IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND COOLING SUBSTANCES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bingham Alliott, of Radford, in the
County of Nottingham, and Alfred Fryer, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND COOLING SUBSTANCES.”
"
Sealed the 14th July 1874, and dated the 19th May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bingham Alliott
and Alfred Fryer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 19th May 1874.
We, JAMES BINGHAM ALLIOTT, of Radford, in the County of Notting-
ham, and ALFRED FRYER, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND COOLING SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in improvements in centrifugal drying
machinery, and when such machinery is used for drying sugar crystals
in the combination therewith of cooling apparatus.
=

page_text: Firstly. Our improvements in centrifugal machines consist in
suspending the framework carrying the bearings in which the cylinder
shaft revolves from two or more points.
Secondly. We also make use of an arrangement of rigid jointed rods
(some of which are attached to the suspended framework of the machine
and others to fixed attachments), so devised as to partake of the nature
of a parallel motion, and to leave the suspended framework free to move
within certain limits in any direction, but to prevent it from revolving.
Thirdly. We construct the bottom of the centrifugal cylinder or
basket (by means of which it is attached to the shaft) principally of
radial and oblique bars in such a way that nearly all the sugar or other
material as it falls from the sides of the cylinder may at once drop
through the bottom of the machine.
Fourthly. We construct within the cylinder and around the central
shaft a basin or receptacle capable of containing a full charge of the
material to be dried, and so formed that it shall be gradually emptied by
centrifugal force as the cylinder is put in motion, and its contents dis-
charged either on the sides of the cylinder or on to the part of the bottom
immediately adjoining them.
Fifthly. In some cases we drive a centrifugal machine (suspended a
as herein-before described) by means of an engine, the crank shaft of
which serves also as the central shaft of the centrifugal cylinder or
basket, and for this purpose we prefer to use that class of engine in
which the cylinders are arranged radially around a central space, to
which their inner ends are open, and within which the end of the crank
shaft works.
Sixthly. Sometimes we make use of one of the rods by means of which
the centrifugal framing is supported (and which we make tubular for
the purpose) for bringing steam for the said engine, and we make use of
another of the rods for carrying away the exhaust steam.
Seventhly. In order that the power exerted in reducing the centri-
fugal cylinder with its contents from a state of rapid motion to a state
of rest may not be lost, we employ it in pumping air or steam into a
receiver, or in winding up a spring, or raising a weight, thus storing up
power which we make use of to assist in again starting the machine.

page_text: Eighthly: In some cases we electro-plate the cylinder, the interior of
the casing, and such other portions of the centrifugal machine as may
be necessary with copper, nickel, or other suitable metal.
Ninethly. We make in the centrifugal casing a hooded opening to
enable the attendant to see whether the liquid driven off by centrifugal
force has ceased to flow.
.
Tenthly. We make the annular ends of the casing to project inwards
to an equal extent at the upper and lower ends, so that the air contained
between the revolving cylinder and the casing, having no greater ten-
dency to be driven out at one end than the other, is not too rapidly
changed..
Eleventhly. When the centrifugal machine is used for drying hot
sugar crystals we conduct the crystals by suitable apparatus after they
are discharged from the centrifugal machine into a rotating cylinder, in
which they are kept in motion and exposed to a blast of cold air kept
moving through the cylinder by means of a fan, steam jet, or other
suitable apparatus. If desired, this blast of cold air may be employed
as a vehicle of water or other fluid for again slightly moistening the
crystals, and the proportion of water or other fluid may be auto-
matically regulated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Bingham Alliott and Alfred Fryer in the:
Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th November 1874..
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
BINGHAM ALLIOTT, of Radford, in the County of Nottingham, and
ALFRED FRYER, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, 'in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs, and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said James Bingham Alliott and Alfred
Fryer, Her special license that we, the said James Bingham Alliott and
Alfred Fryer, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others

page_text: Fourthly. We construct within the cylinder and around the central
shaft a basin or receptacle capable of containing a full charge of the
material to be dried, and so formed that it shall be gradually emptied by
centrifugal force as the cylinder is put in motion, and its contents dis-
charged either on the sides of the oylinder or on to the part of the bottom
immediately adjoining them.
:
Fifthly. In some cases we drive a centrifugal machine (suspended
as herein-before described) by means of an engine, the crank shaft of
which serves also as the central shaft of the centrifugal cylinder or
basket, and for this purpose we prefer to use that class of engine in
which the cylinders are arranged radially around a central space, to
which their inner ends are open, and within which the end of the crank
shaft works.
Sixthly. Sometimes we make use of one of the rods by means of which
the centrifugal framing is supported (and which we make tubular for
the purpose) for bringing steam to the said engine, and we make use of
another of the rods for carrying away the exhaust steam.
Seventhly. In order that the power exerted in reducing the centri-
fugal cylinder with its contents from a state of rapid motion to a state
of rest may not be lost, we employ it in pumping air or steam into a
receiver, or in winding up a spring, or raising a weight, thus storing up
power which we make use of to assist in again starting the machine.
Eighthly. In some cases we electro-plate the cylinder, the interior of
the casing, and such other portions of the centrifugal machine as may
be necessary with copper, nickel, or other suitable metal.
Ninthly. We make in the centrifugal casing a hooded opening to
enable the attendant to see whether the liquid driven off by the centri-
fugal force has ceased to flow.
Tenthly: We make the annular ends of the casing to project inwards
to an equal extent at the upper and lower ends, so that the air contained
between the revolving cylinder and the casing having no greater ten-
dency to be driven out at one end than the other is not too rapidly.
changed.
Eleventhly. When the centrifugal machine is used for drying hot
sugar crystals we conduct the crystals by suitable apparatus after they

