IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLAYING HARD SUGAR IN THE CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Solicitors, at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLAYING
HARD SUGAR IN THE CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE." A communication from Walter
Richard Elmenhorst, of Jersey City, in the State of New Jersey, in the
United States of America.
Sealed the 9th May 1879, and dated the 19th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1878.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort.
on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR CLAYING HARD SUGAR IN THE CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE." [A com-
munication from Walter Richard Elmenhorst, of Jersey City, in the State of New
Jersey, in the United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
claying hard sugar in centrifugal machines; and in carrying the said Invention into
practice the centrifugal machine is provided with the usual sieve drum, and to the
inner surface of the same I attach vertical posts at equal distances from each other,
which serve as guides to the forms at their outer edges. Exactly opposite the inner
side of each form is situated a box, the edges of the same exactly fitting those of the
form on the side nearest to the spindle of the machine. The edge of each box fitting
against the form is provided with an elastic packing. The upper end of each box is
provided with an extended opening, which allows the entrance of a pipe projecting
out of the bottom of each compartment of a central reservoir, which receives the
clearing matter. The said central reservoir is divided by partition walls into as
many compartments as there are forms in the centrifugal machine.
Before the commencement of the operation all the aforesaid boxes are pressed.
uniformly and tightly against the forms, and a perfect joint is produced, this being
D

page_text: effected by a rib mechanism somewhat similar to that of an ordinary umbrella,
which mechanism consists of a tube capable of being moved up and down the
spindle of the machine by means of a nut. The said nut is provided with a flange
at its lower end, and the aforesaid tube is held against this flange by a coupling
provided at its upper end with an annular projection fitting over the aforesaid
flange. The said tube is provided with a projection or collar around its lower end,
the said projection being provided with as many radial openings as there are forms
in the centrifugal drum, in each of which openings one end of an arm rests. These
arms are each provided on their inner end with a cross head fitting into circular
openings in the projection or collar around the lower end of the tube.
A ring pro-
vided with the same number of radial and circular openings as are in the said collar
is fitted upon the aforesaid tube from below, and is held in its position by a nut in
such a manner that the said cross heads turn and rest half in this projecting collar
and half in the ring before named. The other end of each arm is fork-shaped and
fits upon a pivot, the said pivots turning in ears provided on the aforesaid boxes,
each fork being attached to a pivot by a pin. The play of the aforesaid tube is
regulated by a screw, the inner end of which slides in a slot provided in the spindle
of the machine. By turning, a nut working on a thread cut upon the spindle of the
machine the said tube can be raised or lowered, and the aforesaid boxes are equally
pressed against or withdrawn from the inner surface of the forms.
There is a pouring in opening above mentioned in each box, and which is situated
under the pipe coming from each compartment of the aforesaid central reservoir,
there being an equal number of compartments and boxes constructed, so as to
conduct the clearing matter contained in each compartment into the box below..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th May
1879.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort
on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR CLAYING HARD SUGAR IN THE CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE." A com-
munication from Walter Richard Elmenhorst, of Jersey City, in the State of New
Jersey, in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for liquoring hard
sugar by centrifugal force; and the general nature of the said Invention consists in
the combination with the series of moulds of a centrifugal machine of a like series
of pairs of radially arranged partitions joined at their tops and bottoms, and a
central reservoir provided with a spout for each mould, by means of which liquid
from the reservoir is conducted into the spaces between the partitions and imme-
diately opposite the inner sides of the moulds, and is forced therefrom by centrifugal
action into the sugar contained in the moulds, the central reservoir being divided
radially into as many compartments as there are moulds for the purpose of ensuring
the discharge of equal quantities of liquid by all the spouts.
In one form of the said Invention the two radial partitions required for each
mould are united in the form of a box provided at its upper end with a chute, and
a number of such boxes corresponding with the number of moulds contained in the
machine are combined with mechanism whereby the boxes, the edges of which are
faced with an elastic gasket or packing, are simultaneously pressed against the
inner edges of the moulds for the purpose of making tight joints between the moulds
and the boxes.
The said Invention also includes the specific construction of the mechanism for
forcing the boxes against the moulds, which is herein shewn and described.
