Improvements in Percolators for Extracting Oil.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Percolators for Extracting Oil.
I REGINALD HADDAN of the firm of Herbert Haddan & Co. of 18 Buckingham
Street Strand W.C. London, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this
invention a communication to me from abroad by John William Evans, Mechanical
Engineer and Manufacturer of Cleveland, State of Ohio, United States of America,
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 improvements in percolators designed more especially
for the extraction of cotton seed oil by the naphtha process.
The present invention relates more especially to improvements on a percolator
embodying features described in Letters Patent No. 5971 granted 21 April 1888
wherein a series of radial arms or so-called "breakers" having steam pipes attached
underneath, are arranged inside the percolator, the breakers being supported at
their inner ends by a centre piece and at the outer ends being hinged to brackets
that are secured to or connected with the surrounding wall of the container, the
brackets having hollow trunnions that connect with chambers in the breakers with
the arrangement such that with the breakers in working position the perforated
steam pipe connected with the breakers and the adjacent steam supply pipė
connected with the brackets are in open relation with each other, and by depressing
the centre support, the breakers and attached perforated pipes are turned down
alongside the walls of the container without breaking or separating the aforesaid
steam connections, and wherein two or more series of such radial arms or breakers
if desired are located at different elevations, together, with crossbars located in a
lower plane, the crossbars having also perforated steam pipes attached underneath,
a slightly conical false bottom of perforated plates being provided and a heating
coil being interposed between the perforated and imperforate bottoms of the..
container, a system of pipes leading up through the bottom of the percolator and
arranged with suitable valves, said system of pipes being used for drawing off the
oil and naphtha, and also to admit steam into the meal or material subsequent to
the extraction of the oil.
The features just briefly described I also employ in this improved percolator.
The object of this present invention is to provide a construction of percolator
whereby a larger amount of meal may be treated at a single time, as compared
with the constructions of percolators heretofore devised, wherein the naphtha or
solvent employed is rendered a better extractor, whereby the process of extracting
the oil is more thoroughly and rapidly performed, and whereby the meal or
material after the extraction of the oil therefrom is more thoroughly and rapidly
purged of any naphtha or solvent still remaining in the meal or material.
With this object in view this invention consists more especially in a heater
located centrally within the percolator and in a steaming and draining device
surrounding such heater and my invention also consists in certain features of con-
struction, and in combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the
claims.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferable construction of percolator
embodying my improvements. Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in central
vertical section of the percolator. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of a portion
of the centrally located heating and draining and steaming apparatus employed in
this improved percolator. Fig. 3 is a plan view of an improved centre piece herein-
after more fully described.
A represents the tank or container of the percolator. Container A is usually

page_text: made of heavy boiler plate and mounted on legs A'. The container has a some-
what dish shaped bottom A2, that is a bottom declining towards the central portion,
and the container has a conical top A' the latter being provided at the apex with a
large flanged man-hole and a man hole plate or cover a. Flange a¹ around the
man hole is of considerable depth to accommodate a crossbar a' that is secured to
the inside of the flange out of the way of the cover.. The crossbar supports the
center pieces hereinafter described.
The tank or container is provided with doors at at A' usually two in number
and located on opposite sides. These doors reach to the bottom of the container
and are usually three or four feet square, more or less, so that workmen can easily
enter the doorway for shovelling out the contents of the container. Some distance
above the line of the doors is a large steam pipe C that encircles the container and
from which branch pipes lead into the container at different points, to wit.
Pipes lead to: breakers D, pipes c¹ to breakers E, and pipes to cross bars F.
These pipes of course are provided with suitable valves. With a percolator, the
tank or container whereof is about twelve feet in diameter and the side walls
thereof about as many feet in height, steam pipe C is preferably located at about
the central portion of the container.
C
Breakers D are hinged to brackets D' the latter being secured to the inside of
the container. The brackets and trunnions of the breakers are chambered, and
suitable openings are provided that connect the chambers when the breakers are in
a borizontal or working position. The chamber in brackets D' is in open com-
munication with a pipe c and the chamber in breakers D is in open communication
with a perforated pipe d that is secured to the under side of the respective breaker.
Breakers D at the inner end are supported by a centre piece D2 the construction
of which is hereinafter more fully described. Centre piece D' is supported by
chains d' that are detachably secured to cross piece a². When the parts are in
working condition an open passageway is had from pipes c through the chambers of
the brackets and breakers to pipes d.
