Vacuum Apparatus.
Year: 1886

page_text: Vacuum Apparatus.
I, JOHN MCCLURE CALDWELL PATON of Bloomsgrove Works, Radford, in the
Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this Invention and in what manner the same is to bo performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement that is
to say:-
This Invention relates to apparatus employed in the manufacture of sugar of the
kind known as triple effect evaporating apparatus and it has for its object the
improved construction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting or con-
nected with such apparatus, whereby the economy and efficiency of the apparatus
is increased and the action generally improved.
When employing the triple effect evaporating apparatus in the manufacture of
sugar, it has been usual to remove the water of condensation collecting on the lower
tube plate, or at the bottom of the calandria or heating drum of the second and
third pans by means of a pump, or by forming a free communication with the
condenser or air pump. The more economical way is by communication with the
air pump but it has the objection that as a rule a considerable quantity of steam is
apt to pass away with the water, which steam would be otherwise available for
evaporating purposes. In addition to this loss of steam there is a further loss due
to the extra amount of cold water required to condense this escaping steam. When
employing a pump the loss of steam and condensing water is measured by the
surplus capacity of the pump over the nett amount required for the removal of the
water. This excess of capacity has to be greater than in ordinary pumps for
obvious reasons and a further objection may be urged, that the pump with its
valves and other moving parts is somewhat complicated and it is not easy to tell
whether it is doing its full duty or not. Now as it is necessary that the water be
removed continuously and in an efficient manner otherwise the rate of evaporation
is very seriously affected it is the aim of this Invention to produce apparatus simple
in operation and construction having no complicated or moving parts which will
with but little attention perform the above functions in an efficient manner.
In carrying out the Invention there is arranged at a slightly lower level than
the bottom of the last one of the pans a vessel or receiver for the water of a
suitable size and shape, preferably cylindrical and this is connected by two pipes
with the calandria or heating drum. One of these pipes communicates with the
pan above the top tube plate whilst the other pipe enters the pan at or below the
level of the lower tube plate. Both these pipes enter the receiver at its upper end
and an equilibrium of pressure is thus always maintained in the calandria and the
receiver consequently the water of condensation will always flow freely into the
receiver. At the lower part of the receiver there is fitted a pipe having a stop cock

page_text: which pipe communicates with the air pump or condenser in which there is always
a better vacuum than in the receiver. At a convenient part of the receiver at the
side there is fitted a glass gauge through which the level of the water in the
receiver may be observed, and this level may be regulated by an attendant turning
the stop cock on or open more or less as he observes the level in the glass gauge
rising and more or less closing the valve should the level be falling. By suitably
proportioning the receiver it may be rendered unnecessary to adjust the stop cock
oftener than say once an hour, and to enable the attendant to detect at a glance
the level of the water, the glass guage may be arranged with a red enamelled stripe
along its whole length.
By employing this Invention it is obvious that so long as there is water seen in
the glass gauge, no steam can possibly pass through to the condenser, and as the
apparatus is very simple in construction, having no complicated working parts it
cannot easily get out of order, requires little attention and most effectually drains
the pans.
It is obvious that the apparatus is applicable for draining the water of condensed
steam wherever it is required to be removed.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
'may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and representing my improved arrangements. In these
drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
This
In the accompanying drawings sufficiently only of the triple effect evaporating
apparatus and air pump is shown as will enable the Invention to be understood.
In the drawings there is only one of the triple effect pans the last one shown, and
this is represented as being considerably above the level of the ground.
calandria or heating drum, 1, has two pipes, 2, 3, fitted to it, one of which pipes (2)
enters the calandria, 1, above the top tube plate, and the other one, 3, enters below
the level of the lower tube plate. Both these pipes communicate with the top of a
.closed cylindrical receiver, 4, for the water of condensation. This receiver is placed
a little distance below the level of the bottom of the calandria, 1, being fixed upon
a suitable pillar or support, 5, which pillar is conveniently fixed a short distance
from the air pump, 6. The receiver, 4, has fitted at its lower end a pipe, 7, having
a stop cock or valve, 8, which pipe communicates with the air pump, 6. At one side
of the receiver there is fitted a glass gauge, 9, connecting the top and bottom of the
space within the receiver, and through this gauge which may have a red enamelled
strip along its length for facilitating observation, the height of the water in the
receiver may be observed. The amount of water in the receiver, 4, may be regulated
by an attendant adjusting the stop cock, 8, by turning it more open should the
liquid be rising and closing it more or less should the level be falling. By suitably
proportioning the receiver, 4, the apparatus may be arranged so as not to require
alteration or attention more than about once an hour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
The combination and arrangement of a receiver for the water of condensed steam
with triple effect evaporating or other vacuum apparatus and an air pump or its
equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
.
1000