IMPROVEMENTS IN EVAPORATING AND DISTILLING LIQUIDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Tomlin Campbell, of the Island of Jamaica, Gentle-
man, at present residing at Abbey House, Kenilworth, in the County of
Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EVAPORATING AND
DISTILLING LIQUIDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 27th March 1866, and dated the 7th October 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Tomlin Campbell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
October 1865.
I, TOMLIN CAMPBELL, of the Island of Jamaica, Gentleman, at present
residing at Abbey House, Kenilworth, in the County of Warwick, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EVAPORATING
AND DISTILLING LIQUIDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as
follows:
This Invention relates. to a novel system or mode of evaporating and
distilling liquids, and to certain peculiar constructions and arrangements of:
apparatus to be employed therein.
According to this Invention a series of closed vessels are employed capable
of sustaining pressure, each vessel containing a coil of piping made by pre-

page_text: ference to revolve on a horizontal axis passing through stuffing boxes in the
ends of the closed vessel. The liquid to be evaporated is placed in the vessel
so as only partially to fill the same, and waste or low pressure steam (if the
evaporation is to be conducted at a low temperature) is admitted into and
through the first of the coils, and its heat is imparted to the liquid to be
evaporated, which liquid as the coil revolves is taken up in a thin film, thereby
greatly facilitating and expediting the process of evaporation. The non-
condensed steam, if any, in the first coil of the series passes off to the
atmosphere, but that from the subsequent coils, if any, together with that
condensed passes to an air pump. The steam generated in the first vessel is
drawn out of that vessel through a pipe to the second coil of the series by the
air pump attached to that coil, and that in the second vessel to the third coil
of the series, and so on, each coil except the first having an air pump attached
to it. The vessels should be provided with regulating valves in order that the
vacuum in the several vessels of the series may be successively greater from
the first to the last of the vessels. When a low temperature is not required in
the process of evaporation, high-pressure steam may be introduced into the
first of the coils, and the several coils should each be furnished with a steam
trap to allow of the condensed steam passing off...
The principle of this Invention is that when the pressure in the vessel is
less than that in the coils of pipe the steam or vapour in the coils will be
condensed and the liquid in contact with the coils will be evaporated, and the
greater the difference in pressure between the coils and the vessels the greater
will be the rapidity of the evaporation. It will be obvious that the apparatus
above described may be used for the purpose of distilling liquids, the vapour
of the liquid in the vessels supplying the coils and being condensed therein.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Tomlin Campbell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, TOMLIN
CAMPBELL, of the Island of Jamaica, Gentleman, at present residing - at
Abbey House, Kenilworth, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty. Queen Victória, by Her Letters
Patent,, bearing date the Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Tomlin Campbell, Her special license that I, the said Tomlin
Campbell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Tomlin Campbell, my executors, administrators, or 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 Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN EVAPORATING AND DISTILLING LIQUIDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Tomlin
Campbell, my executors or administrators, 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 per-
formed, 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 Tomlin Campbell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to a novel system or mode of evaporating and
distilling liquids, and to certain peculiar constructions and arrangements of
apparatus to be employed therein.
According to this Invention one or more closed vessels are employed
capable of sustaining pressure, each vessel containing a coil of piping made
to revolve on a horizontal axis passing through stuffing boxes in the ends of
the closed vessel. The liquid to be evaporated is placed in the vessel, so as
only partially to fill the same, and waste a low-pressure steam (if the evapo-
ration is to be conducted at a low temperature) is admitted into and through
the first of the coils, and its heat is imparted to the liquid to be evaporated,
which liquid as the coil revolves is taken up in a thin film, thereby greatly
facilitating and expediting the process of evaporation. The non-condensed
steam, if any, in the first coil or "revolver" of the series passes off to the
atmosphere, but that from the subsequent coils, if any, together with that
condensed passes to an air pump. The steam generated in the first vessel
(when more than one are used) is drawn out of that vessel through a pipe to
the second coil or "revolver" of the series by the air pump attached to that
coil, and that in the second vessel to the third coil of the series, and so on,

page_text: each coil except the first having an air pump attached to it. The vessels
should be provided with regulating valves, in order that the vacuum in the
several vessels of the series may be successively greater from the first to the
last of the vessels. When a low temperature is not required in the process
of evaporation, high-pressure steam may be introduced into the first of the
'coils, and the several coils should each be in communication with a steam
trap to allow of the condensed steam passing off.
