AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING RICE, SAGO, MAIZE, OR OTHER AMYLACEOUS MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF STARCH, SUGAR, SYRUP AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND FOR BREWING DISTILLING AND OTHER PURPOSES.
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Tarbotton Armstrong, of Newcastle under Lyme,
in the County of Stafford, Chemist and Sugar Refiner for an invention
of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING RICE, SAGO, MAIZE, OR OTHER
AMYLACEOUS MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF STARCH, SUGAR, SYRUP
AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND FOR BREWING DISTILLING AND OTHER
PURPOSES.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Tarbotton Armstrong
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th April 1882.
JAMES TARBOTTON ARMSTRONG, of Newcastle under Lyme, in the County of
Stafford, Chemist and Sugar Refiner "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING RICE,
SAGO, MAIZE OR OTHER AMYLACEOUS MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
STARCH, SUGAR, SYRUP, AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND FOR BREWING, DISTILLING,
AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
The chief objects of my invention are; first, to obtain from rice, maize, sago, or
other amylaceous materials, starch, starch-sugars and syrups, and similar substances
of a better quality than is possible by practising the methods heretofore adopted,
and to obtain a larger yield or per centage of such substances from a given quantity
of the raw material; secondly, to treat the said materials or any of them, for, or
in, brewing and distilling operations; thirdly, to produce the refuse resulting from
the treatment of such materials in such a condition that it will be a good saleable
article for use as food for cattle or otherwise; and, fourthly to produce from
said material a solution of soluble dextrine and water and its gluten and albumen
coagulated.
My Invention consists in steeping mashing or converting the grain or other raw
materials (or performing any one of these operations as may be necessary according
to circumstances) in vacuo; instead of effecting the steeping mashing or converting
of the same in the manner heretofore practised. The vessels in which these
operations take place may be of any suitable dimensions and form and are fitted
with the appliances usually employed, such as a jacket and a worm or other device

page_text: for heating, and with any well known part that may be necessary. I also provide
one or more air-pumps with dry or wet condensing surfaces for creating the vacuum
in the vessel or vessels and may or may not use stirring gear.
The grain may be treated in the husk and either whole or ground.
The following are amongst the advantages which are obtained by the practice of
my Invention that is to say. The products are superior to any obtained by other
methods; the operations are effected more quickly; the diastatic action of the
soluble albumenoids is increased; the oleaginous matters in the grain are almost
entirely extracted; a better control with respect to temperature and proportions of
materials to be mixed and used is afforded; the escape of injurious and offensive
gases is prevented, which in the processes heretofore used for similar purposes are
destructive and annoying; the mechanical stirring or agitation of the material
during the operations is almost or entirely dispensed with; the waste material or
residue from the treatment is increased in value and may be used for feeding cattle
or other purposes; and the cost of manufacture is considerably diminished.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Tarbotton Armstrong in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th October 1882.
JAMES TARBOTTON ARMSTRONG, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, in the County of
Stafford, Chemist and Sugar Refiner, "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING RICE,
SAGO, MAIZE OR OTHER AMYLACEOUS MATERIALS, FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
STARCHI, SUGAR, SYRUP, AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND FOR BREWING DISTILLING,
AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
The chief objects of my invention are to obtain from rice, sago, maize or other
amylaceous materials, starch, starch-sugars and syrups, and similar substances, of a
better quality than can be obtained by the methods heretofore adopted, and to
produce a larger yield or percentage of such substances from a given quantity of
the raw material; also to treat the said materials, or any of them, for brewing and
distilling purposes; also to produce the refuse resulting from the treatment of the
said materials in such a condition that it will be a good saleable article for use as
food for cattle or otherwise; and to produce from the said material a solution of
soluble dextrine and water in which the gluten and albumen are coagulated.
According to my invention, the steeping or mashing of the grain or other raw
materials, or the conversion of the starchy matter obtained therefrom into glucose
or grape-sugar and syrups is effected in a vacuum, or partial vacuum, instead of
effecting the said steeping, mashing, or conversion in the manner heretofore
practised. The vessels in which theso operations take place may be of any suitable
dimensions and form, and are fitted with the appliances usually employed, such as
a jacket, and a worm or other device for heating, and with any well known part
that may be necessary, I also provide one or more air-pumps, with dry or wet
condensing surfaces, for maintaining a vacuum or partial vacuum in the vessel or
vessels, and I may, or may not, use stirring gear. The grain may be treated in the
husk and either whole or ground.
