IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERING AND DECOLORIZING CANE JUICE, SOLUTIONS OF SUGAR AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Horatio James Huggins, of the Island of St. Vincent,
in the West Indies, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERING
AND DECOLORIZING CANE JUICE, SOLUTIONS OF SUGAR AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR."
Sealed the 3rd July 1860, and dated the 25th January 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Horatio Jaines Huggins
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th January 1860.
I, HORATIO JAMES HUGGINS, of the Island of St. Vincent, in the West
Indies, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FILTERING AND DECOLORIZING CANE JUICE. SOLUTIONS OF SUGAR AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in filtering and decolorizing.
cane juice, solutions of sugar, and other liquids, and in the manufacture of
sugar. For the purpose of filtering cane juice, syrups, and other liquids,
I employ a circular plate or disc mounted on a vertical axis, driven at a
considerable velocity; around the upper part of the axis is a casing, which
terminates just above the surface of the disc or plate, and the liquid to be
filtered is admitted to this casing, and escapes at its lower end equally all
[Price 8d.]

page_text: round the axis, and the motion of the plate or disc causes it to flow rapidly
from the centre to the periphery in a thin sheet covering the whole surface of
the disc. A short distance from the edge of the plate or disc, and concentric
with it, is a ring of wire gauze or other suitable filtering medium, revolving
either with the disc or in a contrary direction; against this ring the liquid is
thrown on leaving the surface of the disc, and it passes through, leaving behind
however on the interior of the ring any solid matter it may contain. The
solid matters so separated fall down between the interior of the ring and the
edge of the disc, their descent being insured by the continual flow of liquid
from the surface of the disc; and in order that these solid matters may fall clear
away from the surface of the filtering ring, this ring is, by preference, not
made cylindrical but conical, the lower edge of the ring being of larger
"diameter than the upper. The liquid after passing through the filtering ring
strikes an external case or ring of metal connected with the filtering ring;
this case is also coned, but in the opposite direction, its larger diameter being
upwards. The rotation of the apparatus causes the liquid to run up the
inclined case into a trough placed to receive it, and conducted away as may be
desired; and in passing over the edge of the case it is caused to pass through
a second perforated ring, which may be covered with cloth or filtering fabric.
In this manner, if it be desired, the filtered liquid may be discharged from the
apparatus at as high a level as that from which it is run into it. The
filtering ring may, if preferred, be stationary, but in this case the liquid cannot
be made to ascend an inclined surface after passing through the first filtering
ring. If desired, the filtering ring may be furnished with a false bottom
revolving with the axis to retain the solid matters within the lower part of the
ring for a time, in order to dry them. The bottom is so arranged that it may
be lowered away from the ring to discharge the solid matters. In place of this
arrangement, the filtering ring may be attached to the edge of the disc, as in
machines heretofore constructed, but in place of making the filtering ring
cylindrical, as is usual, I make it conical, the upper edge in this case being of
larger diameter than the lower, which is attached to the disc. The liquid is
run into the apparatus as already described, and passing through the filtering
ring, enters a casing arranged to receive it, and the solid matters are washed
up the inner surface of the ring till they fall over its upper edge into a trough
placed to receive them. In some cases I employ a drum, the sides of which
are of wire gauze or other suitable filtering material; this drum is mounted in
a cistern containing the liquid to be filtered, and the liquid percolates from
the exterior to the interior of the drum, from which it is removed by suitable
passages. The drum is caused to revolve slowly on its axis while filtering, in

page_text: order to prevent the solid matters separated from the liquid forming a cake
on the exterior of the drum, and impeding the filtering process. The liquid
may, if desired, be caused to pass through an interior perforated ring or
rings after passing through the side of the drum, and in some cases the side
of the drum or the interior rings may be covered with filtering cloths. In
order to cleanse the drum after use, it may be caused to revolve with
rapidity and water admitted in its interior, and that it may not be necessary.
for this purpose to fill the interior of the drum with water, an inner unper-
forated ring or partition is placed behind the perforated ring or rings, so
that to cleanse the apparatus it is necessary only to admit water to the
space between this partition and the perforated ring.
