62 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



secure a patent. The improvements consist in employing a series 

 of springs, which are placed around and work loosely on the shank or 

 rod to which the boring tool is secured, and which, by their elastic 

 action, press against the sides of the hole, and keep the rod of the 

 borer in a true vertical position ; these springs descend as the boring 

 chisel descends, and thus the hole of the well is bored with vertical 

 precision. This is an important consideration when pipes have to be 

 inserted afterwards in the hole ; but, above all, it allows the boring 

 action to be carried on without loss of labor by the angular action of 

 the chisel. The boring-chisel or auger receives a systematic rotating 

 motion by means of a forked cap placed on the shank of the tool and 

 worked loosely thereon. Small diagonal chains are attached to the 

 springs and the cap, a pin attached to the shank catches into one of 

 the forks of the cap as the shank ascends, and forces the cap upwards ; 

 the cap (and consequently the shank of the boring-tool) is turned by 

 the chains assuming their own right line of tension. Scientific 

 American. 



KURD'S CENTRIFUGAL SUGAR MACHINE. 



THIS invention, known as Kurd's Centrifugal Sugar Depurating 

 Machine, is represented to have the same relation in value to the 

 sugar-maker as the gin has to the cotton-grower, effecting a saving of 

 time and sugar, as well as improving the quality of the sugar. The 

 apparatus is propelled by steam, and its method of operating is as fol- 

 lows : The dark mixture of sugar and syrup, just as it is taken from 

 the sugar-house coolers, is placed in a cylindrical tub, made of iron, 

 the bottom of which is tight ; but the sides or circumference is 

 pierced full of small holes, which are covered over by fine wire-gauze. 

 The cylinder is so arranged that it can be made to revolve on a sta- 

 tionary axle with great rapidity, making from one thousand to fifteen 

 hundred revolutions in a minute. The sugar, as soon as the machine 

 begins to revolve, gradually leaves the bottom of the cylinder and 

 attaches itself to the circumference. The motion continues; and if 

 the wire-gauze were not strong enough, the sugar would break it and 

 escape. The crystals, however, are retained by the fine net-work of 

 the wire, but the molasses or syrup is driven by centrifugal force 

 through the wire, and is projected with great power and rapidity into 

 an outside case, arranged to retain and collect it. In the course of a 

 short time, varying from five to ten minutes, the molasses has been 

 thrown off, and the sugar is drained and fit for shipping, being much 

 drier than when usually put on board. The syrup is now ready to be 

 boiled a second time, before the air or heat has had any influence 

 upon it, and another crop of crystals obtained, which can be subjected 

 to the action of the machine ; and the syrup coming from this second 

 operation can be treated a third time, until its strength is exhausted. 

 Each machine is capable of purging from 8 to 10,000 Ibs. of sugar per 

 day, and the sugar is ready for market the day after it is boiled. The 

 actual yield is from 20 to 25 per cent, more sugar from the same 

 quantity of cane-juice ; it improves the quality from | to 1 cent per 



