US1328090A - Process for macerating crushed sugar-cane - Google Patents

Description

C. MCNEIL. Y PROCESS FOR MACERATING CRUSHED SUGAR CANE.

' APPLICA-TION FILED APR.2Z,1918 Patented Jan. 13, l1920.

.l g u veyer, it is;A macerated by belng j elther sprayed with water or weak juice or pulled yby the conveyer through water or juice in a CHARLES McN EIL, 0F GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

PROCESS FOR MACERATING CRUSHED SUGAR-CANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 19.20.

v Application filed April 22, 1918. Serial No. 230,075.

' proved Process for Macerating Crushed Sugar-Cane,"of which the following is the specification. l i

In the modern process of crushing sugar cane,'the cane is passed through a number of mills in succession, the megass being carried from one mill to the next by al1-endless conveyer or the like, and after it falls from the megass roller of one mill onto the contrough.

In this known process, as the cane, when it is freed from the pressure of the rolls of 'any one mill, immediately expands in bulk and in doing so occludes a large amount of air which prevents the cane from properly absorbing ess has thus to be unduly repeated before all the juice is effectively extracted from the cane. -Thus the total volume of water required carrying out the process is much` in 'excess of that which gives the most eco-l nomical working of the subsequent evap`- orating plant, and .considerable unneceary expense is thereby incurred in evaporating this excess water.

To overcome this objection, according to the present. invention, the cane, after it has passed between the upper-.and back-ormegass rollers of each mill, or after ity has passed the preliminary-crushing rollers of any one'mill where such preliminary rollers are used, is again subjected to pressure and at the same time sprayed with water or weak juice applied toit under such a head that it absorbs the full amount of liquid before it can expand to its full bulk and draw in air. Preferably the pressure 4liquid is forced into the cane at the point in its travel where the maximum pressure applied to -it is just released, and further the cane is also preferably moistened before being subjected to this additional pressure so that the pressure does useful work in extracting juice from the Cane.

i The improved process may be carried outpla-natory drawings.

the water or weak juice,` the procin yvarious ways; for example the cane may be subjected to the combined pressure and l spraying by being passed between a fluted or serrated roller,vthe bearings of which are loaded, and a box perforated on the side adjacent to the roller, being forced into this box and through the perforations ontothe cane at the point Where `the maximum pressure between the roller and the box lis on the point of release. The box and part of the roller may be submerged in liquid in a trough, so that the cane is soaked before being subjected to this additional pressure which thus also acts to extract juice from the cane. roller may be driven in any suitable manner from the mill gearing.

An example of the improved apparatus for carrying out the invention` is shown somewhat diagrammatically in sectionalr side elevation on an accompanying sheet ofex- "As shown in thisd'rawing, the cane, after ithas passed between the upper and back or megass rollers A, A1. subjected to pressure and at the same time sprayed with water or weak juice' by being' passed between4 a serrated roller B,-the bearings of which are loaded by springs B1 and a plate C part of which forms the upper sideof a box C1, supported beneath the roller B, by'flanges C2 on it bolted to the end housings D.` The plate C is perforated at C3, and liquid under pressure passes intethe box C1' through the inlet D1 the perforationsC3 point Where the-maximum pressure between the roller B and the box C1 is of release.' The megass therefore absorbs the full amount of liquid' before'it is free to expand to its full bulk and' draw in air. The box C1 and'part of the plate C and roller B are submerged in liquid in a trough D2, so that'the megass is soaked before being subjected to the additional pressure hereinbefore described between the roller B and through liquid under pressure' The luted `onto the megass at the of a mill, is 'again at the point and plate C. This pressure therefore does useful work in extracting juice from thev megass. c

The roller B is `driven by gearwheels shown by chain lines E, E1, and when the serrated roller has pulled themegass through between it and the plate C, the mega/ss then falls from the forward end of the plate on to the usual endless conveyer E2 which conveys it to the next mill, as liereinbefore described.

ThatI I Claim is z* l. Mneerntingy nppurntus for sugar enne, comprising :i pressure roll. n pressure plnte between whieh und snid roll the enney is pussed. und menus for introdueilr;r liquid under pressure through seid phlte into rontzict. with the Compressed enne. for the purpose described.

2. Mzuernting apparatus for sugar enne, comprising :L pressure roll` n pressure plnte between Whieh und seid roll the enne is passed, :i pressurextrough on the. outer trice of said plate, and means. for leading to said trough liquid under pressure` seid plate being apertured in register with suid trough to ndniit the pressure liquid into Contact with the compressed enne.l for the. purpose specified.

Mueernting nppnrntus for sugar enne,

eoniprising u liquid treating tnnk. menus for subjecting the erushed enne to pressurel while sulnnerg'ed therein. und menus for applying liquid under pressure to the enne nuiss at the point of its release from pressure in the tank.

In testimomY whereof I have signed my nume to this specification.

CHARLES MCNEIL.

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