IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND REFINING
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bessemer, of Baxter House, Old
Saint Pancras Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND REFINING
Scaled the 27th January 1854, and dated the 2nd December 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bessemer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd December 1858.
I, HENRY BESSEMER, of Baxter House, Old Saint Pancras Road, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND REFINING
OF SUGAR" to be as follows:-
Much of the crude or raw sugar which is brought into Great Britain
consists of crystals too small to admit of being washed or cleansed so

page_text: ແ
advantageously as that description of "grainy" sugar known as
"Demerara or vacuum pan sugar;" the small crystals are also gene-
rally impure or grey;" now the object of the first part of this
Invention is to give to small grained sugar such an encrease to the
size of the respective crystals, as will render them more suitable for
the process of washing, cleansing, or curing, and at the same time to
deprive them of a portion of the impurities with which they may be
mixed, and thus render the sugar more suitable to the process of
washing, whether such washing be effected by apparatus acting by the
exhaustion of atmospheric air in the manner already patented by me,
or by apparatus acting by centrifugal force, or otherwise. The dis-
tinguishing feature of this process for increasing the size and purity
of the crystals of raw sugar is, the solution and recrystallization of it,
without the intermediate process of evaporation. To carry into effect
this part of my said Invention, I provide a wood or metal vessel, the
bottom of which consists of a row of small steam or hot water pipes
of about an inch diameter, placed nearly close together; the vessel
is also provided with an agitator, by which its contents may be mixed
into this vessel; I put about a ton of the small grained sugar to be
operated upon, and then sprinkle boiling water over it in such quantity
as will be capable of converting the sugar into a syrup, having a density
equal to about 40 or 45 degrees Beaumé; the agitator is used to mix
the whole evenly together, and steam or hot water is then passed
through the pipes before mentioned, the heat of which will cause the
wet mass to dissolve at those parts in contact with the pipes, and to
flow through the spaces between them and fall into a "heater," if its
temperature is below 180° Fahrenheit, but if sufficiently hot, it may
all at once run into a large crystallizing vessel mounted on wheels; as
the solution of the mass proceeds, new portions of sugar will be brought
by the pressure of the superincumbent mass in contact with the hot
pipes. The vessel in which the crystallization is effected is to be
of such dimensions as to hold a large quantity of sugar, in order that
the cooling thereof may be effected slowly. I prefer wooden boxes or
vats capable of holding from half a ton to three tons, and to have a
wooden lid fitted loosely into them, so that it may rest upon the sur-

page_text: face of tho sugar, and still further retard the cooling process; it will
be found that the slow aggregation of atoms forming each crystal will
cause a separation of many of the impurities contained in them, while
the size of the crystals will be from the same cause greatly increased.
Instead of dissolving the sugar in the apparatus herein-before de-
scribed, the same may be effected, by first dissolving a portion of the
sugar in a pan provided with a steam jacket, and then adding by
degrees as much sugar as will form a syrup of the required density; a
still better quality of sugar will be produced by first dissolving in the
water as much of the sugar as will form a liquor of about 28 to 34
degrees Beaumé, and "blowing it up" with albuminous matter as
usual, and afterwards filtering it through bags; the solution, thus
deprived of a large proportion of its impurities, may then be used in
lieu of water, as before described, in making dense solutions for tho
purpose of recrystallizing; in like manner "refines liquor" which has
passed through charcoal, or other syrups, may be used as solvents. In
every case the density of the fluid should be such as to furnish a crop
of crystals, without requiring to be first evaporated. This mode of
preparing sugar for the process of washing, cleansing, or curing, so far
as regards the formation of large crystals by the use of large vats,
boxes, or vessels in lieu of "moulds," may be advantageously applied
to the crystallisation of refined syrups, intended to produce "bastard,"
pieces," or "crushed sugar," and the mass of sugar concreted in such
vessels may be crushed between rollers, preparatory to the washing or
curing process, however effected, and without the necessity for any
previous process of draining the syrups therefrom.
When the crystallisation of the sugar has taken place, it is to be
removed to the washing table or machine, where I apply the im-
provements which constitute the other portion of the present In-
vention.
The table itself forms the subject of a former Patent granted to me,
and consists of a revolving horizontal table or sieve, on which the sugar
is spread in a thin stratum, while a partial vacuum is formed beneath
it. Water or saccharine solutions are sprinkled on to the surface of the
sugar, through which it passes into the exhausted chamber below; as

