IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING SUGAR
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, CHARLES AUBREY DAY of 321 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING
SUGAR, (a communication to me from abroad by C. O. Foster, of Brookline,
Massachusetts, United States of America,) and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object to cheaply bleach or remove more or less of the
color from sugar while in its crystalline or granular condition, to thus improve its
appearance and market value.
In accordance with this invention the sugar in crystalline or granular state and
in motion is subjected to the action of sulphurous acid gas for a very brief period
of time, as will be hereinafter described, the said gas being preferably produced
from sulphur or its compounds by burning or otherwise, the gas being passed into
the sugar while the latter is in motion.
Fig. 1. in section represents an apparatus for partially bleaching or decolorizing
sugar in accordance with this invention, and,
Fig. 2 a partial section there of on the dotted line x. x.
The rotating drum A, its attached rings a, to rim on rollers b, and its shelves b¹, b²,
and having its axle or carrying shaft b3 supported in bearings 64, are as usual in
granulating and drying machines for sugar, and the said drum is rotated by
gears c c', shaft c², and pulley c³, the latter being driven by a belt in any usual
manner.
The drum A, preferably built into a case D, having a flue d, leading to a suitable
chimney, has a feeding-chute or conductor d', down which and into the drum the
crystalline or granular sugar s more or less comminuted, travels, its speed of
movement being regulated as may be desired, and during the rotation of the drum
the sugar is delivered therefrom, as at e', into the discharge-pipe d³ or other
suitable receptacle.

page_text: As herein shown, the sulphurous-acid gas is produced by burning 'sulphur in &
furnace F, composed of a metal boiler-like shell containing water, and having
tubes f, and a combustion-chamber g, the said boiler k having a pipe f², connected
with it, which leads the sulphurous-acid gas into the moving mass of crystallized
or granular sugar 8.
The fumes and gases rising from the sulphur burned in the pan g² are cooled by
the water surrounding the pipes f, and before being discharged into the sugar
receive, preferably, a jet of steam, or it may be moistened or dry air, which is
passed into the pipe f2 through the nozzle or pipe h, connected, preferably, with a
boiler for the production of steam, so that live steam may pass into the pipe ƒ³.
The pipes hand f* and flue d will be provided with suitable valves to control
the passage of material through them.
The pipes m m¹ are to provide the boiler with water.
I am aware that different substances in mass have been subjected to the action
of sulphurous-acid gas under pressure in a closed chamber.
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 what
I claim is
First. In an apparatus for bleaching or decolorizing sugar, a chute or passage for
the sugar, combined with an apparatus for the production of sulphurous-acid gas,
and with a pipe to discharge the said gas into the sugar, substantially as described,
to operate as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The chute d, for the passage of the crystallized or granular sugar,
combined with the pipe f, to conduct sulphurous-acid gas into the said sugar, and
with a pipe h, to deliver steam into the pipe f2, substantially as described.
Third. A chute or conductor for the sugar, and rotary cylinder to receive the
sugar from the said chute or conductor, combined with a pipe to conduct
sulphurous-acid gas into the said sugar, and with an apparatus for the production
of the said gas, as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. In the art of manufacturing sugar, subjecting the crystallized or
granular sugar, while in motion, to the action of sulphurous-acid gas, as and for
the purpose described.
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