IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPRESSING SACCHARINE FLUIDS, AND IN THE MANU- FACTURE, REFINING, AND TREATING SUGAR
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
HENRY BESSEMER, of Baxter House, Old Saint Pancras Road, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,
by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster,
the Twenty-fourth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-two, in the fifteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs
and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Bessemer, my
exors, adiiors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole pri-
vilege and authority, that I, the said Henry Bessemer, my exors,
adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Bessemer, my
exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in
the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all
Iler said Majesty's Colonics and Plantations abroad, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPRESSING SACCHARINE FLUIDS, AND IN THE MANU-
FACTURE, REFINING, AND TREATING SUGAR;" in which said Letters Patent
A

page_text: is contained a proviso, that I, the said Henry Bessemer, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by
the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Henry Bessemer, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
fully described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
Firstly, my Invention consists in certain improved modifications of
presses used for expressing the saccharine juice of the sugar cane;
Secondly, in the mode of constructing "clarifiers," and in the clari-
fication of cane juice, or other saccharine fluids, in the manufacture and
refining of sugar;
Thirdly, in a method or methods of evaporating and concentrating
saccharine fluids, without boiling or bringing such fluids in contact
with pipes or surfaces heated by fire or steam;
Fourthly, in an "improved "cooler" or crystallizing vessel; and,
Lastly, in an improved mode or modes of "curing" sugar, or sepa-
rating the mother liquor or inolasses from the crystals of sugar.
Firstly, with regard to my improved modification of the cane press
used for expressing the saccharine juice of the sugar cane. The
improvements comprehended under this head of my said Invention
are represented on Sheets A and B of the Drawings annexed. On
Sheet A, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal elevation of the improved
cane press; Figure 2, a longitudinal vertical section on the line A, B,
of Figure 3 Figure 3, is a plan with the hoppers removed; Figure 4,
a horizontal section on the line C, D, of Figure 2; Figure 5, an end
elevation; Figure 6, a vertical cross section on the lines E, F, of
Figures 2, and 3; and Figure 7, is a vertical cross section on the line

page_text: G, H, of Figures 2 and 3. The cast iron frame or bed plate a of
the machine is cast in one piece, and has formed upon it at oppo-
site sides two square recesses, into which the brass bearings 6 are
fitted; these brasses are divided vertically, and have a wedge-shaped
pieces (shewn by dots) fitted between one of them and one side of
the square recess; this wedge-shaped piece has a screw c, passing
through a projection formed on the back of it, by means,
of which the
wedge is either raised or lowered into the recess, and by this means the
brasses are tightened or loosened as may be required. The brasses b,
are retained in their places by flanges on each side, and are prevented
from rising out of their seats by a cap d, which is firmly bolted to the
frame a; this cap is arched, and rests on both sides of the frame; the
central or arched part d also serving as a guide for the cane pistons e;
the brasses bare for the purpose of supporting the end journals f' of the
crank f; this crank I prefer to be formed by first turning a plain cylin-
drical mass of iron, and then placing it eccentrically in the lathe, and
cutting or turning away a part of it, until it is reduced to about half
the diameter, the reduced part forming a crank journal: Further on
the cylindrical mass is treated in like manner, in as many places as
there are crank throws to be formed thereon, each throw being placed
further round the cylindrical mass, so as to act in succession at equal
intervals of time during each revolution of the shaft. A crank con-
structed in this manner is shewn in elevation at Figure 9, and in cross
section at Figure 8. f is the plain cylindrical part between the throws,
and f are the journals on which it revolves; f, f, and f, are the
crank throws, as shown by dots in Figure 8. The crank shaft is shown
broken off at f*, where it may be connected to a steam engine or other
first mover. There are three recesses formed on the upper side of the
bed plate a, which are planed out so as to fit accurately the pressing
tubes I, which are also planed true, so as to fit the recesses in the bed
plate. The tubes are prevented from being pushed out of their position
by a rib or projection g*, Figure 2, which is cast on the under side of
them, and are prevented from rising by having a cast iron frame h,
bolted down to the top of the frame a; the cross bar / 1 passing, over
one end of them, and the part 2 passing across the other end, and at

page_text: the same time serving also as the base of the hoppers i; the end h 3
of the frame h overhangs the frame a, and has a board t, fitted into it,
and covered with thin sheet copper on its under side, to protect it from
the splashing of the juice; there is also a similar board fitted into the
frame h; these boards are moveable, so as to afford access to the tubes;
they also serve the purpose of a stage, on which the feeder stands to
put the canes into the hoppers i.
cap
The pressing tubes 9 have pistons or plungers e fitted into them;
one end of the plungers have a recess formed in them, and have a
e secured by bolts on to the end of them in such a manner as to
form a rectangular slot, in which is fitted a pair of brasses ; these
brasses have flanges to keep them in place, and are fitted to the excen-
tric parts or throws of the crank ƒ ƒ³, and f. A portion of the bed
plate a' is planed true, and between it and the under side of the piece
or cap d, the enlarged end of the plungers are fitted, so that the
space between the surfaces a' and d forms a guide for the plungers
and insures their parellel motion backward and forward when actuated
by the crank. The gland m fits into a recess formed at the end of the
pressing tubes, and causes the packing n to keep a close joint and pre-
vent the backward flow of cane juice, which might otherwise flow on to
the part a', and mix with the oil used to lubricate it. The supply of
oil to these working parts is given from oil cups d², which are placed
above each throw of the crank, and by suitable channels it is allowed to
flow on to the brasses and sliding parts; the hoppers i are cast in one
piece, and are secured by bolts passing through the flange
frame h.
to the
The pressing tubes are rectangular in cross section, and of much less
length than those heretofore used in machines made according to my
former Patent; and as the interior of them are difficult to plain out and
render true, I prefer to cast them on an iron bar or core, which is made
very accurate, and heated previously to casting the tube thereon; and
as an alloy of forty parts zinc and sixty parts copper (known as Muntz
metal) will bear the application of force while hot much better than
common brass, I prefer to make the tubes of this alloy, in order tha
the iron core may be forced out while the metal is hot, or otherwise the

