Improvements in Cooling Plates used for Confectionery Purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Loft 45th Don 1804 Accented 15th Mar.
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cooling Plates used for Confectionery Purposes.
I WILLIAM BRIERLEY of The Borough Brass Works Rochdale in the County
of Lancaster Confectioners' Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in plates used by confectioners or manu-
facturers of sweetmeats for cooling hot solutions of boiled sugar which plate is
known as the "hot plate."
It is well known that large metal plates are used by persons in the confectionery
industry for cooling boiled sugar solutions after the boiling process and preparatory
to the cutting process necessary for preparing in a merchantable or vendible
form.
It is found in practice that the excessive or great heat of the solution ranging
as high as 310° Fah. frequently causes a fracture of the cooling plate which is
usually made of cast iron, inasmuch as the said plate is caused to twist or warp
consequently at the parts where the said plate is secured or attached to the heavy
base plate the joints become loosened and a fracture or crack across the face of the
plate as hereinbefore stated is often the result. If a fracture does not occur the
warping or twisting of the cooling plate relatively to the base plate causes an
air space between the surface of the water passed between the base plate and cooling
plate as is well known, consequently heated air is formed at such parts the water
passages formed by the cooling plate with certain projecting parts forming part
of the base plate as is well known become defective consequently the water ceases
to circulate from end to end of the cooling plate unequal cooling is the result
consequently "candying" or "graining" of the sugar occurs.
I am aware that other means have been and are employed dispensing with the
water space between the cooling plate and the base plate such as the employment
of copper coils soldered to a plate and applied to the underside of the cooling
plate which contrivance is well known which arrangement has also proved
unsatisfactory for practical purposes, as the coils frequently becoming detached
from the plate owing to the constant expansion and contraction thereof, again, such
an arrangement does not admit of a great pressure of water being passed through
the coil as such often conduces to a detachment. Consequently from the above
causes such an adaptation has proved a source of expense and trouble.
My improvements have for their object to remedy these defects which are very
serious to persons engaged in the confectionery industry.
I form on the underside of the cooling plate by means of casting therewith a
series of projections which form channels, passages, or spaces, I attach by means
of screw threaded studs or bolts to the said plate at the underside a sheet of steel
or a steel plate of suitable dimensions being secured so that the screw threaded
studs do not pass through the or thro' the face of the cooling plate, the steel sheet
or plate being flexible when under a force consequently, when heated sugar solution
is poured on to the cooling plate the alternate expansion and contraction respectively
of the said plate is not opposed or restrained by rigid attachments but the steel
sheet of metal adapts or accommodates itself yielding alternately to the varying
conditions of the cooling plate, that is, the alternate expansion and contraction

page_text: thereof, thus obviating fracture of the cooling plate as is the case with the present
mode of construction.
For the accomplishment of the objects of my invention- and other incidental
advantages which I will hereafter name I rely upon and attach much importance
to the combination of the steel plate and the cast iron cooling plate by means of
which I claim that I am enabled to practically maintain a true level or even
thickness of the whole mass of the boiled sugar when cooled, an important
feature, as the whole construction of my improved cooling plate that is, the
cooling plate and the steel or flexible plate resume their normal state or true level
when contraction has ceased. I also claim that according to my arrangement I
accomplish or effect equal cooling throughout the whole mass of the boiled sugar
under treatment obviating "candying or "graining" thereof terms which are
well known in the trade, as the water for cooling. purposes is passed into the water
space between the steel plate and the underside of the cooling plate but according
to my arrangement such is admitted under pressure to effect quick circulation, the
projections being on the underside of the cooling plate forms with the steel plate
channels or water spaces, as hitherto, but according to my arrangement—that is, the
projections forming part of the upper plate instead of the base plate or lower plate
as hitherto if in the event of a disconnection of the projectious with steel or base
plate due to expansion or other causes an uninterrupted passage is formed along
the surface of the steel or bottom plate which may be from end to end; the water
passage is thus free throughout consequently unequal cooling would be avoided
from such circumstance, but according to my arrangement no air space is admissable
between the water level and the cooling plate as hitherto because water is injected
under pressure occupying any available space which may be caused or formed
thus the formation of heated air is avoided but under the present system of con-
struction, that is, when water is passed between the cooling plate and the base
plate water can only be passed therein at a low pressure.
