Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating, Distilling, Refining, or Concentrating Liquids.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1889-Accepted; 28th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating, Distilling, Refining, or
Concentrating Liquids.
WO THOMAS GAUNT of 115 Broadway in the City County and State of New York
in the United States of America and EUGENE HOWARD CLAPP of Atlantic Avenue,
Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for evaporating or distilling liquids, and is
especially adapted among other things to be used for the concentration of sugar, soda,
and other solutions, and also for the refining or the distillation of glycerine, oils and
analogous substances.
The evaporator is composed of a heated evaporating surface preferably having
an undulatory outline and formed or connected together for a continuous flow of
the liquid substance to be evaporated, a liquid feeder or supply constructed, as will be
described, to discharge the liquid substance upon the evaporating surface in a thin
sheet or film, and an enveloping shell or case, the said evaporating surface being
arranged in the said shell to leave above it a substantially large steam space.
Two or more of the evaporators may be connected together for a multiple effect,
that is, the liquid partially evaporated in one apparatus may be further evaporated
in a second, and that evaporated in the second further evaporated in the third
apparatus &c.
The series of evaporators when coupled for a double, triple, quadruple or other
multiple effect, are arranged in gradation, that is, adjacent evaporators are on
different levels, so that the liquid concentrated in one evaporator of the series may
flow evenly and steadily into the next lower evaporator of the series, the said
evaporators being also so coupled together that the products of evaporation from
a higher evaporator of the series may constitute the heating agent of a lower
evaporator in the series.
The evaporating apparatus is provided with a "separator" consisting of a shell
or case provided with an inlet communicating with the evaporating apparatus, a
tube or pipe is located in said shell or case and surrounded by a spiral channel
or passage through which the steam or vapour enters the case or shell, and whereby
the said steam or vapour leaves the case through the said tube in a dry condition.
Preferably each evaporator will have a "separator" connected to it so that the
vapours and other products of evaporation from the evaporator pass through the
said "separator," and the moisture and solid matter or impurities are separated
from the steam, whereby the steam when employed as the heating agent of a
second apparatus may be more effective.
We employ an evaporating apparatus including one or more evaporators, a liquor
supply for said apparatus, and an auxiliary chamber interposed between said liquor
supply and evaporator, and provided with a regulator to control the supply of liquor to
the said auxiliary chamber.
Our evaporating apparatus has an evaporating surface, and a liquor supply therefor,
an enveloping shell closed at its bottom and provided with a liquor outlet located
above the bottom of the said shell to cover the lower portion of the evaporating surface
whereby the heat from a furnace may be utilized as the heating agent.
Our evaporating apparatus has an evaporating surface composed of tubes provided
with eccentric ends, leaders to support said tubes, and a liquor feeder or supply.
We provide a series of evaporators each comprising an evaporating surface and an
enveloping shell arranged in gradation and connected together for a continuous flow by
gravity of the liquor substance to be evaporated from a higher to a lower apparatus in the

page_text: series, and a "separator" interposed between the said apparatus, and through which
pass the products of condensation constituting the heating agent of a second apparatus.
We combine with an evaporator, an auxiliary chamber connected to said evaporator,
a valve to control the supply of liquor to said auxiliary chamber, a regulator to control
said valve, a pump connected to said evaporator, and provided with an inlet pipe, a
branch pipe connected to said inlet pipe, and a valve in said branch pipe.
Our evaporating apparatus has a series of evaporators arranged in gradation and
connected together for a continuous flow of the liquor substance to be evaporated from
a higher to a lower evaporator in the series, and in which the liquor passes through
the evaporator in contact with the heating surface in small volume or quantity.
Each evaporator of the series has an enveloping shell or case, and preferably a
number of evaporating surfaces contained therein, each shell or case being composed
of side pieces and end pieces, consisting of headers bolted or otherwise secured
together, and covers secured to said headers and forming therewith spaces, which
are divided into a number of chambers by horizontal partitions preferably secured
to or forming part of the headers.
Each evaporating surface is composed preferably of a number of tubes expanded
into the headers and preferably connected together by intervening bridges.
The partitions on opposite sides of the apparatus are arranged for a continuous
passage from the top chamber, constituting the inlet chamber to the tubes or pipes, to
the outlet chamber.
The headers support a top plate having a feed-box or trough for each evaporating
surface.
Each feed-box cover is bolted or otherwise secured thereto, and the bottom of each
feed-box, has a slot having its walls extended up into the feed box and down into the
shell or case, the said slot constituting the supply or delivery for the evaporating
surface.
The top plate may be a single plate or independent plates bolted together and to the
headers, and so also the top of the enclosing shell or case may be a single trough or
box provided with feed slots for the evaporating surfaces.
