Improvements in Apparatus for Treating and Cooling Heated Liquid Fats and Oils with Air.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
Improvements in Apparatus for Treating and Cooling Heated Liquid
Fats and Oils with Air.
I, CHARLES GRAHAM HEPBURN, of 169, King Street, Sydney, New South Wales,
Engineer, 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:-
-
The objects of this invention are to provide apparatus of high efficiency and great
capacity for atomiang liquid fats and oils and for air-blowing the same whilst so
atomised.
The said apparatus consists of atomising and air-propelling devices in com-
bination with a system of vertical louvres which act as vehicles for constantly
changing films of oil or fat, which films, whilst flowing over the surfaces of said
louvres, are acted upon by currents of an
I have devised several constructions of apparatus embodying my invention, all
of which have louvres as the common essential feature; in some the louvres are
stationary and the spraying and an-propelling devices move relatively to them,
in others the louvres move with the spraying and air-propelling devices
In some cases filtering and air-attemperating apparatus are used in conjunction
with the parts already enumerated, but no claim is advanced in 1espect of this
feature.
In the accompanying drawings, Figs 1 to 9 illustrate a construction of apparatus
wherein the invention is applied to a centrifugal filter of the hydro-extractor type
Figs. 1 to 5 show an arrangement in which the louvies are stationary. Fig 1 is
a vertical section, Fig 2 a corresponding side elevation, Figs 3 and 4 horizontal
sections illustrative of the arrangement of the louvies, the former showing them
relatively narrow but closely grouped, and the latter showing them wider and
further apart, and Fig. 5 18 a detail view of the construction and 'pitching' of the
louvres Figs. 6 to 9 show apparatus in which the louvies move with the basket,
whereof Fig 6 is a vertical section, Fig. 7 a side elevation and partial section,
Fig. 8 a horizontal section and Fig. 9 a horizontal section through the monitor only
Figs 10 to 22 illustrate types of apparatus in which the louvres move, but in con-
nection with which a filter 18 not used. Fig 10 is a vertical section through one
form of the apparatus, Fig. 11 18 a horizontal section on the lines ab, d, and
Fig 12 is a detail view of the sprayeı Fig 13 is a vertical section of a modified
form of the type of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12, but differing only there-
from in that it is connected with an air-tight attemperating apparatus, Fig 14
being a partial vertical section and elevation, Fig. 15 a fragmentary horizontal
section, and Fig. 16 a detail view in section of the bottom bearing of the spindle
Figs. 17 to 22 illustrate a further modified form of apparatus in which fixed louvres
and also a compound system of moving louvres are employed; Fig 17 being a
vertical section through the compound louvre, Fig 18 a partial section and elevation,
and Fig. 19 a horizontal section of one half of same Figs 20 to 22 are enlarged
views illustrating the mode of constructing the louvres.

page_text: Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the louvres A are set in large apertures in the monitor
and in such a manner that the air swill resulting from the rotation of the filter-
ing basket B, which may be furnished with vanes C, will induce an indiaught of
BU'. The spray of oil or fat thrown off from the basket 18 received by the louvres
aud trickles over them in the form of a film, descending into the well D of the
monitor. E is a guard to prevent loss of the material under treatment by intercept-
ing any spray which may pass through the louvies The air daught finds exit
through the uptake F, at one edge of which a cut-off plate G is fitted The louvies
must be fixed approximately at the angles and with the extent of overlap shewn
in order to produce high efficiency and prevent waste.
The mode of mounting and the accessory fittings of the basket do not form any
part of my invention The top of the monitor is closed from the atmosphere in
order to restrict the air draught to the louvred entrances and the uptake
Referring to the arrangement shown in Figs 6 to 9, the louvres A are fitted to
and revolve with the basket B They are mounted on two rings H H secured to
the basket by brackets or tie pieces H³, and are reinforced by wire binding K. The
top L and bottom L' of the monitor are open for the inflow of air
The sides L³
of the monitor are made of thin sheet metal to obtain the maximum radiation
M is a guard plate at the top of the monitor to intercept spray.
Referring to Figs 10 to 12, this arrangement consists practically of that shewn
in Figs 6 to 9, but without the basket filter, for which a sprayer is substituted and
an air-propeller 18 also provided to increase the air draught The sprayer consists
of a vessel N mounted on the spindle 0, and having extended from its circumference
four or more tubes P. A number of vanes Q, set as shown, are disposed about the
vessel N, and together constitute the air-propeller, which induces a flow of air down-
wards into the machine The rotation of the louvres produces a centrifugal effect,
causing the circulation of the air within the monitor and continuously discharging
it into the uptake
Referring to Figs. 13 to 16, R is an air-propeller placed at the bottom of the
monitor and arranged, when deemed necessary, to draw its air supply from tho
drying or heating chamber S The uptake T is satuated at the top. The arrange-
ment of the sprayer and of the louvres is similar to that described with reference to
Figs 10 to 12
In Fige 17 to 22, the moving louvres A are tuplicated in concentric sets, and
there is an additional ring of fixed louvres U surrounding them. The form of the
monitor is altered, it being made deeper in the lower part than the monitor shewn in
Figs 13 and 14, and the air-propeller R which is of increased size is set midway
between the louvres and the monitor-well. W are studs fitted radially to the frame
of the distributer N and adapted to support the rings on which the upper ends of
the revolving louvrea are fixed. V is a baffle ring to prevent upward spraying by
the revolving louvres
In all the constructions described in which the louvres are made to revolve, they
are set pointing outwards in the direction of their motion If they were set like
the blades of a fan, with faces thrown backward, they would fail to act satisfactorily,
as they would discharge the fat or oil too readily. When set as described, the spray
of fat or oil spreads itself gradually over the whole surface and remains thereon
sufficiently long to be thoroughly acted on by the current of air
The apparatus having been set in motion and the supply of fluid fat or oil con-
nected, the operations of the several designs are as follows-
Figs 1 to 5 The basket B throws off a fine spray of the fluid which is caught
by the louvres A and forms a film thereon, flowing slowly over their surfaces into
the well Meanwhile, a current of air, induced by the circulation of air resulting
from the rotation of the basket within the monitor, enters through the spaces
between the louvres, acts on the film of oil or fat flowing over the same, and finally
passes away through the uptake F.

