Improvements in Presses for Expressing or Filtering Liquids from Solids.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
7.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES EDWARD SNYPP, of Gretna, Parish of
.:
Jefferson, State of Louisiana, United States of America, Superintendent of
the Southern Cotton Oil Company, a Citizen of the United States.]
Improvements in Presses for Expressing or Filtering Liquids from
Solids.
I, GEORGE JAMES CLARKSON, of 6, Finkle Street, Stockton-on-Tees, in the
County of Durham, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent relates to
improvements in horizontal presses for expressing or filtering liquids from solids,
and particularly for use in expressing oil from cotton seed meal and forming the
meal from which the oil has been expressed, into cakes, which have a commercial
value, as well as the oil, and it further relates to improvements in press plates
for such presses, which plates may also be used in any relation where filtering
is accomplished under pressure.
In the common operation of expressing oil from cotton seed, the meal or
kernel, after it has been prepared by rolling and cooking, is put into bags, or
wrapped up in a cloth, forming a kind of cake. This cake is then compressed
slightly to enable it to be conveniently handled, and then put into the hydraulic
press, which consists of a series of boxes provided with a perforated plate or
with drainage grooves. After the press is filled, pressure is applied, and the
cake is subjected to about four-hundred tons pressure, and the oil escapes through
the cloth and perforations or grooves.
My correspondent's invention will be understood by reference to the accom-
panying drawings, wherein the same parts are indicated by the same letters
throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of my press partly in section.
Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same, the feeding mechanism being
omitted.
Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, and looking in the direction
of the arrows.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2 and looking in
the direction of the arrows, the view being partially broken away, showing the
interior of the press plate.
Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. and looking in the
direction of the arrows.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the press plate showing the face thereof as broken
away to reveal the contracted openings in the backing; and
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 represent views of a modified form of press plate, Fig. 9 being
an enlarged section taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 7.
The press comprises a horizontal set of adjacent press boxes A located between
a series of plates, the latter being carried in frames A¹, having supports a¹

page_text: which are mounted upon and also slide along the horizontal stays A². The pair
of horizontal stays A2 and the similar pair of upper stays A³ are secured at
their ends in cross-heads A4 and A5 constituting the rigid frame of the press.
The frames carrying the press plates are connected together by means of rods a
over which the said frames also slide as the presses telescope together. The
last press frame, seen to the right in Figs. 1 and 2, remains stationary at all
times and is secured in position by any suitable means, while the remaining
press frames may move more or less with. respect to each other, according to
their location. The first press frame, as seen most clearly in Fig. 3 has connected
thereto a piston B, which works in a cylinder B¹ connected to the cross-head A5.
This cylinder is provided with steam inlet pipe 6 for the admission of steam
or other fluid under pressure for forcing the press frames together. To the first
press frame, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, is connected a pair of rods C, which rods
are connected at their rear ends to a cross-head C, and to the said cross-head C¹
is connected a piston C2 which works in a pressure cylinder C³. The piston C³
and its connections with the first press frame serve to draw the series of frames
apart after the operation of pressing has been completed, and when it is desired
to remove the cakes formed in the press boxes. The cylinder 03 is provided with
steam or other fluid inlet pipe c³ for giving the necessary pressure, which pressure
it is obvious need not be nearly so great as that required in the pressing
operation.
The rearward movement of the piston Ca is limited by means of the plurality
of bolts which engage loosely in the flange C and project as fixtures from the
flange C5 on the said piston and on the cylinder respectively, the movement
allowed, however, being sufficiently great to draw the press frames away from
each other to the full limit permitted by their connecting bolts a², as herein-
before described.
One form of press plates, shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, consists of a backing
provided with grooves or slots d located in the central portion of the backing,
as seen most clearly in Fig. 5, and with holes or slots d' running from the
front and rear surfaces of the backing to the central grooves or slots d. Fitting
over the front and rear faces of the backing are plates E and E' which are in con-
tact with the said backing, and are provided with holes e and el shaped in the
form of truncated cones with their apexes next to the backing. These holes or per-
forations e and e¹ however, are not arranged over the perforations & in the
backing in order to cause the liquid to be obliged to pass the sharp edges of
said conical perforations which cut off any solid matter. which is an important
point in the construction of my press plate. The plates E and E¹ are preferably
fastened to the backing to retain them in position, but this is not necessary and
they may be held in place in any preferred way.