In order to decolorize solutions of sugar and other liquids, I employ a disc
mounted and revolving rapidly on a vertical axis, around which the liquid is
introduced, as in the case of the apparatus first described. On the disc, and
around the centre, cases of wire gauze or other suitable material are mounted,
and these cases are filled with animal charcoal or other decolorizing agent.
Usually I employ three complete circles of such cases, the inner circle con-
taining comparatively coarse material, the second circle a finer material, and
the outer circle a material still finer in the grain. Above the first disc a
series of other discs are mounted, one above the other; each of these discs
has a hole at the centre. The disc which first meets the incoming stream
of liquid has a hole through it of such a size as only to take the outer edge
of the stream, the next disc takes another small portion of the stream, and
so on, and the liquid is thus equally distributed over the whole height of
the inner circle of cases, and the rotation of the apparatus causes it to filter
through them. To the upper edge of the lowest disc a rim of sheet metal
is attached, which inclines outwards as it rises above the disc, and the
liquid after passing through the filtering medium runs up this inclined rim
and flows over the top of it into a trough placed to receive and conduct it
away. The cases containing the animal charcoal or other material can be
removed and replaced by others as the material becomes exhausted.
The outer
In order to separate molasses from sugar, and for washing sugar, I make
use of an apparatus of the following construction:-On a vertical axis a disc
is mounted, and on this disc, and concentric with it, an annular trough is
formed; it is conveniently made in two semicircular sections.
side of this trough is made of wire gauze, or is perforated, and within the
trough there is a perforated ring a few inches larger in diameter than the
inside of the trough, and by it the trough is divided into two compartments,
an inner and an outer. When the sugar is ready to crystallize, it is run into

page_text: the outer compartment, and it is prevented from running through the per-
forated sides of the trough by covers of sheet metal, which fit closely to
them. While the crystallization proceeds the machine is caused to turned
slowly, and the sugar is stirred in the usual manner; afterwards the sheet
metal covers are removed, and the machine caused to rotate rapidly; this
causes the molasses to pass out through the perforated sides of the trough
into a receiver placed for it, and syrup being also placed in the inner com-
partment of the trough, is by the motion driven through the sugar, and
washes out the molasses from it. The sections of the trough can be removed
from the machine to be emptied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Horatio James Huggins in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th July 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HORATIO
JAMES HUGGINS, of the Island of St. Vincent, in the West Indies, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Horatio James Huggins, Her special licence that I, the said Horatio
James Huggins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Horatio James Huggins, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERING AND DECOLORIZING CANE JUICE, SOLUTIONS OF
SUGAR, AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Horatio James Huggins, my
executors 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 Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Horatio James Huggins, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in filtering and decolorizing
cane juice, solutions of sugar and other liquids, and in the manufacture of
sugar. For the purpose of filtering cane juice, syrups, and other liquids, I
employ a circular plate or disc mounted on a vertical axis driven at a consi-
derable velocity; around the upper part of the axis (if the same rises above the
surface of the disc or plate or otherwise immediately over it) is a casing which
terminates just above the surface of the disc or plate, and the liquid to be
filtered is admitted to this casing, and escapes at its lower end equally all
round the axis, and the motion of the plate or disc causes it to flow rapidly
from the centre to the periphery in a thin sheet covering the whole surface of
the disc. A short distance from the edge of the plate or disc, and concentric
with it is a ring of wire gauze, or other suitable filtering medium revolving
either with the disc or in a contrary direction against this ring the liquid is
thrown on leaving the surface of the disc, and it passes through, leaving
behind, however, on the interior of the ring any solid matter it may contain.
