IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING SACCHARINE MATTER, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TREATING SACCHARINE MATTER, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
A communication froin abroad by Albert Fesca, of Berlin, Prussia,
Engineer
Sealed the 13th October 1877, and dated the 25th July 1877.
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING SACCHARINE MATTER, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Albert Fesca,
of Berlin, Prussia, Engineer.
This Invention relates to apparatus for cleansing or purifying sugar after it has
been drained in a centrifugal machine and before it is removed therefrom, and it
consists in constructing such centrifugal machine with or attaching thereto a vessel
or chamber (which the Inventor designates a centrifugal liquor disperser "), into
which the clarifying liquor is introduced, and from which it expelled on to the
inner surface of the mass of drained sugar contained in the drum of the centrifugal
machine in the manner herein-after explained.
According to one modification of apparatus for carrying out this Invention, an
annular-shaped vessel or chamber is fitted concentrically within the drum of a
centrifugal machine, the upper edge of the outer circumference of such vessel or
chamber being provided with a lip or annular rim to prevent the escape there-
from of the clarifying liquor introduced therein, except in the manner herein-after
explained. The outer circumference of this annular vessel or chamber is perforated
with a number of holes from the top to about one-half of its depth, whilst the lower
portion thereof and also the bottom and inner circumference of the vessel or chamber
is solid or unperforated.

page_text: This vessel or chamber is held securely in position, so as to be capable of being
readily removed when required by means of spring catches engaging with the
annular ring or cover of the drum of the centrifugal machine, and is charged with
the clarifying liquor whilst the apparatus is at rest up to or within a short distance
of the perforations.
After the clarifying liquor has been introduced into the vessel motion is imparted
to the machine, when the centrifugal action thereof will cause the clarifying liquor
to pass in the form of spray from the interior of the vessel or chamber through the
perforations herein-before referred to on to the inner surface of the mass of sugar
contained in the drum of the centrifugal machine upon which it forms an annular
layer or film of liquor, which by the continued motion of the machine permeates
the mass of sugar, and drives out the impurities therefrom.
According to another modification of apparatus, in lieu of perforating a portion
only of the outer circumference of the annular vessel or chamber, the whole of the
outer circumference is perforated; or if desired, such outer circumference may
consist of wire netting of fine mesh, or of any other suitable reticulated material.
The inner circumference of this annular vessel or chamber is provided at the
top with a dome or cover, by which the vessel is connected by means of a bolt and
nut to the drum of the centrifugal machine in such a manner as to be capable of
being readily detached when required.
The clarifying liquor may be introduced into the annular vessel or chamber either
whilst the machine is in motion or when at rest by means of a funnel attached to
a hinged lid or cover with which the machine is provided, the liquor being driven
by the centrifugal action of machine, as in the previous arrangement, against the
outer circumference of the chamber, and through the perforations therein in the
form of spray on to the inner surface of the mass of sugar contained in the drum.
According to a further modification of apparatus for carrying out this Invention,
a perforated cylinder forming a liquor chamber is fitted concentrically within the
drum of the centrifugal machine, an annular space being left between such cylinder
and the inner edge of the annular rim or cover of the drum, through which space
the syrup or undrained sugar may be introduced into the drum without removing
the purifying liquor chamber therefrom. This chamber is closed whilst the syrup
or undrained sugar is being introduced by means of a conical or inclined cover upon
which the syrup is poured, and down which it descends into the drum of the centri-
fugal machine; but when sufficient syrup has been introduced, and the moisture
therefrom expelled, the cover is removed, and the clarifying liquor is introduced to
the interior of the perforated cylinder without stopping the machine.
At a short distance from the top of this interior of this cylinder there is fitted a
metal diaphragm which divides the cylinder into two compartments, into the upper
one of which the purifying liquor is introduced, and from which it passes through
holes formed round the periphery of the diaphragm into the lower compartment.
The centrifugal action of the machine causes the purifying liquor to be thrown
against the interior surface of the cylinder, through the perforations of which it
passes in the form of spray on to the inner surface of the mass of sugar contained in
the drum, as herein-before described.

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 19th
January 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING SACCHARINE MATTER, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Albert Fesca,
of Berlin, Prussia, Engineer.
The said Invention relates to the clarifying of sugar after it has been drained in
a centrifugal machine and before it is removed therefrom, and it consists of a mode
of and apparatus for effecting this object by the dispersion of clarifying liquor or
liquid in the condition of spray over the interior surface of the tubular mass of
sugar contained in the drum. of the machine, the liquor forming an annular film,
which by the motion of the machine is caused to permeate the mass of sugar, and
expel any impurities which may be contained therein.
The principal feature of the said Invention consists in the combination with a
centrifugal machine of a vessel or chamber (which the Inventor designates a "centri-
fugal liquor disperser "), into which the clarifying liquor is introduced, and from
which it is expelled on to the inner surface of the mass of drained sugar, as before
mentioned.
The details of the arrangement may be somewhat varied, but I have shewn on
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, by way of examples, several of the most
convenient modes with which I am acquainted of carrying out the said Invention,
and which I shall now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a sectional elevation of a centrifugal
machine with the improvements which form the subject of the said Invention
applied thereto, according to one mode of carrying out the same, and Figure 2 is a
plan of the drum and its appurtenances with the cover removed.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section of a portion of a centrifugal machine with
the improvements applied thereto, according to another modification; and Figures
4, 5, and 6 illustrate a further modification, Figures 4 and 5 being vertical sections
representing two different positions of the parts of the apparatus, and two different
stages in the treatment of the sugar, and Figure 6 being a horizontal sectional view
of a detail herein-after referred to..
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is a circular vessel fitted concentrically within
the drum D.of a centrifugal machine mounted on a shaft S, and driven in the usual
manner, which vessel consists of two tubes or rings, an outer a, b, and an inner
c, d, connected together and closed by a bottom c¹, so as to form an annular chamber
L, into which the clarifying liquor is to be introduced.
The tube or ring a, b, is provided at its upper edge with a lip or annular rim g
for the purpose of preventing the ejection at the top of the clarifying liquor during
the motion of the machine, and it is perforated with any suitable number of holes
in its sides from the top to, say, about one-half of its depth for the dispersion of
the clarifying liquor in the manner herein-after more fully explained.
The vessel A thus constructed is held securely in position in the machine (so as
to be capable of being readily removed when required) by means of the annular
ring or cover h of the drum, assisted by spring catches n, which engage with or
pass beneath the said ring or cover.
In operating with this apparatus the sugar introduced into the drum D is first
subjected to the centrifugal action of the machine, so as to drive off the moisture
which escapes in the condition of molasses through the perforated sides of the drum
in the usual manner, leaving a drained tubular mass of sugar s, t, after which the
machine is stopped, and the vessel A is charged with a sufficient quantity of the
clarifying liquor to fill the lower half of the annular chamber L, the liquid level

