IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING OIL FROM SZEDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,.
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING OIL FROM
SZEDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN."--A
Sealed the 30th September 1856, and dated the 20th May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th May 1856.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING
OIL FROM SEEDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN," to
be as follows:-
The first part of these improvements in machinery and apparatus for making
oil from linseed and other seeds and substances, consists in constructing the
bed of a chasing mill so that it can be heated and kept hot by the application
of steam while it is used to grind, temper, or mull crushed linseed or other
substances which it is desirable to heat or keep' hot during the processes above
mentioned; also in making cbasing niills self-feeding, by means of one or more

page_text: circular troughs arranged around the shaft of the mill into which the material
to be ground is fed and conducted by spouts on to the bed, to be acted upon
by the wheels while the mill is in operation; and in so arranging a sweep or
scraper as to separate a portion of the material acted upon by the mill and
deliver it to the spout which conveys it away, thereby making the mill self-
discharging.
The second part of these improvements consists in pressing or packing the
pulp of prepared linseed or other seeds or substances to be pressed into cakes,
so compact as to occupy only one-half the space that would otherwise be
required for it on the press which expresses the oil or other liquid from it.
The third part is a novel arrangement of machinery for packing the pulp or
prepared linseed or other substances into cakes preparatory to pressing, so as
to make them occupy less space, and thereby enable the operator to put more
or double the quantity into a press of a given size and press it at one operation.
This machine consists in arranging a hinged hopper over the mould into
which the pulp or other substance is to be pressed, in combination with a
follower or piston, working down through the hopper, and pressing the pulp or
other substance into the mould.
The fourth part relates to certain improvements in the presses for expressing
the oil from the prepared linseed and other seeds, and for other purposes, and
consists in making grooves in the plates placed between the layers of the sub-
stances to be pressed, so arranged as to conduct the oil or the fluid pressed
from the substances on each plate to its proper destination, without its running
over on to the plate below; also in fastening the hair-cloth or padding to the
plates of the press, so as to dispense with the leather entirely, to which the hair
cloth or padding has usually been fastened heretofore; and in making a thick
edge about two and a half inches wide around the hair-cloth or padding, by
doubling it over or weaving it thicker, so as to press the oil out of the edges of
the cloths which cover the cakes or substances pressed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting._
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself; Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton,. Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING OIL FROM SEEDS, AND 'IN THE
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN," being a communication from
abroad; upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Wiam Edward
Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do licreby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The first part of these improvements in the process of manufacturing oil
from seeds, and in the machinery and apparatus to be used therein, consists in
constructing the bed of a chasing mill in such a manner that it can be heated
and kept hot by the application of steam while it is used to grind, temper, or
mull crushed linseed or other substances which it is desirable to heat or keep
hot, during the processes above mentioned. This part of the Invention also
consists in making chasing mills self-feeding, by means of one or more circular
troughs arranged around the shaft of the mill, and into which troughs the
material to be ground is fed and conducted by spouts on to the bed, to be
acted upon by the wheels while the mill is in operation; a sweep or scraper
is also so arranged as to separate a portion of the material acted upon by the
mill, and deliver it to the spout which conveys it away, thereby making the
mill self-discharging.
The second part of these improvements consists in pressing or packing the
pulp of prepared linseed or ether seeds or substances to be pressed into cakes,

page_text: ef so compact a character as to occupy only one-half the space that would
otherwise be required for such pulp in the press which expresses the oil or
other liquid from it.
The third part of the Invention relates to a novel arrangement of machinery
for packing the pulp or prepared linseed or other substances into cakes pre-
paratory to pressing, so as to make them occupy less space, and thereby enable
the operator to put 'more or double the quantity into a press of a given size
and press it at one operation. This machine consists in arranging a hinged
hopper over the mould into which the pulp or other substance is to be pressed,
in combination with a follower or piston, working down through the hopper,
and pressing the pulp or other substance into the mould.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to certain improvements in the
presses for expressing the oil from the prepared linseed and other seeds, and
for other purposes, and consists in making grooves in the plates placed between
the layers of the substances to be pressed, such grooves being so arranged as
to conduct the oil or the fluid pressed from the substances on each plate to its
proper destination without its running over on to the plate below; also in
fastening the hair cloth or padding to the plates of the press, so as to dispense
with the leather entirely, to which the hair cloth or padding has usually been
fastened heretofore; a thick edge of about two and a half inches wide is also
made around the hair cloth or padding, by doubling it over or weaving it thicker,
so as to press the oil out of the edges of the cloths which cover the cakes or
substances pressed.
In the accompanying Drawings the same letters of reference indicate like
parts in each of the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a plan of a chasing mill with the improvements adapted thereto;
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 1,
cut through the line Z, Z; and Fig. 4 is a plan of the base which supports the
bed plate. The bed of the mill is made of cast iron, and consists of a circular
plate or bottom B, Fig. 4, which should rest on a solid foundation A, of brick-
work or masonry, and of sufficient strength to support the mill. This bottom B
has a hole in the centre, surrounded by the hub C, from which a series of
partitions D, D, Fig. 4, radiate, and extend nearly to the edge, except Di, which
extends to the edge of the plate B, and there are also a series of partitions D
extending from the edge of the plate B nearly to the hub C. These partitions
are arranged alternately between the partitions D, D, all of which partitions
support the bed or upper plate A*, Fig. 3, which rests upon them, and is
provided with a hole in the centre, corresponding with the hub C, and that
portion of it which the chasing wheels E, E, roll upon is provided with V-shaped