The solid matters so separated fall down between the interior of the ring and
the edge of the disc, their descent being insured by the continual flow of
liquid from the surface of the disc; and in order that these solid matters may
fall clear away from the surface of the filtering ring,this ring is by preference
not made cylindrical but conical, the lower edge of the ring being of larger
diameter than the upper. The liquid, after passing through the filtering ring,
strikes an external case or ring of metal connected with the filtering ring;
this case is also coned but in the opposite direction, its larger diameter being
upwards. The rotation of the apparatus causes the liquid to run up the
inclined case into a trough placed to receive it and conduct it away as may
be desired, and in passing over the edge of the case, it is caused to pass
through a second perforated ring, which may be covered with cloth or filter-
ing fabric; in this manner, if it be desired, the filtered liquid may be dis-
charged from the apparatus at as high a level as that from which it is run into it.
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 is a vertical section of a machine con-
structed in the manner above described. a is the frame of the machine; bis
a vertical shaft mounted in suitable bearings on the frame a, and is driven by
strap or cord on the pulley p; c is a plate or disc carried by the shaft ; it
s fixed at the upper end thereof, which I believe to be the most convenient
arrangement; d is a feed pipe for conducting the cane juice or other liquid

page_text: into the casing which terminates just above the surface of the disc, and by
which the liquid to be filtered is equally distributed all round the axis of the
disc; e is a ring of wire gauze or perforated metal lined on the inner side with
fine wire gauze, and at the back it may be lined with cloth or filtering fabric,
which may be removed when required; this ringe is carried by arms b¹ fixed
on the axis ; against this ring the liquid is thrown on leaving the surface of
the disc. It is preferred to cover the ring e on the inner side with fine wire
gauze, but it may be lined in like manner with a filtering cloth.
Figure 3 is a section on a larger scale of some of the parts indicated in
Figure 2. The ring e and parts connected therewith may, by simple arrange-
ment of gearing, be caused to revolve in the opposite direction to that in
which the disc c revolves; I, however, consider the arrangement shewn
equally advantageous. This liquid being thrown against the ring e is filtered,
any solid matter it may carry with it being stopped by the fine wire gauze,
whilst the liquid itself passes through, the solid matters fall down within the
ring on to the bottom f, from which they are removed from time to time by
the spout f¹. The liquid is forcibly thrown against the inclined metal ring g,
up which it flows, and as it is escaping over the edge of this ring it meets
another filtering ring h, also covered with cloth, and as the impurities have
been almost entirely separated before the liquid reaches this ring, the cloth
ath may be made thicker than the cloth at e. The liquid, after passing the
filtering ring h, is thrown into the trough i, by which it is conducted away.
The machine shewn in the Drawings is not arranged to deliver the liquid at
quite so high a level as that at which it receives it; it is evident, however,
that the machine may readily be so modified as to do so. The filtering ring e,
in place of revolving as above described, may, if preferred, be stationary and
fixed to the framing a; but in this case the liquid cannot be made to ascend
an inclined surface, nor pass through a second filtering ring after passing
through the first filtering ring. If desired, the filtering ring may be furnished
with a false bottom revolving with the axis to retain the solid matters within
the lower part of the ring for a time in order to dry them, the bottom being
so arranged that it may be lowered away from the ring to discharge the solid
matters. This may be effected by arranging the bottom plate so that it can
slide freely on the axis, which, however, has a feather on it in order that the
bottom may be caused to revolve with the axis, and by a forked lever entering
a ring groove on the boss of the bottom plate, this plate may be raised or
lowered as desired.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a machine differing slightly from that
shewn at Figure 1, 2, and 3. The machine first described is more particu-

page_text: larly applicable to the filtration of liquids containing impurities of such a
nature as to be almost entirely separated by the first filtering surface e, because
in this machine the ring is of small size, and if the quantity of impurity
passing to it is large, it rapidly becomes clogged. The machine shewn at
Figure 4 is furnished with a much greater extent of filtering surface at h, and
consequently will not, under such circumstances,clog so rapidly; this machine
is in other respects so similar to that before described, and is so fully shewn
in the Drawing, that no detailed description of it is necessary. In some cases,
as for filtering solutions of sugar with which scum is intimately mixed, it is
desirable to fill the space between the two filtering surfaces e and h with animal
charcoal or other suitable filtering material.
