A NEW METHOD OR APPARATUS OR MACHINE FOR THE BETTER OR MORE ECONOMIC EVAPORATION OF FLUIDS OR LIQUIDS CONTAINING CRYSTALLINE OR OTHER MATTERS TO BE CON-
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
CONSTANTINE JENNINGS, late of No. 6, Cumberland Terrace, Regent's Park, in
the County of Middlesex, but now of Cumberland Terrace, Old Kent Road, in
the County of Surrey, Practical Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-six, in the tenth year of Her reign,
did give and grant unto me, the said Henry Constantine Jennings, my
exors, adñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said Henry Constantine Jennings, my exors,
adiñors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Henry Constantine
Jennings, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter, during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called
England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
in Her Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all
Her Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention for "A NEW METHOD
OR APPARATUS OR MACHINE FOR THE BETTER OR MORE ECONOMIC EVAPORATION OF
FLUIDS OR LIQUIDS CONTAINING CRYSTALLINE OR OTHER MATTERS TO BE CON-

page_text: CENTRATED OR CRYSTALLIZED;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso that I, the said Henry Constantine Jennings, shall particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is 'to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Constantine Jennings, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by this present Instrument in writing, and the Drawings
hereunto annexed (reference being had to the figures and letters therein con-
tained, and to the Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, in the said Drawings)
-
My Invention consists in the obtaining great evaporating surface by the
elevation of a column of liquid containing sugar, salt, or other saline substance
or matter to be evaporated and crystallized, and causing the same to pass or
circulate over a certain number of double cylinders heated within by steam or hot
air. The said elevation and circulation of the liquid is obtained by the injection
of atmospheric air, heated or cold, by means of a pneumatic forcing pump
of proportionate power or capacity, to be worked by manual labour, animal, or
steam power, as may be required or found convenient. The annexed Drawing
shews the machine, instrument, or apparatus in one of the forms best adapted
to carry out practically this my Invention, so as to obtain rapid and economic
evaporation without carbonization, or other dangerous effects generally arising
from elevated temperature in cooking or manufacturing raw sugar, or refining
the same, or other substances to which this Invention may be applicable.
A, in Figure 1 of the Drawings hereto annexed, represents the section of a
wood tub or vat or back, about five feet high by four and a half feet in
diameter, slightly conical, the largest end or base of the cone being downwards
to insure the driving or tightening of the hoops, so as to keep the tubs sound
and steam-tight. Into this tub is fixed a vessel or pan of copper, or other
metal suitable for the production of sugar, salt, et cetera. This pan is
supported about six inches from the bottom by radiating metal bands or
supports, so as to rest solidly upon the bottom of the tub. This pan is four
or five inches less in diameter than the tub, so as to allow the steam to pass
freely all round and under the bottom of the metal pan, indicated by the letter
B in Figure 1. This pan has a division or partition fixed about two feet
from its bottom, so as to constitute a sort of second bottom. From this partition,

page_text: division, or second bottom rises a circular rim or cylinder reaching to the top
of the tub and fastened thereto (by screws and cement, or otherwise) so as to
be air and steam-tight, thus forming a cavity or space like the bottom space B,
but somewhat larger in capacity, as shewn by the letter C in Figure 1 in the
3 Drawing. In the said partition or double bottom are three holes of six inches
in diameter, placed equidistant in a triangular position the one to the other;
one of these holes is represented at E, in Figure 1, which also shews the valve
closed. The valve opens downwards, being suspended by a hinge joint.
Each valve has a counterpoise or weight suspended at the end of a lever
constantly tending to impel the disc or valve to rise and close the hole perfectly..
To produce this effect more certainly, the said valve or plate has a ball of
copper for lifting or raising the plate (aided as it is by its counterpoise weight)
when any liquid reaches so high in the pan B in Figure 1 as to come in
contact with the said ball, and cause it to act like the ball-cock of a common
water pipe. These valves open inwards or downwards only, but are counter-
balanced by the extra weight of the ball or sphere, so as to remain open when
the pan B in Figure 1 is empty or partially void of liquid. D, in Figure 1,
represents a circular pipe or tube of copper, about four inches in diameter,
and about eight feet high, passing perpendicularly down through the centre of
the above-mentioned partition or division, or double bottom, between B and C
in Figure 1, and reaching to within one inch of the bottom of the pan B in
Figure 1 into a cup or cavity, indicated by a in Figure 1, where it rests on a
wire grating so as to support it firmly, but without closing the bottom of the
tube, and preventing the drawing or forcing of all the liquid contained in the
pan or cavity B in Figure 1. This tube or pipe rises above the second
bottom or partition about six feet; above this bottom or partition, supported by
it and elevated about two feet six inches, or about level with the top of the
wooden tub, are placed, one within the other, five hollow double cylinders of
copper or other metal, having their upper and under edges hermetically closed,
so as to be air and steam tight. These double cylinders, represented by the
letters F, F, F, F, F, in Figure 1, are three feet high nearly, and about four
inches asunder, the outer and inner surfaces of the cylinders constituting each
double cylinder being about one inch and a half apart. These double cylinders
are all on the same level at their upper edges, but the innermost of the double
cylinders is about one quarter of an inch shorter that the second double cylinder,
and the second a quarter of an inch shorter than the third, and the third
than the fourth, and the fourth than the fifth, so as to allow the water arising
from the condensation of the steam within the double cylinders to pass from
one into the other, and down by the perpendicular pipes bb, in Figure 1,

