IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR OR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OR
MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR OR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." A communication
to him from abroad by La Société dite Raffinerie de St. Ouen, of Paris, in
the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN THE TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR OR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by La Société dite Raffinerie de St. Ouen, of Paris,
in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to improvements in centrifugal machines, and has for its
object clarifying or purifying sugar masse cuite and the like by means of steam,
according to what is known as Weinrich's process, with facility and economy in
centrifugal machines of ordinary construction.
This improved system of purifying or clarifying sugar invented by Mr. Weinrich
has heretofore necessitated the employment of centrifugal machines of special
construction.
"
According to this Invention it is rendered possible to employ the "Weinrich
system " of treatment in any ordinary centrifugal machines, but more particularly
in the apparatus now in general use, and known as Caib's centrifugal machines,"
so as to enable manufacturers to utilize their ordinary centrifugal apparatus in
order to carry out the said improved process of treatment at a small expense.
The improved centrifugal machine is capablo of being employed for all the
071

page_text: purposes to which this class of apparatus is generally applied, and may be still
further improved if considered neccessary by adapting to it the helical deflectors
known as "Mahoudeau's deflectors," which facilitate the discharge of the water
formed by condensation. .
In carrying out this Invention the interior of the basket of the centrifugal
machine is provided with a circular partition guard or screen, serving to arrest the
water of condensation, and consisting of a vertical tube preferably of conical form,
open at both ends, and provided at its upper part with an internal flange, and at
its lower extremity with an external ring or flange, which forms a false bottom to
the basket, as in the case of the ordinary "Weinrich centrifugal machine." In
practice, in order to adapt to existing centrifugal machines this guard or partition,
it is advisable to divide the plate or flange with which it is provided at its lower
part into two or more segments in order to facilitate the introduction of the latter
into the interior of the basket. This plate may be provided with similar helices,
as employed by Messieurs. Weinrich and Mahoudeau, the segments are afterwards
screwed and soldered together, so as to form a solid plate. The conical partition or
screen. herein before. described is soldered to the plate, and the helices hereinbefore
referred-to attached to the plate, are also screwed to the said screen. These helices
are employed to guide the water of condensation as it flows down the sides of the
partition, and other helices or deflectors are arranged underneath the former
(between the false botton and the basket), and which aid in expelling the said
water. These helices may however be dispensed with without affecting the
principle of the Invention.
The centrifugal machine is covered in by a suitable cover, made in two or more
pieces. Steam may then be directly introduced into the space enclosed by the
conical screen in the manner adopted by Mr. Weinrich, but in this case the steam
supply pipe must be of a corresponding shape on account of the proximity to the
shaft of the centrifugal apparatus. According to a more economical arrangement
which it is preferred to adopt in carrying out this present Invention, a steam chest
is arranged directly upon the cover of the apparatus and in close proximity to the
shaft, the side of the chest adjacent to the shaft presenting a suitable concave
recess, so as to allow the shaft to rotate without coming in contact with the said
chest. Steam is admitted to the chest by means of a suitable pipe near its upper
extremity by the excess of steam, and the water of condensation being discharged
through another pipe-at-the-lower part of the chest.
These two pipes are placed at the side of the chest and a third pipe is passed
through the bottom of the chest, and projects within the latter to a sufficient
height to prevent any water of condensation from entering the said third pipe,
which also descends into the conical screen or guard hereinbefore described, so as
to supply the latter with steam. In order to prevent as far as possible any drops
of water from being carried with the steam into the interior of the conical screen,
the steam is not allowed to pass direct from the steam inlet pipe to the upper part
of the steam chest where the extremity of the third pipe is located, a perforated
horizontal partition being interposed, through which the steam is compelled to pass
before reaching the orifice of the said third pipe leading to the interior of the
conical screen. This pipe is of a suitable crescent shape in cross section, in order to
enable it to pass in close proximity to the shaft.
The general arrangement of the apparatus herein before described enables the
improved system of treatment invented by Mr. Weinrich to be applied in all
ordinary centrifugal machines of recent or other construction. The steain introduced
into the apparatus may be heated and expanded according to the processes usually
adopted in carrying out Mr. Weinrich's system, and the refining processes invented
by Mr. Weinrich may likewise be carried out in combination with the improved
apparatus constructed according to this Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st January 1882.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN THE TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR OR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by La Société dite Raffinerie de St. Ouen, of Paris,
in the Republic of France.
The said Invention relates to improvements in centrifugal machines, and has for
its object to clarify or purify sugar, masse-cuite, and the like by means of steam, .
according to what is known as "Weinrich's process," in centrifugal machines of
ordinary construction, but provided, as hereinafter described, with means or
improvements for attaining this object, the improved system of purifying or
clarifying according to the said process invented by Mr. Weinrich, having heretofore
necessitated the employment of centrifugal machines specially constructed for the
purpose, owing principally to the impossibility of introducing into ordinary
machines arranged underneath the driving gear the internal guard screen
partition which forms an essential part of an arrangement for carrying out the
said process.
"
or
According to the present Invention ordinary centrifugal machines can readily be
adapted for employment in the said Weinrich process (the machine known as
Cail's "centrifugal machine" being especially suited for such adaptation), whereby
manufacturers are enabled to utilize their ordinary centrifugal machines in order
to carry out the said Weinrich process by converting them for the purpose at a
small expense, as hereinafter described.
Centrifugal machines as improved and adapted according to this Invention, are
capable of being employed for all the purposes to which this class of apparatus is
generally applied, and they may be still further improved, if considered necessary,
by fitting them with the helical deflectors known as "Mahoudeau's deflectors,'
which facilitate the discharge of the water formed by condensation.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a vertical section of a
centrifugal machine constructed according to Cail's system, provided with the
improvements according to this Invention, by which the said machine is adapted
for employment in carrying out the before mentioned Weinrich process, Mahoudeau
deflectors being also shewn in conjunction with the said machine.
Figure 2 is a vertical section, and Figure is a sectional plan drawn to a
larger scale, of a portion of a machine showing the chamber for supplying steam.
In carrying out this Invention the interior of the basket a of the centrifugal
machine is provided with a circular partition guard or screen b serving to arrest the
water of condensation, and consisting of a vertical tube, preferably of conoidal form,
open at both ends and provided at its upper part with an internal flange, and at
its lower extremity with an external ring plate or flange c which forms a false bottom
to the basket, as in the case of the ordinary "Weinrich centrifugal machine."
In order to adapt this guard or partition b to ordinary or existing centrifugal
machines according to this Invention, both it and its plate or flange c are formed
in or divided into two or more segments in order to enable them to be introduced
into the interior of the basket.

