Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 21st Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Jan., 1888
We, HUGH WILLIAM WALKER, Sugar Refiner, and THOMAS LAW PATTERSON.
Sugar-refinery Manager, both of 3 Princes Street, Greenock, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention, to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of
apparatus for moulding and refining sugar, the improved apparatus being designed
for making cakes or blocks of sugar of "loaf-sugar" quality and suitable for being
divided into cubes, or for being broken into lumps.
In carrying out the Invention a mould of a truncated conical form is employed,
and when a charge of sugar is about to be moulded this mould is attached by means
of a suitable coupling fixed at the centre of its bottom to a shaft which is by preference
horizontal. A series of flat annular plates are placed in the mould and are retained
in it by a removable cover fitted to the larger otherwise open end. The annular
plates have radial ribs fixed or formed on then, which ribs serve to keep the plates a
suitable distances apart and to divide into segments the cakes of sugar moulded
between the plates. The plates are of graduated sizes to correspond with the increasing
diameter of the mould from its bottom to the other end, but the plates are prevented
from being in quite close contact with the conical side or shell of the mould by the
outer ends of the ribs which are made slightly projecting. The sugar in a condition
like what is known as "masse cnite" is led into the mould whilst the mould is made
to rotate at a moderate velocity and the rotation causes the sugar to be filled, in a
uniform manner, into the spaces between the annular plates, and so as with the plates
to form a truncated annular or hollow cone. When the sugar has been thus filled in,
a tapered or slightly coned inner shell is moved in to close the inner ends of the
spaces between the plates; and this inner shell forms tight joints at its inner and
outer ends by means of rubber rings, the inner end bearing on a rubber ring secured
to the bottom of the mould, and the outer end having secured to it a rubber ring
which bears on a narrow turned out flange formed on the inner edge of the annular
cover of the mould.
The inner shell is fixed on a centre or boss fitted to turn on an inner tube on a
DO

page_text: shaft which is in the same line with the shaft carrying the mould but which is carried
in bearings in such a way that it can be moved on end to withdraw it from or enter
it into the mould. The inner tube at the centre of the inner shell is at one end made
with an internal screw which when the shell is entered into the mould engages with
an external screw thread on a tubular boss fixed to and projecting from the bottom
of the mould. The movable shaft enters the end of the tubular boss and when the
inner shell is entered a certain distance the rotating mould shaft. draws it further in
by the action of the screw coupling parts, and any necessary tightness of the inner
shell when in its place can be obtained by retarding the rotation of the inner screw
tube. When the inner shell has been fixed in position the mould is removed and
placed with its axis vertical in order that the sugar may set and crystallise; and
whilst one mould is left at rest for the necessary length of time other moulds may be
successively placed on the shafts and filled in a similar way.
When a filled mould has rested long enough it is again fixed on the mould shaft
for the refining operations. The inner shell is removed and the mould is made to
rotate at a sufficient velocity for carrying off the green syrup from the interstices of
the sugar. The outer conical shell of the mould is not perforated so that the syrup
cannot pass through as in an ordinary centrifugal machine, but an outlet is provided
for it at the outer end, that is at the largest part of the conical shell, either by
separating the annular cover to a slight extent from the conical shell after the sugar
has set in the mould, or by having a permanent narrow space between the flange at
the end of the conical shell and the rim of the annular cover, and fitting in this space
a lip of rubber or other suitable material and which will open with the velocity
employed for draining the sugar but will remain closed whilst the mould rotates with
the moderato velocity employed when filling the mould. When the sugar is being
drained the syrup in each space between the annular plates first passes radially to
the shell of the mould, and then, in consequence of the conical form of the shell which
form is given for the purpose, flows along the shell to its larger end and passes out at
the outlet provided at that part into any suitable receptacle.