page_text: .
into the circular tube S in Figure 1, leading into the discharge. These double
cylinders are united by union joints (or other means of connexion) soldered to
the inner and outer cylinder of each set at equal distances, having three
union joints to each set of double cylinders at the top- and at the bottom',
as indicated by the letters K, 'K, K, K, et cetera, in Figure 1.. Some
of these union joints, namely, those marked K, K, K; K; K, are employed
to allow the steam to pass from the upper part of one double cylinder
into the upper part of another, and so on into the five double cylinders shewn
by the Drawing. The others marked K 1, in Figure 3, are dumb union joints.
The condensed water passes off by the lower union joints into the circular
pipe S, in Figure 1, by the legs or conduits marked b, in Figure.1, .whence it
passos into the pipe Q, in Figure 1, and is pumped into the boiler or generator
from a vessel or tank in which the pipe Q'in Figure 1 terminates. Each of
the double cylinders has straps of copper or iron placed inside between. the
two surfaces, so as to prevent the collapse, which might occur if a too rapid
condensation took place at any time within the cylinders by the too. rapid
falling off of the steam, or any other cause; and the cylinders rest upon copper
feet or supports M, resting on the plate or partition, or double bottom
between B and C in Figure 1. This plate or partition is also supported by
upright pillars or tubes d, d, in Figure 1 (which also, by means of the nuts
screwed on the ends of them, form stays to the top and bottom of the pan B), to
support the perpendicular weight of the cylinders; and they are also partly held
and sustained above by the three brackets, U, U, U, which are soldered strongly
to the middle tube or pipe D in Figure 1. A pipe L, in Figure 1, conveys
the steam from the back to the lower part of the innermost double cylinder
to convey the steam into it from the boiler. From this double cylinder it
passes by the union joint at the top into the second double cylinder, and so on
into all the others, the uncondensed portion escaping at the pipe X in
Figure 1. The letter R, in Figure 1, indicates a pipe for conveying the
condensed water from the wood tub into the vessel which receives the con-
densed water from the circular pipe within the pan C, in Figure 1, and is
furnished with a cock, so as to perform this operation from time to time as
may be required. Over the cylinders is a circular moveable pan or tray, as
indicated by H, in Figure 1, which has separate circular divisions of wire
gauze, protected with strong wires, running in radii, so as to cross the edges of
the five double cylinders, which have a strong copper wire about one eighth of
an inch diameter running. all round the centre of the top of each set of
double cylinders for the purpose of distributing the syrup, cane juice, or other
liquid; so that it may fall down the surfaces of the said cylinders, and thereby

