Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Boiling and Evaporating Sugar and other Liquids.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 27th Apr., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Boiling and Evaporating
Sugar and other Liquids.
I, GEO,RGE FLETCHER, of Masson Works, Litchurch, in the County of Derby,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention (partly the result of a
communication from abroad by C. A. Matthey, of Demerara, Engineer, and partly
the result of invention or discovery by myself) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to steam vacuum pans, and multiple effets, used in the boiling
and evaporation of sugar-cane juice and other liquids, and it comprises the following
improvements videlicet:
First. A novel arrangement of the heating surface in the pan or vessel, whereby
the effective action of the steam or vapour is accelerated and the consequent evapora-
tion increased.
Second. The formation of the heating surface with tubes fixed in such a manner as
to greatly facilitate the cieaning and repairing of the heating surface and the interior
of the vessel.
Third. The arrangement of a removeable top or cover on the pan or vessel, for
facilitating the cleaning and repairing of the coils or tubes or other part of the interior,
and the removal, if necessary, of the coils or tubes from the pan or vessel for any
purpose.
According to the said invention, the heating surface comprises two series of tubes,
each of which contains two horizontal rows fixed at the inner ends into a double
chambered box or trunk, the upper row being thus connected to the steam or vapour
space and the lower to the exhaust or condensed water space. The outer ends of
the tubes are connected together by a bonnet or return box. By this arrangement
the steam or vapour passes along the upper row of heating tubes and returns along the
lower row in the form of condensed water. A continuous and constant flow of the
steam or vapour is thus obtained and a high rate of evaporation maintained. This
high rate of evaporation necessitates an unusually small proportion of heating surface,
and the heating surface being contained in a small compass, requires only a small
quantity of liquor to cover it. The liquor thus treated is subjected to the increased
temperature for a very short time, the quality of the sugar made being thereby improved.

page_text: In order to decrease as far as practicable the quantity of liquor under treatment at
one time, the vessel is provided with a flat false bottom, but, as in the case of large
vessels, a flat bottoni would require to be very strong and heavy to resist the pressure
of the atmosphere, a convex outer jacket or bottom is added. The space between the
inner and outer bottoms is connected by a tube to the upper part of the vessel,
whereby the pressure of vacuum on each side of the flat bottom is equalized, so that
the load upon the same will only be that due to the weight of the column of liquor.
The boxes or trunks bereinbefore referred to, are at their ends provided with
trunnions arranged to swivel in their bearings, so that when desired the tubes may
be placed in a vertical position, one of the said trunnions forming the steam or
vapour connection to the tubes, and the other the outlet branch or connection for
the condensed water.
When the said tubes are in their working positions they are placed horizontally,
but when in position for cleaning they are moved upon their trunnions to a vertical
position.
The trunks and trunnions are so arranged that the former may be taken out of
the pan if desired at any time for repairs.
The cover herein before referred to, drops loosely over and rests upon the bottom
of a trough or saucer secured to the side of the same. When working, this trough
is filled with mercury, and as the vacuum rises in the vessel it causes the mercury
to rise in the space between the cover and the vessel. The vessel and cover are
so arranged that a sufficient column of mercury may be obtained to resist the higbest
vacuum obtainable. As the vacuum recedes in the vessel the mercury returns into
the trough which is arranged to receive it. An internal pipe is provided for conducting
the vapour rising off the boiling liquor to the outside of the vessel.
The removeable top cover may be used in connection with vacuum pans, having their
heating surfaces contained in coils of the usual description, the said removeable top
cover enabling the coils to be easily taken out of the pans for cleaning and repairing,
there being no joints to break and remake as is usually the case.
Dated the 23rd day of June 1888.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London.
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for. Use in Boiling and Evaporating
Sugar and other Liquids.
1, GEORGE FLETCHER, of Masson Works, Litchurch, in the County of Derby,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (partly the result of a
communication from abroad by (. A. Matthey, of Demerara, Engineer, and partly
the result of invention or discovery by myself) 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 steam vacuum pans, and multiple effets, used in the boiling
and evaporation of sugar-cane juice and other liquids, and it comprises the following
improvements, videlicet":
First: A novel arrangement of the heating surface in the pan or vessel, whereby
the effective action of the steam or vapour is accelerated and the consequent evapora-
tion increased.
