CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS ACTING BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE. IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SACCHARINE MATTER BY SUCH APPARATUS
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BESSEMER, of Baxter House, Old Saint Pancras Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Thirty-first day of
July, One thousand eight hundred and fifty, in the fourteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry Bessemer, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power and authority, that I, the said Henry Bessemer, my
exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Bessemer,
my exors, adñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of
Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS ACTING BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE. IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR, AND
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SACCHARINE MATTER BY SUCH
APPARATUS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the
said Henry Bessemer, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said

page_text: Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as
in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Bessemer, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say) :-
My improvements in apparatus acting by centrifugal force in the manufacture
of sugar has reference to several stages of that manufacture, commencing,―
Firstly, with the treatment of the saccharine juice of the cane, immediately
after it has been expressed, and in which state it is found to be mixed to a
greater or less extent with small fragments of the cane; and the arrangement
of centrifugal filtering apparatus for separating these particles from the juice
forms the first head of my said Invention.
it
Secondly, the cane juice having been filtered by the before-named apparatus,
may be deficated by any of the usual methods now practised, when a certain
quantity of coagulated matters will be found suspended in the juice. I
therefore again apply a centrifugal filtering apparatus in this stage of the
manufacture, in order to separate such coagulated or other solid matters from
the saccharine juice.
When the juice has been thus clarified and filtered by the two preceding
operations, it is then heated in an open pan, in order to evaporate the
To facilitate this evaporation, I lift up the
aqueous parts of the fluid.
juice (by centrifugal force), in a tube placed in the centre of the boiling
vessel, the upper part of such tube being pierced with numerous sinall
holes, in order that the juice raised within it may by the rotation of the
tube be dispersed in a shower over the entire area of the vessel. This divided
state of the juice presents a very large surface for evaporation, which may
thus be conducted at a lower temperature and with greater rapidity than it
is in those cases where the surface exposed is only equal to the area of the
evaporating vessel. This centrifugal evaporator forms the third head of my
Invention.
Fourthly, my Invention consists in apparatus for applying centrifugal force
to the filtering of syrups in the refining of sugar, and consists in two modifi-
cations of the before-mentioned centrifugal filter for. operating upon the
saccharine fluid, and separating therefrom the coagulated or other solid matters

page_text: i
after the process of "blowing up," and preparatory to passing such syrups
through the charcoal filter.
And, lastly, my Invention consists in the application of certain improved
modifications of centrifugal force apparatus to the manufacture of sugar, when
separating the crystals from the fluids and other matters with which they are
mixed. A portion of these improved modifications are intended to reduce the
vibratory motion communicated by such descriptions of machines to the
buildings in which they are worked, while others are improvements in the
mode of feeding and discharging the matters operated upon in such machines,
and also in the methods of applying power for driving such descriptions of
machines, and in the construction of the perforated drums used therein.
In order that the manner in which these several operations, and the nature
of the apparatus for effecting them, may be clearly understood, I have hereunto
annexed four Sheets of Drawings, marked respectively A, B, C, and D. On
Sheet A I have represented the apparatus for separating the cellular tissues
of the cane from the juice referred to under the first head of my Invention.
Figure 1 is an elevation. Figure 2 a vertical section on the line A, B, of
Figure 8. Figure 3 a plan. Figure 4 a horizontal cross section on the line
C, D, of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a side clevation, and Figure 6 a front
elevation of a scraper; and Figure 7 a cross section, and Figure 8 an
clevation of part of the perforated drum on a large scale. a is the outer
iron case of the machine, having brackets & cast upon it, for the purpose of
supporting the shield c. In the centre of the case is a shaft d, working on
a pivot at e, and having its upper end supported by brasses f, let into a
boss c', formed by the junction of the arms. c of the shield. One of the
arms serves to support a horizontal shaft g, working in plummer blocks h
and i. One end of the shaft g carries a loose and fast pulley j. and kc, for
the purpose of, connecting any first mover with the machine. The other end
of this shaft carries a plain bevilled cone a, working in contact with a similar
one y, keyed. on the vertical shaft d, so that the motion of the horizontal
shaft may be transmitted in a similar though quieter manner to bevilled
toothed wheels. On the shaft d there is a drum m made of sheet metal;
having a conical part raised in the centre m³, for the double purpose of
preventing the matters operated upon from occupying the central space, and
of giving strength and stability to the drum. The outer part of the drum is
perforated with numerous holes, see Figure 8, and exterior to this is a
covering of felted wool or other suitable filtering fabric. It is tightly stretched
upon the drum, which is made slightly conical for that purpose, and over the
elt is. placed, another thin perforated metal cone, which is drawn down.

page_text: tight over the felt lacing, as shewn at m², Figure 2, and at m², Figure 8.
1, 2, are studs around which the lacings pass, and by which means the outer
perforated jacket is brought tight over the felt, compressing it firmly between
the two surfaces, and thus protecting the felt or other filtering media from
injury. On the shaft d there is placed a scraper n, having a tubular
part n fitted on the shaft d, so that it is free to revolve thereon; from one
side of the cylindrical part there projects a bent arm n², made of a triangular
form in cross section, and hollow, being made of sheet metal for lightness, and
triangular for strength. The upright part of the arm has six inclined
blades n rivetted to it. The face of these blades are curved, so as to fit
nearly close to the inside of the drum. On the upper part of the tubular axis of
the arm is fixed a grooved pulley p, a wire rope or other band passes over this
pulley, and, by means of the guide pulleys 9, is made to pass also over the
grooved pulley r on the shaft d. The band is crossed, in order that the drum
and the scraper.may both revolve in the same direction, but if the pulley p
is a little smaller than the pulley r, then the scraper will revolve. .at .a.
This
different velocity to the drum m, although in the same direction.
differential velocity will cause the face of the scrapers to move slowly over
the interior surface of the drum, while each of them are revolving at a rapid
rate. In the lower part of the casing a there is formed a chamber s, in which
I place a centrifugal disc pump, the disc t being keyed to the shaft d. The
upper part of the pump chamber is covered with a plate u, which has a
central inlet at u'. The chambers has a delivery pipe v, through which the
filtered juice is forced to the deficating vessels; which are supposed to be
placed several feet above the level of the filtering apparatus. The action of
the machine is as follows:-The driving strap being shifted from the loose
drum to the tight ono k, the whole apparatus will be put in motion. The
cane juice is then allowed to flow into the drum by the pipe w, from whence
it falls on to the bottom of the drum, and is immediately thrown off against
the felted cone by the centrifugal force acquired by its rotation. The liquid
parts will thus pass through felt or other filtering material, and be received in
the outer case, while all such particles of solid matter as may have been mixed
with the juice will be retained, and form a coating on the interior of the
drum. The inclined blades which are all the while slowly gaining ground
by its increased speed, will have the effect of raising the deposit, each blade
lifting it within reach of the next, and so on, until it reaches nearly to the top
of the drum, where it will accumulate, and as the accumulated mass increases
in bulk, portions of it, in a state approaching dryness, will be projected over
the upper edge, and strike against the curved under side of the shield, from

