Improvements in and Connected with Defecators or Eliminators for Saccharine and other Liquids.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Defecators or Eliminators
for Saccharine and other Liquids.
:
A communication from abroad by THOMAS S. CORNISH, of Bee Hive, East Coast,
Demerara, Engineer.
I, ROBERT HARVEY, of Park Grove Iron Works, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my-invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction of
steam tube heating or boiling cistern or vessel and its fittings or apparatus for the
treating, or defecating or eliminating and circulating of sugar or saccharine or other
liquids, and separating and drawing off in an automatic manner the vegetable or other
impurities as a scum from the surface, and the drawing off of the clear or clarified
liquor therefrom, all in a inore efficient and perfect manner than has been the case
with saccharine liquid defecators and their. fittings as heretofore constructed; and
which improvements, or new or improved appliances, are susceptible of considerable
modification, while retaining all the essentials of the invention, and are also applicable
for the treating, or heating and circulating of other liquids, than sugar liquors; and
might be heated in other ways than by steam tubes.
The nature and novelty of this invention consist all as follows:-Under one
construction and application as an example, suitable for the treatment of sugar-cane
juice as it comes from the mill or expressing machine, to clarify or prepare it in an
automatic manner for the filter presses or for the triple effets before boiling it down
to sugar, this defecator consists of a rectangular cistern in plan view, formed of plates
of flanged cast-iron, bolted together, and nearly flat or horizontal in the bottom, for
the greater part of its length and width. Near the bottom of the deepest parallel
part, a transverse swivelling steam inlet and discharge duplex pipe is fitted at its one
or rear end, with hollow trunnions passing out through stuffing-boxes in the opposite
ides of the cistern. The part of this hollow steam pipe, inside the cistern, would

page_text: preferably be of a B or D shape in transverse section, with a horizontal transverse
division in the centre, into the upper division of which the steam would enter by the
one trunnion by a steam pipe regulated by a supply valve or cock fitted near it, and
the trunnion at the other end would lead off the condensed steam or water from the
lower division, which would be rather higher than the trunnions. The flat face of
these two transverse flat divisions of this B pipe inside the cistern, would be planed
on their faced straight surface, and have a flat plate also planed and jointed and
bolted to it, with a series of bored holes in it, leading into each division for the
securing of the one end of a series of nearly horizontal pipes converging towards each
other at the other or front end, where they would be jointed to a similar flat plate
converging into a D shape transverse pipe resting at this front end on suitable stops
at the side of the cistern, with hinged or swivelling stops above for holding it down
on the lower stops. All so as to maintain the top row of pipes at a slight angle
downwards towards this front D pipe, and with the lower row of pipes at a
greater angle down towards the discharge condensed water division of the drawing-off
trunnion pipe and so that the steam would enter and pass forward along the upper row
of pipes and down back through the lower row of pipes, giving a greater velocity to
the escape of the condensed steam as it was formed, towards the lower division and
trunnion and thus heat or boil the liquid above in the vessel; leaving the whole set of
pipes free to be swivelled up for cleaning out and washing the cistern. A further
improvement in the construction of the vessel for giving a superior circulation of the
liquid while being heated and treated, consists in forming the upper part of the end of
the cistern of a beveled or curved shape forwards over the steam heating trunnion pipe
and hottest part of the liquid. And in forming the bottom plate part at the other or
front end of the cistern, of a curved or bevel shape downwards towards the bottom
borizontal part, for a considerable distance. in front of the coupled ends of the heating
steam pipes, where the liquor would be coolest. The top sides of the cistern might
also be beveled down towards this end where the skimming drawing-off transverse
vertical division or lip would be fitted, leading into the narrow transverse end pocket
and pipe for carrying off the skimmings. The top lip of. this division would be kept
a few inches below the top of this skimming end of the cistern, and a very little above
the level of the liquid in the cistern being treated; all so that the current of the
liquid as it was heated over. the steam pipes in the rear end and body of the cistern at
the surface would flow and carry forward the skimmings' as they were eliminated from
the liquor over the said lip into the drawing-off division and pipe, and the clearer
liquid circulate back down the inclined bottom of this front end under the steam
