Improvements in and relating to Centrifugal Machines for Use in the Manufacture of Sugar.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Centrifugal Machines for Use in
the Manufacture of Sugar.
We, ZYGMUNT LUBINSKI, Managing Director, and RYSZARD KRAJEWSKI,
Engineer, both of Mlodseshin, Russian Poland, Russia, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The difficulties met with up to the present in effecting the complete separation
of the different syrups draining from the filling mass contained in the centrifugal
machine in the manufacture of white sugar, are chiefly caused by the fact that the
green syrup which is of less value and which is first expelled into the lower part
of the machine, flows off very slowly by reason of its viscidity and mixes conse-
quently to a great or less extent with the white sugar which follows on afterwards,
and of which the quantity is diminished to such a degree that a mixture of the
latter with the juice in the vacuum evaporating apparatus can no longer be used
without having an injurious effect upon the evaporation. A complete separation
of the syrups is therefore not possible when the separation is taken in hand only
after the said syrups have left the centrifugal machine.
Now according to the present invention the several syrups are previously
separated in a definite manner in the centrifugal machine before they are able to
become mingled, and they are completely separated and discharged by means of the
special apparatus so arranged, that for each kind of syrup as it is being worked,
that process may be employed by means of which the pure sugar can be obtained
most rapidly. Finally other arrangements are provided which allow of easily
cleaning the machine with the aid of a steam jet after each discharge of syrup and
of obviating the soiling which results from the splashing of the separated syrups.
The subject of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which:-
:-
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections showing the new arrangement applied to
centrifugal machines which are fed from above, whilst Figure 3 is also a vertical
section but showing a centrifugal machine fed from below.
To the inner surface of the casing M of the machine (Figure 1) above the
principal channel a which serves in the ordinary manner for drawing off the
syrups, there is fixed a second circular gutter b which is narrow and as small as
possible and is in all cases lower than the bottom of the drum N and has a suitable
inclination. This channel b at the lowest point of its bottom is provided with a
discharging aperture and with a discharging spout c connected to said aperture.
This spout is provided with a special means of closure. It is however preferable
and this is the case assumed in the drawing (Figure 1)-to arrange in the dis-
charging spout c, in addition to its main aperture o, a further aperture near the
discharging aperture of the channel 6-which may be closed when desired by
means of a valve d or other similar device.
In the arrangement described the channel a forming the lower part of the
casing M, is used only for discharging the first dark syrup (green syrup), whilst
the following white syrup (clayed syrup) is discharged exclusively through the

page_text: upper channel c.
This is effected in the following manner:-After the machine
has been charged and set in rotation, the first dark syrup (green syrup) is expelled
through the drum N against the inner wall of the casing M, and flows first along
the latter into the channel b, and when this channel is full, and the valve d is
opened, it flows also into the channel a. This syrup is thus carried away simul-
taneously by both the channels b and a, and as the valve d is kept open during
this period, the dark syrup arrives from the two channels and a through the
discharge aperture e of the latter into the collecting channel A as is clearly shown
in Figure 1 of the drawings. When the separation of the white syrup begins,
only a very short time is sufficient for the complete removal of the green syrup
from the gutter b, for the reason that the dimensions of the upper channel 6 are
comparatively small in relation to those of the lower channel. At the moment
when the separation of the green syrup ceases and that of the white syrup begins,
the upper channel 6 will be already quite empty, whilst the green thick syrup
flowing slowly into the lower part of the machine still further empties the main
channel. Therefore, the valve being closed at the beginning of the separation
of the white syrup, this syrup which is of very good quality and which leaves the
drum N in a quantity much less than that of the green syrup, will collect easily,
without overflowing, in the upper channel, and can then be led from thence into a
special collecting channel B through the aperture o of the discharge nozzle c. In
this manner by means of the process and the arrangement described, a complete
separation of the two syrups of different qualities can be effected.
Figure 2 shows a modification of the arrangement for the case in which,. in
addition to the two drainings or syrups obtained according to the process above
described, it is desired to further separate a third bye product which is produced
only during a few seconds after the commencement of the separation of the white
syrup and which still contains a small quantity of green syrup which remains
adhering to the walls of the channel band which is washed off from the same by
the white syrup. This proportion of green syrup is however so small that it i
be entirely neglected according to circumstances.
may
In the construction shown in Figure 2 it is possible to fix the closing spindle,
provided with valves, at three different heights, and to open solely either the upper
aperture of the discharge spout c of the upper channel b, or the aperture c¹ of the
discharge pipe e of the principal channel a, or both apertures at the same time.
In the first case the discharge from the two channels b and a will be led to the
collector A; in the second place to collector B, and in the third place to the
collector B A. In this manner the construction might be modified according to
the type of machine employed; and consequently the characteristic feature of the
invention is to be taken as consisting in the fact that the syrup which runs, off
from the upper channel may at a desired time be led off separately from that
which flows from the lower channel, or that the upper channel may be made
separate and fixed to the inner wall of the casing, or it may be formed simply by a
fold in the sheet metal of the casing (Figure 2), or also it may be cast in one
piece with the lower channel.
In order, as it has been above stated, to enable the space comprised between the
casing M and the drum N to be cleaned after each removal of syrup from the
machine, a small steam jet is introduced therein so as to wash away the thin layer
that remains adhering to the walls. For this purpose a small semi-cylindrical
pipe is employed which communicates by means of series of holes in the
casing M with the space between the latter and the drum N. However the intro-
duction of this steam jet could also be effected in any other manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:
(1) In centrifugal machines for use in the manufacture of sugar, an arrangement
for removing separately the ranians

page_text: of white sugar, characterised by the fact that above the main channel there is
fixed to the internal wall of the casing of the machine another and supplementary
channel of suitable inclination having a special discharging orifice through which
supplementary channel the complete separation is effected and the white syrup is
discharged into a special collector, as set forth.
(2) A form of construction according to Claim 1 characterised by the fact that
for the purpose of discharging a bye product separately, the discharge spout c of
the upper supplementary channel b, as also the discharge spout e¹ of the lower
main channel a, are provided with special orifices, the first only of which or the
second only or both of which at the same time, may be opened by means of a valve
spindle which is capable of being fixed in three positions in such a manner that
the discharge from the two channels may be led into a collector A. or into a
collector B or it may be, into a collector B A as set forth.
(3) A form of construction according to Claim 1, for admitting steam into the
space comprised between the casing M and the drum N, characterised by the
arrangement of a small semi-cylindrical tube f which is placed in communication
with said space by means of apertures formed in the casing M, as set forth.
(4) Centrifugal machines for use in the manufacture of sugar constructed
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
1007
His 12th day of May 1807.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C. E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.