IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of the firm of
Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Patent Agents, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR."
-
A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 3rd December 1852.
I, KICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of the firm of Robertson,
Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR," communicated to
ine from a foreigner, to be as follows:-
The Invention consists,-
First, in so arranging a pair of pressing vessels for expressing
saccharine matter from substances containing the same, that their
pistons shall act in such manner that one piston entering into one
vessel shall discharge the pressed matter in the opposite vessel, and
vice versa.

page_text: Secondly, in a combination of a vacuum with a system of pres-
sure for accelerating the extracting operation, and also for pre-
venting the saccharine matter expressed from fermenting.
Thirdly, in more thoroughly obtaining the whole saccharine
juices from sugar cane and beet root, by forcing liquids through
such substances after or while they are undergoing pressure.
Fourthly, in a feeding apparatus for beet root and other pulpy
matters for presses for extracting saccharine juices therefrom, and
which at the same time becomes a preparatory press; a large box
or receiver is provided with rollers, over which an endless band of
perforated metal cloth passes. These endless bands are arranged in
pairs in front of each other, and have a funnel-like shape. When
the receiver is filled with pulp, a vacuum is made behind the per-
forated cloth, and a great portion of juice extracted therefrom;
the remaining pulpy matters are led to a second press underneath
the receiver, and there receive further pressure so as to extract the
whole of the remaining juices. With slight modifications, I adapt
this feeder to feeding sugar cane.
Fifth, in the application to an enclosed Gadesden's pan (or other
sugar evaporating apparatus in which heated air is forced into
contact with large surfaces of saccharine liquid) of an apparatus
constructed so as to heat the air previous to its being forced into
the evaporating pan by means of the heat to be obtained from the
saturated hot air escaping therefrom. And also in driving the
liquid under operation over large revolving surfaces by centrifugal
power.
Sixth, in the construction of the drums of centrifugal machines
used in the manufacture of sugar with spirally corrugated
peripheries, wire being wound round to strengthen the drum. I
make the filtering medium of horse hair cloth, which rests upon a
coarse wire gauze rolled so as to form a smooth surface around the
periphery of the drum; I fix an outer casing and leave a space for
the adinission of steam or heated air to prevent the matters in the
drum from cooling.
Lastly, in an arrangement whereby the admission of steam to
2

page_text: the cylinder of the engine driving the centrifugal drum is regulated:
On the cylinder is cast a trunnion on which the cylinder oscillates,
the bearing of the trunnion is formed by a box, in the interior of
and around which is a recess divided into two chambers, one for
the inlet and the other for the outlet of steam.
Through the trunnion are formed the passages for the admission
of steam into the cylinder, and the openings of the passages come
over the divisions in the recess when the crank is at its dead point,
and so the oscillating motion of the cylinder brings the passages
alternately in communication with each of the chambers, whereby
the introduction of steam is regulated and which is applied round
the periphery of the drum as before mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of the firm of Robertson, Brooman,
& Co., of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents,
send greeting.
year
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in
the of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two,
in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard Archibald
Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said Richard Archibald
Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR," communicated to me by a foreigner residing
abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman,
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, reference being
had to the Drawings annexed (that is to say):
Firstly, the Invention consists of an arrangement of pressing
machinery for extracting saccharine juices from matters containing
the same. This arrangement consists of two presses of different
constructions which act consecutively upon the matters under opera-
tion; the first one, aided by a vacuum, extracting the greatest portion
of the juice and preparing the matters for the second press, in
which the operation is combined with a washing process performed
on the matters whilst undergoing the maximum of pressure.
The first press is constructed in the form of a hopper or funnel,
and the matters under operation pass through it between endless
bands of wire gauze, which are so placed that the space between
them gradually contracts from the feed to the discharge end, and
which serve to press the matters at the same time that they conduct
them forward to undergo the concluding pressure behind the endless
bands. A vacuum is created by which the juice is exhausted through
the bands, and the extraction of the juice is thus effected by the
combined agency of pressure and exhaustion.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, of the Drawings annexed, represent
the improved compound press; Figure 1, being an elevation, partly
in section, of both presses; Figure 2, a plan, partly in section, of the
second press; and Figure 3, a vertical section of both presses on the

