IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE TREATMENT OF COTTON SEED FOR THE REMOVAL OF FIBROUS MATTER THEREFROM AND IN APPARATUS THERE
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM HENRY STEAD of 23 Boundary Street, Liverpool, in the county of
Lancaster, Seed crusher do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE TREATMENT OF COTTON SEED FOR THE REMOVAL OF
FIBROUS MATTER THEREFROM AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR to be as follows:-
Various processes, mechanical or chemical, or both combined, have been devised
of late for removing the short adhering fibre from cotton seed. The chemical
processes consist in cleaning the seed by the use of a bath of dilute sulphuric acid
and heat or alkali. The seed is required to be carefully washed and dried after
either of these operations.
Now my process consists in using ordinary undiluted commercial sulphuric acid
in just sufficient quantity to slightly moisten the cotton seed all over, and then
neutralizing by means of a dry alkali, preferably lime.
The mode of operating which I prefer is as follows:-
I. employ preferably a cylindrical pan having a false bottom perforated with
numerous small holes or slits, concentric or otherwise, about one eighth of an inch
wide for the passage of dust. In this pan the cotton seed is placed. A vertical
shaft armed with stirrers and two scrapers passes through the pan and chamber
below the false bottom, and is driven by belt and pulley or by gearing so as to
rotate at any required speed. Exit spouts for cotton and for dust respectively are
placed at the bottom of the pan proper, and of the chamber below. These are
controlled by slides. The pan is filled with seed to a convenient height and the
stirrers set in motion-while the stirrers are in motion the seed is sprinkled with
undiluted sulphuric acid. A convenient mode of doing this is by means of a
perforated copper pipe placed horizontally across the top of the pan. The quantity
of acid used varies according to the quantity of cotton lint adhering to the seed to
be worked. The proportions ranging from 2 to 4 lbs. of acid to each 100 lbs. of
Beed. The stirring is continued until the lint has become detached from the seed
in the form of a fine powder or dust, which gradually makes its way from the pan
through the holes in the false bottom, and the exit spout. With this powder is
also removed a large proportion of the acid with which the seed has been sprinkled.
The seed is then sprinkled with a dry powdered alkali preferably lime, the stirring
being continued throughout the whole operation. The powdered alkali mixes

page_text: thoroughly with the seed and neutralizes whatever acid may remain upon the
seed. Then passing away through the false bottom and exit spout in the form
of a powder or dust, leaving the seed in the pan dry and clean with the exception
of a thin coating of lime dust which can be readily removed by means of a brush
and screen. Should there be too much dust coming from the pan at any time
during the process, I find it convenient. to sprinkle the mass with water which
evaporates so rapidly that the seed is never really wet. When the operation is
over, the seed is discharged through the exit spout.
The main advantage of my process is, that owing to so little moisture being
used in the operation, the chemicals employed as well as the lint leave the seed in
the form of powder, and the seed being both clean and dry no subsequent washing,
or drying process is required. The seed is thus much less liable to be injured than
by the existing wet processes, and much costly. manipulation and waste of fuel in
drying are saved.

page_text: "
DIECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM HENRY STEAD, of 23 Boundary Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Seed-Crusher, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF COTTON SEED FOR THE REMOVAL OF
FIBROUS MATTER THEREFROM, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
Various processes, mechanical or chemical, or both combined, have been devised
of late for removing the short adhering fibre from cotton seed. The chemical
processes consist in cleaning the seed by the use of a bath of dilute sulphuric acid'
and heat or alkali. The seed is required to be carefully washed and dried after
either of these operations.
Now my process consists in using ordinary undiluted commercial sulphuric acid
in just sufficient quantity to slightly moisten the cotton seed all over, and then
neutralizing by means of an alkali, preferably lime.
The mode of operating which I prefer is as follows reference being had to the
drawings which show a row of three machines as actually in operation in my
works.
I employ preferably a cylindrical pan A having a false bottom B perforated with
numerous small holes or slits, concentric or otherwise, about one eighth of an inch
wide for the passage of dust. In this pan the cotton seed is placed. C is a
vertical shaft armed with stirrers D and two scrapers E. This shaft passes
through the pan and chamber below the false bottom, and is driven by belt and
pulley or by gearing G as shown, so as to rotate at any required speed. H is exit
spout for cotton seed. I the exit spout for dust. The pan is filled with seed to a
convenient height and the stirrers set in motion; while the stirrers are in motion
the seed is sprinkled with undiluted sulphuric acid. A convenient mode of doing ·
this is by means of a perforated copper pipe placed horizontally across the top of
the pan. The quantity of acid used varies according to the quantity of cotton lint
adhering to the seed to be worked. The proportions ranging from 2 to 4 pounds
of acid to each 100 pounds of seed. The stirring is continued until the lint has
become detached from the seed in the form of a fine powder or dust which
gradually makes its way from the pan through the holes in the false bottom and
the exit spout I. With this powder is also removed a large proportion of the acid
with which the seed has been sprinkled. The acid on the seed is then neutralized
with alkali preferably milk of lime the stirring being continued throughout the
whole operation. The lime mixes thoroughly with the seed and neutralizes what-
ever acid may remain upon the seed the heat generated drying the lime. The
sulphate of lime formed and remaining dust then passes away through the false
bottom and exit spout I in the form of a powder or dust, leaving the seed in the
pan dry and clean with the exception of a thin coating of lime dust which can be
readily removed by means of a brush and screen. When the operation is over the
seed is discharged through the exit spout H.

page_text: The main advantage of my process is that owing to so little moisture.being used
in the operation, the chemicals employed as well as the lint leave the seed in the
form of powder and the seed being both clean and dry, no subsequent washing or
drying process is required. The seed is thus much less liable to be injured than
by the existing wet processes and much costly manipulation, and waste of fuel in
drying are saved.
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
L
1st. The process of cleaning cotton seed, which consists in moistening the seed
with sulphuric acid of the strength and in quantity substantially as described and
stirring the same until the adhering lint leaves the seed in the form of a powder or.
dust, and in then adding a sufficient quantity of an alkali, preferably lime, whereby
any acid which may be. remaining upon the seed is neutralized and removed in the
form of powder, substantially as described.
'
> 1
2nd. The improvement in the process of cleaning cotton seed which consists in
moistening the seed with sulphuric acid in the quantity and of the strength
substantially as described the mass being kept continuously stirred, whereby the
lint is caused to fall off and separate with the acid in the form of dust, substantially
as described.
3rd: The improvement in the process of cleaning cotton seed, which consists in
stirring the seed moistened with sulphuric acid until the acid has spread by contact
evenly all over the lint, substantially as described
4th. The improvement in the process of treating cotton seed' which consists in
treating with lime the cotton seed previously deprived of its lint by sulphuric acid;
whereby the remaining sulphuric acid' can be removed in a pulverulent form by
the friction of the seeds against each other, followed if necessary by a slight
brushing instead of having to be washed off, to the injury of the cotton seed,
substantially as described.
1
5th. The apparatus for treating cotton seed substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.