Improvements in Apparatus for Treating and Tanning Hides and Skins.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1899-Accepted, 24th Oct,, 1899
Improvements in Apparatus for Treating and Tanning Hides and
Skins.
I
JOHN FREDERICK JONES, 59, Haldon Road, Wandsworth, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, EDWARD SEYMOUR CLEGG, 37, Drayton Gardens, S. Kensington,
in the County of Middlesex, Tanner, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide cheap and efficient apparatus for the.
treatment and tanning of hides and skins of animals, an important feature in
our invention is the division directing, regulating and controling of a flow or
stream of the tanning or other liquid, and so directing and distributing the flow,
or stream of the liquid; so that the said liquid is brought into close and imme-
diate contact with the faces or surfaces of the hides to be treated, the said liquid
being equally and uniformily distributed over the entire faces or surfaces of the
said hides or skins, the liquid being circulated by means of a propeller, paddle,'
pump, or other known means. To carry our invention into effect we provide a
tank or pit of suitable size and material in which the tanning or other liquid is
contained, in or over which we fix or suspend a frame to which. the hides or
skins to be treated are hung and submerged in the said liquid. In or to the
tank we connect a suitable propeller, paddle, pump or other known means for
the purpose of circulating the said liquid, suitable passages or pipes being pro-
vided to convey the liquid to any desirable point in the said tank or pit in which
we construct partitions or divisions preferably facing the ends or edges of the
hides or skins when hanging in the tank or pit, the said partitions and the like.
forming receivers into which the circulating liquid is passed by the propeller or
means applied. In the said partitions or divisions we fix a number of tubes or
conducts so arranged to pass in and between the hanging hides or skins, thereby
preventing the said hides from touching or coming into contact with each other
during the process of treatment, the said tubes or conducts may be of any
desired length, perforated or open at the ends as desired. The said tubes or con-
ducts are especially provided for the conduction, direction and equal distribu-
tion of the tanning or other liquid, it is evident that one or more tube or con-
duct may be fixed or pass between each skin or hide. The said partitions or
divisions are fitted with ports or openings having slides or sluices so arranged
to increase or decrease the flow of the circulating liquid as desired. The said
stream or flows may be directed either in an horizontal, vertical or oblique line
by the position of the tubes, conducts and the like which may enter the hides
from any position. Suitable arrangements are provided for heating or cooling
the liquid as required. It is apparent that our apparatus as described may be
applied to other process in connection with the preparation of hides or skins
for tanning. We are aware that propellers paddles and other means have been
used for the purpose of agitating the liquors employed in the tanning of hides
in tanks or pits, but we do not know of any case where the stream obtained

page_text: from the said propellers and the like has been so regulated & directed by tubes
conducts and the like, so that the flows or streams are directed & equally distri-
buted over the faces or surfaces of the hides or skins during treatment.
Dated this 22nd day October. 1898.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Treating and Tanning Hides and
Skins.
We, JOHN FREDERICK JONES, of 59, Haldon Road, Wandsworth, in the County.
of Surrey, Engineer, and EDWARD SEYMOUR CLEGG, formerly of 37, Drayton
Gardens, but now of 35, Drayton Gardens, South Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, Tanner, 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 treatment of hides and skins, and has for its
chief object to provide economical apparatus in which a number of skins can
be tanned or otherwise treated in a thorough and efficient manner and in much
less time than has heretofore been required; while the liability of the skins
coming in contact with each other is avoided.
According to our invention we cause the tanning or other solution or liquid
to flow in a constant stream in the desired direction over the surface of the hides
or skins which are arranged side by side at a suitable distance apart, the said
solution or liquid being directed toward the hides or skins in such a manner that
it comes effectually into contact with all parts of the surfaces to be treated.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which; -
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation and Figure 2 a plan of one form of the
apparatus constructed according to our invention.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form of the:
apparatus.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a is a pit or tank constructed of suitable
material, having near each end a partition d, and near its bottom a partition or
false bottom e. These partitions d, d and e enclose a space wherein the hides c
are suspended from a frame b disposed over the pit. In the said partitions & d
we provide sets of apertures f and g; three of each set being arranged, in the
example shown, between adjacent hides and between the outside hides and the
side walls of the pit. It is obvious however, that any suitable number and
arrangement of the said apertures may be employed. The apertures f are pro-:
vided with funnels having elongated flattened mouths, or are otherwise con-
structed to cause the liquid forced through them to spread. The apertures g
are provided with clack valves &, by which the passage of liquid from the outside
to the inside of the partitions through such apertures may be prevented. Any
other suitable form of valves may however be used.
In the space between the false bottom e and the actual bottom of the pit, we
form a channel m in which we arrange a screw propeller 7, or a pump, paddle or