heating pipes and up again.at the back beveled end of the cistern from which the
current would carry forward and deliver the skimmings as stated. An improved
arrangement of drawing-off trunnion or swivelling pipe with screw stop valve outside
is: fitted in a transverse space in front of the ends of the set of tubes and jointed
through the front end under the inclined bottom, low down in a horizontal recess in
this part of the bottom of the cistern, preferably with a shallow widening-out end
and swivelling by a collar or screw. joint in the valve seat fitted through the end plate
near, one side of the cistern, and with the wide drawing out end stretching out towards
the other side of the cistern. The valve is preferably of an improved construction
formed of a metal disc with an annular grooved face with india-rubber ring inserted
for closing on a projecting sharp rim seat, the valve disc having a spindle passed out
through the stuffing box in valve chest, and fitted with a screw and screw wheel out-
side mounted in a screw swivelling box or crosshead to the sides of the valve chest, the
point of this screw acting on the end of the spindle of valve to tighten it up or swivel
it out of the way to draw the valve full open, all quickly without having to draw out
the valve for the whole distance, the liquid being led out through a lateral branch and
pipe from the valve chest to a receiving cistern for further treatment in the filter
presses or to the triple effets direct. This swivelling drawing-off pipe 'when not in
use would lie down in its recess very little above the Alush cf the bottom of the cistern,
and so offer no obstruction to the boiling liquid as described. But when the liquid
was sufficiently treated and cleared, the wide open end would be raised by a light chain

page_text: attached to it, and to the free end of a beam lever counter-weighted at the outer end,
and freely fulcrumed on a stud at the top of a standard on or at the one side of the
cistern, and fitted with a bucket to float at the surface of the liquid, so as to balance
and regulate the drawing-off mouth-piece of the pipe to be always about two inches
below the surface level of the liquid until it nearly emptied the cistern; when the
drawing-off valve would be shut and the cistern re-filled with new liquor, and the
process of boiling and circulating and skimming go automatically on again; and when
the cistern had to be cleaned the bucket could be removed and placed upon the floor,
and enable the drawing off swivel pipe to lie down out of the way. The lower part of the
recess behind the drawing off pipe would be fitted with a drawing off washing pipe
and cock outside leading into a trough for carrying off all the water used in cleaning
the cistern and steam heating tubes. The liquid to be heated and circulated in this
new or improved construction of vessel although described as heated by steam in the
two sets of swivelling pipes as suitable for sugar liquor, might be heated by hot air,
or by circulating water for some purposes, through these pipes; or the vessel might
be jacketed in the bottom and sides and heated by steam or hot air or otherwise, to
suit the purposes and liquids desired to be treated and circulated in the vessel.
T: 02-1
A 1000

page_text: Saccharine and other Liquids.
A communication from abroad by THOMAS S. CORNISH, of Bee Hive, East Coast,
Demerara, Engineer.
I, ROBERT HARVEY, of Park Grove Iron Works, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to
he performed, to be particularly, described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction of
steam tube heating or boiling 'cistern tank or vessel and its fittings, or apparatus, for
the treating, or defecating or eliminating and circulating of sugar or saccharine or
other liquids, and separating and drawing off in an automatic manner the vegetable or
other impurities as .a. scum from the surface, and the drawing off of the clear or
clarified liquor therefrom, all in a more efficient and perfect manner than has been
the case with saccharine liquid defecators and their fittings as heretofore constructed;
and which improvements, or new or improved appliances, are susceptible of con-
siderable modification, while retaining all the essentials of the invention, and are
also applicable for the treating, or heating and circulating of other liquids, than sugar
liquors and might be heated in other ways than by steam tubes.
And in order that my said Invention; and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I 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. Figures 1 and 2 are a sectional eleva-
tion and a plan respectively of a defecator or eliminator as constructed in accordance with
my improvements for treating sugar cane juice as will hereinafter be described. Figure 3
is a transverse section corresponding to and as taken on the irregnlar line 1--- 1 of
Figure 1, showing the liquor drawing-off swivelling pipe E and lifting bucket F2 and
its operating mechanism. Figures 4 and 5 are a detail clevation and plan respectively
to an enlarged scale showing this swivelling liquor drawing off pipe E and the new
arrangement of outlet valve E² for the liquor, fitted at the lower delivery end part A¹¹¹
of the eliminator A.
