IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COMPRESSED LEATHER.”
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George William Bentley, of 67, Strand, in the
City of Westminster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COMPRESSED LEATHER.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George William
Bentley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 28th April 1874.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM BENTLEY, of 67, Strand, in the City of
Westminster, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING
COMPRESSED LEATHER," to be as follows:-
―
According to my Invention I utilize every description of waste
cuttings of hides and skins, whether in their raw, tawed, or tanned
condition. After removing the lime from the tawed cuttings I submit.
them and the raw cuttings to the action or influence of carbon bi-

page_text: sulphide in order to remove or extract the grease. I also submit the
tanned cuttings to the same action or influence in order to remove all
oily or greasy matter, which I perform in the following manner, viz*. :—-
I provide a cylinder shaped vessel, which I term a digester, about three
feet in diameter, but of any suitable length, and which is stationary in a
horizontal position and steam jacketed. The upper part is so constructed
as to open and shut in the form of a lid, which can be entirely removed
and replaced when required by the aid of a pulley or pullies, and is
rendered perfectly tight by suitable packing. Within this vessel or
digester I place another vessel of similar shape, but several inches smaller
both in length and diameter, which is perforated and made so as to revolve
upon axles by the aid of a leather band connected with the engine, and
worked from the outside of the outer cylinder. This also is furnished with
a lid which can be removed and replaced in the manner before described.
The inner cylinder or digester to be tinned or galvanized both inside and
out, and the outer cylinder or digester to be tinned or galvanized inside
only. Into the inner vessel I place the cuttings. I then apply the cabron
bi-sulphide under, pressure for the space of half an hour, during which
time the inner cylinder or digester is slowly revolving, which has the effect
of removing all foily or greasy matter from the cuttings, the necessity of
which is indispensable in order to ensure the proper adhesion and
solidity of the cuttings when in their manufactured form. After the
removal of the oily or greasy matter, which I readily ascertain by a
gauge or test tube conveniently affixed to the digester, I allow the
liquid (comprising the carbon bi-sulphide and the oily or greasy matter
combined) to pass off into a still in which they are separated, the former
passing off in a state of vapor into a condenser connected with the still
where it resumes its original form and is ready for use again, the latter
(which forms a valuable marketable product) remains in the still and can
be drawn off by means of suitably adjusted taps. Steam is in the
meantime admitted into the steam jacket, the inner vessel or digester
being allowed to revolve slowly which drives off any remaining fumes of
the carbon bi-sulphide into the condenser, and which resume their
original form as previously described. The tanned cuttings are then.
ready for immediate use, but I submit the raw and the tawed cutting to
the influence of tannin, after which they are likewise fit for use, and are
dealt with in the following manner, viz. :-I place the various cuttings
in suitable vessels containing a strong adhesive waterproof solution.
Metallic plates of any convenient size are then used, upon which the

page_text: cuttings are carefully spread in layers according to the substance of the
article required to be produced. Another metallic plate is then placed
upon the top of these layers, and when a sufficient number are prepared
I submit them to hydraulic or other pressure for the required space of
time to ensure uniform adhesion and solidity. The leather has then to
be placed in racks through which heated air is allowed to pass, for the
purpose of gently but thoroughly drying it. When thoroughly dry it is
fit for immediate use.
SPECÍFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George William Bentley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WILLIAM BENTLEY, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George William Bentley, Her special
licence that I, the said George William Bentley, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George William
Bentley, 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 AND IN APPARATus FOR MANUFACTURING COMPRESSED
LEATHER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
William Bentley, 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 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

page_text: Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George William Bentley, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say:-
According to my Invention I utilize every description of waste
cuttings of hides and skins, whether in their raw, tawed, or tanned
condition. After removing the lime from the tawed cuttings, I submit
these and the raw cuttings to the action or influence of carbon bi-
sulphide in order to remove or extract the grease. I also submit all the
tanned cuttings containing oily or greasy matter to the same action or
influence, which I perform in the following manner, namely:-I provide
a vessel which I term a digester, preferably of a cylindrical shape, about
three feet in diameter, and of any suitable length, and which is stationary
with its axis in a horizontal position and steam jacketed.
The upper
part of the cylindrical surface is so constructed as to open and shut in
the form of a lid, which can be entirely removed and replaced when
required by the aid of a pulley or pullies, and is rendered perfectly tight
by suitable packing. Within this vessel or digester I place another
vessel of similar shape, but several inches smaller both in length and
diameter, which is perforated and made so as to revolve upon axles by
the aid of a leather band or other connexion with the engine, and
worked from the outside of the outer cylinder. For this purpose the
axis at one end passes through a stuffing box at one end of the outer
vessel. The inner vessel is also furnished with a lid which can be
removed and replaced by lifting apparatus, in the manner before
described. It is likewise furnished on the inside with three (more or
less) projecting ridges for the purpose of gently agitating the contents.
I place the cuttings into the inner cylinder, replace and close both
covers, and then apply the carbon bi-sulphide under pressure by
pumping it through pipes into the outer vessel for the space of half an
hour, more or less, as may be required, during which time the inner
cylinder is caused slowly to revolve, which has the effect of removing all
the oily or greasy matter from the cuttings, the necessity of which is
indispensable in order to ensure the proper adhesion and solidity of the
cuttings when in their manufactured form. After the removal of the

page_text: .
.
oily or greasy matter which I readily ascertain by a guage glass or test
tube conveniently affixed to the outer cylinder, I allow the liquid
(comprising the carbon bi-sulphide and the oily or greasy matter
combined) to pass off into an ordinary metal still connected, with the
outer cylinder. In the still they are separated, the former passing off in
a state of vapour into a condenser connected with the still, where it
resumes its original form and is ready for use again, the latter (which
forms a valuable marketable product) remains in the still and can be
drawn off by means of suitably adjusted taps. After the liquid has been
transferred to the still, steam is admitted into the steam jacket, the inner
cylinder being allowed to revolve slowly, which drives off any remaining
fumes of the carbon bi-sulphide into the condenser, which resume their
original form as previously described. The tanned cuttings are then
ready for immediate use, but I submit the raw and the tawed cuttings to
the operation of tanning, after which they are likewise fit for use and are
dealt with in the following manner, namely:-I place the various
cuttings in suitable vessels containing a strong adhesive waterproof
solution. Metallic plates of any convenient size are then used, upon
which the cuttings are carefully spread in layers according to the
substance of the article required to be produced. Another metallic plate
is then placed upon the top of these layers, and when a sufficient number
are prepared I submit them to hydraulic or other pressure for the
required space of time to ensure uniform adhesion and solidity. The
compressed leather has then to be placed in racks or otherwise suspended
so as to allow of heated air being passed through it for the purpose of
gently but thoroughly drying it. When dry it is fit for immediate use.
I would here remark that I construct the inner and outer vessels and
piping of iron, and that I prefer that these should be galvanized, tinned,
or japanned.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the

page_text: such application being effected in any convenient description of digester
or steeping and agitating apparatus.
· Secondly. Apparatus for this purpose, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George William Bentley, have &
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-four.
GEORGE WILLIAM BENTLEY. (L.S.)