page_text: being at e, f, that is to say, within a short distance of the lowest series of per-
forations.
The machine being then again set in motion the clarifying liquor contained in
the chamber L is by centrifugal force ejected through the perforations of its sides
a, b, and dispersed in the condition of spray over the inner surface t, t, of the mass
of sugar s, t, upon which surface it forms an annular layer or film of liquor,
which by the continued motion of the machine is caused to permeate the mass of
sugar in the outward direction, and expel the impurities therefrom which escape
through the perforated sides of the drum.
If desired the vessel A may be perforated in its sides a, b, throughout its entire
depth, as shewn in Figure 3, in lieu of for a portion only of its depth, as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2; or the tube or ring a, b, may
be composed of wire gauze of a 'fine mesh, or of any other suitable reticulated
material.
Figure 3 also illustrates other modifications in the construction of the vessel A,
and in the arrangements for supplying the clarifying liquor. The vessel is provided
at the top of its inner side c, d, with a dome or cover l, l, which forms a guide for
the clarifying liquor when being introduced into the annular chamber L, and also
affords a ready means for connecting the vessel to the drum of the machine, the
connection being effected by means of a screw bolt n¹ and nut r³, by unscrewing
which latter the vessel is left free to be withdrawn from the drum.
This modification admits of the clarifying liquor being introduced into the vessel
A when the machine is in motion, either while the machine is revolving at its full
speed or during the period of transition from a state of rest to the attainment of
the maximum velocity, the liquor being either poured directly into the vessel or
through a funnel f¹ attached to the hinged lid or cover B of the machine.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate a further modification in which the vessel A is
formed of a tube a, b, and the ordinary internal casing c², d³, of the drum, the tube
a, b, being provided with two annular internal rims or flanges, videlicet, an upper g
and a lower c¹, the latter of which is connected to the internal casing c², d'. An
annular space w is left between the vessel A and the inner edge of the annular rim
or cover h of the drum, through which space the syrup or undrained sugar may
be introduced into the drum without removing the said vessel.
In order to facilitate the introduction of the syrup or undrained sugar the vessel
A is closed during that operation by means of a conical or inclined removable cover
N, as shewn in Figure 4, upon which the syrup or undrained sugar is poured, and
down which it descends into the drum D, as shewn at E, the machine being then in
the condition of rest.
When sufficient syrup or undrained sugar has been admitted the cover N is
removed, and the machine is set in motion, and the moisture is then expelled under
the operation of the machine. The hinged cover B carrying the funnel f',f', which
was previously open is closed, as shown in Figure 5, and the clarifying liquor is
introduced to the interior of the vessel A without stopping the machine, which
continues to revolve at its full speed.
At a short distance from the top of the tube a, b, there is fitted a metal diaphragm
1', which affords a ready means for connecting the vessel A to the drum of the
machine, the connection being effected by means of a screw bolt n¹ and nut r, by
unscrewing which latter the vessel is left free to be withdrawn from the drum.
This diaphragm divides the vessel A into two compartments L, L', into the upper one
L' of which the clarifying liquor is introduced, and from which it passes through holes
S (see Figures 4 and 5, and the detail, Figure 6,) formed round the periphery of the
diaphragm into the lower compartment L.
Under the centrifugal action of the machine the clarifying liquor is ejected
through the perforations of the tube a, b, and dispersed in the condition of spray
over the inner surface t, t, of the drained mass of sugar s, s, t, t, contained in the
drum, so as to form an annular film thereon, whence by the continued action of the
machine the liquor is caused to permeate through the mass, thereby expelling the

page_text: impurities in the manner fully herein-before described with reference to the arrange-
ment shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion 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
Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination with a centrifugal machine of a perforated or reticulated
vessel or chamber adapted for the reception of clarifying liquid, and arranged in
such a manner that under the action of centrifugal force the liquid shall be ejected
through the perforated or reticulated sides of the vessel or chamber, and dispersed
in the condition of spray over the inner surface of the mass of drained sugar con-
tained in the drum of the machine, so as as to form an annular film of liquid, which,
by the continued centrifugal action of the machine is caused to permeate the
mass of sugar and expel the impurities therefrom, substantially as herein-before
described.
Secondly. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, sub-
stantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, sub-
stantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by Figure 3 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourthly. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, sub-
stantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.