Improvements in Washing or Cleansing and Finishing Engine Waste or other like Sotled Oily Yarns, Cloths, or other Fabrics, and in or Appertaining to Apparatus for Collecting the same.
Year: 1888

page_text: "te of Application, 28th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing or Cleansing and Finishing Engine
Waste or other like Sotled Oily Yarns, Cloths, or other Fabrics,
and in or Appertaining to Apparatus for Collecting the same.
We, JOHN HUBERT WILLIAMS and MARK WILLIAM HYDES trading as Williams
Brothers & Hydes of Exchange Station Buildings, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Oil and Tallow Refiners, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
To prevent the waste from taking fire by spontaneous combustion, or to at once
put the fire out, if started, we propose to collect the waste in cans having a wire false
bottom, the space between the bottoms containing water. Or, in the place of, or as
well as a part of this space, we may bring a wire work chamber up the centre of the
cans to near the top or a space partitioned off at side, and may use perforated plates
instead of wirework. If à can heats, it is simply upset. The water permeates the
smouldering waste and quenches it.
When it reaches the factory, the waste from the various cans is preferably treated
with a light hydrocarbon or other oil solvent, it is then placed in a vat and heated
with steam and water, or steam only. While still at boiling or nearly boiling tem-
perature, it is taken out and pressed in a hydraulic or equivalent press, and the oil
solvent and water pressed out. The oil and solvent are saved, separated by distilla-
tion or otherwise, and the solvent used over again. The waste is now saponified under
pressure in the way hereafter described, or it is placed in a tank of boiling water con-
taining silicate of soda or other similar alkaline salt, having a strong detergent effect.
without a corrosive action on the waste. We profer silicate of soda solution. It is
now passed through a centrifugal machine or press, again washed in water, preferably
boiling and again centrifugaled or pressed, then steeped in (weaker) silicate of soda
solution and again centrifugaled and washed. It is now treated with caustic alkali
solution (caustic potash) to soften it, and is then washed, dried in the centrifugal on
a heater and in the stove successively, and carded in a carding apparatus having
strong stout teeth some distance apart instead of the ordinary cards. For drying
purposes we prefer a stove or heating chamber where the waste is exposed to hot air
currents or gases in travelling belts. The material is in this way automatically and
continuously carried into the stove and withdrawn from it when dry. The belts used
are formed of coils of steel spring like some forms of spring mattress. Where, how-
ever, there is plant for the purpose, we prefer to extract the residual oily matter, after
the pressing above described, by saponifying under pressure. The waste is presse:
into large cylinders, which are then hermetically closed, and the silicate of soda solution,
water and caustic soda solution are successively pressed through the cylinders, at a
pressure of about 150 lbs. on the square inch. By this means the very last traces of
oil and soluble dirt are extracted from the material, it is then dried and carded as in
the alternative method.
Besides oily waste, oily yarn, cloths, and other like material, can be cleaned by this
process.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing or Cleansing and Finishing Engine
Waste or other like Soiled Oily Yarns, Cloths, or other Fabrics,
and in or Appertaining to Apparatus for Collecting the same.
We, JOHN HUBERT WILLIAMS and MARK WILLIAM HYDES trading as Williams
Brothers & Hydes of Exchange Station Buildings, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Oil and Tallow Refiners, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the collecting and treating of oily material such as cotton
waste or the like..
Referring to the drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a cask or can constructed according to our
invention and adapted to contain the oily waste during collection or transit.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the press used for extracting liquid matter
from the substance under treatment showing the ram raised.
Figure 3 is a reversed plan of the lid of the press.
Figure 4 is a plan of the press with the lid removed.
Figure 5 is a section of the press with the lid in position and the ram lowered.
Figure 6 is a section of a convenient arrangement of drying apparatus.
Referring first to Figure 1.
To prevent the waste from taking fire by spontaneous combustion, or to enable us
to at once put the fire out, if started, we propose to collect the waste in cans or casks,
such as A. Each can has a wire or perforated metal false bottom a, the space
between the bottoms containing water.
The cask A is also provided with a lid A¹, a portion A' of which is movable on
hinges as shown, and a fastening device is added, comprising a hasp a¹ or other suitable
means.
Or, in the place of, or as well as, a part of the space between the two bottoms, we
may bring a wire work chamber up the centre of the cans to near the top, or a space
partitioned off at side, and may use perforated plates instead of wire work. If a
can heats it may be simply upset, and the water permeates the smouldering waste and
quenches.it.
When it reaches the factory, the waste from the various cans is preferably treated
with a light hydro-carbon or other oil solvent. The solvent we prefer is Brown Scotch
shale oil, as it is cheap and answers the desired purpose, about 7 gallons of oil to the
ton of waste will be found an approximate proportion. It is then placed in a vat and
heated with steain and water, or steam only. While still at boiling or nearly boiling
temperature, it is taken out and pressed in a hydraulic or equivalent press, and
the oil, solvent and water pressed out. The oil and solvent are saved, separated by
distillation or otherwise, and the solvent may be used over again.
The foregoing treatment has the effect among others of loosening and softening
the fibres of the waste, and as well as removing a portion of the dirt and oil.
A préss which is suitable for extracting the liquor from the waste, as well as for
performing other pressing operations in our process is shown on the accompanying
-drawings.
Referring to Figures 2 to 5 inclusive :-
B is a foundation of suitable material, such as timber or masonery. C is the
cylinder of the ram and Dis the head of the ram, the top surface of which is grooved
or fluted as at d to assist the escape of the expressed fluid as described below. E is
the hollow body of the press in the interior of which the ram reciprocates. The
internal sides of the body E are fluted as shown at e. A lining of perforated metal F
(preferably galvanised iron) is placed over the grooves e and prevents the same from
being clogged by the waste under pressure, while it offers a free escape for the
moisture.