page_text: line A,B,C,D, of Figure 1; Figures 4, 5, and 6, are separate views
of some of the parts.
I will first describe that part of the arrangement in which the
preliminary extracting operation is effected, and which I call for
the sake of distinction the first press. V, V, are hoppers of cast
iron, in which the endless bands of wire gauze c, c, revolve. These
bands are supported on rollers b, b, the axes of which have their
bearings in the sides of the hoppers; e, e, are intermediate rollers
for further supporting the wire gauze bands, in addition to which
the edges of the bands slide upon inetal strips, which at the same
time that they act as supports, also prevent the matters under opera-
tion from passing behind the bands. The axes of the lower rollers
b, b, project at one end beyond the sides of the hoppers, and carry
toothed wheels a, a, by means of which the wire gauze bands are
put in motion in order to convey the matters towards the second
press. It will be seen from the position of the wire gauze bands that
they form a passage between them gradually diminishing in width,
so that the inatter under operation in passing between them is
subjected to a gradually increasing pressure; and in order to effect
the extraction of the juice more readily, a vacuum is created behind
the bands by which the juice is drawn off at the same time that the
pressing operation is being performed. The pulp is thus deprived
of the greatest part of its juice, and reduced to a compact paste,
which is delivered from the press in the form of a continuous plate
sufficiently solidified to enable it to be carried to the second press.
The vacuum behind the wire gauze bands is produced by means of
an air pump, which communicates by an air pipe or pipes with the
spaces behind the bands. On leaving the first press the pulpy mass
is submitted to another operation of pressing and washing, in order
to extract from it any portions of juice which it may still contain.
This combined operation is performed in the portion of the apparatus
next to be described, which I designate the second press. A' is a
plate of cast iron, which is fixed in a horizontal position on the frame-
work D. Upon this plate are fixed eight pressing boxes B', B¹, which
form two presses; they are cast in pair, each pair formning a single

page_text: casting. The boxes are fixed in two rows, the entrance of the one
box of each pair being in an opposite direction to that of the other
entrance, and the bottoms of the boxes which bear the pressure are
placed at a given distance from each other. The four pistons R", R",
for one row of boxes are connected to two common piston rods
C¹, C¹, which move in slides along the sides of the boxes. The pistons
are fastened to the rods C¹, C, by means of the flanges k, k, which
are so placed as not to hinder the entrance of the pistons into their
boxes. The two middle pistons are cast in one piece, across which
is formed a perpendicular slot to receive the pin of the crank, which
drives the pistons. E, is a shaft with two cranks, each of which sets
in motion the four pistons of one press. This shaft is supported in
bearings L, I, and passes through slots in the piston rods C¹, C¹,
which slots are long and wide enough to allow both the rods and
shaft to move without interfering with each other.. The pulp which
descends from the first press in front of the pressing boxes of the
second press is subjected to pressure in these boxes between four
pressing plates which are arranged in the following manner:-To
cach pair of pressing boxes there is adapted a moveable frame 8, 8,
the side pieces of which slide in apertures between the sides and the
bottoms of the boxes. On each cross piece of the frame is fixed a
bent plate of perforated sheet iron covered with wire gauze, in such
manner that the depending portions form pressing plates R¹, R¹, on
each side of the cross piece. A third plate O, which is also perforated
and covered with wire gauze, is placed at the back part of the box.
To the plate O, are attached four rods P, P, which pass through
openings in the back part of the box, and in the supports 01, 0¹,
coiled springs, the ends of which bear against the supports O¹, O¹,
are applied round the rods P, P, for the purpose of forcing out of
the box the plate O, and pressed pulp. A fourth pressing plate is
formed by the face of the piston, which is also perforated and covered
with wire gauze, so that each box has thus four pressing plates, all of
which come into action on the pulp when moved by the pistons. The
conical spaces between the plates R¹, R¹, are for the purpose of con-
taining water, to be employed in washing the pulp or matters under

