Improvements in Vacuum Pans.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application 16th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vacuum Pans.
I, FRIEDRICH HEINRICH FLOTTMANN, of Bochum, Prussia, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to vacuum-pans such as are employed in various manufactures
for boiling, evaporating, drying and other purposes, and the object of the improve-
ments is to facilitate the manipulations which have to be carried out with the
apparatus, and to render it adapted for different purposes besides those mentioned.
In the annexed drawing an apparatus carried out according to my invention is
shown by Figs. 1 and 2 in sectional elevation in two different positions, Fig. 1
representing the position in which the apparatus is charged and emptied, and Fig. 2
the working position. Fig. 3 is a transverse section corresponding to Fig. 2.
The apparatus is composed of two vessels A and B inserted one into the other.
The outer vessel A has two trunnions 1, 2, with which it is mounted in the respective
bearings 3, 4, and it is provided with the stuffing-boxes 11, 12, arranged at a right
angle to the axis of the trunnions 1, 2. These stuffing-boxes serve as bearings for the
trunnions 5, 6, with which the inner vessel B is furnished. The trunnion 2 of the
vessel A is hollow and to the same is connected by means of a stuffing-box, a pipe 9,.
serving for the supply of steam, hot or cold water or air, or compressed air, or through
which air is exhausted from between the vessels A and B. The trunnion 1 is shown
as being hollow also, in view of allowing the same to be utilized for any attachments;
but as represented it is closed by a cover. The trunnions 5, 6, of the vessel B are both
hollow. The trunnion 5 is provided with a screw plug, 18, for allowing it to be
opened and closed, while the trunnion 6 is closed by a cap D, formed in one piece with
the cover of the stuffing-box 12, and being in consequence stationary relatively to the
vessel A, whereas the trunnion 6 rotates therein. The said cap is provided with a
tubular branch-piece 13, to which are attached a cock IL with flexible pipe 14, leading
to an air-pump or other exhauster (not shown in the drawing), and a vacuum-gauge G.
Morcover the cap is fitted with a cock, E, and a tube, F, closed at the bottom and
adapted to contain a thermometer. C is a perforated partition-plate or false bottom,
and 15, 16 are doors. For turning the outer vessel A together with the inner one, B,
from the charging and discharging position (Fig. 1) into the working position
(Fig. 2), or vice-versa, the trunnion I is provided with the worm-wheel 7, gearing with
the worm S which is arranged to be rotated by a crank 17. This turning of the
apparatus by a quarter of a revolution can be brought about without disturbance of its
connection with the exhauster on account of the flexibility of the pipe 14. The rotation
of the inner vessel B within the outer one is produced by a spur-wheel Z keyed on the
end of the trunnion 5, the said spur-wheel being connected, when the apparatus is in
working position, with any suitable driving-gear, not shown in the drawing.
If the apparatus is to be used, it is brought into the vertical or charging position
(Fig. 1), the cocks E and H are closed, the screw-plug 18 is removed, a funnel 19 is
put in its place and the substance to be treated is introduced through the same into the
vessel B, the substance, if solid, dropping on the perforated plate C. The funnel is
then withdrawn again, the plug 18 is reinserted, the apparatus is turned into its
horizontal or working position (Fig. 2), cock H is opened and communication thereby
established between the exhauster and the vessel B, the heating, cooling, or other
medium is introduced through pipe 9 into the space between the vessels A and B, and
the vessel B is put in rotation by means of the spur-wheel Z and its driving mechanism.
When the operation is finished, the apparatus is brought back to the vertical position,
cock H having previously been closed. Any liquid contained in the vessel B may then

page_text: be drawn off by the cock E. Solid materials are discharged either through the
trunnion 5, or through the apertures closed during the operation by the doors 15, 16.
Whenever these doors have to be removed, the pipe is first closed by means of
valve 10, and the cock I is opened while the apparatus is in horizontal position, for
allowing the medium contained in vessel A, or water of condensation, to issue; but
with exception of this case the vessel B may be charged and discharged, and samples
may be taken therefrom without eduction of the heating or cooling medium from the
vessel A.
The apparatus may be employed in breweries and distilleries for boiling and cooling
mash and wort, in sugar manufactories for extracting the juice from beet-root slices,
in the concentration of solutions of various kinds, in the dessication of meat, malt,
refuse matter for manure, and other materials. Besides it is serviceable for the
disintegration of bones while being subjected to heat; and, provided the walls of the
vessel B are perforated and the cover of the hollow trunnion 1 is removed, it may also
be used as malting-apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination of the outer vessel A having the hollow trunnion 1 and the
trunnion 2 and stuffing-boxes 11, 12, arranged at a right angle to the said trunnions;
bearings 3, 4, for receiving the trunnions 1, 2; an inner vessel B having hollow
trunnions 5, 6, with which it is mounted in the stuffing-boxes 11, 12; pipes in
connection with the trunnions 2 and 6, and means for rotating the vessel A in
its bearings 3, 4, and the vessel B in the stuffing-boxes 11, 12, substantially as
described.
2. The combination of the outer vessel A having the hollow trunnion and the
trunnion and stuffing-boxes 11, 12, arranged at a right angle to the said trunnions ;
bearings 3, 4, for receiving the trunnions 1, 2 an inner vessel B having hollow
trunnions 5, 6, with which it is mounted in the stuffing-boxes 11, 12; pipe 9 in
connection with the hollow trunnion 2; the closed stuffing-box cap D on trunnion 6,
pipe 13 attached to the said cap, and means for rotating the vessel A in its
bearings 3, 4, and the vessel B in the stuffing-boxes 11, 12, substantially as
described.
Dated tho 16th day of October 1890.