IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE SEPARATION OF FLUID FROM OTHER MATTERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Brinjes, of Fieldgate Street,
Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
Scaled the 13th April 1869, and dated the 20th October 1868..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frederick Brinjes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition,.
on the 20th October 1868..
I, JOHN FREDERICK BRINJES, of Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN THE SEPARATION OF FLUID FROM OTHER MATTERS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and arrange..
ments of what are generally known as "centrifugal machines" employed
in sugar and other manufactories for separating fluid from other matters,
and for drying purposes, and has for its object the enabling such
machines to be worked continuously or without stoppages for the

page_text: this means considerable economy in time is effected, and the great wear
and tear hitherto attendant upon the frequent stoppage of the machine
is prevented.
Another great advantage afforded by these improvements is the
continuous self cleansing by centrifugal action of the wire gauze or
perforated metal forming the straining medium of the drum or vessel
without the use of water or steam jets, brushes, or other appliances.
The essential feature of this Invention consists in making the wire
gauze or straining medium in the form of a number of endless bands or
cylinders disposed around the drum in such a manner as to enable such
endless bands or cylinders to receive a travelling movement of their
own upon suitable carrier rollers, or in the case of wire gauze cylinders
upon the axis of such cylinders mounted upon the drum. The several
endless wire gauze bands or cylinders may be arranged so as to travel
or revolve either in a horizontal or vertical direction, and motion may be
transmitted to them from the drum shaft itself by various, mechanical
contrivances, as will be obvious to the practical mechanic. I have
found however that a simple and effective mode of transmitting such
independent travelling motion to the endless bands or cylinders of wire
gauze is to mount a vertical shaft in suitable bearings outside the main"
frame, and to impart motion to such second motion shaft by a strap
from a conc pulley on the main drum, a corresponding cone pulley being
mounted on the second motion shaft. A strap pulley is secured to the
lower end of the shaft last referred to, and a strap from it imparts
inotion by means of a pulley to a collar or tubular shaft which revolves
loosely on the lower portion of the main drum shaft. This tubular shaft
revolves slower than the drum and has a worm formed thereon, and into
the said worm gears a worm wheel fast on a horizontal shaft which is
carried in bearings secured to the under side of the main drum and
consequently revolving with the drum. On the two extremities of this
shaft are provided other worms which gear into corresponding worm
wheels mounted on the lower ends of the axes of two of the series of
carrier drums which support the endless bands of wire gauze. These
two drums carry spur wheels which gear into corresponding spur wheels
on the next pair of carrier drums, and thus on the rotation of the main
drum a comparatively slow rotatory motion will be imparted to the
four carrier drums, and their endless bands will be caused to travel

page_text: slowly over them so long as the revolutions of the main drum: arc
maintained. A space is left between the carrier drums of cach.adjoining
pair of bands, through which the sugar or other matter discharges itself
so soon as it is brought opposite thereto. The substances are directed
into the drum through radial spouts which direct them against one end,
say, of each of the travelling bands of wire gauze, but by the time the
fluid matter has been expelled the substance has been carried by the
movement of the endless wire gauze to one of the discharge openings
and is instantly ejected, fresh. sugar. or other. substance being fed in at
the same time, thus rendering the process continuous. The speed of the
lands should of course be so regulated that the matters under treatment
are sufficiently operated upon before being expelled. As each endless
band during its return course moves in an outer circle and in a. reversed.
position to that occupied by it when on the inner circle, it follows that>
any substances adliering to and clogging the gauze will be easily expelled.
by the action. of the centrifugal force alone, such force operating on that
part of the gauze which is for the time being.out of action in precisely the:
reverse direction to that in which it operated upon the same gauze when
in action,,consequently the adhering; substances are expelled from the
same side of the gauze as that from. which they first entered; but should
the substance be of a. gummy nature, a jet of steam or hot water or
heated air may be introduced to assist in cleaning the gauze.. When
the machine is used for sugar and it is necessary to liquor it a pipe or
pipes can be introduced for the supply of liquor through a rose hetween.
the point of supply and discharge of the sugar operated upon..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of tlie conditions of the Letters Patent,.
filed by the said John Frederick Brinjes in. the Great Seal Patent.
Office on the 20th April 1869..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN.
FREDERICK BRINJES, of Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, in. the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October,. in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and giant unto me, the said John Frederick Brinjes, Her special
license that I, the said John Frederick Brinjes, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Frederick Brinjes,
my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CENTRIPUGAL MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE SEPARATION OF
FLUID FROM OTHER MATTERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Frederick Brinjes, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and scal, 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 John Frederick Brinjes, do
hereby declare the nature of my 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
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
in
My said Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and arrange-
ments of what are generally known as "centrifugal machines" employed
sug and other manufactories for separating fluid from other matters
and for drying purposes, and has for its object the enabling such machines
to be worked continuously or without stoppages for the introduction of
the substances to be operated upon and for the subsequent discharge
thereof. By this means considerable economy in time is effected and
the great wear and tear hitherto attendant upon the frequent stoppage of
the machine is prevented.
Another great advantage afforded by these improvements is the
*continuous self-cleansing by centrifugal action of the wire gauze or
perforated metal or other suitable material forming the straining medium
.of the drum or vessel without the necessity for using water or steam
jets, brushes, or other appliances.
In carrying out this Invention I make the wire gauze or straining
medium in the form of a number of endless bands or cylinders disposed