page_text: These
insure the equal distribution of the liquid to absorb the caloric furnished by
the steam or hot-air, should hot air be employed instead of steam, within the
double cylinders. The interstices of this tray or pan, which are over the
intervals between each of the five sets of double cylinders, and the interval
between the inner. cylinder of the innermost set and the pipe D (as scen
in Figure 5), are covered with copper, plates, to the edges of which the wire
gauze and radiating wires are soldered and united, into which copper plates
are fixed six conic tubes I, in Figure.1, and about one foot high, so as to
enable the vapour that is formed from the liquid falling over the heated
surfaces to rise up and escape off into the atmosphere, as there are five plates
of copper corresponding with the five intervals, including that between the
inner cylinder and the middle tube D, in Figure 1. There are thirty of these
tubes in all, which act as chimneys or flues.to carry off and conduct upwards
the vapour formed as above described, the difference between the tem-
perature of the outer air and the temperature of the air in the interval between
each set of double cylinders occasioning a current or draught upwards.
conic tubes may be provided with a flannel covering or filter, which also covers
the whole of the bottom of the tray or filter, and also the inside or circum-
ference of the said tray or pan, so as to cuable us to perfectly filter cane
juice or any other liquid that is required to be clarified, purified, or ren-
dered bright by filtration, when the said liquid is in a very thin state
and capable of passing through flanuel or any other vegetable or animal
substance or tissue that will detain the feculent or other impurities found
in the liquids employed. This tray with its flannel may, when required,
contain animal charcoal for the purpose of discharging the colour. This tray
or filter can be changed, and replaced. by a second tray and filter in the space
of one or two minutes, so that the operation can be effected, however turbid or
foul the liquid operated upon may be, as the first filter can be washed while the
second is in use or action, and the operation of filtration is carried on while
the evaporation is going on, and while the syrup, cane juice, or other liquid is
at or near the boiling point. Thus we obtain an advantage, of great consequence
to the melioration or perfection of sugar-refining processes without a secondary
or independent process of filtering and its attendant cost of time, labour,
and fuel, it being found that the purer and brighter. the syrup or liquid the
better is invariably the crystal or substance produced. This tray has a cap or
head G, in Figure 1, which takes off, and on at pleasure, and is held down by
a pin traversing the tube, which holds or connects it with the tray and pipe D
in Figure 1. This pin, indicated by the square marked in Figure 1, is
uccessary to prevent the said cap or head from rising and blowing off by the

page_text: pressure of the rising column of air after all the liquid has passed up the
pipe D in Figure 1 when the apparatus is at work. This head or cap is
provided with twelve descending curved tubes or pipes V, V, V, in Figure 1;
of which six dip downwards and terminate within two or three inches of the
base of the perforated tray H in Figure 1, their ends or openings being one
inch and a half in diameter; the other six diverge in an angle, and extend to
within two or three inches of the bottom and circumference of the tray, so as
to insure the liquid reaching the inner surface of the tray, and serve to
distribute it equally all over the base of the tray. When the liquid is perfectly
bright and clear the filter of flannel or other substance is unnecessary and
may be dispensed with. The lower pan B may contain a galvanic pile or
battery of three elements composed of copper and zinc; the first element is
twenty inches diameter, each metal being half an inch apart; the second is
sixteen inches, et cetera; the third is twelve inches, et cetera, and would be
supported upon a wood frame to partially insulate it from the copper or metal
bottom of the pan B. The copper part of each element should be about six
inches high or deep, and one sixteenth of an inch thick; the zinc circles should
be the same height, but six or eight times thicker, united by copper straps, as
is usual in these kinds of instruments, by rivets, only without soldering.
Different sizes or batteries may be employed according to the magnitude of
the evaporating machine. P, in Figure 1, indicates a pipe, about one inch in
diameter, connecting the steam boiler with the wood tub, and has a cock to turn
on or off the steam. T, in Figure 1, indicates the perpendicular copper tube
or pipe, about one inch in diameter, connected with a powerful pneumatic
forcing pump, and connects itself with the interior pan or body B in Figure 1
by the pipe which terminates with a cock, as shewn in the Drawing at o,
which is used to draw off the cooked syrup or other liquid when the operation
is completed. The legs supporting the upper partition of the double bottom
must be firmly secured to the bottom, and the upper part of the cavity B in
Figure 1, to resist the pressure consequent on the injection of the air. The
machine shown in the Drawing is constructed of sheet copper, of from four
and a half to five pounds to the square foot, and when a larger. machine
is required the strength must be proportioned accordingly.
The arrangements above described are well adapted for carrying out
the object of my Invention, namely, the rapid and economical evapora
tion and inspissation of liquids requiring condensation, and crystallization,
and freedom from carbonization. I will now proceed to describe the
action or working of the apparatus above described. The body or pan B
in Figure 1, is charged with about two hundred and fifty gallons of cane