The principle embodied in this Invention is, that when the pressure in the
vessel is less than that in the coils of pipe or "revolver," the steam or vapour
in the coils or "revolvers" will be condensed, and the liquid in contact with
the coils will be evaporated, and the greater the difference in pressure between
the coils and the vessels the greater will be the rapidity of the evaporation.
It will be obvious that the apparatus above described may be used for the
purpose of distilling liquids, the vapour of the liquid in the vessels supplying
the coils or "revolvers," and being condensed therein.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully. understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings represents a side elevation, partly in
section, of a single or detached vessel with its coil or "revolver," in which
vessel is placed the liquid to be evaporated. This vessel with its "revolver"
and parts connected therewith forms the prominent feature in the combinations
of apparatus herein-after described. W is an air-tight cylindrical vessel,
capable of sustaining pressure, and made of any suitable material having flat
ends bolted on and containing, as is shewn, a coil of piping or other hollow or
tubular revolving apparatus E, made of copper or other suitable metal; B is
a pipe, through which steam is admitted into the coil or revolver E; C is a
connecting pipe with the other end of the coil, and D is a pipe for the passage
of steam from the vessel; F is the feeding aperture of the vessel, provided
with a stop cock, and G is the discharge pipe and cock. Figure 2 is an end
view of Figure 1, and Figures 3 and 4 are detail side and end views of the
coil or "revolver" detached. It is fitted to and is connected both at its ends,
and by means of hollow stays c, c, (Figure 4) with a hollow shaft d, d, which
has a stop in it at or about the part e between the stay and the end of the
coil furthest from that end at which the steam enters. This coil is made to
revolve in such a direction as will cause the accumulating water to be dis-
charged at f. The trunnions or. journals e¹, e, work in stuffing boxes f³, f¹,
on the ends of the vessel W. On the ends of the journals e, e, are also

page_text: fitted the stuffing boxes g, g, to enable them to be connected with the fixed
pipes B and C.
The coil E represents what I shall herein-after designate a "revolver,"
videlicet, a surface heated with steam or other vapour and made to revolve,
and which may be made in many forms, and variously constructed, and
throughout the Specification by "vessel" I mean the containing vessel.com-
bined with such revolver. The liquid in the vessel should not cover the
revolver, which latter by dipping therein takes up a film of the liquid, and
thereby keeps its surface constantly wet. If desired cups may be also
attached to the revolver to take up the liquid and discharge it again over the
surface of the revolver. The rapidity of evaporation will depend on the
difference of the pressure within and without the revolver, and the pace at
which the revolver must travel will be determined according to the bursting
pressure of the steam within it, so as to prevent any part of it from being
absolutely dry. h represents a pair of fast and loose driving pulleys, and k a
driving strap for giving motion to the revolver, and in a standard.
The simplest application of this apparatus for evaporating and distilling
plan view of an
will be seen by reference to Figures 5 and 6; Figure 5 is a
arrangement for conducting the process under a pressure less than that of the
atmosphere, or in a vacuum or partial vacuum; W is the vessel with its
revolver contained therein, as herein-before described; V is an air pump,
connected by the pipe D with the vessel W by way of the coil of the surface
condenser N, which may be of any suitable or well-known construction; T is
a steam trap of the ordinary kind, connected by the pipe C (shown in the
dotted lines) with the revolver, but the steam trap will only be required
when it is desired to maintain the steam in the revolver at a higher pressure
than that of the atmosphere.
The action of this apparatus is as follows:-The vessel W having been
supplied with the liquid to be evaporated or distilled, steam is admitted to
the revolver by the pipe B, and after passing through it escapes as condensed
steam by the pipe C, either into the atmosphere or into the steam trap T,
according to the pressure employed. The heat thus imparted to the liquid in
the vessel produces evaporation, and the vapour evolved is drawn off through
the pipe D and condenser N by the air pump V, which maintains more or
less vacuum in the vessel W; the greater the vacuum the-more rapid
will be the evaporation, this evaporation being further accelerated by the
revolution of the revolver, which continually takes up a thin film of the
liquid upon its surface.