page_text: boss M and the shell J. The casing being suspended from three points,
is free to vibrate or oscillate when the engine is in motion, but is
restrained from rotating by means of the parallel motion bars N, two of
the members of which are attached to projections from the casing 0, 0,
and the other two are attached to pillars P, P, held rigidly to the
ground.
The improved method of supplying steam to the engine for driving
this apparatus is shown at Fig. 5. Steam is brought from the boiler by
the pipe R; it raises the valve S, fills the receiver T, and passes to the
engine by the pipe U.
The course of the exhaust steam is indicated by Fig. 6. The steam
having left the engine by the pipe V, raises the valve W, and passes
into the low-pressure steam reservoir for the supply of vacuum pans for
heating water, &c. X is a pipe leading to the open air, provided with
a valve Y opening inwards.
Fig. 7 is a cross section of the valve for distributing the steam. This
valve, through which the steam passes both on its way to and from the
engine, has four channels, and by means of the rotating plug i cach
channel may be brought into communication with either of the adjacent
channels. e communicates with the port through which steam is
admitted to the cylinder; h is in communication with the exhaust port;
f, with the steam pipe U, Fig. 5; and g, with the exhaust pipe V,
Fig. 6. The plug being placed as shewn in Fig. 7, the steam port will
be supplied with steam from f, and the exhaust steam will issue by the
channel through the pipe V.
g
When the plug of the valve or tap is.
moved through a quarter of a revolution to the position indicated by the
dotted lines, the channel e is brought into communication with g, and
the channel h is brought into communication with f. When the plug is
moved through an eighth of a revolution the communication from all
the channels is cut off.

page_text: "
cuite" falls into the basin L, which it nearly fills. The steam is then
admitted to the engine, the draining cylinder is put in rotation, and the
masse cuite" leaves the basin by the action of the centrifugal force,
and is spread upon the inner surface of the rotating cylinder, and there
parts with the syrup, which passes through the openings in the said
cylinder. The attendant is able to ascertain when the process of draining
is completed by examining the curved pipe or hooded opening j, the
inner end of which penetrates the casing, and receives a portion of the
syrup driven from the rotating cylinder. The narrow end of the curved
pipe terminates over the funnel pipe k, and through it the syrup is
reconducted within the casing. The flow of syrup from j to k having
nearly ceased, the plug of the distributing valve is moved through a
quarter of a revolution, and the engine being kept in motion by the
vis viva" of the rotating cylinder and its contents, and unable to
obtain steam (from the exhaust or low-pressure main with which its
entrance port is now put into communication) in consequence of the
valve W closing, draws air through the valve Y, and forces it into the
receiver T, being prevented from forcing it into the boiler by the valve S.
The engine is thus made to serve as a brake, and as the pressure in the
receiver T increases the resistance to the motion of the cylinder becomes
greater and it is brought to rest. The plug of the distributing valve is
then moved through one-eighth of a revolution, and the compressed air
in the receiver is imprisoned there. The drained sugar falls from the
sides of the cylinder through the grating, composed of the oblique and
radial bars K, K, upon the hopper sides 7, and slides down to the
travelling belt Q, which takes it to the cylinder for cooling it. The syrup
flows into the circular channel m and is led away by suitable pipes. The
machine being again ready for use, the "masse cuite" is once more
permitted to fall into the basin L, and the distributing valve is placed
as shown at Fig. 7. The engine is then first impelled by the compressed
air from the receiver, the pressure in which steadily becomes reduced
until the steam from the boiler can again raise the valve S, when the
process is conducted as before described. Thus the power absorbed in
bringing the machine to rest is mainly stored up and employed to start
the machine afresh, thus economizing both time and fuel.
.
One of the suspenders E, F, G; is sometimes a tube, and with suitable
connections is used to convey steam to the engine; and another in liko
manner used to convey the exhaust steam from it; but, we do not
confine ourselves to this method of making the steam connections,

page_text: The centrifugal machine is sometimes provided with an auxiliary
frictional brake.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, ·
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, we wish it to be understood that
we claim as our Invention,-
Firstly. The suspension of the framework carrying the bearings in
which the cylinder shaft revolves from two or more points.
Secondly. The use of an arrangement of rigid rods so jointed together
as to prevent the suspended framework of a centrifugal machine from
revolving, whilst leaving it free to swing in any direction.
Thirdly. The construction of the bottom of the centrifugal cylinder
principally of radial and oblique bars in such a way that nearly all the
sugar or other loose material as it falls from the sides of the cylinder
may at once drop through the bottom of the machine.
Fourthly. The use of a basin within the cylinder, substantially as
described.
Fifthly. The use of one or more of the rods by which the centrifugal
framing is supported (which are made tubular) for conveying steam to
or from the engine.
Sixthly. The storing up of the power used to reduce a centrifugal
machine from a state of rapid motion to a state of rest, also the use of
the power thus stored up for again starting the machine.
Seventhly. The electro-plating of the rotating cylinder, the interior of
the casing, and such other portions of the machine as may be desirable
with copper, nickel, or other suitable metal.
Eighthly. The use of a hooded opening in the centrifugal oasing to
enable the attendant to ascertain when the liquid driven off by the
centrifugal force had ceased to flow.
Ninethly. The combination of cooling or cooling and moistening
apparatus, arranged substantially as described, with centrifugal
machinery employed for drying sugar.
Tenthly. Making the annular ends of the ends of casing to project
inwards to an equal extent at the upper and lower ends, for the purpose
specified.

page_text: And, Eleventhily. The use of a rotating cylinder in combination with
a blast of cold air for cooling hot sugar crystals, in the manner
described.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Bingham Alliott and Alfred
Fryer, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this. Twenty-
second day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-four.