and Apparatus for Obtaining Sugar Liquor from Sugar Cane or for Obtaining Extracts.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
Process and Apparatus for Obtaining Sugar Liquor from Sugar Cane
or for Obtaining Extracts.
I, HENRY ALBERT Hughes, of Rio Grande, New Jersey, United States of America,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:--
The invention consists in the Apparatus hereinafter described, and the manufacture
carried out therein, whereby sugar cane or sorghum may be diffused to produce a
sugar liquor from which the sugar may subsequently be obtained in any suitable way.
The invention is also applicable to the diffusion of dye-stuffs, liquorice, etc., for the
purpose of obtaining extracts therefrom in a simple, cheap and expeditious manner.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a general sectional view of the apparatus
which I prefer to use for bringing the cane to a shredded condition. Fig. 2 shows an
arrangement of two shredding cylinders preferably employed when very fine shredding
of the cane is desired. Fig. 3 is a view showing the battery of diffusion cells in plan view
and other portions of the apparatus in horizontal section on the line X X of Fig. 5. Fig.4
is a plan view of a portion of the diffusion cells on an enlarged scale Fig. 5 is a vertical
section of the apparatus on the line Y Y of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical section
of one of the diffusion cells with the cane basket in place, and Fig. 7 is a similar
section with the cane basket removed. Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.
The cane stalks being placed butts foremost upon the traveling apron a, are carried
to the rotary cutting apparatus. This apparatus consists of two disks as c, which
carry knives d, and which are rotated. The cane moves over the fixed support f, and
is cut in pieces by the knives d, the heads or broom of the cane falling into the space
or interval between apron a and support f, and so into the shoot or conduit. After
being cut up into short lengths, the cane passes to a screen k, which is pivoted at 7,
and which is kept in vibration by a cam m on a rotary shaft. Beneath the screen k is
a fan blower o enclosed in a case, n. The blower being rotated, delivers its blast
directly below the vibrating lower edge of screen k, so that said blast acts upon the
falling masses of cane, leaves, sheaths, &c., and blows the leaves and sheaths into the
passage q, while the cane falls on the slide p. The cane is prevented from entering
the blower chamber by the inclined partition 2. After descending the slide p, the cane
passes through another blowing apparatus similar to the one above described, screen k¹
being like screen k, blower o' like blower o, and so on. The cane is thus subjected to
a second blowing, and finally the pieces freed from leaves, etc., pass to the
shredding apparatus. This consists of a solid rotary cylinder having upon its
periphery knives longitudinally disposed with their edges projecting very slightly
beyond the cylinder surface. The knives are placed in planes which lie in chords of
arcs of the circle bounding the cylinder. The pieces of cane pass through the opening
in which is a gate P, and then upon the inclined slide R, and so the adjustable block or
support I. The knife rotates in close proximity to the corner or edge of block L, so
that the effect is to scrape the cane into shreds; or in other words, to disintegrate the
same. Two knife cylinders, as 1 and 2. Fig. 2, may be used if desired, the cane being
subjected to a second shredding by cylinder No. 2, after preliminary shredding by
cylinder No. 1. The knives in cylinder No. 1 are in such case given about twice the
clearance (distance of edge from cylinder surface) of those in cylinder No. 2.
The invention is, however, not limited to the use of the foregoing apparatus, or any
portion thereof, because the cane or other material may be cut up, shredded
or otherwise prepared for diffusion, by various known forms of apparatus. The
foregoing is, however, considered preferable for employment in connection with the
the diffusion apparatus now to be described, and which is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7
inclusive

page_text: A is a vertical shaft forming the plunger of hydraulic cylinder B₁ having free
vertical motion in the bearing C, and also free to rotate on its own axis. Water may
be pumped into cylinder B₁ through pipe D' from pump E¹, and the shaft A' thus
raised by hydraulic pressure assisted by the counterweight F. When the water is
allowed to escape from cylinder B', the shaft descends. Supported upon shaft A', is a
frame work H, consisting of radial members I, vertical members J₁, horizontal
circumferential members, not shown, and diagonal girders L'. The diffusion battery
consists of an annular tank M having an elevated bottom N', and covered with an
annular plate P, in which are circular apertures to receive the diffusion cells 1 to 10.
The tank M forms a steam tight jacket enclosing the cells 1 to 10, and into this
jacket steam or hot water may be admitted to heat said cells by the pipe Q', and
conducted from said jacket by pipe R'. With each cell is connected a short pipe
section S', which extends through the inner wall of tank M¹ and has a stop-cock T¹.
The delivery orifices of the several draw-off pipes S¹, are disposed above an annular
trough U', which surrounds an opening in the floor upon which the diffusion battery
rests, through which opening the shaft A¹ passes. The cylinder B₁ is supported
upon a platform V₁ directly below the opening, so that a workman standing thereon
may manipulate the stop-cocks T. and so cause any cell to discharge its contents into
the trough from which the liquor may be conveyed elsewhere for subsequent
treatment and sugar production, by the pipe W'.
Framework H carries as many swinging brackets, a¹, as there are cells 1 to 10.
Each bracket has a vertical pivot arm 6 and an outwardly inclined hooked arm c¹.
The arms 6 turn in bearings d¹ in the frame H¹. The distance between successive
pivot arms equals the distance between the centers of successive cells 1 to 10, and
the horizontal distance from the end of arm c¹ to a point below pivot arm 61, also equals
the distance between successive cells. Hence, for example, as shown on the left of Fig. 3,
dotted lines, the arm c¹ having its pivot arm directly over the center of cell 10 may
be swung inwardly, so as to bring whatever is carried on the hook at the end of arm c¹
directly over the adjacent cell : and so for all other arms c¹ and cells of the series.
