IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR." A communication from abroad by Messrs.
Brissonneau, Brothers; and Company, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineers.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR." A communica-
tion from abroad by Messrs. Brissonneau, Brothers, and Company, of Paris, in the
Republic of France, Engineers.
This Invention relates to the decolorisation of sugar (in the condition of powder
or blocks in or out of the moulds). This decolorisation has hitherto been effected
by one of the two following methods of treatment, viz. :—
First. By injecting at a particular period of the treatment in the centrifugal
machine, a cleare or a liquid already decolorised to a certain extent and containing
a certain proportion of sugar, that is to say, being of a corresponding density.
This operation is termed liquoring.
Secondly. By introducing a jet of dried steam into the centrifugal machine.
The former of these two processes involves a considerable waste of the substance
treated in the centrifugal machine, the cleare or liquor projected by centrifugal
force against the sugar pressing against the sides of the basket while the latter is
rotating at full speed disintegrates the solid portions of the sugar, and carries
away large quantities of it through the gauze, so that the yield of white sugar is
usually considerably diminished.
With regard to the second of these two processes the objection is, that the part
of the sugar in direct contact with the steam becomes melted by the latter to a
certain extent, according to the degree of dryness of the steam, and the decoloriza-
tion is only obtained by a diminution of the yield.
These disadvantages are obviated by means of this Invention, which enables the
steam to be employed without coming directly into contact with the material
to be decolorised. This result is obtained by the arrangement hereinafter
described.

page_text: The material to be decolorised being arranged in the centrifugal machine in
moulds, or in the form of blocks or slabs, or in powder or other suitable condition,
is covered with a layer of white sugar which is destined to be gradually liquified
by the steam introduced during the treatment in the centrifugal machine, and the
liquid thus obtained being saturated with sugar passes through the materials to be
decolorised gently and without shocks.
By this, means a combination of the two processes heretofore adopted is obtained,
whilst their defects hereinbefore described are remedied. The clarifying liquor or
cleare filtrates through the substance to be decolorised with less violence and
without detaching so many particles of sugar, whilst at the same time the steam
only melts a layer of sugar which is immediately utilised in the form of cleare,
thereby avoiding the necessity of employing a special operation (as heretofore
required) for obtaining the said cleare.
The essential features of the process therefore consist in employing steam and
cleare simultaneously or separately, the cleare being produced by projecting steam
upon powdered or other sugar interposed between the steam and the sugar which
it is desired to decolorise.
Other agents may be employed for this purpose in substitution for steam.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
• 6th August 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR." A communica-
tion from abroad by Messieurs Brissonneau, Brothers, & Co., of Paris, in the
Republic of France, Engineers.
The said Invention relates to an improved process for effecting the decolorisation
of sugar (in the condition of powder or blocks in or out of the moulds). This
decolorisation has hitherto been effected by one of the two following methods of
treatment, viz. :—
First. By injecting, at a particular period of the treatment, in the centrifugal
machine a "cleare
or a liquid already decolorised to a certain extent, and
containing a certain proportion of sugar, that is to say, being of a corresponding
density.
This operation is termed liquoring.
Secondly. By introducing a jet of dried steam into the centrifugal machine.
The former of these two processes involves a considerable waste of the substance
thus treated, the "cleare " or liquor projected by centrifugal force against the
sugar pressing against the sides of the basket while the latter is rotating at full
speed disentegrates the solid portions of the sugar, and carries away large quantities
of it through the gauze sides, so that the yield of white sugar is usually considerably
diminished.
With regard to the second of these two processes it is open to the objection that
the part of the sugar in direct contact with the steam becomes melted by the latter
to a certain extent according to the degree of dryness of the steam, so that in this
case also the decolorization involves a diminution of the yield.
These disadvantages are obviated by means of this Invention, which enables
steam or other suitable vapour to be employed without coming directly into contact
with the material to be decolorised. This result is obtained by the arrangement
next hereinafter described.
The material to be decolorised being arranged in the centrifugal machine in
moulds, or in the form of blocks or slabs, or in powder or other suitable condition,
is covered or protected by a layer of white sugar which is destined to be gradually
liquefied by the steam introduced during the treatment in the centrifugal machine,
and the liquid thus produced being saturated with sugar passes gently and smoothly
through the materials to be decolorised.
By this means a combination of the two processes heretofore adopted is obtained,
whilst their defects hereinbefore described are avoided. The clarifying liquor or
"cleare" filtrates through the substance to be decolorised with less violence, and
without detaching so many particles of sugar, whilst at the same time the steam
only melts a layer of sugar, which is immediately utilised in the form of "cleare,"
thereby avoiding the necessity of employing a special operation (as heretofore
required) for obtaining the said "cleare."
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the bereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The improved process for liquoring sugar, consisting in the employment in
combination of steam or vapour and "cleare" or clarifying liquor, the latter being

page_text: obtained by causing steam to impinge against powdered or other sugar interposed
between the steam inlet and the substance under treatment, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON.
(L.S.)