According to a modification of this Invention I provide the sugar moulds with
rearward extensions or mouths, which in use are not filled with magma. In this
case the side walls and top and bottom of the extensions serve as deflectors, by
means of which liquor discharged from a central reservoir through a spout opposite
the mouth of the mould is cauglit and held until it is forced radially outward
through the sugar in the mould. In this case I provide the central reservoir with
a number of spouts equal to the number of moulds employed, the said spouts being
made either flexible or jointed, so that they shall hang down when the machine is
not in rotation, and thus be out of the way when the moulds are lowered into the
basket. When the machine is rotated these flexible or jointed spouts stand out
radially in a plane at right angles to the axis of the machine, and severally dis-
charge liquor from the central reservoir into the mouths of tlie moulds. A part of
this form of the said Invention consists in the employment in conjunction with
sugar moulds provided with mouths, of filling pieces which fit into and occupy the
mouths during the process of filling the moulds with magma. Two moulds are filled
at a time by placing them one above the other, the mouth of the lower mould sur-
rounding a filling piece which is provided on its upper edge with an elastic packing
for the purpose of making a tight joint, with a shoulder projecting inwardly from
the point of junction of the mouth with the mould proper. The wider open end of
the lower mould supports the wider open end of the upper mould, and is separated
therefrom by a perforated division plate and gaskets of elastic packing material.
The mouth of the upper mould receives a funnel piece, through which the magna
is poured into the moulds, and which fills the mouth of the upper mould, and hence
serves as a gauge for the upper surface of the magma therein deposited.
One form of the said Invention as applied to a centrifugal machine is shewn in
Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of one half of my improved machine, the other half
being shown in transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
..

page_text: Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the said machine; and
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the same on the line y, y, Figure 2.
My centrifugal machine has the usual basket A provided with the perforated
rim A¹. I arrange on the inner side of the rim a series of vertical pillars B, which
are equidistant, and which serve as guides to hold the outer corners of the sugar
moulds C. Immediately opposite the inner side of each mould is a box D, the edge
of which conforms to the shape of the inner edge of the mould, and is covered with
an elastic gasket C¹. The upper end of this box is provided, with an opening for
loosely receiving the lower portion of a spout E fixed to the bottom of one of the
chambers E¹ of the central reservoir F, which is centrally supported above the
spindle of the machine. The reservoir is divided by, the radial partitions F' into a
number of chambers corresponding with the number of moulds in the machine.
When the moulds are in position the liquoring boxes are all forced simultaneously
outward, so that their edges make tight joints with the inner edges of the moulds
by means of spreading mechanism similar to that employed for opening an umbrella.
This spreading mechanism consists of a sleeve H, which is made to slide on the
The lower portion of the adjusting
spindle I by means of the adjusting screw J.
screw is a tube J' having a female thread j cut on the inside of it, which engages
.with a male thread j' cut on the upper portion of the spindle. The lower end of
the tube J' is provided with a laterally projecting flange J2. The upper end of the
sleeve H is held against the end of the tube J¹ by means of the annular cap H',
having an inside flange H2, which overlaps the upper side of. the flange J2. The
sleeve H is provided with a projecting shoulder h, in which are formed a series of
radial notches h' to receive the inner ends of the spreading arms K, each of which
is provided with a transverse pivot k, the ends of which rest in semicircular recesses
formed in the face of the shoulder h on either side of each notch h¹. A corre-
spondingly notched and recessed annulus L is slipped on the lower end of the sleeve
H, and held up against the shoulder by the nut l. It will thus be seen that the
transverse pivots on the inner ends of the spreading arms K have their bearings one
half in the recesses in the shoulder h, and the other half in corresponding recesses in
the annulus L. At their outer ends each of the spreading arms K is forked, and
embraces a pivot & inserted in the ears d' on the inner side D* of one of the boxes
D, the forked end of the arm K being secured to the pivot d by the vertical pin d².
The range of movement of the sleeve H is limited by means of the key screw M, the
inner end of which projects into the groove M₁, formed longitudinally in the
spindle I. It will be seen that by turning the actuating screw J the sleeve H may
be raised or lowered, and the boxes D accordingly either simultaneously thrust out-
ward against the moulds, or drawn inward away from the moulds.