My arrangement or improvements admit of the water being injected or forced
through the water space under pressure, a cold stream of a quickly flowing.
current of water may be passed through and maintained in constant and direct
contact with the underside of the cooling plate and caused to traverse through the
channels or water spaces or from end to end of the cooling plate or in other
words distributed over the whole surface of the cooling plate thus attaining
equal cooling of the whole mass of boiled sugar thus obviating "candying"
"graining."
دو
or
It is obvious that my arrangements will effect a great saving of water for
cooling purposes as evidently a small. volume of a quickly and constant flowing
current in direct contact with the cooling plate will be far more effective than a
slowly flowing stream or a spray of water directed against the plate as in the case
with a perforated coil before named and that such arrangement will expedite the
cooling operation effecting a saving of time also the quantity of water hitherto
used and further the water so used being passed under pressure may be utilised
or employed for other purposes instead of running to waste for example may.be
passed to and utilised at a higher level than where the cooling operation is being
accomplished.
Dated this 13th day of March 1894.
WILLIAM BRIERLEY.
J. H. Butterworth, Rochdale,
For the Applicant.

page_text: I WILLIAM BRIERLEY of The Borough Brass Works Rochdale in the County
of Lancaster Confectioners' Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in plates used by manufacturing
confectioners or sugar boilers for the manufacture of sweetmeats, and used for
the cooling of boiled or hot sugar solutions by means of a running stream of or
"hot
circulating cold water which plate is known in the trade as cooling or
plate."
It is well known that such plates or cooling surfaces are employed for the
above purpose preparatory to cutting the boiled product or sugar in a vendible
or merchantable form.
It is found in practice, that the excessive or great heat of the solution, ranging,
may be, as high as 310° Fah. frequently causes a fracture or crack of the cooling
plate, which is usually made of cast metal, the said plate being caused to twist or
warp consequently at the parts where the said plate is, as now constructed, secured
or attached to the heavy base plate as is well known, the fastenings become
loosened, and the joints defective, and from such causes often a fracture or crack
occurs across the face of the plate as herein before stated, consequently leakage of
water occurs. If a fracture does not occur the warping or twisting of the cooling
plate relatively to the base plate causes an air space betw. the surface of the
water and the cooling plate (underside) as is well known, consequently at such part
heated air is formed or generated as the water passages formed by the cooling
plate resting on or abutting against the projections or ribs cast with and forming
part of the base plate as now constructed become defective, that is, the water
flowing for cooling purposes is thus allowed to spread itself in a thin sheet over
the area of the base plate, instead of circulating simultaneously in defined channels
from end to end and from side to side or under the area of the cooling plate,
instead of being maintained in effective contact therewith, both of which functions
must be observed in order to attain beneficial results such being the defects as
above narrated unequal cooling is the result consequently what is known as
"candying" or "graining" of the sugar occurs.
I am aware that other means have been and are employed for the purpose of
dispensing with the ribs or projections as a means in the formation of the water
passages, as for example the employment of a coil or coils attached usually by
means of solder to the or situate at the underside of the cooling plate, which is or
are not satisfactory, as the coil or coils become disconnected therefrom due to the
alternate expansion and contraction of the plate or the perforations of the coils for
emitting jets of water become in course of time closed, such well known arrange-
ments are in my opinion detective, as in the one case, water under high pressure--
considered with relation to cooling plates the subject of this invention-cannot be
passed thro' the coil or coils as such would and do after not a long use become
detached by such pressure combined with the alternate expansion and contraction of
the plate, and in the other case the use of such become abortive or ineffective
consequently from the above causes such an adaptation does in fact prove a source
of expense and trouble.
My improvements have for their object to remedy these defects.
