IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TANNING HIDES AND SKINS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, AMBROSE MYALL of 21 Cockspur Street, London, S.W. in the county of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TANNING HIDES AND SKINS OF EVERY
DESCRIPTION, (which invention has been communicated to me from abroad by
François Chailly of Paris in the. Republic of France) to be as follows:-
The accompanying drawing shews the apparatus in vertical section and side
elevation Fig 1. and in plan Fig 2.
A vertical shaft V is arranged in the middle of a large tank E, carrying two
horizontal arms H. H which form the axles for two large cylinders T. T. rolling on
a circular rim O, arranged on the bottom of the tank E.
The vertical shaft carries on the top a worm-wheel F in gear with a worm G.
The pulleys g on the shaft of worm G (Fig 2) transmit the motion in the ordinary
way,
The cylinders TT are made of wood or of copper, and are provided with many
perforations to allow the tan-liquor to pass easily through, so that it soaks well into
the skins, which are introduced into the cylinder by a door P. The interior of the
cylinders is studded with plugs, to prevent the hides from sliding when the cylinders
revolve, they are therefore thrown over and over and thoroughly rummaged.
Under the tank E a certain number of smaller tanks R. R. R. are placed at
different heights, each one being always lower than the preceding one, and they are
connected with each other by pipes r. r. placed near the bottoms of the tanks. The
tan-liquor flows periodically or continuously from tank E into the highest of
the series of smaller tanks R, through a pipe O¹, which may be provided with a stop
cock. From thence it circulates slowly through the whole series of tanks, depositing
all impurities and matters in suspension in the liquor. From the lowest tank, where
as much tannin is added, as the liquor has lost during the operation, the liquor is.
lifted into tank E by the action of a centrifugal pump I.

page_text: The settling down of the tan-liquor forms a main feature of this invention or
process of quick tanning, as thereby the pores of the hides are prevented from being
obstructed.
In this process the pores remain open and clean, and the liquor can accordingly
enter more freely.
By this process sheepskins can be tanned in 3 hours, calfskins in 12 hours, and
cow-hides in 50 hours.
Dated this tweleth day of February 1884
"
Fig. 1, shows the apparatus in vertical section and side elevation.
Fig. 2, is a plan, one half-being uncovered, to shew the internal construction.
Fig. 3, is a vertical section shewing a modified form of the apparatus.
Figs. 4 and 5 are plans of other modifications.
A vertical shaft B is supported in the middle of a large tank A, carrying. two
horizontal arms C, C, which form the axles for the large cylinders D, D, rolling on
a circular rim or path E, provided on the bottom of the tank A. This rim E, when
supporting the cylinders D, D, and carrying part of their weight, causes the
cylinders to rotate, when the shaft B is made to revolve; but in order to ensure the
rotation of the cylinders, I prefer to provide the rim E, with vertical pins or teeth,
to gear with the horizontal pins or teeth on two smaller rims F, fixed on the outer
ends of the cylinders D, D.
The vertical shaft B carries on the top a bevel wheel G, in gear with a pinion H.
The pulleys P, P, on the shaft of pinion H Figs. 1 and 2, transfer the motion in the
ordinary way. It is obvious that I can, if desired, make use of a worm,
and worm
wheel, in place of pinion H, and bevel wheel G.
The cylinders D, D, are made of wood, copper, or any other suitable material, and
are provided with numerous perforations to allow the tan liquor to pass easily
through, so that it soaks freely and well into the skins, which are thrown in through

