Improvements in Process and Apparatus for Treating Raw Wool and similar Animal Fibres with Solvents.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Process and Apparatus for Treating Raw Wool
and similar Animal Fibres with Solvents.
I, EMILE MAERTENS, of Narragansett Hotel, in the City and County of
Providence, and State of Rhode Island, United States of America, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in process and apparatus for treating raw
wool and similar animal fibres, with solvents.
I have invented and produced a new process and apparatus for treating raw wool
and similar animal fibres with naphtha, benzine or similar products from petroleum,
bi-sulphide of carbon, ether or similar fat solvents for the purpose of freeing wool
and similar animal fibres from fatty, waxy, resinous and other matter or impurities
which are soluble in such solvents, without having to subject said fibres to the
destructive action of hot soap or alkaline solutions, in order to put them in workable
condition.
I am aware that the treatment of raw wool with fat solvents is not new and that
several unsuccessful attempts have been made to do this work on a commercial
scale. The object I have in view is to leave the wool in the best workable
condition and without injury to the fibre; to do the work quickly, thoroughly,
cheaply and safely, to operate upon large quantities and to obtain the by-products
of this treatment in the best possible condition so as to make the cleansing of animal
fibres a source of profit instead of an expense.
My invention consists in the novel process for cleansing wool or other animal
fibres; it also consists in the new and improved apparatus employed for cleansing
said fibres and embodying the process referred to, all as will be more fully herein-
after set forth and claimed.
Some of the characteristic features of my invention are as follows:
The several digesters and tanks in the system independently inter-communicate;
the solvent employed is moved by a compressed gas which is used over and over
again, and which by preference is an inert gas, or a gas which does not form an
explosive mixture with the vapors of the solvent employed; the first impregnation
of the fibres with the solvent is by preference made in vacuo and the
process then
continued at atmospheric or higher pressure. As the whole process is carried on
under seal and in an atmosphere of gas which is used over and over again, not only
is there no loss of solvent, but at the same time the operation is made both safe and
healthy.
The fibres are dried by heat and vacuum, or by heated air drawn through them.
The solvent is reused several times because I have discovered that a solvent
partially saturated with wool-fat is a better solvent for the resinous, waxy and
glutinous impurities contained in animal fibres than a pure solvent, and thus at the
same time the cost of redistillation is minimized; but notwithstanding this the
sundry solvent baths used are so applied that each preceding bath is followed by a
less saturated bath and the fibres are finally rinsed with pure solvent so as to
insure the complete removal of any adhering fatty or resinous impurities. The
solvent adhering to the fibres is distilled off in vacuo by means of heat, steam, hot
air or gas or a combination of two or more of said mediums, thus insuring its
removal at a comparatively low temperature and the last traces of odor of the

page_text: solvent are removed by drawing air or air and steam through the fibres. All this
work is accomplished without disturbing the fibres under treatment from the time
they are put into the digester until they are ready for the final rinsing with water
to free them from such impurities as are insoluble in the solvent used to remove
their fatty and resinous impurities.
The exact number of the steps used in the freeing of animal fibres from their
fatty and resinous impurities according to the present invention may vary some-
what, with respect to the nature and condition of the materials to be operated upon,
but they are generally and by preference as follows:
The fibres are enclosed in a series of digesters (say 4 more or less) and may be
dried whenever found necessary, by drawing warm air through them until the mass
of fibres operated upon is warmed up sufficiently to insure the vaporization of the
moisture, which they still contain, under the influence of a vacuum, which is then
applied.
The fibres having thus been freed from moisture, as indicated, are now in vacuo,
and when the pump producing the vacuum has been stopped, the first digester of
the series is put into communication at its top, with a reservoir containing solvent,
which latter is partially saturated with wool-fat extracted from fibres in previous
operations and filled therefrom. Communication is next established between the
bottom of the first digester and the top of the second one and by the influence of
the vacuum existing in the second digester and of compressed gas applied at the
top of the first digester, the solvent is driven out of said first digester and pressed
and blown, in liquid form, out of the fibres which it contains over and into the
second digester.
The top of the first digester is now put into communication with a reservoir
containing solvent which has been used in previous operations, but which is less
saturated than the first used, and by the application of compressed gas inside of the
reservoir containing said solvent, it is driven to the top of said first digester. The
bottom of digester No. 2 being now put in communication with the top of digester
No. 3, the vacuum in the latter and the compressed gas contained in digester No. 1,
and which is forced out into digester No. 2, by the new incoming solvent just
mentioned, forces the first solvent used out of digester No. 2 into digester No. 3, in
the same manner that it was driven from digester No. 1 into digester No. 2.
The operation just described is continued until each of a series of solvents, all of
the same nature, but each succeeding one of a lesser degree of saturation than the
preceding one, and finally pure solvent, have been driven from one digester into
another and through the whole series of digesters, in the manner indicated and by
alternate applications of solvent and compressed gas at the top of the digesters and
until each lot of solvent has reached its destination back into the sundry storage
tanks provided for solvents of different degree of saturation.
As fast as any one of the digesters has had its last charge of solvent emptied
into its neighbor or into the storage tank provided for it, it is put into communication
at its bottom, with the solvent tank containing the solvent with the least degree of
saturation (except pure solvent) and by the application of compressed gas to the
top of said digester, the solvent with which the fibres are still soaking is nearly all
pressed out and driven out of said fibres, in liquid form, into the storage tank
mentioned.
The communication between the storage tank and the digester having been cut
off at the conclusion of the last operation and as the fibres contained in the
digesters have still some solvent adhering to them, it is put into communication, at
its top, with the storage tank for pure solvent, but through the intermediary of a
vacuum pump and a condenser. Steam is now applied to a heater contained in the
bottom of the digester, and either by trickling down upon the latter, or by radiation
of beat, some of the solvent is immediately volatilized and by the action of the
vacuum pump these vapors are drawn upward through the mass of fibres and cause
the volatilization of more solvent, and by the aid of said vacuum pump the
distillation of the residuary solvent adhering to the fibres is carried on at a rapid