page_text: The said plate or flange c may be provided, as shown in the Drawing, with
helices & similar to those employed in the Weinrich and Mahoudeau machines.
The segments when introduced into their place are screwed and soldered or
otherwise fastened together so as to form virtually one partition or screen and
plate.
The conical partition or screen b is soldered or otherwise fastened to the plate c,
and the helices d'attached to the plate c are screwed or otherwise fastened to the
said partition or screen b. These helices & are employed to guide the water of
condensation as it flows down the sides of the partition or screen b, and other helices
or deflectors e are arranged underneath the former (between the false bottom c
and the bottom of the basket a) for aiding in expelling the said water.
These hellices d and e may however be dispensed with without affecting the
principle of the Invention.
The centrifugal machine is covered in by a suitable cover f made in two or
more pieces. The steam used in carrying out the Weinrich process is introduced
into the space enclosed by the conical screen b.
A steam chest g is mounted upon the cover of the apparatus and in close
proximity to the shaft, the side of the chest adjacent to the shaft presenting a
suitable concave recess, so as for compactness to allow the shaft to rotate without
coming in contact with the said chest. Steam is admitted to the chest g by means
of a pipe near its upper extremity, the excess of steam and the water of conden-
sation being discharged from the said chest g through another pipe i at the lower
part of the said chest.
These pipes and i are attached to the chest g and enter thereinto at the side
thereof, and a third pipe (the pipe j) is passed through the bottom of the chest g
and projects within the latter to a sufficient height to prevent any water of con-
densation from entering the said pipe j, which descends through the bottom of the
chest ginto the space enclosed by the conical screen or guard b in order to supply
the latter with steam. In order to prevent as far as possible any water from being
carried with the steam into the space enclosed by the said conical screen b the
steam is not allowed to pass direct from the steam inlet pipe h to the upper part
of the steam chest g, where the extremity of the pipe ; opens a perforated hori-
zontal partition k, being interposed through the perforations, in which the steam
is compelled to pass before reaching the orifice of the said pipe j. The pipe jis
for compactness of a suitable-crescent-shape, in cross section, in order to adapt it
to its position in close proximity to the shaft of the machine.
The general arrangement and method of fitting together the apparatus herein-
before described enables centrifugal machines of ordinary construction to be readily
adapted for carrying out the hereinbefore mentioned "Weinrich" process, the steam
introduced into the apparatus may be heated and expanded in the manner usually
adopted in carrying out the "Weinrich process," and the refining processes invented
by Mr. Weinrich may likewise be carried out in combination with the improved
apparatus constructed or adapted, according to this Invention, in the same manner
as that in which they are carried out in the centrifugal machines specially con-
structed for the purpose, as hereinbefore mentioned.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination with the revolving basket of any ordinary or existing
centrifugal machine of a guard screen or partition composed of two or more
distinct parts, which are connected together, after being introduced into the machine
in such a manner as to form virtually one piece (provided or not with Mahoudeau's
or other helical deflectors), and means for admitting steam into the space enclosed
thereby for the purpose of adapting the said machines to be employed in what is
known as "Weinrich's system" of clarifying, the steam being introduced into the

page_text: space enclosed by this screen, thence passing into the centrifugal machine, which
is closed for the purpose by means of a suitable lid or cover, the said guard screen
or partition being provided at its lower part with a flange, also divided for intro-
duction, and put together when in the machine to form a false bottom, provided or
not with deflecting helices or guides, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In centrifugal machines the combination with the steam supply pipe of
the steam supply chest g provided with a partition (%) for facilitating the purging
of the steam, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)