In applying my improvements to centrifugal machines provided with the ordinary
moulds now in use we find it convenient to employ boxes closed on the side towards
the spindle of the machine, and to provide the inwardly projecting chutes e to
receive the ends of the spouts E instead of making a hole for the purpose in the top
D2 of the box.
The sides D', tops D², and bottoms D3 of the boxes constitute deflectors and
guides which serve to ensure the discharge of all the liquor from the boxes D
respectively into the sugar contained in the moulds with which the boxes are
respectively in contact. The radial partitions F¹ in the reservoir serve to ensure an
equal discharge by all the spouts of the liquor introduced into the reservoir.
It will be understood that various forms of mechanism may be employed to press
the boxes and moulds closely together, so as to make a tight joint between them, as,
for example, the boxes may be stationary and the moulds may be pressed inward
against the boxes, or the moulds being stationary the boxes may be pressed outward
by means of cams instead of spreading arms, or the boxes can be clamped to the
moulds previously and both together be placed in the machine. I prefer however to
employ for this purpose the form of mechanism as herein described.
I am aware that various attempts have been made to liquor hard sugar in the
centrifugal machine, and I do not therefore claim broadly apparatus adapting cen-

page_text: trifugal machines to such a purpose, the distinguishing features of the said invention
being, first, the central reservoir provided with a spout for each mould, with radial
partitions for ensuring the discharge of equal quantities of liquor through all the
spouts; secondly, the boxes D, the material parts of which are the sides D', which
are vertical partitions, and the ends or tops D and bottom D³, which are horizontal
partitions, the sides and ends answering to deflect and guide into the sugar moulds
all the liquor injected into the several spaces within the deflectors and behind each
sugar mould respectively, such spaces being the receiving chambers.
A modified form of the said Invention as applied to a centrifugal machine is illus-
trated in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Drawing, in which,-
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a mould provided with an inner mouth or
extension.
Figure 5 is a cross section through two moulds showing the manner of arranging
them preparatory to filling them with magma.
Figure 6 is a central vertical section through the axis of the centrifugal machine
showing the moulds in position to receive the cleansing liquor, and showing the
apparatus for conducting such liquor in equal quantities into the mouths on the
inner side of each mould.
Figure 7 is a top view of the centrifugal machine.
In these Figures it will be seen that the mould proper N, which is made of cast
iron or other suitable material, is provided with the projection O cast in one piece.
with the mould N, or otherwise so fastened as to form a permanent portion of the.
mould. The projection O running entirely around the inner edge of the mould N
forms the side walls and top and bottom of an extension or mouth P, which not
being filled with magma or sugar is the primary receptacle for the cleansing liquor
discharged from the central reservoir. It will be understood that the shape of the
moulds may be varied, and that the gist of this part of my Invention consists in
providing an extension or mouth on that side of the mould which in use is toward
the centre of the centrifugal machine. Each mould is provided with an inwardly
projecting shoulder at the meeting line of the mould N with the extension. It
will be seen that the shoulder of the lower mould rests upon the top of the base
block R, and that the shoulder Q of the upper mould affords a support for the funnel
piece S, the under side of which serves as a gauge for the top of the charge of
magma in the upper mould. Between the two moulds there is a division plate T
having in it the holes t, t, for the passage of magma from the upper mould into the
lower mould, and being provided with packing strips or gaskets l', l, for the pur-
pose of making tight joints with the edges of the upper and lower moulds.
packing strip is also provided on the top of the base block R, which packs the
joint with the shoulder Q and prevents leakage of the magma at the joint during
the filling operation.
