IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING SUGAR AND LIKE SUBSTANCES AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1885

page_text: Apparatus therefor.
We, GEORGE MORGAN NEWHALL, of 225 Church Street, Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, United States of America, Sugar Refiner, and JOHN HENRY TUCKER
also of 225 Church Street, Philadelphia, Pennslyvania, United States of America,
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TREATING SUGAR AND LIKE SUBSTANCES AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR" 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 that branch of the process of refining sugar which is
commonly termed the machining of raw sugar. The ordinary process of machining
raw sugar consists in mixing the raw sugar with sufficient cold water or syrup to
form a semi-fluid mass or magma and subsequently submitting this mass to the
action of centrifugal machines whereby the fluid matter in whole or in part is
separated from the crystals of cane sugar, the object being to separate the impure
syrup from the crystals of raw sugar and thus at the outset to materially aid the
refining process.
The main feature of the improved process forming the subject of this invention
consists in mixing with the raw sugar in a heater a hot dense liquor prepared from
part of the raw sugar being treated. The advantages of this process are several.
The sugar mash resulting from the mixture of the hot liquor and commercially dry
sugar is considerably heated so that more can be passed through a given heater, or
a smaller machine may be sufficient for a given quantity of sugar treated.
have found. by experience in working this process that for 100 parts of dry raw
sugar about 30 parts of the hot liquor at 36° Beaumé are required.
We
Taking the temperature of the sugar at 60° F and the liquor at 200° F we have
for the resulting magma 92° F or independently of the heater an increase of 32° F.
This increase in temperature obtained from the heat of the liquor greatly facilitates
the process.
Furthermore, it is often desirable to submit to the washing process the raw sugar
varying greatly in size of grain, gumminess or lumpy character. As a rule, finely
grained sugars cannot be washed in the centrifugal machine to any advantage in
the cold while sugars such as Brazilian, Manillas &c are absolutely unworkable on

page_text: account of their fine soft grain and gummy nature. By this improved process of
mixing the hot liquor with the raw sugar, many sugars otherwise unworkable may
be dissolved to a heavy hot liquor and this mixed with the coarse grained raw
sugar in the heater. The liquor supplies enough water to make the magma semi-
fluid while it takes up impurities from the dry sugar and the whole purges freely 5
in the centrifugal machine. This improved process may be carried out in any
convenient construction or arrangement of apparatus, but in the accompanying
drawings is illustrated a construction of apparatus which is preferred.
In these drawings :-
Figure 1. is a vertical section illustrating the different machines constituting the
apparatus on the several floors of a sugar house.
Figure 2. is a similar view at right angles thereto Figure 3 is a longitudinal
section drawn to an enlarged scale of the heater which machine may also be used
in some instances for the mixing or drying of sugar or other materials.
Figure 4. is an end view of this heater looking in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 3.
Figure 5. is a transverse section on the line 1-2, Figure 3.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views of one of the blades.
Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line 3-4, Figure 3.
Figures 10 and 11 are detached views of parts of the heater and mixer.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, 5 5 (Figure 2) represent the hogsheads of sugar to
be treated the contents of these being thrown into the hopper 6. whence the sugar
is carried by the endless conveyer 7. up into the hopper or bin 8, which at the
lower end is provided with an adjustable gate 9 (Figure 1).
This gate regulates the amount of sugar to be supplied to the apparatus, and this
raw sugar is fed forward into the chute 11. leading to the heater 12 by means of a
screw conveyer 10.
The raw sugar in passing down this chute is mixed with the hot dense liquor
prepared for the purpose and introduced through the pipe 22 into the chute 11
where it thoroughly mingles and combines with the raw sugar passing down into
the heater and mixer 12.
This hot dense liquor is prepared by taking at the commencement of the
operation a portion of the raw sugar, say about one third and supplying it to the
melter 15 through a chute 24, Figure 2 the sugar as it is melted in the melter 15
being thence pumped up through the pipe 17, and branch 18 into the receiving
tank or tanks 19, where sufficient of this melted sugar is collected for the
operation.
By
From the tank or tanks 19 the liquor is drawn off through a valved pipe into a
vessel or vessels 20 into which steam is injected through a suitable pipe 21.
this means the liquor is heated preferably to about 210 degrees and thence it passes
through the pipe 22 into the chute 11 and thence to the heater and mixer 12 as
before described.
The mixture leaves the heater 12 at the opposite end and passes into the
mixer 13 which is provided at the lower side with a number of adjustable gates T
immediately over a corresponding number of centrifugal machines R in which the
sugar is machined.
From the centrifugal machines the sugar is discharged as indicated in Figures 1
and 2 on to the floor or bin below from whence it passes through valved
conduits 24 to the melter 15. The melted liquor is drawn off from 15 in any
suitable manner and preferably by means of a pump 16 it is forced up through a
pipe 17 to be used in the subsequent refining operation the branch 18 being closed.
The detailed construction of the heater 12 is illustrated more fully in Figures 3
to 11. inclusive.
Referring to these Figures A is a drum having two rings B secured to its
periphery and mounter on rollers d d on shafts D. D¹ either or both of which are
driven so as to rotate the drum A.

