A NEW AND IMPROVED PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING OIL AND FAT AND OILY AND FATTY MATTERS FROM WOOL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND THE APPARATUS CON- NECTED THEREWITH AND APPLICABLE THERO
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas John Mullings, of No. 16, George Street, Mansion
House, within the City of London, Gentleman, for the Invention of "A NEW
AND IMPROVED PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING OIL AND FAT AND OILY AND FATTY
MATTERS FROM WOOL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND THE APPARATUS CON-
NECTED THEREWITH AND APPLICABLE THERO"
Sealed the 30th April 1880, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 21st October 1870
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas John Mullings at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st October 1879.
THOMAS JOHN MULLINGS, of No. 16, George Street, Mansion House, within the
City of London, Gentleman. "A NEW AND IMPROVED PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING
OIL AND FAT AND OILY AND FATTY MATTERS FROM WOOL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES,
AND THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH AND APPLICABLE THERETO."
My Invention relates principally to the extraction of oil and fat and oily and
fatty matters from wool, but it is also equally applicable to the extraction of oily
and fatty matters from woollen yarns or fabrics, and such other fibrous material
or mixtures of materials as are from their nature affected in colour or quality
when hydro carbons are used for the purpose of extracting such oily and fatty
matters, and are subsequently removed from the material under treatment by the
slow process of admitting steam or using other means of raising the temperature
to the respective boiling points of such hydro carbons, and so driving them off by
by evaporation.
The primary object of this Invention therefore is to provide suitable apparatus
and process whereby oily and fatty matters may be extracted by the use of hydro
carbons without injury to the materials operated upon, and for this purpose I
provide a cylindrical or other shaped vessel of suitable dimensions constructed of
iron or other material, and furnished with a cover capable of being lifted or
removed and rendered tight by a suitable joint or packing.
Inside of this vessel I
place a perforated or reticulated, or otherwise suitably constructed cage or basket,
which may either be a fixture or be so fitted as to be capable of being lifted or
otherwise moved into and out of position, and which said cage or basket will be
adjusted in such a manner as to be capable of being made to revolve within the

page_text: outer vessel by some one or any of the various modes of producing centrifugal
action. Into this cage or basket I place the material to be treated (or the cage or
basket may be filled and afterwards placed in position), and adjust the cover, when
I admit by suitable contrivances carbon bi sulphide, benzoline, petroleum, or other
bydro carbon having an affinity for grease, or I employ amyl alcohol (either or
any of which liquiis I hereinafter for convenience designate as the agent), which
passing through the material separates and removes the oily and fatty matters
contained therein, and then runs off by suitable means into a reservoir or direct
into a still. This operation is continued until the material is cleared of such oily
and fatty matters, a test for which may be provided. When this is effected the
agent remaining in the vessel is allowed to return to the tank or place from whence
it was obtained, which operation can be greatly assisted by setting in motion by
proper appliances, as before mentioned, the revolving basket or cage containing the
material. Water may then be admitted either under pressure, or otherwise, for
the purpose of cleansing or partially cleansing the material, and of washing out any
agent which may remain, and may be allowed to pass off into a suitable reservoir
from whence the agent (if any) may be recovered. The revolving basket or cage
containing the material is then again set in motion, as before mentioned, and is
continued in action until the material is dry. To assist this operation I adjust
where necessary a fan or blower, or other suitable means, for obtaining a current of
air to assist the drying, and the air so forced through may, if necessary, be first
heated, and may be passed over chloride of calcium; but neither of these last
mentioned contrivances is a necessary adjunct to the apparatus connected with my
Invention. In some cases also the water may be omitted altogether, or it may be
applied in other ways, as may be found convenient.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Thomas John Mullings in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st May 1880.
THOMAS JOHN MULLINGS, of Number 16, George Street, Mansion House, within
the City of London, Gentleman. "A NEW AND IMPROVED PROCESS FOR
EXTRACTING OIL AND FAT AND OILY AND FATTY MATTERS FROM WOOL AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES, AND THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH AND APPLICABLE
THERETO."