A
The moulds being arranged in the position shewn in Figure 5, the sugar magma
is poured into the funnel piece S, from which it flows into the upper mould and
through the openings t, t, in the division plate T into the lower mould, and gra-
dually rising fills up the two moulds. After the magma has remained in the moulds
a sufficient time the two moulds are separated and detached from the funnel piece
S, the division plate T, and the base block R, and are then ready for introduction
into the centrifugal machine. The moulds proper by this means are filled with
crystallized sugar and the extensions remain empty, and thus serve as mouths for
the reception of the cleansing liquor. The moulds when thus prepared are to be
placed in the perforated basket U of a centrifugal machine.. Around the shaft U₁
of the machine is placed a liquoring reservoir V, having upon the lower edge of its
periphery a number of projecting nipples v corresponding to the number of moulds,
and respectively located immediately opposite the mouths of the several moulds. A
rubber pipe Vis tied or otherwise affixed to each nipple, and thus forms a flexible
prolongation of the nipple. These flexible pipes drop down by their own gravity
when the machine is stationary, and hence do not interfere with the placing of the

page_text: moulds in the basket. When the machine is set in motion the pipes V₁ are thrown
out horizontally in radial directions by centrifugal force, and the cleansing liquor
being then poured into the central reservoir V is discharged in equal proportions
through each one of the radial tubes into the mouths or extensions P of the moulds.
When so discharged the cleansing liquor immediately rises and forms a wall covering
the inner face of the sugar in the moulds, and is hence forced evenly through the
sugar by centrifugal action.
Having thus fully described the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. A central reservoir for containing the sugar liquor divided by radial par-
titions into compartments of equal sizes, and provided with a downwardly projecting
spout from the bottom of each compartment, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Secondly. The sugar moulds provided with the vertical deflector plates D¹ and
horizontal plates D2 and D³ in combination with a central reservoir for the purpose
of effecting an equal distribution to each mould of liquor discharged from the
central reservoir.
Thirdly. The combination of deflectors or guides on the inner side of the mould,
with each mould and a spout projecting downward from a central reservoir divided
by radial partitions into a number of compartments equalling the number of moulds
in the machine for the purpose of conducting all the liquor discharged from any
compartment of the reservoir into the mould immediately opposite the spout con-
nected with such compartments.
Fourthly. A series of moulds concentrically arranged in the basket of a centrifugal
machine, and an inner circle of boxes, as described, in combination with adjusting
mechanism mounted upon the machine and adapted to simultaneously move all the
boxes either inward or outward on radial lines, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Fifthly. In a centrifugal machine for liquoring hard sugar, the combination of
the mould C with the liquoring box D and the packing strip C₁ for the purpose of
making a tight joint between the liquoring box and the mould, substantially as
described.
Sixthly. The boxes D provided with the chutes e and with the elastic gaskets C¹
in combination with the sleeve H and the radially arranged spreading arms K, con-
structed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventhly. The sleeve H provided with a projecting shoulder h, notched and
recessed as shewn and described, in combination with a similarly notched and
recessed annulus L and a nut l, as and for the purpose set forth.
Eighthly. In a centrifugal machine for liquoring hard sugar, the reservoir F pro-
vided with the spouts E, the boxes D provided with the chutes e, the elastic gaskets
C¹ and the ears d', the spreading arms K, each provided at its outer end with a
transverse pivot journalled in one of the pairs of ears d¹ and at its inner end with a
transverse pivot journalled in a central sleeve H, the sleeve H traversing a portion
of the spindle I, and the actuating screw J engaging a screw thread cut upon the
spindle I, the whole arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the
purpose set forth.
Ninthly. A sugar mould provided upon its inner open end with the extension or
mouth P, as and for the purpose set forth.
Tenthly. The moulds N provided with the projection O forming the mouth P,
and provided with the inwardly projecting shoulder Q, as and for the purpose set
forth.
Eleventhly. The funnel-piece S fitting the interior of the mouth P of a sugar
mould, and provided with an aperture through which magma can be poured into the
mould, substantially as shewn and described.
Twelfthly. Sugar moulds provided at their inner open ends with extensions or
mouths, substantially such as described, in combination with a central reservoir

page_text: provided with radially projecting spouts for the purpose of discharging streams of
liquor from the central reservoir into the mouths of the moulds, substantially as
described.
Thirteenthly. A central reservoir in a centrifugal machine provided with a series
of flexible discharging spouts, as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourteenthly. Sugar moulds provided with mouths, substantially such as
described, in combination with the filling pieces R and S, as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
FRANK WIRTH.. (L.S.)