Improved Means to be used in the Tanning of Hides and Skins.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means to be used in the Tanning of Hides and Skins.
I, EUGENE JOSEPH THIBAUT, of Church Street, Chelsea, Tanner, do hereby
declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
This Invention relates to improved means to be used in tanning hides and skins
in the manufacture of leather; the objects of the Invention being to effect a more
equal and homogeneous treatment of the hides and skins by the tanning agent,
to avoid the constant handlings thereof at present required to equalize and quicken
the combination of the tanning agent with the gelatinous fibres or matter of the
hides and skins and to expedite the treatment without detriment to the quality of
the leather produced.
To this end, the Invention consists essentially in suspending the hides
separately from each other within a drum adapted to contain the tanning agent
and to be slowly rotated, the hides being suspended in parallel relation to each
other and to the axis of rotation of the drum, but hanging freely from the drum
without being stretched, so that, during the rotation of the drum, they will be
continuously dipped into, carried around within and withdrawn from out of the
tanning liquid, whereby, while they are within the tanning liquid, they are rolled
and rubbed in contact with each other, and, while they are being raised from out
of the tanning liquid and carried over to be re-immersed therein, they are separated
and straightened out, and so on alternately and continuously, whereby the tanning
liquid is kept in constant agitation and each and every part of the hides or skins
is caused to be equally subjected to the action of the tanning agent and the
tanning action is considerably expedited.
On the accompanying drawings:-
:-
Figs. 1 and 2, represent sectional elevations, at right-angles to each other,
and Fig. 3, represents an end elevation, of the means employed in carrying out
the Invention in the treatment of hides and split hides, and
Figs. 4 and 5, represent sectional elevations, at right-angles to each other, of
the arrangement used in the treatment of skins.
a, represents the drum which is preferably made of a cylindrical form in cross
section, though not necessarily so. It is provided with liquid-tight doors b, (shown
only in Fig. 3) at one or opposite sides, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, or at its
ends, vide Figs. 1 to 3, as may be preferred or found most convenient for the
placement and removal of the hides, split hides or skins intended to be treated in
the drum.
The drum is mounted in end-standards c, d, its journal e, being hollow and
communicating with a pipe f, having a stopcock g, by which the tanning agent
is admitted to the drum, and its journal h, being fitted with a gear wheel i, driven
from a countershaft j, as represented, so as to convey a relatively slow motion to
the drum.
The drum is also provided with a closable outlet or outlets k, serving to run off
the tanning agent when the hides or skins have been sufficiently treated.

page_text: The inner periphery of the drum is provided, at convenient distances apart
and as far around as may be required, with eyes, staples or the like 1, serving as
convenient means of suspending the hides m, from the drum by hooks, chains or
other convenient means n, in parallel relation to each other and to the axis of
rotation of the drum, as aforesaid, vide Figs. 2 and 5.
In the treatment of hides and skins with such improved means, and in such
improved manner, all parts thereof are caused to be equally subjected to the action
of the tanning agent, owing to the separate suspension of the hides or skins and
to the alternate rolling of the same together and their straightening out, and to
the constant change of the tanning agent in relation to all parts of the hides or
skins, resulting in the speedy, and economic production of leather of considerablə
density and closeness of grain and homogeneously tanned, equal to that produced
by the old pit treatment of long duration.
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. In the tanning of hides and skins, freely suspending the latter, separately
from each other, within a drum adapted to contain the tanning agent and to be
slowly rotated, in parallel relation to each other and to the axis of rotation of
the drum, as set forth.
2. In the tanning of hides and skins, the use of a drum adapted to contain
the tanning agent and to be slowly rotated, and provided with means by which
the hides or skins can be freely suspended, separately from each other within the
drum and in the tanning agent, in parallel relation to each other and to the
axis of rotation of the drum, as set forth.
3. The improved combination of parts constituting the arrangement of tanning
apparatus hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of August, 1897.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.