Each feed-box has inlet pipes for the liquid or substance into the feed box, connected
by branch pipes to a supply pipe extended around the shell or case, the supply pipe of
the evaporator being connected to the discharge outlet or mouth of an auxiliary
chamber connected to the supply tank, the supply pipe of each remaining evaporator
being connected to the bottom of the preceding evaporator.
The liquid, or other substance supplied, is discharged through the slot upon the
evaporating surface, and is evaporated in its passage over the surface by steam or other
heating agent.
The steam to heat the evaporating-surfaces is supplied from a manifold connected
by a pipe with the chamber, the supply of steam being controlled.
The manifold may be connected to a boiler or other source of supply.
The liquid flowing over the evaporating surface is partially evaporated, and the
vapour and other products of evaporation ascend to the top of the shell or case, and are
conducted from the evaporator to the second evaporator where the said vapours are
caused to circulate through the tubes thereof.
Provided the upper tube of the evaporating surface is located a considerable distance
below the top-plate a substantially large steam space is left above the evaporating
surface, thereby obviating suction or drawing off of liquid particles by the steam
passing from the evaporator.
"
The vapours and products of evaporation pass from the primary evaporator through
the pipe provided with a valve into a manifold connected with a separator" having
an outer shell enlarged at its lower end to form a chamber, a central inner pipe and a
spiral encircling the said pipe and forming between it and the shell spiral channels or
passages, through which the vapours are caused to pass before discharging into the
chambers.
The pipe is carried down and connected to the manifold of the second evaporator,
the said manifold being connected similarly to the first one.

page_text: The vapours on their passage through the "separator are given a riflo or rotary
motion by spiral grooves or channels, and water and impurities carried off by the
steam from the first evaporator are thrown against the shell by centrifugal action,
the water and impurities descending into the chamber below where they are collected,
and from whence they may be drawn or discharged to a suitable storage tank or vessel,
from which the liquor may be pumped to the evaporator.
The steam in the "separator" is thus freed from water so that when supplied to
the second evaporator it is substantially dry and free from moisture, thereby increasing
the evaporation in the second evaporator.
The liquid which has passed over the evaporating surface in the prime evaporator,
and which is partially concentrated, flows into the second evaporator where it is further
concentrated.
This liquor flows by gravity to the next evaporator and the liquor concentrated in this
evaporator is discharged in its concentrated form to a pump or otherwise.
The vapours arising from the second evaporator pass through the corresponding
manifold and " separator" and pipe used in connection with the second evaporator
into the manifold of the third evaporator and thence into the chamber of its ovaporating
surface in this evaporator, and the vapours generated in this evaporator pass by its
manifold to another separator" connected to a condenser from whence they are
discharged.
When the apparatus, arranged in gradation for multiple effect, is once started and
the cocks or valves in the branch supply pipes adjusted to regulate the flow of liquor,
that is, to permit the desired amount of liquor to flow over the evaporating surface of
each evaporator, the apparatus requires no further attention, so long as the supply is
maintained.
Alternatively we adopt the plan of arranging the evaporators obliquely one above
the other or in gradation vertically over one another, and the second evaporator may
alternatively be supported on the same level as the first evaporator, in which case the
said two evaporators will be connected, by which the liquor from the second evaporator
would be forced to the third evaporator, from which the liquor may flow by gravity to
one or more succeeding evaporators or otherwise.
The waste heat from a furnace may be the heating agent, and the ovaporating
apparatus will be constructed accordingly.
The flue of masonry or other refractory material to which the lower pipes may be
connected may constitute the exit flue or passage of a furnace, and in order that the
tubes or pipes of the evaporating surface may not be burnt out or injured by the high
heat passing through them, and also to reduce the high temperature before it comes in
contact with the tubes covered with the liquor being evaporated, the outlet pipe may
be located in the side so as to cover or submerge the set of tubes subjected to the high
heat in liquor.
The division walls or plates connect the tubes in series whereby the heat is caused
to cross and recross the apparatus.
By so keeping the tubes covered the temperature is reduced to be non-injurious to
the upper set or sets whilst the liquor passing over the upper set of tubes is being
evaporated, the liquor covering the lower set is also being constantly evaporated, and
in effect a double evaporation is taking place.
The feeder may be formed by a series of tubes in one with the feed hox or
trough, and elongated at their discharge end or mouth to form a substantially
continuous discharge, or it may consist of tubes or nozzles expanded into the feed
box, or be composed of plates substantially as first described but with its discharge
mouth or end larger than its inlet, or the feeder may be a pipe with perforations
through which the liquor is forced against a collecter preferably a curved plate
having its lower edge brought contiguous to the top of the evaporating surface,
having a guard forming with the said plate a slot.