page_text: which it will fall perpendicularly to the base of the machine, while the liquid
passing through the felt or other filtering material will be collected, and run
into the centrifugal pump t, from whence it will be forced to any required part
of the works. The Drawings on Sheet A are to a scale double that of the
other Sheets appended hereto.
Secondly, the filtration of the deficated cane juice may be carried on with
the apparatus herein firstly described, the hot liquor in that case from
the clarifier being allowed to run into the machine by the pipe w, and be
discharged by the pipe into the evaporating vessels, or both this and the
preceding operations of filtering may be carried on with either of the forms of
apparatus herein-after described under the fourth head of my Invention.
Thirdly, my Invention consists in facilitating the evaporation of cane juice or
syrups by centrifugal force, whereby the said liquors are elevated and dispersed
in a shower, which falls down again into the evaporating pan in a more
concentrated state, from having lost a portion of its watery constituents by
evaporation, caused by the increased surface exposed to the action of the
atmosphere while falling through it as a shower. The apparatus used for
effecting this object is represented on Sheet D of the Drawings hercunto
annexed, where Figure 7 is an elevation and Figure 8 a vertical section.
Through the centre of the tube a is a copper tube closed at bottom, and
terminating in an axis. At the lower part of the tube is an enlarged part b,
with four vertical guides to keep the ball c in its place. Below the seat,
where the ball rests, are four slots in the tube, to admit liquid to the interior
of the tube, but which is prevented from returning by the ball valve c. The
upper end of the tube is joined to a double cone, the outer one d having
numerous small perforations made in it; the inner one e is placed a small
distance apart from the outer one, but are connected to each other at the
upper edge, and thus space is left between them. In the centre of the inner
cone a small axis f projects upwards, carrying a grooved pulley g, by which
it is put in motion. The bottom end of the axis is made to enter a small
socket formed in a piece of brass, and fastened to the centre of the bottom of
the evaporating pan, while the upper end of the axis is supported by a small
beam, or other convenient part of the building, so that the tube may be
made to revolve in a vertical position in the centre of the pan. The tube
having been entirely immersed in the liquid, the air will be displaced, and the
tube will become full of fluid; it is then placed in a vertical position, the band
put upon the pulley g, and a rapid motion given to it, when the liquid will be
projected in a shower over the surface of the pan; the upper part of the
cone being of larger diameter than the lower one, it will move at a higher

page_text: velocity, and project the fluid to a greater distance, while those holes around
the lower part of the cone will disperse the shower to a less distance as the
cone diminishes, and thus distribute the shower very evenly. If a current of
air be made naturally or by machinery to sweep accross the pans while the
shower is falling, the vapours will be carried off, and the evaporation increased.
Whenever the apparatus is stopped the ball c will sink down on its seat, and
prevent the return of the fluid. The upper part will however empty itself,
but not lower down than the lowest row of perforations, so that whenever it is
again put in motion the liquid will rise up the cone, and draw behind it a
fresh supply from the pan.
This
Fourthly, as regards the centrifugal filtering apparatus for separating the
coagulated and other matters from syrups in the process of refining
sugar. On Sheet D of the annexed Drawings one form of apparatus for this
purpose is shewn at Figures 1 and 2, the former being an elevation and the
latter a vertical section. a is the outer case of the machine, having an
inclined bottom, so as to prevent the filtered liquor from getting to the axis,
the hollow formed at a having a pipe inserted therein, for the purpose of
allowing the fluid to run off. In the central part of the bottom a cup a 2 is
formed, and into which is fitted a brass bush b, forming the step in which the
lower end of the shaft c revolves, while its upper end is supported in a bush (,
let into the boss e¹ of the curved arm e. curved arm is firmly secured
by bolts to the upper flange of the outer case. On the shaft c is fixed the
centrifugal drum h, which is composed of a flat disc h', supported by two
hollow shoet iron cones h 2 and h 3. These cones are rivetted at their small
ends to flanged bosses f and 9, and these bosses are keyed firmly to the
shaft, and thus the general stability of the drum is secured. At the upper
part of the drum there is an enlargement of its diameter 4, which serves two
important purposes, and which is hereafter more particularly referred to. In
the lower part of the drum there is placed a series of scrapers i, i, fixed on to
a bent
arm
j, which has a tubular axis j fitting freely over the shaft c. The
upper part of this cylindrical piece terminates in a grooved pulley k, by which
motion may be transmitted to it from any first mover. On the upper part of
the shaft c there is another grooved pulley m, by which motion is transmitted
to the shaft c and drum h. Now if the pulleys on the axle of the first
mover, which gives motion to this machine, are both of equal diameter,
and the pulley be made somewhat smaller in diameter than the pulley m,
then it will follow that the scrapers i will move faster than the drum; when
the machine is put in motion, and the syrup or liquor is allowed to flow into
the niachine through the pipe p, the fluid portions will be driven by ecutrifugal.