In place of arranging the apparatus as herein.before described, the filtering
ring may be attached to the edge of the disc as in machines heretofore con.
structed, but in place of making the filtering ring cylindrical as usual, I
make it conical, the upper edge in this case being of larger diameter than the
lower which is attached to the disc. The liquid is run into the apparatus as
already described, and passing through the filtering ring enters a casing
arranged to receive it, and the solid matters are washed up the inner surface
of the ring till they fall over its upper edge into a trough placed to receive
them.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of a portion of a filtering machine so con-
structed, the other portions of the machine are similar to those shewn at
Figure 4; in fact, this machine is so constructed that its disc c, and filtering
rings e and h, and parts connected therewith may be removed from the axis b,
and replaced by a drum, such as is shewn in part in Figure 5. In this
arrangement the filtering rings in place of being mounted on arms 6', are
fixed to the disc c, the liquid passes through these rings as before into the
trough i, and it also passes through any filtering material which may be inter-
posed between the filtering rings, the solid matters, bowever, in place of falling
down as before, are, in consequence of the inclination given to the ring e,
washed up the same, and are discharged over its upper edge into a receiver;,
placed for them on the top of the trough i (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4); the
machines thus described may be used for decolourizing simultaneously with
the filtering of the liquid, by filling the spaces between the rings e and h,
with animal charcoal or other decolourizing and filtering material.
In some cases in filtering liquids I employ a drum the sides of which are of
wire gauze or other suitable filtering material, this drum is mounted in a
cistern containing the liquid to be filtered, and the liquid percolates from the
exterior to the interior of the drum, from which it is removed by suitable

page_text: may,
passages. The drum is caused to revolve slowly on its axis while filtering, in
order to prevent the solid matters separated from the liquid forming a cake
on the exterior of the drum and impeding the filtering process. The liquid
if desired, be caused to pass through an interior perforated ring or
rings after filtering through the side of the drum, and, in some cases, the
side of the drum or the interior rings may be covered with filtering cloths.
In order to cleanse the drum after use it may be caused to revolve with
rapidity, and water admitted in its interior, and that it may not be necessary
for this purpose to fill the interior of the drum with water, an inner uuper-
forated ring or partition is placed behind the perforated ring or rings, so
that to cleanse the apparatus it is necessary only to admit water to the space
between this partition and the perforated ring.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of a filtering machine so constructed; is
a tank, through which the hollow shaft b, passes, it has a bearing at each end,
and is driven by a strap or cord on the pulley c; d is a drum mounted on the
shaft b, and there is a stuffing box at c, to keep the tank a, tight. The sides
of the drum are formed of perforated metal or open wirework, or strong wire
gauze, and are covered with filtering cloth or wire gauze, as is shewn, and
there is also an interior perforated ring g, similarly covered; h is an inner
unperforated ring or partition with passages through it ath',', which passages
can be closed, when required, by slides shewn in the Drawing, the passages
are, however, left open when the apparatus is filtering. While the tank a is
being supplied by the feed pipe, with the liquid to be filtered, the axis and
drum are put in motion, and the liquid as it filters through the filtering
surfaces escapes by the hollow axis b, which it enters by the passages b₁, and
it escapes therefrom into the discharge pipe j, by the passages h². When the
filtering surfaces require cleaning the tank is emptied, and the passages h¹‚¹,
in the partition h, are closed, water is then run in between the said partition
and the inner filtering ring, the drum is then caused to revolve rapidly, and
the water is thrown out through the filtering surfaces which are thus.
cleaned.
In order to decolorize solutions of sugar and other liquids, I emply a disc
mounted and revolving rapidly on a vertical axis around which the liquid is
introduced as in the case of the apparatus first described. On the disc and
around the centre, cases of wire gauze or other suitable material are mounted,
and these cases are filled with animal charcoal or other decolorizing agent,
usually I employ three complete circles of such cases, the inner circle contain-
ing comparatively coarse material, the second circle a finer material, and the
outer circle a material still finer in the grain. Above the first disc a series of

page_text: other discs are mounted one above the other, each of these discs has a hole
at the centre; the disc which first meets the incoming stream of liquid has
a hole through it of such a size as only to take the outer edge of the stream,
the next disc takes another small portion of the stream, and so on, and the
liquid is thus equally distributed over the whole height of the inner circle
of cases, and the rotation of the apparatus causes it to filter through them.