page_text: rate and at a low temperature, and through the mearum
delivered into the storage tank without any appreciable loss.
CUBE
In lieu of relying upon heat and vacuum alone for removing the residual solvent
from the fibres, steam, heated air or gas or a combination of these mediums may
be drawn through them and the vaporization, volatilization or distillation of the
solvent accelerated thereby. The water produced by the condensation of the steam
used and which mixes with the solvent in the condenser is separated from the latter
in settling tanks provided for the purpose but not shown in the accompanying
drawings. When air or gas is used, in the removal of the residual solvent, it is
drawn from a holder and returned to said holder after passing through the
condenser, to be re-used, and any solvent vapors which have not been removed
upon cooling are thus saved and serve to saturate the air or gas with solvent
vapors so that no more need be taken up by it when reused in future operations. ⚫
When the distillation of the solvent is completed (which is indicated by a vacuum
gauge), and, further, as it is difficult to obtain solvent free from odorous impurities,
which do not pass over at the temperature used in the operation just described, a
current of air or of air and steam mixed is drawn through the fibres contained in
the digester and they are thus deodorized.
The fibres being now freed from their fatty and resinous impurities are next
removed from the digester to be further cleansed with water, prior to their
utilization in the regular processes of manufacturing.
In order to clearly illustrate my invention I have prepared the accompanying
three sheets of skeleton or outline drawings, which combined represent a single side
elevation or view of the complete apparatus used for carrying out the process
herein described. Or in other words, Figure 1 shows the left section of the
apparatus, Figure 2 the middle section, and Figure 3 the right section, all
combined forming one view, as above stated, and Figure 4 is a side view in
partial section, showing the construction of the lower portion of the several
digesters.
Again referring to the drawings, A¹, A², A³, Aª, Figure 2, indicate the four
closed digesters in which the wool or fibrous material is confined while being
subjected to the several treating operations forming the subject of my present
invention.
B, B', etc., to B, inclusive, Figures 2 and 3, indicate a series of six storage tanks
for solvents, arranged to communicate with said digesters.
F, Figure 3, indicates the overflow-tank communicating with the digesters and
storage tanks; the gas discharged from the digesters and tanks of the system also
passes into tank F, and from the latter to the trap tank M on its way to the holder Z.
The tauk F also receives the drip from all the mains.
E, Figure 1, indicates a grease tank for containing the grease extracted from the
saturated solvents.
H indicates a still into which the saturated solvents are rectified or distilled.
1, Figure 1, is a settling-tank into which the saturated solvents are allowed to
settle before being run into the still H.
L, Figure 1, is a condenser used for condensing the vapors of solvents generated
in the still H and digesters A¹ to A*.
G, Figures 1 and 2, indicates a storage tank for compressed gas.
W1, Figure 2, is a heater adapted for the heating of air or gas for use in the
digesters.
>
W, W2, indicates a gas generating apparatus adapted to generate any gas or acid
vapor for use in the digesters, or for storage in the holder Z.
K, Figure 1, is a filter used for separating saturated solvent from the settlings
which accumulate in the tank I.
M, Figure 3, is a trap tank through which the gas from the several digesters and
tanks escapes through a water-seal to the holder Z.
M', Figure 1, is a tank adapted for the condensation of acid vapors after use in
the digesters.

page_text: C is a gas compressor.
D, D', Figure 1, are pumps used for creating a vacuum or for aspirating air,
gases or vapors through and from the digesters.
Z is a gas holder capable of vertical motion in the tank Z', which is filled with
water.
Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that each of the digesters forms a
receptacle for containing the fibres to be cleansed, and is composed of a cylindrical
shell having a bottom head a, a top head a' with an upwardly extending hollow
neck a², a cover a³, and upper and lower doors b, b; each digester is also provided
with a perforated false bottom c, (see Figure 4 which more clearly shows the
following parts) under which is placed a heater as having a water and steam inlet
at and a water and steam outlet at c. The bottom head has a central discharge
nozzle cand a live steam inlet c³.
The neck a² of the digester head has four nozzles, ris. A nozzle d connected
with the dry vacuum main 6 by valved branch e; a nozzle d' connected with the
wet vacuum main 7 by a valved branch e; a nozzle connected with the
compressed air or gas main 9 by valved branch e², and a nozzle d³ connected with
the air or gas outlet main 8 by a valved branch e³. In addition to these, the top
digester head connects at through corresponding upright valved pipe with the
filling main 1 and at f' through a valved branch, with the supplementary upper
main 2, which arrangement permits the solvent to be forced from the bottom of any
of the digesters to the top of any of the others.
The dry vacuum main 6 is connected with the vacuum pump D and is also
connected with each digester by a corresponding branch pipe e in each of which is
located a valve v. The wet vacuum main 7 is connected indirectly with the vacuum
pump D and is also connected with each digester by a corresponding branch pipe e¹
in each of which is located a valve v¹.
The compressed air or gas main 9 connects with the compressor C. Said main
connects with each digester by a corresponding branch pipe e² in each of which is
located a valve v³.
The discharge or air or gas outlet main 8, which is also called the overflow main,
is connected with each digester by a branch pipe e³ in each of which is located
a valve vt.
In Figure 2 are represented vertical branch pipes f leading from the filling
main 1, these are used for carrying the solvent to the corresponding inlet f of any
individual digester from any of the storage tanks, the same being effected by
simply manipulating any of the valves k, k', according to the digester that is to be
filled and the storage tank from which the solvent is to be taken.
The inlets 4 to the storage tanks communicate each with the drain main 4
through a valve ; the drain in turn communicating with each of the bottom
outlets of the digesters through valves . Each of the inlets 11 to the storage
tanks communicate with the compressed air or gas main 9 through a valve s, and
the outlets 12 from the storage tanks communicate with the overflow or air or gas
outlet main 8 through the valves s¹. Said main 8 is also intended to take care of
the drains from the sundry mains and of any overflow which may occur from any of
the sundry tanks or digesters.
The overflow - tank F communicates at its bottom through a valved
connection 10 with a main 10, through which latter all the storage tanks inter-
communicate. The storage tanks are provided with bottom outlets 1" and valved
connections 10 and through which piping, etc., these tanks are originally filled
with solvent from tank cars outside of the building. At the top of the overflow
tank F the air or gas outlet or overflow main 8 enters; the air or gas outlet from
said tank being through the valved pipe 8, the latter extending to and entering
the trap tank M. The said overflow tank F communicates with the compressed
air or gas main 9 through a riser 92. The valve 3 on riser 8 shuts off the overflow
tank from the whole system whenever compressed air or gas is introduced into said
tank for the purpose of removing its contents to one of the storage tanks, in which

page_text: case the valve 10 on riser 8" is also closed and the by-pass valve xx on the branch
connecting risers 8 and 8ª is opened thus relieving the system by direct
communication with the trap-tank M.
The grease-tank E connects with the wet vacuum main 7 through its valve band
with the compressed air or gas main 9 through valve 6. Atmospheric air or steam
is admitted at i, and through valve r the grease-tank communicates with the bottom
of the still H through piping 15.
In Figure 2 are shown pipes c, each connecting the corresponding bottom
digester head with the drain main 4 through a valve and also connecting with
the supplementary lower main 3 through valves and . The main drain 4
communicates with the inlets 4" to the storage tanks through the several valves vº.
The compressed air or gas inlets 11 to the several storage tanks are through the
valves 8,
and the air or gas outlets 12 from the tanks are through valves s¹.
Branches from main 4 are shown entering the storage tanks at 4°. The outlet
from the condenser L is through valve and piping 14, the latter communicating
with the sundry storage tanks through the corresponding valves v10.
The still H, Figure 1, is fed from the settling tank I through the series of
valves, piping 18 and valve ; the vapor outlets from the still are at 13ª,
and the grease outlet from said still is through valve and piping 15. The
valve on upright pipe 20, admits solvent from the storage tanks via pipe 1
into the top of the settling tank I. Valve 7 communicates with the bottom of
the settling tank and through the piping 21 with the top of filter K, the latter
communicating at its bottom with the storage tanks through valved pipe 10.
The gas generator W, W2, Figure 2, communicates with the atmosphere outside of
the building through valve 8 and piping 16: it also communicates with the
heater W through valves and branch piping 16, and through the piping 16°
with the bottom of the several digesters through the main 16.
In Figure 1 is shown the manner of connecting the vaporized solvent main 13
to the condenser L; the main enters the condenser through the valve; it runs
from the discharge end of the vacuum pump D, and connects therewith through the
pipe 13 and carries to the condenser the vaporized solvent which is drawn from
the digesters or still by said pump through the main 6. The vaporized solvent
from the still H can go to the condenser direct by opening valve 10 and closing
valve, or it can go through the pump D by opening valve 11 and closing
valve 10. The solvent leaves the settling tank 1, through valves and enters the
still H through piping 18 and valver; compressed air or gas being admitted to said
tank through valve w¹, and the air or gas outlet from said tank being through
valve w².
The compressed air or gas tank G, Figure 1, is filled by the compressor C through
the main 9 and valve a. The digesters communicate with the dry vacuum main 6
through the four valves r, Figure 2, and with the wet vacuum main 7 through the
four valves v', as before stated. The compressed air or gas inlet to the digesters
is through the valves 3 via main 9, 9ª, and the air or gas outlet from the digesters
is through the valves . The digesters are filled from the storage tanks through
the piping which communicates with the filling main 1 and enters the upper digester
head at through piping f and interposed valves k. The digesters inter-
communicate through the supplementary mains 3 and 2 through the valves, v
and 8 and upright pipe 2". An air or gas communication between the digesters is
established through valves ².
The trap tank M, Figure 3, is simply a tank adapted to be partially filled with
water into which dips a branch 8" of the outlet main leading from the overflow
tank F. By this arrangement it will be seen that the air or gas which escapes
through the pipe 8", has to pass through water before it escapes into the atmosphere
at 8, or into the holder Z via piping 8d. The water in this tank M forms a seal
between the gas in the other tanks and pipes in the system and the atmosphere and
the gas holder. The gas condensing tank M', which is shown in Figure 1, is
nothing but au air-tight tank into which the wet vacuum main 7 enters at at, and