The bridges may be omitted and the bottom tubes put in contact with each
other;
the ends of each made eccentric to the centre of the tube and have the
lower portion of their circumference substantially on a line with the lower portion

page_text: of the circumference of the tubes, whereby any water of condensation in the tubes
is prevented from becoming lodged therein, and is permitted to flow unobstructedly
from the top to the bottom of the evaporator.
The liquor fed to the evaporators from the supply tank is of low specific gravity
and the specific gravity of the liquor is raised by its passage through the evaporator,
but for many purposes the specific gravity of the liquor passing from the evaporator
may not be high enough, that is, the said liquor may not be sufficiently concentrated.
In order that the liquor may be concentrated to any desired or required specific
gravity or density for any particular purpose, I have interposed between the liquid
supply and the evaporator an auxiliary chamber or vessel into which passes the liquor
from the supply tank, and from which the said liquor passes to the evaporator.
The inlet port or mouth of the auxiliary chamber is provided with a valve, connected
to a regulator having attached a pipe extended through a guide, the said pipe being
connected to the bottom of the auxiliary chamber.
The top of the valve regulator is connected to the top of the auxiliary chamber.
The rigid pipe is extended up through the guide, and is connected to one end of a
lever provided with a counter-balancing weight.
This lover operates the said valve to admit liquor into the chamber and regulator,
and then stop supply.
The top of the auxiliary chamber has a port connected to a pipe connected to the
dischargo orifice of the pump connected to the third evaporator.
This port pipe is provided with a discharge pipe.
This discharge is provided with a regulating valve.
We do not limit our invention to the particular arrangement of the auxiliary
chamber, regulator and evaporator to concentrate the liquor to any desired density, as
the same result may be obtained with the evaporators otherwise arranged.
The auxiliary chamber connected to the evaporator is joined to the supply tank and
is provided with the valve regulator connected to it by pipes and controlling the inlet
valve to the said chamber, and is joined by pipe to a pump having its discharge pipe
connected to the said evaporator.
It also is joined by pipe to another pump joined to the second evaporator by pipe,
and the chamber connected to the third evaporator is joined to another pump com-
municating with the evaporator by another pipe provided with branch pipe having a
valve.
The pumps operate to withdraw the liquor frame their respective chambers, and
pump it to their respective evaporators, from which, concentrated to a greater or less
degree, the liquor flows back into the said auxiliary chambers.
Dated the 14th day of November 1888.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Evaporating, Distilling, Refining, or
Concentrating Liquids.
We THOMAS GAUNT of 115 Broadway in the City County and State of New York
in the United States of America and EUGENE HOWARD CLAPP of Atlantic Avenue
Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States of America, 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:
This invention relates to apparatus for evaporating or distilling liquids, and is
especially adapted among other things to be used for the concentration of sugar, soda,
and other solutions, and also for the refining or the distillation of glycerine, oils, and
analogous substances.
In accordance with our present invention, the evaporator is composed of a heated

page_text: evaporating surface, preferably having an undulatory outline and formed or connected
together for a continuous flow of the liquid substance to be evaporated, a liquid feeder
or supply.constructed, as will be described, to discharge the liquid substance upon the
evaporating surface in a thin sheet or film, and an enveloping shell or case, the said
evaporating surface being arranged in the said shell to leave above it a substantially
large steam space.
Two or more of the evaporators may be connected together for a multiplo effect,
that is, the liquid partially evaporated in one apparatus may be further evaporated
in a second, and that evaporated in the second further evaporated in the third
apparatus etc.
One feature of our invention consists in arranging the series of evaporators when
coupled for a double, triple, quadruple or other multiple effect, in gradation, that is,
adjacent evaporators are on different levels, so that the liquid concentrated in one
evaporator of the series may flow evenly and steadily into the next lower evaporator
of the series, the said evaporators being also so coupled together, as will be described,
that the products of evaporation from a higher evaporator of the series may constitute
the heating agent, of a lower evaporator in the series.
«
Our invention further consists in an evaporating apparatus provided with a
separator," consisting of a shell or case, provided with an inlet communicating
with the evaporating apparatus, a tube or pipe located in said shell or case and
surrounded by a spiral channel or passage through which the steam or vapor enters
the case or shell, and whereby the said steam or vapor leaves the case through tho
said tube in a dry condition, substantially as will be described.
"
«
Preferably each evaporator will have a separator "connected to it, so that the
vapors and other products of evaporation from the evaporator pass through the said
separator," and the moisture and solid matter or impurities are separated from
the steam, whereby the steam when employed as the heating agent of a second
apparatus may be more effective..
one
Another feature of our invention consists in an evaporating apparatus including
or more evaporators, a liquor supply for said apparatus, and an auxiliary
chamber interposed between said liquor supply and evaporator, and provided with
a regulator to control the supply of liquor to the said auxiliary chamber, sub-
stantially as will be described.