When the green syrup has been thrown off, the operation of liquoring is applied,
and an important practical advantage of the improved apparatus consists in its
admitting of this operation being effected more satisfactorily and with less waste than
in existing apparatus for the same purpose. The saturated solution of pure sugar
used for liquoring may be applied in various ways. Thus it may be poured into the
mould whilst rotating at full speed; or it may be supplied in separate successive
charges, the mould rotating at a moderate speed whilst receiving each charge and
being subsequently driven at full speed. The liquoring application may be repeated
as often as may be necessary. Finally the mould is driven at full spoed during a
time sufficient for completely draining the sugar; and then the mould is taken off
the shaft, the annular cover is removed, and the mould is turned bottom upwards to
empty the sugar and annular plates. The cakes or blocks of sugar can then be easily
separated from the annular plates, and they can be dried in the usual manner.
The mould may be fixed on a vertical shaft for the liquoring and draining
operations; and it may also be fixed on a vertical shaft whilst being filled but we
prefer the horizontal shaft for the filling operation.
Provision may be made for treating the sugar with steam or steam and air as
described in our Specification No. 2924 of 1877, and in that case we provide for
leading off any water of condensation by centrifugal force as also described in our
said specification.
113
'

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Moulding and Refining Sugar.
We, HUGH WILLIAM WALKER, Sugar Refiner, and THOMAS LAW PATTERSON,
Sugar Refinery Manager, both of 3 Princes Street, Greenock, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, 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 moulding and refining sugar; the improved apparatus being designed
for making cakes or blocks of sugar of "loaf-sugar" quality, and suitable for being
divided into cubes, or for being broken into lumps, and for doing so more satisfactorily
than heretofore and with less manual labor than has hitherto been required.
In carrying out the Invention a mould of a truncated conical form is employed,
and a series of flat annular plates are placed in it and retained by a removable cover.
The sugar in a condition like what is known as "masse cuite" is led into the mould,
whilst the mould is rotating at a moderate velocity, and the rotation causes the sugar
to be filled, in a uniform manner, into the spaces between the annular plates, and so
as with the plates to form a truncated aunular or hollow cone.
When the sugar has
been thus filled in, a tapered or slightly coned inner shell is moved in to close the
inner ends of the spaces between the plates. When the inner shell has been fixed in
position the mould is removed from its shaft and placed with its axis vertical in order
that the sugar may set and crystallise; and when a filled mould has rested long
enough it is again fixed on the mould shaft for the refining operations. The inner
shell is then removed and the mould is made to rotate at a sufficient velocity for
carrying off the green syrup from the interstices of the sugar. The outer conical
shell of the mould is not perforated so that the syrup cannot pass through as in an
ordinary centrifugal machine, but an outlet is provided for it at the outer end, that is
at the largest part of the conical shell. When the sugar is being drained the syrup
in each space between the annular plates first passes radially to the shell of the
mould, and then in consequence of the conical form of the shell which form is given
for the purpose. flows along the shell to its larger end and passes out at the outlet
provided at that part into any suitable receptacle.
When the green syrup has been thrown off, the operation of liquoring is applied,
and an important practical advantage of the improved apparatus consists in its
admitting of this operation being effected more satisfactorily and with less waste than
in existing apparatus for the same purpose. The saturated solution of pure sugar used
for liquoring may be applied in various ways. Thus it may be poured into the mould
whilst the mould rotates at full speed; or it may be supplied in separate successive
charges, the mould rotating at a moderate speed whilst receiving each charge and
being subsequently driven at full speed. The liquoring application may be repeated
as often as may be necessary. Finally the mould is driven at full speed during a

page_text: time sufficient for completely draining the sugar, and then the mould is taken off the
shaft, the annular cover is removed, and the mould is turned bottom upwards to empty
the sugar and annular plates. The cakes or blocks can then be easily separated from
the annular plates, and they can be dried in the usual manner.
The mould may be fixed on a vertical shaft for the liquoring and draining
operations and it may also be fixed on a vertical shaft whilst being filled, but we
prefer the horizontal shaft for the filling operation.