page_text: force through the pervious drum, while the solid or coagulated matters will
be retained within the drum, and as the inclined scrapers have a motion
somewhat quicker than the drum, their action will be to lift up the sediment
from the lower to the upper or enlarged part of the drum, in the manner
already described in reference to Sheet A. In the lower part of the drum the
centrifugal force is only sufficient to insure a rapid passing through of the
liquor, but as soon as the sediment is received in the enlarged part h 4, which
is also pervious, it is subjected to a very much more powerful centrifugal action,
in consequence of the increased rate at which it revolves, whereby these
refuse matters are dried sufficiently not to require any after process of pressing,
as usually practised when such matters are taken out of filter bags. When
the apparatus has been in operation some hours, and a large accumulation of
these solid refuse matters has taken place in the enlarged part of the drum,
the machine may be stopped, and these matters removed by hand, when the
process may be continued as before. The drum, both at the large and small
part, is to be covered with felted wool or other suitable filtering material,
as before described in reference to the apparatus shewn on Sheet A. Although
I have described the apparatus, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet D, as being used for
separating the cogulated matters from syrups in the refining process, it will
nevertheless be obvious that the same may be advantageously applied to the
separation of the fragments of the cellular tissue found mixed with cane juice
as it comes from the mill or cane press. In some conditions of the syrups or
saccharine fluids, it is considered disadvantageous to bring them in contact
with atmospheric air to any great extent. To avoid any injury from contact
with air in the process of filtration, I construct an apparatus shown on Sheet
D, where Figure 3 is an elevation and Figure 4 a vértical section thereof.
The upper part of the case a is separated from the lower compartment by a
partition plate a 1, dividing the case into two chambers a 2 and a 3. In the
centre of the machine there is a tubular shaft b, which passes upward through
the stuffing box c, formed on the cover of the upper chamber. Above this
stuffing box the shaft 6 has keyed upon it a driving drum e, and above this the
shaft 6 has an enlargement, forming a stuffing box f, with a gland and packing,
in the usual way. A pipe g enters this stuffing box, for the purpose of con-
veying the liquor to be filtered to the tubular axis, while the latter is revolving.
Within the chamber a 2 there is a centrifugal drum h covered with felt, in
the manner herein-before directed for filtering. The drum has a conical
bottom inclining downwards to the shaft, in which there are four slots i. In
the lower chamber a 3 there is another stuffing box j, through which the
tubular axis passes, and prevents any escape of liquid from the upper on to

page_text: the lower chambers. Below this last named stuffing box there is a stop-
cock n, with two nozzles m proceeding from it at right angles to the axis, so
that when this cock is opened any fluid that is contained in the drum h will
pass through the slots i, and issue from the nozzles m, and fall into the lower
part of the chamber a 3, from whence it will be conveyed by the pipe l.
Around the lower chamber are eight holes o, large enough to insert the arm,
for the purpose of turning the cock n, or for tightening the packing of the
stuffing box j, and for supplying oil from time to time to the cup p, in which
the lower end of the shaft b revolves. The tubular shaft 6 has a partition
made in it at 6 1, for the purpose of preventing a direct communication through
it. Immediately above this partition there are numerous holes drilled in the
tubular axle, and on the outside of this part there is a boss s, having a recess
s1 formed around the inside of it. This boss is placed between the shoulder
t and a collar u, fastened on the tubular axis. The boss is so fitted as to be
free to revolve upon the tubular axis, and it is provided with two projecting
tubular arms v, v, having holes v1 made on the side of them, in opposite
directions, as is well known in the construction of "Barker's mill," so that when
fluid is allowed to descend through the pipe g and tubular axis 6, it passes
through the holes r, and is projected from the holes in the arms v, causing
them to revolve in an opposite direction to that of the effluent steam. To
the ends of the arms vare attached a light brush or scraper, for the purpose
of preventing a thick deposit of coagulated matters from settling on tho
drum, and diminishing its power of filtration. The drum h of this machine
differs from those before described in having a close cover w bolted upon it.
When this apparatus is to be used, the chamber a 2 and the drum h are
both entirely filled with syrup, the centrifugal drum h is put in rapid motion
by the driving drum e, when the centrifugal force generated thereby will drive
a portion of the fluid from the interior of the drum h through the filtering
media contained between the two perforated metal cones, as before described
in reference to the apparatus shown on Sheet A. The fluid thus forced into
the chamber a 2 can be conveyed to any desired part of the building by a pipe
connected with any part of the chamber a 2, but not shown in the Drawings,
while a fresh supply of liquid will flow into the drum by the pipe g, and
issuing through the orifices v1 will cause the arms v to revolve at a speed
differing slightly from that of the drum h, whereby the matters which cannot
escape through the filtering material are prevented from adhering to the
interior of the drum. After working some time it will be necessary to
stop the supply of liquor from flowing through the pipe g, and also stop the
revolving. drum. The cock n may then be opened, and the impure contents of

page_text: the drum allowed to flow out, after which the operations may be resumed in
the manner before described.
And, lastly, with regard to my improvements in centrifugal apparatus for
curing sugar, much difficulty has hitherto been found in keeping machines of
this kind steady, in consequence of the unequally balanced load which they
have to carry, and hence a violent oscillatory motion is sometimes generated
on them, a great wear and tear of the machines is the result, accompanied by.
a considerable amount of vibratory motion, which is imparted to the buildings
in which they are worked.
:
Now, the object of the first part of my improvements under this bead of my.
Invention is to lessen or entirely remove these defects. The apparatus with
which this is accomplished is represented on Sheet B of the annexed Drawings,
where Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2 is a vertical section, and Figures 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, enlarged views of the peculiar universal ball joint made use
of in the suspension of the drum. The outer casing a of the machine is
supposed to stand on the floor of a sugar house of which the lower flange a*
is bolted to the floor. To the beams b of the floor above a conical piece of
cast iron c is secured by bolts passing up through the beam. In the lower
part of c there is a bell metal bush c, made so that the lower half of the
ball & may rest in it; a conical aperture is made for the shaft f to pass through
the bush; the ball d is made of steel, and is welded on to the shaft f, of which
it forms a part. The upper part of the ball has a slot or recess cut into it
extending around half its circumference, as seen at d 1, Figures 3 and 4; a
piece of steel g of a curved form is fitted to this slot in such a way as to be
able to slide in it freely; the shape of this piece will be best understood by
referring to Figures 6, 7, and 8, where it is represented in three different
positions. It is in the form of a portion of two rings crossing each other at
right angles, but is made of one piece of steel; the inner or smaller circle g fits
into the slot in the ball d, while the portion of the larger circle g 1 is made
to fit the semicircular slot or groove h 1, cut out of the under side of the cap h,
which rests upon the ball d. This cap is shewn in plan at Figure 5, and in its:
proper position.in Figure 2, where it will be seen to form the lower end of a
short shaft i; the upper end of this shaft works in a suitable brass bush in the.
conical piece c, and carries a drum k, by means of which motion may be trans--
mitted by a wire rope or other band passing through holes on the piece c..
The perforated drum m, in which the sugar is to be operated upon, may be
constructed as usual, or according to the modes herein-after described, and
fixed upon the shaft f; the lower part of the drum has a shallow conical piece.
of plate metal m 1 rivetted to the bottom of it to increase its strength. On the:

page_text: lower end of the shaft is placed a roller n, covered with leather, or other soft
substance; this roller is free to revolve on the shaft f. The foot of the outer
case a has on the inside a circular part a 1, turned smooth, against which the
roller n may revolve, when it happens to come in contact. The ball joint is
lubricated by putting oil into the lower part of the cone c, where it will have
free access to the ball; any portion which may run through is received in a
cup a placed on the shaft f below the ball. The operation of the machine is
as follows Rotary motion being transmitted to the short shaft i, that motion
is transmitted to the shaft f, which is suspended by its ball; thus will the drum
and its contents be free to revolve upon the true centre of gravity, and
without stress upon the machine; in so doing an undue amount of oscilation
is prevented by the roller n, which limits the distance of the motion. Figure 9
shows a nearly similar arrangement of universal joint for suspending the drums
of centrifugal machines, the difference being that a pair of plain friction
cones Z, Z, or a pair of bevilled wheels are used in lieu of the cord and pulley
shewn in Figures 1 and 2. In Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the outer
case is much diminished in diameter below the centrifugal drum; this is done
to allow the men who supply materials to the drum to stand nearer to it, the
flanges generally used being much in their way; it also much diminishes the
weight of the machine. The liquid thrown off by centrifugal force is received
in the curved channel a 2, from which it may be led off by a pipe not shewn
in the Drawings. In some cases where the ceiling of the room is very lofty,
or where there is only a light roof overhead, it would be very inconvenient to
suspend the drum in the manner represented in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet B; but
as it is desirable that the drum and its contents should revolve on their own
centre of gravity, and not be constrained to move on an axis which does not
coincide therewith, I construct the apparatus as represented in Figures 5 and 6,
Sheet C, Figure 5 being an elevation, and Figure 6 a vertical section. a is
the outer cast iron case; the central part is formed into a hollow cone a 1; in
the upper part of this cone a brass or other suitable bush is fitted, in which
the shaft b revolves, its lower end resting in a gun metal step c, the upper
part of which forms an oil cup. On the shaft b is a drum d keyed upon it;
the strap to turn it passes through slots e, e, in the outer case. The upper end
of the shaft is formed into a ball, having a slot cut into it and a cross piece
fitting thereto, as already fully described in reference to Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet B. The cup part f is rivitted to the sheet iron cone g, which forms part
of the centrifugal drum 9 1, which will be free to deviate sufficiently from the
axis b to find its own centre of gravity on which it will quietly revolve. In
some cases where the drums of centrifugal machines have been very unequally

page_text: loaded the great additional force exerted by centrifugal action on the heavy
side of the drum chuses the shaft to bend, and not unfrequently breaks the
drum; to prevent this, without adding to the weight of the machine; I construct
a hollow conical shaft, as represented in Figures 7 and 8, Sheet C, Figure 7
being an elevation, and Figure 8 a vertical section. a is a hollow cone of
stout sheet iron, and 6 another cone of the same material; each of these cones
have at their smaller ends a short steel spindle and s firmly rivetted in them!
and the base of each cone has a flange turned up around it, and between these
flanges a dise' of sheet iron c is rivetted, uniting the whole together, the cones a
and b serving in lieu of the ordinary shaft, and the disc c forming the bottom
of the centrifugal drum; in this way extreme lightness is combined with great
strength and rigidity. The outer case & has two brackets e projecting from its
upper part for the purpose of supporting the curved arm f, in which the upper
axis of the drum revolves. Near the top of the cone a is a grooved pulley t, to
which motion is communicated from any first mover, and 9 is a ring of iron
rivetted to the inside of the cone, which serves to strengthen the cone, and also
forms a means of supporting the upper part of the drum by means of light
connecting rods h, h, which are screwed into the ring g at one end, and at the
other they are rivetted to the upper flange of the drum. To prevent the jarring
action so disadvantageous in the machines, I make a conical piece of hard
leather to fit the shaft which it embraces, and forms a bush instead of brass as
commonly practised. This leather bearing is represented at i, Figure 8, where
j is a gland which screws down upon it, and forces it into the cone until it is
sufficiently tight. The lower end of the shaft also runs upon a flat disc of
leather k, which may be renewed when requisite by unscrewing the plate / at
bottom. The hollow part m forms an oil cup for the supply of oil to the leather;
which soon becomes so saturated as to allow the shaft to run for a considerable
time without a fresh supply, while the elasticity and softness of the material
prevents, to a great extent, the vibration so severely felt in rigid bearings; nor
is there that amount of wear upon the shaft as when metal bearings are used,
the shaft only becoming polished by wear instead of roughened or worn into
grooves. The upper bearing of this machine is also of the same description, n
being the leather bush, and m the gland to tighten it down with, the upper
part of the gland being hollowed out to form an oil cup. The outer case d of
this machine is furnished with a large flange a bottom d', by which it is bolted
down to the floor; for this purpose the floor should be hollowed out to receive it,
and several thicknesses of felt, vulcanized india rubber, or other suitable elastic.
substance, should be placed below the flange at v, the whole being sunk suffi-·
ciently deep so that the upper side of the flange is level with the rest of the floor,

