IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF CLARIFYING AND OF DRYING SUGAR IN MOULD.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas James Smith, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman,
and Company, of 166, Fleet Strect, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF CLARIFYING AND OF
DRYING SUGAR IN MOULD.' A communication from abroad by Dominique
Casalonga, of 15, Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas James Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1877.
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE
OF CLARIFYING AND OF DRYING SUGAR IN MOULD.'" A communication from
abroad by Dominique Casalonga, of 15, Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Engineer.
This Invention has for object to clarify and to dry rapidly in sugar manufactories,
and especially in refineries, the sugar arranged in moulds, whatever be the disposi-
tion and size of these moulds. For this purpose a cap is arranged above each mould,
fastened at top by any convenient means, and forming a joint by the aid of a plait
or of a washer of caoutchouc. Upon this cap, which is dome shaped, is a cock,
terminated at top by a funnel to receive the desired quantity of "cleare."
This cap
leaves above the surface of the sugar contained in the mould a space, into which, by
an opening, compressed air is caused to enter through a flexible tube, or a rod with
stuffing box, or other means.
The cocks permit the compressed air to be distributed at will, at a low or high
temperature, in the reservoir formed by the interior of the cap.
An air purging cock is also placed upon the cap, which fits the mould hermetically.
A first "cleare" is introduced into the space, or reservoir, the air of which escapes
by the purging cock. Then, this cock being closed, as well as that through which
the "cleare" has been introduced, tepid compressed air is admitted which presses
upon the "cleare," which is in addition sucked or drawn through the body of the
sugar and through a lower cock in connection with a pump. After the passage of
this "cleare" the operation is repeated.

page_text: When the clarifying is considered sufficient, the drying is proceeded with without
passing to the "claying house" and without changing the place of the mould. For
this purpose the compressed air is caused to traverse a tubular superheater, or by
the aid of steam to acquire the desired temperature. The air thus heated is led by
a suitable arrangement of valves and cocks into the reservoir or space in each mould
in proportion to its need.
After the current of hot air has been maintained for some hours the sugar loaf is
white, dry, and sonorous, and is ready to be put under cover after a slight cooling.
The air is compressed by the same pump which forms the suction cock vacuum.
The discharges are received in a reservoir which is in front of the said pump, and
whence they are drawn out or raised at desired intervals by the aid of steam, or
otherwise.
The air employed is purified or filtered through broken wood, charcoal, or bone
charcoal, so as to be able to produce white sugars.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas James Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th November 1877.
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE
OF CLARIFYING AND OF DRYING SUGAR IN MOULD.'" (A communication from
abroad by Dominique Casalonga, of 15, Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Engineer.)
This Invention has for object to clarify and to dry rapidly in sugar manufactories,
and especially in refineries, the sugar arranged in moulds, whatever be the disposi-
tion and size of these moulds. For this purpose a cap is arranged above each mould,
fastened at top by any convenient means, and forming a joint by the aid of a plait
or of a washer of caoutchouc. Upon this cap, which is dome shaped, is a cock
terminated at top by a funnel to receive the desired quantity of "cleare." This cap
leaves above the surface of the sugar contained in the mould a space, into which, by
an opening, compressed air is caused to enter through a flexible tube, or a rod with
stuffing box, or other means.
The cocks permit the compressed air to be distributed at will, at a low or high
temperature, in the reservoir formed by the interior of the cap.
An air purging cock is also placed upon the cap, which fits the mould hermetically.
A first clare is introduced into the space or reservoir, the air of which escapes by
the purging cock. Then this cock being closed, as well as that through which the
'cleare" has been introduced, tepid compressed air is admitted, which presses upon
the "cleare," which is in addition sucked or drawn through the body of the sugar
and through a lower cock in connection with a pump. After the passage of this
cleare," the operation is repeated.
"
When the clarifying is considered sufficient, the drying is proceeded with without
passing to the "claying house" and without changing the place of the mould.
For
this purpose the compressed air is caused to traverse a tubular superheater, or by
the aid of steam to acquire the desired temperature. The air thus heated is led by
a suitable arrangement of valves and cocks into the reservoir or space in cach mould
in proportion to its need.
After the current of hot air has been maintained for some hours the sugar loaf is
white, dry, and sonorous, aud is ready to be put under cover after a slight cooling.