At the bottom of each of the backings is formed a transverse channel d³,
with which the slots or grooves d communicate, and into which the oil passes
from the said slots or grooves d. The channels are provided with an outlet
connection d³ with which may be engaged a flexible pipe for drawing off the
oil to a tank or other point of collection, not shown.
Another form of my improved press plate shown in Figs. 7 to 9, consists of
a backing provided with longitudinal grooves d in one surface, although, if
desired, perforations may be substituted for these grooves, and the grooves may
be arranged in any direction to allow free drainage.
On this backing is laid plate E³, provided with perforations e³, which are
arranged directly over the grooves d or over the perforations which may be used
instead of these grooves.
Above the plate 3 is another plate E, provided with holes &, each shaped in
the form of a truncated cone with the apex next to the plate. E³. The perfora-
tions e, however, are not arranged over the perforations e³, and this is an
important point in the construction of the plate, for the oil must pass between
the plates E and E³ thence through the perforations e³ and thence out through

page_text: the grooves d', the sharp feather edges of the perforations e preventing any
solid matter from passing through with the oil.
By the use of my improved press plate, arranged as shewn, with the conical
holes and with the larger ends opening towards the material to be treated, I
can dispense with the use of the press cloth or sacking, and therefore can use
a horizontal press with the boxes open at the top. The result is that the material
can be emptied directly into the boxes, thus saving a great amount of labor'
and expense in wrapping the meal in cloth, in forming the cakes, in putting
them into the press, and in removing the cloth.
All the parts of my improved plate are preferably formed of metal, although
I do not restrict myself in this respect.
Upon one side of each of the press frames are formed vertical flanges E³,
between which the plunger side of the adjacent plate closely fits, the width of
the flanges being so great that the plunger face of the telescoping adjacent
plate is never quite wholly drawn therefrom, so that the sides of the press boxes
are at all times closed and the material being pressed is effectually retained in
the press boxes. At the upper and lower ends respectively of the press plates,
and upon both faces of the frame, are provided moldings or inclined ribs, as
seen at 2, which when the faces of the adjacent plates are brought together upon
the mass of material within the box, impinge upon the upper and lower edges
of the mass and prevent the extraction of the material at these points, creating
crimped edges upon the pressed cake.
F represents a door pivoted upon one of the horizontal rods A2, so as to form a
bottom for the press box when in its horizontal position as shown in Figure 4.
This door is made perfectly continuous throughout the system of boxes and
is provided with a plurality of counter-weights F, which serve to render more
easy the closing of the door. The swinging side of the door is provided with
handles F, and spring catches F3 are arranged to engage the said handles F2,
or studs thereon, as seen in Figure 4, for the purpose of retaining the door
in its closed position. The said door is provided with depressions or channels f
beneath the edges of the press boxes for the reception of the oil and through
which the oil may be conducted to any suitable outlet. The said door serves
to retain the cotton seed meal or other material to be pressed within the boxes
prior to the pressing operation, but after the pressing has been effected the
catches may be detached from the door and the latter swung downward, so that
when the press frames are drawn apart the cakes may fall out.
H represents a cylinder, within which runs a spiral conveyor H¹ for feeding
the meal or other material to be pressed to the press boxes. The bottom of this
cylinder is provided with an opening the length of the series of press boxes,
and in this opening is mounted a sliding bottom or plate H2, having a small
opening at one end thereof of the width approximately, of press boxes when
the latter are open.
At the extreme end of this sliding plate is rigidly mounted
a downwardly extending and inclined plate or chute h³ for the purpose of
directing the material as it falls through the opening h² in the sliding plate H³,
under the action of the spiral conveyor H¹ to any one of the press boxes.
The operation of this feeding device is as follows:-
The meal enters one end of the cylinder H from any suitable source of supply,
not shewn, and the conveyor being rotated by any suitable means, not shewn,
the plate H2 is moved to bring the opening h² therein over one end box of the
series of press boxes and held in this position until this box is filled, when it is
drawn along to the next box, and so on through the series, the boxes being thus-
filled in succession after which the conveyor may be stopped.
The press boxes being all filled, pressure is admitted to the cylinder B', which,
acting on the piston B, forces the press frames together, as hereinbefore described,
and the pressing operation, during which the oil is expressed from the meal in
the press boxes takes place. The pressure in the cylinder B₁ is now released
and pressure is turned into the cylinder C³, which pressure acting upon the

page_text: piston C carrying the cross-head C¹ and rods C connected to the first press.
frame, draws the said frames apart, leaving the cakes free from the press plates
in the press boxes.