page_text: and may be walked on without difficulty; by thus embedding the machine on an
elastic foundation much of the vibratory motion usually transmitted to the
building will be avoided, while the machine will in the same ratio be reduced
in wear and tear. The mode of supplying the semi-fluid matters to the
machines now in use for curing sugar, and the way in which such matters are
removed from the machine, is a subject of much importance in the economy of
this process. The mode heretofore used for this purpose is to supply the
machine by pouring in the matters from a large vessel while the machine
is at rest, or nearly so, and after the matters have been operated upon
by centrifugal force, and the fluid portions separated, the machine is
again stopped, and the solid crust of sugar formed around the interior
of the drum is dug out by a small shovel, and put into any con-
venient receptacle. This operation takes nearly as much time as the
operation of separating the fluid parts, so that the machine is kept idle
for a long time during each day, while the workman in charge of the
machine is in turn kept idle during the mechanical part of the operation:
Now to obviate this loss of time by the machine, and allow the operations to
be performed by the man during the working of the machine, I construct it in
such a manner as will allow the removal of the centrifugal drum and its
contents away from the machine at once, and its replacement by another drum
already charged with the semifluid matters to be operated on, so that the
machine, with its new drum and charge of materials, may be set going at
once, and while it is being operated upon the workman can employ his time
in removing the sugar from the drum just taken from the machine, and
having done so he can recharge it prior to the stopping of the machine, when
the change of drums will again take place, and the operations procced in the
same order as before, causing as little delay as possible to the machine, and
providing full employment for the operator. This form of apparatus is repre-
sented on Sheet B of the Drawings annexed, Figure 16 being an elevation,
Figure 17 a vertical section, Figure 18 an elevation of the shaft or axis of
the drum, and Figure 19 a vertical section of the drum as seen when removed
from the machine. A is the outer case, made small at foot, for the purpose
of allowing the workman to stand close to it while removing the drum. It is
secured to the floor by bolts B, which pass through an iron frame C, and are
then screwed into the foot of the case at A'. The frame C has a boss in its
The boss being hollowed out
centre at C', in which is a bell metal step D.
forms an oil cup to lubricate the lower end of the shaft E, while the upper
end of this shaft passes through a brass bush let into the boss A, formed in
the foot of the outer case. After passing through this bearing the shaft is

page_text: formed into a hollow hemispherical cup E', which is to be lined with leather
round the upper part, marked with a star. The shaft E has also upon it a
bevilled drum or wheel F, by which it is driven by any first mover. The case
A has a portion rising up in the centre in the form of a cone A³, into which is
placed a piece of vulcanized india rubber, leather, or other elastic body, shewn
at G, in the centre of which is a light brass bush, in which the main shaft H
revolves. The lower part of this shaft is formed into a half ball H*, which fits
into the cup E', which has to bear the entire weight of the drum K, and its
contents; so that when the shaft E is made to revolve the shaft II will revolve
also, because there will be much less friction to be overcome in making the
shaft revolve in its upper bearing than would be required to make it slip in
the cup, the latter acting as a friction clutch, which will prevent much of the
difficulty in stopping and starting these machines. The elastic materials used
around the upper bearing will take off much of the jar produced by oscillation
of the drum, and the spherical shape of the foot of the shaft will admit of this
motion without interfering with the driving of it. On the upper end of the
shaft Ha conical piece of iron I is firmly keyed (see Figure 18); it is turned
true and fits accurately the internal cone J of the drum. The lower part of
the drum is dished out at K¹, so that when it is placed on the floor and the
fluid matter poured therein, it will not reach so high as the perforated cylin-
drical part, and therefore will hold the matters securely until it is required to
be placed on the machine. It will be observed that no fastening of the drum
on to the machine is required, since the cone I will hold it firmly and truly in its
place, and at the same time admit freely of its removal whenever it is desired.
Whenever the machine is put in rapid motion the semifluid mass will imme-
diately leave the dish and arrange itself evenly around the cylindrical part of
the drum, and allow its fluid constituents to be driven off.
In those establishments were very large quantities of sacharine compounds
are required to be operated upon by centrifugal force for the purpose of
separating the fluid from the solid constituents, it may be desirable to still
further economise the lost time of the machine, caused by stopping it to
remove the drum, and also to dispense with the operation of charging and
discharging it of its materials. To effect the object, I construct an apparatus as
shewn on Sheet C of the annexed Drawings, where Figure 1 is an elevation,
Figure 2 a vertical section, and Figures 3 and 4 details of some parts not suffi-
ciently delineated in Figure 2 to be readily understood. The outer case A of the
machine is made with an enlarged annular space A', extending around its upper
edge, for the reception of the cured sugar as it is thrown off from the drum by
centrifugal force. The lower part of the external case is provided with a semi-