Provision may be made for treating the sugar with steam or steam and air as
described in our Patent Specification No. 2924 of 1877; and in that case we provide
for leading off any water of condensation by centrifugal force as also described in our
said Specification.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing sugar moulding and refining apparatus as
made with our improvements.
Figure, 1, of the accompanying drawings is a sectional side elevation. Figures, 2,
and 3, are vertical sections of modifications of the mould. Figures, 4, and 5, are a
face view and an edge view of one modification of the flat annular plates; and
figures, 6, and 7, are a face view and an edge view of another modification of those
plates. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
The apparatus shown in figure, 1, comprises two pairs of standards, 10, 11, one
pair, 10, being fitted with bearings, 12, for a rotating horizontal shaft, 13. and the
other pair, 11, carrying in guide eyes, 14, a non-rotating shaft, 15, which is in line
with the rotating shaft, 13. The rotating shaft, 13, has fixed on it pulleys, 16, 17, of
different sizes to receive a driving belt for driving it at one or other of two speeds, as
required or the shaft may receive its motion from a counter shaft provided with
pulleys or gear for obtaining different speeds. One end of the rotating shaft, 13,
projects or overhangs from its bearings, 12, to receive the mould, 18, which is of a
truncated conical form, with its smaller end nearest the standard, 10. The conical
shell, 18, may be made of one or more plates of sheet steel or malleable iron suitably
bended and welded or riveted together. The conical shell, 18, is fixed to a flat
bottom plate, 19, by means of an angle-steel ring, 20, riveted to them, as shown in
figure, 1; or the bottom of the conical shell, 18, may be flanged out and riveted to
the bottom plate, 19, as shown in figure, 2. At the centre of the bottom plate, 19,
there is fixed a hollow boss, 22, which projects inside of the mould and which has a
part of its length bored or shaped internally to fit upon the end of the rotating
shaft, 13, which has on it a feather engaging in a groove in the boss, so that the
mould may be driven or made to rotate by the shaft. The part of the boss, 22,
extending beyond the end of the rotating shift, 13, is bored to receive the end of the
non-rotating shaft, 15. A diaphragm, 23, is formed in the boss for the end of the
non-rotating shaft, 15, to bear against; or the boss may be first bored completely
through and the diaphragm, 23, may be subsequently fixed in it. The non-rotating
shaft, 15, can be moved endways in its guide eyes, 14, so that it can be withdrawn to
allow the mould, 18, to be removed; and when this shaft. 15, is placed as shown in
figure, 1, for the purpose of keeping the mould on the rotating shaft, 13, it is fixed by
hand key, 24, which then prevents it from rotating, by fitting partly in a groove in
the face of the standard, 11.
a
The wider edge of the conical mould shell, 18, has riveted to it an angle-steel
ring, 25, to which there is attached a removable annular cover, 26, the attachment
being by preference made by means of shouldered studs, 27, riveted to the annular
cover, and made with screwed projecting pins which pass through holes in the ring, 25,
and receive nuts on the other side thereof. The studs, 27, keep the annular cover, 26,
at a little distance from the edge of the mould shell, 18, for a purpose hereinafter
explained.
For the purpose of moulding the sugar into plates a number of annular plates, 28,
of steel or other suitable metal are provided, such plates being made with equal

page_text: central openings, but of graduated sizes as regards their outer edges, and so as when
arranged together in order to present a general external contour of a conical form
corresponding to that of the mould shell, 18. The annular plates, 28, are kept at
equal distances apart so as to form cakes of uniform thickness, this being done by
angled ribs, 29, fixed to the plates in radial positions as shown in figures, 4, and 5, or
by studs, 30, riveted to the plates as shown in figures, 6, and 7. When the ribs, 29,
are used they are made to project slightly beyond the outer edges of the annular
plates to allow the syrup to pass between the edges of the annular plates and the
inside of the mould shell, 18; and when studs, 30, are used the edges of the annular
plates, 28, are notched for the same purpose as shown in figure, 6. The annular
plates, 28, are shown in position in the mould, 18, in figures, 1, 2, and 3, the thick
lines representing the plates as in section, and the other lines indicating the distance
ribs, 29.