page_text: The drum is preferably horizontal instead of being inclined to avoid end thrust
on the bearings and so permit the machine to be run by less power.
Attached to the interior of the drum A are a series of inwardly projecting
blades E having inclined sides which face the outlet of the drum, so that as the
latter is rotated the blades will move the mass along in the drum, and at the same
time lift stir and agitate the mass.
The material to be mixed passes down a chute ƒ into the conveyer and as the
drum is rotated it does not allow the substances to accumulate in one spot, the
tendency of the mass being to creep up the sides of the conveyor as the drum is
rotated (Figure 5) the blades cutting through the material and the inclined portion
of the blades pushing the mass gradually towards the outlet Z.
In mashing sugar before it is "machined" the sugar is caused to travel slowly
through the conveyer, the inclined blades cutting through the mass made semi-
Buid by water or syrup and consequently hard to propel.
As the blades lift the mass however it slides down from the inclined faces of
the same and is brought into the path of a more advanced blade so that the
blades gradually propel the mass toward the exit into another mixer described
hereafter.
The above description alludes to the conveyer without the steam jacket and
connections and hollow blades, and the conveyer can be used in the form described.
for mixing a number of substances, dry semi fluid, or fluid but it is preferred to
use the steam jacket and the apparatus described especially for heating mixing or
drying sugar and like substances.
In figure 3 the drum is composed of an inner cylinder a and an outer cylinder b
the two cylinders forming with the end filling ring cc an enclosed steam jacket
around the entire circumference of the drum.
The rings are secured to the outer cylinder b and the blades E screwed into the
inner cylinder a-These blades are so arranged that they can be adjusted to vary
the angle at which their inclined faces are set by screwing them more or less into
the drum and as this angle determines the rate of progression of the material the
latter can be fed forward at different speeds at any point desired in the conveyer
and the progress of the material may be retarded at such points as retardation may
be advisable.
These blades may be of any convenient length and if desired may extend entirely
across the drum as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5 in which case their ends
can be expanded into the drum but in all constructions the blades must have the
inclined feeding faces.
Passing centrally through the fixed head F, is a supply pipe g, which within the
drum is bent at right angles to connect with the inner cylinder a and open into
the jacket as shown in Figure 3.
At the opposite end of the jacketed drum are secured to the outer cylinder b
one or more outlet pipes H, four in the present instance of the construction shown
in Figures 1 and 11-Each of these pipes communicates with a receiving box K
which is carried by arms; (figure 3) secured to the end of the drum This
box K is provided with a stuffing box e¹ through which passes a stationary pipe k
for the escape of water of condensation.
The outlet pipes H are each composed of a neck or trap h with a double bend
and a discharge pipe h¹ leading to the receiving box K the bends or traps h being
of such a character that as the drum is rotated in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 9 the water of condensation which may have entered the neck when the
latter was in the lowest position will tend to flow out through the pipe h¹ instead
of back into the drum, as the said neck is carried upwards by the drum in its
rotation.
To further prevent the water of condensation which has entered the outlet
pipes H from flowing back into the drum we provide each outlet opening with a
lip as illustrated in figure 11 and by dotted lines in Figure 3.