page_text: circular channel A² extending around it, for the purpose of receiving the fluid
from the sugar under operation. Around the centre of the lower part of the
case there is a conical chamber A³, in which a piece of iron B is placed. This
piece of iron is of a circular form, having a boss B' in the centre, and a groove
or sunk channel around its outer edge, in which is inserted a ring of vul-
canized india rubber I, the outer part of which is made conical, so as to fit
the conical recess or chamber A³. In the boss B' there are three pieces of
brass G, which form a bearing for the lower part of the main shaft D of the
machine. These brass pieces are keyed up tight by wedges E (see Figure 4),
where these parts are shewn in plan. Beneath the shaft is a flat and polished
piece of hardened steel F, on which the rounded end of the main shaft rests.
Oil is supplied to this surface through holes G in the iron piece B', so that the
whole of the lower space H may be filled with oil for the lubrication of the
sides and bottom of the axis. By the arrangement any inequality of load
which tends to bend the main shaft will be enabled to move the lower part of
the shaft through a small space by compressing the ring of vulcanized india
rubber, and sliding the rounded end of the shaft over the plain steel surface
on which it rests, the-elasticity of the india rubber having always a tendency
to return the shaft to its proper central position. The upper part of the main
shaft D works in a leather bush, which may be tightened up from time to
time by a gland J in a manner herein-before described, the gland J being
screwed into a hollow piece of cast iron K, which is provided with a flange
K, by which it is bolted to the ceiling or beams overhead. It has holes K
on four sides for the purpose of getting at the gland J to tighten it, and for the
purpose of supplying oil. Below the leather bush is a cap L, fastened on the
shaft D. It has a contracted mouth for the purpose of allowing it to retain
any oil that it may receive from the bearing above, and it serves as the
driving drum to the shaft D. On the shaft D there is keyed the centrifugal
drum M, having a conical support M' projecting downwards, and another
conical support M³ standing upwards, and fastened to the shaft by having a
boss inserted in it, which closely embraces the shaft. At a small distance
above the bottom of the drum M is placed a sort of false bottom M³, which
rises up in the form of a hollow truncated cone at M, leaving an annular
space between it and the cone M². At the outer edge of the piece forming the
false bottom is a flange or ring M³ projecting vertically upwards parallel with
the interior surface of the cylindrical part of the drum. M, and leaving an
annular space between them of two or three inches. The false bottom M is
kept in its position by vertical radial partitions N, best seen at Figure 3, which
represents a plan of the under side of the false bottom with the radial partitions

page_text: projecting from it. The upper edge of the drum M has its flange outward
If we
and projecting over the space between the drum and the outer case.
suppose that machine to have been in operation, and a thick crust or wall of
sugar S lining the interior of the drum, and the space below the false bottom
to be unoccupied, then we shall have the general condition of the machine:
The perforations of the drum do not extend quite so low down as the false
bottom, therefore in that part of the space S' the matters under operation still
maintain their semifluid condition, and therefore freely rise in the passage
between the parts M and Ms. Now if any semifluid matter is let into the
central annular space from the pipe P the,centrifugal action will immediately
impel it against the semifluid mass already occupying the space S¹, which
will be displaced, thereby elevating the crust or wall of sugar adhering round
the inside of the drum. The new portions as. they rise upwards will lose their
fluid constituents, and in turn offer a. resistance to the new portions of fluid
let into the machine by the pipe P. The rate at which the crust of sugar.
rises is thus made entirely to depend on the speed with which the fluid enters
by the pipe P, so that its action admits of the nicest regulation. When the
crust of sugar rises above the top of the drum M.it is thrown off by centrifugal
force and received into the large annular space A', from which a boy can
scrape it through a spout Q into the hogshead R. The liquoring or washing.
of the crystallized mass may be performed by admitting the required fluid by
the pipe T, which is perforated on the side nearest the sugar. The liquor will
be separated from the rest of fluid matter thrown off by the circular gutter U
which receives it, and from which. a pipe may lead it away; and thus the
operation of curing sugar by centrifugal force may be carried on continuously
as long as the machine is kept going and the raw material supplied thereto.
The extremely rapid rate at which centrifugal machines. require to be driven
has hitherto been a source of much difficulty in their use. The wear is some-
times excessive, and the high temperature of the sugar house is unfavorable
for leather straps; and the great distance at which they are sometimes required
to be worked from the steam engine renders the cost of intermediate gearing
very great for the amount of power transmitted. I therefore apply the
action of steam direct to the machine, and avoid the loss of power and
original cost of the gearing required for transferring this power from a distant
part of the establishment. This method is peculiarly applicable to sugar
refineries where steam pipes already traverse every floor of the building. One
of the modes of carrying out this part of my Invention is represented on
Sheet C of the annexed Drawings, where Figure 9 is a vertical section, and
Figure 10 is a horizontal section on the live A, B, of Figure 9. The outer

page_text: case A of this machine is made sufficiently large to contain two centrifugal
drums B and C, each of which has a separate basin A', to receive the liquid
thrown off from the drums. The central part of each basin rises up and forms
a boss, which is bushed, and receives the upper part of the shafts D),.on which
the centrifugal drums are bolted to a flange; on the end of each shaft, at the
lower part of the outer case, there is a cross piece A³, cast with it, and extend-
ing the whole length of the frame, and a similar piece A', joins it at right
angles. Over this point of junction is fixed a brass step E; in which a vertical
crank shaft F revolves, its upper end being supported in brasses at G. The
crank shaft carries a fly wheel H, turned truly on its edge, and in contact
with it are two small drums I, I, covered with leather; the drums are keyed
upon the shafts D, and give motion to the centrifugal drums B and C. The
lower part of the shafts D work in brass steps K, which are free to slide in a
box L, in the direction of the fly wheel. The spring N is pressed against one
side of the step K, the force of which spring may be increased or diminished
by the regulating screws P, whereby the leather covered drums may be made
to press at all times with as much force as will be sufficient to insure their
being driven by the fly wheel. Opposite the crank F' there is an opening Q,
in the outer case, through which the piston rod of a small oscilating steam
cylinder is made to pass, and is connected to the crank throw F'; the trunnions
of the cylinder may work in brackets bolted to the outside of the case. But
a still more simple mode of causing the power of steam to act directly in
producing motion in centrifugal machines for manufacturing sugar consists in
attaching a pair of emissive arms to the vertical axis of these machines,
whereby the same revolving shaft which forms the axis of the emissive engine
is also used for the axis of the centrifugal drum, reducing the entire machine
to one revolving piece. And be it remarked, that although the emissive steam
engine is very wasteful of power when applied through the agency of straps and
drums to machinery requiring a slow motion, it is much less so when applied
where high velocities are required; but when applied direct on the same axis
as the drum of the centrifugal machine, a great saving of its usual amount of
friction is obtained; and it will be found in some cases more economical in
power than the application of ordinary steam engines acting at a high velocity
at a great distance from the source of power. On Sheet B of the annexed
Drawings I have represented one of these centrifugal machines driven by the
emissive engine. Figure 12 is an elevation, and Figure 13 a vertical section.
The outer case a is divided into two separate chambers a' and a². The lower
chamber has within it the vertical shaft b, on the lower end of which are
fixed the emissive arms c, c, which have their ends bent in opposite directions