Figure 6 shows the vessel applied to the process of evaporation and distilla-

page_text: tion when it is conducted under a pressure equal to or above that of the
atmosphere. W is the vessel connected by the pipe D to the condenser or
worm N, having its orifice open at n, and T is the steam trap connected by
the pipe C to the end of the revolver trunnion at the stuffing box B is the
pipe by which steam is admitted into the revolver; a is a small cock by which
any air that may accumulate can be allowed to escape. In this case as
a vacuum is not produced in the vessel W, the air pump is dispensed
with, and the condensed vapour passes off at n to the atmosphere. If it
be desired to subject the liquid operated on to a high temperature, then
correspondingly high-pressure steam must be supplied to the revolver, and if
the cock L on the pipe D be closed, the pressure, and therefore also the
temperature in the vessel will assimilate nearly to that of the steam in the
revolver, and by adjusting the cock L the process may be conducted while
the products are removed through the pipe D to a condenser or otherwise. In
order to realise, however, the full benefits resulting from.the use of the
apparatus herein-before described, in the revolver of which a very low bursting
pressure of vapour is competent to effect active evaporation, a combination
should be adopted, such as is illustrated by the plan view of a series of connected
vessels at Figure 1 and 2 (Sheet 2). "This Figure represents a plant suitable
for conducting the process of evaporation when the pressure on the liquids to
be evaporated is to be less than that of the atmosphere; W, W, W³, are three
vessels as above described; in these vessels the liquid to be dealt with is
introduced, filling them, say, to balf their radius. Into the revolver of the
vessel W, steam either exhaust or from out of a boiler direct, or both, is
admitted by the pipe D, 'the end or trunnion of the revolver opposite to that
at which such steam is admitted is to be left open. The condensation of this
steam is secured by maintaining a partial vacuum in the vessel W, which is
done by means of the air pump V, which communicates by the pipe G with
that vessel through or 'by way of 'the revolver in the vessel W¹ and pipe A.
The steam or vapour generated in the vessel W travels under the influence of
the
'pump V towards that pump, and is condensed in the revolver of the vessel
W by reason of there 'being made to exist in that vessel, by means of the air
pump V¹, a vacuum so superior to that maintained in the vessel W, as to
cause the steam generated in such vessel W to exert as great a bursting
pressure in the revolver of W₁ as the steam in the revolver of W is caused to
exert by the partial vacuum in that vessel. In like manner 'the steam or
vapour generated in Wis condensed on its way to the pump V', along the
pipe A', by traversing the revolver of the vessel W', and such is the case with
the steam or vapour generated in each vessel of the series when it is extended,

page_text: such steam or vapour being condensed in the revolver of the vessel following.
by there being maintained a vacuum proportionately higher in the vessel
containing that revolver than in the one in which such steam was generated.
until the last vessel, the steam from which may be utilised by being caused.
to pass
into a revolver larger than the others of the plant or apparatus, and
revolving so as to dip in liquid contained in an open trough or basin, or other
modes of securing its condensation or removal must be used. Although the
degree of vacuum in each vessel under certain conditions adjusts itself, yet in
some applications of this Invention it is useful to have a valve, opening inwards,
attached to the vessels and fitted with a lever and shifting weight.