Ate Fig. is shown a cane basket made of perforated sheet copper, and provided
with a cover f¹ of like material secured in place by a bar f¹ entering loops on the
edges of the basket. g¹ is a metal bail for suspension purposes. The cells 1 to 10 are
filled with water at about 100° Fabr. (37. 7° C.). A cane basket designated as
Basket 1, is filled with shredded cane. The shaft A being in the lowest position, the
water being out of cylinder B¹, the arm c¹ over cell 2 (for example) receives Basket 1.
Shaft A¹ is now elevated and arm c¹ is swung inward to bring Basket 1 directly over
cell 1. Shaft A¹ is then allowed to descend, and Basket 1 is thus deposited in cell 1,
when the hot water in said cell acts upon the shredded cane to dissolve out a portion
of the contained sugar.
Another and similar basket designated as Basket 2, is then filled with cane.
Meantime, or during any predetermined interval, Basket 1 is allowed to remain in
cell 1. When Basket 2 is ready, it is hooked upon the arm which has its pivot b¹
above cell 1: that is, to the arm which, if all parts remained in their present position,
and assuming the operation already described repeated, would result in placing
Basket 2 in cell 10. But this last is not done. Basket being hooked on, shaft A
is elevated, and Basket 1 is so lifted out of cell 1. Then shaft A¹ is rotated so as to
bring Basket 1 over cell 2, and Basket 2 over cell 1. Shaft A¹ is then lowered, so
that Basket 2 enters cell 1, which has already dissolved sugar from Basket 1, and
Basket 1 is now shifted into the fresh water in cell 2, which dissolves more sugar
from the partly spent cane in said basket. A third basket (Basket No. 3) is now
filled and hooked on the arm c¹, which has its pivot over cell 9. Shaft A¹ is then
again raised and rotated, so that Basket 1 becomes placed in cell 3. Basket 2 in
cell 2, and Basket 3 containing fresh cane, is placed in cell 1. Other baskets are
successively prepared, and the same operation repeated until finally every cell has a
basket in it. This occurs when Basket 1 has been successively in each and all of the
cells, and when ten baskets have successively been immersed in cell 1. Basket 1
will, therefore, have been subjected to ten washings, each washing in turn

page_text: being with fresh water, and each body of water extracting a portion of the sugar
which remains in the cane after the preceding washing. So also ten baskets
have been immersed in cell 1. From the cane in each basket successively the
water in cell 1 has dissolved sugar, consequently, the density of the sugar liquor in
cell 1 becomes greater and greater with each successive basket, and finally, after the
tenth basket has been received, the liquor in said cell may be dense enough or
sufficiently charged with sugar to be ready for evaporation. Stop-cock T¹ in the
tubes S connecting with cell 1 is then opened, and the contents of said cell is drawn
off into trough U. Cell 1 is then cleansed from sediment and re-filled with fresh
water, and the contents of Basket No. 1 now exhausted, are thrown out and fresh cane
put in. The re-filled basket is, however, not placed in the fresh water of cell 1, but
in the liquor of cell 2: because, although cell 1 before emptying had received ten baskets
in turn, cell 2 obviously had received but nine. Consequently, the tenth immersion in
cell 2 is made with the eleventh basket. While the foregoing operation is considered
preferable, it is to be understood that the precise steps indicated, are not essential and
that the apparatus may be used in other ways.
In operating upon sorghum, it has been found that this material when in disinte-
grated condition, on being placed in cell 1, absorbs a large percentage of the water in
said cell; and that successive baskets, each abstracting a quantity of water, finally
materially vary the amounts of liquor in the several cells, and prevent the desired
uniformity in contents thereof. To obviate this difficulty, I provide an additional cell
or any suitable vessel, which at the outset, is filled with strong sugar liquor, and into
this cell the baskets are dipped prior to their being placed in the battery cells.
soon as the liquor in this additional or "eleventh cell reaches a given density, it is
drawn off, and new liquor is supplied to said cell from cells 1 and 2 of the battery:
this operation being continuously maintained. In this way, the sorghum is allowed to
absorb the necessary quantity of water before entering the battery, and the quantity
of liquor in each of the several cells is kept uniform.
As
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The manufacture of sugar liquor, by first cutting the cane into lengths; second,
removing sheaths, leaves, or other impurities therefrom; third, subjecting the cane to
disintegration, and, fourth, diffusing the disintegrated cane in water to produce a
sugar liquor, substantially as and in the manner set forth.
2. The diffusion apparatus hereinbefore described, consisting substantially of a
series of cells, means of heating the contents thereof, and movable crane arms and
supports for lifting the baskets into and out of said cells, and conveying said baskets
from one cell to another.
3. The manufacture of sugar liquor by diffusion by successively immersing baskets
of disintegrated cane in successive vessels of hot water, substantially as described.
4. The manufacture of sugar liquor, by first successively immersing baskets of
disintegrated cane in a vessel containing sugar liquor, and so allowing said cane to
absorb the requisite quantity of water, and then immersing said baskets successively
in successive vessels of hot water, substantially as described.
5. The diffusion apparatus herein before described, consisting of a series of cells
circularly disposed around a vertically movable rotary shaft, means for heating the
contents of said cells, and movable crane arms and supports upon said shaft.
D
11
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A
11000
HENRY ALBERT HUGHES.