Improvements in and relating to Sugar-cane Mills.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sugar-cane Mills.
We, MATTHEW BLAKE, and JOHN BARCLAY, both of the firm of Blake,
Barclay and Company, Engineers, Victoria Works, Greenock, Renfrewshire, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:--
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction or
arrangement and combination of the parts and fittings of a sugar-cane mill of the
small double, triple, or quadruple, portable self contained vertical or horizontal
class, driven by animal power and used by natives and growers of sugar cane in
India and China; and which will be stronger more simple, compact, casier put
together, and the parts or fittings replaced, than with such mills as heretofore
constructed.
In our construction of mill no screwed bolts and nuts are used for securing or
staying the parts together, but by our improvements cottered bolts and gibs and
cotters are substituted instead, so that all the parts and fittings can be erected
and secured together without skilled labour, and replaced if anything goes wrong.
Our improved mill comprises a main tough cast-iron frame consisting of a
horizontal sole-plate secured to a wooden beam supported on and stayed between
two cross beams or other foundation by four or other number of vertical bolts
projecting up from below and secured above by cotter pins passing through holes
in the bolts with washers below. Two parallel vertical side frames or cheeks would
be cast on and project up from the sole-plate with transverse horizontal webs
connecting these with a recess through between them at the centre which recess
This vertical frame
forms the feed plate or aperture for introducing the cane.
would extend to near the back of sole-plate at their lower and upper parts in the
form of strong flanges to which would be secured by cottered bolts longitudinal
rolled steel bearing straps, of a horizontal U shape solid at the one end and open at
the other end, where each pair would be secured or stayed by horizontal steel
adjustable gibs and cotters, passing through slots formed in the straps to sustain
the lateral and transverse strain of the upper and lower journal bushes of the
spindles of the rollers. Two vertical preferably chilled or hard cast iron cane
crushing rollers would be mounted at the back part of the frame which would be
recessed and these rollers would be fitted with steel spindles mounted in gun metal
bearings fitted within and between the straps, these bearings being preferably
U shaped and recessed for containing grease or other lubricant. These cane
crushing rollers would be fitted at their upper ends with solid interchangeable
chilled spur wheels recessed on to the upper ends of the rollers preferably with round
ended teeth, so as to be driven together and bevel bottomed so as to eject any
foreign substance which may be accidentally introduced; and the driving spindle
of one of the rolls would be formed with a square or rectangular head at its upper
end for shipping on a steel driving socket for a double or other yoke from which
radial arms or spars would project for the oxen to travel round and drive the mill
in the usual manner. The lower ends of the spindles of the crushing rollers would
or might be fitted with steel pointed ends resting on steel plates fitted with oil or
grease cups in the lower sole-plate to sustain the weight of the rollers and their
driving socket yoke pole. Angled vertical plate planished steel scrapers would be
secured to the side frames by cottered bolts, so as to free the rollers from adhering
cane particles or "bagasse." The cane would be fed in through the centre recess
to and between the rollers to be compressed, and the juice be received into an open
duplex circled or U shaped steel gutter pan placed below the ends of the crushing
rolls from which it would run by a spout into and down an angled bamboo or metal

page_text: gutter into a jar or vessel preferably partially sunk under the ground with the open
end projecting up to receive the juice from the angled delivery "gutter." The
lower edges of the rollers would be made with a sharp annular rim to convey the
juice down into the double annular gutter pan; and a gushet plate or finger might
be fitted in the back between the lower ends of the rolls, and a little distance off
these, for conveying away the crushed dry "bagasse" without taking away any of
the juice.
T
Wah1001
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sugar-cane Mills.
WC, MATTHEW BLAKE, and JOHN BARCLAY, both of the firm of Blake,
Barclay and Company, Engineers, Victoria Works, Greenock, Renfrewshire, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying drawings that is to
say:
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction or
arrangement and combination of the parts and fittings of a sugar-cane mill of the
small, double, triple, or quadruple, portable self-contained vertical or horizontal
class, driven by animal power and used by natives and growers of sugar-cane in
India and China; and which will be stronger, more simple, compact, casier put
together, and the parts or fittings replaced, than with such mills as heretofore
constructed. In our construction of mill no screwed bolts and nuts are used for
securing or staying the parts together, but by our improvements cottered bolts and
gibs and cotters are substituted instead, so that all the parts and fittings can be
erected and secured together on the estates without skilled labour, and replaced if
anything goes wrong.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figure 1 is a
side elevation, Figure 2 a corresponding plan, and Figure 3 a perspective elevation,
all illustrative of a portable or self-contained sugar cane vertical mill as constructed
in accordance with our improvements.
Referring to these drawings:-Our mill consists of chilled or hard cast iron or
steel rollers C keyed or shrunk on malleable iron or steel spindles C' C with sharp
bevelled rim C3 on bottom of rollers C C to give quick and clean discharge of juice
into receiving pan E and otherwise recessed on bottom to prevent the smallest
escape of juice upper portion to receive and interlock with interchangeable steel
spur pinions D or otherwise have spur pinions D cast on rollers as shewn, or
separately keyed on spindles C¹. Bottom of teeth or recess between teeth D' is
bevelled at bottom to form sliding self cleaning faces when pinions D are inter-
locking and gearing. Groove or channel D² will be formed on top of pinion D to
trap and conduct the waste oil from upper bearing bushes C" by means of bored or
cored holes D D through pinions and rollers C and discharging on to lower
bearing bushes C clear of juice pan E. Steel or malleable iron spindles C
carrying rollers C and pinions D will have flat or pointed bearings on bottom end
and resting on top of sole of main frame at A and with or without oil retaining
cup or recess formed on main frame. Driving spindle will have square or flattened
boss C forged on top end to receive steel or iron socket of cattle yoke lever pole.
The upper and lower bosses or necks of rollers at C, C, and eyes D³ and tops of
wheels D are arranged and formed to cover and relieve spindles of all necessary