page_text: from which it emerges on its way to the vacuum pump D¹ at a². A spray of water
is admitted to the top of this tank at 7, and a pipe 7b leads down from it at 7" into
a well filled with water which serves to seal said pipe; the overflow from the
well passes into a drain ¹ connected with a sewer.
Valves admit compressed air or gas to the several storage tanks from the 5
main 9 and valves s let out the air or gas from said tanks into the overflow main 8,
which communicates with the overflow tank F. A valve a, Figure 1, is interposed
in the vacuum pump outlet pipe 13b for the purpose of shutting off communication
between this pump and condenser L.
In Figure 2 is shown the gas generator W, W2. The gas passes from this 1
generator into the heater W₁ through piping 16", 16" by opening valves *.
From the heater it passes into main 16 and from there into the bottom of the
digesters by opening the corresponding inlet valves a³. If heated air is wanted
in the digesters instead of gas, the valve is closed and the valve opened, and
if cold air is wanted for circulation through the digesters the inlet valves are 1
opened.
The piping 16 discharges into the atmosphere at 16, but through the by-pass 16"
on pipe 8, by first shutting valve 16 and opening valve 16'; it can be used as a
means for drawing gas from the holder Z through the heater W' through the
digesters and into the pump D, whence it returns to the holder Z, via piping 6,
valve 6, branch pipe 8, main 8, tanks F and M and piping 8ª.
The piping 16 conveys gas from the generator W, W to the holder, piping 16
conveys it to the compressor C, and piping 16" and valved branches 16 are used
to draw off into the storage tanks B to B any condensed solvent which may have
accumulated on top of the water in the tank Z¹.
All the tanks, digesters, still, etc., are provided with thermometers, gauge
glasses, pressure and vacuum gauges, but these details are not shown in the
drawings.
The following is a description of the operation of the apparatus, and for the
sake of illustration it is assumed that all the digesters, A', A³, A³, A* are to be
filled with raw wool and that the plant has been previously operated and is in
condition for restarting.
The wool is introduced into the digesters through the necks a² of said digesters,
after the covers a have been removed. When the digesters are sufficiently loaded
or charged the covers are replaced and screwed down.
I would state here that the valves located in inlet pipes 11 leading to the solvent
tanks are indicated by s, the corresponding outlet valves s being located in the
outlet pipes 12. Each of the digesters, A' to A' are provided with valves k, v, v',
³, 11, 6, 7, 8, x², x², c², c³, c³ and also connections through which the digesters are
adapted to intercommunicate and through which they are connected with the
tanks, mains, &c. Thus it will be seen that each digester has its respective
series of valves. In the following description where specific reference is made to
any of said valves with respect to any one of the digesters A1, A2, A3, A4, it is to
be understood that the valve indicated is the one located contiguous to the digester
specified.
The several valves v are now opened thus putting all the digesters into direct
communication with the wet vacuum main 7 and the vacuum pump D', which
latter is now put in motion. At the same time the valves and 2 and the four
valves are opened, and the air which now rushes in at valve 8 is heated in W
and then passes into the main 16 and downwardly through the branches 16° and
valves into main 3 and enters the digesters through the lower inlets c, see
Fig. 2. The air is drawn or sucked upwardly through the wool by means of
pump D', thereby both heating the wool and carrying off part of the moisture
which the latter contains. Instead of using the heater W' to heat the air which is
drawn through the wool, the bottom heaters a' (Figure 4), located inside of the
digesters can be used for the purpose, or they can be used jointly.
When the wool has been sufficiently warmed up the air valves are closed, but

page_text: the vacuum pump D' is kept running, which action soon produces a partial vacuum
in the digesters and under its influence, and the heat retained by the wool, the
remainder of the moisture which the latter contains distills off and the fibres are
left in a dry condition and in vacuo without having been disturbed in the least or
subjected to any excessive or injurious heat. I may state that although it is not
absolutely necessary to dry the fibres before treating them with solvent, and
although this is not generally done in practice, still under certain conditions better
results may be obtained by doing so.
The vacuum pump is now stopped, the valves a still being closed, valves v¹ are
also closed while valve kon pipe f entering the top head of digester A' at fis
opened, and also opening valve k which communicates with the corresponding
outlet of storage tank B which latter contains solvent which has been previously
used four times; after closing the corresponding outlet valve s' on top of tank B
the corresponding inlet valves which conveys compressed air or gas drawn from
the holder Z to said tank via branch pipe 11 is opened and the solvent in the said
tank B is forced into the main 1 and from the latter into the digester top which it
enters at f, as before stated. When the digester is full, which is indicated by a
gauge glass, the previously open valves k, k¹ s, are closed and valve s¹ opened,
the latter letting the compressed air or gas flow from tank B' into the main 8 and
from said main into the overflow tank F, thence into the trap tank M and through
it and piping 8 to the holder Z outside of the building.
The valve v, nearest digester A¹ on the supplementary lower main 3, is now
opened and also the valve a¹ located in a branch leading from the supplementary
upper main 2 into the upper head of digester A2, thereby putting the bottom of
digester A into communication with the top of digester A² at f' through a
riser 2 which connects said mains 3 and 2. The valve at or near the top
of digester A' is next opened and compressed air or gas from the main 9 admitted
to said digester. The solvent is then forced out through the bottom of digester A¹
into the top of digester A' by compressed air or gas, the latter then filling
digester A', while digester A2 now in turn contains the solvent which came from
storage tank B* via digester A¹.
The said previously open valves v' and are next closed, thereby cutting off
communication between the bottom of digester A' and top of digester A²; the
valve is again opened and the compressed air or gas valve vs closed. The valve a²
between the tops of digester A¹ and A' is then opened thus putting the top of
digester A' in direct communication with the top of digester A². The valve at
the bottom of digester A2 being now opened and also valve al at top of digester A³
the two latter digesters will thereby be placed in communication with each other,
and if now valve k¹ which lets the solvent from tank B³ (which solvent has been
used three times previously) into main 1 is opened and outlet valve s' on top of said
tank closed and the corresponding compressed air or gas inlet valve s opened, the
solvent from tank B³ will thereby be driven into the top of digester A' and the
compressed air or gas which it contains will be driven into the top of digester A²,
and the solvent which digester A² previously contained will be driven out at
the bottom of the latter into the top of digester A³ which in turn uow holds the
solvent first taken from the tank or reservoir B', while at the same time digester A'
contains compressed air or gas and digester A' the solvent taken from tank B³. As
soon as digester A' is full, valves k¹ and s are closed and the air or gas in tank B³
is allowed to escape through its valve s¹, etc., to the holder z as before described.
Valves k, (digester A¹), v' (digester A"), and a¹ (digester A³), are now closed
and valves (digester A³), (digester A), v³, v (digester A¹), r', and
(digester A³), are opened. The solvent which originally came from tank B³ is now
driven by the compressed air or gas, let in at v³, from digester A' into digester A*
through said valves v' and '; the compressed air or gas which was contained in
digester A is in turn driven into digester A³ through said valve x², and the solvent
in digester A which originally came from tank B is in turn driven into the last
digester A through said opened valves v³ and x².

