A New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Removing Fatty Matters from the Effluent Waters of Wool Washing Machines and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Removing
Fatty Matters from the Effluent Waters of Wool Washing
Machines and the like.
We, JAMES HOLMES, of 43 Princeville Street, Bradford, in the County of
York, and HERBERT EDWARD TANKARD anl WILLIAM SCAIFE, both of
Wellington Mills, Laisterdyke, aforesaid, Wool Combers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It has for its object the removal of fatty matters or grease from the effluent
waters of wool-washing machines and the like. Hitherto the fatty matters in
such waters have been usually removed by a process which consists in running
the water into settling tanks, in which it is neutralized by an acid, the fatty
matter contained in the magma thus formed being expressed therefrom, or
extracted by a solvent.
According to our invention, we run the effluent water from the washing machine
In the tank, or,
into a tank or tanks, according to the quantity to be treated.
when more than one tank is employed, in each tank, there is fitted one or more
perforated pipes or conductors which are connected to a fan, blower, or pump,
whereby air is blown or forced through the liquid in the tank. By thus,
agitating the liquid a froth or foam is formed, consisting chiefly of the fatty
matters.
The tank, or euch tank, is provided with an arrangement for collecting the
froth or foam from the surface of the liquid. This consists preferably of an
endless travelling band formed of wire gauze, or other suitable material. This
endless band mounted on two parallel rollers, so that its lower side is slightly
above the level of the liquid. One, or both of the rollers, is or are caused to
revolve, so that, as the band travels over the surface of the liquid, the froth or
foam formed by the agitation of the air blast is collected thereon and carried to
the outside of the tank. Here, a revolving roller and scraper are fixed, or other
means are adopted whereby the froth or foam is removed from the travelling
band and delivered into a suitable receptacle.
It is found to be preferable to first agitate the liquid by the air blast, then
discontinue same for a time, and, when the blast is shut off, to set the endless
band revolving until the froth or foam formned by the blast is all removed from
the surface of the liquid. These operations are repeated until no froth or foam
is formed by the air blast. In order to work the air blast and the travelling
band alternately the same lever is employed for starting the one and stopping the
other.
It is found convenient to arrange the tanks in pairs with the gearing so
arranged, that while the air is being blown through the liquid in one tank, the
endless band of the other tank is in motion, and vice-versa.
After the liquid has been agitated by the air blast until no froth or foam is
formed, the liquid may be run to waste, or subsequently treated with acid in order
to remove any fatty matters that may be left in.

page_text: The air pipes or conductors are made in straight lengths, and with removable
covers, so that the interiors can be readily cleaned should any dirt or sediment
collect therein.
Dated this 26th day of September 1895.
J. SIDNEY CRITCHLEY,
27 Rockgate, Bradford, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Removing
Fatty Matters from the Effluent Waters of Wool Washing
Machines and the like.
We, JAMES HOLMES, of 43, Princeville Street, Bradford, in the County
of York, HERBERT EDWARD TANKARD and WILLIAM SCAIFE, both of
Wellington Mills, Laisterdyke, near Bradford 'aforesaid, 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 stateinent :-
It has for its object the removal of fatty matters or grease from the effluent
waters of wool washing machines and the like. Hitherto the fatty matters in
such waters have usually been removed by a process which consists, in running
the water into settling tanks, in which it is neutralized by an acid; the fatty
matter contained in the magma thus formed being expressed therefrom, or
.extracted, by a solvent. This invention consists in subjecting the effluent water
from the said machine to the operation of an air blast. For this purpose the
effluent water is run into a tank or tanks fitted with perforated pipes or conductors,
through which a current of air is forced. By thus agitating the liquid a froth
or foam is formed containing the fatty matters, which is removed from the
surface of the liquid by means of scrapers or an endless band.
In order to fully explain our invention, we append hereto sheets of drawings
marked with letters of reference illustrating same :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our apparatus for removing the fatty matters from
the effluent waters of wool washing machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of same. Fig. 3 is
an end view; Fig. 4 a longitudinal section.
The effluent, water is run into a tank A, constructed with a sloping bottom, so
that the liquid and any sediment that may collect in the tank may eventually,
after treatment, be run out through a pipe B.
The perforated pipes fitted in the tank are marked C, and are connected to a
fan or blower by the pipe C', the said pipe being carried to a higher point than
the level of the liquid in the tank. D is a stop valve, by which the air blast is
shut off when required. Small subsidiary air pipes c are fixed at the lowest
portion of the tank, in order to blow up the sediment that collects at the bottom
of the tank, so that the liquor, and any sediment that may collect, can all be run
out of the tank through the pipe B.
E are scrapers attached to endless chains F, which gear with chain-wheels F',
secured to shaft F2 and F. The said shafts are mounted in suitable bearings,
and the shaft F is rotated from the driving pulley G by gearing H. The
scrapers E being thus continually traversed in the direction of the arrow over the
surface of the liquor, whereby the froth or foam created by the agitation of
the air blast is removed therefrom and delivered on to a perforated shoot J, so
arranged that any liquid brought over by the scrapers flows back into the tank
through the pipe K, while the more solid froth or foam drops over the end of
shoot into a suitable receptacle or tank.
The froth or foam, after its removal from the tank, may be neutralized by

page_text: sulphuric acid, and the fatty matter recovered, either by pressure or by means of
solvents, or any other well known means may be employed.
The froth or foam created by the air blast, being almost entirely composed of
fatty matters, it is obvious that to recover the same a much less quantity of acid
is required than when acid is added to the effluent water before the fatty matters
have been concentrated in the form of a froth or foam. The length of time the
effluent water is subjected to the action of the air blast depends upon the amount
of the fatty matters contained in the water. The air blast, however, is kept on
until the froth or foam ceases to rise to the surface of the liquid. When no froth
or foam rises to the surface of the liquid, the fatty matters have been removed,
and the water freed from same is then run tɔ waste.
The addition of a small amount of sulphuric acid-about one quart to four
hundred gallons of effluent water-causes the froth or foam to rise more quickly
to the surface of the liquid. In order to keep up the level of the liquid in the
tank, it is requisite to run in an amount of liquid equal to the amount of froth or
foam which is removed by the scrapers.
The perforated pipes C are made with movable end covers, so that any deposit
collecting there may readily be removed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In combination with a tank adapted to receive the effluent water of wool
washing machines, a series of perforated pipes therein, an air blast connecting with
said pipes, and scrapers for removing the froth or foam produced by the blast,
substantially as described.
2. In combination, a tank, a series of perforated pipes, an air blast, an endless
band and scrapers carried thereby, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of June 1896.
J. SIDNEY CRITCHLEY,
9 Charles Street, Bradford, Agent for the Applicants.