IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING CONTINUOUSLY BY THE DIFFUSING PROCESS THE EXTRACTION OF THE JUICES FROM BEETROOTS, SUGAR CANES, DYE-WOODS, AND ALL EXTRACTIVE MATTERS GENERALLY
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas James Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1880. A communi-
cation from abroad by Emile Charles, Manufacturer, and Alfred Perret, Sugar
Manufacturer, of Roye, Department of the Somme, France.
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR EFFECTING CONTINUOUSLY BY THE DIFFUSING PROCESS THE EXTRACTION OF
THE JUICES FROM BEETROOTS, SUGAR CANES, DYE-WOODS, AND ALL EXTRACTIVE
MATTERS GENERALLY." (A communication from abroad by Emile Charles,
Manufacturer, and Alfred Perret, Sugar Manufacturer, of Roye, Department of the
Somme, France.)
The object of this Invention is a new or improved system of apparatus for
effecting the extraction continuously by the diffusing method of the juices from
beetroots, sugar canes, dye-woods, and all extractive matters generally.
This apparatus is based on the principle of a spiral or helical screw inside a
cylinder of which it forms part, revolving in the diffusing liquid in the interior of
a vat or drum, the substances or matters to be diffused being carried through the
screw cylinder in the contrary direction to that of the diffusing liquid by the
rotation of the helical screw.
The spirals of the helical screw and the walls or sides of the cylinder are of
perforated metal, so that the liquid is free to pass from the inside of the cylinder
into the vat or drum, and inversely; but the screw-cylinder, as also the vat or
drum, are provided with annular water tight partitions forming separate compart-
ments, at least one to each spiral of the screw, in such manner that the liquid is
compelled to pass through the mass in diffusion by its passage from one compart-
ment to the next only through the perforated sides of the cylinder.
Each compartment may be said to represent one of the vats of the German
diffusing apparatus.
For ascertaining the proper state of the diffusion it is necessary to raise the
diffusing liquid to a certain temperature; this result is obtained by heating by
means of serpentine coiled steam pipes placed at the sides of the apparatus in the
space left between the vat or drum and the perforated screw-cylinder, the said
coiled steam pipes being placed at the second quarter of the length of the cylinder
beginning from that end at which the substances for diffusion are introduced.

page_text: In the application of this apparatus for beetroots they are placed in a hopper,
and after having travelled through the 10 or 12 metres of the length of the
apparatus, they arrive at a box adapted on the opposite end from which they are
withdrawn or raised by a chain and buckets or any other elevating arrangement.
As regards the water it enters by a tube provided with a cock and float which
regulates the level of the diffusing liquid in the apparatus.
At the opposite end the juices flow out from the bottom of the vat or drum into
a testing apparatus where the density and temperature of the juices are tested..
The perforated screw cylinder revolves on rollers distributed along the length of
the apparatus, and it receives its advancement by means of several pinions placed
at intervals on a longitudinal shaft and gearing into toothed wheels adapted to
the periphery of the cylinder.
The pinion shaft is actuated by gearing which permits the movement to be
reversed at will.
Openings are provided at the lower part for the cleansing of the vat or drum
when necessary.
The vat or drum is closed in at its upper part by cast iron shutters which rest
on india rubber packings so as to obtain a joint as hermetic as possible, and thus
diminish the cooling and contact with the air.