IMPROVEMENTS IN EVAPORATING APPARATUS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EVAPORATING APPARATUS." A communication from
abroad by Charles Lachaize and Constant Têtevuide, both of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1881.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EVAPORATING APPARATUS."
[A communication from abroad by Charles Lachaize and Constant Têtevuide, both
of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to a rotary evaporating apparatus, the water of conden-
sation in which is automatically removed therefrom, the said apparatus being
applicable for the rapid evaporation of all kinds of liquids, extracts, syrups, and
the like (whether concentrated or otherwise), which contain matter in solution,
thus permitting the fixing and extraction of salts or other substances contained in
such liquids. This evaporator is applicable for use in connection with manufactures
of many kinds.
Hitherto in rotary evaporating apparatus with discs the water of condensation
has been expelled by the pressure of steam circulating in the apparatus in such a
manner that a considerable part of this liquid has remained in the said discs whose
temperature has thus been lowered. Moreover a certain quantity of steam having
to be used for driving out the water of condensation, a considerable increase in
the cost of working is the consequence.
In the apparatus constructed according to this Invention these disadvantages are
entirely obviated, no pressure being required for expelling the water of condensation
which flows off by means of an arrangement hereinafter described. Moreover, the
escaping steam not being cooled by contact with the water of condensation can be
utilized on its leaving the apparatus. I therefore effect a considerable economy
with respect to the steam used for the evaporation and consequently in the working
expenses

page_text: The principle of this Invention consists essentially in collecting by means of a
special device or arrangement the water of condensation which deposited in the
lower part of the discs, and in conducting the same to the level of a hollow shaft
which passes through the apparatus where it is collected in helicoidal channels,
the weight of the liquid, combined with the rotation of the shaft, ensuring the
automatic discharge of the water from the apparatus.
In this apparatus the discs are placed together and bolted to one another in the
manner hereinafter set forth. They are provided in their interior with small
gutterlike channels, which are fixed at one end to the circumference of the discs,
and at their other end in an aperture provided for the purpose upon the hollow
shaft. It follows that the water of condensation taken up at the lower part of the
discs is lifted by the rotation of the apparatus to the level of the hollow shaft,
where it flows into a space divided spirally, by which it is automically led to that
end of the hollow shaft opposite to the one through which the steam is admitted.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a vessel to contain the
liquid which is to be evaporated, and at its ends there are bearings through which
passes a hollow shaft, which at its ends terminates in two stuffing boxes. Steam
arrives within the apparatus through a tube at one end, and the water of conden-
sation flows away through a tube at the other end. The aforesaid shaft carries a
number of hollow discs provided outside the same with troughs or scoops as in
the apparatus of ordinary construction. The said discs are connected with one
'another by bolted ties or bridge-pieces, and the steam enters the same through
apertures with which the shaft is pierced. This shaft is set in motion by means
of a toothed wheel which gears with a pinion operated by a pulley.
A gutter or channel fixed on the interior circumference of the discs takes the
water of condensation, lifting it to the level of the said hollow shaft into which it
penetrates. This shaft is provided inside the same with partitions which may be
straight or bent, and are arranged in the form of a screw, so that by the rotary
motion of the shaft the water brought by the gutters is automatically conducted to
the outside of the apparatus.
The form and arrangement of the spiral divisions in the hollow shaft, also of the
channels or gutters within the discs, may be varied without departing from the
principle of my Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th November 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EVAPORATING APPARATUS.'
A communication from abroad by Charles Lachaize and Constant Têtevuide, both
of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to improvements in rotary evaporating apparatus where-
from the water of condensation is automatically expelled, the said apparatus being
applicable for the rapid evaporation of all kinds of liquids, extracts, syrups, and the
like (whether concentrated or otherwise), which contain matters or substances in
solution, thus permitting the fixing and extraction of salts or other substances
contained in such liquids. This evaporator is applicable for use in connection with
manufactures of various kinds.
Hitherto in rotary evaporating apparatus having hollow discs, the water of
condensation has been expelled by the pressure of steam circulating in the
apparatus in such a manner that a considerable part of this liquid has remained
in the said discs, whose temperature has thus been lowered. Moreover, as a quantity
of steam has to be used to drive out this water of condensation, a considerable
increase in the cost of working is the consequence.