Figure 2(Sheet 2) represents a plan of a plant suitable for conducting the
process of evaporation when the pressure on the liquids to be evaporated is to
be superior to that of the atmosphere. W, W, W, are three vessels as already
described; one end of the trunnion of the revolver of the vessel W is connected
with a steam trap.T, as is also one end of each of the other revolvers of the
series; are air cocks attached to the pipes which connect the revolvers with
the steam traps. Steam under pressure is admitted into the first revolver by
the pipe D at its end not connected with the trap, and it generates steam
in the vessel W, which acquiring pressure passes by the pipe A into the
revolver of the vessel W, and that which is condensed flows from the trap T¹
and represents the evaporation effected in the vessel W. A certain pressure
of steam in like manner is generated in the vessel W, which passes by the
pipe A¹ through the revolver of the third vessel W to the steam trap T
attached thereto, and flows in the form of water therefrom, and so on through-
out the series, when it is extended. I find even with an apparatus which may
not have been thoroughly protected against loss of heat by radiation, and when
no steam is allowed to escape from the last vessel, that the pressure of steam
the first vessel gradually increases till it reaches to within a few pounds,
say two or three per square inch of the pressure in the boiler, and that the
difference in pressure in the vessels of the series is much less. On allowing
steam to escape from the last vessel of the series, either into the atmosphere or
otherwise, as for example, into the first revolver of such a plant as herein-before
described in reference to Figure 1 (Sheet 2.), the steam syphon, if I may so term
it, is caused to act, and the pressure in that last vessel decreases more or less
according to the amount of steam allowed to escape. The pressure in the vessel
next to it, that is the last but one, decreases also, and the approximation of its
pressure to the diminished pressure of the last vessel will depend on the amount
of steam which is allowed to escape. A similar difference in pressure as between
these last two vessels becomes apparent between all the others in the series,

page_text: and between the first vessel and the boiler in addition to that constant difference
before mentioned of, say, two or three pounds to the square inch. While
allowing steam to escape from the last vessel; or in fact while thus conducting
the process of evaporation, the pressure in the boiler will necessarily be equal
to the difference between it, and the pressure in the first vessel plus the aggre-
gate of the difference between the pressure in each successive vessel plus the
pressure retained in the last vessel. I find a difference in pressure of two inches
of mercury between each vessel of the series and the vessel next to it to work
effectively, although one of four inches causes a far higher proportionate duty
to be accomplished by each revolver; this applies also to the previous
árrangement described in Figure 1, Sheet 2. It is plain that if no undue loss
or check is caused by radiation, or by feeding the vessels with liquid of a
temperature inferior to that existing in them, steam of a high pressure may
be made to effect the removal from the liquid required to be evaporated of an
amount of water or other volatile and condensable fluid' many times greater
than the amount of water evaporated in the boiler. The hot water discharged
from the steam traps may be made available in heating the liquid with which
the vessels are to be replenished. The revolvers herein-before mentioned are
supposed to be of equal size, having the same amount of evaporating, con-
densing, or heating surface, and the liquid in any vessel is not of a materially
higher gravity than in the first. If the liquid, however, in any one vessel
should be of an appreciably higher gravity than the liquid in the preceding
vessel, then in order to maintain the same amount of evaporation in each,
either the revolver in the last vessel must be of an increased size, or the
bursting pressure of the steam within it must be increased.
Figure 1 on Sheet 3 of my Drawings represents a plan view of my
improved apparatus adapted for the manufacture of sugar, which manufacture
consists mainly of the operation of evaporation; Figure 2 is a corresponding
side elevation of the extreme end vessel of the series on the right of Figure 1.
In these Figures W, W¹, Ws, are three vessels containing each a "revolver,"
as herein before described in reference to Sheet 1 of my Drawings, and they
are devoted to the concentration of saccharine liquor. W³ is a vessel of
similar construction, and is supplemented as a still, the manufacture of
alcohol in many colonies being commonly combined with that of sugar.
W is a vessel of the same description, but smaller, it represents and has the
uses of what is frequently combined with a still, and then usually known as
a "retort. In it are placed the strong low wines or feints of a former dis-
tillation, which are heated and evaporated by the vapour coming from the
wash or liquor contained in the still. D' is a pipe, at one end connected with
"

page_text: the revolver of the vessel W' by a stuffing box n, and at the other end
attached to the vessel Ws, thus causing free communication to exist between
the said revolver and the vessel Ws. D³ is a pipe which establishes a com-