page_text: )
Figs. 6 to 9. The spray of fluid oil or fat thrown off by the basket B 18 received
by the louvres A, and, whilst passing over the surfaces of the same, is acted upon
by the current of air which enters above and below the basket and which finds
exit through the uptake at the side of the monitor
Figs 10 to 12. The revolution of the louvies produces a centrifugal effect and
induces air into the monitor through the openings at the top and bottom, said air
being drawn out through the uptake opening at the side of the monitor. The
air-draught is aided by the action of the down-draught air-propeller Q
The
sprayer covers the louvres with a film of oil or fat which is acted on by the air-
draughts whilst it is passing over them. The au after performing its functions on
the oil or fat passes away through the uptake at the side of the monitor.
Figs 13 to 16: An air-draught into the monitor through the lower inlet 1s
produced by the updraught air-propeller R and the centrifugal action of the
revolving louvres The used air escapes in a spiral column through the central
uptake T. The spray of fat or oil thrown off by the sprayer N P forms a film on
the louvres which is acted upon by the current of air passing out between them
Figs 17 to 22: An updraught is created by the air-propeller R The spray of
fat or oil thrown off by the distributer N and its pipes P 18 caught by the moving
louvres A, on each of which in turn it becomes distributed. It finally becomes
sprayed upon the fixed louvres U and spreads itself over them in a film and flows
along them, leaving their lower edges in minute drops, or in a fine state of sub-
division; and dripping thence into the well of the monitor. The column of air
from the propeller ascends spirally, and, being caught by the revolving louvres,
centrifugal motion is imparted thereto and it passes out between the louvres;
acting on the films of fat or oil thereon, and ultimately finding egress at the top
of the monitor.
The treated fat or oil is in all cases deposited in the annular well formed in the
bottom of the monitor from whence it is drawn off
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim.-
1. In apparatus for air-blowing liquid fats and oils, the combination of an oil
sprayer, louvres surrounding said sprayer to catch said spray, and means for causing
an air-draught through said louvres, substantially as described.
2 In apparatus for air-blowing liquid fats and oils, the combination of a rotating
filter adapted to eject the filtrate in a spray, and to act as an air whirler, louvres
surrounding said rotating filter through which air is sucked inwards, an uptake
through which the spent air is ejected and a well into which the treated filtrate
passes, substantially as described
3 In apparatus for air-blowing liquid fats and oils, the combination of a rotating
filter adapted to eject the filtrate in a spray, and louvres completely surrounding
said filter and moving therewith within a casing having inlet openings for air at
the centre and an outlet for the spent air at the side, and a well to receive the
treated filtrate, substantially as described
4 In apparatus for air-blowing liquid fats and oils, the combination of a rotating
spraver and louvres completely surrounding said sprayer and moving therewith
within a casing having inlet openings for air at the centre and an outlet for the
spent air at the side, and a well to receive the treated oil or fat, substantially as
described
5. In apparatus for air-blowing liquid fats and oils, the combination of a rotating
sprayer and louvres completely surrounding said sprayer and moving therewith with-
within a casing having inlet openings for air at the bottom and an outlet for the
spent air at the top, a well to receive the treated oil or fat and an air-propeller to
promote air circulation, substantially as described
6 In apparatus for air-blowing liquid fats and oils, the combination of a rotating
sprayer, two or more concentric rings of louvres completely surrounding said

page_text: sprayer and rotating therewith, a fixed ring of louvres surrounding said moveable
louvres, a monitor or casing with well to receive the treated fat or oil, and an air-
propeller below the louvres, substantially as described.
Dated this lot davr of Contember 1900