IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING SUGAR
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Berthon Preston, of the Firm of Fawcett,
Preston, and Company, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING
SUGAR." A communication from abroad by José Guardiola, of
Chocolá, Guatemala. Central America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Berthon Preston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th March 1870.
I, HENRY BERTHON PRESTON, of the Firm of Fawcett, Preston, and
Company, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
EVAPORATING SUGAR," to be as follows:-
This Invention for "Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating
Sugar" relates to an apparatus to be used for evaporating sugar whilst

page_text: matter.
An apparatus constructed according to this Invention consists in a
continuous attached channel or gutter formed of iron or other suitable
material, and descending in a spiral direction like a helix, widening
towards the bottom and forming a dome, at the top centre of which is a
tank for the purpose of containing and supplying the defecated juice to
the evaporating helical channel or gutter. At one side of this tank is a
suitable supply cock opening to the upper end of the helical or spiral
channel or gutter. The liquid flows through this cock down what may
be termed the first spiral gradient of the channel or gutter, then down
the second, descending gradually in a thin layer to the end of the spiral
channel or gutter, evaporating the water it contains as it descends, and
giving a clear or pure juice or syrup ready to go into the finishing
apparatus at once, or after passing through bag filters. Attached to and
connected with this tank is a pipe descending down the outside of the
dome or helix, and having suitable cocks opening into the various spiral
steps of the channel or gutter for the purpose of supplying liquid to any
part of the spiral channel or gutter, should the heat dry the liquor too
suddenly. On the outer edge and all down the spiral gutter or helix is
a perforated strainer guard. This strainer collects any foreign matter
or impurity thrown up by the cbullition of the liquid, allowing the juice
overflowing to strain into the next spiral step of the channel or gutter.
There is a step ladder or staircase, which is mado to revolve round the
helix to gain access to and clean off any impurities which may clog or ad-
here to the channel or gutter. The whole is mounted upon brickwork over
a furnace, the heat of which circulates through the interior of the dome
that is under the continuous spiral or helical channel or gutter. This
furnace is fired at one side, the smoke and gases being led away by flues
at the opposite side. Inside the dome and round the vertical sides of
the helical or spiral channel or gutter, it is preferred to attach fire-brick
to prevent the heat doing injury to the gutter. Outside and over the
whole is a hood to carry off the vapour or steam. The spiral or helical
evaporator may be of any size required according to the quantity of
juice to be evaporated. The inclination or gradient of the spiral or
helical channel or gutter may be at the top, one in one hundred, increasing
towards the bottom.

page_text: The advantages incidental to this Invention are applying great heat
for evaporating with minimum fuel, easy access to all parts for cleaning
and collecting the impurities given off while the liquid is under ebullition,
together with simplicity and cheapness of construction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Berthon Preston in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BERTHON PRESTON, of the Firm of Fawcett, Preston, and Company, of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Henry Berthon Preston, Her special licence
that I, the said Henry Berthon Preston, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Berthon Preston, my
executors, administrators, and 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING SUGAR," a communication to me
from abroad by José Guardiola, of Chocolá Guatemala, Central America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Berthon
Preston, my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Berthon Preston, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in aud
by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to an apparatus to be used for evaporating
sugar whilst in a liquid state, that is, juice of sugar cane or other
saccharine fluid matter. The apparatus is also applicable to evaporating
fluids in general.
An apparatus constructed according to this Invention consists in a
continuous attached channel or gutter formed of iron or other suitable
material shaped like a "helix," and descending in a spiral direction,
widening towards the bottom and constituting a dome. At the top and
centre of this dome is a tank or receptacle for the purpose of containing
and supplying the cane juice or other liquid to the helical channel or
gutter which is heated by a suitable furnace under the dome. At onc
side of this tank is a suitable supply cock opening into the upper end
of the helical or spiral channel or gutter. The liquid flows through
this cock down what may be termed the first spiral gradient of the
channel or gutter, then down the second, and so on descending gradually
in a thin layer to the end of the spiral channel or gutter evaporating the
water it contains as it descends, and giving a clear or pure juice or syrup
ready to go into the finishing apparatus at once or after passing through
bag filters. Attached to and connected with the tank is a pipe descending
down the outside of the dome or "helix," and having suitable cocks
opening into the various spiral steps of the channel or gutter for the
purpose of supplying liquid to any part of the spiral channel or gutter
should the heat dry the layer too suddenly. On the outer edge and all
down the spiral gutter or " helix " is a perforated strainer guard. This
strainer collects any foreign matter or impurities thrown up by the cbul-
lition of the liquid allowing the juice overflowing to strain into the next step
of the channel or gutter and leaving the impurities on the strainer guard.
A step ladder or staircase revolves round the "helix" to gain access to :
and clear off any impurities which may clog or adhere to the channel or
gutter. The "helix" or evaporator is mounted upon suitable brickwork
over a furnace the heat of which circulates through the interior of the
dome that is under the continuous spiral channel or gutter. The
furnace is fired at one side, the smoke and gases being led away by flues
at the opposite side of the dome. Inside the dome and round, the
vertical sides of the helical or spiral channel or gutter it is preferred to