page_text: the use of water is found to dissolve a small portion of the sugar, it is
desirable to reduce the quantity of pure water used as much as pos-
sible. For this purpose I divide the single exhausted chamber into
several parts or chambers, the first of which receives the diminished
quantity of pure water, from which it is pumped out and allowed to
flow again through the sugar and fall into the second chamber. From
this it is again pumped out and allowed to flow through the sugar into
the third chamber, and so on throughout the series; by this means the
fluid becomes more and more dense, and consequently less capable of
dissolving the sugar; at the same time that the liquor, which becomes
darker in color, is applied to sugar more and more impure, from which,
however, it is capable of removing some portion of its coating of mo-
lasses; this repetition of the process may be continued until the liquor
becomes so dense as to loose all power of cleansing the sugar, and thus
not only will a smaller quantity of sugar be dissolved, but a more dense
liquor obtained, requiring less evaporation to obtain the sugar from it..
Instead of applying the perforated pipes above the sugar, as in my
original Invention, I find it better to allow the fluid to flow from a
perforated box, the perforated bottom of which is in contact with the
thin stratum of sugar under operation; this improved mode of liquoring
the sugar may be advantageously applied both to crude or refined
sugars. It has been found that the crystals of sugar spread on the
washing table cannot expose equally the whole of their surfaces to the
action of the washing media, by reason of their contact at certain
points; I therefore place over the moving stratum of sugar a series of
small inclined blades, which are fixed so as to pass downwards through
the sugar, and form a sort of plough, by which the sugar is turned
over one or more times, and again laid flat; or in lieu of this the
sugar may be ploughed off the machine, and again relaid by another.
feeding hopper, or be passed twice through the machine, but I prefer.
the first named mode, after the relaying of the sugar; in either case a
small quantity of water, vapour, or liquor passed through it will com-
plete the process. But in the bleaching of all sugars by the washing
table, the use of water or liquor may be dispensed with by allowing a
large quantity of moist air to be drawn through the thin stratum of

page_text: sugar into the exhausted chamber below it. The warm air which
escapes from the evaporating pan, patented by me, will be found to
be nearly or quite saturated with moisture, and may be conducted to
a box or chamber fitted over the revolving table; or in lieu of this,
atmospheric air mixed with steam may be used, air saturated or super-
saturated with aqueous particles or aqueous vapour alone without air,
may be passed through the sugar for the purpose of cleansing it, either
by forcing it through at a pressure exceeding that of the atmosphere,
or by causing an exhaustion below the sugar, as in the case where
liquids are employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Bessemer in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
HENRY BESSEMER, of Baxter House, Old Saint Pancras Road, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Henry Bessemer, Her special licence that I,
the said Henry Bessemer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Henry Bessemer, ny executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND
REFINING OF SUGAR," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Henry Bessemer, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and

page_text: cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Bessemer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof (that is to say):-
Much of the crude or raw sugar which is brought into Great Britain
consists of crystals too small to admit of being washed or cleansed so
advantageously as that description of "grainy" sugar known as "De-
merara or vacuum pan sugar." The small crystals are also generally
impure or "grey." Now the object of the first part of this Invention
is to give to the small grained sugar such an increase to the size of
the respective crystals as will render them more suitable for the process
of "washing, cleansing, or curing," and at the same time to deprive
them of a portion of the impurities with which they may be mixed,
and thus render the sugar more suitable to the process of washing,
whether such washing be effected by apparatus acting by the exhaustion
of atmospheric air in the manner already patented by me, or by appa-
ratus acting by centrifugal force or otherwise. The distinguishing
feature of this process for increasing the size and purity of the crystals
of raw sugar is the solution and recrystalization of it without the
intermediate process of evaporation.
To carry into effect this part of my said Invention, I provide a
wooden or metal vessel, the bottom of which consists of a row of small
steam or hot water pipes of about one inch diameter, placed nearly
close together. The vessel is also provided with an agitator, by which
its contents may be mixed. Into this vessel I put about a ton of the
small grained sugar to be operated upon, and then sprinkle boiling water
over it in such quantity as will be capable of converting the sugar into
syrup, having a density equal to about forty or forty-five degrees
Beaumé. The agitator is used to mix the whole evenly together, and
steam or hot water is then passed through the pipes before mentioned,
the heat of which will cause the net mass of sugar to dissolve at those
parts in contact with the pipes, and to flow through the spaces between

