Improvements in the Mode of and in Apparatus for Removing Fibre from Cotton Seed.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1894-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode of and in Apparatus for Removing Fibre
from Cotton Seed.
I, RICHARD SILCOCK, of Thornton Hall, Poulton-le-Fylde, in the County of
Lancaster, Seed Crusher and Manure Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the mode of and in apparatus
for removing fibre from cotton seed. I take sulphuric acid-strength 148 T.-and
reduce it by blowing steam into it to about 115 to 120 T. The reduced acid in a
hot state is blown in the form of spray-by means of any suitable apparatus-on to
the cotton seed as it passes through a revolving perforated cylinder. The perforations
or holes in the cylinder are of such a size that those seeds which have only a very
slight covering of fibre are enabled very soon to slip through and thus escape from
the cylinder. On the other hand those seeds which have a thick covering of fibre
are retained within the cylinder longer and thus receive more of the acid. The
seed having been treated with the hot acid as above described is then passed into a
bin where it is allowed to remain until the acid has had time to destroy the fibre.
The seed is then withdrawn and passed into a second bin in which phosphate
powder is mixed with the seed which is allowed to remain until the phosphate
powder has neutralised the acid on the seed whereupon the latter is taken out of
the bin and introduced into a second cylinder revolving slowly on a horizontal or
slightly inclined axis within which upon a central shaft are a series of emery wheels
or discs caused to rotate at a high speed. Within the spaces between the emery
wheels are introduced fixed segments or emery blocks fastened to the sides of the
cylinder. The cylinder is pierced with perforations of such a size that the coarser
portions rubbed off the seed as it passes between the revolving emery wheels may
drop through and out of the cylinder whilst an exhaust fan is employed at the
outlet end of the cylinder for drawing off the dust or finer particles. The phosphate
left on the coarser portions is available for being used again whilst the finer particles
are available as a valuable fertilizer for. pasture land the said fertilizer having its
manurial properties increased by the free acid-which is only slightly spent-
destroying the cotton fibre and by partially dissolving the phosphates thereby
rendering them soluble and therefore more available as plant food. If desired the
cotton seed after being treated as above described may be passed quickly through
a "bean washer" and then dried before being crushed.
The phosphate powder I employ for the purpose of my invention is preferably
derived from mineral phosphates although spent animal charcoal or bone ash
ground to powder may be employed.
Dated this 20th day of December 1893.
•

page_text: part of my said invention as above described. The said apparatus is equally
available for removing fibre from cotton seed which has not undergone an acid
treatment.
Fig. 4 is a side view partly in section
Fig. 5 an end view
Fig. 6 a plan view partly in section and
Figs. 7 and 8 are cross sectional views of the said apparatus (hereinafter termed
"the mill").
The outer cylinder may conveniently be formed of a number of metal plates such
as 1, 1 bolted together and at each end to annular rims 2, 2ª on the end rings 3, 3º.
These end rings rest upon grooved antifriction pulleys 4, 4. On one of the end
rings namely 3 is attached a toothed wheel rim 5 into which is geared a pinion
wheel 6 on a shaft 7 rotated by means of a driving belt on the pulley 8. The
toothed rim 5 and pinion 6 are indicated by broken lines at Fig. 5. The central
orifice of the end ring 3 is filled up by a round stationary plate 18 carried on the
end of a bracket 9 projecting from the standard 10. The opening in the opposite
end ring 3 is filled up by a corresponding stationary plate 18 cast in one piece
with the lower part of a hopper 11 the bottom of the said hopper resting upon and
being secured to the standard 12. A travelling worm 30 on a shaft 13 rotated by the
belt pulley 14 forces the material from within the hopper 11 into the interior of the
cylinder and an opening 15 in the upper part of the opposite stationary plate 18
answers as the outlet for the material. The said opening is covered by a flap door
or lid 15 jointed on the end of the short arm of a weighted bent lever 16 fulcrummed
upon a fixed stud 17. By adjusting the position of the weight 28 on the long arm
of the lever 16 the rate of egress of the material may be regulated and controlled
and so as to prevent the said material from passing through the mill too quickly
which would cause the cotton seed under treatment to be deprived of the required
amount of pressure between the blocks 22, 22 and the abrading surfaces of the
emery discs 21, 21. The round stationary plates 18 and 18 are made an easy fit
within the end rings 3, 3ª and around the central shaft 19 carried in the end
bearings 20, 20. Fastened upon the said shaft 19 are a series of emery discs or
wheels 21, 21 and within the spaces between the emery wheels are introduced fixed
emery blocks or plates 22, 22. These blocks or "segments act as obstructions
and prevent the seed from moving round bodily with the cylinder besides serving
to hold up the seed against the sides of the revolving discs. The said blocks or
plates may be of metal covered over or coated with emery corundum or like
material in any convenient manner so that the said material will adhere firmly
thereto or they may be cast with or otherwise caused to have their surfaces
roughened. The discs 21, 21 are also preferably of cast metal coated with emery
or similar material thus ensuring greater safety in the working of the mill metal
being less liable to fracture than solid emery.