page_text: around the drum in such a manner as to enable such endless bands or
cylinders to receive à travelling movement of their own upon suitable
carrier rollers, or in the case of wire gauze cylinders upon the axis of:
such cylinders mounted upon the drum. The several endless wire gauze,
bands or cylinders may be arranged so as travel or revolve either in a
horizontal or vertical direction, and motion may be transmitted to them-
from the drum shaft itself by various mechanical contrivances, as will be:
obvious to the practical mechanic. I have found however that a simple,
and effective mode of transmitting such independent travelling motion to.
the endless bands or cylinders of wire gauze is to mount a vertical shaft.
in suitable bearings outside the main frame and to impart motion to
such second motion shaft by a strap from a cone pulley on the main
drum shaft, a corresponding cone pulley being mounted on the second:
motion shaft. A strap pulley is secured to the lower end of the shaft:
last referred to, and a strap from it-imparts motion by means of a pulley
to a collar or tubular shaft which revolves loosely on the lower portion.
of the main drum shaft. This tubular shaft revolves slower than the,
drum and has a worm formed thercon, and into the said worm gear worm.
wheels fast on horizontal shafts which are carried in bearings secured to-
the under side of the main drum and consequently revolving with the
drum. On the outer extremitics of these shafts are provided other worms
which gear into corresponding worm wheels mounted on the end of the'
axis of cach cylinder of wire gauze or other suitable straining medium,
or on the end of the axis of one of cach pair of rollers which support
the endless travelling bands of wire gauze (when bands are used), and
thus on the rotation of the main drum a comparatively slow rotatory
motion will be imparted to the rollers and their endless bands will be t
caused to travel slowly over them so long as the revolutions of the main"
drum are maintained. A space is left between the carrier rollers of each
adjoining pair of bands through which the sugar or other matter discharges
itself so soon as it is brought opposite thereto. The substances which
are fed into the drum are directed through radial spouts against one end.
of each of the travelling bands of wire gauze, but by the time the fluid
matter has been expelled the substance has been carried by the movement
of the endless wire gauze to one of the discharge openings and is
instantly ejected, fresh sugar or other substance being fed in at the
same time, thus rendering. the process continuous. The speed of the.
bands should of course be so regulated that the matters under treatment
are sufliciently operated. upon before being expelled... As each endless

page_text: band during its return course moves in an outer circle and in a reversed
position to that occupied by it when on the inner circle, it follows that
any substances adhering to and clogging the gauze will be easily expelled
by the action of the centrifugal force alone, such force operating on
that part of the gauze which is for the time being out of action in
precisely the reverse direction to that in which it operated upon the
same gauze when in action, consequently the adhering substances are
expelled from the same side of the gauze as that from which they first
entered; but should the substance be of a gummy nature a jet of steam
or hot water or heated air may be introduced to assist in cleaning the
gauze. When the machine is used for sugar and it is necessary to liquor
it a pipe or pipes can be introduced for the supply of liquor through a
rose between the point of supply and discharge of the sugar operated
upon.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now procced more
P arly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Figure 1, Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represents a sectional plan of
one form of my improved centrifugal machine as adapted for use in
the manufacture of sugar, the section being taken along the line A, B,
in Figure 2; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same machine
taken along the line E, F, in Figure 3; Figure 3 is a half sectional plan
of the machine, the section part being taken along the line C, D, in
Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevation; Figure 5 is a sectional elevation
(shewing a portion of the machine) taken along the line G, H, in
Figure 3.
A is the main framing, which may be of any suitable form or material,
resting upon the circular casing B, which is bolted down upon the bed
or foundation plate C; D is the main vertical shaft working at its lower
end in the footstep bearing E in the base plate, and at its upper end
in a collar bearing F in the main framing A. This. shaft carries the
revolving drum G, which is secured thereto by the cast-iron boss H
bolted to the bottom plate I of the drum, a sheet metal cone K. being
fitted around such boss for the purpose of deflecting outwards, the sugar
or other substances as they are fed into the centre of the drum. Near
the circumference of the plate I, which forms the lower portion of the