page_text: pressure. The water is supplied to the spaces by cocks r, and the
manner in which the water is caused to be applied during the operation
is as follows:-The bent plates R,R', from not being connected at the
lower extremity, form a kind of spring, and when pressed against the
cross piece of the frames, and the back plate of each box, the water
is forced out through the perforations and penetrates into the pulp,
the juice of which is carried away with the water through the opposite
plate, at the back of which it is conducted away to receivers through
orifices in the bottom of the pistons and boxes B¹. The cocks which
furnish the water to the plates It, R¹, are constructed in the follow-
ing manner (see Figures 4, and 5). A pipe 7, open at the ends, is
placed on one side of the frames, and openings are formed at the
side of the pipe near the ends corresponding with the conical spaces
between the plates R¹, R¹. In the ends of the pipe ¹, are adjusted
two other pipes, 7, which are closed at their outer extremities, and
have cach an aperture corresponding with the side apertures of the
pipe . The pipes 1, r, are so arranged that a passage is open
through the pipes to the spaces between the plates R', R', when the
apertures are one over the other, and closed when not in that position.
The water is conducted to the pipes 7, by a branch pipe, and
passes through the apertures in them to the plates R', R. The taps
7, 7, are regularly opened and closed by the working of the pistons,
the motion of which is communicated to the taps by means of the
following arrangement:-", &, are clicks or pawls, mounted on the
standard st, which is fixed to the piston rod C¹. They turn the ratchet
wheel X (Figure 3), which is mounted on the lever H.
A stop
a, descending from this lever acts on the arm 7, connected with the
pipe r, and pushing it downwards turns the pipe or tap 1, and thus
opens the passage for the water. As soon as the necessary quantity
of water has passed through to the plates R', a spring acts against
the arm, as seen in Figure 6, and moves it upwards and thus
closes the tap r. To the lever H, is connected a rod, the upper end
of which is bent into a hook form, and takes into the teeth of the
ratchet wheel X, which is mounted on the same shaft as the spur
wheel a¹. The motion of the lever, H, by which the taps are opened,

page_text: raises the rod, and thus causes it to catch on the ratchet wheel X,
a tooth higher at cach novement, and the lower pawl on the
support s¹, gives a backward motion to the rod z, and thus turns the
wheel X. The wheel a¹, being mounted on the same shaft as the
ratchet wheel X, is moved round, step by step, with it one sixth
of a revolution at each stoke of the rod z. This motion is trans-
mitted by the toothed wheels a, a, which are in gear with the wheel
a', to the rollers b, b, and through them to the wire gauze bands c, c.
Motion is cominunicated to the shaft E, from a steam engine or other
prime mover, by the wheel gearing U, U, and pulley U¹. V¹, is a
fly wheel for accumulating power to overcome the maximum of
resistance to pressure. The fly wheel might be mounted on the
shaft of the pinion U, if preferred.
It will be seen from the foregoing description, that the prin-
cipal distinguishing characteristics of the improved compound press
are,―
First, in the pressing boxes being so arranged in pairs, that their
pistons act in conjunction in such manner that one piston entering
into one vessel discharges the pressed matter from the other vessel
of the pair, and vice versa.
Second, in combining the use of a vacuum with the preliminary
pressure for accelerating the extracting operation, and also for pre-
venting the saccharine matter expressed from fermenting.
Third, in more thoroughly obtaining the whole saccharine juices
from the matter under operation by forcing liquids through such
substances after or while they are undergoing pressure.
And fourth, in the feeding arrangement, which at the same time
acts as a preparatory press. And although the press described
combines all these improvements, they may also, when desirable, be
employed separately, in conjunction with other arrangements for
pressing and extracting purposes.
Secondly, the Invention consists in driving saccharine fluids
undergoing the process of evaporation over large revolving surfaces
by centrifugal power. And also in the application to sugar evapo-
rating apparatus, in which heated air is forced into contact with