4
Referring to these Drawings; the nature and novelty and mode of performing this
invention consist all as follows:-Under the construction and application of the
example, shown in these Drawings; suitable for the treatment of sugar-cane juice as
it comes from the mill or expressing machine, to clarify or prepare it in an automatic
manner for the filter presses, or for the triple effets, before boiling it down to sugar,
this defecator consists of a rectangular cistern or tank A in plan view, formed of
plates of flanged cast-iron, bolted together, and nearly flat or horizontal in the bottom A",

page_text: for the greater part of its length and width. Near the bottom of the deepest parallel part,
a transverse swivelling steam inlet and discharge duplex pipe B, B1, is fitted at its one
or rear end, with hollow trunnions at B B passing out through stuffing-boxes in the
opposite side plates near the bottom of the cistern A. The part of this hollow steam;
pipe B B' inside the cistern A is preferably of a B or D-shape in transverse section with a
horizontal transverse division in the centre dividing it into two compartments, into
one of which preferably the upper division B; the steam would enter by the one
trunnion B by a steam pipe 13 regulated by a supply valve or cock B³ with hand
controlling spindle B₁ fitted near it, and the trunnion B at. the other end would;
lead off the condensed steam or water from the lower division B', which would be
rather higher than the trunnions B", B, in their normal position and deliver by a
pipe to a receiver 6. The flat face across the two transverse flat divisions B, B',
of this B pipe inside the cistern A is planed on the faced straight surface, and has
a flat plate 6 also planed and jointed and bolted to it, with a series of bored or screwed?
holes in it, leading into each division B, B', for the securing. of the one end of a.
double series of reverse angled pipes C, C', converging towards each other at their
other or front end, where they would be jointed to a similar flat plate c converging
into a D-shape transverse pipe c resting at this front end on suitable stops C" at the:
lower sides of the cistern A, with hinged or swivelling stops above for holding it
down on the lower stops C All so as to maintain the top set C of pipes at a slight
angle downwards towards this front D pipe c, c', and with the lower set Cof. pipes
at a greater angle down towards the discharge condensed water division B of the:
drawing off trunnion pipe B, and so that the steam would enter and pass forward.
along the upper set of pipes C, and down back through the lower set of pipes C¹;:
giving a greater velocity to the escape of the condensed steam as it is formed, towards
the lower division B and trunnion Band thus heat or boil the liquid above in the
vessel A; leaving the whole set of pipes C, C. free to be swivelled up on their
trunnions B, B for cleaning-out and washing the cistern A, and preferably having
a stop at the top of the cistern A to prevent the swivelling range of heating
pipes C, C, from rising too high, and they might either be raised from time to time,
as desired by hand, or have a chain attached to them passed over a pulley with a
counterweight for this purpose. A further improvement in the construction of the
vessel A, for giving a superior circulation of the liquid while being heated and treated,
beveled or curved
consists in forming the upper part of the end of the cistern A; of
shape forwards at Al over the steam heating trunnion pipe.B" and hottest part of
the liquid as shown in Figure 1. And in forming the bottom plate part A at the
other or front end of the cistern A, of an angled or curved or bevel shape downwards
towards the bottom horizontal part A, for a considerable distance in front of the
coupled ends of the heating steain pipes C, C, where the liquor would be coolest.
The top sides A of the cistern A might also be beveled down towards this end where
the skimming drawing-off-transverse vertical division or lip. D is fitted, leading
into the narrow.transverse end pocket and pipe D¹ for carrying off the skimmings by-
the drawing-off pipe D². The top lip D of this division is kept a few inches below the
top of this skimming end of the cistern A, and a very little above the working,
level ---
of the liquid in the cistern being treated; all so that the current of the
liquid as it is heated over the steam pipes C, Cin the rear end and body of the cistern A
at the surface would flow and carry forward the skimmings as they were eliminated
from the liquor over the said lip D into the drawing off pocket and pipe D1, D2, and
the clearer liquid circulate back down the inclined bottom 'A' of this front end A
and under the steam heating pipes C, C', and up again at the back beveled end A₁ of
the cistern A from which the current would carry forward and deliver the skimmings
as stated, and as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. An improved arrangement of
drawing-off trunnion or swivelling pipe E, El, with stop valve E and chest E" out-
side and shown detailed in Figures 4 and 5, is fitted in a transverse.space or recess a
in front of the ends of the set.of. tubes C, C₁, and jointed liquid tight in a.valve
seat Ethrough the front end A", under the inclined. bottom A² low down in the
horizontal recess. a in. this front part of the bottom All of the cistern A, for the
:
a

page_text: purpose of not interrupting the working flow or circulation of the liquor, and pre-
ferably with a shallow widening-out end. E', and swivelling by the screw or other
equivalent swivelling trunnion joint at e in the valve seat E fitted through the end
plate A near one side of the cistern A, and with the wide drawing out end E¹
stretching out towards the other side of the cistern A. The valve E² is preferably
of an improved construction formed of a metal disc E' with an annular grooved'
face with india-rubber ring or disc e inserted, or other equivalent disc valve, for
closing on a projecting sharp rim of the seat E³, the valve disc E³, having a spindle e.
