IMPROVEMENTS INPURIFYING TURPENTINE AND RESIN OR RESINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND OBTAIN- ING THE SPIRIT THEREFROM. AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED HEREIN
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Platt, of Widnes, in the County of
Lancaster, Resin Manufacturer, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS
IN PURIFYING TURPENTINE AND RESIN OR RESINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND OBTAIN-
ING THE SPIRIT THEREFROM. AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED HEREIN
"

page_text: Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the first and true
Inventor thereof.
same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the first and true
Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Platt, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention to be as follows:-
:―
This Invention has for its object improvements in purifying turpentine
and resin or resinous substances, and obtaining the spirit therefrom, and
in apparatus employed therein.
In purifying turpentine, resin or resinous substances according to this
Invention, the crude material to be refined is distilled, and the spirit
obtained therefrom by means or superheated steam, or fire and steam.
The resin or resinous substance is placed in its unrefined state in a
copper still or other suitable vessel; superheated steam at a temperature
of about 750° to 800° Fahrenheit, and at a pressure of 25 lbs. to 30 lbs. on
the square inch, is then blown into the material to be refined until it is
melted, and by continuing to blow the steam into it the material becomes
vaporised and passes off together with the steam first into a worm where
the spirit is obtained, and then into a condenser or condensers where it is
condensed in a purified state.
The apparatus consists of a copper still or other suitable vessel, to
which is connected at the top by a copper issue or outlet pipe with a two-
way valve upon it a copper worm in one direction, and six or more
copper condensers in another direction. These condensers are connected
to each other by copper bends over the top, and in each condenser is a
blank division to within about six inches from the bottom with perforated
sieves up the sides. Connected with the last of these condensers by a
main pipe are towers with perforated shelves and jets of water sent in at
the sides in a spray. These towers are placed in cisterns for the purpose
of receiving the material obtained from them in condensing. The valve
before mentioned is so constructed that the connection either to the
worm or condensers may be opened as required, there being two seatings
and valves, one to the worm and the other to the first of the condensers.
°
The valves are on one spindle, so that opening one passage closes the
other, and prevents any undue pressure on the still. Any kind of valve
or tap may be used for this purpose, but the one described is preferred.

page_text: The steam at a pressure of 25 lbs. to'30 lbs. on the square inch is super-
heated in coils of 5 inch pipes placed in a furnace, and fired by either
coal slack or gas, the steam being conveyed into the superheater at the
bottom coil, and emerging from the top coil (or otherwise as convenient)
into a main pipe, to which the stills are connected by 2 inch pipes with
taps or valves to regulate the quantity of steam used in each still. The
2-inch pipe leads down the inside of the still to perforated pipes or worms
near the bottom which divide the steam equally.
The Drawings annexed to this Specification shew a side elevation
partly in section of the apparatus, and also a plan of the same.
A is the still; B, the outlet pipe; C, the two-way valve thereon. As
will be seen two valve plates are fixed upon a spindle, which can be
raised and lowered by a screw. When the spindle is raised the small
upper valve plate is against its seating, and the way to the worm is
closed, whilst that to the condensers is open; on the other hand when
the spindle is in its lower position, the larger valve plate at its lower end
is against its seating, and the passage to the worm is open, and that to
the condensers closed. D is the worm; E, E, are the condensers; F, F,
are bends connecting the condensers. One of the condensers shewn in
section. G is the partition in this condenser, and the perforated plates
also seen; the holes in these plates also seen; the holes in these plates
may be say in. in diameter, and ½ in. from centre to centre. The
draw off valve at the bottom of the condenser is also represented. Four
of the condensers represented in the Drawings, are in all respects similar
the one to the other; the first and last of the series differ in having no
partitions and perforated plates.
The first condenser of the series also is of greater height, and is not
provided with an external casing or jacket. H is a pipe leading to the
condensing towers; I, I, are the condensing towers, and K, K, are
perforated water pipes, by which showers of water are thrown into the
towers.
The mode of working is as follows:-The turpentine or resin or other
material is put into the still or other suitable vessel in quantities of 4 to
5 tons, and the superheated steam turned into it by means of the pipes
and perforated worms before described. The valve alluded to is screwed
down so as to shut off the connection to the condensers, and in doing this
opens the connection to the worm. The light vapour or spirit then
passes along with the steam into the worm, where it is condensed by a

page_text: constant stream of cold water passing down with it, which is introduced
by a perforated pipe inside the worm at the top. Cold water is also used
outside the worm, which is placed in a vat for this purpose. After the
spirit is off the valve is changed, which closes the way to the worm, and
at the same time opens the way to the first of the condensers. The heat
in the still is gradually increased to about 600 Fahrenheit, where it is
steadily kept until the contents are worked off. The vapour passes from
one condenser to another by means of the bends before described, and is
condensed as it passes along, the lighter portions going off with the
steam to the towers before mentioned, where it is met by a stream or
streams of cold water, and is thoroughly condensed, the material being
deposited in the cisterns before alluded to.
The several products may be thus described :-

page_text: BENJAMIN PLATT. (L.S.)