An Improved System of Tanning Hides and Skins by Continuous Application of Liquors, and New Mode of Suspending and Lifting Hides and Skins in "Shifting Frames" while in Process of Tanning.
Year: 1886

page_text: An Improved System of Tanning Hides and Skins by Continuous
Application of Liquors, and New Mode of Suspending and
Lifting Hides and Skins in "Shifting Frames" while in
Process of Tanning.
THOMAS BRAIN 27 St John's Villas, East Dulwich Green, Peckham, S.E. in the
County of Surrey, Tanner and Currier I, Thomas Brain do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The formation of pits or vats to receive a frame on top furnished with laths or
bars with hooks on the under side on which the hides or butts will hang, and
which may be lifted entire by winding chain, and replaced by the same in the
same pit, or by travelling gear, shifted to adjoining pit or vat or to any other pit
or vat in the same line, without detaching the hides or butts from the frame, or
may be put in or taken out singly by hand on the laths or bars.
The construction of a frame for each pit or vat of a uniform size and pattern to
fit into a groove around each pit or vat, which with the laths or bars when in full
work shall form an enclosure and prevent contamination of the liquors from
exposure to the air, each lath or bar to have a hollow rod (perforated) to allow the
liquors as free access as possible to the pelts and to hang horizontally a few inches
below the hooks on which the hides or butts hang to keep them apart regularly
and ensure free passage of liquors to every part.
A special hollow perforated rod to combine the hanging of hides & skins partly
by rod and partly by the brisket shanks of hides or skins to allow the pelt to be
shifted on the rod during the time of tanning so that all parts may be done equally
and the stout parts be always in contact with the strongest liquor.
To improve the mode of applying the liquors to hides & skins by gravitation
from a source of supply provided in a raised vat or reservoir with a pipe (fitted
with indicating to regulate the flow so that it takes twenty four hours to renew
the supply to the first or receiving pit or vat or such other shorter or longer period
as the manager may deem necessary) connected at the lower part of reservoir
thence down to and along the bottom of the first receiving pit or vat No 1 to the
centre and then discharge into a circular chamber thence through equi distant
apertures spreading the liquor horizontally over the surface bottom.

page_text: An outlet pipe from No 1 to No 2 inserted a few inches from the top through
the partition or alley down to bottom of No 2 and along the centre to a circular
chamber the same as No 1 and so on in like manner from pit to pit or vat to vat
to any number that may be required flowing from the first though each one to the
last and thence into a receptacle discharing for further use or otherwise.
The combination of apparatus and arrangement is to secure a continuous tanning
of the pelt until it is perfect leather whether it be by oak bark liquor or by any
other liquors made from tanning materials so that the progress is a continuity by
night as well as by day and may be regulated by adjustment of tap fitted to pipe
from the reservoir to continue for any length of time without further attention for
several consecutive days and nights so long as reservoir is kept charged or supplied
which will be by pump from well containing oak bark liquors or any other kind
of liquors the tanner prefers to use.
The hides or skins being kept hanging on the same hooks till the tanning is
completed much labor will be saved the strongest liquor always coming to the
stoutest part first and constantly flowing upwards will keep the pelt in position
each portion receiving (without intermission) a graduated renewal of fresh supply
keeping them as it were like a plant growing to perfection instead of as by all
other modes only having change of liquors at intervals of days weeks or months.
In addition to the saving of labor it will save at least half the time required to
tan leather and require less material the cheif result being a great increase in the
outcome from the same quantity of pelt and very superior quality.
This is an improvement on a (void) Patent No.1225 granted to John Francis,
John Bayley and Thomas Bayley in May 1871 but differs with it in the mode of
distributing the liquors and in. hanging. the hides which they did not adopt.
Hanging of hides by other modes is in partial use without being patented but
I cannot find any system embracing the advantages herein spécified which are
solely my own invention and combination without copy or communication.
Dated this thirty first day of May eighteen hundred and eighty six.