page_text: shrinking of the cast metal on the iron core renders the latter extremely
lifficult to remove, and endangers the soundness of the casting. To
prevent the bursting of the tubes by the pressure within them when in
use, ribs g 1 are cast upon them, which abut against each other, and are
sustained by similar ribs a 3 formed on the bed plate a, so as to form a
mutual support for each other; one of these tubes is shewn detached in
Figure 10, which is a side elevation, and at Figure 11, which is a plan
of the same. When rotatory motion is communicated from any first
mover to the crank shaft f, and canes are put into the hoppers i, the
plungers or pistons e will move forward, and the cutter w, which is
fitted on to and forms the top angle of each plunger, will cut off a piece
of cane equal in length to the height of the interior of the tubes g;
each of the plungers e, acting in succession, will cut off a piece of cane,
and carry it forward into their respective pressing tubes. After several
pieces have been cut off' in each tube, the force required to push them
forward through the contracted part of the tube will cause them to be
crushed and flattened out, and thus still further increase the resistance
which they offer to the moving power, which tends to expel them at the
open end of the tubes. When in this manner the tubes are filled, the
apparatus will be in a suitable condition to continue the operation of
expressing the saccharine fluid. It will be observed by reference to
Figure 2, Sheet A, that the canes which are put into the hoppers i
fall down to the bottom of the pressing tubes whenever the plunges are
drawn back, and in their forward motion that portion of the cane which
is within the tube is cut off and pushed against the mass of canes
therein contained. And as it requires a great amount of force to move
the mass of canes forward, the piece of cane last cut off is flattened
out, whereby the cells containing the saccharine juice are burst, and
the juice forced out through the numerous perforations made in the
tubes for that purpose; but as the cane is partly composed of solid
matter which cannot escape through these perforations, every new piece
that is cut off and pressed must therefore move forward the mass a dis-
tance equal to its own thickness when in a compressed state, and thus
discharge at each stroke a portion of the compressed cane or "bagas
at the open end of the tube.
"

page_text: In the cane presses heretofore made the pressing tubes have been
made parallel or nearly so throughout, and of much greater length than
those represented in the annexed Drawings; the resistance opposed to
the escape of the canes through the tubes being chiefly or wholly caused
by the friction of the "bagas", in passing through the tube. Now it
has been found. that the elasticity of the " bagasin such a long
tube tended to prevent the crushing of the cane by forming a sort of
cushion for it, and also produced an irregular action of the machine by
not allowing each new portion of cane when pressed to expel another
piece at the opposite end of the tube; these disadvantages are obviated
in the present Invention by forming the pressing tubes in the manner
represented in the annexed Drawings, and causing the resistance neces-
sary to crush the cane by forcing the bagas (which has once been
squeezed out so as to occupy the wider part of the tube) through the
taper part g2 thereof, and afterwards forcing it along the narrow parellel
part of the tube; this change of form taking place while the canes
are under pressure will assist the disruption of the cells in which the
juice is contained, and facilitate its removal from them, while the
quantity of "bagas" contained in the wide part of the tube is too
small to prevent the proper crushing of the cane by its elasticity.
It will also be observed that the crank, as herein represented, will
cause the pistons to act in succession, so that the great resistance op-
posed to the pistons during the last portion of their forward movement
will have ceased in one tube before it is commenced in another; and
thus much of the strain is taken off the machine by their moving
one after the other, instead of moving simultaneously as heretofore
practised.
The spaces p between the supporting ribs allow that portion of the
juice which escapes laterally to fall down into the shoot q, from whence
it may be conveyed to the "clarifiers." The framing a' at the end of
the press contains a drum r, shewn by dots, over which an endless web
passes for the purpose of carrying away the "bagas," which slides
down the incline plate v on to it. In order to strengthen the pressing
tubes I sometimes cast one or more circular flanges upon them, and
when the edge of these flanges are turned true, I shrink an iron or

page_text: steel ring upon them in a manner well understood; a tube so con-
structed is represented on Sheet A, where Figure 12 is a side eleva-
tion, and Figure 13 a cross section. a, is the tube; y, the flange cast
thereon; and 2, the steel rings shrunk upon theni.
In the cane press represented on Sheet A, I have shewn only three
pressing tubes, but I do not confine myself to that. number, because
other numbers may be used in the same manner by making the requi-
site number of throws upon the crank shaft, and otherwise adapting
the apparatus thereto; but when it is desired to increase greatly the
number of pressing tubes I prefer to construct a double acting ma-
chine, which I have represented on Sheet B of the annexed Drawings,
where Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 a longitudinal vertical
section through the centre of the machine. In this modification of the
apparatus the crank shaft A is placed across the centre of it, and equi-
distant between two sets of pressing tubes. B and C; the plungers D
and E are bolted end to end; and in the slot L formed, between them
the brasses F move up and down when the crank shaft is in motion.
The general details and arrangement of this apparatus are the same as
that before described and represented on Sheet A, with the exception of
such parts as are necessarily modified in form or position to suit its
double action. In both the forms of apparatus herein lastly described,
it will be seen that the plungers have their motion rendered rectilinear
by working in between the bed plate N and the covering plate S,
which extends across the frame and fits down upon them, but, in some
cases I prefer to dispense with these guides and connect one end of the
plungers direct with the cranks, in which case I lengthen. the plungers
a little, in order to lessen the angle formed by their oscillation; this
renders it necessary to lengthen the frame or bed plate to a like extent,
but does not otherwise greatly interfere with the general arrangement
or construction of the machine. In order that this modification may
be fully understood, I have shewn in Figure 3, Sheet B, a longitudinal
vertical section through the centre of the machine, where G is the
crank shaft, and II one of the plungers, which has a pair of brasses J
fitted thereto, in which the throw of the chank revolves. These brasses
are tightened up by a cap K, in a similar manner to that usually em-

