Improvements in Evaporating Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Evaporating Apparatus.
I, JAMES LEE, of 9, Overton View, New Ferry, in the County of Chester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for evaporating brine, soap makers spent lye,
saccharine juices and other liquids and has for its principal objects to prevent an
accumulation of the crystals or deposited substances upon the heating surfaces
whilst affording a rapid means of evaporation and to provide a ready means of
discharging the crystals or deposited substances without interfering with the
continuous working of the apparatus.
The invention consists in arranging within a pan of any ordinary or suitable
shape, one or more steam jacketted cylinders mounted on hollow trunnions or the
like and provided with suitable gearing by which they may be rotated on their
own axes. Steam is fed through the hollow trunnions at one end into the annular
space of each cylinder and is discharged in a similar manner at the other end of
the cylinders, the liquid to be treated which is fed into the pan by any ordinary
or suitable means being evaporated by contact with the steam heated internal and
external surfaces of the rotating cylinders.
Within each steam jacketted cylinder I mount a shaft carrying a screw conveyor,
these shafts being journalled in the end pieces of their respective cylinders so as to
be free to rotate independently of the latter, suitable gearing being provided by
which they may be driven from one of the cylinder trunnions, such as by means of
a rigid arm on the latter carrying a spindle on which two pinions are keyed which
gear respectively with two toothed wheels attached one to the conveyor shaft and
the other to the pan, or in other suitable manner, the conveyors preferably rotating
in an opposite direction to that of the cylinders. These conveyors act as scrapers
and serve to remove from the internal heating surfaces of the cylinders the crystals
or other substances deposited thereon and to convey said deposited substances out
of the cylinders allowing them to fall to the bottom of the pan.
Suitable fixed
scrapers attached at desired points on the inner surface of the pan serve to scrape
the crystals or deposited substances from off the outer periphery of the cylinders
as the latter rotate so that such substances fall to the bottom of the pan.
For discharging the crystals or deposited substances from the pan, a screw
conveyor is arranged in the latter preferably at the bottom which is suitably
formed to receive it, said conveyor being driven preferably from the cylinder
gearing by means of chain gearing or as desired.
In order that the deposited substances may be discharged in as dry a condition
as possible, 1 arrange on the discharge orifice of the pan, one or more receivers,
preferably cylindrical in shape, and provide each receiver with a partition having
perforations or interstices. This partition is arranged horizontally in the centre
of the receiver, but it may be otherwise arranged as desired, and has for its
object to retain the deposited substances, whilst allowing any liquid delivered into
the receiver to pass through. Suitable inflow and discharge valves are provided
so that when a receiver is sufficiently charged as may be seen by means of a gauge
glass provided for the purpose, further inflow may be stopped and diverted to
another receiver, the deposited substances being removed from the charged receiver
in any desired manner whilst the other receiver is being charged. The liquid

page_text: passing through the perforated partition is run again into the pan for further
evaporation by means of a pipe connection by opening a small valve to admit air into
the upper part of the receiver after the inflow valve has been closed, the vacuum in
the pan serving to draw the liquid thoroughly out of the receiver into the pan.
In cases where the evaporation is not effected in vacuo any suitable means may be
employed for drawing and returning to the pan the liquid drained from the
receivers.
The steam jacketted cylinders are provided at each end with one or more buckets
fitting into the annular steam space immediately against the steam inlet and
discharge orifices for the purpose of taking up the water of condensation as the
cylinders rotate, and the water is thus discharged along with the waste steam
through the trunnion at the end opposite to that in which the steam is admitted.
Steam connections between the several cylinders are suitably arranged with
valves at each end of the cylinder so that on first starting the apparatus, steam may
be admitted to one or more of the cylinders in parallel, and when these cylinders
are thoroughly heated, the steam may be caused to traverse the cylinders in series
by opening and closing the necessary valves. It will be seen that steam may be
admitted through either end of the cylinders as the trunnions serve either as
discharge or inlet ports, and as one or more buckets are provided within the
annular space at each end of each cylinder, the water will be taken up off at
either end as for the time being may be used for discharge.
The exhaust steam and water of condensation may also be used for heating the
liquid drawn from the receiver as it passes back to the pan.
By the present invention evaporation may be rapidly and continuously carried
on, the rotation of the cylinders and of the conveyors therein serving to keep up a
thorough circulation, whilst the receivers afford a ready means of discharging the
deposited substances without interfering with the working of the evaporator.
It will be readily understood that the apparatus may be modified without
departing from the nature of the invention, as, for instance, the cylinders may be
arranged horizontally or vertically or as desired, and that any mechanical means
suitable for the purpose may be adopted for imparting the desired rotary motion
to the cylinders and conveyors. The apparatus may also be arranged to work in
séries with a number of pans fitted up according to the present invention.
Dated this 28th day of March 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Evaporating Apparatus.
1, JAMES LEE of 9 Overton View, New Ferry, in the County of Chester,
Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to apparatus for evaporating brine, soap makers' spent
lye, saccharine juices and other liquids, and has for its principal objects to prevent
an accumulation of the crystals or deposited substances upon the heating surfaces,
whilst affording a rapid means of evaporation, and to provide a ready means of
discharging the crystals or deposited substances without interfering with the
continuous working of the apparatus.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in vertical section of the apparatus; and
Figures 2 and 3 end elevations at opposite ends thereof.
The invention consists in arranging within a pan A of any ordinary or suitable