page_text: -
An improved System of Tanning Hides and Skins by Continuous.
Application of Liquors, and New Mode of Susponding and
Lifting Hides and Skins in Shifting Frames while in the
Process of Tanning.
THOMAS BRAIN 27 St Johns Villas, East Dulwich Green Peckham, S. E. in the
County of Surrey Tanner and Currier I Thomas Brain do hereby declare the
nature of.my invention for AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF TANNING HIDES AND SKINS
BY CONTINUOUS APPLICATION OF LIQUORS & NEW MODE OF SUSPENDING APPARATUS
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is the improvement of the quality of leather, the
increase of quantity, and reducing the cost of tanning by great saving of time, labour
and materials, a combination of apparatus to effect a continuous flow of tan liquor by
gravitation from an elevated reservoir (I do not claim the principle of gravitation or
raised reservoir, but improvement of application) to any number of pits or vats, so
that the first pit or vat into which it flows will always be of maximum strength, and
as it passes upwards between the hides (the thickest part being near the bottom and
requiring most tanning will always be in the strongest liquor, and will be tanned.
in the same length of time as the lighter part near the top of pit or vat) almost
imperceptably it will be slightly weaker at top and pass through a pipe near the
top, down to and along the bottom of the next pit or vat to the centre, delivering.
it horizontally over the bottom through equi distant apertures round the sides of a
circular receiving chamber (as shewn by drawing N° 1) and arises in like manner
between the hides or skins, and follows on from pit to pit by continuous like
arrangement, after passing over the top of the hides to any number of pits or vats
required. This is new.
Each pit or vat to be of such length, breadth and depth as the tanner deems
requisite for the class of hides or skins to be tanned therein, and to have a grooved
fraine around each pit or vat as shewn by drawing No 2 marked G. F. to correspond..
with the lifting frame which is to fit into it, viz for hides as shewn suspended in
drawing No 2, to be flush with the inner parts of the pit, with a reveal outward.
and horizontal 34 inches all round, having a groove in the centre throughout .of.
an inch wide at top, and of a half circular form half an inch deep, connected with an
opening of one inch diameter at each corner to convey any surplus liquor back to,
the pit, the lifting frame would lay on this and be enclosed by an upright ledge or
sides 5 inches high to be level with the top of the lifting frame, the frame may be
of any kind of waterproof material, wood, stone or cement or non-corrusive
substance of sufficient strength to bear the working of the shifting frame, and
preserve the liquor in pit, the dimensions of both the grooves round the pits or
vats and the lifting frames would vary according to the size of pits or vats.
required for large hides or small skins, but would all be on the same principle,.
securing the same.object, the shifting frame to be of sufficient strength to hold all,

page_text: the hides or skins attached thereto by suspension (and to be lifted up in bulk by
windlass or other machinery if so required) (as shewn by drawing No 2) or may
be drawn out by hand, each skin or hide seperately without detaching from the
laths or rods. The lifting frame for heavy hides to be of sound timber, not less
than 5 inches by 3 in substance, and have a fillet on the lower inner parts of the
frame longitudinally, 1 inch thick and 1 inch deep, to receive the suspending
laths, the suspending laths to be 2 inches deep by 1 inch thick each planed level
to fit close, and form, enclosure to the pit or vat, each lath to have a metal swivel
hook attached to the under part in the centre, and one near each end of each lath
for suspension of hides in pits or vats, and a perforated hollow rod be suspended
from these hooks horizontally between each hide and the next, to allow the liquor
as free access as possible to each hide or pelt and ensure regular tanning.
I do not claim novelty of suspending hides by lath or rod, the invention is
hanging by metal swivel hooks and the perforated rods between the hides, as well
as the novel lifting frame and receiving groove, and a special addition to suspending
laths (as shewn by section X drawing No 2) for skins to allow for various classes,
having a horizontal bracket "A" attached to the under part near the ends, for
sliding hooks "B" to shift on as required, the hooks are formed with a ring to hold
and shift along a perforated hollow rod "C" over which the skin will hang during
process of tanning, so that the thickest parts are always towards the bottom of
the pit or vat, where the liquor is strongest, and the thinest part always in the
weakest liquor, to insure regularity in tanning, a stud or pin is fixed in the outside
of ring holding the suspending rod, and three small slots cut in the brisket shank
of the skin, one of which is fixed on the stud or pin to keep it from slipping, and,
allowing the position to be shifted daily, also a perforated hollow rod "D" for
keeping the lower parts of the skins regularly apart, hung just below the necks of
skins horizontally, attached to a hook at the end of hooks holding upper rods.
The suspending rods being held in rings may be altered in position as often as
desired to regulate the strain on the part of skin bearing on it, the rods being
perforated from end to end allows the liquor comparitively free access to the parts
of skin bearing on it, and frequent altering its position prevents irregularity in the
parts resting on the rods, by alternately shifting the shank on the stud or pin
from one slot to another will keep the skin in desired position till all parts are
tanned equally.
All parts of this are new, except plain laths or rods used by other modes of
attachment, I do not claim invention for use of suspending rods simply, but for
the improvements described, (all except the top lath).
'
Drawing No 3 is to show only the position of a section of the pits, the reservoir
tank and the liquor well, and the raised platform on which a travelling windlass
for lifting the frames with hides suspended thereon, would work, and carry from
pit to pit, from end to end, raising or lowering the whole at will of operator, and
carrying them forward or backward, the lifting gear omitted (except the sus-
pending frame, which with laths form a cover to the pit, which I claim as new).
I do not claim any part of this as new but the frame.
In commencing to work this system, the first sett of pits or vats would have to
be charged with liquors of graduated strength, except the last one, which should
not be more than half full, now turn off entirely your supply tap, and having your
hides all ready on your bench or tray, lay the hooked lath on top at the neck end
and slip on the hooks, and a perforated rod which may be attached by any
ordinary means a few inches below the suspending rod, and when all are ready
place them one by one in the pit, close to each other to close the top of pit, leave
them for a short time, say an hour or two, then turn on the tap which the indicator
will direct, so that it will take twenty-four hours to renew a fresh supply to this
one pit, this will flow from the next adjoining pit and be renewed by gravitation
from the reservoir into the first pit No 1, from which each pit will receive a change
of liquor until it reaches the last, the strongest liquor being the heaviest and being
delivered from the centre of the bottom of each pit very slowly, it will cause the

