Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Cotton Seed.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Cotton Seed.
I, JOHN CHARLES WILLIAM STANLEY, of 5, Dewhurst Road, West Kensington,
in the County of Middlessex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to the treatment of cotton seed by which the kernel of the
cotton seed can rapidly and readily be separated from the hull. I reduce the
hulls and such portions of the kernel as are inseparable therefrom into a finely-
divided state in which they can readily be mixed with the residual material of the
pressed kernels so as to form oil cakes in which the cotton on the seed will be so
removed that there will be no felting and which can therefore be readily broken
and assimilated by cattle or other stock, whereas cotton cake with the long fibres
of cotton left in has a most injurious effect upon the animals that eat it.
By one method of treatment acording to this invention the cotton seed is first
passed through a magnetic separator which removes any metallic impurities that
may be mixed with it; after this it is led between crushing rolls which deliver
it on to a vibrating sifter through which some of the kernels fall into a receptacle,
those portions of the kernels which are too large to fall through this sifter being
delivered over its end together with the hulls and subjected if necessary to one
or more further crushing and sifting operations similar to the first. In the
succeeding operations the treatment initiated by the first crushing rolls and
sifter is continued to the desired extent. The hulls from the last sifter of the
series are delivered into a washing device consisting preferably of a tank divided
by partitions so that there is a zigzag channel through it along which the hulls
are conveyed in water by worm agitators, the material in the tank passing up
ene portion of the channel and down the next in the opposite direction to the flow
of the water being propelled through them by the worms so arranged that suc-
cessive stirrers operate in reverse directions. By the action in this washer a
further separation of portions of the kernel from the hulls is effected. The hulls
delivered from the washer are then ground thus breaking or cutting any
remaining fibres, till they are too short to felt, and are then placed in filter presses
to extract the moisture.
The kernel material from below the sifters is subjected to the influence of a
device in which a current of water is employed in the manner hereinafter explained,
by which any fragments of hull that may have remained mixed with the kernels
are delivered into a receptacle which receives also the main bulk of the hulls from
the washing apparatus.
The kernels after being treated in the water separator before referred to (or
air may be employed as the separating agent) are led into centrifugal
separators which remove a large amount of the remaining moisture. From the
centrifugal separators the kernels are delivered to oil presses.
The pressed cakes from the oil presses and those from the filter-presses for the
hulls may be sold in that condition or they may be led into mixers and finally
pressed in other presses to produce a soft-pressed cotton cake containing both
kernels and hulls.

page_text: With regard to the air or water separation-device, it may consist, where water
is used, of a table carried upon supports adjustable to vary its inclination from the
horizontal; upon this table an endless felt band travels there being deckle straps
at the sides of the band. The kernels together with such portions of the hull as
may adhere to them are delivered at about the middle of this table and tend to
flow downward along it under the action of a stream of water kept constantly
flowing over it; the water used is preferably the waste from the washer before
referred to. The band is made to travel continuously in a direction opposite to
that of the flow of the stream of water. The kernels and hulls separate, the former
being carried by the water over the lower end of the table whilst the hulls are
caught on the band and are delivered over the higher end of the table.
Preferably a reciprocating stirrer, for instance a frame reciprocated by cranks and
having a series of fingers on its under side, is kept in motion upon the material
delivered on to the table so as to prevent it from becoming massed.
If air is employed instead of water as the separating medium the hulls and
kernels can be caused to drop into a current which is sufficiently strong to carry
the lighter portions over a partition, whilst the heavier fall from the current into
a separate receiver.
Dated thi 17+1 d...
1......1ono
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Cotton Seed.
I, JOHN CHARLES WILLIAM STANLEY, formerly of 5, Dewhurst Road, West
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, now of 8, Drapers Gardens,
in the City of London, 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 treatment of cotton-seed after it has been removed
from the outer pod, and has had the greater part of the cotton separated from it.
It comprises a method whereby the kernel of the cotton-seed can be rapidly and
readily separated from the hull, and the separated kernels and hulls subsequently
treated to produce cotton seed oil-cake and pale light coloured cotton seed oil.
The oil cakes are mainly composed of either crushed kernels unmixed with hulls,
or of hulls which have been finely divided whilst apart from the kernels; or a com-
pound cake may be made from these hulls and the crushed kernels, with or without
the admixture of other material.
The fine division of the separated hulls is of great importance, for by this means
any cotton fibres which are attached to them, are reduced to such a short length
that when the hulls, either mixed with kernels, or otherwise, are made into cakes,
these can be readily broken and assimilated by cattle or other stock, whereas
cotton-cake with the long fibres of cotton left in, has a most injurious effect upon
the animals that eat it.
A further feature of importance in the present invention is the washing of the
kernels and any small particles of hull which may adhere to them, by water in
such a manner that not only are the small adherent particles of hull separated
from the kernels, but, in addition, the yellowish colouring matter present in the
kernels is washed out of them, so that they are left white, and consequently the
oil subsequently extracted from them will be very much paler in colour than if
the oil had been obtained before this washing operation.
The wash-water charged with the matter washed from the kernels can sub-

