A CERTAIN METHOD OF EXPELLING THE MOLASSES OR SYRUP OUT OF REFINED SUGARS IN A SHORTER PERIOD THAN IS AT PRESENT PRACTISED WITH PIPE CLAY
Year: 1816

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GEORGE DRUKE, of Chapman Street, Pentonville, in the County of Middlesex,
Chymist, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Third day of February,
in the fifty-sixth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said John
George Druke, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, His special licence, full power,
sole priviledge and authority, that I, the said John George Druke, my exors,
adñors, and assigns, should and lawfully might, during the term of years therein
mentioned, make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A CERTAIN METHOD OF EXPELLING
THE MOLASSES OR SYRUP OUT OF REFINED SUGARS IN A SHORTER PERIOD THAN IS AT
PRESENT PRACTISED WITH PIPE CLAY;" in which said Letters Patent there is con-
tained a proviso that if I, the said John George Druke, shall not particularly
describe and ascertain 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, and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties
and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and
become void, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, may more
fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John George Druke, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to. be performed, are particularly
described and ascertained as follows (that is to say) :-
Firstly, the whole of the articles or ingredients herein and following, named,
described, or referred to, come within the meaning and intent of my Invention,
viz, sulphates of lime, natural and artificial combinations of calcareous earths,
with suitable acids or other-fit substances, and in fact all articles or ingredients
which have calcareous earth-in-their composition or for their-bases, and which
it is not necessary to mention specifically, the same and the manner to com-
pound them being well known; and I do declare the same may be used with
more or less advantage for the purpose and in the manner herein following,
named, and described, either separately or together, or in conjunction with
other earths or fit substances, provided the same are mixed with a requisite
proportion of fluid, or moistened to the preferred consistency herein following
described. I, however; prefer the use of the natural sulphate of lime, calcined
and powdered, and commonly, called plaster of Paris, which is already an
article of commerce, as the best medium. I put three parts of any fit liquid,
by preference cold water, into a convenient vessel; I then add thereunto one
part of: plaster of Paris, or, in other words, I prefer having, the proportions in
the ratio of one-pound weight of plaster of Paris to three pints of water.
When by sufficient stirring and attention; the said proportions are well united,
I, suffer the mixture thus produced to stand an hour, more or less, as required,
stirring it occasionally.. If the said mixture, or mass so formed possesses the
preferred .consistency,.. hereafter more,, particularly, described, I force it, if
required, through. a, perforated, machine. (preferring one of the same, con-
struction as used, by sugar. refiners in separating the finer from the coars
clay), for the purpose of separating the finer from the coarser, part of the
said mass. As soon, as it has been forced through. the said machine, it is
ready for application, and I then term it the operating mass, or substance;
the said mass however, as the foregoing implies, may be formed without the
assistance of
any perforated machine.. I use one only, because. I prefer, having
the mass fine; but as the plaster of Paris, on account of its different degrees
of, calcination, being one time more; and another less. burnt, requires corre-.