page_text: The air is compressed by the same pump which forms the suction cock vacuum.
The discharges are received in a reservoir which is in front of the said pump, and
whence they are drawn out or raised at desired intervals by the aid of steam or
otherwise.
The air employed is purified or filtered through broken wood, charcoal, or bone
charcoal, so as to be able to produce white sugars.
The Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed Drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation showing the grouping of the different parts constituting
the Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the filter refiner.
Figure 4 shows in detail the closing of the top of each mould.
Figure 5 is a section through the axis of the superheater of the compressed_air.
By the suction and forcing pump J the air is sucked from the receiver E and
delivered into the reservoir F. Between the lower chamber f, where the forced air
arrives, and the upper chamber f¹, is the body proper of the refiner or clarifier, which
is filled with broken vegetable or animal charcoal. Above and below f¹ are sieves
permitting the air, but not the dust, to pass. The refiner or clarifier E is furnished
with man-holes and a manometer.
The compressed and purified air following the direction of the arrows indicated
upon the pipe T arrives at the pipes m, whence it is by the cocks P, P, distributed
successively upon the moulds according to need.
Figure 4 shows better how the air arrives upon the sugar which is in mould in
the space A, confined by the cap B', which is furnished,-
1st. With a caoutchouc washer, forming a hermetic joint between the cap and
the top of the mould.
2nd. With a funnel-shaped cock D, destined to receive the solution or clarifying
mixture.
3rd. With a little cock, the axis only of which is shown, destined to release
the air at the moment of the entry of each solution of clarifying mixture.
4th. With a socket C to a screw u, with wheel G of quick thread, permitting to
screw up and unscrew the cap B₁ upon the mould.
When after having closed the current of air coming from the pipe m, and having
opened the cocks and D, a clarifying solution is introduced, the cocks and D
are closed, and the current of compressed air in the pipe m is re-established.
The air enters the space A, presses upon the clarifying mixture, which, in addition,
is sucked or drawn out in the ordinary manner by the suckers g, situated at the
lower part of each mould. It thus rapidly traverses the sugar, which it purifies in
an uniform manner, and passes by the lower return conduits B to the receiver E,
whence it is again taken by the pump, and so on.
The chamber E also receives the molasses, which it gives off or parts with when
required, as in an ordinary juice pump. By this means 3, 4, or 5 operations are
effected according to need.
When once the sugar is clarified, which takes place very rapidly and uniformly,
the drying is proceeded with without the necessity of removing or changing the
place of the mould. For this purpose each mould is provided with intermediate
conduits T, T, which distribute the hot air. This hot air also coming from the same
chamber F, deviates by the pipe R, and traverses the tubular superheater U, Figure
5, and returns by the tubes X and X' into the general distribution pipes T, T
By closing the cock P, situated upon the pipe m, and opening the cock Q, com-
municating with T", the hot air is caused to arrive in the space A. It traverses the
sugar loaves in a continuous current from top to bottom, driving out first the last
traces of molasses, then drying successively the sugar loaves in a very short time
and to any desired degree.
When it is opined that the drying is accomplished, the current is interrupted, the
cap disengaged, and the mould inverted upon a table. At the end of a few seconds

page_text: contraction takes place, the sugar loaf becomes detached, the mould is lifted off, and
the sugar covered with paper. The operation is then complete.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
:
First. The employment to the clarifying of sugar of a current of air at an ordi-
nary uniform temperature, but previously purified and and compressed, distributed
in a close space formed above the mould by a cap with hermetic joint, the same air
being capable of use and re-use continuously, as described.
Secondly. The employment to the drying of sugar of a current of air purified and
compressed as last referred to, but submitted before being employed to a superheating
which enables it while traversing the sugar in the same manner as the preceding air
to draw off rapidly the humidity, and to dry the sugar loaf uniformly without the
necessity of displacing any part of the apparatus, as described and shown.
Thirdly. The general arrangement and combination of parts forming an apparatus
for facilitating the clarification and drying of sugar "in mould," as described, and
substantially as shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas James Smith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.