page_text: sequently be treated by filtration, precipitation, or otherwise to enable the matter
suspended therein to be recovered and the water used over again.
The accompanying drawings represent a perspective view of one arrangement
of apparatus by which cotton-seed can be treated according to this invention.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The cotton-seed is placed in a hopper A whence it passes through a shoot A¹
and over the poles of an electro magnet B, or other magnetic separator which
removes in a well-known manner any metallic impurities that may be mixed with
it; the seed is delivered into a trough A2, whence a bucket-conveyor C, takes
it to crushing-rolls D which deliver it on to a vibrating sifter E, through which
some of the kernels separated from the hulls by the rolls D, fall into a receptacle F.
Those portions of the kernels which are too large to fall through the sifter E are
delivered over its end together with the hulls, to a second conveyor C¹ which
takes them to another set of crushing rolls D' here the process is repeated, and
the crushed seed falls upon a vibrating sifter E through which some more of
the kernels fall into a receptacle F¹. The portions of the kernels which are too
large to pass through the sifter F are delivered over its end, together with the
hulls to a third conveyor C2 working in conjunction with a third set of crushing
rolls D, vibrating sifter E and receptacle F2 where the crushing and sifting
operations are again repeated. The hulls, and any portions of kernel which may
adhere to them are delivered over the end of the sifter E, to a washing separator G
which comprises a tank G¹ divided by partitions G2 so that there is a zigzag
channel through it. In each division of the channel is a worm-agitator G³, the
blades of which keep the charge of hulls constantly in motion and propel it along
the channel. The worm agitators are so geared, as by the gear wheels G, that
they carry the charge up one division of the channel, and down the next until
it reaches the exit (5. A stream of water coming from a supply pipe H and
through a trough H¹, is admitted to the washing separator G at the point G³ and
traverses the zigzag channel made by the partitions G2 in a direction opposite to
that in which the charge of hulls is moving, keeping the agitators and the charge
constantly submerged. Any portions of kernels which may have remained with
the hulls are drawn out of the separator G with the stream of water, by means
of a pump J. The hulls, which are heavier than the kernels, are carried by the
worm-agitators to the exit G5, whence they are taken by a bucket conveyor K, to
a trough L, provided with worm circulators L' which deliver the hulls through
shoots L2, to grinding mills M in which the fibres of cotton adhering to the hulls
are finely divided as aforesaid.
Sometimes it may be found desirable to mix the hulls with Indian corn, or
other cereal, before delivery to the grinding mills, to enable the rolls or stones
to obtain a better grip on the material between them.
The buckets K of the conveyor K are preferably perforated to allow the water
to drain off from the hulls as they are carried to the trough L.
The hulls having been finely divided in the mills M, are carried by a worm
conveyor N to a filter press (where the moisture is extracted from them and they
are pressed into cakes.'
The portions of kernels from the receptacles F F F are carried by worm con-
veyors P, to travelling bands R which take them to a washing separator S
comprising a table S', carried upon supports S2, S3. The support S is provided
with a screw adjustment as at S4 so that the inclination of the table with the
horizontal may be varied. Upon the table S₁ an endless felt band $5 travels,
in the direction marked by the arrow (a). Deckle straps S6 are provided at the
sides of the band, and between the deckle-straps above the top surface of the
band $5 is a reciprocating stirrer T, moved from an eccentric T¹, and comprising
rectangular frame with cross-bars T2, which are furnished with projections T3
on their underside.
The kernels are delivered by the band R on to the top of the band S³, at a point
about mid-way in the length of the table S¹; they are met by a stream of water

page_text: coming from the washing separator G, by way of the pump J, and pipes J¹ Ja
This stream of water brings with it the particles of kernels which were separated
from the hulls in the washing separator G, and these with the main body of
kernels brought by the bands R, are carried by the stream to the hopper U, one
side U of which is preferably perforated to allow the water to pass away. Any
hulls which have passed through the sifters E, E1, E2, with the kernel are carried
by the band $5, against the stream of water to the trough H', where the water
flowing from the supply pipe H, conveys them to the end G5, of the washing
separator G, at which point they join the main portion of the hulls and proceed
to the grinding mills M.
In the passage of the kernels through the washing-separator S they are washed
so that the adherent particles of hull, and the colouring matter in the kernels,
are both removed by the water which becomes coloured and drains away through
the perforated portion U¹, of the trough and is afterwards collected for further
treatment if desired.
The separated kernels pass from the hopper U by means of an elevator K³,
with perforated buckets and trough L³ which may be similar to the conveyor K
and trough L previously described-to one or more centrifugal separators, or
dryers W, wherein the excess moisture is extracted from them. The kernels,
after treatment in the centrifugal separators W, are placed in oil presses X, where
the oil is extracted and the residue of the kernels pressed into cakes, or the kernels
may be chemically treated for extracting the oil.
The pressed cakes from the oil presses, which are mainly composed of crushed
kernels, may be sold in that condition or they may be led into mixers, and com-
bined with the finely divided hulls or cakes made therefrom, and finally pressed
to produce a soft pressed cotton-cake containing both kernels and hulls. Or
again, the mixing of the finely-divided hulls with the kernels may take place
before either of them are pressed.
It is obvious that when the kernels are treated in a washing separator such as S,
the water used need not necessarily be that which comes from the washing
separator G, but may come from any other source; the arrangement illustrated
in Figure 1 is, however found to be economical and convenient.
Although the use of a series of three crushers and sifters, is hereinbefore
described by way of example, a larger or lesser number may be used, and other
variations can be made in the construction and arrangement of the apparatus
without departure from this invention.
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. In the treatment of cotton-seed, the process substantially as specified of
separating the hulls and kernels by crushing and sifting the seeds and subse-
quently washing and separating the crushed hulls and kernels in the separators
described.
2. Obtaining pale cotton-seed oil by crushing the washed kernels apart from
their hulls.
3. The combination and arrangement of apparatus substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Dated this 11th day of November 1898.
CHARLES WILLIAM STANLEY.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.