page_text: We now have compressed air or gas in digester A', the solvent from tank B' in
digester A2, compressed air or gas in digester A³, and the solvent which first came
from tank B and then passed successively through digesters A¹, A² and A³, is now
in digester A. The said last opened valves (v', ', v³, v, x², and 2) are next closed
and the valves k, a (digester A'), 7 (digester A²), ', .2 (digester A³), v (digester A¹),
and (communicating with tank B') are opened, after the valves leading from
tank B has been closed, and the corresponding inlet valve s to said tank and outlet
valve from the said tank have been opened. The compressed air or gas admitted
to tank B2 through its valve s drives the solvent (which has been used twice before)
into the main 1 through said open valve k³, and through corresponding valve k into
the top of digester A. The air or gas previously contained in digester A' then
passes into digester A through the connecting valve a2 and drives out the solvent
which originally came from tank B³ into digester A³ through the corresponding
said open valves and a', and the compressed air or gas which was contained in
digester A escapes into digester A through the adjacent valve ², thereby driving
out into the storage tank B³ (for saturated solvent) through valve v main 4 and
corresponding inlet valve v, the solvent which originally came from tank B¹.
Digester A. now contains solvent which has been used twice and which was stored
in tank B2; digester A2 contains compressed air or gas; digester A³ contains the
solvent which has been used three times and was stored in tank B³, and digester A*
contains nothing but the wool and air or gas at or near atmospheric pressure; for
the compressed air or gas which went from digester A³ into digester A followed
the solvent into tank B³ through valves and 25 and escaped from said tank
through valve s¹, etc., into the holder Z.
Now valves s and ¹, communicating with tank B³, having been closed and outlet
valve opened as soon as digester A¹ had been filled with solvent from said
tank B2, the said open valves k, a² (digester A¹), 7 (digester A²), x², x² (digester A³),
(digester A), and (communicating with tank B') are closed and valves v³, v7
(digester A), ¹² (digester A²), 7 (digester A³), a¹, v4 (digester A*), are opened.
By this action the solvent from digester A' which originally came from tank B2 is
driven by the compressed air or gas entering through valve v3 (digester A¹) into the
top of digester A through said open valves v' and ', last referred to.
pressed air or gas which this digester A² contains is now driven into the top of
digester A3 through valve 2 (digester A²) and the solvent which digester A³
contains and which originally came from tank B is driven into digester A4 through
the adjacent valves and a. The air or gas contained in the last digester A* at
the same time making its escape through valve (digester A') into the overflow
or air or gas outlet main 8 communicating with tank F and trap tank M and
holder Z.
2.8
The com-
Digester A¹ now contains compressed air or gas; digester A² the solvent which
came from tank B: digester A compressed air or gas, and digester A* the solvent
which came from tank B³. The first valve having been closed as soon as
digester A¹ was empty, the said open valves (digester A¹), r¹, r² (digester A²),
(digester A³), c, (digester A³), are now again closed and valves s (leading to
tank B), k, (digester A¹), 7 (digester A²), 1, (digester A³), 7 (digester A¹),
v, s (leading to and from tank B*) are opened. When thus adjusted the solvent
contained in tank B¹ and which has been used once before, is now driven by the
compressed air or gas let into the tank at s into the main 1 through the correspond-
ing valve and through the adjacent valve into the top of digester A¹. The
compressed air or gas contained in this latter digester escapes therefrom into
digester A through the first valve 2 and the solvent which is contained in this
digester and which originally came from tank B2 is driven into digester A³ through
valves (digester A2), (digester A³). The air or gas contained in digester A³
is thereby driven out, and on top of the solvent contained in digester A, through
valve (digester A³); and this solvent which originally came from tank B³ is,
after it has been thus used three times in previous operations, now returned to
tank B (which is the receptacle for solvent having been used four times) through

page_text: valve 1º (digester A*), main 4 and valve »³ leading to tank B. The compressed air
or gas following the solvent escapes through valve s, etc., into holder Z."
The previously open valves 5, 6 (digester A'), ³, al (digester A³),
7 (digester A³), x² (digester A¹), k, k¹ and s being next closed, digester A¹ will be
found to contain solvent from tank B¹; digester A² contains compressed air or gas;
digester A³ the solvent which came from tank B2 and digester A* contains air or
gas at or near atmospheric pressure. Of course the charge of wool is still retained
in all the digesters intact.
Valves 3, (digester A'), 'a (digester A³), 7 (digester A³), a¹ v4 (digester A*)
are now opened and the solvent contained in digester A' is driven by the com-
pressed air or gas (let in through first valve 3) into digester A2 through said
valves and ; the compressed air or gas contained in digester A² is thereby
driven into digester A³ through valve; the solvent in digester A³ and which
originally came from tank B2 is driven into digester A through corresponding
valves v' and ', and the air or gas which this latter digester contained is driven
out through valve communicating with the main 8. Upon closing valve vas
soon as digester A¹ was empty the said valves » (digester A¹), 1, 2 (digester A²)
(digester A³), xl and 4 (digester A), are next closed and we find that digester A¹
contains compressed air or gas; digester A2 solvent taken from tank B¹;
digester A compressed air or gas, and digester A solvent taken from tank B³.
The
The wool contained in digester A¹ having now been thoroughly percolated with
solvents which had been previously used four times, three times, twice and once,
respectively, it is now ready to be rinsed off with clean or pure solvent, and in order
to effect such operation the digester A' is put into communication with tank B
which contains pure or unused solvent, and the following valves are opened:
k(tank B),, k, z² (digester A'), (digester A²), x¹, 2, (digester A³),
(digester A'), and the two latter communicating with tank B³.
pure solvent is now driven out of tank B by the compressed air or gas admitted
through inlet valves, it enters the main 1 through corresponding valve and
digester A through adjacent valve k. The compressed air or gas in digester A¹
is thus forced therefrom and enters digester A² through first intermediate valve x²;
the solvent in digester A2 is driven out through valve (digester A²) and enters
digester A through valve ¹ (digester A³); the compressed air or gas in digester A³
is driven out into digester A through valve 2 (digester A³); the solvent in
digester A which originally came from tank B2 is driven into storage tank B
(which is the receptacle for solvent having been used three times) through valve ve
(digester A), main 4 and valve v, leading to said tank B³. The compressed air
or gas following the solvent into the last named tank escapes through its outlet
valve s, &c., into holder Z.
Valves and s having been closed as soon as the digester A¹ was full of pure
solvent, the before open valves, k x² v7 x¹ x² v6 v³ s¹ are closed: we now have pure
solvent in digester A' from tank B; compressed air or gas in digester A²; solvent
from tank B in digester A³, and air or gas in digester A.
The solvent is next moved as follows: The several valves v³, v7 (digester A¹),
(digester A²), 7 (digester A³), 14 (digester A'), are now opened and the
pure solvent is driven from digester A' by compressed air or gas let in at o³ into
the top of said digester; the solvent passes thence into digester A² through said
open valves and a¹, and the compressed air or gas which this latter digester
contains is driven into the digester A³, through valve while the solvent in
digester A³, which originally came from tank B', escapes through valve
(digester A³) and enters the digester A' through valve a¹, the air or gas contained
in this latter digester escaping through valve into the main 8.
Valve (digester A¹) having next been closed as soon as digester A³ was freed
from solvent, the valves (digester A¹), x', a² (digester A²), 7, 1 (digester A³),
(digester A), are now closed, and we have in digester A¹ wool which has been
washed with four lots of solvent and rinsed with pure solvent, and is surrounded
with compressed air or gas; digester A2 contains wool immersed in pure solvent ;
B