page_text: -scores F, F, about one-fourth of an inch deep and three-eighths wide at
the end towards the centre, and three-fourths of an inch wide at the
outer end, as seen best in the plan view, Fig. 1. These scores F, F, are
curved, and cross each other nearly at right angles, and form pyramidal-shaped
protuberances between themselves, which may be brought to a point or nearly
to a point, which protuberances are designed to prevent the substances acted
upon by the mill from slipping forward under the wheels, so as to escape
without being properly acted upon, and ground or mulled.
The bed A and bottom plate B are surrounded by a hoop G, so arranged
as to cover the ends of the partitions D, and form a steam-tight joint around
the bed A and the bottom plate A", and thus form a chamber which is supplied
with steam through the hole II, Fig. 4, in the bottom plate A*; and after
passing around between the partitions D and D, and heating the bottom
plate A uniformly, it escapes through the hole H' on the opposite side of the
partition D'. The hoop G, or a similar one, should be made to extend a
suflicient distance above the bed plate A to form a curb G', to prevent the
substance ground from falling off of the plate as it is swept around by the
sweep I, Fig. 1, which sweeps or scrapes it into the opening J, through which
it falls into the receptacle prepared to receive it. The opening J is made
through the bed plate A, and is separated from the
partition J', and is provided with a door J2 to close it.
steam chamber by the
The bed plate A and under plate B may be cast separately and fitted
together, and rims may be cast upon them to answer instead of the hoops,
above mentioned, which rims may be provided with flanges, so as to bolt them
together and make a steam-tight joint; but I have succeeded in making them
by casting the bed plate A, the partitions D, D, and bottom plate B all in
one piece, and shrinking on a stout wrought-iron hoop wide enough to cover
the
space between the bed and bottom plates, and lap on to each other, so
that the seams can be caulked to make a steam-tight joint. In order to make
the curb G', I take a strip of stout sheet iron, long enough to reach around
the bed plate, and rivet some hasps to each end on the outside, so that when it
is applied to the bed plate a tapering key can be driven into tho hasps, which
will draw it so tight around the bed plate as to fix it firmly in its place without
additional fastening. The vertical shaft K should be provided with a pivot at
the lower end, fitted to turn in a box in or below the hub C, and the upper
end of this shaft should be fitted to turn in a box supported by a girder of
the building in which it is operated, or by strong framework adapted to the
purpose, and a gear wheel or pulley should be applied to this shaft at or near
the upper end, to which power may be applied to turn it and operate the mill:

page_text: The axle K passes through the shaft K; and is arranged to move up and
down also to vibrate in the shaft K, so as to allow the chasing wheels E, E, to
accommodate themselves to the thickness of the material being ground under
them on the bed plate A. The chasing wheels E, E, turn on the pivots L, L,
of the axle K, and one arm of the axle is longer than the other, so that one
wheel will not run exactly in the track of the other. These chasing wheels
may be made of sand stone or grit stone, bushed with wood or metal, so as to
turn freely on the pivots L, L, as the shaft K is turned to roll them around on
the plate or bed A*.
There is a circular trough N, Fig. 4, around the shaft K, into which the
crushed linseed, is fed by a trough to supply the mill, and it passes down
through the spout O on to the bed plate A*, so as to feed the mill constantly
and uniformly, and it is forced out under the stones or chasing wheels by
the scraper P, fastened to the shaft K, so as to be carried around by it, as
seen in Fig. 1. There is another circular trough R, Fig. 4, around the shaft K
below the trough N, which may be supplied with water by a pipe, and con-
ducted on to the bed A* by the pipe S, which water is absorbed by the starchy
matter in the crushed linseed as it is mulled or operated upon while it is hot
in the chasing mill. The rods T, T, Fig. 1, are arranged so that they can be
traversed in the shaft K to adjust the sweep or scraper I, which is fastened to
them, and which scraper may be set so as to separate a portion of the prepared
pulp which is worked out by the wheels at each revolution, and the portion
so separated is swept around by the outer arm of the scraper, and falls into the
opening J mulled, heated, and more perfectly prepared for the press-than it
has ever been done by any other process. The rear end of the scraper I is
set in towards the shaft, so as to scrape the pulp which is not separated, as
above mentioned, in towards the centre, so that the wheels will pass over
it again.
It is found to be a great advantage to mull and temper the crushed seed on
a hot plate, and supply water at the same time as the heat promotes the
chemical affinity between the, water and the starchy portion of the sced,
thereby precipitating or realizing more of the oil than by any other method;
besides the oil is far more easily expressed from the pulp than when it is.
prepared in any other way. By making the mill self-feeding and self-deliver-
ing, the labour of filling and discharging the mill is saved, and the pulp is
more uniformly and far better prepared and delivered already for the press or
for packing, and one man's labour is saved entirely, who has heretofore been
employed to put in and take out the pulp, supply water, and perform other
necessary operations.