Breakers E that are located below breakers D and preferably in the same
vertical plane but sufficiently far below breakers D to enable the latter to turn
down inside the container, are substantially the same as breakers D, being hinged
to brackets as at E' provided with a perforated pipe as ate and supported at the
inner end by a center piece as at E', pipes e of breakers E being in open relation
with pipes c when the breakers are in a horizontal or working position, centre
piece E being supported by chains that are attached to centre piece D2.
Perforated pipes are loosely secured to centre piece E' so as to be movable
end wise. Pipes et are provided respectively with a coupling e the outer end of
which is made large enough to slip onto the unthreaded inner end of the adjacent
pipe e.
In a plane below the top of the doors A' are located cross bars F. These bars
are supported at their outer ends by angle plates F' and are supported at their
opposite ends as hereinafter described. Bars F have, respectively, attached under-
neath a perforated pipe having an elbow f¹ at the outer end, said elbow pre-
senting downward and engaging an upturned elbow on pipe c. The end of one
elbow is made conical and the end of the opposing elbow is made correspondingly
concave forming what is known as "ball and socket" elbows. These joints are of
course ground together and pipe f stands off from bar F so as to cause the
elbows to be pressed firmly together when bar F rests on the supporting angle
plate.
The construction thus far described is substantially the same as disclosed in the
Patent herein before referred to excepting so far as concerns the construction of
centre-pieces D² and E that will be hereinafter fully described.
Bottom of the container, at the central portion has an opening through
which extends a hollow cylinder H.
.
Cylinder H is open at the top and has an external annular flange H¹ that is
bolted to bottom A² of the container of the percolator. Cylinder H is closed at

page_text: the bottom having an external annular flange at its lower end as at 11 to which
bottom head H³ is bolted.
I represents the inclined perforated plates that rest on bottom A at or near the
inner periphery of the container, the inner ends of these plates being supported by
cylinder H. Between bottom A³ and cylinder I are located the coils of pipe for
beating.
Cylinder H also supports an upright perforated hollow cylinder or drum O of
the centrally located draining and steaming apparatus hereinafter more fully
described, drum or cylinder O being in open relation with cylinder H and extending
preferably into the upper portion of the tank or container of the percolator, as far
as the uppermost breakers or beyond as shown, cylinders H and O at contiguous
ends, having annular flanges Hc and Oc projecting inwardly and outwardly
respectively, and perforated for the reception of bolts as at G that rigidly secured
said parts together. Cylinder or drum O has also external lugs or an annular
flange as at Od for supporting the inner end of the crossbars F hereinbefore
referred to.
Cylinder H preferably at or near the lower end, has lateral perforations located
preferably diametrically opposite and being of suitable size for the reception of
large pipes K the latter being provided with valves K'. Between pipes K and
bottom A of the container, cylinder H is provided with an annular series of per-
forations for the reception of pipes M the latter having branches as at M' that
lead into bottom A² of the container. Pipes M have also branches m that lead
upward into the bottom of the container preferably at or near the inner periphery
of the container. Pipes M' and m are provided, respectively, with valves M'
and m.
Preferably just above the bottom of the container, cylinder H is also provided
with an annular series of perforations in open relation with the space containing
heating coils J. Pipes K and M and branches M₁ and m and perforations are
for draining oil and naphtha from the container, and for the subsequent admission
of steam to the meal or material in the container.
I represents a heater located centrally within and extending from the bottom to
near the upper end of drum or cylinder O, heater P comprising an imperforate
hollow drum or cylinder closed top and bottom as at P P the bottom head P
being perforated for the passage of a steam pipe Q that extends upward and
Head P of the
discharges preferably about midway of the length of the heater.
heater is also perforated for the reception of a pipe R, the office of which is to carry
off the water arising from condensation of steam in the heater. Drum or cylinder
has numerous perforations 0 preferably from a point a little above perforated
plates 1 to the top O' of the drum, top 0' being preferably conical or tapering as
shown. Drum or cylinder O is preferably made in sections the sections at the
meeting ends being Hanged outwardly and secured together by bolts as at O' and
having annular internal flanges as at O, heater P being also perferably made in
sections similarly to drum or cylinder O, annular flanges O being screw threaded
on their inner periphery for receving the correspondingly threaded portions of the
sections of heater P as at 0%. The sections of heater P might however be cast
integral with the respective sections of drum or cylinder O. Flanges O thus
constitute a diaphragm that divides drum or cylinder O into two compartments Ou
and Ob and said diaphragm and the bottom head of cylinder Hare perforated for
the reception and passage of a steam pipe S that discharges into the upper com-
partment Ob of drum or cylinder O. The bottom of cylinder H is also perforated
for the passage of a steam pipe T that extends upward and discharges preferably
about midway of the length of t: lower compartment Oa of drum or cylinder O.
