IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: (LETTERS PATENT to Corneille Edmond Van Haesendonck of Brussels in the
Kingdom of Belgium for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Corneille Edmond Van
Haesendonck at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th July
1883.
CORNEILLE EDMOND VAN HAESENDONCK of Brussels in the Kingdom of
Belgium "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE REFINING OF
SUGAR
23
. This invention relates to a simple construction and arrangement of apparatus
whereby the refining and drying of sugar can be accomplished in a much shorter
time than heretofore and consists according to one arrangement in the employment
of a number of vertical screws working in suitable nuts or their equivalents secured
in a stone or other bed or support mounted on a wooden or other frame or trestle.
These screws are tubular or hollow throughout their entire length and carry at
their upper ends a loose funnel shaped socket piece communicating with the
central perforation of the screw and intended to receive and support the sugar
moulds of any convenient shape at their pointed ends. Each screw is provided
with a hand wheel by means of which it may be easily turned in one or the other
direction thereby raising and lowering the moulds. At a suitable height above
the sugar moulds thus mounted on the screws there is situate a horizontal pipe
from which descend in the direction of the screw axis a corresponding number of
short branches provided each with a large flange covered with an India rubber
ring or other suitable packing and of a diameter slightly greater than the large
open mouths of the moulds so that a tight joint will be obtained when the moulds
are raised and pressed against the said flanges which flanges are connected with
the table or support by means of fixed and removeable iron bars for the purpose
of sustaining the pressure. In the horizontal pipe are also inserted preferably in
a vertical direction the necessary pipes and cocks for the escape of the air
contained in the apparatus for the introduction of the usual pure saturated solution
of sugar and of cold and hot air or gas.

page_text: The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The moulds filled with crystallized
sugar are placed with their pointed ends after removal of the plug in the socket
or holder and pressed upwards against the flange by means of the hand wheel of
the screw until a tight joint is obtained. The pure solution is then introduced
under a certain pressure into the moulds which drives off the colored syrup through
the central bore of the screw into a suitable trough below. As soon as the solution
appears at the lower end of the screw the further supply is shut off by closing the
supply cock and cold air or a gas is introduced for the purpose of driving out the
solution remaining in the tube after which the sugar is dried by the introduction
of hot air or a gas at a pressure of say 5/10 atmosphere more or less until this air
or gas escapes from the screw in a dry state that is after 3 or 4 hours. It is
evident that instead of using separate flanges they may consist of one single piece
provided with the necessary holes for the reception of the descending pipes or
branches or these pipes as well as the horizontal pipe may be dispensed with by
using a horizontal vessel provided at the bottom with the necessary holes and pipe
connections for the introduction of the solution and the hot and cold air. I further
reserve to myself the right to use a similar vessel or reservoir provided with
circular openings in the bottom into which the moulds are simply screwed at their
large ends which for this purpose are formed with suitable screw threads round
them.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Corneille Edmond Van Haesendonck in the Patent Office on the
9th January 1884.
CORNEILLE EDMOND VAN HAESENDONCK' of Brussels in the Kingdom of
Belgium. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE REFINING OF
SUGAR."
My said Invention relates to a simple construction and arrangement of apparatus
whereby the refining and drying of sugar can be accomplished in a much shorter
time than heretofore.
And in order that my 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 explanatory sheet of drawings hereunto annexed the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of my drawings is a side elevation and partial vertical section of my
said improved apparatus for refining and drying sugar. Figure 2 is an end view
thereof and figure 3 is an enlarged detail of one of the essential parts of the said
apparatus hereinafter referred to.
This apparatus consists of a number of vertical screws C (figure 3) working in
suitable nuts B or equivalents secured in a stone slab or table of metal or other
suitable material A fixed on a wooden or other frame or support-These screws
which may be about 10 inches in length more or less are hollow throughout their
entire length and carry at their upper end a loose funnel shaped socket piece or
goblet E communicating with the central perforation of the screw and intended to
receive and support the sugar moulds F of any shape at their contracted or tapered
ends. Each screw C is provided with a hand wheel by means of which it may be
easily turned in one or the other direction raising and lowering thereby the sugar
moulds, (one of these screws being shown elevated in figure 1). At a suitable
height above the sugar moulds carried by the screws there is situate a horizontal
pipe H from which descend in a vertical direction to the several screw axes a
corresponding number of short branch pipes I each provided with a large flange
covered with an India rubber ring or washer J of any other suitable packing
material for forming a tight joint and having a diameter slightly greater than the
large bases of the sugar moulds F so that a tight joint will be obtained when the
moulds are raised and pressed against the said flange I which is connected with
the table by means of fixed and loose metal tie bars K for the purpose of sustaining
the pressure. In the horizontal pipe H are also inserted preferably in a vertical
direction the necessary pipes and cocks L, M, N, O, for the escape of the air
contained in the apparatus and for the introduction of the washing liquor, of cold
air and of hot air or gas.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The moulds F filled with crystallized sugar are placed with their tapered part
after removal of the plug in the socket or goblet E and raised and forced against
the packing ring J by means of the hand wheels of the screws C until a tight
joint is obtained. This being effected the washing liquor is introduced at a
pressure of about 5/10 atmosphere which drives off the coloured syrup through the
central bores of the hollow screws into a suitable trough below. As soon as the
washing liquor or "cleare" appears at the lower end of the screw the "cleare"
cock M is turned off and cold air or a gas at 20 to 25 degrees centigrade temperature
is introduced through the cock N for the purpose of driving the remaining liquor
into the sugar after which the sugar loaves are dried by introducing hot air or a

page_text: gas at about 40 degrees centigrade and at a pressure of 5/10 atmosphere more or
less by turning on the cock O until this air or gas escapes from the lower end of
the screw in a dry condition which it will do after a period of 3 or 4 hours. It is
evident that instead of using separate flanges they may consist of one single piece
provided with the necessary holes for the reception of the descending pipes; or
these pipes as well as the horizontal pipe may be dispensed with by using a
horizontal vessel provided with the necessary holes and pipe connections for the
introduction of the "cleare" and hot and cold air or gas and I reserve to myself
the right to use a similar vessel provided with circular openings in which the large
bases of the moulds are screwed having received for this purpose a screw thread.
X indicates a simple guide for the sugar moulds which guide may be dispensed
with if desired.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my 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.herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
First. The apparatus for refining sugar consisting of hollow screws working in
nuts secured in a suitable table and provided at their top end with funnel shaped
pieces capable of supporting the sugar moulds when raised and screwed tight
against the flanges of the pipes for the introduction of the washing liquor and
hot and cold air or gas substantially as set forth with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
Second. The use of a hollow screw provided with a funnel shaped pieco or.
having its top end so shaped as to be capable of supporting the sugar moulds
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The arrangement of the pipes (for admitting hot or cold air or gas to the
moulds) and their connection with the latter by bars or rods substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said Corneille Edmond Van Hacsendonck have
hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of January in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
CORNEILLE EDMOND VAN HAFSENDONCK