"
The mass of cotton seed between the emery discs and blocks or segments I find
to be acted upon more effectively if the sides of the discs are grooved as shewn at
Fig. 9 in a sectional view of one of the discs 21 detached in which grooves of three
different kinds are shewn.
At the inlet or supply end of the cylinder I sometimes place upon the central
shaft 19 a tapering or conical worm 23 for the purpose of assisting the cotton seed
to be moved forward through the mill. 24 is a belt driving pulley on the central
shaft 19.

page_text: In some cases it is necessary in using the improved mill to leave out one or more
of the series of blocks or plates 22 to facilitate the progress of the cotton seed
through the mill. Thus if the seed be thickly coated with fibre it is advisable to
dispense with two such series preferably on opposite sides to each other as shewn at
Fig. 8. I find the employment on the blank plates or those without blocks 22-
of sheet metal wings or plates 25, 25 set at increasing angles to each other as shewn
at Fig. 10 and of a tapering form as shewn at Fig. 11 serves to help the cotton seed
to be lifted forward through the mill.
Fig. 12 is a sectional end view of the apparatus shewing the lower end of a
tube 26 (also shewn at Fig. 4 in side view) carried to an exhaust fan-which may
be of any ordinary construction and is therefore not shewn in the drawings-and
15 is the outlet opening in the end plate 18. In practice I find it desirable that
the draught tube 26 should enter the interior of the cylinder 1 (as shewn at
Figs. 12 and 12B) and should be turned downwardly in the same direction as the
rotation of the cylinder (see Fig. 12ª).
Fig. 13 illustrates a modification of the above described apparatus in which
additional revolving emery discs 31, 31 are introduced near the outlet end of the
cylinder taking the place of the segments or blocks 22--the said discs being
mounted on the shafts 32, 32 driven by the pulleys 33, 33. The direction of
rotation of the additional discs 31 is so arranged that their sides adjoining the
central discs 21, 21 will move in the opposite direction thereto.
Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view shewing the arrangement of the additional
revolving discs 31, 31 relatively to the central discs 21, 21.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. The use or employment of sulphuric acid approximately of the strength herein
specified and its application in the form of spray whilst hot to cotton seed for the
purpose set forth.
2. The combination with a revolving perforated cylinder of apparatus by which
sulphuric acid is blown in the form of spray substantially as described with
reference to and shewn at Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings for the purpose set
forth.
3. The use or employment of phosphate powder to neutralize the sulphuric acid
remaining upon cotton seed after treatment with such acid substantially as herein
described for the purpose set forth.
4. In apparatus for removing fibre from cotton seed the use or employment of
revolving emery or emery covered discs in combination with a revolving cylinder
carrying on its interior "segments" blocks or plates or their equivalents interposed
between the said discs substantially as herein described with reference to and shewn
at Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive and at Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings.
5. In combination with apparatus constructed in accordance with the preceding
Claim 4 the use or employment of an exhaust fan and perforations in the cylinder
substantially as described and shewn in the drawings for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of July 1894.
Dated als 10 day Of July 1004.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.