In the apparatus constructed according to this Invention, these disadvantages
are entirely obviated; no pressure is required for expelling the water of condensa-
tion, which flows off by means of an arrangement hereinafter described; moreover,
the escaping steam not being cooled by contact with the water of condensation,
may be utilized after leaving the said apparatus. I theretore effect a considerable
economy with respect to the steam employed to produce the evaporation, and
consequently in the working expenses of the same.
This Invention consists essentially in collecting by means of a special device or
arrangement the water of condensation which is deposited in the lower part of
the discs, and in conducting the same to the level of a hollow shaft which passes
through the apparatus where it is collected in helicoidal channels, the weight of
the liquid combined with the rotation of the shaft ensuring the automatic discharge
of the water of condensation from the apparatus.
In this apparatus the discs are placed together and secured to each other, as
herein after set forth; they are provided internally with small gutterlike channels
which are fixed at one end to the inner periphery of the discs, and at their other
end in an aperture provided for the purpose in the hollow shaft; therefore the
water of condensation taken up at the lower part of the discs is lifted by the rotary
movement of the apparatus to the level of the hollow shaft, where it flows into
spirally arranged channels, by which it is automatically conducted to the end of
the hollow shaft opposite to that through which the steam is admitted.
My Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved evaporator or evaporating apparatus,
and
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the same partly in horizontal section.
Figure 3 is an end view partly in section of the said evaporator.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section drawn to an enlarged scale of a portion of the
said apparatus.
Figure 5 represents in longitudinal section and on a still larger scale the method
of connecting the discs.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the shaft of the annaratus

page_text: Figure 7 represents in transverse section a modification in the arrangement
employed for expelling the water of condensation.
Figure 8 represents in transverse section on an enlarged scale the construction of
the hollow shaft employed in this modification.
a represents the vat or trough which contains the liquid to be evaporated,
and b, b, are its ends, which are provided with bearings that support
the shaft d; this shaft terminates at its onds in the two stuffing boxes e, e'.
Steam enters the apparatus at one end through the pipe f¹, and the water of
condensation flows away through the pipe f at the other end. The shaft d
carries a series of hollow discs g provided externally with scoops m, as in
evaporating apparatus of ordinary construction; these discs are connected with one
another by means of bolts, or by rings or pieces h screwed one upon the other, as
clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5; this arrangement permits the two plates which
form the discs to be soldered at their periphery, and to be readily put together and
taken apart. The said shaft d is revolved by means of a toothed wheel j which
gears with a pinion operated by a pulley l.
Gutters or channels n on the interior of the discs take up the water of condensa-
tion, and, as above stated, elevate it to the level of the shaft d, into which it freely
enters. The said shaft d (as shown in Figures 2 and 6) is provided with helical or
spiral grooves which cause the liquid to pass to and flow out through the pipe f,
as above specified. In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown a modified form of tho
hollow shaft d of the machine. In this modification the said shaft is provided
internally with partitions p, which may be straight or bent, and arranged in the
form of a screw or helix, so that by the rotary motion of the said shaft & the
water carried up by the gutters n is automatically conducted to the exterior of
the apparatus. In this arrangement the gutters n terminate in holes suitably
arranged in the periphery of the shaft d; these holes permit the water of
condensation to freely enter the latter during the rotation of the discs.
The form and arrangement of the spiral divisions or partitions of the hollow
shaft of the evaporator, and also of the channels or gutters arranged within tho
discs, may be varied without departing from the principle of my Invention, and
any suitable metal may be employed in the construction of the apparatus.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, and the manner of performning the same, I wish it
understood that I claim,-
The improvements in rotary evaporating apparatus (whereby the water of
condensation is automatically expelled), substantially as above described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which apparatus is characterized by
the following novel features, namely:-
First. The hollow shaft which carries the discs, and whose grooves or channels
receive the water of condensation which is expelled solely by the rotation of the
apparatus.
Second. The adaptation to the interior of the discs of the gutters or channels
for conveying the water of condensation into the said hollow shaft.
Third. The connection of the discs by means of rings screwed one upon the
other so as to permit the said discs to be readily fixed in position upon or
dismounted from the hollow helical shaft of the apparatus.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.