page_text: at right angles, so as to emit the jet of steam in opposite directions; in the
bottom of the outer case a, there is inserted a bell metal step d, hollowed out
so as to fit accurately the hemispherical end r of the shaft 6, which has a hole
bored on the centre of it communicating with the cross arms c; the lower part
of the step has a screw cut upon it, by which a steam pipe is connected, and a
communication established between the steam boiler and the open ends of the
arms c, c. The steam emitted from them is received in the lower compart-
ment a² of the casing, and is to be allowed freely to escape therefrom
through a pipe e, leading outside the building. The upper part of the step
d is formed into an oil cup, to lubricate the hemispherical bearing of the
vertical shaft b, which carries the centrifugal drum f. The upper end of the
shaft is shewn passing through a brass bush in the centre of a piece of vulca-
nized india rubber 8, which will prevent much of the jarring which would
otherwise be produced by the inequality of the load in the drum, the hemi-
spherical steam joint made use of at the foot of this shaft, admitting freely of
such vibratory motion without loss of steam. By the joint in this form of
apparatus there is the disadvantage of the large projecting moulding a³, made
to give a longer range to the emissive arms, I therefore prefer to make an
enlarged chamber for them to revolve in, as shewn in Figures 15 and 16,
Sheet B, where H represents this chamber made with a flat upper surface, so
that it may be sunk into the floor flush with the line h*, and may then be
stood upon without difficulty while the machine is being charged or uncharged.
The only other other peculiarity in this apparatus is the mode in which the
jarring of the upper bearing is prevented when the machine is in rapid motion;
for this purpose a small roller i is fitted freely on to the shaft j, and supported
on a collar k; the central conical projection * of the outer case is turned true
at n, and of a size somewhat larger than the diameter of the roller i, so that
the shaft may incline to either side when at rest, but as the machine acquires
a high velocity it will acquire a vertical position and produce very little
vibratory motion; the other parts of this apparatus are similar to that last
herein described, and therefore need not be more particularly described. It
will be obvious that the mode of lifting off the drum to uncharge and changing
it for another, as herein-before described, may be applied to either of the
machines represented in Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15, on Sheet B, as there. is
no gearing from above to interfere with its removal.
l
Another mode of supplying steam to the revolving axis of centrifugal
machines impelled by emissive arms is represented on Sheet D of the annexed
Drawings, Figure 5 being an elevation, and Figure 6 a vertical section of the
apparatus. The shaft a of this machine has formed upon it a boss 6, into

page_text: which the emissive arms c, c, are fixed below the boss. The shaft is made
tubular and has several holes made in it at d, while the lower end is stopped
up by a piece of steel e, which forms the pivot on which it revolves in the bell
metal bush f. The bottom of the casing on which the steam arms revolve
has a projecting part g, in the upper part of which there is a gland h, and
stuffing box i, to keep the shaft steam-tight; below the stuffing box it is
hollowed out and forms a chamber l, extending round the shaft at that part in
which the holes d are made. On one side of this chamber the steam pipe m
is attached, the steam from which having free access to the chamber will
enter the holes d when the shaft is revolving, and finds its escape at the bent
ends of the arms c, c, the reactionary force of which will put the machine in
motion, after which it is allowed to escape by the pipe y into the open
air.
The upper end of the shaft passes through the brass bush P. and has keyed
upon it an iron frame n, consisting of a central boss n 1, and three equidistant
arms » 2, connected to the boss, and diverging in a straight line therefrom.
At the end of each of these arms is a boss n 8, one of which is shewn in
section on the left side of the central shaft; and another boss n 3 is shewn
in elevation on the right side. This one appears nearer the centre in con-
sequence of its angular position or foreshortening of it. In the Drawing each
of the three bosses n 3 have a hemispherical cup formed in the upper side of
them, and a conical aperture on the under side. Into these cups are placed
three suspension rods r, r, on each of which thero is formed three balls; the
upper ones r 1 are fitted to three blocks s, which are rivetted to the central
part of the centrifugal drum z. These blocks & have hemispherical cavities
on their under side, and rest on the top balls r 1 of the suspension rods. The
largest balls 2 on the suspension rods rest in the hemispherical cavity
formed in the bosses n 8, while the suspension rods pass further downwards
through the conical openings in the bosses, and support the heavy iron ring t.
This ring has three hemispherical cavities formed on its under side, and three
conical holes leading into them from the upper side; the rods r pass through
the conical holes, and have the balls 3 put upon their lower ends, where
they are secured by a nut and screw at u. It will thus be evident, that if the
drum z be pushed in any direction horizontally, that the three suspension rods r
will deviate from their vertical position, moving in the central ball points 2,
but by this motion of the drum z the iron ring t will be projected in a
horizontal position from the centre in the precisely opposite direction to the
movement of the drum; and as the suspension rods r are much longer below
the point of suspension than they are above it, it follows that the ring of iron t
will be projected to a much greater distance from the centre in one direction

