Year: 1898

page_text: I, LOUIS DORN, of Usine du Lorrain, au Marigot, Martinique, in the Republic
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal machines for the con-
tinuous treatment of sugar and its automatic discharge.
My invention is mainly characterised by the combination of a basket in the
form of a truncated cone with a helicoidal screw regulating the motion of the
sugar.
This screw is given a movement of rotation which is less rapid than that of
the basket, the movement of the said screw being controlled by means of an
automatic brake.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have represented the
same in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section through a complete apparatus in accordance with
my invention and
Figures 2 to 6 show details hereinafter referred to.
The apparatus consists of a basket a of perforated sheet metal, having an in-
clination of about 30° to the vertical and provided internally with brass wires a*
arranged preferably in an upward direction and upon these wires is placed a
perforated mantle of brass serving to strain the sugar.
The basket a is united to the bottom 6 by means of connecting pieces c leaving
between them free spaces for the escape of the sugar which has been through the
apparatus and which falls into a collector d as shewn by the arrow.
The helicoidal screw e is integral with a conical part f. which serves as a steam
chamber. The steam is introduced into this chamber through a nozzle z and
comes into contact with the sugar through the apertures g formed between the
threads of the screw. These apertures are preferably arranged from the entrance
to the second groove to the exit from the seventh groove.
Gear wheels vu hand o suitably calculated as to their proportion and giving
a speed of about 600 revolutions per minute, permit of treating the sugar in a
few minutes.
The gear wheel is provided with an internally arranged spiral spring i. This
spring, one of the extremities of which is held against the vertical shaft k whilst
the other extremity is attached to the rim, as shown in Fig. 2, presses the sides
of the groove 1*, provided in the central portion of the gear wheel, against the
stud of the spindle Figures 1 and 4. This spring thus limits the action of
the gear wheel which is movable upon its spindle so that it is only able to
describe three fourths of a revolution, as hereinafter explained.
Consequently the gear wheel h has an intermittent action although it receives
a continuous motion.

page_text: Upon the lower part of the hub of the gear wheel h are fixed two rods m
Figures 1 and 3, serving as guides to the coarsely threaded nut n Figures 1 and 6
which is arranged upon the lower extremity of the spindle k.
The movement of rotation of the spindle k is obtained by means of the gear
wheels u and v, 'the latter being rigidly fixed upon the shaft r of the apparatus,
said shaft being provided with a driving pulley y.
An automatic brake serves to moderate the speed of the helicoidal screw e each
time that the action of the gear wheels h and o, under the influence of the
spring i, proves inadequate. This brake consists of a lever p Figures 1 and 5
rigidly fixed upon a spindle q the extremities of which terminate in two
oppositely threaded screws; these screws are in engagement with nuts q carried
by the extremities of the collar or band q which may be or may not be provided
with wooden shoes r adapted to contact with the pulley s rigidly fixed upon the
sleeve t which carries the helicoidal screw e.
A depression of the lever p causes the extremities q³ of the collar or band to
approach each other thereby exerting a breaking action upon the pulleys. I.
In order to avoid any heating of the apparatus whilst in operation, it is
suspended by an hydraulic piston I supplied with water through the pipe, 2.
This piston 1 is provided with a groove 2* spirally formed in such a manner
as to return as much as possible to the bottom of the cylinder 3, the water which
tends to escape from it.
"
J
26
$
.
A valve 4 regulates the suspension of the centrifugal apparatus and serves as
a support for it when at rest.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows;-
Upon starting the apparatus, the vertical shaft directly actuates the basket a.
The gear wheel v rigidly fixed upon the shaft a drives, by means of the gear
wheels u, h and 0, the helicoidal screw e, at a speed slightly less than that of
the basket. At this moment the stud / upon the shaft k acts directly against the
end of the groove * in the gear wheel h which it drives and this latter in turn
actuates the gear wheel o rigidly fixed upon the sleeve t.
The whole being in motion at a normal speed, the sugar is introduced through
the aperture 5 of the basket on to the topmost thread e.
This sugar which is immediately projected upon the perforated brass lining
of the basket from which it enters the first screw groove.
The sugar adhering to the walls of the basket and to the screw threads forms
a connection between the basket and the screw and thus tends to cause this latter
to rotate at a speed equal to that of the basket.
The gear wheel h has then no longer to maintain a speed which already has.
a tendency to acceleration, but rather to moderate it; it has no longer to drive
the gear wheel but to retain it. The effect is thus directed in the reverse direction
to that which was produced upon starting the apparatus.
The end of the groove in the wheel h thus tends to recede from contact with the
stud / upon the shaft k against which it now only bears under the action of the
springs i.
But the sugar entering further into the grooves of the screw, tends more and
more to cause it to rotate at the same speed as the basket; the spring i, being
acted upon to an increasing extent, attains its limit of tension and begins to yield.
The gear wheel h, in proportion as its 'spring yields, describes. around the
shaft a certain portion of a revolution but in so doing causes the nut Figs. 1
and 6 to descend and bear against the lever ? of the brake which thus
moderates the motion of the screw e.
Supposing the action of the brake to have been too violent, and that as a conse-
quence the speed of the screw is reduced too much, the gear wheel h would be
caused by the action of its spring to assume its initial position on the spindle K
and the brake would again be free.
The operation would recommence until the brake was applied in such a manner