Referring now to the construction of center pieces D and E³ to which reference
has already been made, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 they comprise respectively
a ring or annular disc reduced in thickness at its outer periphery as at 5 for
supporting the inner ends of the respective breakers that are arranged radially about
the container, as herein before described.

page_text: The center pieces are also perforated as at 6 and have attached preferably at
equal intervals as at 7 chains d¹ and e respectively, hereinbefore referred to
preferably four in number, chains es being secured to the upper center piece D'
in any suitable manner preferably by means of hooks as at 8 and chains d'
being detachably secured as herein before stated to cross bars a². When center
pieces D and E³ are lowered by unfastening chain d¹ from cross bar a³, the con-
nected breakers can turn down by the side of the container. The center pieces are
also preferably made in two sections as shown at 9 and 10 in Fig. 3 the ends of the
sections being reduced in thickness preferably on opposite sides relative to
each other, adjacent reduced ends of the sections overlapping each other as
shown at 11 Fig. 3. With such construction the sections of the center pieces
upon unfastening chains das atoresaid can turn down toward each other.
U represents breakers located preferably above the diaphragm of drum or
cylinder O preferably between breakers D and E and of substantially the same
construction, being provided with perforated pipes u in substantially the same
manner, being hinged to drum or cylinder O as at U¹ and pipes u being in open
relation with drum O in the horizontal or working position of breakers U.
Breakers U are also arranged radially about the container preferably corre-
sponding in number to breakers D and E but being located preferably in a different
vertical plane relative to said last mentioned breakers.
Breakers U are held in a horizontal or elevated position respectively by a
chain 12 that is detachably suspended from a dog 13 pivoted as at 14 to a
depending arm or bracket 13 that is bolted or rivetted to the top A³ of the
container, and dog 13 is held in a horizontal or elevated position by a laterally
projecting toe or member 16, of a round rod 17 that extends upwardly outside the
container and through the top member of a suitable frame 18 bolted or rivetted to
the top of the container.
hole as
Rod 17 has a collar 19 rigidly mounted thereon for instance by means of a
screw bolt 20, collar 19 resting upon the top member of frame 18 thus preventing
the rod from falling into the container. Rod or spindle 17 is square or of
suitable shape at the upper end to receive and be operated by a crank 21, and
frame 18 has an upwardly extending arm or member 22, provided with
at 23 and crank 21 has a corresponding hole 24 that is adapted to register with
hole 23 in member 22 when the mechanism for holding breakers U in a horizontal.
or elevated position is performing its function and 25 represents a key adapted to
enter boles 23 and 24 in members 21, and 22 and lock the mechanism aforesaid in
the position indicated. Rod 17 also passes through a stuffing box as at 26 that is
bolted or secured to the top of the container. By removing key 25 and turning
rod 17 by means of crank 21, the projection 16 of rod 17 will release dog 13 and
the latter in turn release chain 12 permitting breaker U to turn down against the
outside of drum or cylinder O.
V represents a pipe opening into the top of the container for admitting the
naphtha or other solvent and N represents an escape pipe leading from the
container to a condenser (not shown) and affording exit to the vaporized naphtha
or solvent.
In operating the percolator the container is filled with meal or other material
from which oil is to be extracted, the same being admitted through the manhole.