page_text: ployed to tighten the brasses of plummer blocks; the opposite end of
the plunger has a steel piece R fastened upon it, the lower angle
of which is rounded, so as to slide freely on the lower side of the
tube T.
The depth of the plunger is also reduced by a gradual taper to the
part H, where there is a thin plate of metal extending around it to
revent any juice that may escape from the end of the tube from
splashing against the crank. Q represents another plunger, seen partly
in elevation above the plunger H, and partly by dotts. As the crank
revolves these plungers rise and fall at that end where they are united
to the crank, while the other ends of them move within the tubes in a
right line, the face of the plungers being thrown slightly out of the
vertical line during the time they are receding from or approaching the
end of their stroke, at which time they become truly vertical.
The great resistance which the plungers have to overcome towards
the end of their stroke renders it necessary that great strength should
be given to all parts of the framing to enable it to withstand the force
thus exerted upon it. The lateral pressure of the canes within the
tubes must also be borne by the frame against which the sides of the
tubes abut. In order to provide most fully against these powerful
strains I sometimes make use of tension rods of wrought iron, so placed
as to bear the chief strains to which the machine is subjected. The
mode of doing this will be better understood by reference to Sheet B,
where Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Figure 5 a cross
section of a frame similar to that represented in Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet B, with the exception of the tension rods.
These rods P, P, are made of wrought iron, and of considerable
strength; they are made to pass entirely through the main cross ribs
S, S, of the frame, and thereby receive the thrust of the plungers in
each direction. V, V, are also similar tension rods which pass across
the frame, and prevent the lateral pressure exerted within the tubes
from injuring the main framing of the machine. These tension rods
have heads forged upon them at one end, and are secured at the other
by screwed nuts, as shewn, or they may be tightened up by cotters
passing through slots formed therein.

page_text: Secondly, with regard to my Invention in the mode of constructing
clarifiers, aud in the clarification of cane juice or other saccharine fluids
in the manufacture and refining of sugar. The vessels or clarifiers
heretofore generally used are either heated by fire applied direct to the
under side of them, or by steam contained in a jacket or double bottom;
the jacket of these vessels is of a hemispherical form, and is secured by
bolts to a stout flange extending around the vessel. The force of the
steam exerted over the whole area of the bottom of the pan has to be
sustained by this flanged joint of the jacket, while the hemispherical
form of the bottom, which is required to sustain this pressure, causes
the admixture of some of the deposited matters with the fluid which is
drawn off. This admixture takes place as soon as the liquid is drawn
off from the upper cylindrical portion of the vessel; and while it is
sinking down in the curved part the slight motion of the margin of
the fluid's surface disturbs the deposit upon the curved bottom of the
vessel.
In order to prevent this admixture of impurities with the liquor that
should be drawn off clear from the clarifiers, and to save much of the
expense of construction caused by the great tendency which the pan
and jacket have to be separated from each other by the force of the
steam, I construct a vessel or clarifier, as represented on Sheet C of
the Drawings annexed, where Figure 4 is a vertical section through
the centre; Figure 5, a horizontal section; and Figure 6, an elevation.
a, is a cast iron cylindrical vessel having a nearly flat bottom, which
has hollow chambers a' formed around it, the bottom of the vessel a²
being connected by vertical radial partitions (which are shown by dots
in Figure 5) to the lower part a', which forms part of the same casting.
b, is a cylindrical jacket which fits on to the vessel a, and has a caulked
or rust joint at c, both at top and bottom, and leaves an annular space
d, around the vessel for the admission of hot water or steam, the pressure
of which has no tendency to move the jacket either upwards or down-
wards, and is therefore amply secured by the rust joint c. To strengthen
the jacket a flange is formed at the upper end, and a similar flange
at the lower end of it. These flanges have a recess formed in them
for the purpose of holding the wood jacket e, which has projecting parts

page_text: eat each end, fitting into the annular recess of the flanges and b*,
and thus keep the staves of the wood jacket firmly in place, there being
a portion of the projecting part of the flange removed for the insertion
of the staves. f, is a cock for drawing off the clear liquor by one
passage through it, and for drawing off the sediment by another; in
which case the plug g is lifted up in the manner commonly practised.
Steam or hot water heated in any convenient way is to be supplied by
a cock and pipe to any part of the jacket b, communicating with the
annular space d, another similar pipe and cock being connected with
the jacket on the opposite side, and at the lowest part of it, in order
to draw off the condensed steam, if steam be used as a heating medium,
or for the purpose of keeping up the circulation of water, if the clarifier
is intended to be heated in that manner.
When saccharine fluids have been heated with lime or otherwise in
the "clarifiers" or blowing-up pau," a certain quantity of floculent
matter will be found mixed with the fluid, and may be separated, there-
from by allowing the matters to subside; when this is done in the
clarifier the heat of the vessel causes motion in the fluid, and retards
this operation; and as it cannot be seen whether the fluid is clear or
otherwise without drawing it off the process is rendered very uncertain.
To avoid these disadvantages I construct a subsiding vessel in the
manner represented in Sheet C of the annexed Drawings, where
Figure 7, is an elevation; Figure 8, a horizontal section; and Figure 9,
a vertical section. A, A, are two stout pieces of slate, having grooves
at A formed in them from top to bottom; B, B, are two stout plates
of glass inserted into the grooves of the slate, and cemented therein
with white lead; C, is an iron frame fitted on to the top of the vessel,
and bolted to the slate sides so as to hold the whole together securely;
D), is also a frame of iron for the purpose of securing the lower part of
the slate and glass sides of the vessel; E, is a stout slab of slate form-
ing a bottom to the vessel; through this piece passes a pipe G, having
a cock at its lower end. The pipe G is made smooth and parallel, in
order that it may slide freely up and down through an "hydraulic
leather or collar H, which prevents the escape of any fluid on the
outside of the pipe; the fluid to be clarified is let into the vessel, which