page_text: digester A³ contains wool surrounded with compressed air or gas, and digester A*
contains wool immersed in solvent coming from tank B¹. Digester A¹ is now put
in communication with tank B₁ (which is the receptacle for solvent having been
used once) by opening valves vª (digester A¹), v and outlet valve s¹ communicating
with the tank; the compressed air or gas contained in digester A¹ then rushes
through the wool (carrying before it remainders of solvent adhering to the fibres)
and out through said valve v main 4 and valve, and escapes into the main 8
through valve s¹; the solvent carried along by the air or gas remains in tank B'.
The passage of compressed air or gas through the wool can be continued as long as
necessary or desirable by simply opening the first valve (digester A'),
communicating with compressed air or gas main 9.
The valves v³, 7 (digester A²), x², (digester A³), 8 (digester A), v and s¹,
(tank B2), are next opened, and the compressed air or gas let into digester A
through said valve ³ forces the pure solvent out of this digester into digester A³
via valves and ; the compressed air or gas contained in digester A³ is thus
forced therefrom into digester A through valve a², and the solvent contained in
digester A, and which originally came from tank B', now finds its way to
tank B2 (which is the receptacle for solvent having been used twice) through
corresponding valve v, main 4 and valve v. The compressed air or gas which
follows the solvent escapes through valve s¹ leading from tauk B² into main 8.
Now valve having been closed as soon as digester A2 was empty, the said valves
(digester A²), a, a, (digester A³), 6 (digester A), v and s¹ are next closed.
Digester A2 is then put in communication with tank B₁ by opening valve v³
(digester A2), (valves and s leading to tank B' being opened) and the com-
pressed air or gas contained in said digester forces itself through the wool (carrying
with it solvent adhering to the fibres) and escapes through said valve vs, main 4,
valves and s¹ into the main 8, while the solvent, which is carried along by
the air or gas, deposits itself in tank B'; the passing of compressed air or gas
through the wool can be continued as long as desired by opening valve v³
(digester A²).
We now have in digesters A¹ and A² wool which has been treated with four
different lots of solvent and rinsed with pure solvent; in digester A³ we have
wool immersed in pure solvent, and in digester A wool surrounded by air or gas
at or near atmospheric pressure. Valves, (digester A³), ¹, v (digester A4),
are now opened (valves and leading to and from tank B¹ remaining open) and
the compressed air or gas entering digester A³ at v³ drives the pure solvent from
digester A³ into digester A through said valves 7 and a, the atmospheric air or
gas contained in digester A escaping into the main 8 through valve v
(digester A). Valve having been closed as soon as digester A³ was empty,
said valves v', ¹ and are also next closed.
munication with the tank B' by opening valve 2
air or gas is blown through the wool in the same
to digesters A' and A.
Digester A is put in com-
(digester A³) and compressed
manner as described in relation
We now have in digesters A', A², A³ wool upon which the treatment with the
solvents has been completed, and in digester A₁ wool immersed in pure solvent.
Now upon opening valve the digester A is put into communication with tank B₁
through main 4 and corresponding valve ; and the solvent is forced out of
digester A' into tank B¹ by opening the compressed air or gas valve at the top side
of digester A. and when this digester has been emptied of its solvent, compressed
air or gas is blown through the wool in the same manner as described in relation to
digesters A and A².
We now have in all the digesters wool which has been treated with four
different lots of solvent and all rinsed with pure solvent. In tank B' we have the
solvent which came out of tank B'₁ after having been used four times previously
to the last time and is now sufficiently charged with wool-fat to warrant
redistilling. In tank B₁ we have the solvent which was in tank B³ when it had
been used three times but is now in the tank containing solvent having been used

page_text: four times. In tank B³ is the solvent which came from tank B2 when it had been
used twice, but now it has been used three times. In tank B2 is the solvent
which came originally from tank B' after having been used once, it now has been
used twice. In tank B' is that which came from tank B as pure solvent, but
which is now classed as having been used once. Thus it will be seen that each of
the several solvents has been advanced once.
The wool being now ready to be entirely freed from any solvent which still
adheres to the fibres, all the valves which were previously open and through
which valves the digesters were made to communicate with any of the mains, or
with each other, are now closed and the four valves v, u, r, v, over the digesters
are opened, thus putting them in communication with the dry vacuum main 6, and
the dry vacuum pump D. The valve which allows the pump D to discharge
into the pipe 13 is also opened and so is valve which puts said pump in com-
munication with the condenser L, through the piping 13 and valve r, which latter
is also open.
The outlet from the condenser is put in communication with tank B
(which now may be either empty or only partially filled) by opening the valve rº,
and the corresponding valve 10 communicating with said tank. The vacuum
pump D is next put in motion, steam being at the same time turned on to the
bottom heaters a inside of the digesters. Under the influence of heat and vacuum
thus produced the solvent remaining in the wool soon evaporates and is drawn
from the bottom of the digesters upwardly through the wool into the dry vacuum
main 6, the pump D forcing the vaporized solvent into the condenser through the
said piping 13 and 13 and valve r. The condensed vapors in the form of liquid
solvent pass from the condenser through the valve and enter the pure solvent
tank B through said valve 10 communicating with the tank.
Steam for
The
gas
is
The distillation of the adhering solvent can be much accelerated by drawing
warm gas or steam through the fibres or preferably a mixture of both.
the purpose is admitted at under the perforated bottom c, Figure 4.
drawn from the holder Z through pipe 8d, by-pass 16, valve 16, piping 16,
heater W, and valves connected therewith, piping 16 and valves & and enters the
digesters at c. After passing through the contents of the digesters, the gas mixed
with solvent vapors, water vapors and steam passes into the pump D, and from
there into the condenser L where the steam and solvent are condensed and then
run into any suitable separating or settling tank to be separated, while the free gas
is allowed to escape from such tank into the main 8 and returns to the pipe 8d or
holder Z via tanks F and M and pipe 8ª to be reused and recirculated.
When the distillation of the solvent adhering to the fibres is fully completed all
the inlet valves to the digesters are closed and a high vacuum is made in the
latter, after which the remaining opened valves are closed and the pump D is
stopped. The four valves and the four air valves a are now opened and the
wet vacuum pump D₁ started. The air which is thus drawn through the fibres
and then discharged into the atmosphere removes from them any trace of odor of
the solvent which may still be perceived in them, and this process is accelerated by
turning on a little steam into the digesters at c.
The wool having now been practically freed from its fatty and resinous
impurities, and also being in a dry condition and free from solvent, is now ready
to be removed from the digesters, for which purpose the upper and lower digester
doors b, b, have been provided, and to be rinsed in water. This latter operation is
performed at a moderate temperature in machines such as are now generally used
for the scouring of wools. I prefer, however, to use machines having three or four
bowls, because, although what few impurities now remaining on the fibres are
either soluble in water or are removed by the mechanical action of the machines,
it requires less time and less heat to do the work properly with machines of this
description. In using machines with three or four bowls the liquor contained in
the first bowl soon becomes heavily charged with impurities and the potash salts
contained in the wool. This liquor is then run into an evaporating apparatus and
the liquor from the second bowl is run into the first bowl, the liquor of the third

