An Improved Process for Treating and Purifying Sod and other Oils, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Treating and Purifying Sod and other Oils,
and Apparatus therefor.
I, FREDERICK NICHOLSON TURNEY, of Whitemoor Leather Works, in the
Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Leather Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved process, and apparatus, "for treating
and purifying oils, but more particularly the crude oil obtained by pressure from
chamois leather and known as sod oil, whereby I am enabled to obtain an oil,
suitable for currying leather, or for other purposes, which will not stain the goods
to which it is applied.
Sod oil, which is pressed from chamois leather by hydraulic pressure is, on
leaving the press, in a crude state, it being mixed with water and contaminated
with grit, vegetable fibre, gummy and glutinous matters, and various impurities
derived from the skins. Furthermore, the oil is too thick, even when heated, and
the water and impurities too intimately mixed therewith, for these latter to be
separated therefrom by settlement. In order to render the oil useful, this water
has to be evaporated by heat, but the other impurities still however remain in the
oil. With the oil thus treated, and used on leather for giving weight and supple-
ness thereto, or for the purpose of currying heavy leather, the gluey impurities are
apt to set on the surface of the leather and to form thereon a size which prevents
the oil from penetrating the leather, and leaves it glazed and imperfect. Besides
which, as the oil contains more or less colouring matter, derived from the skins, it
is liable to stain the leather it is used on and impart a dark colour thereto.
Now, by my process of treating sod oil, or other oils, I obtain an oil for currying,
or other, purposes, which is pure and uniform in quality, free from water, of a
desirable consistency, and one which does not colour or stain the goods on which it
is used.
For the purpose of my invention, the crude oil coming from the press, and which
may be sod oil, is conveyed to a collecting tank wherein it is heated sufficiently to
cause it to run. It is then led into one or more vapour-tight mixing vessels, which
may be conical at bottom, and provided with any suitable mixing and stirring
appliances for agitating the oil. While the oil is being agitated in the mixing
vessel I add to it a suitable quantity (say about its own bulk) of petroleum spirit,
or some other light hydro-carbon or solvent, such as chloroform, carbon-bisulphide,
etc. After agitating the mass for some time, the oily part of the crude oil becomes
thinner and mixes with the spirit or solvent, the specific gravity becomes reduced,
and finally the mixture becomes so thin as to be capable of refining by settlement.
The stirring is then stopped and the mixture allowed to settle for a sufficient time
so that the water and impurities descend to the bottom of the vessel. The mixture
may be allowed to settle in the mixing vessel or in a distinct settling tank. Or,
when more than one mixing vessel is employed they may be so arranged that they
can be used for mixing and settling alternately, the stirring operation being
performed in some of the vessels while the refining, by settlement, takes place in
others. After settlement, the clear oil and spirit are run off from the settling tank
or vessel through an outlet, situated at a convenient level, and conducted into a
still, or steam-jacketted evaporating pan. The impure water is also drawn off from
the settling tank or vessel. In the steam pan, the spirit or solvent is evaporated
from the oil and, after passing through condensing coils (through which it is forced
or drawn by a fan) is collected in a reservoir tank, situated at such a level above
the mixing vessel that said spirit or solvent may be run thence, without the aid of

page_text: pumps, into the mixing vessel, to be used over again. When the spirit is evaporated
from the oil, the purified oil is drawn off for use. The spirit or solvent being
distilled in a closed circuit, that is to say one which is not open to the air, is wholly,
or almost wholly, recovered. On account of the complete separation of all the
water from the oil, and of the impurities, which are all heavier than the oil, a large
amount of the colouring matter is extracted, mostly in solution in the water. After
the water is drawn off a small amount of sedimentary matter, mixed with water,
oil, and spirit, flows from the vessel and is collected and treated with petroleum
spirit or solvent to separate the remaining oil. If total separation of colouring
matter is required, the oil, while mixed with the spirit in the stirring vessel, is
washed with warm water admitted thereto. The oil may thus be mixed and washed,
and allowed to settle repeatedly until all the colouring matter is removed, and the
oil rendered useful for purposes where absence of stain is essential.
By applying this process to lubricating and other oils, they may be freed from
any impurities heavier than the oil, as well as from water.
Dated this 21st dow of Tenua 1000
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Treating and Purifying Sod and other Oils,
and Apparatus therefor.
I, FREDERICK NICHOLSON TURNEY, of Whitemoor Leather Works, in the
Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Leather Manufacturer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention relates to a new or improved process, and apparatus, for purifying
oils, more particularly the oil obtained from chamois leather after treatment with
cod oil, etc., and subjection to hydraulic pressure, and known in the trade as sod
oil, whereby I am enabled to obtain an oil suitable for currying leather or for other
purposes, which will not stain the goods to which it is applied.
Sod oil on leaving the press is in a crude state, being mixed with water
and contaminated with grit, vegetable fibre, gummy and glutinous matters and
various impurities derived from the skins. It is, moreover, too thick, even when
heated, and the water and impurities are too intimately mixed therewith for these
latter to be separated therefrom by settlement. In order to render this oil useful
the water has to be evaporated by heat, but the other impurities still however
remain in the oil. With the oil thus treated and used on leather for giving weight
and suppleness thereto, or for the purpose of currying heavy leather, the gluey
impurities are apt to set on the surface of the leather and to form thereon a size
which prevents the oil from penetrating the leather and leaves its surface glazed
and imperfect. Besides, as the oil contains more or less colouring matter derived
from the skins, it is liable to stain the leather it is used on and impart a dark
colour thereto.
Now by my process of treating sod or other oils, I obtain an oil, suitable for
currying or other purposes, which is pure and uniform in quality, free from water,
of a desirable consistency, and one which does not colour or stain the goods upon
which it is used.
According to my invention, and when treating sod oil, the crude oil is first
heated to make it flow, and it is then admitted to a vapour tight mixing vessel, or
vessels, wherein it is agitated and treated with a suitable solvent until the oily, part