In carrying my said invention into practice I employ for the steeping, mashing,
or conversion, a vacuum pan of the ordinary construction or of special construction
as hereinafter described.
The rice, Indian corn, or other grain is introduced directly into the vacuum pan,
or it is steeped in a suitable vat and then introduced into the vacuum pan; in
treating rice, to obtain starch therefrom, it is finely ground and introduced directly
into the pan from a suitable bin, or it is mixed with water and drawn into the pan
by the vacuum therein; in treating Indian corn, it is steeped either in the vacuum-
pan or in a steeping vat before being ground, and it is then drawn into the pan for
the purpose of converting the starch into dextrine and water. The starch in the
grain or meal is, by a careful regulation of the steam for heating the same, and the
quantity of water mixed therewith, soon converted into a soluble dextrine and water
and its gluten and albumen are coagulated. 1 employ a hot water cistern, which
may, if desired, be supplied with condensed water from the pan, and I can thus
regulate the beat in the pan, to any degree by a pipe connecting the pan and
cistern. Before I convert the starch into the sugar or syrup, I, in some instances,
pass it through a centrifugal machine, filter, or filter-pross; the starchy matter
which passes through the said machine or filter, I use for making sugar or syrup
and the residue is used for feeding cattle. After the corn, rice or other material
has been steeped it can be crushed and returned to the same pan or passed to
another pan to be mashed. I then return the starch to the vacuum pan to be
converted into sugar or syrup, or this conversion can be effected in the ordinary

page_text: vessels now in use, that is to say, I can use, in connection with tho ordinary
processes heretofore employed, the vacuum-pan either as a mashing or a steeping
vat, or as a convertor.
For brewing purposes I construct very simple and cheap machinery or apparatus
consisting of a small specially constructed vacuum-pan and an engine for working
the pump or pumps in connection with the pan, and a pair of centrifugal machines,
filter presses or filters; by these means a better result is obtained than with the
ordinary methods, and the refuse retained in the centrifugal machine, filter press or
filter can be sold, either with the spent grain or otherwise, at a very high price, as
food for animals.
I sometimes construct the lower part of the vacuum pan of very strong
material which will bear a high pressure, as far as the first swan-neck joint, at
which point I place a large valve or tap or other suitable device, so that I can
work the bottom part as a high-pressure convertor or with a vacuum or partial
vacuum. It will be understood that I use either a single pan or a series of pans in
which a vacuum is created.
The following are amongst the advantages which are obtained by the use of my
invention, that is to say-The-products-are-superior_to_any_obtained_by_other
methods; the operations are effected more rapidly than heretofore, the diastatic
action of the soluble albumonoids is increased: the oleaginous matters in the grain
are almost entirely extracted; a good control with respect to temperature and
proportions of materials to be mixed and used is afforded; the escape of injurious
-and-offensive gases, experienced in the processes heretofore used for similar purposes,
is prevented; the waste material or residue from the treatment-is-increased in
value; and the cost of manufacture is considerably diminished as compared with
the methods heretoforo employed.
Another great advantage in connection-with_my_improved process is that, by
means of the vacuum, atmospheric air can be drawn into the pan; this air acts as
a decolorizer and considerably improves the product.
Moreover, the heat in a vacuuin can be more easily and better regulated than
when the treatment is effected under atmospheric pressure; an advantage of great
importance is thus obtained as there need be no overheating, and considerable
saving is consequently effected as regards the quantity of the product obtained.
Having thus fully described my said invention, and shewn in what manner the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice I wish it
understood that I claim :-
First. The improved method or process characterized by the use, as above
described, of a vacuum, or partial vacuum for steeping or mashing Indian corn, rice
or other grain in the manufacture of glucose or grape sugar, or for the conversion
of starch into sugar or for similar purposes, as above set forth
Second. The employment, in my improved method or process, of a vacuum pan
having its lower part constructed to be worked separately and to bear a high
pressure, as, and for the purpose, specified.
In witness whereof I the said James Tarbotton Armstrong have hereunto
set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of October in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JAMES TARBOTTON ARMSTRONG. (L.S.)