The man-bole having been closed, hot naphtha is introduced into the container in
sufficient quantity to cover the meal or other material. Steam is then admitted to
coil J and heater P and the naphtha or solvent and mass kept to the desired
temperature say about 150° Fahrenheit more or less until the oil is extracted from
the mass. During this time the solution of oil and naphtha is drawn off from time
to time and fresh heated naphtha or solvent is supplied until the oil is entirely
extracted from the mass, after which the oil and the naphtha are drawn from the
container. The lower compartment of drum or cylinder O is used in drawing off
the solution of oil and solvent from the container in addition to perforations * and
pipes m, M, M, K. The solution of oil and naphtha having been drawn from the

page_text: container as just described, steam is admitted to thoroughly purge the meal of and
vaporize any naphtha or solvent that is still contained in the meal, steam being
first admitted into the upper portion of the mass through the upper compartment of
drum or cylinder O and steam pipes connected with breakers U and E, next
through lower compartment of drum O and steam pipes connected with breakers E
and lastly through perforations * pipes M' and m and steam pipes connected with
cross bars F. The residium having been thoroughly purged of what naphtha was
still contained therein, is then removed from the container in the usual manner.
The percolator although especially designed for the extraction of oil from cotton
seed, is equally well adapted for extracting oil from linseed, or in fact from any
substance that contains oil.
The upper portion of the material being first steamed, the object of dividing
drum or cylinder O into compartments as shown will be readily understood. A
straining cloth (not shown) is preferably wound around this drum or cylinder to
prevent any of the meal or material obtaining access to the interior of the same.
Heater constitutes a feature of vast importance in that it greatly aids. in
maintaining the meal and solvent at the desired temperature, rendering the
extraction of the oil more thorough and rapid and any liquid naphtha that may come
in contact with the heater is instantly vaporized by such contact and returned to the
meal or material. Also after the oil has been extracted from the meal, the latter
can be still maintained in such a heated condition that much less steam is required
in the subsequent cleaning of the meal of the remaining solvent, and the vaporization
of this remaining solvent is more thoroughly and rapidly effected.
I would also remark that by this improved construction herein before described I
am enabled to employ a tank or container of much larger size and I have now in
operation a percolator whereby may be treated, at a single time, approximately
twice the amount of material that it was possible to treat by the constructions of
percolators heretofore devised.
I would also remark that my invention comprises broadly a heater, and a steaming
and draining apparatus located centrally or approximately centrally within the
tank or container of the percolator, and that cylinder H and drum or cylinder
might be cast integral and other modifications in the details of construction might
be made, without departing from the spirit and purpose of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. In a percolator for extracting oil a draining and steaming apparatus located
within the percolator, the same comprising a hollow perforated drum or cylinder,
suitably supported at the bottom of the percolator and having one or more steam
pipes discharging into the same substantially as set forth.
2. In a percolator for extracting oil a draining and steaming apparatus suitably
supported at the bottom of the percolator and comprising a hollow perforated drum,
or cylinder, divided by a diaphragm into two compartments, each compartment of
said drum or cylinder having one or more steam pipes, discharging into the same as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a percolator for extracting oil, a cylinder located centrally or approxi-
mately centrally below the container of the percolator, and extending more or less
into said container, and heing closed at the bottom and open at the top, said
cylinder having connected therewith a system of steam and drain pipes in open
relation with the container of the percolator, and having connected therewith, below
such system of steam and drain pipes, one or more larger steam and drain pipes and
having a series of perforations opening into the container just above the bottom of
the latter substantially as shown and described.
4. In a percolator for extracting oil, an upright draining and steaming apparatus
suitably supported at the bottom of the percolator, and comprising a hollow

page_text: '
perforated drum or cylinder, with the perforations discharging laterally into the
body or container of the percolator, a heater comprising an imperforate drum or
cylinder located within said draining and steaming apparatus, said beater and
draining and steaming apparatus having, respectively, one or more steam pipes in
open relation therewith and the heater being provided with a drain pipe substantially
as set forth.
5. In a percolator for extracting oil a draining and steaming apparatus located
centrally or approximately centrally within the tank or container of the percolator,
and being suitably supported at the bottom of the percolator and comprising a
perforated drum or cylinder and one or more steam pipes discharging into said drum
or cylinder, a heater located within and extending approximately the entire length
of said draining and steaming apparatus, and heater comprising an imperforate drum
or. cylinder closed at the ends and a steam pipe for supplying steam to the same, the
heater being provided with a drain pipe substantially as set forth.