page_text: bowl is run into the second bowl, and the liquor from the fourth bowl is run into
the third, while clear water is put into the fourth, and this process is kept up
indefinitely so that all the potash salts, ammonia and other products which can
be utilized as fertilizers, are recovered as by-products of the wool washing, as well
as the fatty and resinous matters carried off by the solvent and of which I will
make further mention.
The wool emerging from the machine in which it has been thus rinsed with water
(without the admixture of soap or alkali) is perfectly clean, and also softer and
stronger than wool of the same class which has been scoured in alkaline or soap
solutions.
In describing the treatment of the fibres with solvent it will have been seen that
I have represented and set forth a process wherein solvent contained in a digester
is replaced by compressed air or gas, this air or gas being replaced by other solvent,
this solvent in turn by air or gas and so on, the charge of solvent when entering
one digester pushing the compressed air or gas into another digester, said compressed
air or gas forcing the solvent out of this second digester into a third digester from
which it forces the compressed air or gas into a fourth digester, etc., or in other
words the filling of one digester influences the whole series of digesters after they
have once been filled.
It is evident that the treatment with solvents can be accomplished in a different
manner and that the solvent after being used in one digester can be returned to the
storage tank from which it came, then forced therefrom into the second digester,
then again returned to the storage tank and forced through the third digester, etc.,
etc., and this can be continued with the different grades of solvent contained in the
sundry tanks until they each have performed their work and absorbed sufficient
fatty and resinous matter to warrant of their taking a new place in the series of
storage tanks, as I have heretofore described.
The solvent instead of being forced from the bottom of one digester into the top
of another digester, can just as well, if desired, be forced into the bottom of any
other digester by manipulating the several valves 7 and 8, since all the digesters
intercommunicate both at the top and bottom and they also communicate with all
the mains and storage tanks in the system so that any digester can be reached from
any tank, or any tank from any digester.
It is evident also that instead of the digesters being placed on the same level,
they could be placed above one another and the solvents run from one into the other
by gravity, or by gravity and pressure.
I would state that the necessity of the primary drying of the fibres which I have
described the necessity of their treatment with solvent either in vacuo or at
atmospheric or higher pressure; the number of different baths of charged solvent to
which they are subjected, as well as the number of rinsings they get with pure
solvent, depends wholly upon the condition and the nature of the fibres under
treatment, and that the steps as described are only one way of operating the
apparatus out of a good many combinations which will suggest themselves to the
practical scourer, according to the nature and condition of the fibres which he is
called upon to treat.
In some cases, in order to make certain resinous or glutinous impurities, existing
on the fibres, more readily soluble in solvents or for other purposes it may be
desirable to treat the animal fibres with acid vapors or an acid gas, such as acetic
acid vapors, hydro-chloric acid gas, etc., either before the treatment with solvent or
after a partial treatment of the fibres with a solvent. In such a case the gas or
vapors may be generated in W, W2, the same forming a part of the apparatus;
the gas
is drawn through the fibres in the digesters by putting the latter in com-
munication with the wet vacuum pump D and main 7 and opening the four
valves ¹, vl, v¹, v₁, 7, 9 and ², and x, x, 27, 27. The gas or vapor enters the
branch pipe 16" (Figure 2) after leaving the generator W and passing through said
open valves and enters the heater W where it can be heated if necessary;
from the heater it passes into the main 16 and from there into the bottom of the

page_text: digesters through the said open valves ; the gas is drawn through the material
in the digesters and escapes into the main 7 through the four digester valves v.
The main 7 passes into and through the gas-condensing tank M' wherein any acid
gas or vapor soluble in water is retained and therefore prevented from corroding
the pump D¹.
The solvent contained in tank B', which is supposed to have attained a sufficient
degree of saturation, with the fatty and resinous matter contained in wool or other
similar animal fibres and making it undesirable for further use in the treatment of
such fibres, is forced from said tanks into the settling tank I, wherein any suspended
matter contained in such solvent is allowed to settle before the solvent is let into the
still H, for rectification.
Upon letting compressed air or gas into tank B' through corresponding inlet
valve 8, the valves k,, and to² are opened, thereby forcing the solvent into settling
tank I, and when the suspended matter it contains has settled to the bottom it (the
freed solvent) is run into the still H, by closing the valves previously opened and
letting compressed air or gas in at the top of the settling tank through the valve w¹.
The solvent passes from said settling tank through any one of the series of valves r¹
and enters the still through piping 18 and valve ³, Figure 1.
When the sediment in the settling tank has accumulated to any considerable
depth it is separated from the solvent by letting out the mixture from the tank
through valve and piping 21 into a filter K. The sediment is deposited upon the
filter bed and the solvent passed through the filtering material into the pipe 10
and from the latter into tank B, through vertical valved connection 10%, provision
being made for removing the sediment from the filter when necessary.
The still H may be provided interiorly with a steam coil, the still communicating
directly with the condenser L, through valve 10, piping 13 and valve r. Indirectly
it also communicates with said condenser through valve 1, piping 13° and 6 and
vacuum pump D, piping 13 and 13 and valves, and r. The rectification of
the solvent is accomplished by distillation, but instead of applying a strong heat to
it through the steam coils contained in the still and driving the vapors over from
them through the direct communication indicated above I prefer to use heat and
vacuum combined and communicate from the stills to the condensers through a
vacuum pump as stated, because the solvent passes over at a lower temperature and
the wool-fat is therefore obtained in better condition.
From the condenser L the liquid rectified solvent enters tank B, as was described
in the distillation of the solvent remaining on the fibres contained in the digesters.
When all the solvent contained in the still H has been distilled there will remain
therein the fatty and resinous matters which the solvent extracted from the fibres
through which it percolated; this matter is commonly called pure wool-fat to
distinguish it from the product obtained from the treatment of wool-wash suds,
which latter contains soap-fats and other constituents not contained in the fat
extracted from the wool with solvents; this product (said fatty and resinous matter)
while in a fluid state is run from the still into the grease storage tank E, by means
of valve and piping 15, Figure 1.
The grease tank E is emptied while the fat is in a fluid condition (steam coils
being provided for the purpose in the bottom of the tank) by means of compressed
air or gas introduced through valve 6, the fat escaping into convenient receptacles
through valve n provided for the purpose at the bottom of said tank.
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 process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in subjecting said fibres while retained in a closed digester to
the action of solvents for such impurities, then removing said solvent from the
digester, then expelling, in liquid form, the bulk of the solvent still adhering to the
fibres by the action of a compressed gas forced through them, and then freeing