page_text: drum, there are fitted an even number of upright spindles L, L', carrying
rollers or pulleys M, M', over which are stretched the endless wire cloths
or other suitable straining material N, N, which constitute the perforated
walls or sides of the drum. In my Drawing I have represented the
drum as being provided with four of such endless wire cloths, but this
number may obviously be varied if desired. One of the rollers
marked M in each pair serves as the actuating or driving roller of
the endless cloth which passes partly round it, whilst the other roller
(marked M¹) acts simply as a carrying roller and may revolve loose on
its spindle. Each driving roller M is fast on its spindle L, which is
driven or caused to rotate on its own axis during the revolutions of the
drum in the manner hercin-after more particularly described. The
upper ends of the several spindles L, L', pass through the top
annular plate O of the drum, which plate is bolted down on to upright
standards or brackets P (Figures 3 and 5) of the desired height, such
brackets being secured by bolts or otherwise to the lower plate I of the
drum. A sufficient space or opening Q is left between the contiguous
rollers M, M', of each adjoining pair for the discharge of the sugar or
other substance as fast as the syrup or liquid has been expelled
therefrom through the straining material, the discharge and supply both
taking place continuously during the revolutions of the drum and hence
stoppages are obviated. The main vertical shaft which carries the drum
is actuated by the bevel frictional gear R and driving shaft S provided
with fast and loose driving pullies T, T, and working in the
bearings U, U, cast on the main framing A. Just below the collar
bearing of the upright shaft, or in any other convenient part thereof,.
there is keyed the coned driving pulley V from which a strap. W
transmits a slower motion to the vertical shaft X through the reversed
coned pulley Y fast on the upper end thereof. This shaft X works in
the collar and footstep bearings Z, Z', respectively and carries at or near
its lower extremity the driving pulley a, which by means of the strap or
belt and pulley c imparts rotatory motion to the short tubular shaft
or collar d, which turns freely round and upon the lower end of the main
vertical shaft D, but at a slower rate than the main shaft. This collar d
has a worm or endless screw e formed thereon which gears into the worm
wheels ff, fast on the inner ends of the horizontal spindles g, g, for
driving or actuating the spindles L, L, of the rollers or pulleys M, M,
which actuate the endless wire cloths. For this purpose an endless screw
or worm is fitted to or formed on the outer end of each of the horizontal

page_text: spindles g, these worms gearing into worm wheels i, i, keyed on to the
lower extremities of the spindles L, L, of the driving rollers M, M, and
thereby imparting a slow rotatory motion thereto, and causing the
endless wire cloths or other straining material to travel slowly round
their respective rollers during the revolutions of the drum G. k, k, are
bracket bearings for carrying the horizontal spindles g, g, such bearings
being secured to the under side of the bottom plate I of the drum and
revolving therewith; 1, 1, are a series of radial guiding channels or
spouts (one for each endless travelling wire cloth), the sides of such spouts
being secured to the bottom plate of the drum, and so disposed and
contracted at their outer ends so as to guide or direct the sugar or other
substance to be operated upon against the rear end of each of the
travelling wire cloths which when the drum is revolving travel in the
direction shown by the arrows in the Drawing, and carry slowly along
with them the sugar or other substance until it arrives at the
openings QQ, through which it is discharged. During the time
occupied by the sugar or other substance in travelling from one roller M
to the other roller M' of the endless wire cloth the syrup or other liquid
is being expelled therefrom through the wire work by the centrifugal
action of the drum. By varying the speed of the travelling motion of
the wire cloths it is obvious that the sugar may be submitted to the
centrifugal action of the drum for a greater or less period according to
requirement. This adjustment or regulation of the speed of travel of
the endless wire cloths is effected simply by changing the driving strap
or belt W from one sized pulley to another, by which means the
speed of the main driving worm e is varied, and a corresponding
variation is obtained in the speed of the travelling motion of the endless
wire cloths. The syrup or other liquid which is expelled through the
inner half 1 of the endless wire cloths is directed against a slightly inclined
plate m, which is fixed between the rollers M, M', of each pair of
rollers, and between the inner half 1 and outer half 2 of the endless
wire-gauze cloth N.
Whilst the inner portion 1 of the wire gauze is operating as a straining
medium in the manner above described the outer portion 2, which is
travelling of course in the opposite direction to the inner portion 1, is
being cleansed by the action of the centrifugal force alone, which readily
expels or removes any solid substance which may be adhering to the