In figures, 1, and 2, there is also shown as in position an inner shell, 31,
which can be entered and withdrawn through the central opening in the annular
cover, 26. This inner shell, 31, is made of a nearly cylindrical or slightly tapered
form, and of sheet steel or other suitable metal and it is fixed to an end or cover, 32,
formed with a boss, 33, which fits on the outside of the end of the boss, 22, fixed to
the bottom plate, 19, of the mould.. Within the boss, 33, of the cover there is fitted
a bush, 34, fitted to slide on the non-rotating shaft, 15, and formed with an external
screw thread, 35, to screw into an internal screw thread formed inside of the end of
the boss, 22, fixed to the bottom plate, 19. A handwheel, 36, is fixed on the bush, 34,
for manipulating it when coupling it to, or uncoupling it from the boss, 22. The
coupling can be effected without appreciable labor when the shaft, 13, is suitably
rotating, by moving the cover, 32, inwards until the screw thread, 35, engages,
whereupon the rotation will cause the cover to be drawn in by the screwing action,
any convenient frictional appliance being used to retard the rotation of the bush, 34,
if required. When the inner shell, 31, with its cover, 32, is fixed in position a fluid-
tight joint is made between its inner end and the bottom plate, 19, as shown in
figure, 1, by means of a rubber ring, 37, set in a grooved ring fixed to the bottom
plate, the rolled or rounded edge of the shell, 31, coming in contact with the rubber
ring. At the same time a fluid-tight joint is obtained between the cover, 32, of the
inner shell, 51, and the annular cover plate, 26, by a rubber ring, 38, set in a groove
formed for it in the cover, 32, coming in contact with the flanged-out. inner edge of
the cover plate, 26. In a modified arrangement shown in figure, 2, the rubber
rings, 37, 38, are fixed to the inner shell, 31, and cover, 32, so as to come in contact
respectively with the bottom plate, 19, and annular cover plate, 26, which latter does
not require to be flanged out.
When a fresh charge of sugar (in the condition of masse cuite) is to be introduced
into the mould, 18, the inner shell, 31, with its cover, 32, being uncoupled and in the
position in which it is indicated by dotted lines, 39, in figure, 1, but the aunular
plates, 28, being in their places, the mould is made to rotate at a moderate rate, say
70 to 80 turns per minute, and the sugar is led into the mould by means of a shoot
moved in a manner to distribute it uniformly. The rotation causes the sugar to be
filled, in a uniform manner, into the spaces between the annular plates, 28, and so as
with those plates to form a truncated annular or hollow cone.
At this time the sugar
is prevented from escaping between the annular cover plate, 26, and the edge of the
mould shell, 18, by a ring or annular lip of rubber, 40, which is fixed to the inside of
the annular cover plate by means of a metal ring, and which is formed of the section
shown in figures, 1, 2, and 3, so as to press against the edge of the mould shell, 18.
This rubber ring, 40, is stiff enough to resist the centrifugal force imparted to the
sugar or syrup by the moderate rotation used when filling in the sugar but it yields
and opens to let out the syrup when at a subsequent stage the much higher rate of
rotation usually adopted for draining sugar is employed. After filling in the
sugar
the inner shell, 31, with its cover, 32, is moved inwards and coupled to the boss, 22,
and then the non-rotating shaft, 15, is withdrawn, and the mould is re:roved and
dealt with as hereinbefore explained. It may here be mentioned that the bottom

page_text: plate, 19, of the mould is made of the same diameter as the ring, 25, at the wider end
of the conical shell, 18, so that the mould can be easily and conveniently moved from
place to place by rolling it along with its axis horizontal.