page_text: should be placed about two feet from the floor, and with a window
behind it, so that the precise state of the fluid at all parts of the vessel
may be readily observed. When sufficiently clear, the cock is opened
and the fluid allowed to escape; the pipe G, being drawn slowly and
steadily downwards so as to draw it off to such a point as the
appearance of the fluid renders desirable. By afterwards lowering the
orifice of the pipe G level with the bottom of the vessel, the whole
of the impurities may be drawn off previous to a repetition of the
process.
Thirdly, with regard to my Invention of a method or methods of
evaporating and concentrating saccharine fluids without boiling or
bringing such fluids in contact with pipes or surfaces heated by fire or
steam. In order that this part of my said Invention may be fully
understood, and in what respect. the same differs from other methods
of evaporating saccharine fluids already known or practised, I will
first give a brief description of some of these methods, and then proceed
to explain the manner in which I accomplish this object. The evapo-
ration of the saccharine juice of the sugar cane has for a long period of
time been effected by applying fire to the bottom of the vessel contain-
ing the fluid to be evaporated, and this method is still extensively used
in the British colonies; but it has been found that saccharine solutions
when exposed to a high temperature soon acquire a dark color, part of
the sugar being converted into glucose, and rendered uncrystallizable,
in which form it is more generally known as molasses. To lessen this
evil various modifications of apparatus have from time to time been
used in which heat is transmitted to the saccharine fluids by steam
circulating in pipes which pass through and among the fluid, and thus
impart the heat necessary to boil it and throw off the aqueous portions
in the form of steam; it further being found that boiling by steam also
produces an injurious effect on saccharine fluids, and to remedy which
numerous attempts have from time to time been made. The apparatus
invented by Howard for this purpose, and well known under the name
of the vacuum pan," is intended to lessen such injurious effects by
causing the fluid to boil, and throw off vapour in a close vessel or pan in
which a partial vacuum is maintained by a suitable condenser and air

page_text: pumps, the boiling point of such fluid being lower in a vacuum chamber
that when under the influence of the atmosphere. The heat, however,
required to produce ebullition in the vacuum pan is transmitted thereto
by steam pipes which pass in and among the fluid to be evaporated, the
lower side of the pan being double or "jacketed" for the purpose also
of containing steam. Since the period of Howard's Invention other
means have been devised and patented for evaporating saccharine fluids
in such manner that the bulk of the fluid should be maintained below
the temperature at which such fluids boil in the open air. To effect
this object Mr. Cleland invented an apparatus in which a convoluted
worm or tube is mounted on a horizontal axis extending across the
evaporating pan or vessel in such manner that a portion thereof is
immersed in the fluid to be evaporated, to assist which steam is made
to pass through the convoluted tube, and as it revolves upon its axis a
thin coating of the fluid is taken up upon it, and exposed to the action
of the surrounding atmosphere. In order to heat the fluid to be
evaporated the pan or vessel is constructed with a chamber below
it containing steam, which steam, by contact with the bottom of the
évaporating pan, transmits heat to the fluid in which the revolving
tube is partly immersed. After the publication of this Invention a
Patent was obtained by Mr. Augustus Gadesden, which Invention con-
sists of a revolving cylinder or drum composed of bars or tubes. This
drum is mounted on an axis which extends across the pan, and at
such a height above it that the bars of the drum as it revolves may
dip into the fluid to be evaporated, a thin coating of which is taken
up upon them and exposed to the atmosphere, whereby it becomes
cooled, and assists in lowering the temperature of the fluid in the pan.
The pan or vessel is usually enclosed in a furnace, and fire is applied
direct to the under side of it for the purpose of heating the fluid
therein. In like manner plain circular dises or plates of metal have
been mounted on an axis and made to dip into the fluid to be evapo-
rated, and take up upon their surfaces a thin coating of it, which
is thus exposed to the cooling influence of the atmosphere, and at
the same time assists evaporation. On the Fifteenth of April, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, a Patent was obtained by

page_text: Mr. Herman Schroder for "Improvements in Manufacturing and
Refining Sugar," which consists of a combination of steam pipes with
revolving discs. Other plans have also been proposed, in which air
has been forced below the surface of the fluid, and allowed to bubble
through it, and thus keep down the mean temperature of the bulk
of fluid below the point at which the same would boil in the open air.
Before entering into the details of my apparatus for evaporating
saccharine fluids, I wish it to be understood that I have discovered that
in all cases and in all forms of apparatus in which solutions of sugar are
brought in contact with metal tubes or surfaces heated by steam, that
the heat thus transmitted produces an injurious effect on such saccha-
rine matter, and also that to prevent such injurious effects of heat it is
not sufficient that the mean temperature of the fluid should be kept
below the boiling point of such fluid in the open air by exposing it in
thin films or coatings to the cooling action of the atmosphere, while at
the same time other portions of the fluid are in contact with metal
heated by fire or steam, whereby the low mean temperature of the
saccharine fluid in the pan is the joint effect of exposing such fluid to
an injuriously high temperature in one set of surfaces, and to an unne-
cessarily cool one on others, and is not the result of the application
of heating media at a low temperature as in my Invention, which is
herein-after described.
In all cases where I apply heat to the bulk of the saccharine fluid in
the pan I prefer that the surfaces used to transmit such heat shall not
exceed a temperature of 140 or 150 degrees Fahrenheit; and as ebulli-
tion cannot take place at this low temperature, I force large quantities
of heated air, also at about 140 or 150 degrees Fahrenheit, in contact
with the fluid, which has the effect of keeping it at an uniform tempera-
ture, and of absorbing the aqueous portions of such fluid which passes
off in combination with the air as an invisible vapour. The apparatus
for carrying into effect this part of my Invention is represented on
Sheet D, of the Drawings annexed, where Figure 1 is a cross section
on the line A, B, of Figure 4; Figure 2, is a longitudinal vertical sec-
tion on the line C, D, of Figure 1; Figure 3, is an end elevation;
Figure 4, is a side elevation; and Figures 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11, details