page_text: them and fall into a "heater," if its temperature is below 180°
Fahrenheit; but if sufficiently hot, it may fall at once into a large
crystalizing vessel mounted on wheels. As the solution of the mass
proceeds, new portions of sugar will be brought by the pressure of the
superincumbent mass in contact with the hot pipes. The vessel in
which the crystallization is effected is to be of such dimensions as to
hold a large quantity of sugar in order that the cooling thereof may
be effected slowly. I prefer wooden boxes or vats capable of holding
from half a ton to three tons, and to have a wooden lid fitted loosely
into them, so that it may rest upon the surface of the sugar and still
further retard the cooling process. It will be found that the slow
aggregation of atoms forming each crystal will cause a separation of
many of the impurities contained in them, while the size of the crystals
will be form the same cause greatly increased. Instead of dissolving
the sugar in the apparatus herein-before descried, the same may be
effected by first dissolving a portion of the sugar in a pan provided with
a steam jacket, and then adding by degrees as much sugar as will form
a syrrup of the required density. A still better quality of sugar will
be produced by first dissolving in the water as much of the sugar as will
form a liquor of about twenty-eight to thirty-four degrees Beaume, and
"blowing it up" with albuminous matter as usual, and afterwards filter-
ing it through bags. The solution, thus deprived of a large proportion of
its impurities, may then be used in lieu of water, as before described, in
making dense solutions for the purpose of recrystallizing; in like manner
"refines liquor" which has passed through charcoal, or other syrups,
may be used as solvents. In every case the density of the fluid should
be such as to furnish a crop of crystals without requiring to be first
evaporated. This mode of preparing sugar for the process of washing,
cleansing, or curing, so far as regards the formation of large crystals
by the use of large vats, boxes, or vessels, in lieu of "moulds" may bo
advantageously applied to the crystallization of refined syrups intended
to produce "bastard," "pieces," or "crushed sugar," and the mass of
sugar concreted in such vessels may be crushed between rollers pre-
paratory to the washing or curing process, however effected, and without
the necessity for any previous process of draining the syrups therefrom.

page_text: When the crystallization of the sugar has taken place, it is to be
removed to the washing table or machine, where I apply the improve-
ments which constitute the other portion of the present Invention.
The table itself forms the subject of a former Patent granted to me,
and consists of a revolving horizontal table or sieve on which the sugar
is spread in a thin stratum, while a partial vacuum is formed beneath
it. Water or saccharine solutions are sprinkled on to the surface of
the sugar, through which it passes into the exhausted chamber below;
as the use of water is found to dissolve a small portion of the sugar, it
is desirable to reduce the quantity of pure water as much as possible.
For this purpose I divide 'the single exhausted chamber (used in my
original Invention) into several parts or chambers, the first of which
receives the diminished quantity of pure water which passes through
the sugar into it, and from which it is pumped out and allowed to flow
again through the sugar and fall into the second chamber. From this
it is again pumped out and allowed to flow through the sugar into the
third chamber, and so on throughout the series b. By this means the
fluid becomes more and more dense, and consequently less capable of
dissolving the sugar, at the same. timer that the liquor, which becomes
darker in color, is applied to sugar more and more impure, from which,
however, it is capable of removing some portion of its coating of
molasses. The repetition of the process may be continued until the liquor
becomes so denso as to loosse all power of cleansing the sugar, and thus
not only will a smaller quantity of sugar be dissolved, but a more dense
liquor obtained, requiring less evaporation to obtain the sugar from it;
but instead of allowing the solution to pass successively from chamber
to chamber throughout the entire series, it may be removed from the
machine after passing through the greater part of them, the sugar
moving over the remaining chambers of the series, being supplied with a
solution of molasses of about 30 to 33 degrees Beaume, which will be
capable of removing a great part of the almost dry coating of molasses
which adheres to the exterior surface of the crystals, without, however,
dissolving any considerable quantity of the crystalized sugar. The
solution of molasses used for this purpose is prevented from. becoming
too dense by a small stream of water, which is allowed to flow into the