page_text: juice, dissolved sugar, or any other liquid to be operated upon, by a pipe-
or channel shewn at Z, in Figure 1 in the Drawing. Steam, at a pressure of
about two pounds averdupoise upon every square inch above the common
atmospheric pressure, is turned on from the boiler or generator, and passing
through the pipe P, in Figure 1, communicates very speedily its heat to the
liquid, and when the liquid attains the temperature of two hundred and twelve.
degrees Fahrenheit ascends through the pipe L in Figure 1, and fills the five
double cylinders F, F, F, F, F, the surplus passing (if any) into the atmosphere
by the short tube X. The valves E, E, E, shewn in Figure 3, and a section of
one of which is also shewn in Figure 1, rise and close hermetically the three-
openings or apertures. A pneumatic pump, of sufficient power and capacity
to inject or force into the body or pan B about fifty or sixty cubic feet of
atmospheric air per minute, either cold or heated, as may be preferred, is
applied to inject or force in air, either cold or heated, by the pipe T. This
air, pressing upon the inside of the vessel, pan, or body B, forces the liquid to
rise up to the top of the column or perpendicular pipe D. The liquid having filled
the head G, runs down the curved pipes V, V, V, into the perforated sieve or tray.
II, and thence passes down over the inner and outer surface of the double
cylinders F, F, F, F, F, and falls into the upper pan or body C; when tho
liquid has passed up, the atmospheric air which produced this effect rushes
up the tube and escapes by the cap or head W in Figures 1 and 2, which is
fixed to G by strong straps of copper or other metal, so placed as not to
impede the egress or escape of the air. The moment this escape of the air.
takes place the valves E, E, E, open, and the liquid above rushes down into the
pan or cavity B, because the superincumbent weight of the liquid above forces
open the valves. The pan B being again full (the requisite quantity of syrup
to fill it having been admitted as before) the valves close, and the liquid again
remounts as before, so that a continuous circulation of the liquid is obtained, and.
the liquid passing over the five double cylinders heated to the temperature of two
hundred and twelve degrees, the aqueous parts are evaporated. The cylinders,.
as shewn in the Drawing, will present a surface of above two hundred square
fect, the rate of evaporation depending on the extent of that surface and the
temperature which that surface acquires by the constant flow of the steam into.
their double cavities or spaces. The condensation of the steam into water is
constantly going on during the working of the pumps, and the condensed
water runs off and down in the circular tube S, thence by pipe Q into a
vessel from which it is from time to time pumped into the boiler or generator
by a proper induction or feed pump. A proof of the syrup, cane-juice, or liquid
under operation is taken by touching the syrup on the outside cylinder, or

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taking a little from the upper pan or body C, as is well understood by sugar
refiners; and when the desired degree of concentration is obtained, the whole
is drawn off into the coolers from the cock o. The action of the pumps will
be continuous until the requisite degree of concentration has been obtained.
A considerable evaporation is occasioned by the air forced into the syrup going
in dry and escaping wet, at an increased temperature, and absorbing by its
great pressure and condensation a considerable portion of water and caloric,
and evaporation may be obtained at a very low temperature, by diminishing
the quantity of steam and by augmenting the quantity of air injected by the
pumps, as steam at the pressure of one atmosphere expands into about one
thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight times its bulk of water. It is
evident that by properly adapting and increasing the dimensions, either
in height or breadth, of the double cylinders, and proportioning the
space between them, I can augment the surface at pleasure, and I can
increase the number of the cylinders, so as to obtain any required extent
of surface. Also the evaporation may be increased by increasing the diameter
and velocity of the pumps for injecting the air. Thus any required degree of
evaporation may be obtained, and the larger the required evaporation the more
cheap and economic will be the arrangements above described both in 'respect
of the expenditure of fuel and time.
The arrangements and methods above described may also be applied "to
evaporate and concentrate saline and other liquors to, at, or near the point of
crystallization. Figure 1 of the Drawings is a sectional elevation of 'the
machine; Figure 2 is an external elevation; Figure 3 is a cross" section on
the line x, y, of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan of the cylinders F, F;
Figure 5 is a plan of the tray H; and Figure 6 is a plan of the head W.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I
claim as the Invention intended to be secured by the said Letters Patent is
the evaporation and concentration of liquids in the manner and by the use of
an apparatus constructed and arranged as above described.
And I also claim the application of electricity to facilitate evaporation in
the concentration and crystallization of liquids, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Constantine Jennings, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Tenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and forty-seven.
H. C. JENNINGS. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Tenth day of February, in the
tenth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said Henry
Constantine Jennings came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery,
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-
fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Tenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-seven.