of iron, to which the brackets q are bolted, and they are secured above
and below to the hoops r, attached by stays to the top and bottom of the
vacuum pan h. The steam for boiling the syrup is brought fromaboiler through
the pipe u, which passes through the top of the vacuum pan and supplies the
pipes or tubes n, o, and p, forming part of the trough i. The steam circulates
through these until it arrives at the bottom of the trough, and then it enters
the coil of pipes v, from which it goes into the bottom casing or steam jacket w
of the vacuum pan h. The pipe and valve z conduct the steam from the
steam jacket w to the coil of pipes y, placed in the bottom of the pan a. The
steam jackets 1 and 2 of the receivers ; and k are also warmed by steam
admitted through the pipes 3, and taken away by the pipes 4, connected with
the regulator 5, to which the steam is also brought from the coil of pipes y by
the pipe 6; the water in this regulator is kept at the same level by a floater 7,
and the surplus is taken off by the pipe 8; the pipes 9 and the cocks 10, which
connect the upper part of the receivers ; and with the vacuum pan h, are
for the purposes of allowing the steam from the receivers to escape when
the syrup enters them.
The condensor for forming the vacuum in the pan is made of an upper
cylinder 11, and of a lower cylinder 12; the upper one is provided with a series
of pipes 14, through which the vapour passes as it is brought from the vacuum
pan by the large pipe 13. The spaces between the pipes 14 are filled with

page_text: cold water, which is brought by the pipe 15 and drawn off by the pipe 16, the
upper branch of which is connected to a pump worked by the steam engine or
any other motive power, and the lower branch is connected to the offpipe 16*.
The lower part of the coudensor consists of a conical-shaped pipe 17, fixed in
the cylinder 12, and of any convenient number of plates of metal marked 18,
which reach from the inside of the cylinder 12 to the outside of the conical
pipe 17; these plates (18) and pipe (17) are plenteously perforated with
small holes, so that the injection water which enters the upper part of
the cylinder 12 by the pipe 19 falls in drops from one plate 18 to another,
until it arrives at the bottom of the same cylinder. And as the vapour
brought to the condenser by the pipe 13 descends through the small pipes 14,
enters the conical pipe 17, and becomes distributed between the plates 18, it will
be condensed and form almost a perfect vacuum in the pank. The quantity of
injection water admitted into the cylinder 12 is regulated by a valve 20 in the
pipe 19, and this valve is acted upon by the floater 21, which rises and falls
with the water in the cylinder 12. The floater 21 is connected with a lever
fixed on the shaft 22, one end of which works in a bearing fixed to the bottom
of the cylinder, and the other end works through a stuffing box, and is pro-
vided with a lever 24, to which the rod 23 is attached. The lever 25 is fixed
to the valve 20, and the upper end of the rod 23 is connected with the
lever 25, thereby establishing the communication between the floater 21 and
the valve 20. The glass tube 26 is for the purpose of shewing the level of
the water in the cylinder 12. The injection water which accumulates at the
bottom of the cylinder 12 is allowed to run off through the pipe 27, and the
pipe 28 is in connection with an air-pump for withdrawing the air from
the condenser, in the same manner as is customary in condensing steam
engines, and being well understood by mechanics does not require to be further
described. The degree of ebullition varies according to the state of the
vacuum in the condenser, it is therefore of great importance that the vacuum
of the condenser should be kept at the same degree of rarifaction, and for this
object I make use of the following contrivance, shewn in its proper place near
the condenser in Fig, 1, and on an enlarged scale in Figs. 5 and 6. 31 repre-
sents a pillar, the upper end of which is closed by a lid 32, and the lower end
is closed by a plate 33 which rests upon a stand fixed to the floor of the build-
ing. The upper end of this pillar forms an air chamber, and it is in connection
with the condenser by the small pipe 37, adjusted to the lid 32; a tube 34
passes through an opening in, and is fastened to, the lid 32; this tube is open
at both ends, and it reaches nearly to the bottom of the pillar 31. The
tube 34 is supplied with the requisite quantity of quicksilver, upon which rests
afloater 35, connected to the lever 36, the fulcrum of which is fixed on the

page_text: lid 32. When the vacuum in the condenser is nearly perfect, or sufficientlyso
to ensure the rapid ebullition of the syrup in the trough i of the vacuum pan,
the pressure of the atmosphere will act in the quicksilver in the tube 34, and
cause it to rise up into the piller 31, as it is seen in Fig. 5. The small
valve 38, which opens into the air chamber at the top of the pillar 31, and is
in connection with the lever 36, is so adjusted that, as soon as the rarifaction
in the condenser becomes greater than is required, the atmosphere, by pressing
on the mercury in the tube 34, will cause it to descend still lower, and at the
same time the floater 35 will draw down the lever 36, thereby opening the
small valve 38 so as to admit air into the chamber at the top of the pillar 31,
from which the air goes into the condenser through the pipe 37, thereby
impairing the vacuum which had before been nearer perfect than was required,
and restoring the vacuum to that point which is found most beneficial for the
process of evaporation and concentration. The vacuum gauge 39, seen in
Fig. 1, is constructed in the ordinary manner, and indicates the degree
of rarifaction in the condenser by means of a column of mercury, in a
bent tube, open at one end to the atmosphere, and the other end being
in connection with the interior of the condenser by a continuation of the
pipe 37.
