Improvements in Continuous Subsiding or Settling Apparatus for Sugar-cane Juice.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Continuous Subsiding or Settling Apparatus for
Sugar-cane Juice.
A communication from HECTOR KIDD, 14, Toxteth Road, Lee Point, Sydney,
New South Wales, Civil and Mechanical Engineer.
1, WILLIAM SMITH, of the Firm of A. & W. Smith & Co., of Eglinton
Engine Works, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, 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, that is to say :-
This invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of
apparatus for the subsiding or settling of impurities from sugar-cane juice, and to
obtain continuous action in a satisfactory manner.
The improved apparatus is represented on two accompanying sheets of explanatory
drawings, Figure, 1, Sheet 1, being a sectional plan, and Figure, 2, Sheet, 2, a
sectional elevation.
In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises two subsiding vessels, 3, 4, which
receive the juice preferably in a hot state, in continuous regular streams from a
reservoir or tank, 5, into which it is transferred from clarifiers. From the tank, 5,
the juice descends through an adjustable regulating valve, 6, into a gutter, 7, which
has fixed across it retarding bars, 8, which are alternately higher and lower and
retard the stream of juice making it flow steadily and without agitation due to its
quickness of current. From the gutter, 7, which is comparatively broad the juice
passes into two branch gutters, 9, 10, leading respectively to points above the
centres of the two subsiding vessels, 3, 4. Above the centre of each vessel, 3, 4,
a vertical pipe, 11, projects up inside a little above an enlargement at the top
forming the terminus of the gutter, 9 or 10, and the juice flows over the projecting
upper edge of the pipe, 11, and passes down that pipe in a steady stream. The
pipe, 11, is by flanges fixed to a lower continuation, 12, and to a transverse
girder, 13, which supports the central parts. The part, 12, forms an upper tubular
part of a hollow octagonal centre piece, 14, which has fixed to it and radiating
from it eight tubular arms, 15, of triangular section the bottom being horizontal
and the sides being inclined to each other to form an acute top angle, this form
being given in order that subsiding matters may slide down the sides and not
accumulate on the top. The ends of the tubular arms, 15, are connected to the
sides of the vessel by small brackets or metal straps, 16. Each vessel, 3, 4, is
square in horizontal section the upper parts of its sides being vertical, whilst the
lower parts take the shape of an inverted pyramid, and converge to a central
bottom outlet, 17, through which outlet subsided matters are discharged either
intermittently or continuously. What has been referred to as a girder, 13, is also
shaped so that its top part forms a gutter, 18, the bottom of which is slightly
inclined downwards from the back to the front of the vessel; and the juice slowly
overflows over the sides into this gutter, and passes along it into an external
gutter, 19, extending along in front of the top parts of the two vessels, 3, 4, and
receiving the juice from them. This outer gutter, 19, has fixed to it two or more
discharge pipes, 20, provided with valves, and to the bottom ends of which flexible
or other pipes may be attached for conveying the juice in any desired direction.
The vessels, 3, 4, are provided with wooden covers in which various doors, 21, are
formed to give access for cleaning the interiors.
The fresh juice is introduced into the juice already in each vessel, 3, 4, in a

page_text: gentle manner through numerous orifices in the bottoms of the tubular arms, 15,
the orifices being proportioned to obtain a very equal distribution over the entire
area of the vessel. And the introduction of the fresh juice takes place at a level
considerably below the top surface of the juice in the vessel. In this way eddies
and agitation are avoided, whilst the juice slowly rises upwards to the overflow
gutter, 18, the condition of matters being such as to favor the subsidence of
impurities heavier than the juice but suspended in it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In subsiding or settling apparatus for sugar-cane juice constructing, arranging,
and combining the parts substantially in the improved manner hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a vessel for effecting subsidence or settling of impurities from sugar-cane
juice, an overflow outlet at the top for the juice, and at a distance below such
outlet, radiating hollow arms receiving the entering juice from a hollow centre
piece and distributing it through perforations on their under sides, substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Ninth day of A vơnst 1893
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.