page_text: large surfaces of saccharine liquid, of an apparatus constructed so
as to heat the air previously to its being forced into the evaporating
pan by means of the heat to be obtained from the saturated hot air
or vapour escaping therefrom.
Figures 7 and 8, represent one arrangement of apparatus which
may be adopted for effecting this part of the Invention. Figure 7,
is a vertical section, and Figure 8, a plan of the saine.
A, is a pan
or vessel of sheet iron hermetically closed. B, B, are two centrifugal
druins fixed on the shaft C; these druins are composed of two
envelopes a, a¹, a bottom b, and lid c; the bottom and lid extend to
the envelope a', to which they are fastened. The lid has an aperture
at the centre, through which the liquid is introduced to the drum by
the pipe d, which is provided with a stop cock for regulating the
supply. The drums B, B, are fixed to the shaft at bottom, by incans
of the boss K, and are maintained in their proper positions in relation
to the shaft C, by stays 1, l. In the space between the envelopes
a, a', of each drum are formed two spiral channels i, i, one of which
is to receive the liquid to be concentrated, and the other the steam
by which the liquid is heated. The channels are composed of two
metal plates bent spirally and placed one inside the other, so as to
form two channels parallel to each other. The channel ¹, which
serves to receive the steam, is closed air tight at top and bottom; but
the channel i, through which the liquid passes, is open, a small strip
of metal e, being fixed on each side of the spiral ledge, and the
liquid flowing between then. The liquid is introduced into the
inner drum a', by means of the pipe d, as before mentioned, and
passes from thence to the spiral channel i', through apertures in a',
and is then caused by the centrifugal action of the machine to traverse
the whole of the exposed surface from the centre to the periphery of
the drum, where it is ejected through the pipes f, f, into the circular
channel g, formed round the interior of the plan A. The steam
necessary for the operation is introduced into the channel i¹, through
the hollow shaft C, and pipe D. The interior space of the shaft is
separated by a partition y, for the purpose of guiding the steam to
its channel in its course, through which it parts with its heat to the

page_text: I₁
liquid under operation, and becomes condensed, the condensed water
flowing away through the pipe fl, into the channel g¹. The juice
under operation passes from the first drum through the channel
and pipe h, into the second drum, where it is put in circulation in
the same manner as in the first drum, for the purpose of continuing
the evaporation; and the steam produced in the first drum passes
into the second drum, where it acts in the same manner as the steam
introduced into the first drum. This steam is admitted to the
second drum through the openings n, n, in the shaft C, which com-
municate with the pipe D, leading to the channel i, as in the first
drum. The space between the drums is divided by a partition plate
p, which guides the steam to the openings n, n. This plate p, is
fixed at its centre to the shaft C, beneath the openings n, n, and at
its periphery to the envelope a, of the first drum p³, p³, are other
plates fixed to the envelopes a, a, in the same manner as the plate
p, for the purpose of keeping the steam in circulation as it passes
through the apparatus. These plates have apertures at the centre,
the edges of which turn in contact with the pan A, by which means
the steam is prevented from passing out of the drums. Motion is
communicated to the shaft C, and drums mounted on it by means of
a strap passing round the pulley C¹, on the lower end of the shaft C,
which passes through the bottom of the vessel A; E¹, is a pipe for
conducting the steam to the shaft C.
This apparatus may be employed either with or without a vacuum,
and in the latter case dry heated air is caused to pass through it and
over the juice under operation. For the purpose of heating the air
thus introduced, the waste heat of the saturated air or vapour escaping
from the last drum is employed, the inflowing air being caused to pass
through a heater, the construction of which I will now proceed to
describe, first mentioning that a similar arrangement may be adapted
to a Gadesden's or other evaporating pan, where hot air is used in
conducting the process of evaporating saccharine fluids. This henter
is represented in vertical section (combined with the evaporator just
described) in Figure 7, and in horizontal section in Figure 9. It is
composed of two spiral channels, formed by plates of copper and