Having described the method I employ for regulating the vacuum in the
condenser, I will now explain how the steam for heating the pipes n, o, and p
is kept at the same temperature, this part of the apparatus being of equal
importance to the other to ensure uniform evaporation in the vacuum pan. In
the pipe u I place a throttle valve 51, which is opened and shut by the action
of the steam upon the quicksilver contained in the vessel 52, as seen in
Figs. 7 and 8, in Sheet 2. 53 is the cover of the vessel 52; and 54 is a small
tube, one end of which is fixed on the cover 53, and the other end is taken
through an opening in the pipeu, at any convenient point between the throttle
valve 51 and the vacuum pan h. To the lower part of the vessel 52 is
attached a pipe 55, which is closed below, and to the cover 53 is attached
a small pipe 56, which is opened below, and descends through the pipe 55;
the pipe 56 projects above the cover 53, and to its summit is fixed the pipe 57,
which is of sufficient diameter to receive the floater 58; the wire 59 is fast to
the floater, and is attached above to the lever 60, the fulcrum of which is a
small bracket fixed to the pipe 57. 61 is an elbow lever, connected to the
lever 60 by a link 62. The vertical arm of the lever 61 is forked, and reaches
on each side of the small pinion 63, taking into a wheel 64, upon the shaft of
which is a pinion 65, taking into the wheel 66, keyed on the same shaft
as the friction clip 67. The cross piece 6S is fixed on the shaft of the throttle
valve 51, consequently any motion given to the cross piece 68 will be commu-

page_text: cated to the throttle valve. Upon the same shaft as the pinion 63 are fixed
the notched plates 69 and 70, and facing them are the plates with catches 71
and 72, each upon a short shaft. Upon the shaft of the plate 71 is fixed a
small grooved pulley 73, and upon the shaft of the plate 72 is fixed another
grooved pulley 74; these pulleys 73 and 74 are driven round in contrary
directions by cords set in motion by a steam engine, or any other motive
power. The bearings for the shafts of the above-mentioned wheels, pinions,
plates, and pulleys are attached to standards 75, fixed on the cover 53. . As
long as the steam in the pipe u, for heating the apparatus, remains at the
required temperature and pressure, the quicksilver in the pipe 57 maintains the
floater 58 in the position for holding the notched plates 69 and 70 out of
contact with the catch plates 71 and 72; but as soon as the pressure of the
steam becomes higher than is required, the quicksilver in the vessel 52 is
depressed and descends into the pipe 55, from which it rises into the pipe 56,
thereby elevating the floater 58; and, by the lever 60, the link 62, and elbow
lever 61, the notches of the plate 70 are brought into gear with the catches of
the plate 72, and as the pully 74 revolves in the direction of the arrow the
pinion 63 will be turned round in the same direction, and through the inter-
vention of the wheel 64, pinion 65, and wheel 66, will partially close the
throttle valve, thereby admitting less steam into the apparatus, and conse-
quently diminishing its pressure and temperature. When the pressure of the
steam in the pipe u becomes less than is required, the quicksilver in the
pipe 57 descends, and with it the floater 58, thereby causing the elbow
lever 61 to move the plate 69 into gear with the plate 71, and as the
pulley 73 revolves in the contrary direction to the pulley 74, the pinions and
wheels before described will partially open the throttle valve and admit
more steam into the apparatus. The wire 59 is attached to the lever 60 by
means of a set screw, for the purpose of being able to regulate the position
of the floater 58, so as to suit the requisite.pressure of steam.
