US66019A - Improved soegeum-evapokatob - Google Patents

Description

W. HANSON.

Sorghum Evaporatnr.

N0.'66,0l9. Patented June 25, 1867.

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IMPROVED SORGHUM-EVAPORATOR.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HANSON, of Willoughhy, in the county of Lake, and State of Ohio, have invented certain improvements in Sorghum-Evaporators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operationof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- 1 Figure 1 is aview in perspective of my improved sorghum-evaporator.

Figure 2, a plan view of the evaporating-vat.

Figure 3, a sectional elevation of said vat, with the lever-arm and drain-gate.

Figure 4, plan view of the framed bars united in sections.

Figure 5, a section view of the same through line a-b, fig. 4.

Figures, 6 and 7-, plan and elevation of the partitioned tank.

Figure 8, plan View of the body of the evaporator.

Figure 9, sectional elevation of same through line c-d; and

Figure 10, perspective view of one of the two fire-dampers placed over the auxiliary fire-box.

The letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.

. My-improvements relate to an arrangement of devices for more efl'ectually treating andrefining saccharine juices. The machine under consideration isiconstrncted and arranged so as to be adapted for maple and sorghum juices, and more particularly the last named. My said improvements are embodied in the following:

First. partitioned tank in two divisions, for Containing the juice, and in which it is defecated and heated as the separation of the feculent matter goes on, the said tank being located over an auxiliary firebox, from whence the clear defecated juice is conveyed off to the evaporating-vat through a stop-cock and hose pipe attached to each division located above the layer of sediment.

Second. The employment of two dampers peculiarly constructed, as will be explained, located between the bottom of said tank and the fire-box, so that when the juice is heated enough the heat can be shut off and the atmospheric air admitted to keep it at the right temperature. I a

Third. The use of a set of framed bars constructed with flat upper faces and connected in sections, and resting on ledges placed within the evaporating-vat, the said framed bars serving as a partial cover to the boiling juice, and tending to keep the same in a frothy condition during the boiling, and allowing the scum to rise between the open spaces of the said bars and deposit on their flat upper faces, so that it can be readily skimmed off from time to time. The said sets of bars are arranged so as to be moved back and forth, or agitated during the boiling process by a convenient lever. l

. Fourth. The improved construction of the body of the evaporator, consisting of a main fire-box at the front end, and a wide and gradually-contracted fire-channel terminating in the auxiliary fire-box before men tioned; also in the improved construction of the said main fire-box, the same being provided with elongated draught openings in the hearth, which is brick lined; and

Fifth. The arrangement of long lever-arms on each side of the evaporating-vat, so as to be easy of access to the attendant when at the front or sides of the vat, so that he can control the fiow of the sirup atothedrain outlet.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my said improved sorghum-evaporator, I will describe. the construction of its several parts and the manner of operating it.

A, fig. 1, is the body of the machine, supported on two sills, B B, by pairs of legs, C C and D D. The said body may be made of sheet iron riveted together, or of cast-iron plates put together in the usual way. Its general form is shown in' figs. 1, 8,'and 9. E is a fire-box, which I term the main fire-box, and is located at the forward end. It is to be of suitable capacity for the size and length of the body. The main feature of the said fire-box'is in the elongated draught openings, F F F, fig. 8. The horizontal space or channel for the passage of the fire towards the exit opening is made broad and the depth shallow, as shown at G, fig. 8, and H, fig. 9. The depth decreases from the end near the fire-box, as shown at H. and H fig. 9. At the back end is a second fire-box, which I term the auxiliary fire-box it is shown in fig. 9,. and marked I. -Over the said firebox are placed iron bars, J J. K, fig. 2, is an evaporating-vat of sheet iron or other suitable material. Resting on. its bottom are two ledges, L L, as seen. The size or area of the said vat will, of course, depend on the capacity, of the whole machine. M, figs-i' 1, 6, and 7. is a metal tank. Its noticeable feature is the partition N, which divides it into two distinct compartments, 0 and 0, each compartment having a stop-cock, P, and hose pipe'P. A series of long narrow wooden bars, Q, fig. 4, is framed in sections of, say four each; each section is coupled by a free joint, B. These bars are to be as long as will extend across the inside width of the evaporating-vat. The upper facesare made fiat, and are rounding on the under sides. They may be, say, one inch wide on top, and three-quarters of an inch deep, and placed, when framed together, to present openings of one-half inch or three-quarters of an inch in width. The first set of said bars, it will be observed, has a strip, S, secured to its middle, to receive two levers, T and T, working on a pivot in said strip. On the upper edges of the sides of the said evaporating-vat (fig. 2) are pivoted two long-armed levers, U and U, on the ends of which are gates, V and V, which shut upon sluice or drain holes, W W, at the farther end of the vat. X, fig. 10, is one of two dampers of sheet or cast iron, which are used over the auxiliary fire-box and under the tank M. They are supported on the bars J J. Its sides Y Y and back end Y, it will be seen, are turned up at right angles. To put the machine in working order the evaporating-vat isput in its place and the series of framed bars placed therein, supported on the ledges L L, the levers T T being secured on the pivots provided for them on the upper edges of the sides of the vat. The sluice-gatesV V are then put in place'and their levers U U secured on the pivots on said upper edges, as shown infig. 1. The tank M is then placed over the auxiliary fire-box.