page_text: the fibres from the remaining adhering solvent, substantially as described and for
the purpose set forth.
2. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in subjecting said fibres while retained in a closed digester to
the action of solvents for such impurities, then removing said solvent from the
digester, then expelling, in liquid form, the bulk of the solvent still adhering to the
fibres by the action of a compressed gas forced through them, and then freeing
the fibres from the remaining adhering solvent by distillation under the influence
of heat and vacuum or by vaporization while contained in said digester, substantially
as described and for the purpose set forth.
3. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in subjecting said fibres while retained in a closed digester
to the action of solvents for such impurities, then removing said solvent from the
digester, then expelling, in liquid form, the bulk of the solvent still adhering to the
fibres by the action of a compressed gas forced through them, then freeing
the fibres from the remaining adhering solvent, and then deodorizing said fibres
by drawing air or steam or both through them, substantially as described and for
the purpose set forth.
4. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in subjecting said fibres while retained in a closed digester to
the action of solvents for such impurities, then expelling the solvent in liquid form
from the contents of the digester by the action of compressed gas, then freeing said
fibres from any adhering solvent, by distillation, under the influence of heat and
vacuum or by vaporization while contained in said digester, and then deodorizing
said fibres substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
5. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in making the first impregnation of said fibres with solvents
for such impurities, in vacuo, then continuing the subsequent treatments with
.solvents at atmospheric or higher pressure, and then freeing said fibres from any
adhering solvent by distillation or vaporization while contained in a closed digester,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
6. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in making the first impregnation of said fibres with solvent for
such impurities, in vacuo, then continuing the subsequent treatments with solvents
at atmospheric or higher pressure and then freeing said fibres from any adhering
solvent by distillation, under the influence of heat and vacuum, or by vaporization,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
7. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in making the first impregnation of said fibres with solvents
for such impurities, in vacuo, then continuing the subsequent treatment with
solvents at atmospheric or higher pressure, then freeing said fibres from any
adhering solvent by distillation or vaporization while contained in a closed digester,
and then deodorizing said fibres by drawing air or steam or both through them,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
8. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in making the first impregnation of said fibres, with solvent
for such impurities, in vacuo, then continuing the subsequent treatment with
solvents, at atmospheric or higher pressure, then freeing said fibres from any
adhering solvent by distillation, under the influence of heat and vacuum, or by
vaporization, and then deodorizing said fibres by drawing air or steam or both
through them, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
9. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in subjecting said fibres while retained in a closed digester to
alternate contacts, first, with solvents for such impurities, and each of a different
degree of saturation, and then with compressed gas, the function of which is to
remove the bulk of the solvent in liquid form, then freeing said fibres from any
adhering solvent, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 10. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in subjecting said fibres while retained in a closed digester to
alternate contacts, first, with solvents for such impurities and each of a different
degree of saturation, and then with compressed gas, the function of which is to
remove the bulk of the solvent in liquid form, then freeing said fibres from any
adhering solvent by distillation under the influence of heat and vacuum, or by
vaporization, while contained in said digester, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
11. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in subjecting said fibres while retained in a closed digester to
alternate contacts, first with solvents for such impurities and each of a different
degree of saturation, and then with compressed gas, the function of which is to
remove the bulk of the solvent in liquid form, then freeing said fibres from any
adhering solvent, and then deodorizing said fibres, substantially as described and
for the purpose set forth..
12. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in subjecting said fibres while retained in a closed digester to
alternate contacts, first with solvents for such impurities and each of a different
degree of saturation, and then with compressed gas, the function of which is to
remove the bulk of the solvent in liquid form, then freeing said fibres from any
adhering solvent, by distillation under the influence of heat and vacuum, or by
vaporization, while contained in said digester, and then deodorizing said fibres by
drawing air or steam or both through them, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
13. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
aspirating air through them, then subjecting said fibres to the action of solvents
for such impurities, then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by
distillation or by vaporization, while contained in said digester, and then
deodorizing said fibres by drawing air or steam or both through them, substantially
as described and for the purpose set forth.
14. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
aspirating air through them, then subjecting said fibres to the action of solvents
for such impurities, then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by
distillation, while contained in said digester, under the influence of heat and
vacuum, or by vaporization, and then deodorizing said fibres by drawing air or
steam or both through them, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
15. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester, by
drawing air through them and submitting said fibres to the combined action of
heat and vacuum, then treating said fibres with solvents for such impurities, and
then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by distillation or vaporization
while contained in said digester, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
16. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester, by
drawing air through them and submitting said fibres to the combined action of
heat and vacuum, then treating said fibres with solvents for such impurities, and
then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by distillation or vaporization
while contained in said digester, under the influence of heat and vacuum,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
17. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester, by
drawing air through them and submitting said fibres to the action of heat and
vacuum, then treating said fibres with solvents for such impurities, then freeing

page_text: Faid fibres from any adhering solvent by distillation or vaporization, while contained
in said digester, and then deodorizing said fibres by drawing air or steam or both
through them, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
18. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester, by
drawing air through them and submitting said fibres to the combined action of
heat and vacuum, then treating said fibres with solvents for such impurities, and
then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by distillation under the influence
of heat and vacuum or by vaporization while contained in said digester, and then
deodorizing said fibres by drawing air or steam or both through them, substantially
as described and for the purpose set forth.
19. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
aspirating air through them, then subjecting said fibers to alternate contacts, first
with solvents for such impurities and each of a different degree of saturation, and
then with compressed gas, the function of which is to remove the bulk of the
solvent in liquid form, then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent, by
distillation or vaporization, while contained in said digester, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
20. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
aspirating air through them, then subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts, first
with solvents for such impurities, and each of a different degree of saturation, and
then with compressed gas, the function of which is to remove the bulk of the
solvent in liquid forms then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by
distillation under the influence of heat and vacuum, or by vaporization, and while
contained in said digester, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
21. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
aspirating air through them, then subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts, first
with solvents for such impurities, and each of a different degree of saturation, and
then with compressed gas, the function of which is to remove the bulk of the
solvent in liquid form, then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by distillation
or vaporization while contained in said digester, and then deodorizing said fibres
by drawing air or steam or both through them, substantially as described and for
the purpose set forth.
22. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester, by
aspirating air through them, then subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts, first
with solvents for such impurities, and each of a different degree of saturation, and
then with compressed gas, the function of which is to remove the bulk of the
solvent in liquid form, then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by
distillation under the influence of heat and vacuum, or by vaporization, and while
contained in said digester, and then deodorizing said fibres by drawing air or
steam or both through them, substantially as described and for the purpose
set forth.
23. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
drawing air through them, then submitting said fibres to the combined action of
heat and vacuum, then to alternate contacts, first with solvents for such impurities,
and each of a different degree of saturation, and then with compressed gas, and
afterwards freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by distillation or vaporiza-
tion while contained in said digester, substantially as described and for the purpose
set forth.
24. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by