Our invention in an evaporating apparatus further consists in an evaporating surface,
and a liquor supply therefor, an enveloping shell closed at its bottom and provided with
a liquor outlet located above the bottoui of the said shell to cover the lower portion of
the evaporating surface, whereby the heat from a furnace may be utilized as the
heating agent.
Another feature of our invention in an evaporating apparatus, consists in an
evaporating surface composed of tubes provided with eccentric ends, headers to support
said tubes, and a liquor feeder or supply, substantially as will be described.
Still another feature of our invention consists in a series of evaporators each com-
prising an evaporating surface and an enveloping shell arranged in gradation and
connected together for a continuous flow by gravity of the liquor substance to bo
evaporated from a higher to a lower apparatus in the series, and a separator
interposed between the said apparatus, and through which pass the products of con-
densation constituting the heating agent of a second apparatus, substantially as will be
described.
<
"
Our invention further consists in the combination with an evaporator, of an
auxiliary chamber connected to said evaporator, a valve to control the supply of
liquor to said auxiliary chamber, a regulator to control said valve, a pump con-
nected to said evaporator, and provided with an inlet pipe, a branch pipe connected
to said inlet pipe, and a valve in said branch pipe, substantially as and for the
purpose to be hereinafter described.
Our invention in an evaporating apparatus further consists of a series of evaporators
arranged in gradation and connected together for a continuous flow of the liquor
substance to be evaporated from a higher to a lower evaporator in the series, and in

page_text: which the liquor passes through the evaporator in contact with the heating surface in
small volume or quantity, substantially as will be described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, in elevation shows a series of three evaporators arranged in gradation and
connected together for a triple effect, one of the "separators" being shown in section. 5
Figure 2, is a vertical section of the evaporating surface preferred by us.
Figure 3, a vertical section of a modified form of evaporating apparatus.
Figure 4, a side elevation partially broken out of one of the evaporators shown in
Fig. 1.
Figure 5, a front elevation of the evaporator shown in Fig. 4, one of the headers
being broken out.
Figure 6, a vertical transverse section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.
Figures 7 to 12 inclusive, details in section to show modified forms of feeder.
Figure 13, an end view of a modified form of evaporating surface.
Figure 14, a vertical section broken out of the surface shown in Fig. 13, a portion
of the header being shown, the section being taken on line
.
Figures 15 and 16, details of a modified form of liquid feoder or supply, Fig. 15
being a section of Fig. 16 on line ¹, ¹.
Figure 17, a detail in elevation on an enlarged scale of the regulating chamber and
its attachments for controlling the supply to the said chamber.
Figuro 18, a side elevation of the regulating chamber, and its attachments shown
in Fig. 17.
Figure 19, a top or plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 17.
Figure 20, a diagram showing a triple effect arranged on the same level, and each
apparatus provided with a regulating chamber, which are all controlled by a single
float connected to the first chamber.
•
Figure 21, shows a triple effect arranged in gradation with the regulating chamber
located below the evaporators, and
"
Figure 22, shows a-triple effect in which the evaporators are arranged on the same
level with the regulating chamber located above the first evaporator.
Referring to Fig. 1, we have shown three evaporators A, A', and B, connected
together, as will be described, for a continuous flow of the liquid from the evaporator A
to the evaporator B.
Each evaporator of the series consists, as herein shown, of an enveloping shell or
case, and preferably a number of evaporating surfaces contained therein, each shell or
case being composed of side pieces a and end pieces, consisting of headers a¹ bolted
or otherwise secured together, and covers a secured to said headers and forming
therewith spaces, which are divided into a number of chambers a³ by horizontal par-
titions a preferably secured to or forming part of the headers.
Each evaporating surface is composed preferably of a number of tubes a expanded
into the headers a³, and preferably connected together by intervening bridges a, see
Figs. 2 and 5.
The partitions a on opposite sides of the apparatus are arranged with relation to
cach other, as shown in Fig. 2, for a continuous passage from the top chamber as 2,
constituting the inlet chamber to the tubes or pipes as, to the outlet chamber, as 3.
The headers a at their upper end support a top plate b having preferably cast
integral with it a feed-box or trough for each evaporating surface as shown in
Fig. 5.
Each feed-box is provided with a cover 3 bolted or otherwise secured thereto,
and the bottom of each feed-box, as herein shown, has a slot 6s having its walls b
extended up into the feed-box and down into the shell or case, the said slot con-
stituting the supply or delivery for the evaporating surface.