passed out through a stuffing box in the cover E of the valve chest E", and fitted
with a screw and screw handle e", or it might be a wheel outside, mounted in a screw
swivelling boss or crosshead ³ to the sides of the valve chest E,, the point of this
screw e acting on the end of the spindle e² of the valve E' to close it to any desired
regulated extent to draw off the liquor, or swivel it out of the way to draw the valve.
full open, all quickly without having to screw out the valve E for the whole distance,
the liquid being led out through a lateral branch and pipe E' from the valve chest E¹í
to a receiving cistern for further treatment in the filter presses or to the triple effets
direct. This swivelling drawing-off pipe E, EL when not in use would lie down in
its recess a very little above the flush of the bottom A" of the cistern A, and so
offer no obstruction to the return current of the boiling liquid as described. But
when the liquid was sufficiently treated and cleared, the wide open end E of this
pipe E, would be raised by a light wire or chain ƒ attached to it at f¹, and attached
at its other end to near the free end of a beam lever F counter-weighted at the
outer end F and freely fulcrumed on a stud at the top of a standard on or at
the one side of the cistern A, and fitted with a bucket or box float F' with a light
chain or wire connection F³ led up to the free end of the beam lever F to float at
the surface of the liquid, so as to balance and regulate the drawing off mouthpiece E¹
of the pipe E to be always about two inches below the surface level z of the liquid
until it nearly emptied the cistern A, and as particularly seen in its lowest position in
Figures 3 to 5 in sharp lines, and in its highest position dotted-in in Figure 3; when
the drawing-off valve would be shut and the cistern A refilled with new liquor, and
the process of boiling and circulating and skimming go automatically on again; and
when the cistern A had to be cleaned the bucket or float F could be removed
and placed upon the floor, and enable the drawing off swivel pipe E E¹ to lie down
out of the way. The lower part of the recess a behind the drawing-off pipe E, E¹ is
fitted with a drawing off washing branch pipe and cock outside. at G, G', leading into
a trough G2 for carrying off all the water used in cleaning the cistern A and steam
heating tubes C, C. The liquid to be heated and circulated in this new or improved
construction of vessel A, although described as heated by steam in the arrangement of
sets of swivelling pipes C, C, as suitable for sugar liquor, might be heated by hot air,
or by circulating water for some purposes, through these pipes; or the vessel might
be-jacketed in the bottom and sides and heated by steam or hot air or otherwise, to
suit the purposes and liquids desired to be treated and circulated in the vessel.
The improved defecator or eliminator A may also be fitted with à cover or cover"
plates, jointed fluid tight over the upper flanges A³, A', of the cistern A, and have a
pipe leading to an exhaust pump so as to maintain in and work the eliminator under
a vacuum or partial vacuum when that was desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First. The construction, or general arrangement and combination of the parts of
defecators or eliminators for treating saccharine and other liquids, substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The construction of the tanks or vessels of defecators or eliminators for
treating saccharine and other liquids of a beveled or curved shape forward over the
steam heating trunnion pipe, and hottest part of the liquid, and the bottom plate part
at the other or front end of the eliminator of an angled or curved shape downwards
•

page_text: towards the horizontal bottom substantially as and for the advantages in circulating
the liquor as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. In defecators or eliminators for treating saccharine and other liquids, the
arranging of the steam heating pipes wide apart at the trunnion end, and converging
towards each other at their other or front end, for the purpose of obtaining a greater
heating surface at and circulation to and from the steam inlet end of the pipes, sub-
stantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth. In defecators or eliminators for treating saccharine and other liquids, the
herein described arrangement of liquor drawing off trunnion or swivelling pipe with
float attachment, and improved construction of valve, substantially as and operated in
the manner and for the advantages herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.