According to my construction I form on the underside of the cooling plate by

page_text: means of casting therewith or by other means, a series of projections or ribs which
form betw. the said consecutive ribs channels, passages, or spaces, in fact
reversing the condition employed in cooling plates or apparatus of former or present
construction, that is, provide the cooling or upper plate with ribs instead of
employing ribs or projections on the base or lower plate as hitherto and according
to former and present practice I attach to the said cooling plate at the underside
thereof a sheet of steel or a steel plate secured thereto by means of screw threaded
pieces or
"
set screw's so arranged or adapted as not to pass thro' the upper or
cooling surface of the plate, consequently any openings or communications betw.
the upper surface and the lower surface of the said plate or the water spaces
hereinafter referred to, are obviously avoided, and leakage of water thro' openings
thro' which fastening pieces or studs pass thro' the plate as in the present
construction is manifestly obviated.
The steel plate having its face against the projecting parts or ribs thus form
separate and independent channels or water passages betw. each consecutive rib.
The steel plate I preferably employ is not of large section. The flexible nature
or resiliency of such a plate lends itself admirably for the principal purpose of my
invention, that is, allowing the cooling plate to expand and contract, at the same
time to maintain the original or watertight relative positions of the cooling plate
and base or steel plate.
I am enabled by the employment of the steel plate to maintain the individuality
or separate existence of the channels or water passages, one from the other, during
the expanding and contracting occurrences respectively as when a hot solution of
sugar is poured on the plate, and when such is cooled; as the steel plate adapts or
accommodates itself to the varying conditions to which it is subjected that is,
expansion and contraction.
For the accomplishment of the objects of my invention and other incidental
advantages rely upon and attach great importance to the steel plate for the
purpose hereinbefore named also when used in manner before indicated.
I am
enabled practically to maintain an even thickness of the mass of boiled sugar when
cooled as according to my invention the cooling plate is allowed when cooled down
to resume its normal or true level.
My invention is adapted to admit water under pressure thus a quickly flowing
current may be maintained in direct contact with the underside of the cooling plate
and caused to traverse under the whole area thereof thus attaining equality in
cooling throughout the mass to be cooled obviating "graining" or "candying."
Water being so admitted allows of the same to be utilised for other purposes at
a higher level, thus obviating running to waste of water as is the case with the
present cooling plates provided with ribs on the base plate with water supplied
nominally devoid of pressure.
The drawings herewith illustrate my invention.
Figure 1. is a sectional elevation.
Figure 2. is an end sectional elevation.
Figure 3. is a plan part in section.
Figure 4. is a plan shewing the underside of the cooling plate.
a. is the cooling plate, the projecting parts or ribs, c. the steel plate attached to
the plate a. by means of screw threaded pieces or set screws d. which pass into the
body of the metal of the cooling plate but not thro' its upper surface by this means
I avoid communication betw. the upper surface a¹ and the water passages e. el ell ell
formed by the surface of the steel plate bearing against the ribs a' as shewn
in Fig. 2, consequently obviating the possibility of leakage betw. such parts as in
the case of plates of present construction in which the studs pass thro' to the
upper surface of the plate. is the water supply inlet thro' which water is passed
under pressure, as according to my construction leakage is obviated therefore
pressure admissible and 9 is the water outlet or exit which may terminate by a
suitable connection at a higher level than the level where the operation of cooling
is taking place, or than the situation of the cooling plate.

page_text: 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. The application and use of a steel plate or a plate of metal having flexible and
resiliesent characteristics whereby the cooling plate and the said flexible plate are
free to expand and contract together, maintaining during such occurrences the
integrity, whole, or original form of the water passages and obviating fracture of
the cooling plate by reason of dispensing with a rigid base plate as hitherto
employed for the purposes herein fully set forth.
2. In combination the steel plate c. cooling plate a. and studs d. penetrating the
body of the cooling plate not extending thro' the surface of the cooling plate
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and illustrated in the annexed
drawings.
3. In combination cooling plate a. with the ribs b, the said plate tapped or bored
at its underside to receive screw threaded studs, and set screws d. substantially as
and for the purposes herein set forth.
4. In combination the cooling plate a. having ribs b. cast thereon or attached
thereto and the steel plate c, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
5. The cooling plate a having ribs b, the said plate being prepared to receive
studs d but not to pass thro' the plate substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Dated this 14th day of December 1894.
WILLIAM BRIERLEY.
J. H. Butterworth, Rochdale,
For the Applicant.