munication between the opposite end of the revolver of W* and the interior
of that vessel at a point below the level of the liquid contained therein. N is
à condenser, and D³ is a pipe connecting the top of W₁ therewith. S' is a
"three-way" or T-cock (of which the sectional detail, Figure .3, is an
example); Z is the feed pipe and Z the discharge pipe of W*. The vessels
W and W are smaller in contents of shell or in diameter than W, and W² is
smaller than W', but the revolvers in the three vessels are of equal size, that
is, they have an equal amount of heating surface; K, K', and K, are elbow
or "two-way cocks (of which the sectional detail, Figure 4, is an example)
fitted on to W, W¹, and W', the branch z (Figure 4) being bolted direct on
to the vessel; E, E¹, and E', are pipes connecting these cocks with the
entrance end of the revolvers of W, W, and W³, the T (tee) pieces by
which they are connected with the revolvers being shown at e; Y and Y¹ are
Tor three-way cocks on E and E¹; F and F¹ are branch pipes effecting com-
munication between E, E¹, E²; D is a pipe, one end of which is connected
to the cock K and the other end to the three-way cock S*; D¹ and D³ are
branches on the pipe D, and connect it with the cocks K' and K2; G, G',
and G³, are the suction pipes of the air pumps V, V, and V%, the last forming
a pair. At one end these pipes are connected by stuffing boxes with the exit
end of the revolvers of W¹, W2, and W, and at the other end with the pipe
J, J, which is common to all the pumps; this pipe J, J, is connected at one
end with the coil of the condenser N, and at the other with the waste water
pipe T, shewn lying under the bed plates of the pumps. The delivery pipes t
of the pumps V, V, and V2, are connected with the waste pipe T. L, L', and
L³, are ordinary stop-cocks on the suction pipes G, G¹, and G.; M, M¹, and
M³, are three way or T-cocks on the pipe J, J, placed at the point where
the pump communicates with that pipe; they enable the pumps to be either
combined, isolated, or disconnected as may be desired. X is the pipe by
which the operating steam, which may consist of exhaust or waste steam, is
conveyed to the revolvers; P, P1, P2, P3, are T or three-way cocks on the steam
supply pipe X, and enable the steam to be directed to the revolver of any
5 vessel in the series; p is a pipe connected with the boiler; p¹ is a branch on
p; p is an ordinary cock on p¹; V³ is a pair of pumps connected by the
pipe J, condenser N, and pipe D³ with the vessel W'; M³ is a T or three-
way.cock at the point where the pumps V are connected with the pipe I; r is
the pipe through which the pair of pumps Vs, in. combination, deliver the

page_text: spirit into vats or other receptacles. All the stuffing boxes on the vessels are.
marked d, and those on the ends of the trunnions of the revolvers are
marked n; f is the pipe by which the liquid to be evaporated is introduced
into the vessel W; f¹ is an ordinary stop-cock on f; f, f, are T or three-way:
cocks, also on the pipe f, enabling it to communicate, if necessary, with the
vessels W and W2; a is a transfer pipe, connected at one end with the
vessel W. The water used to wash the vessels may be discharged at the
opposite end of the pipe a. a' is a stop-cock on the pipe a, which is also pro-,
vided with T or three-way cocks and branches, shown by dotted lines under the
revolver trunnions of the vessels W and W.) connecting the pipe a with those
vessels. By this pipe the liquor is transferred from one vessel to another; it
would also serve for the feed pipe, but I prefer to use the pipe f for that,
purpose, as above described. m is a screw valve or cock by which the liquor
from the vessel W' is discharged, and m' is a gutter or trough into which the
valve m delivers; is the supply pipe, and a the discharge pipe of the vessel
Ws; y is a pipe bolted at one end to W, and connecting that vessel with
the vessel W; it is continued in the latter vessel, so that its orifice is below.
the level of the liquid therein; y¹ is a stop-cock on the pipe y. A vacuum
valve v opening inwards is shewn fitted to each vessel, the several vessels being
also provided with water guages g. If desired a vacuum guage may be also
fitted to each vessel. C is the pipe connected with the exit end of the revolver
of the vessel W, its orifice should meet an open funnel which may communicate
with the waste-water pipe T, and steam, if any, escaping uncondensed will be
rendered visible. The driving gear consists of a shafts, s, working in plummer
blocks o, o, and carrying bevel wheels b, which gear into corresponding bevel
wheels 6¹ carried by a small intermediate shaft s¹ (seen only in Figure 2),
which shaft carries a spur pinion c¹ driving the spur wheel c keyed on to
the trunnion t, which has a bearing o¹ on top of the standard; h¹ is a clutch
to enable the revolver to be thrown out of gear; h is a similar clutch
to the eccentrics which drive the pumps; i, i, are the pump rods; q is a
pulley or spur wheel by which motive power may be applied to the shaft s.;
k (Figure 2) is an endless chain for driving the revolver of the vessel W*.;
S¹ is a T or three-way cock on the delivery piper of the pair of pumps V³,
and with the pipe T enables those pumps to deliver into the waste water
pipe T when it is desired to do so. When the apparatus is in full work the
operating steam, either from an engine or generator, or both, enters the
revolver of the vessel W by the pipe X and cock P, and is discharged at C.
