A New or Improved Process for Cleaning and Separating Cotton from Cotton Seeds.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1.90
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process for Cleaning and Separating Cotton
from Cotton Seeds.
I, JOHN SALEHA, of High Street, Beckenham, in the County of Kent, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved process for cleaning and separating
cotton from cotton seeds and has for its object to provide easy and inexpensive
means whereby cotton may be readily cleaned and freed from its seeds.
In carrying my invention into practice I may use either an acid or a basic
treatment. In the first case I dip the cotton seeds in a solution of hydrochloric or
of nitric acid or in a mixture of the two acid solutions while in the second case I
dip the said seeds in a solution of caustic soda or of caustic potash or in a mixture
of the two basic solutions. The seeds are subsequently dried and the cotton may
then be easily brushed off. This process reduces to a minimum the cost for
separating cotton from the seeds as compared with processes such as heretofore
practised.
Although the above solutions will all answer the purpose, I give however
preference to hydrochloric acid as being the cheapest. The quantity of water
added as a solvent to the above acids or bases should be about 10% but I do not
restrict myself to these proportions.
Dated this 5th day of March 1890
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process for Cleaning and Separating Cotton
from Cotton Seeds.
1, JOHN SALEHA, of High Street, Beckenham, in the County of Kent, Merchant,
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:-
My invention relates to a new and improved process for cleaning and separating
cotton from cotton seeds in an easy and inexpensive manner.
Carrying my invention into practice I subject the cotton seeds to chemical
treatment in one of the following manners.
In the first place I enclose the seeds in an airtight chamber containing a dilute
solution of hydrochloric or nitric acid either separately or combined whereby the
fibres are to a certain extent disintegrated and after undergoing a drying process
they can be readily brushed off the seeds.
Instead of using an acid solution I will use an alkaline base such as caustic soda
or potash or a mixture of the two.
When the acid solution is used the chamber or vessel is heated to the temperature
necessary to convert it into steam or vapour and it is then allowed to pass into a
condenser. By this means the acids may be used over and over again and the seeds
are dried as soon as the process of evaporation is completed.
The chamber employed for the purpose may be in the form of a rectangular or
cylindrical iron box provided with hollow trunnions through which the vapour or
gases may be allowed to pass to the condenser.
A revolving motion may be imparted to the box so as to secure uniformity in the
disintegrating and drying processes.

page_text: Seeds treated as above described do not require to be washed.
This process reduces to a minimum the cost for separating cotton from the seeds
as compared with processes such as heretofore practised.
Although the above solutions will all answer the purpose I give however
preference to hydrochloric acid as being the cheapest.
Having thus 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 :-
1st. The herein described method of separating cotton from cotton seeds by means
of a solution of hydrochloric or nitric acid or a mixture of the two substantially as
described.
2nd. The herein described method of separating cotton from cotton seeds by means
of a solution of a caustic alkaline base substantially as described.
3rd. In the process of separating cotton from cotton seeds the employment of a
heated chamber connected with a condenser substantially as and for the purpose
herein described.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1891.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.