My Invention relates principally to the extraction of oil and fat and oily and
fatty matters from. wool, but it is also equally applicable to the extraction of oily
and fatty matters from woollen yarns or fabrics, and such other fibrous material
or mixtures of materials as are from their nature affected in colour or quality
when hydro carbons are used for the purpose of extracting such oily and fatty
matters, and are subsequently removed from the material under treatment by the
slow process of admitting steam or using other means of raising the temperature to
the respective boiling points of such hydro carbons, and so driving them off by
evaporation. The primary object of this Invention therefore is to provide suitable
apparatus and a process whereby oily and fatty matters may be extracted by the
use of hydro carbon without employing heat, and so causing injury to the materials
operated upon, and for this purpose I provide a cylindrical or other shaped vessel
of suitable dimensions constructed of iron or other material, and furnished with a
cover capable of being lifted or removed and rendered tight by a suitable joint or
packing. Inside of this vessel I place a perforated or reticulated, or otherwise
suitably constructed cage or basket, which may either be a fixture or be so fitted
as to be capable of being lifted or otherwise moved into and out of position, and
which said cage or basket will be adjusted in such a manner as to be capable of
being made to revolve within the outer vessel by some one or any of the various
modes of producing centrifugal action. Into this cage or basket I place the
material to be treated (or the cage or basket may be first filled and afterwards
placed in position), and adjust the cover, when I admit by suitable contrivances,
such as are hereinafter more particularly described, carbon bi sulphide (which I
hereinafter for convenience designate as the agent), which passing through the
material separates and removes the oily and fatty matters contained therein, and
then runs off by suitable means into a tank or reservoir or direct into a still. This
operation is continued until the material is cleared of such oily and fatty matters,
which is easily ascertained by examination. When this is effected the agent
remaining in the vessel is allowed to return to a tank or suitable reservoir, which
operation can, when the bulk of the agent has run off, be speedily completed by
setting in motion the revolving basket or cage containing the material. Water is
then admitted either under pressure, or otherwise, for the purpose of cleansing or
partially cleansing the material, and of washing out any agent which may remain,
and the resulting liquid is allowed to pass off into a suitable reservoir, from whence
the agent, if any be present, may be recovered. The revolving basket or cage
containing the material is then again set in motion, as before mentioned, and is
continued in action until the material is dry. To assist this operation I in some
cases employ a fan or blower, or adopt other suitable means for producing a current
of air, which in a cold or heated state is forced through the material intended to be
dried. In some cases the air may, if necessary, be chemically or otherwise treated,
but neither of these last mentioned contrivances is a necessary adjunct to the
apparatus connected with my Invention. And in order that my said Invention

page_text: may be fully understood, I shall now proceed more particularly to describe the
same, and for that purpose the accompanying Drawing is appended as an illus-
tration, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in the
Figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on line A, B, of a centrifugal drying machine
designed and constructed specially to meet the requirements of this Invention;
Figure 2 is an outside elevation of the same machine; Figure 3 is a sectional plan
on line C, D, of the same machine. It is to be observed that the necessity of
employing oil or grease for any of the bearings or moving parts of the apparatus
with which the chemical agent employed may come in contact is wholly avoided,
and this is an important feature of this part of my Invention. A, A, is a case of
cylindrical or other suitable form; B, B, a bottom plate for same; and C, C, a cover,
all of which are constructed of iron or other suitable material or materials. The
bottom plate B, B, is secured to the case A, A, by means of a faced and ground
flanged joint bolted or secured in any other convenient manner; the outside edge
of the bottom plate is constructed with a lip D, D, forming a trough for the
reception of water, which will cover the connecting joint between base and bottom
plate. In this bottom plate, immediately within the case A, A, is formed a channel
or gutter P, P, for the purpose of draining the interior. Around the top of the
case A, A, another lip or trough E, E, similar to that described in B, B, is
provided, into which the rim of the cover F, F, is made to drop, thus forming, when
the trough is filled with water, a sealed joint similar to the joint lastly before
described. The surfaces in contact between cover and case are faced and ground.
A bayonet or other suitable joint for securing the cover to the case may be
provided. The bottom plate B, B, is provided with a cone in the centre, which
carries at its top a conical bearing G for a central spindle H. On this spindle is
fitted a perforated or reticulated or otherwise suitably constructed basket I, I, with
an open top, so adjusted as to be capable of being lifted into and out of position
and firmly secured by suitable appliances to the central spindle H. To prevent loss
of time, and to avoid the necessity of striking any blow in the process of securing
or removing the basket, I prefer to use the following device:-To the top of the
spindle I fit a deep nut L, the outside diameter of which is smaller than the bore
of the boss of the basket. I introduce a washer K recessed on its upper side to the
depth of a quarter of an inch to receive the nut and cut through on one side, so
that it may be withdrawn sideways from the spindle when the nut is lifted out of
the recess, and the basket may then be removed out of position. By this means it
is only necessary to slacken or tighten the nut a quarter of an inch to remove or
fix the basket. The lower portion of the cone on bottom plate B, B, is formed into
a stuffing box and fitted with a gland M. The lower end of the spindle H is made
to run in a step N fitted with steel anti friction discs, which by means of a passage
through the side of the step, or some other suitable contrivance, are placed in
communication with a water box O, so that the bearing of the spindle runs in
water. The step N, the gland M, and the cone bearing G, are all fitted with
metalliued bushes, with phosphor bronze or other suitable matrix, the purpose
being to avoid the necessity for use of any oleaginous lubricant. A rotatory
motion is given to the spindle by a pulley and belt, or other suitable appliances.