page_text: of the same.
a, is a tank or vessel constructed of plate iron or other
suitable material for the purpose of containing water, which is kept at
any desired temperature by the pipes b, which pass through it, and are
heated by steam. The upper part of the tank has a close cover riveted
thereto, which is hollow out so as to form the sugar pan c, the central
portion of which is accurately curved, forming a segment of a cylinder,
the rivets being countersunk and the plates put together with butt
joints so as to leave no projections on the inside of the pan c. At each
end of the tank there is formed bearings d' and d, for the purpose of
supporting a large tubular axle e, which is closed at one end by a suit-
able cover e 1; this cover is elongated, and forms an axis e, on which
that end of the tube is supported; the opposite end of the tube ³ is
open and rests on the bearing d'.
The tubular axle e, has a screw thread on it, as shewn at f, f,
Figure 5.
This thread is to be about a quarter of an inch in depth,.
and of such breadth as to fit a plate of sheet metal which is to be
inserted therein. The distance between the convolutions I prefer to be
from half inch to one inch, but it is by no means limited to these
dimensions. Figure 11, represents a plate of metal g, having a circular
hole in its centre of about half an inch less in diameter than the axle e;
the plate y has a slit cut in it at g', and each edge of the metal next to
this slit is reduced to half its thickness in order that a similar edge of
another plate may be rivetted thereto without increasing the thickness
at that part; this joint is shewn on a larger scale at g, Figure 10. Two
plates thus united are represented at Figure 9, where i shows the
rivetted junction; or, instead of this mode of uniting the plates, the
edges may be "ploughed and tongued "as represented at h, in Figure 8.
A number of circular plates thus prepared are sprung sufficiently to
cause their inner edges to be inserted in the spiral groove or thread of
the axle e, on which they are fitted and rivetted together, the plates
assuming the form represented in Figure 9. When as many plates are
thus put on as will occupy the spiral groove from end to end, a large
screw will be formed by them, as represented in Figures 2 and 4.
On that part of the axle e which intervenes between the spiral blades
or threads of the screw a great number of holes are drilled into the in-

page_text: terior shewn at n; these holes extend entirely around the axle at a
distance of a few inches apart, and are for the purpose of admitting jets
of air in between the convolutions of the screw.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The tank a is first filled
with water by the opening m, and steam is admitted to the pipe b,.which
consists of several lengths united by bends at each end so as to form a
continuous passage for the steam to pass through; or instead of these
pipes fire may be applied to the under side of the tank a, the object in
either case being to heat the water which forms a bath for the sugar
pan, against the under side of which the water is in contact. A thermo-
meter may be inserted in the opening m, for the purpose of ascertaining
the temperature of the bath, which I prefer to use at 150° Fahrenheit.
The opening m is left open to the atmosphere in order to prevent (even
with carelessness) the water from being raised above 212 degrees Fali-
renheit, and consequently so as to prevent latent heat of steam from
acting upon the metal against which the saccharine fluid is in contact.
And although I have herein described water as being used as a heating
medium, the heat may be transmitted to the fluid in the pan by heated
air or by any liquid or aeriform fluid whose temperature is below 212
degrees Fahrenheit. Or the process of evaporation may be carried on by
the application of heated air to the fluid on the surfaces of the moving
or revolving apparatus without any application of heat to the bulk of
fluid in the pan, otherwise than what it may obtain from the revolving
apparatus which becomes heated by the air brought in contact there-
with.
I also use a blowing fan or other convenient air forcing apparatus
which I connect with a pipe; one end of this pipe is inserted into the
open end of the hollow axis of the screw; the air so forced I prefer to
heat to about 150° Fahrenheit by the application of heat to the pipe
which conveys it to the evaporating apparatus, or by any convenient
mode of heating air already known and practised. The saccharine fluid
is let into the pan so as nearly to fill it; rotatory motion is then to be
communicated from any first mover to the axle e, by means of the
Irun s, which should revolve at the rate of about eight or ten revolu-
tions per ininute. As the screw revolves it will take up upon its sur-

page_text: face a thin coating of the saccharine fluid, and as the heated air rushes
out of the numerous holes in the hollow axle it will be brought in con-
tact with the thin stratum of fluid thus presented to its action; the
aqueous portions of the fluid will be absorbed by the air, and carried off'
in combination therewith, while the saccharine fluid on the screw, which
has thereby become more dense, will again descend into and mix with
the fluid in the pan, while fresh portions are rising out of it to be acted
on in like manner. As the quantity of fluid in the pan diminishes by
evaporation fresh portions should be added until the requisite density is
attained.
To prevent the deposit of sugar or the formation of a concrete mass
on the bottom of the pan, I cause the screw to be fitted so as to come
almost in contact with the bottom of the pan, whereby the blades of
the screw will form a scraper and remove any such deposit or concrete
matter to one end of the pan. This tendency to bring the charge to one
end of the pan renders it necessary to leave room on both sides of the
screw at and ", for the fluid to return to the opposite end of the
pan, and thus keep up a circulation of the fluid during the whole
process. When the charge is sufficiently concentrated the sluice t is
opened, and the screw continued in,motion, which will greatly facilitate
the discharge of the syrup from the pan, which can then be refilled and
the process continued as before.
After the concentrated syrup leaves the pan it should be heated before
being allowed to crystallize, as already practised with syrups concen-
trated in the vacuum pan.
Although the spiral blade or screw herein described affords great
facility in discharging the contents of the pan and in scraping the
bottom of it, nevertheless plain circular plates or discs may be used
instead; and as this difference will not affect the general arrangements
of the apparatus I have shown only a portion of a hollow axle with
plain discs in Figure 6, Sheet D. a, is the axle; v, the discs; and w,
the holes through which heated air is forced between the discs to
cause the evaporation of the fluid taken up upon their surfaces.
although I prefer to force heated air from the centre of such discs, it
will, nevertheless, be obvious that a similar though less perfect result
And