The two-way cocks K, K', K2, all open from their respective vessels W, W, W₁,
into the corresponding pipes E, E', E². The stop-cocks L, L', L2, are open,

page_text: and the plugs of the T or three-way cocks M, M³, M³, M³, are all adjusted
alike, so as to allow the pump V only to draw through L and G, V¹ through
L' and G', V through L' and G³, and V³ through J to the condenser N.
The steam from the vessel W is drawn by the pump V through E, and the
revolver of the vessel W¹, and pipe G. The steam from. W is drawn by
the pump V¹ through E¹, and the revolver of the vessel W and the suction
pipe G. The steam from the vessel W' is drawn by the pair of pumps V2
through the pipe E³, the revolver of the vessel W³, and the suction pipe G³.
The vapour from the vessel W³ passes by the pipe D' into and through the
revolver of the vessel W, and enters the interior of that vessel by the pipe p³:
The vapour generated in W is drawn through the pipe D³, condenser N, and
pipe J by the pair of pumps Vs. The pumps V, V, and V discharge into
the waste pipe T through the branches t, and the pumps V³ discharge
by the pipes r into a vessel or receptacle by simply adjusting the cock S¹.
The other parts of the apparatus D, D¹, D, F, F', and cocks Y, Y', are
used when liquor is to be transferred from one vessel to another, or when
a part only of the apparatus is being used. When the still or vessel W³ is
not at work whilst the rest of the plant is in full operation, the steam from
the vessel W2 passes direct by the branch D* and pipe D to the condenser N,
the T-cock S shutting off the pipe D³ from N, and opening the pipe D thereto.
The pumps V³ may then act in combination with V2, the cock L being shut.
If the vessel W as well as the still Ws be not at work, and W and W¹ are
in operation, the steam from W¹ travels by D' and D and cock S' to N, the
cock K* shutting off W' from D³. The cock L' should also be shut, and the
cock M³ opened so as to enable V₁ to operate in concert with the pumps V³ and
Vs. If W is alone at work, the steam from it will travel by D to N, ¹ being
shut as in the last instance, as well as the cock L, whilst the cock M' is
opened or adjusted so as to admit of the whole of the pumps operating upon
the vessel W. If the still is required to work when W' is idle, the steam
from W' can be passed over W* to Ws by way of the T or three-way cock Y¹
and pipe F¹. Also if W and W' only are required to work, the steam from W
can be passed by the cock Y, pipe F, cock Y¹, and pipe F¹ to the revolver of
the vessel or still Ws. It is intended that each fresh charge of liquor be
introduced into the first vessel W, and thence transferred to W¹ and W' in
succession. The mode of procedure in order to effect this differs slightly when
parts only of the apparatus are at work. When the whole is in full work
the vessels between which a transfer is to take place are put in communication
by the transfer pipe a, the cocks on it being suitably adjusted, and the superior

page_text: vacuum existing in the vessel to which the liquor is to be passed will cause
the passage of that liquor. The channel of transfer should be closed at
the moment the transfer is completed. The operating steam of the vessel
being emptied may be turned into the revolver of the receiving vessel,
and the former should be shut off at the elbow or two-way cock attached to
it from the action of the pump. When the emptied, vessel is again replenished
the operating steam is turned back into its former course, and the elbow cock
arranged as before. For example, supposing that the liquor from W has to
be transferred into W₁ the cock a¹ is opened, and that seen by dotted lines
under the revolver of W' is adjusted so as to open a communication between
that vessel and the vessel W¹, the cock K being shut, and the operating steam
of W entering by the pipe X and cock P is turned by the T-cock P¹ into the
revolver of the vessel W¹, and, the superior vacuum in W' over that in W