page_text: weaker, and lighter liquor to flow upwards, regularly, and the hides to imbibe the
requisite properties, continuously. without any intermission, the effect being com-
paritively like the air supply to a growing plant.
Some care will be required not to waste the liquors till all the pits are filled
with hides, (but as. all the pipes will be of uniformi construction one plug inserted
where the flow is wished to be stayed will bring all under control, of course the
indicating tap at source of chief supply must be turned off during such periods)
and having a fresh lot of hides ready for tanning every day, those put in to day.
must be shifted to morrow, into the next forward pit, and their place taken by the
fresh lot, and so on until all the pits are in rotation filled, by the time the first lot
reaches the first or liquor receiving pit No 1, and lay in it one day and night, they
will be finished tanning having remained a day in each pit, for convenience I should
arrange not to put in or take out on Saturdays, being short days. For sole butts
the tanner may lay them away to harden if he think proper.
When the pits are once worked round as described, one pack will come out daily,
except Saturdays, and a shift round will make room for a fresh pack to go in, the
supply of liquor being turned off while the hides are being shifted, and turned on
again as soon as the shifting is completed, and may be increased to renew, for.
twelve hours instead of twenty-four hours or for other shorter or longer time, by
so adjusting the supply cock by the indicator, the reservoir being kept supplied by
a suitable pump from the liquor well, the flow will continue by regulated gravi-
tation, and by the time it has passed through the series of pits and hides, the
strength being exhausted it will discharge itself upou the same level for disposal
as may be desired, or flow away without attention.
The combination of apparatus (which is applicable to all kinds of liquors used
for tanning bides or skins) effects a continuous application of renewed liquor almost
imperceptably to every part of all hides and skins, in the sett of pits or vats, night
and day, this acts on the hides so regularly that. no part of their gelatinous
constituents exude during tanning (which all present modes of intermittent supplies
cause) and by this continuous application half the time usually occupied by present
methods is saved, and less material required, their being no waste of either hide or
skin, the outcome is greater, and the quality superior, with much less labour, and
at great reduction of cost.
But také notice. I do not claim the principle of supply by gravitation to tan
pits or vats from an elevated reservoir by a decending pipe to near the bottom,
but I claim addition of a horizontal continuation along to centre of pit and mode
of delivery of the liquor.
I do not claim the principle of hanging hides or skins on laths, rods or poles in
pits to tan.
•
I do not claim invention of any form of reservoir, tank, pit or vat (except the
groove round either) or any cock, tap or indicator, only the combined use as
specified.
$
I do not claim the invention of any new tanning material.
Having now particularily described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st. The combination in the use of a tank into which the liquor will flow from
the reservoir through a pipe controlled by a ball cock or other instrument to keep
the liquor at a regular level in the tank, to effect unvariable pressure on the outlet
cock, valve or tap inserted in the pipe, from the tank, which is to graduate the
supply; it may be of any kind of regulating cock, valve or tap now in common
use capable of regulating a passage through it of five gallons per hour, upwards to
full flow, alterable at will, through which the whole supply will flow by gravitation
and be controlled.
2nd. The continuation of a vertical supply pipe (which is not new) by adjoining
it to and carrying it along the bottom of the pit to a circular chamber in the

page_text: centre, the circular chamber having equi distant apertures round the sides for
delivering and distributing the liquor over the bottom of the pit or vat.
3rd. The application of a grooved frame around each pit or vat as shown in
drawing No 2. marked G. F. and described in specification Page 2 on lines 9 to 18,
and which is to receive the shifting frame H. which will fit therein and be
available whether the lifting be by machinery or otherwise.
4th. A frame marked H. in drawing No 2 to fit into each pit or vat groove for
the purpose of holding all the fittings and hides suspended on them (and lifting
the whole by machinery if so desired without detaching the laths or hides) and
available for taking out the hides singly by hand without lifting the frame H,
I claim only the frame in this.
5th. The mode of attaching. the hides to the laths by swivel hooks, and pro-
vision and use of hollow perforated rods between them.
.
6th. The hanging apparatus for skins, i.e. a bracket fixed to near each end of the
suspending lath on the under part as shown in drawing No 2 section X marked A. A.
to receive sliding hooks B. B. formed with a ring in them to receive and hold a
rod C. C. with skins suspended, a stud or pin fixed on the outside of the ring to
hold the skin in one of the small slots cut in the skin, a perforated hollow rod D
to hang between the skins from a hook at the end of the sliding hooks, to keep the
skins apart.
7th. A combination of the whole apparatus as set forth, to effect the object.