The top-plate is herein shown as a single plate, but it may be composed of in-
dependent plates bolted together and to the headers, and so also the top of the
enclosing shell or case may be a single trough or box provided with feed slots for the
evaporating surfaces.

page_text: Each feed box b¹ is provided, as herein shown, with inlet pipes 60 which admit
the liquid or substance to be evaporated or treated into the feed box, the said inlet
pipes being connected by branch pipes 6 to a supply pipe 66, see Fig. 1, extended
around the shell or case, the supply pipe of the evaporator A being connected
as herein shown to the discharge outlet or mouth of an auxiliary chamber g, to bo
described, connected to the supply tank 67, the supply pipe 6 of each remaining
evaporator being connected to the bottom of the preceding evaporator, as clearly
shown in Fig. 1.
The liquid or other substance applied to the feed-box 6' is discharged through the
slot upon the evaporating surface co-operating with the said feed-box, and is
evaporated in its passage over the surfaco by steam or other heating agent.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 the steam to heat the evaporating surfaces of the
apparatus A is supplied from a manifold 68 connected by a pipe with the chamber 2,
the supply of steam being controlled, as shown in Fig. 2, by a cock or valve 61°.
The manifold may be conuected to a boiler or other source of supply not herein
shown, by the pipe 61.
The steam admitted into the chamber 2 passes through the tubes or pipes a as
indicated by arrow 20, Fig. 2, and is discharged from the chamber 3 through a suitable
outlet pipe 13.
The liquid flowing over the evaporating surface of the apparatus A is partially
evaporated, and the vapor and other products of evaporation ascend to the top of the
shell or case, and are conducted from the evaporator A (as heroin shown) to the
evaporator A', where the said vapors are caused to circulate through the tubes a of
the evaporator A¹ as just described for the evaporator A.
Referring to Figs. 2, 4 and 5 it will be noticed that the upper tube a of the
evaporating surface is located a considerable distance below the top-plate &, thus leaving
a substantially large steam space above the evaporating surface, thereby obviating
suction or drawing off of liquid particles by the steam passing from the evaporator.
The vapours and products of evaporation pass from the evaporator A through the
pipe e provided with a valvo c¹ into a manifold c connected with a separator D,
herein shown as composed of an outer shell et enlarged at its lower end to form
a chamber c, a central inner pipe c, and a spiral e' encircling the pipe cand
forming between it and the shell espiral channels or passages, through which the
vapors are caused to pass before discharging into the chambers c.
"
The pipe is carried down and connected, to the manifold 68, not shown, of the
evaporator A', the said manifold being connected to the chamber 2 of the evaporator A¹
by inlet pipes 6º, not shown, in a similar manner to that described in connection with
the evaporator A.
The vapors on their passage through the "separator" D are given a rifle or
rotary motion by the spiral grooves or channels, and the water and impurities
carried off by the steam from the evaporator A are thrown against the shell c* by
centrifugal action, the water and impurities descending into the chamber where
they are collected, and from whence they may be drawn or discharged by the
pipe eo, which may be connected to a suitable storage tank or vessel, not shown,
from which the liquor may be pumped to the evaporator A.
The steam in the " separator" is thus freed from water so that when supplied to
the evaporator A', it is substantially dry and free from moisture, thereby increasing the
evaporation in the evaporator A¹.
The liquid which has passed over the evaporating surface in the evaporator A and
which is partially concentrated, flows by gravity through the supply pipe & and branch
pipe into the evaporator A', where it is further concentrated.
The liquor concentrated in the evaporator A¹ flows by gravity to the evaporator B
through the pipes 6 and 68, and the liquor concentrated in the evaporator B is dis-
charged in its concentrated form through the pipe d, herein shown as forming the inlet
pipe to the pump d³.
The vapors arising from the evaporator A' pass through the manifold e² and
" separator" D, and pipe c used in connection with the ovaporator A', into the

page_text: manifold 68 of the evaporator B, and thence into the chamber 2 of the evaporating
surface in the evaporator B, and the vapors generated in the evaporator B pass
by manifold to the "separator" 1" connected by the pipe d to a condenser d³
of usual or well known construction from whence they are discharged through the
pipe d'.
When the apparatus, arranged in gradation for multiple effect, as shown in Fig. 1,
is once started and the cocks or valves d in the branch supply pipes adjusted to
regulate the flow of liquor, that is to permit the desired amount of liquor to flow over
the evaporating surface of each evaporator, the apparatus requires no further attention,
so long as the supply is maintained.