page_text: ::
side bending strains due to crushing effort between rollers. Longitudinal and
interchangeable shaped malleable iron or steel straps B are formed to receive
bearing bushes C of brass or other metal; at solid end B', bearing bush C will be
fitted hard up into bosom of strap at other and open end B bushes will be fitted
between sides of straps B and kept up to its position and adjusted thereto by means
of gibs and cotters passing through ends of straps at B. The combination of
straps jibs and cotters to sustain the lateral and transverse strains of the mill.
Bearing bushes C" to be interchangeable and will have recesses cast on top sides
at e to receive grease or other lubricant which may be fed on to roller spindles C
by cotton wick or otherwise. A duplex circled juice pan E¹ or suitably channelled
receiver dish will be placed under rollers and formed to drain juice towards front
side of mill with spont E projecting through main frame at E" and fitted with
additional bamboo or metal gutter E³ for conducting juice into suitable vessel
conveniently placed in front of mill. A gusbet plate or finger might be fitted at Ez
in the back between the lower ends of the rollers C, and at a little distance above
these for conveying away the crushed dry "bagasse over the tray or juice pan E
without taking away any of the juice. Angled planished steel scrapers E pressing
close upon rollers, so as to free them from adhering cane particles or "bagasse,"
will be fitted on trunk of framing of mill, attached thereto by means of cottered
bolts with slot holes for adjustment. An opening A will be arranged on front
of cane mill in trunk A¹ of framing having ribs or flanges A" all round to guide
cane into proper position between crushing rollers CC and brought up close to
rollers at a to prevent any escape of juice from the cane as it is being crushed.
Entrance of cane into feed opening A' being eased and facilitated by antifriction
rollers placed in front, separating ribs or flanges may be introduced into
opening A to divide and spread the feeding of cane more uniformly. Main frame
for combining all the separate parts of mill or attaching them thereto will be
constructed of one casting of tough cast iron or steel into a simple form which shall
offer sufficient resistance to all possible strains thrown upon the mill, and shall
consist of a bottom or horizontal basement sole-plate A with accommodation for
bolting same to wooden beam Z or other suitable foundation by bolts a a preferably
entered from below and cottered up tight at a¹ on top side of sole-plate. A
trunk A which shall be wholly on front side of mill and combining in itself' the
opening A through which the canes are to be fed and with projecting wings or
flanges a to which the scrapers E are to be attached, suitable projections or flange
abutments AA, and A4 A5, at top and bottom being arranged to receive and
support the U shaped straps B carrying top and bottom bearing bushes, these
straps to be firmly secured to frame by means of a combination of cottered bolts a
and distance piece or stay tube all fitted between sides of straps B. Those parts
of main frame or sole plate A at A under spindles C will be suitably prepared
with grease cup and recesses or projections, to meet and support points of spindles.
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. In a self-contained vertical or horizontal portable cane mill with two or
more rollers, a sole-plate or framing arranged and constructed of one casting
combining in itself the following features.-Flat bottom for attaching to wood or
other foundation, cup or footstep projections for bottom end of spindles, -flanges
or abutments for receiving straps carrying top and bottom bearings and fittings-
feed opening with cane guides and flanges for fixing roller scrapers arranged to
form on front side of mill, a single trunk connecting top and bottom of mill,
substantially as and in the manner herein described in reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
Second. In a self-contained vertical or horizontal cane mill, the application and
use of U shaped steel or malleable iron straps for the reception and carriage of
roller bearing bushes, in combination with gibs and cotters for the adjustment of

page_text: said bushes; and the method adopted for fixing U shaped straps to the flanges or
abutments cast on the framing of the mill, substantially as and in the manner
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In toothed wheels for driving and gearing rollers of portable or other
vertical or horizontal cane mills having two or more rollers, the slanting or
bevelling of the bottom or recess between teeth for the purpose of self cleaning or
cjecting any foreign matter tending to clog their free working, substantially as
and in the manner herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. In a self-contained portable or other cane mill having vertical rollers,
the bevelling
or tapering away of bottom edge to form a sharp and clean run off
for cane juice which shall not depend upon condition of roller faces, substantially
as and in the manner herein described in reference to and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Fifth. In a self-contained or portable cane mill, the securing of all the parts by
cottered bolts and gibs and cotters, substantially as and in the manner herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 1st December 1891.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co., .
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.