page_text: that its action, reinforcing the constant tractive effect of the spring, produces the
necessary reduction in the speed of the screw with regard to that of the basket.
The discharge of the molasses takes place through the conduits 6.
It will of course be understood that the forms, dimensions, details of construc-
tion and the materials employed in the construction of my apparatus may vary
without thereby affecting in any way the principle of my invention.
J 1
1511 1
1 Tam. 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Continuous Centrifugal machine.
I, LOUIS DORN, of Usine du Lorrain, au Marigot, Martinique, in the Republic
of France, 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 improvements in centrifugal machines for the con-
tinuous treatment of sugar and its automatic discharge.
My invention is mainly characterised by the combination of a basket in the
form of a truncated cone with a helicoidal screw regulating the motion of the
sugar.
This screw is given a movement of rotation which is less rapid than that of
the basket, the movement of said screw being controlled by means of an automatic
brake.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have represented the
same in the drawings left with my Provisional Specification in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section through a complete apparatus in accordance with
my invention and
Figures 2 to 6 show details hereinafter referred to.
The apparatus consists of a basket a of perforated sheet metal, having an in-
clination of about 30° to the vertical and provided internally with brass wires a
arranged preferably in an upward direction and upon these wires is placed a
perforated mantle of brass serving to strain the sugar.
The basket a is united to the bottom 6 by means of connecting pieces c leaving
between them free spaces for the escape of the sugar which has been through the
apparatus and which falls into a collector d as shewn by the arrow.
The helicoidal screw e is integral with a conical part which serves as a steam
chamber. The steam is introduced into this chamber through a nozzle z and
comes into contact with the sugar through the apertures g formed between the
threads of the screw. These apertures are preferably arranged from the entrance
to the second groove to the exit from the seventh groove.
Gear wheels vu h and o suitably calculated as to their proportions and giving
a speed of about 600 revolutions per minute, permit of treating the sugar in a
few minutes.
The gear wheel h is provided with an internally arranged spiral spring i. This
spring, one of the extremities of which is held against the vertical shaft k whilst
the other extremity is attached to the rim as shown in Figure 2, presses the sides
of the groove *, provided in the central portion of the gear wheel, against the
stud 7 of the spindle k Figures 1 and 4. This spring thus limits the action of
the gear wheel which is movable upon its spindle so that it is only able to
describe three fourths of a revolution, as hereinafter explained.