causes the liquor in the latter to pass into the former. When the vessel W
has been replenished the operating steam is again caused to enter by the
cock P, whilst the cock K being opened places W in communication with the
revolver of W as it was before. Again, supposing the transfer of liquor to
be required from W₁ to W2, the T-cocks connecting those vessels with the
transfer pipe a are, adjusted, the cock K' is shut, and the steam from the
vessel W which was the operating steam of W' is diverted by the cock Y and
pipe F into the revolver of W. The course of work is resumed as described
in the case of W and W' so soon as the vessel W₁ has been replenished by
turning the operating steam into its usual course, and opening the elbow
cock K. When the apparatus is not yet in full work, and no vacuum exists
in the vessel into which it is necessary to make a transfer, it will be com
petent when the still is not in work to detach pumps, and to cause them
preparatory to the transfer being made to create such a vacuum in the
proposed receiving vessel as shall, as in the preceding instance described, be
sufficient to effect such transfer, and the subsequent operation. will then be
the same as in that instance. Thus while the first charge has been operated
on in the vessel W, and the steam of its evaporation has been removed by
the pipe D to the condenser N, all the pumps, including Vs, which by suitable
adjustment of the three-way cock S¹ can deliver into the waste pipe T may
have been employed on that removal; but when it is desired to prepare a
vacuum in the vessel W' suitable for effecting the transfer into it of the liquor
in W, it is competent by adjusting m² and opening L' to place the pumps
V and V₁ through the pipe G¹ in communication with the vessel W', and by
their action to create in it the required vacuum, whilst the pumps V and Vs

page_text: will continue in the meantime to remove the steam coming by way of the
pipe D from the vessel W. When the vacuum in W₁ is sufficient, he
cock L is to be shut, and the cock M¹ so adjusted as to isolate he
pump V, and thereby admit of its providing for the water of the operating
steam when such steam is turned during the replenishing of the vessel W
into the revolver of the vessel W', also when such steam is redirected
to its former course to admit of the pump V subsequently effecting the re-
moval of the steam from the vessel W by way of the pipe E, the revolver
of W, the suction pipe G, and cock L, which latter is to be opened whilst
the T-cock M is so adjusted as to cause the pump Vagain to combine with the
pumps V3 and V³ in removing the steam from W₁ by way of the pipe D.
In like manner when it is necessary to form a vacuum in the vessel Wa
preparatory to transferring liquor from W¹ into it, the pumps V¹ and V2 are
detached by adjusting the cock M³ whilst the stop cock L is opened, and
they effect the object during the time that the pumps V³ continue to deal
with the steam coming by way of the pipe D from the vessel W. It may
be observed that whilst in the course of transfer the operating steam of the
vessel W, (i.e.,) that coming from the vessel W is turned into the vessel W*
the pump V is inoperative, inasmuch as it exhausts only on to the blank side
of the plug of the cock Y, but it will not be found worth while to throw it
out of gear. So soon as the vacuum is formed in W2 the cock L' is shut
and the cock L' is opened, as was L in the last case, and the cocks M' and
M³ are adjusted, as were M1 and M2. After the plant is in full work when
any fresh charge of liquor is supplied it is necessary to destroy the vacuum
in the vessel W' in order to effect the removal from it of the syrup contained
therein; I then accelerate the reformation of a vacuum in the vessel W.,
sufficient to commence the course of transfers, by opening the cook y' on
the pipe y, which places the two vessels W and W³ in communication, and.
