IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR CONCENTRATING SUGAR-CANE- JUICE AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies of N° 4 Saint Ann's Square Manchester
in the County of Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR CONCENTRATING SUGAR-CANE-
JUICE AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES communicated to him from
abroad by Hilario Ysaba y Lazarte and Eugène Prospère Larée both of
Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Cuba,
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1883.
"
GEORGE DAVIES of N° 4 Saint Ann's Square, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED
FOR CONCENTRATING SUGAR-CANE-JUICE AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES,"
Communication to me from abroad by Hilario Ysaba y. Lazarte and Eugène
Prospère Larée both of Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Cuba,
a
The principal object of this invention is to utilize the direct application of high
pressure steam for the concentration of sugar cane juice in the manufacture of
sugar, but the same apparatus is also applicable to other manufactures wheroin it
is desirable to concentrate or evaporate liquids by the application of heat.
The invention consists principally in placing the boiling or evaporating pans
above and in direct communication with the steam boiler or generator so that the
high pressure steam in the boiler acts direct against the bottom of the boiling or
evaporating pan without having previously to pass through steam pipes.
In the upper part of the steam boiler is formed a series of apertures above each
of which is fixed a steam chest communicating direct with the steam boiler or
generator by means of a short neck, in which is inserted a valve for regulating the
amount of steam admitted to the steam chest.
The top of the steam chest is dome-shaped and forms the bottom of the boiling
or evaporating pan which is fixed on the steam chest, the said dome being

page_text: perforated and having fixed in the said perforations a series of inverted U-shaped
tubes, each one of which joins two perforations so that these bent tubes are always
full of steam and as they project upwards into the liquid in the boiling or
evaporating pan they assist greatly in the concentration or ovaporation of the
same.
The scum boils over the top of the boiling or evaporating pan into a trough
surrounding the same, the more liquid portion returning through a valve into the
pan, and the scum passing off through a tube provided for that purpose.
A uniform temperature is obtained by the use of this apparatus and the degree
of heat required for the operations of defecation clarification, concentration, boiling
and crystallization may be increased, diminished or otherwise regulated by means
of the valves aforesaid and hence this apparatus will supersede the uso of double
and triple effect apparatus hitherto employed, its simplicity and cleanliness being
superior thereto and its results equal.
Owing to its simplicity also it is more economical in first cost, and it does not
entail so much expense for maintaining and keeping in repair and it effects a
considerable saving both in labour and fuel required.
As regards the latter the surplus 'bagasse' not employed as fuel will be available
as a manure for restoring the fertility of the land and hence a further economy will
be obtained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Davies in the Patent Office on the 16th February 1884.
GEORGE DAVIES of Number 4 Saint Ann's Square Manchester in the County
of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED
FOR CONCENTRATING SUGAR CANE JUICE AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES (a
communication to me from abroad by Hilario Ysaba y-Lazarte and Eugene
Prospere Larée both of Cienfuegos Santa Clara Cuba)
25
The principal object of this invention is to utilize the direct application of high
pressure steam for the concentration of sugar cane juice in the manufacture of
sugar but the same apparatus is also applicable to other manufactures wherein
it is desirable to concentrate or evaporate liquids by the application of steam
heat.
The invention consists principally in placing the boiling or evaporating pan or
pans in direct communication with the steam boiler or generator, so that the
high pressure steam in the boiler acts direct against the bottom of the boiling
or evaporating pan or pans without having previously to pass through steam
pipes.
Such being the nature and object of the said invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in
the following explanation thereof.
Fig 1 in the annexed drawing is a plan view and Fig 2 a vertical section of an
evaporating pan as adapted for the concentration of sugar cane juice according to
this invention.
In the upper part of the steam boiler (part of which is represented at a, a Fig 2)
is formed an aperture b, b (or a series of apertures) above which is fixed a steam
chest c, c of cast iron communicating direct with the steam boiler or generator by
means of a short neck d, d in which is inserted a valve e, e for regulating the
amount of steam admitted to the steam chest c. c
The Topff of the steam chest is dome-shaped (made preferably of copper)
supported by stay rods g, g and forms the bottom of the boiling or evaporating
pan h, h which is also of copper, and is fixed on the steam chest c, c, the said
dome ff being perforated and having fixed in the said perforations a series of
inverted U shaped tubes i, i each one of which joins two perforations (see Fig 1)
so that these bent tubes are always full of steam, and as they project upwards into
the cane juice or liquid in the boiling or evaporating pan h, h they assist greatly
in the concentration or evaporation of the same.
The scum boils over the top of the boiling or evaporating pan h. h into a trough
k. k¹ which surrounds the same, the bottom of the said trough being made so as to
slope down towards the end ¹, where the more liquid portion returns under the
screen, and through the aperture m into the pan h, h and the scum passes off
through the opening n into a tube provided for that purpose.
o, o is an exit passage for the discharge of the contents of the pan h, h-
This exit is closed by means of a sliding door, or portcullis not shown on the
drawing.
By the use of this apparatus a uniform temperature is obtained and the degree
of heat required for the operations of defecation clarification concentration, boiling
and crystallization, may be increased diminished or otherwise regulated by means

page_text: of the valve or valves e, e aforesaid and hence this apparatus will supersede the use
of the double and triple effect apparatus hitherto employed, its simplicity and
'cleanliness being superior thereto and its results equal.
Owing to its simplicity also it is more economical in first cost, and it does not
entail so much expense for maintaining and keeping in repair and it effects a
considerable saving both in labor and fuel required.
As regards the latter the surplus "bagasse" not employed as fuel will be
available as a manure for restoring the fertility of the land and hence a further
economy will be obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I
claim as the invention communicated to me by the said Hilario Ysaba y Lazarte
and Eugéne Prospére Larée, the construction of apparatus for conscentrating sugar
cane juice and for other similar purposes substantially as above described and
illustrated by the drawing annexed whereby the steam from a boiler or steam
generator is caused to act direct upon the bottom of the boiling or evaporating pan
without passing through steam pipes.
In witness whereof I the said George Davies have hereunto set my hand and
seal this fifteenth day of February in the year-of-our-Lord one thousand-eight
hundred and eighty four.