If the door F be now released and dropped, the cakes will fall out through
the bottoms of the press boxes into a suitable receptacle. Upon the door being
returned to its closed position again the operation of filling and pressing may
be repeated.
A
In operation, it may be found that the press plates E impinge so closely upon
the backing as to retard to an undesired degree the passage of the oil or other
liquid, or that the oil may partially solidify and thus seriously retard the operation
of the press; and in such case I propose to use a sheet of hair cloth or other.
similar fabric interposed between the plate E and the backing, which will prevent-
the plate E lying too closely to the backing while at the same time permitting
of a perfect straining effect.
"Before starting the press it may be desired to clean or heat the press plates
and the channels therethrough, and this may be done by connecting the pipes
attached to the discharge openings d³ with a steam supply, and thus steam may be
admitted to the channels d and d in the backing D, and caused to escape under
restriction through the face plates E and E', by which operation a thorough
cleaning and heating may be effected.
Changes might be made in various details of my invention, without departing
from the spirit thereof, and I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself
to the exact form shewn and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a press for expressing oil or other liquids from substances containing
the same, and which is arranged to work horizontally, the combination of a
framing, a number of frames telescopically mounted in said framing and having
at their upper and lower edges beveled ribs extending into the press boxes and
oppositely disposed therein; a door hinged to one side of the press frames and
arranged to cover the lower ends of the press boxes, counter-weights upon the said
door and catches for retaining the said door in its closed position, substantially
as described.
2. In a press for expressing oil or other liquids from substances containing
the same, and which is arranged to work horizontally, the combination of a
framing, a number of press frames telescopically mounted in said fram-
ing and joined loosely together, said frames having at
their upper
and lower edges beveled ribs extending into the press boxes and oppositely
disposed therein for confining the edges of the material; a door hinged to one
side of the press frames and arranged to cover the lower ends of the press
boxes, said door being provided with liquid channels for guiding the liquid from
the lower ends of the press boxes, and a catch for engaging the door to its
closed position, substantially as described.
3. In a press which is arranged to work horizontally, the combination with a
series of press boxes, of means for feeding the material to be pressed into said
boxes, consisting of a hollow casing mounted horizontally above the said press
boxes and having an elongated opening through its bottom, a movable bottom
mounted in said opening and provided with a reduced opening for allowing the
discharge of material from the said casing, a chute depending from said movable
bottom for directing the material to a single one of the press boxes at a time,
and a conveyor mounted in the said casing, substantially as described.
4. In a press for expressing oil or other liquids from substances containing the
same, and which is arranged to work horizontally, the combination with a series
of press boxes telescopically arranged; of means for feeding the material to be
pressed into said boxes, consisting of a hollow casing mounted horizontally above

page_text: the said press boxes and having an elongated opening through its bottom, a
movable bottom mounted in said opening and provided with a reduced opening
for allowing the discharge of material from the said casing, a chute depending
from said movable bottom for directing the material to a single one of the press
boxes at a time, and a spiral conveyor mounted in the said casing, substantially
as described.
5. A press plate composed of a backing provided with grooves or perforations,
and two plates provided with perforations so arranged that they do not register,
the parts of the press plate being in contact with each other, substantially as
described.
6. A press plate composed of a backing provided with longitudinal grooves on
one of its surfaces, a perforated plate in contact therewith, said plate and backing
being arranged relatively to each other so that the perforations will be in line
with the grooves, and a second perforated plate in contact with the first named
plate, so arranged relatively to the first plate that the perforations of the two
plates will not register with each other, substantially as described.
7. A press plate composed of a metal backing, provided with grooves on one
surface, a metal plate in contact with said backing and provided with perforations
situated directly in line with the grooves in the backing, and a second metal plate
provided with conical openings arranged with their larger ends outward, the
two plates being in contact and so arranged that the perforations thereof do
not register with each other, substantially as described.
8. A press plate composed of a backing and provided with grooves and a
plate in contact with said backing and provided with conical openings arranged
with their larger ends outward the plate and backing being arranged
so that the openings therein do not register with each other, substantially as
described.
9. A press plate composed of a backing provided with central grooves or
slots and openings running from the surfaces of said backing into
the slots thereof, and a plate in contact with said backing provided
with conical openings arranged with their larger ends outward, the
plate and backing being so arranged that the perforations therein do not
register with each other, substantially as described.
Doted this 15th day of tu 1800
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent, Stockton-on-Tees and Hull, Applicant.