-
As shown in Fig. 1, the outlet of one apparatus is substantially on a line with the
supply pipe of the next lower apparatus in the series, but when working under a
vacuum, as in the case with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the outlet of one evaporator
may be below the supply to the next lower evaporator of the series, the difference in
vacuum compensating for the difference in level.
Instead of arranging the evaporators obliquely one above the other as shown in the
drawing, it is evident that the said evaporators may be arranged in gradation vertically
over one another, and so also if desired, the evaporator B may be supported on the
same level as the evaporator A, in which case the evaporators A and B will be con-
nected by a pump, not herein shown, by which the liquor from the evaporator A¹
would be forced to the evaporator B, and from which the liquor may flow by gravity
to one or more succeeding evaporators not shown, or it may be drawn off by the
pump d
In some instances it may be desired to utilize the waste heat from a furnace as the
heating agent, and in this case the evaporating apparatus will be constructed sub-
stantially as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, wherein the apparatus is shown closed at its
bottom and provided with a liquid outlet e in one of the sides a of the enclosing shell
or case.
As shown in Fig. 3, the four lowest or bottom tubes or pipes a³ are connected
directly to a fluo e² of masonry or other suitable material capable of withstanding
high heat.
The flue may constitute the exit flue or passage of a furnace, and in order that
the tubes or pipes of the evaporating surface may not be burnt out or injured by the
high heat passing through them, and also to reduce the high temperature before it
comes in contact with the tubes covered with the liquor being evaporated, the outlet
pipe e (see Fig. 6) is located in the side a so as to cover or submerge the set of tubes
subjected to the high heat in liquor as indicated in Fig. 6.
The division walls or plates at as shown in Fig. 3 are arranged so as to connect the
tubes in series of three and four, whereby the heat is caused to cross and recross the
apparatus preferably two or more times before passing to the exit flue or chimney e³
connected to the uppermost set or series of tubes.
By keeping the lowest set of tubes covered with liquor, the temperature of the flame
or heat from the furnace is reduced to such degree as to render it non-injurious to the
upper set or sets of tubes, as described, and at the same time that the liquor passing
over the upper set of tubes is being evaporated, the liquor covering the lower set of
tubes is also being constantly evaporated.
It will thus be seen that in effect a double evaporation is taking place.
The evaporator shown in Fig. 3 may be connected to the furnace employed to heat
the boiler of a mill or factory.
The evaporators shown in Fig. 1 may be constructed as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.
Instead of the particular form of liquor feeder shown in Fig. 6, I may employ other
forms such as shown in Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive, wherein the feeder 6 shown in Fig. 7
is formed by a series of tubes cast integral with the feed box or trough, and elongated
at their discharge end or mouth, as indicated by dotted lines Fig. 8, to form a sub-
stantially continuous slot or discharge opening.
The feeder shown in Figs. 9 and 10 consists of tubes or nozzles expanded into
the feed box, while the feeder 6 shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is composed of plates

page_text: substantially as in Figs. 5 and 6 with its discharge mouth or end larger than its inlet
mouth.
So also the feeder may be made as a pipe provided with perforations in one or
both sides through which perforations the liquor is forced against a collector preferably
a curved plate having its lower edge brought contiguous to the top of the evapo-
rating surface, the said plate having secured to its lower edge a strip or guard ƒ³
forming with the said plate a slot as shown in Figs. 15 and 16.
In some instances, it may be desired to omit the bridges a and bring the tubes a
in contact with each other, and in this case the tubes a will be made as shown
in Figs. 13 and 14, wherein the ends f of each tube are made eccentric to the
centre of the tube and have the lower portion of their circumference substantially
on a line with the lower portion of the circumference of the tubes, whereby any
water of condensation in the tubes is prevented from becoming lodged therein,
and is permitted to flow unobstructedly from the top to the bottom of the evaporator.
The liquor fed to the evaporators from the supply tank is of low specific gravity
and the specific gravity of the liquor is raised by its passage through the evaporator,
but for many purposes the specific gravity of the liquor passing from the evaporator
may not be high enough, that is, the said liquor may not be sufficiently concentrated.
In order that the liquor may be concentrated to any desired or required specific
gravity or density for any particular purpose, I have interposed between the liquid
supply and the evaporator an auxiliary chamber or vessel g into which passes the liquor
from the supply tank, and from which the said liquor passes to the evaporator.
The inlet port or mouth of the auxiliary chamber g is provided with a valve, not
shown, operatively connected to a regulator g¹ herein shown as a hollow shell having
attached to its lower side or end a pipe 2 extended through a guide g³, the said pipe
being connected to the bottom of the auxiliary chamber by a flexible pipe or tube g*.
