IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLARIFYING SUGAR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLARIFYING SUGAR." A communication
from abroad by Raphaël Frémaux, of Paris, France, Factory Superintendent.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLARI-
FYING SUGAR.” [A communication from abroad by Raphaël Frémaux, of Paris,
France, Factory Superintendent.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
turbines for clarifying sugar, and to apparatus connected therewith.
The said Invention provides means whereby I am enabled to subject the
mass to be clarified to a spontaneous preliminary draining previous to the motion of
the turbine; this preliminary draining is effected with moulds or directly in the
drum or cylinder employed, the object being to provide compact masses already
partly purified to be operated upon. The Invention also comprises other features
hereinafter mentioned, amongst which are an apparatus for preparing the steam to
be used, and means for introducing it into the drum or cylinder without any trace
of water.
In order to effect the said spontaneous preliminary drainage directly in the drum
or cylinder, the exterior circumference thereof is furnished with a filtering or
straining cloth, and at the lower part a false-bottom of the same material is
arranged. A second cylinder, which is moveable and provided with pieces, by
means of which it is curved, serves to form a circular band or hoop within which
the material to be treated is deposited, and carries also a box or chest for steam and
waste water.
The steam arrives through a pipe, strikes a cove placed beneath an upper cover,
and the water drawn in mechanically falls by its weight into the chamber wherein
the centrifugal force raises it to the partitions or sides and drives it out. The

page_text: steam contained in the said box or chest is in its turn drawn in by the effect of the
rarefaction of the air which occurs at the mouth of the pipe, descends, and is dis-
tributed below; the water is arrested by a disc, and the steam passes into a lower
chamber, and is distributed within the aforesaid circular band or hoop into the
vacuum occasioned by the pressure exerted on the materials by centrifugal force.
In the iron envelope or casing of the apparatus a small directing or conducting
device is placed corresponding with a tube or pipe designed to receive the syrup as
it is discharged from the cylinder or drum previous to any mixture, and to carry it
outside in order that the attendant may know the precise moment at which the
steam should be cut off. I call this a testing disc (disque-eprouvette).
I prepare the steam in a closed vessel provided with superposed divisions so
placed that a plenum corresponds with a vacuum; this arrangement permitting the
steam to dispose of all trace of water, the steam being therefore dry. The steam
penetrates through an injector without other apparatus, and is used either at high,
low, or moderate pressure, a thermometer being placed inside so that the tempera-
ture may be regulated as desired.
To charge the apparatus a small cover is removed, and the material to be treated
is deposited within the aforesaid circular band or hoop; when the compartments
are full the said cover is re-placed and the turbine is put in motion. When the
desired speed is attained the upper cover is closed, and steam is introduced; the
latter successively displaces the treacle or molasses which comes out and carries
with it the impurities and ashes; the said testing disc permits the stopping of the
operations at the desired moment in order to avoid any loss of crystallisable sugar.
The test being satisfactory the steam is shut off, and the turbine is allowed to revolve
for several minutes; then the moveable cover is lifted and the turbine is stopped, the
aforesaid small cover is now removed, and by means of any suitable mechanism the
interior drum or cylinder is raised; the sugar attached to the exterior walls or
partitions of the chief drum or cylinder is taken off in the same manner as with an
ordinary turbine.
It will be seen that the said improved apparatus permits of introducing the steam
at the bottom of the turbine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
August 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLARI-
FYING SUGAR." A communication from abroad by Raphaël Frémaux, of Paris,
France, Factory Superintendent.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
turbines for clarifying sugar, and to apparatus connected therewith.
The novel features of the said Invention comprise, 1st, means for subjecting the
mass to be clarified to a spontaneous preliminary draining prévious to the action of
the turbine, with moulds, or directly in the drum or cylinder, the object being to
provide compact masses already partly purified to be operated upon; 2nd, a mode
of preparing the steam to be used, and means for introducing it into the drum or
cylinder free from any trace of water.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a plan partly in horizontal section; and
Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts in both of these Figures.
In order to effect the spontaneous preliminary drainage directly in the drum or
cylinder the exterior circumference a thereof is furnished with a filtering or
straining cloth b, and a false-bottom of the same material is provided at o. A
second cylinder H, moveable and provided with pieces by means of which it is
properly centred, serves to form an annular space, within which the material to be
treated is deposited, and also carries a box or chest for steam and waste water.
The steam arrives through a pipe F, strikes a cone G placed beneath an upper
cover, and the water drawn in mechanically falls by its weight into the chamber
wherein the centrifugal force raises it to the partitions or sides, and drives it out.
The steam contained in the said box or chest is in its turn drawn in by the effect
of the rarefaction of the air which occurs at the mouth of the pipe m descends, and
is distributed at the bottom thereof; the water is arrested by a disc N, and the
steam passes from the chamber, and is distributed within, the aforesaid annular
space into the vacuum occasioned by the pressure exerted on the materials by cen-
trifugal force. In the iron envelope or casing of the apparatus a small directing or
conducting device is placed corresponding with a tube or pipe designed to receive
the syrup as it is discharged from the cylinder or drum previous to any mixture,
and to carry it outside in order that the attendant may know the precise moment
at which the steam should be cut off; I call this a testing disc (disque-éprouvett).
I prepare the steam in a closed vessel provided with superposed divisions so
placed that a plenum corresponds with a vacuum; this arrangement permitting the
steam to be freed from all trace of water and to be therefore in a dry condition.
The steam is admitted by an injector without other apparatus, and is used either at
high, low, or moderate pressure, a thermometer being provided so that the tempera-
ture may be known and regulated as desired.
To charge the apparatus the small cover u is removed, and the material to be
treated is deposited within the aforesaid annular space; when the compartments
are full the said cover is re placed and the turbine is put in motion. When the
desired speed is attained the upper cover is closed and the steam is introduced;
the latter successively displaces the molasses which comes out and carries with it
the impurities and ashes. By means of the said testing disc I provide for the
stopping of the operation at the proper moment to prevent any loss of crystallizable
sugar. The test being satisfactory the steam is shut off and the turbine allowed
to revolve for several minutes, then the moveable cover is raised, and the

page_text: turbine is stopped, the aforesaid small cover is now removed, and by means of
any suitable mechanism the interior drum or cylinder is raised; the sugar
attached to the exterior walls or partitions of the chief drum or cylinder is taken
off in the same manner as when an ordinary turbine is used.
It will be seen that the said improved apparatus permits the introduction of the
steam at the bottom of the turbine.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. The employment of a drum as above described for the preliminary
draining of the mass before subjecting the same to the action of the turbine.
Second. The employment of an interior cylinder moveable and serving as a
filter furnished with a chamber for steam and condensed or waste water as above
described.
Third. The employment of a cone placed within the upper moveable cover, and
destined to distribute the water drawn in mechanically as above set forth.
Fourth. The testing device for facilitating the examination of the result of the
operation.
Fifth. The employment of an apparatus for mixing air and steam to free the
sugar from water, and obtain the same in a dry condition, as above set forth.
Sixth. The combination of parts, comprising a drum with an upper cover
furnished with a disc, the second cylinder moveable and serving as a filter carrying
a chamber for steam and for condensed or waste water, and permitting the intro-
duction of the steam at the bottom of the turbine, and the apparatus for the
preparation of the steam, the whole arranged substantially in the manner above
described, and operating for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
WM PORT LAKE
01