page_text: may be obtained by forcing such heated air between discs mounted on
a solid axis, as represented in Figure 7, Sheet D, where a represents
the discs; y, the solid axis; and, a pipe placed parallel thereto, and
perforated on that side next to the discs, so that heated air may be forced
between and in contact with the wet surface of the revolving discs.
Although I have herein described the mode which I prefer of evapo-
rating saccharine fluids by taking up thin films or coatings thereof
upon revolving surfaces, it will nevertheless be obvious that plates or
surfaces made to reciprocate or otherwise move into and out of the fluid
to be evaporated may also be made to take up the fluid upon them, and
expose it to the action of heated air, and may therefore be used as
a means of carrying into effect this part of my Invention; and, further,
instead of using revolving or moving surfaces as a means of exposing
thin films of saccharine fluid to the action of heated air, fixed plates or
surfaces may be used in a vertical or inclined position, without being
heated otherwise than by the heated air which is forced between them
for the purpose of absorbing the aqueous portions of such fluids. These
plates or surfaces may be placed in an upright tank or vessel open at
the top for the escape of the heated air and vapour, and connected at
bottom with a pipe or trunk through which heated air is forced by a
fan-blower or other suitable means, and thus a strong current of heated
air will be made to sweep over the wet surfaces and produce a rapid
evaporation; the plates or surfaces may be placed within a quarter or
half an inch of each other, and the fluid allowed to flow on to the top
end of them from perforated pipes in connection with a reservoir, which
may be supplied by a common lift pump from a tank or vessel into
which the fluid falls after passing over the plates, and thus a repetition
of the process may be carried on until the fluid has arrived at the
desired density. I have not hereunto annexed any drawings of such
apparatus, because the form and arrangement thereof will be readily
understood by any workmen, and admits of great variation without
effecting the principle on which it depends.
.
It sometimes happens that, owing to certain interruptions caused by
the state of the weather or by other circumstances, that a portion of

page_text: the crop of canes on an estate is in danger of being lost or spoiled
unless they can be used with great expedition; and whenever from this
or other causes it is requisite to increase the evaporative power of the
apparatus herein described, I either increase the temperature of the
air up to or above two hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit, or I
turn on steam from any suitable boiler into the jacket or tank below
the pan, the opening or openings m, being closed for this purpose, and
a pipe attached to the tank a, in connection with a steam boiler, to
which mode of heating separately I make no claim; I thus increase
the rate of evaporation, considering it preferable in such emergencies to
produce an inferior sugar to allowing the same to be entirely wasted
from want of the means of sufficiently rapid evaporation.
Fourthly, with regard to my improved "cooler" or crystallizing
vessel. When hot concentrated syrups are exposed to the cooling
action of the atmosphere in large shallow vessels, the sudden change
of temperature which is caused thereby converts the syrup into minute
and ill defined crystals, which are difficult to separate from their mother
liquor, and are less esteemed than sugar with a coarser grain. In
order to obtain a larger crystal, and to save much of the labor and
waste occasioned by the transfer of the syrup and sugar from place to
place, I construct a cooler in the manner represented in Sheet C of
the annexed Drawings, where Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2 a
plan, and Figure 3 a vertical section. A, is a cooler constructed of wood
and secured by iron hoops; B, the bottom of the vessel, is conical, for
the purpose of facilitating the discharge of matters therefrom whenever
the plug C is lifted up; D, is an iron band extending around it, to
which two of the wheels E are attached by a jointed arm G; there is
a third wheel H on one side, to which the handle J is attached, so as
to guide the wheel, and cause the vessel to move in any direction in
which the handle is pulled, and thus enables it to be brought to the
concentrating pans to receive a charge of syrup, and then to be wheeled
away to the curing house. The vessel being made of wood, which is a
slow conductor of heat, and also of a form which presents very little
cooling surface in proportion to the bulk of matter it contains, a very

page_text: gradual cooling of its contents will take place, and thus afford time for
the formation of larger crystals, and also increase the facility with which
their mother liquor may be separated therefrom.
Lastly, with regard to my improved mode or modes of "curing
sugar," or separating the mother liquor or molasses from the crystals
of sugar. In the ordinary mode of manufacturing sugar the mother
liquor or molasses in which the crystallized portions of the sugar are con-
tained is imperfectly separated by making an opening in the bottom of
the vessel, through which the semi-fluid matters are allowed slowly to
drain, leaving the crystals with a small film or coating of the molasses
still adhering to them, which darkens the color and adds much to the
impurity of the sugar; several modes intended to prevent the dis-
advantages arising from this imperfect separation of the molasses have
been used, but it has been found that much labor and loss of sugar
results from their use. If crystallized sugar containing a small quantity
of molasses is brought in contact with water, a union of the water with
the molasses will rapidly take place; the water will also dissolve the
crystallized sugar if suffered to remain in contact for a sufficient time,
but as the molasses are on the exterior surface of the crystal, and exist
in a semi-fluid state, there must necessarily be a period of time (after the
addition of water) when the molasses have become united therewith, and
the solution of the solid crystals have not yet commenced. This being
the case, it must therefore follow that if we can bring water in contact
with sugar for the short period of time only which is required for it to
unite with the molasses, and then as rapidly take it away, that the water
so withdrawn will carry with it the molasses in solution, while the washed
crystals of sugar will be left in a clean state. In order to carry into
practice this mode of "curing" or cleansing sugar I construct an
apparatus as represented in Sheet E of the annexed Drawings, where
Figure 1 is an elevation; Figure 2, an elevation taken at right angles
to the elevation Figure 1; Figure 3, a vertical section near the line
A, B, of Figure 5; Figure 4, is a horizontal section on the line C, D,
of Figure 1; Figure 5, a plan; and Figures 6 and 7, details on a larger
scale. a, is a circular cast iron frame with arched openings for the
purpose of affording access to the interior of it; b, is a circular table

