Improvements in the Method of and Means for Preparing Fluid Extracts and Solutions.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Preparing Fluid
Extracts and Solutions.
I, JAMES LONGSHAW of 275 Burlington Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Technical Chemist and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the method of and means for obtaining fluid extracts
and solutions. In preparing extracts and solutions, and particularly extracts of
vegetable substances, it is important that a definite temperature should be employed,
and that the fluid in contact with the substance to be dissolved or from which the
extract is to be obtained should be kept in circulation.
In carrying out my invention, I provide a tank or vessel to contain the substance
to be dissolved or from which the extract is to be obtained. Below the tank
I make an outlet and connect this with a coiled pipe contained within a steam
cylinder or vessel, this coiled pipe being in turn connected by a pipe opening into
the upper part of the tank or vessel. I arrange a pressure gauge or a thermometer
in the steam cylinder and adjust the steam inlet thereto so as to attain the
necessary temperature or pressure. Or, I may control the steam inlet by known
devices which are controlled by the temperature or pressure in the steam cylinder.
The cooler liquid flows out through the bottom of the tank into the coil where it
becomes definitely heated, and thence it returns to the upper part of the tank, a
continuous circulation of the liquid being thus maintained. As soon as the
required degree of strength has been obtained in the fluid, the operation may be
discontinued by shutting off access to the coil by a suitable tap or valve.
Dated this 20th day of Anvil AD 1000
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Preparing Fluid
Extracts and Solutions.
I, JAMES LONGSHAW, of 275 Burlington Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Technical Chemist and 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:-
This invention relates to the method of and means for obtaining fluid extracts
and solutions. In preparing vegetable extracts and solutions and in other cases
also, it is important that definite temperatures should be employed and that the
fluid in contact with the substance to be dissolved or from which the extract is to
be obtained, should be kept in circulation.

page_text: 1 will describe my said invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which Figure 1 represents a partial sectional elevation of my improved
apparatus. Figures 2 to 6 represent details, some of which are drawn to an
enlarged scale.
In carrying out my invention, I provide one or more tanks or vessels T, to
contain the substance or substances to be dissolved or extracted. As represented
by Figure 1, the apparatus contains a series of such tanks, as would generally be
the case in practice. At the lower part, or in the bottom of each tank, I form an
outlet or series of outlets for the fluid extract or solution, which outlet or outlets is
or are connected with the circulatory system hereinafter described. As shewn by
the drawings, the outlets C C are in the form of conduits into which the fluid
extract or solution enters through the valve-ways D D. These valve-ways are
protected by a sheet or layer of metallic gauze, perforated metal, or their
equivalent H, as shewn in section, elevation and plan respectively, by Figures 2, 3,
and 4. The gauze or other filtering medium H, may be secured to the outer face
of the conduit C by the metal strips G, and nails or screws passing through them.
At the back of each valve-way there is a valve or door V, hinged at J, Figure 4.
On the back of the door there is fitted a slotted lug F, in the slot of which the
returned part of the bent arm I engages. This arm is fixed near the lower end of
the vertical rod K, the upper end of which is above the level of the substances in
the tank and is formed with a squared end so that it may be turned by the key
shewn in Figure 5. If the rod is turned in one direction, the valve will be opened,
and if in the opposite direction, it will be closed. Other methods may however be
employed for opening and closing the outlet or outlets and, as already stated, the
outlets themselves may be otherwise constructed and arranged according to the
circumstances in each application of the apparatus.
The liquid passing from the outlet or outlets, enters the pipe L, Figure 7,
connected with the heater M. This heater may be variously constructed and
arranged, as will be obvious. As represented, it cousists of a cylinder M, to the
interior of which steam can be admitted through the pipe P, and valve p. It
contains the spiral pipe or worm N, which forms a continuation of the pipe L and
communicates with the pipe O, upon which there is arranged a thermometer Q, to
indicate the temperature of the liquor flowing through the heater and affords a
means for regulating the temperature. Thus, if the temperature should shew a
tendency to increase, the rate of flow is increased and the reverse. By making
electric contacts with the mercury in the thermometer, this control may be made
automatic. Let the conductor q be the leading in wire whose terminal is always in
contact with the mercury, and 9² 93, return conductors. So long as the temperature
retains the level of the mercury below the level of the contact q¹, no current will
pass.
When it reaches that level, the circuit will be closed and the current may be
utilised to effect, by known means, the opening of a valve in the pipe L. If the
temperature should nevertheless continue to rise, the circuit will presently be
closed and may cause an alarm to be sounded. Other known equivalent controlling
devices may be employed for like purposes. An air vessel R, may preferably be
arranged upon the pipe. From this pipe the liquor may be led back to the tank
or tanks through the branch and valves S T, (see Figure 1), and the flexible
pipe U, which is connected to the pointed perforated pipe W, separately shewn by
Figure 6. It is preferred to employ such a pipe for the introduction of the liquors
because they are better diffused through the lateral perforations, and because the
pipe may be more readily withdrawn and re-introduced at any desired position in
the material so as to prevent channels being formed in the substances acted upon,
through which channels the liquor could flow to the outlets without effecting
solution. It is best, when practicable, to place the pipe at as great a distance as
may be from the outlet which is open for the time being.
I may effect the circulation of the liquid in any convenient way, but generally
I prefer to employ a pump not shewn in the drawings, but which is arranged at any
convenient point between the tank or tanks and the heater M. The suction pipe L

page_text: is in this case arranged above the level of the tanks and is connected, through the
branch suction pipes XX, with the conduits or outlets C C. The liquid is thus
caused to pass from the tank or tanks to the heater where it acquires the required
temperature, whence it is caused to return through the pipes O, U, W, a continuous
heating and circulation of the liquid being thus effected. As soon as the required
degree of strength or concentration has been obtained, the operation may be
suspended by closing a valve in the pipe L, and withdrawing the liquor.
ft will also be seen that the return liquor can, by means of perforated pipes, be
delivered either at the top or at the bottom if desired, and also that one suction
pipe could be fixed at any position in the tanks and the diffusion of the return
liquor be entirely dependent on the repeated movement of the perforated delivery
pipe. Alternatively, the extracting tanks may be placed above the pump so that
the liquor runs from the conduits by gravitation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for preparing fluid extracts and solutions, constructed arranged
and operated substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. The herein before described method for the preparation of fluid extracts and
solutions which consists in circulating the fluid through the substances to be
dissolved or extracted and through a suitable heating appliance continuously until
the required degree of strength or concentration is obtained, substantially as and
by the means set forth.
D
11907
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.