page_text: The lid G of the press is adapted to be lowered down thereɔnto and its flange is cu
away at places, so as to leave a series of undercut portions or claws g. The flange
around the top of the press body is also cut away at places, and the remaining
portions E, correspond with the spaces between the claws g of the lid G. By
lowering the lid G into place and turning it round a tight fit is secured as the under-
cuts may be slightly inclined for this purpose. A hole g is provided in the side of
the lid G in which a tommy bar may be inserted for turning the lid. The inner
surface of the lid is also fluted or corrugated as shown for the same purpose as the
ram head.
The fluting e in the press body communicate with an outlet pipe H.
The mode of action of the press is as follows:-
The waste which is saturated with the solvent or other matter is placed inside the
false lining F, and the lid G is now secured in place. The ram D is now raised so as
to compress the material and some of the expressed moisture flows through the
lining into the grooves e and thence out of the pipe H. Other portions flow along
the flutings d on the ram head D and along those on the lid passing eventually into
the flutes e. If desired, the ram head and the interior of the lid may be covered
with perforated metal or gauze to prevent clogging. When the material is sufficiently
pressed the lid may be removed and the mass of waste 1 raised by the ram till it
projects out of the body, and secured in a convenient form for packing or further
treatment.
After treatment with the solvent and after heating, pressing, etcetera, as described
above, the waste may be further treated in one of two ways:-
1st. It is placed in a tank of boiling water containing silicate of soda or other
similar alkaline salt, having a strong detergent effect without a corrosive action, on
the waste, silicate of soda solution being preferable. A solution of silicate of soda
having a specific gravity of about 75° Twaddle is suitable, but the exact proportions
of this and the other solutions may be varied to suit the different kinds or conditions
of waste under treatment. The waste is now passed through a centrifugal machine
or press, again washed in water, preferably boiling, and again centrifugaled or
pressed. Then it is steeped in a weaker silicate of soda solution, say of about 40°
Twaddle and again centrifugaled and washed. It is now treated with caustic alkali
solution (preferably caustic potash, the strength of which is regulated to suit the
condition of the waste) to soften it. A solution of caustic potash of 50° Twaddle is
suitable for some waste, but 75° Twaddle is not too strong for very harsh or brackish
material. The waste is then washed, dried in the centrifugal or a heater, and in a
stove successively, and carded in a carding apparatus having strong stout teeth some
distance apart instead of the ordinary cotton cards. For drying purposes we prefer
a stove or heating chamber where the waste is exposed to hot air currents or gases
in travelling belts such as are shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. In this J is the
wall of the drying chamber which is heated in any suitable manner, such as by steam
pipes, or hot air flues from furnace, and is provided with inlet and outlet
openings J¹ J. A number of rollers K serves to support and impart motion to
the belts L. The upper belt L passes in at the feed opening J over rolls K and K¹
and the waste is fed onto its upper surface and is carried thereby to the inner end
of the chamber, whence it falls onto the next belt which revolves in an opposite
direction. The waste passes from belt to belt (as shown by the arrows) till it arrives
at the outlet hopper J where it is discharged. The belts are driven by the bands or
chains L'. The material is in this way automatically and continuously carried into
the stove and withdrawn from it when dry. The belts used are preferably formed
of coils of spring steel like some forms of spring mattress. This apparatus may
also be used to dry the waste treated by the process described below.
2nd. Where there plant for the purpose, we prefer to extract the residual oily
matter, after the first pressing operation above described, by saponifying under
pressure. The waste is pressed into large cylinders, which are then hermetically
closed, and the silicate of soda solution, water, and caustic soda solution of approxi-
mately the same strength as those described above, are successively pressed through

page_text: the cylinders, at a pressure of about 150 lbs. on the square inch. By this means the
very last traces of oil and soluble dirt are extracted from the material, it is then dried
and carded as in the first method, above described.
Besides oily waste, oily yarn, cloths, and other like material, can be cleaned by
this process.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
1. The improved process for washing or cleansing and finishing engine waste or
other like soiled oily material,, which consists in 1st., treating the material with a
light hydrocarbon or other oil solvent, and heating with steam or hot water (or both)
and then expressing the liquid matters therefrom; 2nd., treating it with a solution
of an alkaline silicate either with or without pressure and then washing with water ;
3rd., treating it with a caustic alkali in solution either with or without pressure ;
and 4th., washing, drying and carding it, substantially as described.
2. In the process for washing or cleansing engine waste or other like soiled oily
material, the successive forcing through the material, under high pressure, of a
solution of silicate of soda and other solutions, substantially as described.
3. In the process for washing or cleansing and finishing engine waste or other like
soiled oily material, the mechanical treatment of the material by means of apparatus
substantially such as herein described.
4. A cask or vessel for collecting oily engine waste or the like, having a space or
chamber adapted to be filled with water and separated from the body of the vessel by
a perforated wall or diaphragm so located that on the vessel being tilted or upset the
water is brought in contact with the contents of the vessel, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 27th day of June 1880a
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.