page_text: having a hollow axis 6'; the upper side of the table has a central
covering plate 62, which is united to the part b, by six vertical ribs b³.
Around the upper side of the table. there is formed a large annular
opening, over which is fitted an annular plate of brass c, which is
secured to the table by screws and flanges d. The upper side of the
plate c, has a number of concentric grooves formed in it, the spaces or
ribs between the grooves being very thin, and terminating upwards with
a nearly sharp champhered edge; between each of these ribs a row of
holes is drilled all around the plate, so as to establish a communication
at numerous parts between the upper side of the plate c, and the hollow
table ; e and f are two rings of brass which have an annular ring of
wire guaze h, soldered to them. The rings e and f, with the wire guaze
attached to then, are fitted on to the plate c, so that the wire guaze
comes in contact and is supported by the thin annular ribs formed
thereon, the whole being secured by screws passing upwards through
the plate c, and screwing into the rings e and f. This will be better
understood on reference to Figures 6 and 7, which show a portion of
the plate c, in plan and section on an enlarged scale. care the holes,
and the ribs which support the wire guaze covering; the rings e and
f project upwards a short distance, and thus form a shallow annular
trough or channel with a pervious bottom, which extends all around the
upper edge of the table b; the base plate of the frame a, is raised
in the form of a dome a', in the centre of which there is a gland i
which forms a stuffing box around the hollow axis of the table for
the purpose of preventing the external air from entering the dome a'.
On the under side of the base plate of the table there is bolted a cover j
through the centre of which the main air suction pipe 7 passes upwards.
terminating with an open end at *. The cover j, has a recess o
annular space m, formed between the lower part of it and the pipe l
and leading into this space is the exhaust liquor pipe n. To prevent any
fluid from falling into the open end of the air pipe a large covering
plate p is placed above it, being retained in its position by radial ribs q
by which it is firmly attached to the coverj; the upper side of the
covering plate.p, receives the end of the small axis r, which is keyed
into the boss s; this boss is supported by arms t, cast in the lower end

page_text: of the hollow axis 6' of the table, and thus forms a support for the
table b, and an axis on which it may revolve. On the under side of
the table is a ring 65, on which cogs are formed, and has a bevilled
pinion u, in gear therewith; this pinion is keyed on the shaft v, which
receives motion from any first mover by a strap passing over the
drum w, which is also keyed upon the shaft v. x, is a loose drum
running freely on the shaft v, for the purpose of receiving the driving
strap when the machine is required to be stopped; the shaft v, is
supported by the plumber block y, bolted to the outside of the frame a;
on the inside of the frame there is a small girder z, passing from one
side of the frame to the other, for the purpose of supporting a plumber
block in which the end of the shaft v revolves.
In
It will be observed that the table has only a lower axis, it therefore
becomes necessary that the upper part of the table should be guided or
supported in some way; for this purpose the vertical outer surface of
the ring 65 is turned truly, and at three equidistant parts of the frame
a there are friction rollers B, working in bearings in the frame a,
and coming in contact with the ring &, whereby the table a, will be
guided and enabled to revolve with a quiet and steady motion.
lieu of the three friction rollers three brass bearings may be used, with
proper screws for tightening them up when required; above that part
of the revolving table b, which forms a shallow annular trough, is fixed
the hopper C, which is a circular vessel with an enlarged mouth, across
which a bracket D is fastened for the purpose of forming a support or
bearing for the vertical shaft E to revolve in. The upper part of this
shaft is shewn broken off. As its support will be fixed to the ceiling
of the house in which it works, the mode of driving it, also being
dependant on local circumstances, is not shewn. The lower part of
the shaft has arms or blades F fixed upon it, like a common pug-
mill, for the purpose of forcing the sugar downwards. The hopper
is open on the under side, the circular form of it being somewhat
altered at G, so as to make it fit against the rings e and f as closely
as possible. One side of the hopper is flattened at the part. C*,
where a sliding door H is fitted. On this door there are formed two
projections I, and above them there are two similar projections J formed.

page_text: On the flattened part of the hopper K, K, are screws which work
into the projections I at one end, and the other into the projections
J, J, the central part having a capstan head formed upon it, by which
they are turned round. When it is required to raise or lower the
sliding door II, the hopper C is firmly retained in its position by a
stout bracket L, through which it passes; the lower part of the bracket
being firmly supported by bolts to the frame a, the enlarged part C' at
the upper part of the hopper may be continued at the same angle
until it rises to the floor above, where a hole may be made equal in
size to it, and thus a convenient means will be obtained of putting in
large quantities of the matter to be acted on, the upper part of the
hopper in that case being also secured to the floor by a flange and
bolts. At the back of the hopper and secured to it there is a plough
or scraper N, made of sheet copper with raised edges; the front edge of
this plough inclines downwards between the rings e, and f, and has a
nearly sharp edge at N*, where it comes in contact with the wire gauze
surface. The scraper is curved on the side next the hopper and rises
up sufficiently high to pass over the ring e, when it again inclines
downwards, forming a sort of spout N³, down which the cured sugar
slides into any convenient receptacle placed there to receive it. The
whole of the space included between the scraper N and the hopper C
is covered so as not to admit air. In front of the sliding door H, and
at a small distance from it, there is a pipe P, having a cock Q, upon it;
this pipe is bent over at right angles pointing in the direction of the
centre of the table. The under side of this bent part, which is within a
few inches of the wire guaze surface, is perforated with numerous small
holes like a syringe, and from which water or other fluid may be pro-
jected on to the table, which revolves in the direction indicated by arrows.
When using this machine it is necessary to maintain a partial vacuum
in the hollow table b, which may be effected by air pumps similar to
those used for exhausting vacuum pans, such pump or pumps being
connected with the pipe 1, in a manner well understood. There will
also be required a common suction pump for the purpose of drawing
off fluid by the pipe n, and discharging it into an elevated cistern, from
which it may again flow down through the perforated pipe P, or be