The top of the valve regulator is connected to the top of the auxiliary chamber as
shown by the branch pipe go, of the rigid pipe go, and the flexible pipe g
The rigid pipe g as shown, is extended up through the guide 98, and is connected
to one end of a lever g pivoted as shown to an upright go see Fig. 17, and provided,
at its opposite end with a counter-balancing weight g¹².
The lever has connected to it the valve stem g¹s of the inlet valve of the auxiliary
chamber, so that when the said lever is turned on its pivot in one direction by the
weight gia, the said valve will be opened to admit liquor from the supply into the chamber
and regulator, and when the weight of the said regulator overcomes the counter-
balancing weight, the lever is turned in the opposite direction, and the inlet valve
closed.
As shown in Fig. 1, the auxiliary chamber g is supported upon a bracket attached
to the evaporator A, and the supply pipe 66 of the said evaporator is connected to the
outlet port or mouth of the auxiliary chamber.
The top of the auxiliary chamber as shown in Fig. 19 is provided with a port / to
which is connected one end of a pipe 2 having its other end connected to the discharge
orifice of the pump do having its inlet port connected, as shown in Fig. 1, to the
evaporator B by the outlet pipe d of the said evaporator.
The pipe is provided with a branch or discharge pipe ³ herein shown as dis-
charging into a trough or vessel having an outlet pipe h which conducts the
concentrated liquor away from the apparatus.
The branch or discharge pipe h³ is provided with a valve A by which the amount of
liquor discharged from the said pipe may be regulated.
With the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the liquid from the supply tank enters the
auxiliary chamber at a low specific gravity, the valve in the supply pipe having been
closed, and the valve ³ in the pipe ³, see Fig. 17, opened.
When the auxiliary chamber has been filled up to a predetermined level so as to
overcome the weight and close the main inlet valve, the valve h' is opened and the
liquor admitted to the evaporator A.
As the liquor diminishes in the auxiliary chamber and regulator, the weight lifts
B.

page_text: the said regulator, and raises the supply valve from its seat, admitting liquor from the
supply tank to the auxiliary chamber.
After passing through the apparatus, the liquor issues from the evaporator B concen-
trated to a certain degree, but not, it may be, to such degree as it is desired to use, so
a part of the said liquor is forced by the pump back into the auxiliary chamber to
increase the specific gravity of the liquor in said chamber.
The concentrated liquor admitted to the auxiliary chamber meets with the dilute
liquor from the supply tank, and the said liquors are preferably caused to pass through
a mixer, herein shown as a perforated plate 10, see Fig. 18, supported in suitable
manner at the top of the said chamber, and by which the liquors of different specific
gravities admitted to the chamber above the plate, become below the said plate, of the
same or resultant specific gravity or density.
The concentrated liquor pumped back into the auxiliary chamber increases the
specific gravity of the liquor supplied to the evaporator, and the amount of concen-
trated liquor which is pumped back is regulated by the valve in the branch pipe,
and it will readily be seen, that by opening or closing the said valve more or less,
a greater or less quantity of concentrated liquor is pumped back to the auxiliary
chamber, and the specific gravity of the liquor admitted to the evaporator may thus
be made such as to produce at the discharge or branch pipe, a liquor of the desired
specific gravity; hence it follows by manipulating the cock or valve he in the dis-
charge or branch pipe, a liquor of any desired or required specific gravity may be
obtained.
We do not desire to limit our invention to the particular manner shown in Fig..1
of coupling the auxiliary chamber and regulator to the evaporator to concentrate the
liquor to any desired density, as the same result may be obtained with the evaporators
otherwise arranged, such for instance as shown in Figs. 20, 21 and 22.
Referring to Fig. 20 the evaporators A, A, B, are shown substantially on the same
level, and are connected by pipes & to auxiliary chambers joined together by pipes.
The auxiliary chamber connected to the evaporator A is joined to the supply
tank band is provided with the valve. regulator g₁ connected to it by pipes and con-
trolling the inlet valve to the said chamber as described for Figs. 1, 17 to 19 inclusive.
The auxiliary chamber g connected to the evaporator A is joined by pipe k³ to a
pump having its discharge pipe connected to the said evaporator.
The auxiliary chamber g connected to the evaporator A¹ is joined by the pipe to
-the pump joined to the evaporator A' by the pipe 8 and the chamber g connected
to the evaporator B is joined to the pump to communicating with the evaporator by
the pipe provided with the branch pipe 3 having the cock or valve /*.
With the apparatus shown in Fig. 20, the liquor at a low specific gravity is first
admitted into the first auxiliary chamber g from which it flows by the pipe ¹ into the
second chamber g and from the latter by pipe * into the third chamber 9.
The liquor is supplied until the desired level has been reached in each of the chambers,
which level is preferably obtained by regulating the valves in the pipes k¹, * to
conform to the difference in vacuum in the auxiliary chambers when in operation, the
said chambers being provided with usual sight gauges, not shown.