page_text: Consequently the gear wheel has an intermittent action although it receives
a continuous motion.
Upon the lower part of the hub of the gear wheel h are fixed two rods m
Figures 1 and 3, serving as guides to the coarsely threaded nut n Figures 1 and 6
which is arranged upon the lower extremity of the spindle k.
The movement of rotation of the spindle k is obtained by means of the gear
wheels u and, the latter being rigidly fixed upon the shaft of the apparatus,
said shaft being provided with a driving pulley y.
An automatic brake serves to moderate the speed of the helicoidal screw e each
time that the action of the gear wheels and o, under the influence of the
spring i, proves inadequate. This brake consists of a lever ? Figures 1 and 5
rigidly fixed upon a spindle g the extremities of which terminate in two
oppositely threaded screws; these screws are in engagement with nuts q¹ carried
by the extremities of the collar or band 2 which may or may not be provided
with wooden shoes adapted to contact with the pulley s rigidly fixed upon the
sleeve t which carries the helicoidal screw e.
A depression of the lever ? causes the extremities q3, of the collar or band te
approach each other thereby exerting a braking action upon the pulley s.
In order to avoid any heating of the apparatus whilst in operation, it is
suspended by an hydraulic piston 1 supplied with water through the pipe 2.
This piston 1 is provided with a groove 2* spirally formed in such a manner
as to return as much as possible to the bottom of the cylinder 3, the water which
tends to escape from it.
A valve 4 regulates the suspension of the centrifugal apparatus and serves as
a support for it when at rest.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows:-
Upon starting the apparatus, the vertical shaft directly actuates the basket a.
The gear wheel v rigidly fixed upon the shaft a drives, by means of the gear
wheels u,
h and o, the helicoidal screw e, at a speed slightly less than that of
the basket. At this moment the stud 7 upon the shaft k acts directly against the
end of the groove 1* in the gear wheel h which it drives and this latter in turn
actuates the gear wheel o rigidly fixed upon the sleeve t.
The whole being in motion at a normal speed, the sugar is introduced through
the aperture 5 of the basket onto the topmost thread e.
This sugar which is immediately projected upon the perforated brass lining
of the basket from which it enters the first screw groove.
The sugar adhering to the walls of the basket and to the screw threads forms
a connection between the basket and the screw and thus tends to cause this latter
to rotate at a speed equal to that of the basket.
The gear wheel h has then no longer to maintain a speed which already has
a tendency to acceleration, but rather to moderate it; it has no longer to drive
the gear
wheel but to retain it. The effort is thus directed in the reverse direction
to that which was produced upon starting the apparatus.
The end of the groove in the wheel h thus tends to recede from contact with the
stud upon the shaft k against which it now only bears under the action of the 4
spring.
But the sugar entering further into the grooves of the screw, tends more and
more to cause it to rotate at the same speed as the basket; the spring i, being
acted upon to an increasing extent, attains its limit of tension and begins to yield.
The gear wheel h, in proportion as its spring yields, describes around the 5
shaft a certain portion of a revolution but in so doing causes the nut n Figures 1
and 6 to descend and bear against the lever ? of the automatic brake which thus
moderates the motion of the screw e.
Supposing the action of the brake to have been too violent, and that as a conse-
quence the speed of the screw is reduced too much, the gear wheel h would be 5
caused by the action of its spring to assume its initial position on the spindle K
and the brake would again be free.

page_text: The operation would recommence until the brake was applied in such a manner
that its action, reinforcing the constant tractive effect of the spring, produces the
necessary reduction in the speed of the screw with regard to that of the basket.
The discharge of the molasses takes place through the conduits 6..
It will of course be understood that the forms, dimensions, details of construc-
tion and the materials employed in the construction of my apparatus may be
varied without thereby affecting in any way the principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A continuous centrifugal machine characterised by the combination of the
basket a with the screw e driven by means of the adhesion of the substance.
2. A continuous centrifugal machine characterised by the arrangement of a brake
regulating the motion of the screw by means of a spring gear wheel h the action
of which, at the desired moment, checks the motion of the screw with respect to
that of the basket.
3. A continuous centrifugal machine arranged and combined substantially as
above described with reference to the drawings and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 6th day of October 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.