page_text: shape, one or more steam jacketted cylinders B mounted on hollow trunnions C or
the like and provided with suitable gearing by which they may be rotated on their
own axes. The drawing shows by way of example two such cylinders. Steam is
fed through the hollow trunnions at one end into the annular space C¹ of each
cylinder B and is discharged in a similar manner at the other end of the cylinders,
the liquid to be treated, which is fed into the pan A by any ordinary or suitable
means, being evaporated by contact with the steam heated internal and external
surfaces of the rotating cylinders B.
Within each steam jacketted cylinder, I mount a shaft D carrying a screw
conveyor E, these shafts being journalled at e in the end pieces of their respective
cylinders so as to be free to rotate independently of the latter, or even remain
stationary while the cylinders revolve, suitable gearing being provided by which
they may be driven from one of the cylinder trunnions C such as by means of a
rigid arm F on the latter carrying a spindle F1 on which two pinions G are keyed
which gear respectively with two toothed wheels G¹ and G2 attached one G¹ to the
conveyor shaft D and the other G2 to the pan or in other suitable manner, the
conveyors preferably rotating in an opposite direction to that of the cylinders.
These conveyors act as scrapers and serve to remove from the internal heating
surfaces of the cylinders the crystals or other substances deposited thereon and to
convey said deposited substances out of the cylinders allowing them to fall to the
bottom of the pan.
Suitable fixed scrapers H, Figure 2, attached at desired points
on the inner surface of the pan serve to scrape the crystals or deposited substances
from off the outer periphery of the cylinders as the latter rotate, so that such
substances fall to the bottom of the pan.
For discharging the crystals or deposited substances from the pan, a screw
conveyor I is arranged in the latter, preferably at the bottom, which is suitably
formed to receive it, said conveyor being driven preferably from the cylinder
gearing by means of chain gearing J or as desired.
In order that the deposited substances may be discharged in as dry a condition
as possible, I arrange on the discharge orifice K of the pan, one or more receivers L,
preferably cylindrical in shape, and provide each receiver with a partition L' having
perforations or interstices. This partition is arranged horizontally in the centre of
the receiver, but it may be otherwise arranged as desired, and has for its object to
retain the deposited substances, whilst allowing any liquid delivered into the
receiver to pass through. Suitable inflow and discharge valves M and N are
provided so that when a receiver is sufficiently charged as may be seen by means
of a gauge glass provided for the purpose, further inflow may be stopped and
diverted to another receiver, the deposited substances being removed from the
charged receiver by means of the door O or in any other desired manner whilst the
other receiver is being charged. The liquid passing through the perforated
partition L' is run again into the pan for further evaporation by means of a pipe P
by opening a small valve p to admit air into the upper part of the receiver after
the inflow valve has been closed, the vacuum in the pan serving to draw the liquid
thoroughly out of the receiver into the pan. O' is a baffle plate to force the liquid
in a downward direction. In cases where the evaporation is not effected in vacuo
any suitable means may be employed for drawing and returning to the pan the
liquid drained from the receivers.
The steam jacketted cylinders B are provided at each end with one or more
buckets fitting into the annular steam space C¹ immediately against the steam
inlet and discharge orifices for the purpose of taking up the water of condensation
as the cylinders rotate, and the water is thus discharged along with the waste
steam through the trunnion at the end opposite to that in which the steam is
admitted.
Steam connections Q between the several cylinders and valves R are suitably
arranged at each end of the pan so that on first starting the apparatus, steam may
be admitted to one or more of the cylinders in parallel, and when these cylinders
are thoroughly heated, the steam may be caused to traverse the cylinders in series

page_text: by opening and closing the necessary valves. It will be seen that steam may be
admitted through either end of the cylinders B, as the trunnions serve either as
discharge or inlet ports, and as one or more buckets are provided within the annular
space at each end of each cylinder, the water will be taken up off at either end as
for the time being may be used for discharge.
The exhaust steam and water of condensation may also be used for heating the
liquid drawn from the receiver as it passes back to the pan. S is a thermometer
pocket, T a cock for drawing clear liquor off, U a sample receptacle and V are
sight glasses.
By the present invention evaporation may be rapidly and continuously carried
ou, the rotation of the cylinders and of the conveyors therein serving to keep up a
thorough circulation, whilst the receivers afford a ready means of discharging the
deposited substances without interfering with the working of the evaporator.
It will be readily understood that the apparatus may be modified without
departing from the nature of the invention, as, for instance, the cylinders may be
arranged horizontally or vertically or as desired, and that any mechanical means
suitable for the purpose may be adopted for imparting the desired rotary motion to
the cylinders and conveyors. The apparatus may also be arranged to work in
series with a number of pans fitted up according to the present invention.
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 improvement in apparatus for evaporating brine, soapmakers' spent lye,
saccharine juices and other liquids, which consists in arranging inside the pan or its
equivalent, one or more steam jacketted rotatable cylinders in contact with the
internal and external surfaces of which the liquid is evaporated, in combination
with a screw-conveyor or scraper arranged inside each cylinder but adapted to
rotate independently thereof or remain stationary while the cylinders revolve, and
a scraper for scraping the external surface of the cylinder whereby the crystals or
other substances deposited on the internal and external heating surface of the
cylinders aforesaid are removed and a rapid means of evaporation is provided
substantially as described.
2. The mechanism whereby the screw-conveyors or their equivalent are rotated
independently of the cylinders, or remain stationary while the cylinders revolve,
substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus of the kind set forth, the use in combination with the
discharge orifice or orifices of the pair of receivers, such receivers having a
perforated partition which retains the deposited substances while allowing any
liquid entering the receiver to pass through and to be returned to the pan for further
evaporation, and means whereby the crystals or deposited substances may be
discharged without interfering with the continuous working of the apparatus
substantially as described.
4. The general combined arrangement or construction of parts forming my
improved apparatus for evaporating brine, soapmakers' spent lye, saccharine juices
and other liquids, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of December 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.