page_text: other means for compelling the liquid to pass through said channel in one or.
the other direction. The middle portion of this channel is of circular shape in.
cross section and fits closely around the propeller; and the said channel is.
reduced, in depth while being increased in width (as indicated by the dotted lines.
in Figure 2) toward its ends, for the purpose of distributing the liquid uniformly :
along the width of the channels or passages formed between the partitions.d.
and the ends of the pit.
Apertures are formed in the false bottom e affording communication between
the channel m and the receptacle for the hides. These apertures are provided.
with valves q similar to the valves k, but disposed upon the upper side of the
false bottom. These valves q are preferably adapted to be maintained in a raised
position by adjustable means so that the quantity of liquid passing through the
apertures may be regulated.
n is a heating, or cooling pipe for maintaining the liquid at the proper tem-
perature.
The pit is adapted to be filled with liquid up to such a height as to nearly or
completely submerge the hides suspended therein. The revolution of the pro-
peller will then produce a circulation of the liquid in the tank or pit, causing it :
to pass through the channel m, say, from left to right, as indicated by the arrows
in Figure 1. The valves will automatically close the apertures in the parti-
tion at the right hand end of the pit, and the liquid will be forced through the
apertures and funnels of such partition. By this means the liquid is pro-
jected between the hides in such manner as not only to be distributed over the
whole surfaces thereof, but also to maintain such hides in position and prevent
their coming together and adhering to each other at portions of their surfaces
and thus hindering the action of the liquid upon such portions. The liquid
will also pass up through the apertures on that side of the propeller toward
which the liquid is forced, and thus serve to prevent the accumulation of sedi- -
ment or layers of the liquid having increased density at the bottom of the recep-
tacle. The liquid will not readily pass through the funnels in the opposite
direction and consequently the valves of the apertures g in the partition at the
left hand end of the tank are automatically opened by the moving liquid, as
shown in Figure 1; the liquid flowing through said apertures and being again
drawn through the channel m by the propeller 1. We somtimes provide means.
for controlling the position of the valves to enable. those. apertures g through
which the liquid is flowing to be adjusted in any desired position to check or
otherwise regulate the flow of liquid through such apertures. We may however
dispense with the apertures g and form the funnels h so that the liquid will
readily pass through them in either direction.
If desired the channels or passages formed between the partitions and the
ends of the pit may be closed at their upper ends, thereby enabling the force or
velocity with which the circulating liquid can be projected between the hides to
be increased. The flow of liquid may also be regulated by providing the aper-¨
tures with adjustable valves.
In the modification shown in Figure 3, the partitions d and their apertures
are dispensed with, and instead thereof we employ vertically arranged tubes o
forming conduits for directing the liquid between the hides, which tubes may
conveniently be of circular or oval shape in cross section. These tubes are
closed or partially closed at the top, and are perforated at the sides or surfaces
adjacent to the hides, some or all of the apertures being preferably arranged to
direct the liquid, delivered therefrom toward the middle part of the pit. The
apertures are also arranged to spread the liquid so as to direct it to all parts
of the hides. In the example illustrated three such tubes of a different length
are arranged on each side of the pit between adjacent hides and between the out-
side hides and the side walls of the pit. The number of tubes and their length
and arrangement may, however, be varied.
The channel m is similar in shape to that shown in Figures 1 and 2. Aper-

page_text: tures r, provided with valves q, are provided in the false bottom in a manner
similar to that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In order that the
shortest of the tubes o that are toward the side of the tank, may receive a stream
of liquid equal to that received by the other tubes, we may provide tlie slower.
end of such tubes with an enlarged or conical extension or mouthop bent and
directed toward the cylindrical part of the channel in which the propeller / works.
Or we may effect this object by means of suitably disposed baffle plates.
It will be readily understood that, when the propeller or other means provided
for circulating the liquid is set in motion the liquid will be caused to flow past
or through the same, and rise in the tubes o at one end or side of the pit, from
which tubes it will be projected through the apertures therein onto the surfaces
of the hides. The action of the propeller or other means for circulating the
liquid will also draw the liquid into the tubes o at the opposite end of the pit
after such liquid has traversed the aforesaid surfaces, and cause said liquid to
again pass through the channel m.
It will also be seen that, in both of the forms of our invention illustrated, the
direction of the circulation of the liquid can be reversed by merely reversing the
direction of rotation of the propeller.
It is obvious that instead of causing the liquid to flow over the surfaces of
the hides in a horizontal direction, we may so arrange the apparatus as to cause
the liquid to flow vertically or at any inclination over such surfaces, either
upward or downward.
The circulation may sometimes be effected partly by gravity, there being a
reservoir above the pit to which liquid is pumped from a channel or cavity at
the bottom of the pit, the said reservoir communicating with spreading channels,
troughs or funnels arranged above, at the side or end of, or between the hides.
We are aware that in the treatment of hides means have sometimes been used
for agitating the tanning or other liquid to expedite the process. Such agitation
however is not, or is only partially, effective because the liquid is only disturbed
and is not circulated and distributed as in our apparatus. Moreover such agita-
tion possesses the great disadvantage that it displaces the hides and is liable to
bring them into contact with each other thus causing them to adhere at portions
of their surfaces and render the treatment defective. Our invention obviates
this disadvantage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. Apparatus for treating hides and skins in which the tanning or other liquid
is caused to circulate between the said hides or skins for the purposes specified.
2. The combination with the tank or pit within which the hides or skins are
suspended, of ports, tubes or conduits so constructed and arranged as to direct
the aforesaid tanning or other liquid between the hides or skins as and for the
purpose specified.
3. Apparatus constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings
for the purpose specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.