6. In a percolator for extracting oil a draining and steaming apparatus located.
centrally or approximately centrally within the tank or container of the percolator,
and being suitably supported at the bottom of the percolator and comprising two
compartments that are located the one above the other and separated by a diaphragm,
the surrounding walls of the compartments being perforated with the perforations
discharging laterally into the tank or container of the percolator, one or more steam.
pipes in open relation with the respective compartments of the draining and
steaming apparatus, a heater located within and extending approximately the entire
length of said draining and steaming apparatus, said heater comprising an imperforate
'drum or cylinder closed at the ends and a steam pipe and a drain pipe in open
relation therewith, substantially as set forth.
7. In a percolator for extracting oil, a hollow cylinder secured to the central'
portion of the bottom of the tank or container of the percolator and extending more
or less into and being in open relation with the container, and being closed at the
bottom, a heating coil located at the bottom of the tank or container, and a system
of steam and drain pipes adapted to establish open communication between the
interior of the cylinder aforesaid and the interior of the tank or container, one or
more larger steam and drain pipes in open relation with said cylinder below the
aforesaid system of pipes, a draining and steaming apparatus located above and in
open communication with said cylinder, and comprising a perforated drum or
cylinder and one or more steam pipes discharging into said drum or cylinder, a
heater located within and extending approximately the entire length of the
perforated drum or cylinder of said draining and steaming apparatus, said heater
comprising an imperforate drum or cylinder closed at the ends, a steam pipe
discharging into the same, and a drain pipe substantially as set forth.
8. In a percolator for extracting oil, so called "breakers" hinged to or connected
with the sides of the percolator, and a depressible contre piece for supporting the
inner end of the breakers, the breakers having perforated pipes attached under-
neath, the centre piece comprising an annular ring with vertical perforations and
made in two sections, the ends of each section overlapping the adjacent end of the
other section substantially as set forth.
a
9. In a percolator for extracting oil, a steaming apparatus located centrally or
approximately centrally in the tank or container of the percolator, and comprising
perforated drum, or cylinder, with the perforations discharging laterally into the
container, so called breakers having perforated pipes attached underneath and
being hinged to or connected with the outside of said drum or cylinder in such a
manner that in the horizontal or working position of the breakers the attached
perforated pipes are in open relation with the interior of said drum or cylinder
substantially as set forth.
10. In a percolator for extracting oil, so called "breakers" hinged inside the
tank or container, in combination with a chain or suitable device connected with
the breakers and detachably connected with suitable mechanism that is adapted to

page_text: be operated from outside the container to release said chain or device and permit
the breakers to turn on their hinge out of working position, substantially as set
forth.
11. In a percolator for extracting oil a steaming apparatus located centrally or
approximately centrally in the body or container of the percolator, and comprising
a perforated drum or cylinder with the perforations discharging laterally into the
container, so called breakers having perforated pipes attached underneath and
being hinged to or connected with the outside of said drum or cylinder in such a
manner that in the horizontal or working position of the breakers the attached
perforated pipes are in open relation with the interior of said drum or cylinder, a
chain or suitable device connected with said breakers and detachably connected with
suitable mechanism adapted to be operated from outside the container of the
percolator to release the chain and permit the breaker to turn down outside the
drum or cylinder aforesaid, substantially as set forth.
12. In a percolator for extracting oil, so called breakers in combination with
suitable mechanism for holding said breakers in a horizontal or working position,
said mechanism comprising a chain or suitable device attached to the breakers and
detachably connected or adapted to be detachably connected with a dog pivoted to
a rigid support inside the top of the percolator, a frame or bracket secured to the
outside of the top of the container, a rod extending through the top member of said
frame into the container and terminating at its lower or inner end in a toe or
projecting member adapted to support the dog, and connected breaker in a horizontal
or working position, the rod at its outer end terminating in a crank or handle,
substantially as set forth.
13. In a percolator comprising so called "breakers" the combination with suitable
mechanism for holding said breakers in a horizontal or working position, said
mechanism comprising a chain or suitable device attached to the breakers and
detachably connected or adapted to be detachably connected with a dog pivoted to
a rigid support inside the top of the percolator, a frame or bracket secured to the
outside of the top of the container, a rod extending through the top member of said
frame into the container and terminating at its lower or inner end in a toe or pro-
jecting member adapted to support the dog and connected breaker in a horizontal
or working position, the rod at its outer end terminating in a crank or handle, of
suitable means for locking said mechanism in the working position of the breakers
substantially as set forth.
14. A percolator substantially as herein shown and described.