page_text: Some of the advantages of heating the bed of the mill with steam may be
enumerated as follows: first, it is heated all over of a uniform temperature;
secondly, there is no danger of its being heated so hot as to scorch or burn
the pulp, or dry it, by evaporating all the water that is put in with it to
moisten the starch; and lastly; the heating is done entirely without manual
labour, consequently, is not attended with any great additional expense.
The process mentioned as the second part of the Invention is performed
by the machine mentioned as the third part; I will, therefore, proceed to
describe the packing process, as shewn in perspective in Fig. 5. A¹ is the
bottom of the press, with cleats B', B¹, across each end, with a space between
them for the mould O', shewn detached in perspective in Fig. 6, in which
the packing is performed. The bottom A¹ is provided with two standards
-D, D³, which are perforated for the journals of the shaft E', which turris
freely in them. There is an arm F¹ fastened to each end of the shaft E¹,
just outside the journals; one of these arms is embraced by the link G2,
which connects it to the head or follower L¹ of the press by means of the
staple II, which allows it to vibrate and adapt itself in pressing to the
vibration of the links, which vibrations are limited (when it is not pressing)
by pins, like the one fastened in the head at I. The bracket J³ is fastened
to the bottom A¹, to support the head L' in the position represented in
the Drawing. The hopper M' is made in the form represented, and is
.connected to the bottom A¹ by the hinges N', N', so that it may be raised
to put in the mould O, and to spread a cloth, such as cotton or linen, sail
duck, which is little more than twice as long as the mould, and four or six
inches wider; and after the cloth is spread, the forming board P", shewn
detached in perspective in Fig. 7, which is made a little smaller than the
interior of the mould, is put into the mould to press the cloth in shape and
form, when the edges of the cloth are spread and the hopper M' shut down
upon them. The forming board P' is now taken out and the mould and
hopper filled with the pulp prepared by the chasing mill which is levelled, and
the surplus is struck off by the strick Q', Fig. 8, which is fitted to the cleats
U, U, on the hopper for that purpose. The head L' is now brought over
the hopper, so that the stop S' which is fastened to it comes against the side
of the press, when the lever T¹ is seized and brought over and carried down,
so as to carry the follower L' down into and through the hopper M', and press
the pulp into a cake, but it should not be pressed so hard as to express any oil
from the pulp. When the head L' is brought over, the frame R' (which is
fastened to the end of the press) guides the link G2, so as to steady the bead
L', which may now be raised and swung off, and the hopper M raised up, and