page_text: attach fire-brick to prevent intense heat doing injury to the gutter.
Outside and covering the "helix" a hood may be arranged to carry off
the vapour or steam arising from the evaporation of the liquid.
In order that this Invention may be more clearly seen and understood
there are hereunto aunexed two Sheets of Drawings marked with
figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation, like letters and figures being used throughout the
various views to denote similar parts.
The Drawings illustrate an apparatus suitable to the evaporation of
sugar or saccharine liquid matter, but it may be remarked that the
apparatus may be used for the evaporation of liquids generally.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) shows a sectional elevation of the continuous
attached helical channel or gutter with strainer guard, supply tank, and
revolving step ladder drawn on the scale of one inch and a half to the
foot; Figure 2 (Sheet 2) is a partial plan of the same shown broken off,
drawn on a similar scale; Figure 3 (Sheet 1) is a full sized section of
the helical channel or gutter showing a strainer guard and lining of fire-
brick Figure 4 (Sheet 1) is a sectional plan of vertical side of channel
or gutter showing lining of fire-brick, scale one inch and a half to the
foot; Figure 5 (Sheet 1) is a front view of carriage for revolving step
ladder, scale inch and a half to the foot.
A, helical chanuel or gutter; B, supply tank; C, brickwork supporting
helical channel and forming sides of furnace; D, dome formed
by helical channel; E, pipe for supplying tank B with cane juice or
other liquid to be evaporated; F, supply cock from tank B to helical
channel A; G pipe with cocks H for the purpose of supplying
liquid to any part of the spiral channel or gutter should the heat
dry the layer too suddenly: I, revolving ladder for gaining access
to spiral channel or gutter; J, pivot of ladder; K, wheels; L, rail;
M, perforated strainer guard following the spiral channel down each of
its gradients; N, lining of fire-brick to protect channel from being
burnt by the intensity of the heat; O, base plate supporting channel
or gutter; P, perforations or holes in strainer guard which are continued
all down its length; R, rest or support for pipe G. In using this
apparatus for the evaporation of cane juice or saccharine fluid matter a
stream of water is first run over the spiral channel or gutter A, and when
the whole length is covered with water fire is lighted in the furnace

page_text: under the dome D, the furnace by preference having two doors to allow
it being fed more evenly over the grate bars. The tank may be filled
with defecated cane juice, and as soon as there is sufficient juice ready
the stream of water passing over the channel or gutter A is stopped,
and in its place the cane juice (which has been pumped from the defecator
through pipe E into the supply tank B) passes through the cock Fin
a continuous stream down the channel or gutter A and thence to the
finishing apparatus. To make "concrete" only it is sufficient to let the
juice run directly from the cane mill down the channel or gutter A, on
its passage receiving a dripping of superphosphate of lime or simply
milk of lime. In the passage of the juice down the continuous channel
the liquid is skimmed by the strainer guard M, and leaves thercon
without any trouble all the impurities that the heat throws up. The
juice as far as possible must be kept at a uniform depth of half an inch
all over the channel, the same being fed when necessary by cocks II.
If the juice has been filtered the syrup will be pure and handsome, as
with such a rapid evaporation it is almost impossible to spoil it. There
is not a single drop of juice lost and the evaporation is never retarded.
The step ladder I moves round the evaporator to facilitate the removal
of the impurities deposited on the strainer M. Upon leaving the helical
channel the syrup passes through a small vessel containing an aerometer
to mark the density, and if not dense enough it ought to be pumped
back to that part of the channel where the juice attains the density
marked by the syrup.
The juice travels down the evaporator at the
rate of about twenty feet in every minute. The spiral or liclical
evaporator being of any size required according to the quantity of juice to
be evaporated, the inclination or gradient may be at the top, one in one
hundred, increasing towards the bottom.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this In-
vention, and the means for carrying the same into practical effect, it will
be clearly understood that the Invention is not confined to the several
proportions and relative dimensions of the various parts of the apparatus
as shown as it will be readily seen that they may be considerably varied
and the material of construction may be altered to suit circumstances,
but what is claimed is,―
Firstly. The combination of the helical spiral channel or gutter herein-
before described substantially in the manner and for the purposes set
forth.

page_text: Secondly. The continuous strainer guard attached to the edge of the
helical or spiral channel or gutter substantially in the manner and for
the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Berthon Preston, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-first day of Sep-
tember, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy.
Witness,
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH.
HENRY B. (L.S.) PRESTON.
of 43, Castle Street,
Liverpool.