IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING AND TANNING HIDES AND SKINS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Fitchew Cox, of Bristol, Tanner, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING AND TANNING HIDES AND
SKINS."
Sealed the 27th March 1863, and dated the 6th October 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Fitchew Cox at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th October 1862.
I, STEPHEN FITCHEW Cox, of Bristol, Tanner, do hereby declare the nature
of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING AND TANNING HIDES AND
SKINS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in washing and tanning
hides and skins. For these purposes the hides or skins are placed within a
frame, which it is preferred should be of a cylindrical form, though the shape
of the frame may be varied; the periphery or circumference of this frame
Each
is composed of bars parallel to but at a short distance from each other.
of the two ends of this frame is provided with a neck or axis; these axes are
supported by and turn in suitable bearings. This frame. is very similar to
what has been used for various purposes, and is not claimed separate from the
process of washing and tanning hides and skins as hereafter described. The
dimensions-of-the frame. used.in in carrying out my Invention may be varied,.but
it is preferred that.it should be of somewhat greater diameter than the length.
of the hides or skins which are being washed or tanned, but this is not.

page_text: essential. Provision is made for fastening one end or one side of a skin or
hide to each of the bars, in such manner that when a bar is at the highest
position the skin or hide attached thereto will hang from that bar almost free,
and nearly perpendicular within the frame in an open and extended state,
hence as the frame is caused to rotate slowly on its horizontal axes, and as
each bar (of which the periphery of the frame is formed) comes to the
highest position, the skin or hide attached thereto will hang therefrom nearly
perpendicular and open, as above mentioned, whilst as they descend from the
highest to the lowest position, and ascend from the lowest to the highest
position, each skin or hide will during its passage through the liquor in which
the frame is partially or wholly immersed, be first caused to be rolled or folded
up, and will then as its bar comes to the highest position be unfolded or
unrolled. By which means it will be found that the processes of washing
and of tanning hides and skins will be better and more usefully performed.
It is preferred to attach the head or shoulder end of hides or skins to the
several bars with the flesh sides all in the same direction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Stephen Fitchew Cox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th April 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
FITCHEW Cox, of Bristol, Tanner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Stephen Fitchew Cox, Her special licence that I, the said Stephen
Fitchew Cox, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Stephen Fitchew Cox, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN WASHING AND TANNING HIDES AND SKINS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Stephen Fitchew Cox, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the

page_text: 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 Stephen Fitchew Cox, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in washing and tanning.
hides and skins. For these purposes the hides or skins are placed within a
frame, which it is preferred should be of a cylindrical form, though the shape
of the frame may be varied; the periphery or circumference of this frame is.
composed of bars parallel to, but at a short distance from each other. Each;
of the two ends of this frame is provided with a neck or axis; these axes are.
supported by and turn in suitable bearings. This frame is very similar to.
what has been used for various purposes, and is not claimed separate from the.
process of washing and tanning hides and skins, as hereafter described. The.
dimensions of the frame used in carrying out my Invention may be varied, but
it is preferred that it should be of somewhat greater diameter than the length
of the hides or skins which are being washed or tanned, but this is not
essential. Provision is made for fastening one end or one side of a skin or
hide to each of the bars, in such manner that when a bar is at the highest
position the skin or hide attached thereto will hang from that bar almost free,
and nearly perpendicular within the frame in an open and extended state,.
hence as the frame is caused to rotate slowly on its horizontal axes, and as
each bar (of which the periphery of the frame is formed) comes to the
highest position, the skin or hide attached thereto will hang therefrom nearly
perpendicular and open, as above mentioned, whilst as they descend from the
highest to the lowest position, and ascend from the lowest to the highest
position, each skin or hide will during its passage through the liquor in which.
the frame is partially or wholly immersed be first caused to be rolled or folded
up, and will then as its bar comes up to the highest position be unfolded or
unrolled; by which means it will be found that the processes of washing and
of tanning hides and skins will-be better and more usefully performed. It is
preferred to attached the hides or skins to the several bars with the flesh sides
all in the same direction.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
:

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an end elevation of the machine;
Figure 2, a side elevation; Figure 3, longitudinal section; Figure 4, transverse
section. The same letters indicate similar parts in each Figure.
A, A, water tank or tan pit; B, B, circular end of machine, of wood or
other material; C, C, necks or journals of the same, bolted or otherwise
fastened to the ends; D, D, driving wheel, also bolted or fastened to the
same; E, strap drum, with its shaft, on which is a pinion F gearing or
working into the large wheel D; G, G, parallel bars screwed or fastened to
the periphery of the ends; H, H, spaces shown between the bars; I, carriage
or bearing for the axis of the strap drum and pinion; J, J, metal pins screwed
or fastened into the bars G; K, pegs of wood or other material which pass
through eyes or holes in the metal pins. The hides and skins to be washed
or tanned are passed between the bars, and attached to the same by ligatures
or straps,. as shewn in Figure 3; the spaces being thus filled with skins or
hides, and the vat supplied with fluid or tan liquor, and the machine set in
motion, the hides or skins will be caused to roll or fold up, and again expand
or straighten as they alternately arrive at the bottom or top of the machine in
the course of each rotation; by which means a more perfect and rapid cleansing
or tanning effect upon hides or skins is produced. Figure 4 shows about the
general disposition or shapes assumed by hides or skins in the machine whilst
rotating. It is advisable by reversing gear to work the machine for a time
first one way and then the other.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the exact details described; but what I claim is, the so suspending or
fastening hides or skins within a rotating frame that they shall alternately roll
or fold up, and again straighten whilst immersed or partially immersed
in fluid. .
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Fitchew Cox, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our
STEPHEN FITCHEW COX. (L.S.)