The pumps operate to withdraw the liquor from their respective chambers, and pump
it to their respective evaparators, from which, concentrated to a greater or less degree,
the liquor flows back into the said auxiliary chambers.
one
Owing to the evaporation which takes place, the liquor level in the chambers is
diminished, and this decrease in level is compensated for in the first auxiliary
chamber by the liquor from the supply tank, the admission of which is controlled
by the regulator; and by reason of the difference in vacuum between the
evaporators, (it being understood that the products of evaporation from
evaporator constitute the heating agent of another evaporator) the liquor admitted
into the first chamber g flows through the pipe into the second chamber g, and
from the second chamber g into the third chamber y through the pipe k, that is,
the liquor is forced from one to another chamber g by pressure due to the difference
in vacuum.

page_text: The liquor may be concentrated to any desired degree with the apparatus shown in
Fig. 20 by regulating the cock or valve in the branch pipe to control the
amount of liquor discharged from the said branch pipe.
Referring to Fig. 21 the evaporators A, A, B are arranged in gradation, and
the auxiliary chamber g is located below the same, it being connected to the supply
tank and provided with the valve regulator g' to control the amount of liquor
admitted to the said chamber from the said tank.
9
The liquor in the auxiliary chamber g is forced by the pump p to the evaporator A;
and after passing through the evaporators is forced to the chamber g through the
pipe p by the pump p², the pipe pl being provided with a discharge pipe ³ having
the cock or valve A, by opening and closing which, the concentration is controlled
as above described.
Referring to Fig. 22 the evaporators A, A, B are arranged on substantially the
same level and connected together by pumps p, p, the auxiliary chamber g provided
with the valve regulator being interposed between the supply tank and the
evaporator A. and the last pump p being connected to the said chamber g by
pipe p provided with the branch or discharge pipe på having the regulating cock
or valve *.
In Figs. 20, 21 and 22 which, by diagrams, show modified forms of arrangement of
the apparatus, it will be understood that the devices or elements therein shown are
specifically represented in Figs. 1 and 17 to 19 inclusive, when the specific construction
of the parts designated by like letters is fully and clearly shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1 In an evaporating apparatus, a series of evaporators arranged in gradation
whereby the liquor concentrated in one evaporator of the series may flow evenly and
steadily into the next lower evaporator of the series, the said evaporators being also so
coupled together that the products of evaporation from the higher evaporator may
constitute the heating agent of a lower evaporator in the series, substantially as
described.
2: In an evaporating apparatus, a " separator" consisting of a shell or case
provided with an inlet communicating with the evaporating apparatus, a tube or pipe
located in said shell or case and surrounded by a spiral channel or passage through
which the steam or vapor enters the case or shell, whereby the said steam or vapor
leaves the cise through the said tube in a dry condition, substantially as described.
3: An evaporating apparatus including one or more evaporators, a liquid supply
for said apparatus, and an auxiliary chamber interposed between said liquid supply
and evaporator, and provided with a regulator to control the supply of liquid to the
auxiliary chamber, substantially as described.
4 In an evaporating apparatus, an evaporating surface, and a liquid supply there-
for, an enveloping shell closed at its bottom, and provided with a liquid outlet located
above the bottom of the said shell to cover the lower portion of the evaporating surface
with liquid, and a flue or passage connected to the lower portion of the evaporating
surface, whereby the heat from a furnace may be utilized as the heating agent, sub-
stantially as described.
5-In an evaporating apparatus, an evaporating surface composed of tubes provided
with eccentric ends, headers to support said tubes, and a liquid feeder or supply, sub-
stantially as described.
6-A series of evaporators, each comprising an evaporating surface and an
enveloping shell, arranged in gradation and connected together for a continuous
flow by gravity of the liquid substance to be evaporated from a higher to a lower
apparatus in the series, and a "separator interposed between the said apparatus
and through which pass the products of condensation constituting the heating agent
of a second apparatus, substantially as described.
"

page_text: 7 The combination with an evaporator, of an auxiliary chamber connected to said
evaporator, a valve to control the supply of liquid to said auxiliary chamber, a
regulator to control said valve, a pump connected to said evaporator and provided
with an outlet pipe, and branch pipe connected to said outlet pipe, and a valve in
said branch pipe, substantially as described.
8: A series of evaporators arranged in gradation and connected together for a
continuous flow of the liquid substance to be evaporated from a higher to a lower
evaporator in the series and in which the liquid passes through the evaporator in
contact with the heating surface in small volume or quantity, substantially as described.
Dated the 1st day of August 1889.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.