page_text: the loose end of the cloth spread over the cake formed in the mould, which
should be carried with the cake in it and laid in the press, shewn at Fig. 9,
which is to express the oil, when the mould may be drawn out from under the
cake, the open end of the mould being made widest; so that it may be drawn
out with facility, and leave the cake in the press which is to express the oil.
The advantages of this packing machine may be enumerated as follows:-
First, the subsequent pressing of a given quantity of material is performed in
half the time, thereby enabling a press to perform double the service that it
would if worked in the old way, and thereby save one-half in the cost of
presses; secondly, one man can make the cakes or prepare double the quantity.
of pulp in the same time for the press which is to extract. the oil, thereby
saving one-half the labour; thirdly, there is more oil obtained from the sub-
stance pressed, as the cakes are uniform in thickness and compactness, there-
fore they are pressed cleaner than when prepared in the old way, in which the
material was unevenly spread, and the thicker parts prevented the thin from
being pressed clean; fourthly, the cotton canvas used by the new process costs
only one-fourth as much as the knit woollen bags heretofore used; fifthly,
there is no leather required between the hair padding and plates, therefore
the entire cost of the leather is saved.
The press mentioned as the fourth part of the improvements is shewn in
elevation at Fig. 9, and in plan at Fig. 10; soine of the parts in each Figure
are broken away to shew the others. In these Figures, A' is the floor or foun-
dation on which the bottom B2 of the press rests, which is connected to the top
D by the standards C, C², firmly fastened to each of them; the bottom B* is
provided with a hollow cylinder E² and piston F, similar to those in common
use in hydrostatic presses, and may be operated in the usual manner. The
bed G of the press is fitted to traverse between the standards C³, C³, and is
fastened to and operated by the piston F, which is forced up by forcing water into
the cylinder under it in the usual manner.. The plates II, II, II, are made
of boiler-iron, five-eighths of an inch thick, and the same size as the bed G³, and
is provided with pins I, I, arranged as shewn, so that the upper plate may be
suspended to the top D' by the staples J, J', and the plates below, to each
other in succession, by the links K, K, which links and staples allow the
plates to be brought together and separated as the press is worked, as shewn
in the Drawing. There are grooves L, L³, Fig. 10, in the plates H³, H³,
parallel with the sides and ends, and so arranged as to conduct the oil or fluid
pressed from the substance on each plate on to the receivers Me, Me, which
may be made to terminate in a perpendicular trough, with an opening in one
side for the ends of the receivers to traverse in, which trough may conduct

page_text: the oil to the reservoir. The receivers M, M, are made of sheet iron, and
have a cleat N affixed to them, to project on to the plate and hold them in
their places. The hair padding P, P, which permits the oil to escape from the
substances pressed, is made of very thick hair cloth, and the edges at the ends
and sides should be made twice as thick as the other part, and about two and
a half inches wide, so as to press clean the edges of the cloth on the cakes of
substances. The padding may be increased in thickness at the edges by
weaving it thicker, or, if wove of a uniform thickness, by turning over the
edges, and it is fastened to the plates by leather thongs Q, Q, as shewn in
the Drawing. The cakes made in the packing machine are put into this
press, as beretofore stated, and pressed to force out the oil or other liquid in
the usual manner. The advantages gained by these improvements are, as
follows:-By grooving the plates, so as to conduct off the oil, the cost of the
press box heretofore used is saved; by fastening the padding to the plates,
the leather is dispensed with, and its entire cost saved; and by making the
edges of the padding thick, I am enabled to substitute common sail duck for
the knit woollen bags, and save three-fourths of the cost of the bags; and
besides, the edges of the cakes are pressed as dry and as clean as any part of
them, so that there is no occasion to scrape off the edges and press them over
again.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention and improvements which
have been communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, as aforesaid, and
the means of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood. that
I do not confine myself to the precise details herein given, so long, as the
peculiar character of the Invention and improvements is retained.. But what
I claim is as follows:-
First, constructing the bed of the chasing mill in such a manner that it can
be heated and kept hot by the application of steam, substantially as described,
while it is used to grind, temper, or mull the crushed linseed or other sub-
stances which it is desirable to heat or keep hot during the process of grind-
ing, tempering, or mulling.
Second, I claim the use of one or more circular troughs around the shaft
of the mill, provided with a spout or spouts so constructed as to feed a
chasing mill constantly while it is running with the materials to be ground,
tempered, or mulled, and such other materials as are desirable, to facilitate
the preparation of the materials acted upon by the mill, substantially as
described.
Third, I claim the scraper I, or its equivalent, so constructed and arranged
as to separate a portion of the material acted upon by the mill and deliver it

page_text: to the discharging spout or opening at each revolution of the mill, substantially
as described.
Fourth, I claim, in the process of extracting oil or other liquids from the
pulp of ground linseed or other seeds, and other substances ground or prepared,
.forming it or them into cakes, by pressing the same in a mould, so as to pack
it, and thereby enable a press of a given size to receive and act upon double
the quantity of material and press it at one operation without very consider
ably increasing the power required to operate the press, or prolonging the time
required to perform the pressing operation.
Fifth, in the packing machine, I claim a mould and hinged hopper, in com-
bination with a follower, fitted to work through said hopper and press and
pack the material into the mould, substantially as described, for the purposes
.set forth.
Sixth, in the press, I claim the grooves in the plates so constructed and
arranged as to conduct the oil or other fluid pressed from the substance on
each plate off, and prevent it from running ever on to the plate below.
Seventh, I claim fastening the padding to the plates, for the purposes set
forth, substantially as described.
Eighth, I claim a padding with a thick edge that will press the oil or other
fluids out of the edges of the cloths upon the cakes of substances pressed,
.substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.B.)