To the upper edge of the lowest disc a rim of sheet metal is attached which
inclines outwards as it rises above the disc, and the liquid after passing
through the filtering medium runs up this inclined rim and flows over the
top of it into a trough placed to receive and conduct it away. The cases
containing the animal charcoal or other material can be removed and
replaced by others as the material becomes exhausted.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of an apparatus for decolorizing solutions of
sugar and other liquids, arranged in a manner above described; a is a
vertical axis, and b, a disc mounted thereon; c is a feed trough by which the
liquid is introduced into the machine; d, d, are a number of smaller discs all
carried by the disc b; each of them has a hole at its centre, and the holes are
of different sizes, so that the upper disc takes a small quantity off the exterior
of the incoming stream, and afterwards each disc in succession takes a small
portion of the stream until the remainder falls on the disc; e, e, e, are per-
forated metal cases containing animal charcoal; fis a cover clamped down to
the disc b, by holding-down bolts g, g, and at its periphery by bolts h, h, and a
perforated metal ring i. The liquid descending on to the discs is thrown from
them against the perforated metal cases e, e, and it passes through them and
through the charcoal they contain; it afterwards runs up the inclined rim j,
at the upper edge of the disc b, and over the top of the said rim it passes
through the perforated metal ring i, and is thrown into a trough placed to
receive it. The cases e, may either be made as complete rings, or they may
be made in sections, if preferred, which renders them more portable.
In order to separate molasses from sugar and for washing sugar, I make
use of an apparatus of the following construction:-On a vertical axis a disc is
mounted, and on this disc, and concentric with it, an annular trough is formed,
which may, for convenience, be made in sections. The outer side of this
trough is made of wire gauze, or is perforated, and within the trough there
is a perforated ring a few inches larger in diameter than the inner side of
the trough, and by it the trough is divided into two compartments, an inner
and an outer. When the sugar is ready to crystallize it is run into the outer
compartment, and it is prevented from running through the perforated sides
of the trough by covers of sheet metal which fit closely to them. While the

page_text: crystallization proceeds the machine is caused to turn slowly, and the sugar."
*is stirred in the usual manner; afterwards the sheet metal covers are re-
moved, and the machine caused to rotate rapidly; this causes the molasses
to pass out through the perforated sides of the trough into a receiver placed
for it, and syrup being also placed in the inner compartment of the trough,
is, by the motion, driven through the sugar and washes out the molasses
from it. The trough, or the sections of the trough, if for convenience the
trough be made in sections, can be removed from the machine to be emptied
Figure 8 is a vertical section of an apparatus so constructed; a is a vertical
axis with a disc b, mounted on it; c is an annular trough concentric with
it, and which, in the arrangement shewn, comes close up to the boss of the
disc, the outer side of this trough is of perforated metal d, covered with
cloth, it may be lined inside with wire gauze; e is a partition within the
trough c, it is also of perforated metal, and is covered with cloth; f is a
cylindrical case fitting closely to the exterior of the drum; 9 is another
J cylinder fitting in the same manner within the perforated ring or parti
"tion e; h is a cover to be placed over the trough, but it is not put into its
place until the sugar is crystallized. The cases f and g, having been put
on, the machine is caused to revolve slowly, and the syrup is run in and
stirred as is usual. When the crystallization is complete the cover h, is
put on, and the cases f and g, are removed, and the cloths also, if desired;
the axis is then driven rapidly, which causes the molasses to be thrown out
through the perforated metal d. Syrup is then, or previous to and during.
the rapid rotation, poured into the space between the perforated partition e,
and the inner side of the trough, and this, by the centrifugal force, being
driven through the sugar washes it. When the operation is complete the
cover h, is removed, and the sugar dug out.
In witness whereof, I, the said Horatio James Huggins, have hereunto-
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
HORATIO JAMES HUGGINS. (L.S.)