Instead of using the rubber ring or annular lip, 40, as hereinbefore described, any
other convenient provision may be made for giving egress to the syrup when liquoring
or draining the sugar. Thus the annular cover, 26, may be attached by means of
screw bolts arranged so that it can be made close at one time and sufficiently open at
another time as required. Or, when the rubber ring, 40, is used, the annular
cover, 26, may have its distance from the mould shell, 18, determined by a perforated
ring or any other convenient distance piece or pieces which will allow the syrup to
pass out when the rubber ring opens. Whilst sugar is being filled into the mould
there is placed round the wider part of the mould an annular receptacle, 41, mounted
on wheels, 42, for the purpose of catching any syrup that may leak and be thrown off
from the mould. When, however, we apply the high speed for the purpose of draining
the sugar we prefer to have the mould placed within a strong casing such as is used
with ordinary centrifugal machines employed in the sugar manufacture.
When, after the final draining of the sugar, the mould, 18, with the annular
cover, 26, removed, is turned bottom upwards for the purpose of emptying the
annular plates, 28, and the cakes of sugar formed between them, these will easily
separate from the mould if the inclination of the conical shell to the axis is sufficient,
but in case the inclination should prove to be insufficient or there is difficulty from
any other cause, in emptying the mould, we provide a movable ring, 43, in the bottom
of the mould, and, if required, press it against the mass of sugar and annular
plates, 28, by means of screws, 44, so as to start it and detach it from the mould,
whereupon the mould can be easily lifted off.
a
For the purpose of treating the sugar when in the mould in the manner described
in our carlier Specification No. 2924 of 1877, herein before referred to, we provide
central cover, 45, and inner shell, 46, to be placed in the mould, 18, as shown in
figure, 3. This cover, 45, is fitted with a central inlet funnel, 47, into which a jet of
steam is directed so as to carry in air. The inside of the cover, 45, has formed on it
guide ribs, 48, which fit upon the end of the hollow hoss, 22, but a small space is left
between the extreme end of that boss and the cover, 45, to allow the mixed air and
steam entering through the funnel, 47, to get access to the interior of the mould. A
space is left between the inner end of the shell, 46, and the bottom of the mould, and
the mixed air and steam has access through that space to the sugar between the
annular mould plates, 28. The shell, 46, is of a conical form which on its outside
leaves ample space for the access of the mixed air and steam to the sugar, whilst on
the inside the same conical form causes any water of condensation to flow by the
centrifugal action towards the cover, 45. The water which thus reaches the cover, 45,
passes out through small openings formed round the edge of the cover, in sub-
stantially the same manner as in the apparatus described in our earlier Specification.
In working with our improved apparatus the flat annular plates, 28, for dividing
the sugar into cakes, may be omitted if desired; and in that case the sugar will be
formed into one annular block, its treatment otherwise remaining the same. A block
made in this way may be broken or sawn up as required, either before or after being
dried.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1-The combination of parts constituting our improved apparatus for moulding and
refining sugar substantially as herein before described, and as shown in the accompany-
ing drawings.
2-The mould in the form of a truncated cone and having an unperforated
circumferential shell, the said mould being arranged with accessory parts for moulding
and refining sugar substantially in the manner herein before described.
3-The combination of a number of flat annular plates with a mould arranged to

page_text: rotate the plates being at right angles to the axis of the mould and provided for
moulding sugar in the form of annular cakes substantially as herein before described.
4 The combination with the mould of an inner shell and connected parts for
completely enclosing the sugar in the mould substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
5 The mode of providing egress for the syrup from the mould, when the mould is
subjected to the centrifugal draining operation, and consisting in arranging small
spaces for the syrup to flow past the edges of the annular dividing plates and along
the inside of the conical shell, and in providing an adjustable or automatic outlet at
the wider end of the conical shell substantially as hereinbefore described.
6-The fitting of a ring or annular lip of rubber at the outlet at the wider end of
the conical shell of the mould to act automatically in closing or opening the outlet
substantially as hereinbefore described.
ΕΠ
1004
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.