A New or Improved Method and Apparatus for Shrinking Leather by Means of Fat.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method and Apparatus for Shrinking Leather
by Means of Fat.
I, JEAN DE HESSELLE, of Duesseldorf, German Empire, Leather Manu-
facturer, 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:―
In the case of the methods hitherto in use for shrinking leather by means of fat
there is considerable danger of injury to the former owing to the high degree of
heat employed. The process described below is effective in successfully avoiding
this cause of injury.
The object in view is attained by bringing the leather into contact with the fat in a
vessel so constructed that a chamber or compartment in which the shrinking is
conducted is kept completely separate from a chamber in which the heating
contrivance is placed, so as to prevent either leather or fat coming into contact with
it, and in addition thereto, the temperature at which the process is conducted is
subjected to constant observation.
For the purpose, a suitable vessel and devices are required which are described
with reference to the two accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus employed, showing a heating coil
in cross section ;
Fig. 2 is a section of the same with the heating coil shown in a circumferential
manner;
Fig. 3 is a front view of one of the trunnions having a thermometer,
Fig. 4 is an apparatus in which the heating coil is replaced by a rib which
traverses the jacket spirally-in vertical section.
Fig. 5 is the same in cross section.
The apparatus comprises a shrinkage-chamber which consists of a double mantle
or jacket of metal closed by two end-plates. There is thus formed a shrinkage-
compartment A, and an external heating compartment B. A wooden covering D
forms a lining for the shrinkage chamber and a jacketing for the exterior heating
compartment, thus serving to protect the contents of the former from injury by
contact with the metal, and to prevent the vessel from cooling (by external
radiation). The vessel is set in rotation by means of the toothed wheel E driven
by suitable gearing engaging therewith.
To enable the temperature inside the shrinkage chamber A to be observed one of
the trunnions of the cask is made in the form of a hollow cylinder-its interior
being connected with the interior of the chamber A by means of the apertures b,—
and a thermometer G is hung up inside it in such a way that its height can always
be observed through the transparent plate a, Fig. 1, which closes the trunnion F,
and which is attached to the external framework of the machinery and secured by
the rod e which passes through the stuffing box d. The vessel is filled and emptied
through the manhole M', and is heated from the chamber B, by means of the coil
(Figs. 1 and 2) or the spiral rib g, (Figs. 4 and 5) which divides the mantle or
jacket into a spiral canal passing helically round it. This tube or helical canal is
provided with a supply and escape by means of the tubes or pipes h and i which
run from the trunnion along the semi-diameter of the vessel and are connected
through k and I with the fixed supply and escape pipes m and n. These latter are
held securely in position by the ring shaped pieces J and K which in turn are
secured by the half rings o which work in grooves in the trunnion-the said
pieces J and K being rendered air and water tight by means of stuffing boxes in
such a way that the trunnions with the channels k and I and the tubes and i can

page_text: turn in J and K without interrupting the flow of the heating substance. The
temperature should be constantly observed from outside by means of the
thermometer G suspended inside the trunnion F which is closed by the transparent
disc a and controlled by regulating the flow of the heating material.
By employing this method of procedure and the apparatus herewith described, the
leather may be shrunk by means of fat in a satisfactory manner without danger of
injury through over heating.
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
A process and apparatus for shrinking leather by means of fat-the temperature
being observable throughout, and carried out in a shrinkage-vessel revolving (or
turnable) on its own axis the shrinking compartment A of which is surrounded by
a heating compartment B the temperature prevailing inside the former being shown
on a thermometer suspended inside the hollow trunnion F the heating of the
shrinkage chamber A being effected by the heating-chamber B which is for this
purpose provided with a helical tube or a channel formed by a rib g arranged in
the jacket in which circulates the heating fluid which enters from without through
the tubes and i, which are connected with the channels and in the trunnion H,
by means of which and the assistance of the ring shaped pieces J and K a constant
connection between the supply and waste pipes m and n and the said pipes h and i
is maintained.
Dated this 15th day of September 1891.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.