IMPROVEMENTS IN MILLS FOR EXTRACTING SACCHARINE JUICE FROM SUGAR CANE
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hosack, of Montpelier, in the Colony
of Jamaica, but at present of No. 166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MILLS FOR EXTRACTING SACCHARINE JUICE FROM SUGAR
CANE."
Sealed the 1st February 1870, and dated the 2nd August 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hosack at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd August 1869.
I, WILLIAM HOSACK, of Montpelier, in the Colony of Jamaica, but
at present of No. 166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MILLS FOR EXTRACTING SACCHARINE JUICE FROM
SUGAR CANE," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention, which relates to the improvements of mills for
extracting juices from sugar cane, has for its object,―
First. The graduation and increase of pressure on the canes during
their passage between the rollers employed.

page_text: Second. The increased obtainment and economizing of the juice
expressed.
In sugar mills as at present constructed the rollers are arranged in
sets of three, that is, one upper or pressure roller to a pair of under
rollers, and the upper roller situated so as to bear on both the under
rollers. It is found in practice generally, and more particularly in cases
where the feed is irregular, an irregular and imperfect pressure which
causes too. great pressure on one side and too little on the other and an
excessive wear and tear of the mechanism is the necessary result, whilst
at the same time a portion of the expressed juice is absorbed during its
course over the second under or delivering roller. To remedy these
defects I arrange the rollers in pairs, one directly above the other, this
constituting the main feature of my Invention, and with tables situated
between the pairs of rollers, between which tables the canes pass forward.
By arranging the rollers in this manner a better regulated or steadier
and graduated and independently sustained pressure is produced on the
-cane passing through them under any variation or irregularity of feed
at the same time the quantity of juice is increased and economised. It
is to be understood that any number of pairs of such rollers driven by
the same power may be used in mills constructed in accordance with my
Invention in order to accomplish its objects completely.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Hosack in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd February 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HOSACK, of Montpelier, in the Colony of Jamaica, but at present
of 166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the 33d
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Hosack, Her special license that
I, the said William Hosack, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Hosack, my executors, adminis

page_text: trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MILLS FOR
EXTRACTING SACCHARINE JUICE FROM SUGAR CANE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Hosack, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Hosack, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:―
My said Invention, which relates to the improvement of mills for
extracting juices from sugar cane, has for its object,―
First. The graduation and increase of pressure on the canes during their
passage between the rollers employed.
Second. The increased obtainment and economizing of the juice
expressed.
In sugar mills as at present constructed the rollers are arranged in
sets of three, that is, one upper or pressure roller to a pair of under
rollers, and the upper roller situated so as to bear on both the under
rollers. It is found in practice generally, and more particularly in cases
where the feed is irregular, an irregular and imperfect pressure which
causes too great pressure on one side and too little on the other and an
excessive wear and tear of the mechanism is the necessary result, whilst
at the same time a portion of the expressed juice is absorbed during its
course over the second under or delivering roller. To remedy these
defects I arrange the rollers in pairs, one directly above the other, this
constituting the main feature of my Invention and with tables situated
between the pairs of rollers between which tables the canes pass forward.
By arranging the rollers in this manner a better regulated or steadier
.

page_text: and graduated and independently sustained pressure is produced on the
cane passing through them under any variation or irregularity of feed, at
the same time the quantity of juice is increased and economised. It is
to be understood that any number of pairs of such rollers driven by the
same power may be used in mills constructed in accordance with my
Invention in order to accomplish its objects completely.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say :-
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation,
Figure 2, a side elevation, and Figure 3 a plan of my improved sugar
mill. In the different Figures corresponding parts are indicated by the
same letters of reference.
In sugar mills as hitherto constructed the rolls are arranged in sets of
three, that is, one upper or pressure roller bearing or pressing on two
under rollers. In lieu of this arrangement the rolls under the present
Invention are arranged in pairs one directly above the other, as shown in
the Drawings.
carry
the
The mill consists of two strong side framings A, A, which
bearings of the pairs of rolls B, B', C, C', and D, D', seen more par-
ticularly at Figure 2. The upper or pressure rolls B, C, and D are made
adjustable, so that the pressure may be regulated when required, and this
is effected by means of the screws I, these being actuated by turning the
hand wheels E attached to the cross shafts F, which shafts carry the
bevil pinions G gearing into the pinions H on the ends of the screws I,
so that as the screws I are rotated in a right or left hand direction the
pressure on the rolls is increased or diminished, or the pressure on the
rolls B, C, and D may be regulated by any other suitable mechanism.
In order to prevent the rolls B, C, and D being tampered with after
having been adjusted as required, the hand wheels E are locked to the
side of the framing A by means of chains and locks 6, the keys of which
locks are kept by the foreman or superintendant, or the band wheels E
may be secured in any other suitable manner. The cross shafts F are
supported in sockets x, each of which is placed loosely, that is, with a
pivot joint over the ends of the screws I. The rolls B, B', C, C₁,
and D, D', are caused to revolve by the spur gearing marked N (seen
only at Figures 1 and 3), the wheels and pinions of which gearing are

page_text: keyed on the ends of the shafts of the rollers and are actuated by the
engine or other prime mover through the intervention of the shaft O.
The canes are supplied to the rollers by the feeding platform P, which is
attached to pitch chains Q passing over the pitch pulleys R in the
ordinary manner, as shown at Figure 2 and in dotted lines at Figure 3.
The platform P is caused to rotate by the wheel S, which gears into a
corresponding wheel T on the end of the shaft of the roller B'. Between
each pair of rolls a perforated table J is placed (seen more particularly in
plan at Figure 3), which acts as a guide to the canes in passing from one
pair of rolls to another, and through the perforations of which the liquor
as it is expressed from the canes flows into a tank or reservoir in the bed
of the mill, from which tank or reservoir it is removed by means of the
passage or gutter K. formed in the side of the sole plate M of the mill.
Immediately the rolls B, B', C, C', and D, D', are set in motion by the
spur gearing N the platform P caused to travel by the wheels S and T
feeds in the canes to the receiving rolls B and B', between which they
pass, thence between the rolls C and C and D and D' respectively, the
expressed liquor flowing through the perforated table J, as herein-before
set forth. The now crushed cane or "megass" is delivered from the
rolls D and D' on to a revolving platform V similarly actuated and con-
structed with the feeding platform P herein-before described, except that
the platform V has transverse bars or ridges Wattached to it, as shown, to
assist the withdrawal of the crushed cane or "
megass.' The rolls C, C₁,
and D, D', are by preference coated with india-rubber in order to effect
a more complete pressure of the canes passing between them, and the
rolls B, C, and D' are provided with flanches a, a, in order to prevent
the canes from falling into the tank or reservoir beneath, and it must be
understood that I do not confine myself to employ any particular
number of such rolls as are herein-before described.
"
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion
that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,
.
First. Constructing mills as herein-before described with the rolls
arranged in pairs in place of being arranged in a set or sets of three.

page_text: Second. The employment of the perforated table J, as herein-before
described and shown on the annexed Drawings.
Third. The covering of the rollers of mills, as herein-before described,
with india-rubber or other elastic material.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hosack, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of January One thousand
eight hundred and seventy.
WILLIAM HOSACK. (L.S.)