page_text: of this part of the gauze is reversed, that surface which was previously
next to the interior of the drum being now on the exterior, and con-
sequently the adhering matter in lieu of requiring to be forced through
the gauze is removed from the same side of the gauze as that by which
it entered. If desired or found necessary the usual mode of cleansing
by means of jets of warm water, steam, or heated air may be employed.
11, n, are vertical spouts connected with suitable apertures o, o, made in
the bottom plate I of the drum for the purpose of directing the separated
liquid into any convenient receptacle. I prefer, however, to collect such
liquid in an annular trough p, the bottom of which is inclined and has
a discharge opening 7 made therein at its lowest part, which allows the
liquid to flow out into an inclined trough or gutter ", which conveys it
away to any desired locality. The sugar or other solid substance on
being discharged through the openings Q, Q, may be received on a
revolving annular tables supported upon grooved antifriction rollers t,
carried by studs bolted to the side of the base plate C, as shown in
Figures 1 and 2. 20 is an annular guard plate attached to the inner
circumference of the revolving tables for the purpose of preventing the
sugar or other substance from gaining access to the driving gear under-
neath the bottom of the drum. A rotatory motion is imparted to the
annular table s by means of the strap x, pulleys y, y, and vertical shaft ≈,
which latter works in the bearings 3, 3, and carries a spur pinion 4
gearing into corresponding teeth 5 formed on the outer periphery of the
annular table. A discharge opening is made partly in the casing B
and partly in the base C, through which the sugar or other solid
substance carried round on the tables is directed by means of the fixed
inclined guiding plate 7. A pipe and stop-cock 8 (Figure 5) serves to
supply liquor or water as may be required; it communicates with an
annular reservoir 9, from which radiate pipes 10 provided with perforated
roses or jets 11 situated close to the straining medium. When hot air
or steam are to be employed for drying or other purposes they may be
applied in a similar manner to liquor or water, but in lieu of the
reservoir 9 being open as shown it should in such case be closed at the
top.
Figures 6 and 7 represent respectively a plan and sectional elevation of
a portion of a centrifugal machine wherein the endless travelling bands of
straining material N are caused to travel in a vertical direction in lieu of
horizontally, as illustrated by the Figures herein-before referred to. In
this arrangement the special discharge openings Q before-described may be

page_text: dispensed with, as the sugar or other substance operated upon will
discharge itself over the top of the upper or driving roller M of each
vertical endless travelling band of straining material N. The sugar or
other substance to be operated upon is directed by radial spouts some-
what similar to those shown at in the Figures previously referred to
(but not shown in Figures 6 and 7). These spouts in the latter arrange-
ment should be made to dip down to the bottom of the drum so as to
direct the sugar or other substance to the lower portion of cach of the
ascending sides of the vertical travelling bands. The syrup or other
liquid as it is expelled strikes against the plate m, and is caught in a
trough, from which it is discharged in a horizontal direction through the
horizontal spouts n. The driving roller M of each endless band is driven
from the worm e on the central shaft D, as before described, but in lieu
of the worms h gearing directly into the worm wheels i fast on the axis
of the rollers M, they gear into intermediate worm wheels carried on
two short upright spindles i", from which motion is transmitted directly
to the worm wheels i on the axis of each roller M by worms on the
upper ends of the upright spindles ". The rest of the letters in these
two Figures correspond to the same parts in the Figures previously
described, and need not therefore be further referred to.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that 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,―
as
First. The general construction and arrangement of what are known
centrifugal machines" whereby they may be worked continuously
or without stoppages for the introduction and discharge of the substances
to be operated upon, substantially as herein-before described and illus-
trated by my Drawings.
Second, The mode of driving or actuating the wire gauze or other
suitable straining medium of centrifugal machines when applied in the
form of endless travelling bands moving either in a horizontal or vertical
direction during the revolution of the drum, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose herein-before described.
Third. The application of the wire gauze or other suitable straining
medium of centrifugal machines in the form of cylinders composed of
wire gauze, perforated metal, or other equivalent material, such cylinders

page_text: being caused to rotate on their own axes during the revolution of the
drum, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Fourth. The combination in centrifugal machines of endless travelling
bands of wire gauze or other equivalent material, or of rotatory cylinders
composed of the same material with suitable discharge openings disposed
at intervals round the drum, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Fifth. The application and use of the radial spouts or channels for
directing the substances which are fed into the drum against one end or
portion only of the endless travelling bands or rotating cylinders of wire
gauze or other suitable straining medium, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Brinjes have to this
my Specification set my hand and scal, this Nineteenth day of
April One thousand cight hundred and sixty-nine.
JOHN FREDERICK BRINJES. (L.S.)