IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING OILS AND FATTY MATTERS FROM ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND FOR RECOVERING THE SOLVENT USED THEREIN.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolph Hess, Ph.D., of Dunster House, Mincing
Lane, in the City of London, Manufacturing Chemist, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING OILS AND
FATTY MATTERS FROM ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND FOR
RECOVERING THE SOLVENT USED THEREIN.
"
Sealed the 27th February 1874, and dated the 13th November 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolph Hess at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th November 1873.
I, ADOLPH HESS, Ph.D., of Dunster House, Mincing Lane, in the City
of London, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING OILS AND
FATTY MATTERS FROM ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND FOR RECOVERING
THE SOLVENT USED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to effect a quicker extraction of the oils
and fatty matters and a quicker evaporation of the solvent, a most
efficient recovery of the solvent, and the production of the oils or fatty
matters in a state more fit for refining.

page_text: In carrying out my Invention I employ any convenient number of
extractors, stills, and other ordinary machinery to allow of constant
working, and in order to obtain the advantages above mentioned I use
six or other suitable number of vertical cylinders, about 30 feet long and
4 or 5 feet in diameter, more or less. The lower ends of these cylinders &
are kept full of water, while the upper ends are closed, except that a
pipe leads therefrom into a closed vessel above, which vessel is kept
constantly supplied with cold water. The cylinders are filled with coke
and thorns or other suitable light material. A constant current of water
is kept up in each cylinder from top to bottom, which current gradually
increases from cylinder to cylinder. Between the 3rd and 4th cylinders
(where 6 cylinders are used) I place a double-acting air pump, which
draws air from the first three cylinders, and forces it through the last
three.
All the extractors, stills, and condensers are connected by pipes with 1
the first cylinder, these connections having cocks or other ordinary
devices by which they may be disconnected or partly so when required.
The gradual increasing current of water, combined with the action of
the air pump, produces a vacuum in all the extractors and stills, and
therefore accelerates the flow of the solvent through the material under 2
treatment, and thus also hastens the extraction of the oil or fatty matter,
as well as the evaporation of the solvent in the stills, which is also more
quickly condensed.
Less steam is required than in ordinary apparatus, and as the oil is
not heated so much it is therefore obtained in a state more fit for 2
refining.
The cylinders, in addition to assisting in the production of the vacuum,
also act as condensers, as will be readily understood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Adolph Hess in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30
12th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ADOLPH
HESS, Ph.D., of Dunster House, Mincing Lane, in the City of London,
Manufacturing Chemist, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Adolph Hess, Her special licence that I,
the said Adolph Hess, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Adolph Hess, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING
OILS AND FATTY MATTERS FROM ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND FOR
RECOVERING THE SOLVENT USED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Adolph Hess, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Adolph Hess, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The object of my Invention is to effect a quicker extraction of the oils
and fatty matters, and a quicker evaporation of the solvent, a most
efficient recovery of the solvent, and the production of the oils or fatty
matters in a state more fit for refining.
In carrying out my Invention I employ any convenient number of,
extractors, stills, and other ordinary machinery to allow of constant
working, and in order to obtain the advantages above mentioned I use.
six or other suitable number of vertical cylinders, about 30 feet long and
1 foot 6 inches in diameter, more or less. The lower ends of these.
cylinders are kept full of water, while the upper ends are closed, except.
that a pipe leads therefrom into a closed vessel above, which vessel is
kept constantly supplied with cold water. The cylinders are filled with
coke and thorns or other suitable light material. A constant current,

page_text: of water is kept up in each cylinder from top to bottom, which current
gradually increases from cylinder to cylinder. Between the 3rd and 4th
cylinders (where 6 cylinders are used) I place a double-acting air pump,
which draws air from the first three cylinders and forces it through the
last three.
All the extractors, stills, and condensers are connected by pipes with
the first cylinder, these connections having cocks or other ordinary
devices by which they may be disconnected or partly so when required.
The gradual increasing current of water, combined with the action of
the air pump, produces a vacuum in all the extractors and stills, and
therefore accelerates the flow of the solvent through the material under
treatment, and thus also hastens the extraction of the oil or fatty matter,
as well as the evaporation of the solevent in the stills, which is also more
quickly condensed.
Less steam is required than in ordinary apparatus, and as the oil
is not heated so much it is therefore obtained in a state more fit for
refining.
The cylinders, in addition to assisting in the production of the vacuum,
also act as condensers, as will be readily understood.
The cylinders are by preference formed in several parts or segments,
which are united by flanges and nuts, or in any other convenient manner.
The first cylinder being, as before stated, in connection at its lower end
by a pipe and branch pipe therefrom with all the extractors, stills, and
condensers, the upper part of this cylinder is put in communication by a
pipe with the lower part of the second cylinder. The upper part of the
second cylinder communicates in turn by another pipe with the lower
part of the third cylinder, this cylinder being in turn in communication
at its upper part with the air pump. The air pump communicates at its
opposite side with the lower part of the fourth cylinder, which in turn
communicates by a pipe with the fifth cylinder, and again the fifth
cylinder communicates by a pipe with the last cylinder. This last
cylinder has an outlet at its upper part, which may either lead into
the open air or into a condensing trough. A pipe communicates with
all the cylinders at a point about 6 feet, more or less, from the bottom
thereof for carrying off the water and condensed solvent therefrom, and
keeping the water level in the cylinders at a constant position. This
pipe leads to a tank. There is also a pipe leading to the air pump from
the pipe which connects the first cylinder with the extractors, stills, and

page_text: condensers to enable the air and solvent to be drawn direct to the pump
when desired. I sometimes place one or more transverse perforated
plates in the cylinders. The cylinders are, as before explained, filled
with any suitable light material, through which the water allowed to
flow from the vessels above trickles, and which being kept wet assists in
the condensation of the solvent as it passes up the cylinder with the air.
The portion of the cylinders above the first perforated plate may be filled
for example with charcoal and thorns, and the portion between that and
a second plate below with coke, while between the second plate and the
water level the cylinders for a depth of, say, 3 feet, may be left clear.
Each of the cylinders is provided with a cock at the bottom to enable all
the water therein to be drawn off when required.
I do not limit myself to any particular number of cylinders, nor to the
employment of equal numbers on the two sides of the air pump, but as
a rule 6 cylinders, three on each side of the pump, will be found to
answer well.
The cylinders may be arranged in such positions relatively to each other
and to the rest of the plant as the circumstances of the case dictate,
either in a single row or in two rows or otherwise.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my
"Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Oils and Fatty Matters
from Animal and Vegetable Substances, and for Recovering the Solvent
used therein," constructing the apparatus in such manner that a vacuum
is produced in the extractors, stills, and condensers, substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adolph Hess, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of May One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-four.