I will now explain the manner in which the various parts operate during
the process of boiling or concentrating the saccharine fluid in the vacuum pan.
At the commencement of the operation the stopcock ux is opened, so as to
allow steam to enter into the different parts of the apparatus provided for that
purpose, so that the air may be driven out of them. The condenser must then
be put in operation, and, this is done by opening the cock 40 in the small
pipe 41, which admits the water from a cistern, placed in any part of the
building, into the lower part of the condenser 12, when the condensation
commences by the admission of water through the pipe 41. The partial
vacuum thus formed will be sufficient to cause the water to rise through the
pipe 19 into the condenser, when the.cock 40 may be closed, and the vacuum

page_text: obtained will be nearly perfect, or at that point which is found most con-
venient for working the apparatus. The saccharine fluid may then be
admitted into the troughi by opening the cock g¹; after circulating through all
the coils of the trough it falls into the bottom of the vacuum pan / and
descends along the trough.i. As soon as a sufficient quantity of
syrup has
accumulated at the bottom of the vacuum pan, it raises the floater 42, and
with it the valve 43 fixed to the lower end of the same rod as the floater; it
then passes through the double stopcock l, and from there into the receiver j
through the pipe 44. When the syrup has filled the receiver j, the panman
reverses the passages of the stopcock I, and admits the syrup into the receiver
k through the pipe 45, and whilst this is being filled the attendant must close
the cock 10x, and then admit steam into the upper part of the receiver; by
opening the cock 46 of the pipe 3, and at the same time must open the cock
29 to allow the syrup which is being pressed upon by the steam to run off into
the moulds in the ordinary manner; as soon as the syrup has run out of the
receiver j the panman must open again the cock 10x, so that the steam
which was admitted to expel the syrup may be at liberty to escape as soon as
the syrup is again allowed to run into the receiver j. When the quantity of
syrup in the vacuum pan h is not sufficient to raise the floater 42, the valve 43
may be opened, so as to allow the syrup to run off, by the attendant depressing
the long end of the lever 48, by which action the link 49, passing through a
stuffing box on the top of the vacuum pan 7, elevates the lever 47, and, by
means of the rod 51, lifts up the valve 43, thereby allowing the syrup to run
off into either of the receivers or k, which are provided with steam jackets,
similar to that described as being placed below the vacuum pan for the purpose
of keeping the syrup at the required temperature before it runs into the
moulds.
I have here shewn the vacuum pan to be round, yet it is evident to all
persons skilled in such matters that the vacuum pan and coil of steam pipes
and trough may be made in the shape of an oval or other form, and other
detail alterations may be made, so long as the peculiar character of any part of
my Invention be retained.
And I would state that I am aware that it has before been proposed to
evaporate syrups by allowing them to flow down inclined troughs subject to a
vacuum, and Patents have before been obtained for such apparatus ; but
in those cases the inclined troughs have been external of the vacuum pans, and
have been used as preparatory means of evaporation, whilst in my Invention
the inclined trough is within the vacuum pan. And I mention this circumstance
in order to state that I do not claim generally the useof inclined troughs subject
to a vacuum for evaporating syrups in the manufacture of sugar.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First, the combination of an inclined trough within a vacuum pan, adapted
and applied for evaporating and concentrating saccharine fluids in the
manufacture of sugar.
Secondly, I claim the combination of apparatus for condensing the steam
and obtaining vacuum, adapted and applied to vacuum pans employed in the
manufacture of sugar.
Thirdly, I claim the combination of apparatus, which I have called a self-
adjusting vacuum regulator, for maintaining in the manufacture of sugar the
partially-formed vacuum in the condenser at the same degree of rarifaction.
I also claim the apparatus adapted and arranged as herein described for
supplying steam of a uniform temperature in the manufacture of sugar.
And this my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new, and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare this to be
my Specificaiton of the same, and that I do verily believe this my Specification
doth comply in all respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with the
proviso in the said hercin-before in part recited Letters Patent contained.
Wherefore I do hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to the
said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Steiner, have hereunto set
hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
my
F. (L.s.) STEINER.