I will now describe the way. in which I proceed in the manufacture of the sirup. First, the two divisions of the tank are filledwith the juice and the fire in the auxiliary fire-box started. Whilst itis being heated I put in the defecating material. For this purpose I employ milk of. lime. I use as much thereof as will neutralize the acid and cut the glutinous matter, the neutraliaation. of the acid being determined by the usual test-paper. This is being done whilst the heating of the juice is going on. When it (the juice) is sufficiently heated, and the proper separation of the'feculent or foreign matter has taken place, a part sinking and the other .floating as scum, I put in the dampers to shield the bottom of the tank from the direct heat of the fire, and at the same time admit the atmospheric air between it and the bottom. This precaution is necessary to prevent the boiling of the juice, which would otherwise disturb and mix up the sediment and scum with the clarified portion. This clarified portion, which is shown by the dotted lines in fig. 7, is to be drawn oif through the stop-cock and hose. (The stop-cock, it will be seen, is just above the upper surface of the sediment.) Before commencing to draw ed the said clarified juice I start the fire in the main fire-box, and while the vat is being heated I allow it (the juice) to run off gradually, the said hose pipe conducting it to the forward end of the vat and immediately over the fire in an already heated. state. This expedites the boiling, which would'not be the case if the juice emptied into the vat cold. The juice will now commence boiling at the forward end, thispart of the vat being immediately over the main fire-box. Here, of course, the heat will be strongest, gradually lessening as it spreads and passes to the exit end, so that the thickening juice, as it passes on, is in 'no' danger of burning or scorching if proper care is observed. The framed bars, previously placed in the vat, it will be noticed, act asv a lid or cover (at least partially jso)over the boiling juice. There are peculiar uses derived from the employment of the said bars, which I will explain: first, the juice is kept in afrothy state during the boiling, with but little ebullition; and second, all the foreign matter produced by this boiling is thrown up between the openings of the bars-and deposited on the flat uppersurfaces thereof, (as shown by the arrows in fig. 5,) where it can be expeditiously and cleanly skimmed oii from time to time so long as such deposit goes on.

The skimming process in the formation of puresirups from sorghum has always been regarded as an important operation and a very irksome one, often requiring excessive attention to produce an article of sirup that shall be devoid of the unpleasant flavor often found in samples, and to refine it so as to grain or crystallize. My mode of purifying the sir'up by first separating the juice before it is turned into the vat, as heretofore explained, coupled with the facility for taking out what foreign matter might be further produced by the boiling,' will be, it is presumed, fully appreciated by all engagedin the business. The sirup, as it becomes sufficiently formed, is drained off through the sluice holes at the back end of the vat, the flow therefrom being regulated by the attendant as the proper formation takes place. Sometimes it is necessary that the sections of the framed bars be moved horizontally back and forth, to break up and open the body of froth during the boiling, so as it (the froth) may assumea more solid form and be thrown into and under the liquid portion to the heated bottom of the vat, similar-to stirring the frothy contents of a boilingkettleto prevent burning. For this purpose the lever T or T is moved horizontally back and forth. Two levers are provided, one on each side of the vat, so that the attendant, if on either side, has one of them within reach. This is also the case with the drain-levers U and U, and they extend to the front end, enabling the attendant to operate them from any point of the vat. The tank, as before stated, having two compartments, possesses this advantage: as one is discharging into the vat the attendant can befilling and preparing the other; thus a continuous flow of the defecated juice is kept up. The main fire-place is constructed with a view to the saving of fuel. The brick surfaces between the elongated -draught holes seen'in the bottom allow the hot embers to remain thereon, and thus afford heat for the boiling juice for a considerable time before adding fresh fuel. The object in making the framed bars in sections is for the purpose of detaching them for cleaning; they are connected by a free joint, so that each one can be detached separately.

Sirup produced by my above-described improved evaporator is pure, light colored, and transparent, possessing none of the objectionable flavor often found in samples treated by the old method. In my mode it will be seen every step taken tends to the purification of the juice,-and to prevent burning or scorching while it is being converted into sirup. 7

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The employment of the partitioned tank M, provided with stop-cocks and hostel and I in combination with the evaporating-vat K, auxiliary fire-box I, dampers X X, constructed with t n 'ned-up edges Y Y and Y, arranged and operating as and for the purpose specified.

I g I 2. The framed bars c construoted as described, and connected together in sections hy free joints R, and provided with levers T and T, in combination with the evaporating-vat K, provi led with ledges L, operating as and for the purpose set forth. p 1

3. Constructing the body of the evaporator with a. main fire-box, E, at its front end, a wide and graduallyoontraoted fire-channel H and auxiliary fire-box I, arranged and Operating as specified.

4. Providing the main fire-box E with elongated draught openings, FF F, through the bottom thereof, and with briok-1ined intermediate spaoesbetween said openings, so as to operate as and foi the purpose herein stated; -5. The use of extended IeVer-ar'msU U, located as shown in fig. 1, antl operating the drain-gates V V in the manner specified, in combination with the evaporating-vat K, as set forth.

WM. HANSON.

Witnesses:

J. F. SiNGLE, M. S. HARVEY.

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