sponding quantities of fluid,. should, the proportion of one part plaster of
Paris to three parts water make the mass or mixture too stiff, for such appli-
cation, in such case I add, by. degrees, and under diligent stirring, so much
more water as may be wanted; but should, the said mass or substance on the
contrary prove too much deluted, I add cautiously so much more plaster of Paris
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page_text: as may be required to obtain the proper consistency. Finally, I force the same,
if required, as before; through the perforated machine. Though the aforesaid
mass or mixture may be formed in different ways and by different means, and
the proportions varied, I prefer this before-described method as being most
convenient. To ascertain the preferred consistency of the operating mass or
mixture I proceed in manner following:-When the said mass or mixture
has the appearance of paste, or nearly. so, I dip my finger into it to the depth
of one or two inches below the surface, and draw my said finger along. If
the. preferred consistency be obtained the impression or channel caused by my
finger will remain, or not be closed up readily. But to be more clearly under-
stood,. I prefer to have and to use the said operating mass or substance of the
same consistency, or, nearly so, as well prepared clay; and I make with the
said operating mass or substance the same allowance, and use the same pre-
cautions as: are commonly observed in the use of clay.. In fine, all rules
observed in the. use, of clay I likewise observe and adopt in respect to the
aforesaid operating mass or mixture, and which are too well known to render
needful, a particular description.. The operating mass.or substance being thus
properly prepared. terminates. this part of the process. The different sugars
being: placed in the moulds according to the common process, I suffer, by'
reference. (as is usually done), the syrup or molasses to drain therefrom. The
surface, of the. sugars by this operation becoming unequal or irregular, I pro-
ceed to make the same uniform or even, for which purpose I prefer the means
at present in use, and too well known to require particular description. I
place upon the wider part of the mould or moulds, in other words between
the sugars, and the operating mass, any convenient substance or substances of
a texture or composition proper to admit the moisture from the operating mass
to drain. through the said substance or substances, and for which purpose I
prefer a piece or pieces. of calico, and for the sake of distinction denominate
the same the intermediate substance or substances; I then fill upon the said
intermediate substance or substances a certain quantity of the operating mass
or mixture to the depth of two or three inches, more or less, as required. It
is advisable.to. have the aforesaid piece or pieces. of calico or intermediate
substance somewhat larger than the circumference of the upper or wider part
of the mould, and also that the said calico or intermediate substance should
not be suffered to hang over the sides of the mould, but be carefully turned
up. at the edge. I may further add, that I prefer damping the calico or inter-
mediate substance previous to the receiving the operating mass. I am also
careful in observing that the said operating mass rests in an uniform thickness
on every part of the sugars. Although I alluded particularly in the foregoing

page_text: to moulds, the operating mass and, intermediate substance before described
may be applied with equal utility and success to sugars in whatever vessels or
receptacles they may be placed, for the purpose of being separated from the
molasses. It is moreover always advisable that the intermediate substance
should be of the same shape, and larger than the vessel or receptacle on which
it is placed. I suffer the operating mass to remain upon the sugars until the
said mass or substance becomes stiff or hard, or no longer capable of imparting
material moisture, which operation generally requires, in rooms of moderate
temperature, forty-eight hours; I then remove the mass from the sugars, and
make the altered appearance of the surface again uniform (should such a
procedure be required) in the customary manner. I afterwards replace (as
before) either a fresh quantity of the operating mass, or the same which I had
previously used, supplying to it an additional degree of moisture to form it
again of a proper consistency. I continue this operation of placing and re-
placing the operating mass or masses upon the sugars until the same are neat,
which end I generally attain with small loaves in eight or ten days, and with
large ones, lumps, and masses, in a proportionate time. When the sugars are
neat I proceed to drying the same in the usual manner. It may be remarked,
that to make small loaves neat two or three applications are sufficient.
Although I prefer the removal of the operating mass or substance from
the sugars when it can no longer impart material moisture, or when it
appears stiff or hard, as before stated, yet the said mass or masses may
be continued for a. longer or a shorter period if required, as this may
depend upon the option of the refiner. Loaves of a large size, lumps, and
of course require corresponding quanties of the operating mass, as well masses
as a proportionate time for the completion of the process. Although my
operating mass may be applied to sugars without the aid of any intermediate
substance or substances, yet I consider the said intermediate substance or
substances, on account of the great benefit derived from it or them in removing
the mass or masses, and preventing the sugars from being soiled and wasted, as
forming a very essential part of my Invention and process, and I claim it as such,
whether it is used (for the purpose herein specified) with my aforesaid operating
mass, or with clay, or with any other substance or ingredients whatever.
Having thus described as fully and as explicitly as is required, and as the
nature of my Invention and improved process will permit, the necessary par-
ticulars and manner thereof, I do declare that this my said Invention and
improved process may be carried into effect and practice, either in its whole or
seperate parts and proceedings without conjunction or in conjunction with
other methods or apparatus already in use; and that the management thereof,