page_text: running by side each other in a similar manner to the spiral
channels of the evaporator. Through one channel the air entering
the evaporator has to pass, and through the other the saturated air
or vapour from the apparatus escapes, the two currents being caused
to move in opposite directions in order that the greatest possible
amount of heat available may be obtained. The air thus heated
passes through the pipes R¹¹, R", into the evaporator over the liquid,
where it becomes saturated with the vapour rising from the liquid,
and in this state again enters the heater in order to part with its heat
to the inflowing stream of air. The condensed water escapes from
its channel through the pipe, the end of which dips into water, in
order to prevent cold air from entering into the heating channel by
that means. A fan or other exhausting apparatus is fitted in a casing
at the outlet of the heating channel in order to produce a current
through the evaporator. In working the latter apparatus, either with
a vacuum or in conjunction with the application of hot air, the best
effect will be obtained by driving the drums at as low a speed as
practicable, so that the liquid may circulate slowly through the
channels of the drums. The speed must, however, be sufficient to
cause the ascent of the liquid up the spiral ledge, so that the heated
surface may be entirely covered with a thin film of the liquid. The
ascent of the liquid is facilitated by placing small strips of metal e¹,
along the spiral channels, so as to divide the liquid into several
streams, each of which will be supported on a separate ledge. The
saine effect may also be produced by inclining the surface i, a little
outward, towards the top. The tap in the pipe d, serves to regulate
the adinission of liquid, and consequently the extent of concentration;
E, is a pipe leading to a condenser, which must be employed when a
vacuum is used; R, is a tap by which the apparatus is put in com-
mmunication with the heater or the condenser. An arrangement,
whereby the admission of steam to the cylinder of an oscillating
engine for driving a centrifugal machine or machines is regulated,
is shewn in Figures 10, and 11, which are respectively a vertical
and sectional plan of a horizontal cylinder engine. On the cylinder
A, is cast a trunnion B, on which the cylinder oscillates. The

page_text: bearing of the trunnion is formed by a box C, in the standard D. In
the interior of and running around the box C, is a recess c, which is
divided into two compartments, one for the inlet and the other for the
outlet of steam. Through the trunnion are formed the passages for
the admission of steam to the cylinder, and the openings of these
passages come over the divisions d, in the recess c, when the crank
is at its dead point, and thus the oscillating motion of the cylinder
brings the steam passages alternately in communication with each of
the compartments of the recess c, whereby the introduction of steam
to the cylinder is regulated.
Lastly, the Invention consists in constructing the drums of cen-
trifugal machines used in the manufacture of sugar, with spirally
corrugated peripheries, wire being wound round when necessary to
strengthen the drums. The lining of wire gauze used for holding
back the crystals of sugar is placed to rest on the spirally corrugated
periphery, and as the drum is made of greater diameter at the
bottom than at the top, the liquid escaping through the wire gauze
runs down the corrugations. An opening of sufficient size must be
left at the bottom to throw off the extracted liquid. There are no
perforations in the drum except the openings referred to. Thus by
this arrangement the external air is not permitted to come in contact
with the veticulated surfaces, through which the liquid first escapes,
the advantage of which is, that far less clogging takes place than in
the means heretofore adopted.
The spiral channel of the corrugated periphery forms spaces
around the wire gauze of the drum, which may serve for the admis-
sion of steam to keep the matters in the drum in a fluid state. The
steam may be admitted through the shaft of the machine, which
should be formed hollow and have a pipe leading to the spiral
channel.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim in respect thereof is,
First, the improved arrangement of machinery for extracting
saccharine juices represented in Figures. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. and 6. of the s

page_text: Drawings annexed and herein-before described, and the methods of
extraction therein adopted; that is to say, in so far as regards the
mode of feeding the materials, whereby they are also at the same
tine subjected to preparatory pressure; the application of a vacuum
for effecting or aiding the extracting process; the mode of arranging
the pressing boxes in pairs, so that the entrance of the piston into
one box shall discharge the pressed matters from the opposite box,
and vice versa; and the application of a liquid forced through the
matters undergoing pressure for more thoroughly obtaining the
saccharine juices therefrom, all as before described; and whether
employed in combination as described, or separately, or any two
or more of thein combined with other arrangements of pressing
machinery.
Second, the application of centrifugal force for spreading saccha-
rine liquids over large revolving surfaces in apparatus for evaporating
such liquids as represented in Figures 7, and 8, and before described;
and also the combination with such apparatus of arrangements for
heating the air employed for the purpose of aiding or effecting the
evaporation of the saccharine fluids, by means of the saturated hot
air or vapour escaping from the apparatus, as represented in Figures
7, and 9, and before described.
And last, the construction of the drums of centrifugal sugar
machines with spirally corrugated peripheries, and without perfora-
tions except the openings for the ultimate escape of the liquid, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of
June, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.