AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING MILK
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ferdinand Springmühl, M.D., Ph.D., of Gower Street, in
the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
AND APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING MILK."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ferdinand Springmühl at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1882.
FERDINAND SPRINGMÜHL M.D., Ph.D of Gower Street, in the County of
Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED METHOD or and APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING
MILK."
In the concentration of milk it is of the greatest importance in order to obtain
complete uniformity and keeping quality, that the fat globules should not be in
any way separated from the bulk, but should remain well distributed in the milk.
I apply for this purpose the process, treatment and apparatus hereinafter described,
which both in the condensation in the vacuum pan and in the following cooling
process render the separation of the fat globules impossible and produce a con-
centrated milk of perfect quality.
The vacuum pan I employ is of a cylindrical form with hemispherical dome and
double bottom. It contains placed horizontally in the centre a hollow axle
mounted with several large hollow bi-convex lense-shaped vessels of suitable
sheet metal. The interior of these vessels is in communication with the hollow
axle so that either steam or water may enter into and pass through the interior of
the vessels.
On the periphery of the vessels are fixed caps of tinned copper.
The lense-shaped vessels being immersed up to rather more than about one third
their depth in the milk at the commencement of the process and the axle being
slowly revolved the rotation will continually raise the milk and discharge it ou to
the surface of the lense-shaped vessels.
During the process of concentration these vessels being heated by steam will

page_text: accelerate the process of evaporation and at the same time prevent the separation
of the fat globules and thus cause the production of a homogeneous article.
When the concentration is brought to the desired degree the vacuum in the
inside of the apparatus is maintained as high as possible and the double bottom of
the vacuum pan having a stream of cold water passing continually through it, a
similar stream is made to pass through the lense-shaped vessels which revolving at
a slightly increased speed, quickly reduce the concentrated milk to the desired
temperature.
Besides the above mentioned advantages of the herein before described mode of
trentment and apparatus it will be seen that the necessary cooling process is
performed in vacuo, so that no separate cooling apparatus is needed and the milk
not being brought into contact with the air until the whole process is complete, the
concentrated milk is fit for being kept for a long period without the addition of
foreign substances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ferdinand Springmühl in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1882.
FERDINAND SPRINGMŎL MD., Ph.D., of Gower Street, in the County of
Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING
MILK."
In the concentration of milk it is of the greatest importance in order to obtain
complete uniformity and keeping quality, that the fat globules should not be in
any way separated from the bulk, but should remain well distributed in the milk.
I employ for this purpose tho process, treatment and apparatus hereinafter
described, which both in the condensation in the vacuum pan and in the following
cooling process render the separation of the fat globules practically impossible and
produce a concentrated milk of perfect quality.
The vacuum pan I employ is of a cylindrical form with hemispherical dome and
double bottom. It contains placed horizontally in the centre a hollow axlo
mounted with several large hollow bi-convex lens-shaped vessels of suitable sheet
metal. The interior of these vessels is in communication with the hollow axle
so that either steam or water may enter into and pass through the interior of the
vessels.
On the periphery of the vessels are fixed caps of tinned copper.
The lens-shaped vessels being immersed up to rather more than about one third
their depth in the milk at the commencement of the process and the axle being
slowly revolved the rotation will continually raise the milk and discharge it on to
the surface of the lens-shaped vessels.
During the process of concentration these vessels being heated by steam will
accelerate the process of evaporation and at the same time prevent the separation
of the fat globules and thus cause the production of a homogeneous article.
When the concentration is brought to the desired degree the vacuum in the
inside of the apparatus is maintained as high as possible and the double bottom of
the vacuum pan having a stream of cold water passing continually through it, a
similar stream is made to pass through the lens-shaped vessels which revolving at
a slightly increased speed, quickly reduce the concentrated milk to the desired
temperature.
Besides the above mentioned advantages of the hereinbefore described mode of
treatment and apparatus it will be seen that the necessary cooling process is
performed in vacuo, so that no separate cooling apparatus is needed and the milk
not being brought into contact with the air until the whole process is complete, the
concentrated milk is fit for being kept for a long period without the addition of
foreign substances.
Having thus described my Invention and the manner of performing the same
I wish it to be understood that what I claim is :-
Firstly. The herein-described process for concentrating milk consisting in first
evaporating the water therefrom in a vacuum pan provided with lens-shaped
vessels and a hollow axle as described and subsequently cooling the milk so
concentrated in the same vacuum pan substantially in the manner and for the
purposes described.

page_text: Secondly. The construction and application to vacuum pans employed for the
concentration of milk of bi-convex lens-shaped vessels in combination with a hollow
axle as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof I the said Ferdinand Springmühl have hereto set my
hand and seal this Third day of August in the year of our Lord One !
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
°
FERDINAND SPRINGMUHL. (L.S.)