Abstract: A vertical self-supporting heat exchanger for cooling or heating viscous liquids, especially for a sugar industry product known as massecuite, that has fixed and reciprocating vertical cooling or heating elements with attached scrapers or wipers that wipe the external surfaces of the elements to improve the heat transfer of the heat exchanger. The vertical reciprocating elements can be slowly moved through the viscous material by means of a hydraulic ram. The heat exchanger may have more than one pass if required.

Abstract: A shredding apparatus to reduce the particle size of fibrous material such as sugar cane, consisting of a cylindrical rotor with knives or hammers having a feed conveyor and feeding roll that ensures the material enters the gap between the rotating assembly and a fixed grid plate. The shredded material is discharged from the grid plate onto a fixed discharge plate which leads the shredded cane onto a belt conveyor. Bye-passed material is returned to the feed inlet for reprocessing by means of a return plate. The configuration lends itself to a simple and inexpensive inline installation.

Abstract: A diffusion apparatus for extraction of sugar from sugar cane has a vertically-diposed annular extracting compartment including a revolving screen deck contained within a fixed inner shell and a fixed outer shell. The revolving screen is supported on rollers and driven by any suitable elements. The comminuted sugar cane is fed into the compartment and extracting liquid is moved countercurrent and exits through an outlet.