page_text: last chamber of the series; and the surplus quantity of syrup thus
produced is allowed to pass away from the apparatus by an overflow
pipe; thus the syrups which result from the process of washing or curing
the sugar will be of two different kinds, and may be heated according
to their respective qualities, in such manner as the refiner considers
most advantageous. In order that the position of the various chambers
herein referred to may be fully understood, I have annexed a Drawing
hereto, on which is represented at Figure 1, a plan of the upper surface
of the series of chambers; a, b, c, d, e, f, g, are openings leading directly
into the several chambers. The revolving table moves in close contact.
with the upper surface of plato h, in which the orifices of the different
chambers are made; a small perforated jet pipe is placed vertically over
the centre of each orifice, so that the syrup passing through the moving
stratum of sugar will fall into the chamber directly beneath it.
should
Instead of applying the fluid from perforated pipes above the sugar,
as in my original Invention, I find it better to allow the fluid to flow
from a perforated box, the perforated bottom of which is in contact
with the thin stratum of sugar under operation; this improved mode
of liquoring the sugar may be advantageously applied both to crude or
refined sugars. The lower part of the box used for this
purpose
be fitted accurately into the annular channel which contains the sugar
to be washed, and the pipe through which the water or liquor is
supplied should be elastic, so that the box may rest upon the sugar, and
rise or fall as occasion may require. This contact of the sugar with the
perforated surface of the box will very much lessen the quantity of
air taken into the exhausted chambers, and thereby diminish the
amount of motive power required to keep the curing machine in opera-
tion. It has been found that the crystals of sugar spread on the washing.
table cannot expose equally the whole of their surfaces to the action of
the washing media, by reason of their contact at certain points; I.there-
fore place over the moving stratum, of sugar a series of small inclined
blades, which are fixed so as to pass downwards through the sugar and
form a sort of plough, by which the sugar is turned over one or more:
times, and again laid flat. The mode-by which this
part of
Inven-
tion may be carried into effect is represented on the annexed Drawing,
my

page_text: where Figure 2, is a plan of the revolving table, and Figures 3 and 4,
vertical sections of a part of it taken on a line proceeding from the
centre of the table; m, is the annular space containing the sugar;
n, n,, n, are a series of thin pieces of metal which extend downwards
through the sugar until they are almost in contact with the wire gauze
surface on which the sugar is laid. The ploughs n are attached to a
metal bar p, which is bolted to the fixed part of the machine frame; at
a short distance further on, a similar bart is fixed, having ploughs
8, 8, 8, 8, attached thereto, but inclined in an opposite direction to the
ploughs; still further round the circle is placed a conical roller u,
which is supported on an axis which passes freely through it, and is
bent downwards at W, and bolted to the fixed framework of the
machine; when the table is supplied with sugar, and moved round in
the direction indicated by arrows, the flat stratum of sugar is divided
by the ploughs n, and moved towards the centre of the machine by
reason of the ploughs being placed with their flat sides at a tangent to
the line of motion; the further progress of the table brings the sugar
in contact with the ploughs s, which remove the sugar towards the outer
circumference of the table, after which it passes under the roller u, and
is by it pressed down; it may then receive another liquoring previous to
its removal from the machine, or in lieu of this, the sugar may be
ploughed off the machine, and again relaid by another feeding hopper,
or be passed twice through the machine; but I prefer the first-named
mode, after the relaying of the sugar; in either case, a small quantity of
water, vapour, or liquor passed through it will complete the process.
But in the cleansing of all sugars by the washing table, the use of water
or liquor may be dispensed with by allowing a large quantity of moist
air to be drawn through the thin stratum of sugar into the exhausted
chamber below it. The warm air which escapes from the evaporating
pan patented by me, will be found to be nearly or quite saturated with
moisture, and may be conducted to a box or chamber fitted over the
revolving table, or in lieu of this, atmospheric air mixed with steam
may be used; air saturated or supersaturated with aqueous particles, or
aqueous vapour alone without air, may be passed through the sugar
for the purpose of cleansing it, either by forcing it through at a pressure

page_text: exceeding that of the atmosphere, or by causing an exhaustion below
the sugar, as in the case where liquids are employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bessemer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
B. GOBEY,
12, Cursitor Street,
Chancery Lanc.
HENRY BESSEMER. (Ls.)