page_text: of the crude oil becomes thinner and mixes with the solvent. The specific gravity
of the mixture is thus reduced to such an extent that, after agitation has ceased
and the oil is allowed to stand, the refinement takes place by settlement. The
clear oil and spirit are then run off into a still or steam pan, and the spirit or
solvent evaporated from the oil. The solvent vapor is then condensed and returned
to the tank or reservoir from which the solvent was originally drawn and from
which it can be run back when desired into the mixing vessel, or vessels, for
use over again. The solvent having thus been evaporated the purified oil
remains behind in the still or steam pan, from which it can be drawn off for use
as required.
And in order that my invention may be readily carried into effect, I will describe
the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, and as applied to the
treatment of crude sod oil..
Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 2 a plan of a suitable apparatus
or plant for use with my process.
a is a collecting tank in which the crude oil coming from the press is heated
sufficiently, say by a steam pipe a², or in any other suitable manner, to cause it to
flow. The oil thus brought to a sufficient consistency is then led into a vapour-tight
mixing vessel wherein it is agitated or into several such vessels, each of which is
preferably conical at bottom and provided with stirring arms or tines 62 actuated
by suitable gearing 6. Or the oil may be agitated within the mixing vessel'
or vessels by any other well known means. Before, or while, the oil is agitated
in the mixing vessel, I add to it a suitable quantity, say about its own bulk,
of petroleum spirit or some other light hydrocarbon but instead of petroleum
spirit any suitable solvent, such as chloroform or carbon bisulphide, may be
used in sufficient quantity to render the oil capable of refining by settle-
ment. After agitating the mixture for some time, say about twenty-four hours,
the oily part of the crude oil becomes thinner and mixes with the spirit
or solvent, the specific gravity becomes reduced, and finally the mixture
becomes so thin that the water and other impurities can separate from it. The
stirring is then stopped, and the mixture is allowed to settle for a sufficient time,
so that the water and impurities may fall from the mixed oil and solvent to the
bottom of the vessel. The mixture may be allowed to settle in the mixing vessel,
or in a distinct settling tank. Or when more than one mixing vessel is employed,
the stirring operation may be performed in some of the vessels, while the mixture
is allowed to settle in others, cocks being suitably arranged to cut off communi-
cation between the vessels. After settlement, the clear oil and spirit are run off
from the settling tank or mixing vessel through a pipe c¹, situated at a convenient
level, and are conducted into a still or steam jacketed evaporating pan c, which may
be heated by steam from the engine g, introduced through the pipe h. The impure
water is also drawn off from the mixing vessel b through a cock 6*. In the steam
pan, the spirit or solvent is evaporated from the oil, and rises through a tube c³ to
condensing coils e, which may be kept cool in any well known manner, and through
which it is forced, or drawn, by a fan or blower ƒ driven by the engine 9. After
passing through the condensing coils the solvent is collected in a reservoir tank d
to which it is conducted by a pipe e. This reservoir tank d is situated at such a
level above the mixing vessel that the said spirit or solvent may be run thence,
through a pipe d' without the aid of pumps, into the mixing vessel, to be used over
again. When the spirit is evaporated from the oil, the purified oil is drawn off for
use through the cock c*. The spirit or solvent being distilled in a closed circuit,
that is to say one which is not open to the air, is wholly, or almost wholly
recovered.
On account of the complete separation of all the water from the oil, and of the
impurities which are all heavier than the oil, a large amount of the colouring matter
is extracted, mostly in solution in the water. After the water is drawn off a small
amount of sedimentary matter mixed with water, oil, and spirit flows from the

page_text: vessel and is collected and treated with petroleum spirit or solvent to separate the
remaining oil.
If total separation of colouring matter is required the oil, preferably while
mixed with the spirit in the mixing vessel, is washed with warm water, or warm
water and solvent, admitted thereto. The oil may thus be mixed and washed and
allowed to settle repeatedly until all the colouring matter is removed and the oil
rendered useful for purposes where absence of stain is essential.
Although I have described my invention as applied to the treatment of crude sod
oil, it is obvious that it can be applied in an analogous manner to oils and fats which
have become impure through having been used for lubricating machinery or for
other purposes, and that these oils and fats may thus be purified and made fit.
for use again, the heating of the oils, in this case, being unnecessary unless they
are too thick to flow.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The process of treating and purifying sod and other oils, consisting in
agitating the crude oil with a suitable hydrocarbon or other solvent in a vapour-
tight vessel, or vessels, until the specific gravity of the oil is reduced and the oily
part becomes of such a consistency as to mix with the solvent, then allowing the
water and impurities to separate from the oil by settlement or precipitation,
drawing off the mixed oil and solvent and evaporating the solvent from the oil
whereby the oil is purified, the solvent being then condensed and collected for use
over again, substantially as described.
2. The apparatus for use with my process of treating and purifying sod and other
oils, having its parts arranged and combined to operate substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown with reference to the annexed drawings.
ليم
1- 10
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.