page_text: We prefer to close the inlet end X of the drum with the exception of the
passage by the head F secured to any suitable stationary object G by bolts 1
(Figures 3 and 4).
The periphery of the head is bevelled and over the same fits a ring F¹ secured to
the drum A, the ring fitting snugly around the head and thus preventing any of
the material in the conveyer from backing out over the inlet end it also affords a
steady bearing for the steam supply pipe g and shute f.
The blades E are preferably made of the triangular form shown with a com-
paratively sharp front cutting edge.
They are also made hollow so that the steam from the jacket will circulate
through the blades.
The rotation of the drum with its interior cutting and feeding blades prevents
the sugar from sticking to any portion of the conveyer as the mash or magma is
constantly agitated and moved towards the outlet, from which it passes down a
shute into another mixer 13 Figure 2.
The bottom of this mixer is provided with a series of valves T under which are
the centrifugal extractors R.
The great advantage of the improved construction of conveyer 12 is that it
prevents the material from remaining in any one spot long enough to burn scorch
or cake for it will be observed that owing to the rotation of the drum there must
be a continual movement of the mass in contact with the inner surface of said
drum so that if any particles had a tendency to stick or adhere to the surface of
the druin they would be at once rubbed off by the friction of other particles in
contact therewith.
1
Thus, the heating surface is kept clean and effective.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
First. As an improvement in the art of refining sugar the process herein
described said process consisting in mixing with the raw sugar to be treated hot
or comparatively hot liquor or syrup substantially as setforth.
Second. The process herein described of facilitating the refining of raw sugar
Baid process consisting in preparing a hot dense syrup or liquor from a part of
the sugar and mixing this in proper proportion with the raw sugar to be treated
as setforth.
Third. The process herein described of facilitating the refining of raw sugar
said process consisting in preparing a hot dense syrup or liquor from a part of the
sugar and mixing this with the raw sugar to be treated and then heating the
magina formed in a heater on its way to the centrifugal machines.
Fourth. For treating sugar and like substances a mixer and conveyer consisting
of a horizontal or nearly horizontal revolving drum provided with inwardly pro-
jecting or transverse blades with inclined faces the said blades being adapted to
cut through the material under treatment and feed it forward as the drum revolves
substantially as and for the purpose setforth.
Fifth. For treating sugar and like substances a mixer and conveyer consisting
of a revolving drum provided with inwardly projecting blades having inclined faces
and adjustable to vary their inclination substantially as described.
Sixth. For treating sugar and like substances a mixer and conveyer consisting
of a revolving jacketed drum provided with hollow inwardly projecting stirring
and feeding blades as specified.
Seventh. For treating sugar and like substances the combination of the revolving
drum with a fixed filling plate or head F in the end thereof and a shute ƒ supported
thereby substantially as described.
Eighth. For treating sugar and like substances the combination of the revolving
jacketed drum with an outlet pipe H connected to the outer end of the two
L

page_text: cylinders, and communicating with a central escape pipe in line with the axis of
the drum the said pipe having a bent neck or trap has and for the purpose
setforth.
Ninth. For treating sugar and like substances the combination of the revolving
jacketed drum carrying a series of bent discharge pipes H connected to the outer
cylinder of the jacket and a central receiving box K with an escape pipe k opening
into said box substantially as described.
Tenth. For treating sugar and like substances the combination of the revolving
jacketed drum having a discharge pipe H connected to the outer cylinder of the
drum and bent as described and provided with a lip to prevent the return of the
water of condensation to the jacket as setforth.
Eleventh. For treating sugar and like substances the combination of a heated
mixing conveyer with a heated distributing conveyer into which said mixing
conveyer discharges as setforth.