causes the high vacuum existing in the latter to be shared with the former,
and the action of V* continues to increase the vacuum in both these vessels
while the pumps V³ remove the steam from the vessel W₁ by way of Y', F¹,
the revolver in W³, and the pipe G³, and the cock L³. It may be observed
that during this time the pump V₁ exhausts only to the blank side of the
plug of the cock V₁. The still Ws being at work indicates that no steam
from any vessel is required to be passed direct through the pipe D, as such
steam is utilized by being made to pass through the revolver of the still or
* vessel. W³. The pumps V³ when working in connection with W³ deliver by
the piper (the cock s¹ being properly adjusted) to the vats or other receptacles

page_text: used. The other situation, the peculiarity of which necessitates the use of
a somewhat different mode to those already described, of causing the transfer
to be effected, is when the still is in use and the other part of the plant is
not yet in full work, i.e., when one or two of the sugar vessels are not
vacuous. In this case it is desirable to place the two vessels between which
the transfer is to be made in communication by means of the pipes connected
with the elbow cocks attached to the vessels, as well as by means of the
transfer pipe a; this causes the vacuum of the one vessel to be shared
between the two, and the level of the liquor to be uniform in both. Thus if
the steam from the vessel W has been passed by the pipes E, F, F', and E*
to effect distillation in the vessel W³, and the pumps V, V¹, and V have
been used to cause such passage, and it is required to transfer the liquor from
W to W¹, the cock K¹ hitherto shut must be opened into the pipe E' thus
placing the two vents W and W', in communication with each other through
the pipe F, cock Y, pipe E and cock K. The cocks on the transfer pipe a are
to be adjusted as before, and the cock M³ caused to isolate the pumps V, V, whilst
the cock L must be opened. When the level of liquor in W and W¹ is the same
the elbow cock K is to be shut, and the operating steam turned by the cock
P¹ into the revolver of the vessel W₁. When the action of the pumps V¹,
and V has caused the liquor from W to pass into W¹, the cock a¹ is shut,
W is replenished, the operating steam is turned off again through P, the cock
K is opened, and the cock Y adjusted to allow the steam from W to pass
to the revolver of W₁ under the influence of the pump V, while the pumps V¹
and V remove the steam from the vessel W₁ by the way of the revolver of
W8. From the foregoing explanations the manner of transferring the liquid
from the vessel W¹ into the vessel W2 under these conditions will be obvious.
The completion of the concentration of the syrup removed from W³, may
be effected in any utensil commonly used for such purpose, such as the
ordinary vacuum "Bour" or "Wetzel" pan. But I prefer to use a vessel of
the improved construction shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 1, whereby the equal
.diffusion of heat is secured, the possibility of priming is removed, and extreme
pressure, if any, of steam is not required. It will be obvious also that this
finishing vessel may form one of the series although I prefer to have it inde-
'pendent.
On the supply of fresh charges of liquor having ceased, and when the vessel
W is empty, the operating steam is carried by the pipe X and cock P¹
direct into the revolver of the vessel W', and so on through the series, and if
necessary the amount of steam may be augmented by other steam from the

page_text: boiler admitted by the pipes p and p¹. If the still W should be required to
work when the manufacture of sugar is not in progress, its revolver is sup-
plied with steam by the pipe p, which steam in a condensed state will flow
through the pipes G³ and J, and will be finally discharged into the waste
water pipe T, the cocks M, M', and M2 being so adjusted as to allow of its free
passage, whilst the cock M³ confines the pair of pumps Vs to the vessel W*.
The steam or vapour coming from the last vessel at work, which in this
plant is represented as parting with its heat to the flow of water caused to
pass the condenser N may always be utilized by being made to heat the liquor
intended as a charge for the vessel W, or it may be caused to pass through
a revolver dipping in liquor contained in an open trough or basin, which
liquor should be of the lowest gravity, and therefore the fresh charge would
be placed in this trough, and from it removed into the vessel W, herein-before
described as the first vessel of the series, but which would in such case become
the second vessel. As such revolver will have to condense the vacuous
steam coming from the last vessel of the series, it must be far larger than
those of the closed vessels of the plant.
In order to avoid unnecessary complication, I have shewn in this plant only
the vessels employed in the concentration of sacharine liquid, and in many
instances where the amount of exhaust or waste steam available from the
motive power is large, its volume removed from the liquor in each of the three
vessels will be an amount of evaporation sufficiently proportionate to the
quantity of liquor supplied by that power, but where the amount of exhaust
steam is less, or where there is none, as in the case of other agents than steam
being used as the motive power, there the number may be increased, the more
so in the latter case where it could be desirable to generate as little steam as
possible for the supply of the first revolver. In the ends of the vessels are
manholes fitted with covers for facilitating the cleaning of such vessels. In
all cases the vessels and pipes should be clothed so as to prevent loss of heat by
radiation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my 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
herein-before in part recited Leters Patent is,—
First, the system or mode of effecting the operations of evaporation and
of distillation, substantially in the manner herein-before described.
Second, the application and use to and in the process of evaporation or

page_text: of distillation of one or more air-tight vessels in combination with a steam-
heated, hollow or tubular revolver or revolvers, substantially in the manner
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Tomlin Campbell, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, the Seventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
TOMLIN CAMPBELL. (L.B.)