An Improved Process of and Apparatus for Separating and Purifying certain Components of the Washings or Scourings of Wool, and Product obtained therefrom.
Year: 1884

page_text: An Improved Process of and Apparatus for Separating and
Purifying certain Components of the Washings or Scourings
of Wool, and Product obtained therefrom.
I ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M., and Wm. Clark of
53 Chancery Lane in the county of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of
Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "AN
IMPROVED PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND PURIFYING CERTAIN
COMPONENTS OF THE WASHINGS OR SCOURINGS OF WOOL, AND PRODUCT OBTAINED
THEREFROM and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"
The components of wool-scourings to which this invention relates are :—
1. The "heavy insoluble component" consisting chiefly in phosphates of lime
carbonate of lime, nitrogen products heavy soaps and dirt deposits, which is
valuable as a fertilizer.
"
2nd. The products in solution or "soluble component" which consists of the
cleansing solution, used to wash the wool and the soaps and soluble salts contained
in wool, and is valuable to be used again for scouring wool.
3rd. The "lighter insoluble component" being mainly emulsive grease held in
suspension, which is valuable when refined for lubricating wool &c.
Heretofore the greasy component of wool scourings has been separated but
imperfectly, from the bulk of the scourings by the application of chemicals,
and the slow action of the process employed has tended to make the product
expensive.
The object of this invention is to separate and purify the said components
of wool scouring liquor and thus obtain useful, valuable and cheap articles of
commerce.
To carry the invention into effect I conduct the liquid scourings of wool into
a basin having a tight bottom and a tight peripheral wall, the top of which is
partially covered with a flange tighly joined to and extending inwardly upon the
peripheral wall, the remaining part of the top being open. In this flange are

page_text: openings through which the "soluble component" passes out of the basin. The
openings are at such a distance from the peripheral wall as to enable the "soluble
, component' to pass through the same without passing through the
insoluble component."
"
The basin is suitably balanced and connected so that it may be revolved
vertical axis at a high speed.
heavy
upon
its
When the basin is revolving rapidly upon its vertical axis the said components
will separate and be purified taking positions with reference to the inner side of
the peripheral wall in the order have hereinbefore specified them.
The greater the speed at which the basin is revolved the more perfectly will the
said components separate and the purer will the said separated components be.
The division of said components will be distinct and similar to what is indicated
in the drawing.
In the drawing A is a reservoir for the wool scouring liquor, from which
by the pipe B the liquor is conducted to the basin C constructed as I have
described.
When the liquor is subjected to the said process its components will separate
and form with reference to the peripheral wall D in the order set forth,, and
similarly to what is indicated in the drawing where:
1 represents the "heavy insoluble component."
2 represents the "soluble component."
3 represents the "lighter insoluble component."
J
By the introduction through the open space in the top of the basin of a trumpet
shaped skimming pipe E, the mouth of which is near a circular rim G with which
the flange F of the basin is provided, the "lighter insoluble component" is removed
in a continuous stream while the basin is in motion.
The "soluble component" will at the same time continually pass off through
the suitable openings in the flange F as shown at X into properly constructed
passages.
These openings X are as shown at such a distance from the peripheral wall D
as to enable the "soluble component" to pass off through the same without passing
through the "heavy insoluble component." The combined area of these openings
or the area of one opening which could be used in place of more than one must be
smaller than the area of the conducting pipe B.
The "heavy insoluble component" being very small when compared with the
other components in a given quantity of liquor, will accumulate very slowly on
the peripheral wall between the openings X and said wall.
When the same is formed upon the peripheral wall to a depth extending to
or near, said openings X the supply to the basin should be cut off and the greasy
component and the "soluble component" entirely removed from the basin.
The "heavy insoluble component" can then be scraped out of the basin.
By the method above described the said three components are recovered and
separated from wool scouring liquor by a continuous process except when
interruptions are necessary in order that the deposit upon the peripheral wall
may be removed and by the said method the same three or entire thereof, valuable
articles of commerce may be recovered from wool-scourings in such perfection
that there will be little or no waste, and they will be in commercial condition.
The "soluble component" thus produced is a new product having among other
distinguishing characteristics the presence of soluble salts contained in wool. It
can be used for scouring wool in the usual way, with better results than those
obtained by the wool scouring baths in common use and can after each use be
recovered by the method described above, and used again repeatedly for this
purpose. Each time however, it is so used after being recovered it becomes
stronger, principally by taking up the soluble salts contained in the wool. If
it is too strong it should be diluted with water until the required strength is
obtained.

page_text: I do not limit myself to the precise form of mechanism shown and described
as it may be varied and yet carry out my Invention.
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 method herein described of separating and purifying the "heavy
insoluble component," the "soluble component," and the lighter "insoluble
component," of wool scourings by conducting the latter into a revolving basin
having a tight bottom, a tight peripheral wall and a flange tightly joined to and
extending from said wall and partially covering said basin, said flange having an
opening or openings, the soluble component passing out of the basin through said
opening or openings without passing through the "heavy insoluble component
and the "lighter insoluble component" passing out of the basin each while the
basin is revolving, substantially as described.
-
"
2nd. The herein described "soluble component" for scouring wool obtained by
the method substantially as described.
3rd. The construction and arrangement of a revolving basin for separating and
purifying the three herein described components of wool scourings into which the
latter are conducted, said basin having a tight bottom, a tight peripheral wall, and
a flange tightly joined to and extending from said wall and partially covering said
basin, said flange having an. opening or openings at such a distance from said wall
that the "soluble component" may pass out from said basin through the opening
or openings while the basin is revolving without passing through the heavy
"insoluble component," substantially as described.