page_text: drawing air through them, submitting said fibres to the combined action of heat
and vacuum, then subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts, first with solvents
for such impurities, and each of a different degree of saturation, and then with
compressed gas, and afterwards freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by
distillation under the influence of heat and vacuum, or by vaporization, and
while contained in said digester, substantially as described and for the purpose
set forth.
25. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
drawing air through them, then submitting said fibres to the combined action of
heat and vacuum, then subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts, first with
solvents for such impurities and each of a different degree of saturation, and then
with compressed gas, then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by distil-
lation or vaporization while contained in said digester, and then deodorizing said
fibres by drawing air or steam or both through them, substantially as described and
for the purpose set forth.
26. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
drawing air through them, then submitting said fibres to the combined action of
heat and vacuum, then subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts, first with solvents
for such impurities, and each of a different degree of saturation, and then with
compressed gas, then freeing said fibres from any adhering solvent by distillation
under the influence of heat and vacuum, or by vaporization, and while contained
in said digester, and then deodorizing said fibres by drawing air or steam or
both through them, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
27. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in treating said fibres with solvents for such impurities, while
contained in a closed digester, then replacing said solvents by compressed gas,
and subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts with compressed gas and solvents
of different degrees of saturation, then rinsing said fibres with pure solvent then
freeing them from any adhering solvent by distillation or vaporization while
contained in said digester, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
28. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in treating said fibres with solvents for such impurities, while
contained in a closed digester, then replacing said solvents by compressed gas, and
subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts with compressed gas and solvents of
different degress of saturation, then rinsing said fibres with pure solvent and then
freeing them from any adhering solvent by distillation or vaporization while contained
in said digester, and under the combined action of heat and vacuum, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
29. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in treating said fibres with solvents for such impurities, while
contained in a closed digester, then replacing said solvent by compressed gas, an.
subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts with compressed gas and solvent of
different degrees of saturation, then rinsing said fibres with pure solvent and freeing
them from any adhering solvent by distillation or vaporization while contained in
said digester, and then deodorizing them by drawing either air or steam or both
through them, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
30. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in treating said fibres with solvents for such impurities, while
contained in a closed digester, then replacing said solvent by compressed gas and
subjecting said fibres to alternate contacts with compressed gas and solvents of
different degrees of saturation, then rinsing said fibres with pure solvent, and then
freeing them from any adhering solvent by distillation while contained in said
digester and under the combined action of heat and vacuum, or by vaporization,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 31. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
drawing air through them, and subjecting said fibres to the combined action of heat
and vacuum,
then making the first impregnation of said fibres with solvent while
in часно, then replacing said solvent with compressed gas, and then subjecting said
fibres to alternate contacts with compressed gas and solvents of different degrees of
saturation, then rinsing said fibres with pure solvent, and then freeing them from
any adhering solvent by distillation or vaporization while contained in said digester,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
32. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
drawing air through them and subjecting said fibres to the combined action of heat
and vacuum, then making the first impregnation of said fibres with solvent while
in vacuo, then replacing said solvent with compressed gas, then subjecting said fibres
to alternate contacts with compressed gas and solvents of different degrees of
saturation, then rinsing said fibres with pure solvent, and then freeing them from
any adhering solvent by distillation under the influence of heat and vacuum, or by
vaporization, while contained in said digester, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
33. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
drawing air through them and subjecting said fibres to the combined action of heat
and vacuum, then making the first impregnation of said fibres with solvent while
in vacuo, then replacing said solvent with compressed air, then subjecting said fibres
to alternate contacts with compressed air and solvents of different degrees of
saturation, then rinsing said fibres with pure solvent, then freeing them from
any adhering solvent by distillation or by vaporization, while contained in said
digester, and then deodorizing said fibres by drawing air or steam or both through
them, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
34. The process of freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities,
the same consisting in drying said fibres while contained in a closed digester by
drawing air through them, and subjecting said fibres to the combined action of
heat and vacuum, then making the first impregnation of said fibres with solvent
while in vacuo, then replacing said solvent with compressed air and then subjecting
said fibres to alternate contacts with compressed air and solvents of different
degrees of saturation, then rinsing said fibres with pure solvent, then freeing them
from any adhering solvent by distillation while contained in said digester and under
the combined action of heat and vacuum, or by vaporization, and then deodorizing
said fibres by drawing air or steam or both through them, substantially as described
and for the purpose set forth.
35. In the art of extracting resinous, oily, essential, fatty or other matters
from materials containing them, by means of volatile solvents, the improvement
which consists in conducting the extracting operation in a confined atmosphere
of gas or mixture of gases, replacing, removing or circulating the solvents by
means of said atmosphere, then conducting such gas or mixture of gases free from
the bulk of the solvent to a holder that it may be adapted for reuse, substantially
as described.
36. In the art of extracting resinous, oily, essential, fatty or other matters
from materials containing them by means of volatile solvents, the improvement
which consists in conducting the extracting operation in a confined atinosphere
of an inert gas or mixture of such gases, removing, replacing or circulating the
solvents by means of said confined atmosphere, then conducting such gas or mixture
of gases free from the bulk of the solvent to a holder in order that it may be
adapted for reuse, substantially as described.
37. In apparatus for extracting resinous, oily, essential, fatty or other matters
from materials with volatile solvents, the combination of a digester, reservoirs or
tanks containing the solvents employed, a gas-holder, a vacuum pump and valved

page_text: piping or connections, whereby the gas in the holder is carried to the said
digester and reservoirs and returned to the holder, substantially as described for the
purpose set forth.
38. In apparatus for extracting resinous, oily, essential, fatty or other matters
from materials, with volatile solvents, the combination of one or more digesters,
reservoirs, or tanks for the solvents employed, a holder for gas, a gas compressor,
a reservoir for compressed gas, a vacuum pump, a condenser and suitably arranged
valved piping communicating with said instrumentalities, whereby the gas is
returned to the holder after it has circulated through the system, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
39. In apparatus for extracting resinous, oily, essential, fatty, or other matters
from materials with volatile solvents, the combination of one or more digesters,
reservoirs or tanks for the solvents employed, means for generating gas, a holder
for the gas, a gas compressor, a reservoir for the compressed gas, a vacuum pump,
a condenser and suicably arranged valved piping, whereby the gas in the holder is
carried to the digester, reservoirs, compressor, &c., and back to the holder,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
40. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous.
impurities by volatile solvents, the combination of a closed digester, two or more
solvent tanks for holding solvents of different degrees of saturation communicating
at their tops through valved piping with the bottom of said digester, and at their
bottoms with the top of said digester, substantially as described.
41. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, the combination of a series of digesters arranged in battery
and in independent intercommunication at their tops and bottoms, a series of storage
tanks for holding solvents of different degrees of saturation and pure solvent also
independently intercommunicating, and valved piping connecting said digesters and
tanks, arranged whereby any one or more of the said digesters and tanks are
adapted for independent intercommunication at top and bottom, substantially as
described.
42. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, the combination of a closed digester, two or more storage tanks
for solvent, arranged to communicate with the top and bottom of the digester,
valved inlet and outlet passages for said solvents, and valved piping communicating
with said digester and tanks and with a source of compressed gas, substantially as
described.
43. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, the combination of a plurality of closed digesters arranged in
battery and in independent intercommunication at their tops and bottoms, a series
of storage tanks for solvents also independently intercommunicating with each other
and with said digesters, and a source of compressed gas in communication with the
digesters and tanks, substantially as described.
44. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, one or more closed digesters, in combination with exhausting
and condensing devices for solvent vapors connected therewith, a source of
compressed gas, one or more reservoirs for solvents and a trap-tank or water seal,
substantially as described.
45. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, one or more closed digesters, in combination with exhausting
and condensing devices for solvent vapors connected therewith, a source of
compressed gas, one or more reservoirs for solvents, a trap-tank or water seal and
an overflow tank, substantially as described.
46. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, one or more closed digesters, in combination with exhausting
and condensing devices for solvent vapors connected therewith, a
compressed gas, one or more reservoirs for solvents, a trap-tank or water seal, and
an overflow tank, substantially as described.
source of

page_text: 47. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, one or more closed digesters, in combination with exhausting
and condensing devices for solvent vapors connected therewith, a source of
compressed gas, one or more reservoirs for solvents, a trap-tank or water seal, an
overflow tank and a still, substantially as described.
48. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, one or more closed digesters, in combination with exhausting
and condensing devices for solvent vapors connected therewith, a source of
compressed gas, one or more reservoirs for solvents, a trap-tank or water seal, an
overflow tank and a grease tank, substantially as described.
49. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, one or more closed digesters, in combination with exhausting
and condensing devices for solvent vapors connected therewith, a source of
compressed gas, one or more reservoirs for solvents, a trap-tank or water seal, an
overflow tank and a filter, substantially as described.
source of
50. In apparatus for freeing animal fibres from their fatty and resinous impurities
by volatile solvents, one or more closed digesters, in combination with exhausting
and condensing devices for solvent vapors connected therewith, a
compressed gas, one or more reservoirs for solvents, a trap-tank or water seal, an
overflow tank and a gas generator, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of September 1895.
EMILE MAERTENS,
Applicant.