Improvements in the Treatment of Cotton Seed for the Removal of Fibrous Matters therefrom and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
| Improvements in the Treatment of Cotton Seed for the Removal
of Fibrous Matters therefrom and in Apparatus therefor.
I, WILLIAM HENRY STEAD of Boundary Street, Liverpool, in the County of.
Lancaster, Seed-crusher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In making my application for Letters Patent No. 13831 of 1884, I only specified
the use of one form of acid (commercial sulphuric) used in an undiluted form, I have,
however, ascertained that strong concentrated sulphuric acid and hydrochloric and
nitric and other acids that will destroy the fibre, may also be used in an undiluted
form, and a comparatively small quantity of the strong acids may with advantage be
used to act upon, and remove fibres from the cotton seed. The acid so used in a
strong form effects the destruction of the fibre, and enables it to be removed more
economically, and more efficiently, than large quantities of diluted acids as used in the
old way.
After the acid has had time to work, in place of adding the lime at once as stated in
my previous specification above mentioned, I add a quantity of sand or other neutral
pulverulent matter, and continue the operation until the sand has carried down most
of the acid dust. I then add the lime.
The sand and acid dust can be used in a succeeding operation before adding the
acid so as to use up any free acid that may remain in the sand. By this means
a considerable quantity of the lime is saved, and much heating is avoided, which
might otherwise tend to damage the kernel.
I
Instead of the segments forming the false bottom of the kettle being cast in one
piece, I make grids of separate triangular bars, touching each other where they rest
on the segment frame, and being about one sixteenth of an inch apart at the top;
thus get sufficient spring and shake on each bar to effectually prevent any dust from
choking up the interstices.

page_text: As an alternative method of polishing the seed I use either instead of, or in con-
junction with, the brushing described in my former specification, some oil or grease
after the major part of the lime dust has left the seed; the most suitable substance
for the purpose I find to be Black Grease made from cotton seed mucilage in the
ordinary manner.
Dated th
Γ
C
1007
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.
of Fibrous Matters therefrom and in Apparatus therefor.
I, WILLIAM HENRY STEAD of Boundary Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Seed Crusher, 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 making my application for Letters Patent No. 13831 of 1884, I only specified
the use of one form of acid (commercial sulphuric) used in an undiluted form, I have,
however, ascertained that strong concentrated sulphuric acid and hydrochloric and
nitric and other acids, that will destroy the fibre, may also be used in an undiluted
form, and a comparatively small quantity of the strong acids may with advantage be
used to act upon, and remove fibres from the cotton seed. The acid so used in a strong
form effects the destruction of the fibre, and enables it to be removed more economi-
cally, and more efficiently, than large quantities of diluted acids as used in the
old way.
After the acid has had time to work, in place of adding the lime at once as stated in
my previous specification above mentioned, I add a quantity of sand or other neutral
pulverulent matter, and continue the operation until the sand has carried down most
of the acid dust. I then add the lime.
'
The sand and acid dust can be used in a succeeding operation before adding the
acid so as to use up any free acid that may remain in the sand. By this means a
considerable quantity of the lime is saved, and much heating is avoided, which might
otherwise tend to damage the kernel.
Instead of the segments forming the false bottom of the kettle being cast in one
piece, I make grids of separate triangular bars, touching each other, where they rest

page_text: on the segment frame, and being about one sixteenth of. an inch apart at the top; I
thus get sufficient spring and shake on each bar to effectually prevent any dust from
choking up the interstices.
As an alternative method of polishing the seed I use either instead of, or in con-
junction with the brushing described in my former specification, some oil or grease,
after the major part of the lime dust has left the seed.
The drawings show a false bottom made on the lines of my invention:
In these, Figure 1 is a plan of an entire false bottom.
Figure 2 enlarged sections on line xx, Figure 1.
Figure 3 detail of bars.
B is the false bottom made up, preferably of segmental frames b, on which rest the
separate triangular bars B'. The ends 6 of the triangular bars are made wider
than, but not so deep as, the bars themselves, and serve as distance pieces for spacing
the latter. The said ends rest on the ledges 6' of the segmental frames 6. The
bars are free to shake laterally, but any vertical displacement is prevented by the
cover strips 6. The said strips are attached to the frames b by screws 6' or their
equivalent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved false bottom, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The use or employment of any strong acid, other than the commercial sulphuric
acid described in my prior aforesaid specification for use in removing the fibrous matter
from cotton seed, substantially as described.
3. The use or employment of sand or other inert granular or pulverulent matter for
economising the acid, substantially as described.
4. The improvement in the method of polishing the seed from which the fibre has
been removed, which consists in the use or employment of oil or grease, substantially
as described.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1888.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.