page_text: than the drum is on the other, the relative proportion of such distance being
equal to the difference of the distance between the upper and lower balls from
the point of suspension. Now the object of this arrangement is to compensate
for the varying load carried by the drum, which becomes heavier or lighter on
each side of the drum as the fluid parts make their escape with greater or less
facility; and instead of the heavy side carrying over the drum and generating
a violent oscillating motion, as it would do if keyed upon it, the drum in
this case is at liberty to go over a little to either side without carrying the
shaft with it; but in so going over, the heavy iron ring t will be projected to a
greater distance in the opposite direction, whereby the equilibrium will be
restored, and the drum will revolve on its centre of gravity quietly enough,
without being disturbed by the nominal axis of rotation, namely, the central
shaft; in this machine, as in one of those herein-before described, the part
containing the emissive arms is enlarged beyond the diameter of the drum case
x, and made flat, so that it may be let into the floor and allow the workmen to
walk over it when attending to the machine. The drums of centrifugal
machines heretofore generally used have been made of wirework, strapped
and braced diagonally on the outside to give them the desired strength; but
notwithstanding these numerous stays the wirework is easily loosened, and soon
requires repair, while the straps and braces on its exterior surface prevent that
equal action on the sugar which is desired; those parts of the mass imnie-
diately behind the straps or stays being imperfectly cured and of a darker
color than the rest of the mass, by reason of the obstruction caused by them to
the free escape of the fluid.
Now the last part of my said improvements has for its object the removal of
this defect and the construction of a durable drum, equally pervious at all
parts of its surface. For this purpose I take a sheet of metal, and having
formed it into a cylinder I braze the two edges, and draw it through dies
after the manner of drawing tubes. The interior is then cut into grooves by a
circular cutter, these grooves extending half way through the metal; they are
formed in a line, parallel to the axis of the cylinder. When this is done I
place the grooved cylinder on a inandril, and put it in a lathe, and then proceed
to cut a series of concentric grooves around the cylinder.. These last grooves
being at right angles to those before made, and like them extending half way
through the metal, it follows that a series of square holes will be formed all
over its surface, while a cross or lattice work of metal will remain connected
together at every crossing. A portion of such a surface as this is shewn in
Figures 8, 9, and 10, Sheet D. The holes may thus be made fine enough to
require no internal lining of wire gauze, or they may be made larger and the

page_text: drum be lined in the usual way; or instead of this mode of grooving a cylinder
of metal may be prepared and drawn in like manner, and by a suitable
apparatus the whole of its surface may be drilled with small small holes, as
shown at Fig. 11 & 12, Sheet D, all of which are to be conical, the smaller
end being inwards, so that any grains of sugar that may enter these holes
from within will not remain there and obstruct the outflow of the fluid matters,
but by reason of the increasing size of the hole they will readily pass out and
leave a free passage at all times. These holes may be made small enough to
require no inner lining to the drum, or they may be made larger and a lining
be used as usual. In all cases where a lining of wire gunze is used in centri-
fugal drunis, I pass it through a pair of rollers, such as is used for rolling sheet
metal, whereby its surface is flattened, and it will not so easily retain the
grains of sugar as it does if used in the state in which it is worn. In order
to remove such grains of sugar as may adhere to or become imbedded in
interstices of the drum, I use a circular wire or other brush, mounted on an
axle in a small frame, as represented at Figure 18, Sheet D. The frame a in
which the brush 6 revolves has pivots at c, c, which work in lugs fixed to the
inside of the casing of the centrifugal machines. A slot should be made in
the case to allow the handle d to project out, so that whenever it is found that
the drum is clogged the handle may be pulled, and the wire brush will be
brought against its revolving surface. This will cause the brush to revolve
also, and by the action of the drum the crystals of sugar which have been
forced into the interstices of it will be immediately displaced, and the drum
again made free. This operation is best performed when the drum is moving
at a moderate rate.
Having now described my Invention, and the various methods by which
the same is to be carried into effect, I desire it to be understood that I have
herein described many parts of machinery which in themselves are not new,
and which I therefore do not claim as my Invention, and that I do not confine
myself to the precise modification or combination of parts herein shown, so
long as the essential features of the various parts of my Invention be retained;
but what I do claim as my Invention is,-
First, the apparatus shewn at all the Figures on Sheet A, and at Figures
1, 2, 3, and 4, on Sheet D of the annexed Drawings, for the purpose of
separating the fragments of cellular tissue from cane juice and the coagulated
or other matters also from cane juice, but after the process of defication.
Secondly, I claim the centrifugal apparatus represented in Figures 7 and 8
Sheet D, for the purpose of increasing the evaporation of saccharine fluids in
the manner described.

page_text: Thirdly, I claim the apparatus shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet D,
for separating the coagulated and other matters from syrups in the refining
of sugar.
Fouthly, I claim the mode represented in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet B, of
suspending the shafts and drums of centrifugal machines for curing sugar, and
the methods of connecting such shafts with the first mover, as there repro-
sented, and the mode by which their orbicular motion is restrained within
certain limits, and also the mode of suspending the drums of centrifugal
machines on a universal ball joint, as shewn at Figures 5 and 6, Sheet C.
Fifthly, I claim the use of elastic packing between the bottom of centrifugal
machines and the floor on which they rest, for the purpose of lessening the
amount of vibration transmitted to the buildings in which they are worked.
Sixthly, I claim in centrifugal machines for curing sugar, the use of leather
bushes to the spindles, and of vulcanized india rubber rings surrounding the
bushes in which the axle revolves, for the purpose of lessening the tremour
and wear of such machines.
Seventhly, I claim the method represented in Figures 7 & 8, Sheet C,
of forming the axis of centrifugal machines of hollow cones of sheet iron.
Eighthly, I claim the removing of the drum from the machine to be dis-
charged of its contents, and immediately replacing it with another drum
charged with fresh matter to be operated upon, and also the forming of the
lower part of such druins with dishes, so as to retain within such dish or
hollow part the materials previous to the rotatory motion being given to it.
Nintbly, I also claim the apparatus here shown for that purpose in Figures
16, 17, 18, and 19, in Sheet B.
Tenthly, I claim the discharging the sugar from centrifugal drums by the
aid of centrifugal force only, as represented in Figures 1 & 2, Sheet C.
Eleventhly, I claim the centrifugal machine and mode of driving the same,
shown at Figures 9 and 10, Sheet C.
Twelfthly, I claim fixing the centrifugal drums used in the manufacture of
sugar on the axis of an emissive engine, as before described.
Thirteenthly, I claim the mode of supporting the drums of centrifugal
machines on universal joints with a balancing ring, as shewn in Figures 5
and 6, Sheet D.
Fourteenthly, I claim the mode herein described of forming a perforated
drum for centrifugal machines by grooving it internally and externally at
right angles, in manner described, and also by perforating the drum with
conical holes.

page_text: Lastly, I claim the mode herein described of keeping open the perforation
of the drum by a wire or other suitable brush.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bessemer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.