A hole is provided in gutter P, P, into which is fitted a pipe Q for the introduction
of the agent; a second hole and pipe R are provided near the top of the case A, A,
immediately under the trough E, E, for the overflow of the agent. Inside the
case A, A, and opposite to the pipe R, I prefer to fit a collecting box S, the upper
lip of which is placed as close as is convenient to the under side of the cover C, C,
for the purpose of making the effective outlet for the agent as high as possible.
Another pipe and hole T (Figure 3) are provided, communicating with the gutter
P, P, by means of which the case may be drained of the agent. Another hole and
pipe U are also provided immediately below the trough E, E, and in the side of

page_text: the case A, A, communicating with a distributing pipe or suitable apparatus in the
interior of the case so arranged as to produce a fine spray or continuous thin sheet
of water falling into the basket. An opening and pipe v may be provided in the
side of case A, A, through which a fan blast may be introduced, or other means
may be provided for assisting the operation of drying. A corresponding opening
and pipe W may be provided in the bottom plate B, B, for the exit of blast and
vapour. All these pipes are provided with valves, and each may be opened or
closed independently of the others. For convenience only one pipe for each purpose
is exhibited in the Drawing, but any number and of any diameter may be provided
to suit special circumstances. I prefer the basket and the interior of the case to be
tinned, enamelled, or otherwise suitably coated, and that the pipes should be of
lead or galvanized iron, or other material, and treated to prevent oxidation. The
mode of conducting the operation is as follows:-The basket being filled with the
material to be treated, and the troughs D, D, and E, E, filled with water, I remove
the cover C, C, by suitable appliances, and adjust the basket I, I, in position upon
spindle H, and secure as above described, or the basket may be filled without being
removed from the case. I then replace the cover and admit the agent through
pipe Q, which rising through the material separates and removes the oily and fatty
matters therein contained, and flowing over the top of the collecting box S runs off
by pipe R into a tank or reservoir, or direct into a still. This operation is
continued until the material is cleared of grease, a test for which may be provided
by means of a small cock in the pipe R. When this is effected the valve in pipe Q
is closed, and that in pipe T (Figure 3) is opened, allowing the agent remaining in
the vessel to flow off to a tank or reservoir suitably placed near the machine. To
complete this operation I set in motion by belt or gearing, moved by steam or other
power in the ordinary way, the spindle and basket. When the agent has been
thrown off I stop the machine by means of a brake or other contrivance, and
introduce water under pressure or otherwise through the pipe U (Figure 3) and
spray pipe before described, for the purpose of cleansing or partially cleansing the
material, and of washing out any of the agent which may remain. I adopt the
device of introducing water in the form of a finely disseminated spray or thin
continuous sheet of water, which will be found beneficial in hot climates, or generally
in heated temperatures, in order that any vaporized agent may be thus condensed
and precipitated. The water and agent (if any) escapes by way of pipe T (Figure 3)
to the storage tank before referred to, or to some other suitable reservoir, where the
agent (if any) may be recovered: The revolving basket is then again set in motion,
as before described, and is continued in action until the material is dry, when the
valve in pipe T may be closed. To complete this operation I adjust where necessary
a fan or blower, or other suitable contrivance for obtaining a current of air, and the
air so forced through enters by the pipe V (Figure 3), and escapes by pipe W
(Figure 3), both of which have hitherto been closed by suitable valves. The air so
used may be chemically or otherwise treated.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best method with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature
of the Invention, but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim
to be secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The process of extracting oil and fat and oily and fatty matters by
bi sulphide of carbon in such a manner that the bi sulphide of carbon with
which the material is saturated after treatment may be separated by centrifugal
action, and recovered from such material without the application of steam or other
heat.
Secondly. The combination of parts forming the apparatus used for the above

page_text: purpose, constructed substantially as herein above particularly set forth and
described, and as illustrated in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas John Mullings, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
THO. J. MULLINGS. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the said Thomas John
Mullings, in the presence of
WILLN. BUNKER,
Law Clerk,
4, Margaret Terrace,
Park Road, North,
Acton,
Middlesex.