Second: The formation of the heating surface with tubes fixed in such a manner as
to greatly facilitate the cleaning and repairing of the heating surface and the interior
of the vessel.
Third The arrangement of a removeable top or cover on the pan or vessel, for
facilitating the cleaning and repairing of the coils or tubes or other part of the interior,
and the removal, if necessary, of the coils or tubes from the pan or vessel for any
purpose.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same with reference
to the accompanying drawing the figures of which are hereinafter referred to.
In Figures 1 and 2, which are a sectional elevation and sectional plan of an effet
vessel provided with my improvements, a is the vessel proper and 6 a lid or cover of
ordinary construction. The beating surface of this vessel comprises two series of
tubes c, c each of which series contains two horizontal rows d, e fixed at the inner
ends into a double chambered box or trunk f, the upper row d being thus connected
to the steam or vapour space and the lower e to the exhaust or condensed water
space. The outer ends of the tubes are connected together by bonnets or return
boxes g, g. By this arrangement the steam or vapour passes along the upper row
of heating tubes and returns along the lower row in the form of condensed water.
A continuous and constant flow of the steam or vapour is thus obtained and a
high rate of evaporation maintained. This high rate of evaporation necessitates an
unusually small proportion of heating surface, and the heating surface being
contained in a small compass, requires only a small quantity of liquor to cover it.
The liquor thus treated is subjected to the increased temperature for a very short
time, the quality of the sugar made being thereby improved.
In order to decrease as far as practicable the quantity of liquor under treatment
at one time, the vessel is provided with a flat false bottom h but, as in the case

page_text: of large vessels, a flat bottom would require to be very strong and heavy to resist
the pressure of the atmosphere, a convex outer jacket or bottom i is added. The
space between the inner and outer bottoms is connected by a tube to the upper
part of the vessel, whereby the pressure of vacuum on each side of the flat bottom
is equalized so that the load upon the same will only be that due to the weight
of the column of liquor.
The boxes or trunks herein before referred to, are at their ends provided with
trunnions j, j arranged to swivel in bearings k, k so that when desired the tubes may
be placed in a vertical position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, one of the said trunnions
forming the steam or vapour connection to the tubes, and the other the outlet branch
or connection for the condensed water.
When the said tubes are in their working positions they are placed horizontally, but
when in position for cleaning they are moved upon their trunnions to a vertical
position.
In Figures 3 and 4, which are views of apparatus similar to that shown in
Figures 1 and 2 respectively, the trunnions are shown in section, and the vessel is
provided with a top cover specially arranged for easy removal.
The trunks and trunnions are so arranged that the former may be taken out of the
pan if desired at any time for repairs.
The cover herein before referred to, drops loosely over and rests upon the bottom of
a trough or saucer / secured to the side of the vessel a. When working, this trough
is filled with mercury, and as the vacuum rises in the vessel it causes the mercury to
rise in the space between the cover and the vessel. The vessel and cover are so
arranged that a sufficient column of mercury may be obtained to resist the highest
vacuum obtainable. As the vacuum recedes in the vessel the mercury returns into
the trough which is arranged to receive it. An internal pipe m is provided for con-
ducting the vapour rising off the boiling liquor to the outside of the vessel.
Figures 5 and 6 show in vertical sectional elevation and in sectional plan an effet
vessel provided with ordinary heating surfaces and with a removeable cover as shown
in Figure 2. n, n are the heating tubes and o is the vapour pipe.
The removeable top or cover may be used in connection with vacuum pans, having
their heating surfaces contained in coils of the usual description, the said removeable
top or cover enabling the coils to be easily taken out of the pans for cleaning and
repairing, there being no joints to break and remake as is usually the case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
(1) In apparatus for boiling or evaporating sugar and other liquids the arrangement
of the heating tubes, substantially in the manner described and illustrated in
Figures 1 to 4 of the drawing.
(2) In apparatus for boiling or evaporating sugar or other liquids, the arrangement
of a removable top or cover, substantially as herein before described with reference to
Figures 3 and 5 of the drawing for the purpose specified.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.