page_text: a door I. The interior of the cylinder is lined with plugs or knobs, as shewn, to
prevent the hides from sliding in the revolving cylinders. They are therefore
thrown over and over and thoroughly agitated or kept in constant motion.
Under the tank A, a certain number of smaller tanks K, are placed in echelon,
and they are connected with each other by pipes L; L, placed near the bottoms of
the tanks. The tan liquor flows periodically or continuously from tank A into the
highest of the smaller tanks K, through the pipe M, which may be provided with a
stop cock. From thence it circulates slowly through the whole number of tanks,
allowing all impurities and particles in suspension in the liquor, to settle down.
From the lowest tank, where as much tannin is added as the liquor has lost during
the operation, the liquor is lifted into tank A by the action of a centrifugal
pump N.
Filtering bottoms, are also provided in the tanks K, either making use of
perforated plates, placed near the bottom, and covered with gravel or wire-gauze, or
of vertical partitions with large or small openings, covered with wire-gauze. Thus
the tan liquor is not only allowed to settle down, but is also filtered.
The settling down of the tan liquor and its fitration, forms a main feature of
this invention or process of quick tanning, as hereby the pores of the hides are
prevented from being obstructed.
In this process the pores remain open and clean, the liquor can accordingly enter
more freely, and sheepskins can be tanned in three hours, calfskins in twelve hours,
and cowhides in fifty hours.
Fig. 3, shews, in vertical section, a modification of the apparatus.
The two cylinders D, D, as above described, with their axles C, C, are carried by
a shaft B, passing through a stuffing box in the bottom of tank A, or brick work
cistern. Motion is imparted to the shaft B, by the pulleys P, P, and bevel
wheels, H, G. The cylinders D, D, are provided on their inner ends, with two bevel
pinions F, F, made of bronze, in gear with a fixed bevel wheel E, also made of
bronze, so that the said cylinders rotate on their axles, as soon as the shaft B is set
in motion, just the same way as when using the wooden rims E, F, with horizontal
and vertical pins or teeth, as described with reference to figs. 1, and 2.
Fig. 4 shews an arrangement, according to which the axles C, C, do not traverse
the cylinders.
In place of these axles, strong frames C, C, are employed, bent around the
cylinders, and receiving in suitable bearings, the trunnions, fixed to the ends of the
cylinders D, D.
Fig. 5, shows one single cylinder D of larger size, placed to revolve in a cistern A,
of brickwork wood or any suitable material. One of the trunnions passes through
the wall of cistern A, and carries a cog-wheel or pulley G, by means of which
motion may be imparted to the apparatus as before.
In the drawings the vertical shaft B is represented carrying two cylinders D, D,
only, but it is obvious, that in a respectively larger tank, three, four, six and more
cylinders D, may be arranged.
Having now particularly 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,
1. The hereinbefore described apparatus, composed of a tank A, wherein are two
or more perforated revolving cylinders D, D, for containing the hides, in combination
with the tanks K, K, provided with perforated filtering bottoms, for the purpose of
cleaning the tan liquor, and of facilitating the infiltration in the hides, substantially
as described and shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
2. In an apparatus for tanning hides, the combination of perforated and revolving
cylinders, into which the hides or skins are admitted, and wherein they are kept in
motion, with a tank for the tanning liquor, and suitable mechanism for revolving
the cylinders, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In an apparatus for tanning, the combination of the tank A with the vertical
shaft B, having horizontal arms C, C, provided with the perforated and revolving

page_text: cylinders D, adapted to contain the hides or skins, substantially as described and
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
4. The combination of the tank A, having on its bottom the smooth circular rim
or path E, with the horizontal revolving and perforated cylinders D, substantially
as described and shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
5. The combination of the tank A, having on its bottom the rim E provided with
vertical pins or teeth, with the horizontal revolving cylinders D, provided with
rims F, and horizontal pins or teeth, in gear with rim E, substantially as described
and shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
J.
6. The combination of the tank A, having on its bottom the fixed wheel E, with
the horizontal revolving cylinders D, provided with pinions F in gear with the
wheel E, substantially as described and shewn in Fig. 3.
7. The combination with the liquor tank of a tanning apparatus, of a revolving
and perforated cylinder, to contain the hides or skins, the. said, cylinder, being
provided with a door, and with perforations and internal knobs, or projections, to
prevent the hides from sliding about, substantially as described and shewn,
8. In an apparatus for tanning, the combination of the tank A, with the vertical
shaft B, carrying strong frames C, C, provided with the perforated and revolving
cylinders D, adapted to contain the hides or skins, substantially as described and
shewn in Fig. 4.
9. The combination of the tank A, with one horizontal revolving cylinder D, the
trunnion of which is passed through the wall of the tank, to receive a pulley or
wheel, substantially as described and shewn in Fig. 5.
.
Dated this twelvth day of November 1884.
2