page_text: conveyed to a concentrating pan. Any fluid matters that pass through
the wire gauze surface h, will pass down between the ribs, and
descend the hollow axis of the table, and from it into the space m,
from which they are drawn off' by the pipe n.
When the air and liquor pumps are in action, and motion is given to
the shaft v, and vertical shaft E, the action of the apparatus will be as
follows:-Crystallized sugar mixed with its mother liquor is thrown
into the hopper C, and is forced down by the revolving blades F on to
the wire gauze surface h, which will be moving under it. at the rate of
about eight or ten revolutions per minute. If the sliding door is lifted
up about one quarter or three eighths of an inch, a coating or stratum
of sugar of that thickness will be carried forward on the revolving
table, and as soon as one complete revolution is made the whole of the
annular ring of wire gauze will be covered with sugar. The exhaustion
of the hollow, table will now cause the molasses to be drawn into the
table b, while the jets of water or solution of sugar under which the
thin stratum of sugar passes will be rapidly drawn through it, and carry
off the adhering film of molasses. While the sugar is moving round in
the direction of the plough the air will pass through it and carry off
the moisture, so that it will arrive there sufficiently dried, and be scraped
off into a hogshead or other receptacle, while fresh portions are being
acted upon in a similar manner, and thus the operation is rendered
continuous and self-acting. If the revolving table is four feet in
diameter its outer edge will pass through a space of more than twelve
feet in cach revolution, and if the table makes ten revolutions per
minute the whole time which the sugar occupies from the time it
leaves the hopper to the time at which it is removed by the plough
from the machine will be less than five seconds, because it requires only
about three fourths of a revolution of the table to produce this effect;
and if cach complete revolution of the table, which is twelve feet in
circumference, occupies six seconds of time, and the jets of water act
upon a breadth of three inches or one fourth of a foot, it must follow
that the time occupied by the sugar in passing under the jets of water
will be equal to one eighth part of a second of time, and when it is
considered with what velocity fluids enter a vacuum it will be fully

page_text: understood how short a period is allowed in this process for the water
to act upon the sugar. The removal of the coating of molasses from
the crystals in so small an interval of time is chiefly owing to the
friction against the crystals of sugar caused by this rapid rush of air
and water between them, while the small amount of obstruction to
the passage of air or water between the crystals (in consequence of the
thinness of the stratum of sugar on the wire gauze, enables the water
to pass between the crystals before it has time to dissolve them. The
time which the sugar is under operation may be regulated to any ex-
tent necessary by simply altering the speed at which the table revolves,
and if a very perfect cleaning of the sugar is desired other jet pipes
for the supply of water or liquor," similar to the pipe P, may be made
to cross the table at different parts.
In the refining of sugar the great quantity of glucose or molasses
generally contained in Muscavado sugar is a source of much incon-
venience in the process; I therefore prefer to remove it by this curing
apparatus, previous to melting it in the "blow-up" cistern, for which
purpose the sugar is first damped or wetted before putting it into
the hopper C of the curing machine. I also use this apparatus for
treating sugars that have been manufactured abroad and sent into
Great Britain in an impure state. For this purpose I prefer sugar
made in the vacuum pan, which when thus deprived of its molasses
may be again sent into the market.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise plans here given, so
long as the peculiarity of my Invention be retained; but that what I
claim as my Invention is,--
Firstly, constructing the cranks or eccentric shafts of cane presses,
so that the plungers actuated by them are each brought into successive
operation, as herein described.
Secondly, I claim the peculiar construction of cane pressing tubes
herein described.
Thirdly, I claim the direct action of the plungers of cane presses by
connecting one end of them to the crank or eccentric shaft.

page_text: Fourthly, I claim the method herein described of guiding and giving
a parallel motion to the plungers of cane presses..
Fifthly, I claim the construction of double acting cane presses in
the manner herein described.
Sixthly, I claim the use of wrought iron tension rods in the con-
struction of cane presses as herein described.
Seventhly, I claim the mode of constructing "clarifiers" as herein
described.
Eighthly, I claim the use of glass in the construction of subsiding
vessels used in the clarification of saccharine fluids.
Ninthly, I claim the forcing of heated air in contact with saccharine
fluids taken up upon revolving or moving surfaces partly immersed
therein.
Tenthly, I claim the evaporation of the aqueous portions of saccharine
fluids by the joint action of heating media below two hundred and
twelve degrees Fahrenheit, used in combination with currents of hot
or cold air brought in contact with such fluid on the surface of appa-
ratus revolving or moving, partly immersed therein.
Eleventhly, I claim the use of a "jacket" or double bottom to pans
as a means of heating saccharine fluids by steam, when used in com-
bination with currents of heated air brought in contact with such
fluids on the surface of apparatus revolving or moving, partly immersed
therein.
Twelfthly, I claim the use of a spiral blade or screw for scraping off
or preventing any accumulation of solid matter at the bottom of pans
or vessels used in the concentration of saccharine fluids, and also for
the purpose of exposing a large surface of fluid in order to facilitate its
evaporation.
Thirteenthly, I claim the forcing of air through a central air pipe.
or drum in apparatus revolving or moving, partly immersed in the fluid
to be evaporated.
Fourteenthly, I claim the use of large hollow axes for the purpose of
increasing the firmness or rigidity of screws or series of discs used in the
concentration of saccharine fluids.
Fifteenthly, I claim the evaporation of the aqueous portions of

page_text: saccharine fluids by forcing heated air in contact with such fluids or
surfaces which move into and out of the fluid to be evaporated.
Sixteenthly, I claim the evaporation of the aqueous portions of
saccharine fluids by forcing heated air in contact with thin films or
coatings of such fluids on fixed surfaces not heated by any other means.
Seventeenthly, I claim the method of rapidly heating concentrated
syrups as herein described.
Eighteenthly, I claim the construction of coolers or crystalizing
vessels in the manner herein described:
Nineteenthly, I claim the separation of fluid matter or molasses from
crystals of sugar by continuously spreading the same on a table covered
with a pervious material, such table being hollow and having a partial
vacuum formed therein for the purpose of effecting such separation.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bessemer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.