AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING HIDES IN THE PROCESS OF TANNING, AND FOR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Brookes, of 62, Chancery Lane, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING HIDES IN THE PROCESS
OF TANNING, AND FOR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication
from abroad by Moritz Michaelis, Isaac Hallenstein, and Arthur Cleg-
horn all of Footscray. in the Colony of Victoria.
Sealed the 25th February 1868, and dated the 22nd October 1867.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Brookes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration
on the 22nd October 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO. ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BROOKES, of 62, Chancery Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING HIDES IN THE PROCESS OF
TANNING, AND FOR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from
abroad by Moritz Michaelis, Isaac Hallenstein, and Arthur Cleghorn, all of
Footscray, in the Colony of Victoria, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
It has been the custom hitherto in tanning hides to cast them in layers
into a tan pit, and when necessary to take them out one by one by means of

page_text: a hook, as is well understood, in order to change their position, and thus
permit the tan liquor to be absorbed by the whole of their surfaces. As this
is required to be done about twenty times during the process of tanning it is
obvious that a vast amount of labor is entailed thereby, in addition to which
the hides will wrinkle more or less however carefully they may be handled and
placed.
Now the first part of the Invention as communicated to me is designed
for the purpose of dispensing with the necessity of any change in the position
of the hides when once they are placed in the tan pit, by giving to them a
gentle and continuous motion during the whole period they are undergoing
that portion of the process of tanning which is usually conducted in what are
generally called the "coloring pits," and giving them this motion when placed
in such a position as that the tan liquor has access at all times to the whole
of the surface of the bide. This is the essence of the Invention, and when
once the idea is conveyed to the mind of an engineer, the arrangement of
machinery necessary to put it into practical effect becomes a mere matter of
ordinary. business. As however many arrangements might be devised which
would be cumbrous or expensive or otherwise undesirable, and as it is believed
that a most economical and beneficial arrangement of machinery or apparatus
has been discovered for this purpose, it is made a part (although a secondary
one) of the Invention.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 shews a perspective
view of the apparatus; Figure 2 shews a sectional elevation of same; and
Figure 3 a plan of same. The two latter Figures showing one pit with frame
attached and one without; the two pits at the right-hand upper extremity,
Figure 1, being empty.
A is driving pulley fixed on shaft B, at the end of which is toothed
wheel C, to which is attached connecting rod D, the other extremity of which
is attached to vertical beam E by means of pin a.
The lower end of this
vertical beam is fixed on shaft F, which is supported in suitable bearings, as
shewn. On this shaft we place loosely beams G in the position shewn, upon
which we place (and bolt to it) cross beam H, which supports frame I by
means of vertical beams J, which are attached to cross beam by iron straps b.
Z are ropes for steadying the frame and preventing its rocking; K are
transverse pieces of wood, each end resting in a groove provided for them on
each side of the frame, and kept in their position by means of the wooden
rod c and button d; L are the hides; M is continuation of connecting rod
for the purpose of working another series of frames attached to another shaft.
I enclose this connecting rod (and should also enclose every continuation of

page_text: it) in a wooden casing N, in order to strengthen it, and thus prevent its
sagging from its length. O represents the method of connecting and dis-
connecting, and is an ordinary clutch with a feather in the shaft; P is the
lever, the lower end of which fits in guide e and on pin f, for the purpose
of obtaining the purchase necessary to disconnect when required; Q are
wooden beams. The method of working is as follows:-The tan pits being
empty the hides are hung at their centre across the transverse pieces K if
sufficiently large. If the skins be small enough they may be attached to the
transverse pieces by copper tacks, and hung from their extremity. When
the frame is full the tan liquor is admitted, and power being imparted in the
ordinary way a reciprocating motion is given to the shaft F and consequently
to the beams G, so that the frame in each pit has a downward and upward
motion imparted to it alternately, the amount of which may amongst other
ways be regulated by the length of the stroke and the speed by the power
applied. It has been found that a 10-inch stroke can be advantageously used
at a speed of 6 strokes per minute. This motion should be continuous so as
to keep up a perpetual agitation without changing the position of the hides
until they are sufficiently tanned or ready to be "laid away." The liquor is
to be changed as usual when required. After the hides are taken from the
frames they are "laid away" in the usual manner for completing the process
of tanning, as is well understood. If however the hides be light, such as
are used for carrying purposes, they would be sufficiently tanned by the
process in the frames, and the heavier kinds of hides will not require to be
"laid aside" so often as they would if they had been treated in the ordinary
way. When the hides are sufficiently tanned or ready to be "laid away,"
the frames are disconnected by means of clutch O being thrown out of gear;
then place beam Q across the pit and underneath beam G as a support;
then discharge the tanned liquor, when the tanned hides can be removed and
green ones substituted, after which the liquor can be readmitted, the beam Q
removed, and the frame again be connected to shaft F by means of clutch O,
so that it may have the necessary motion imparted to it. It is evident that
the details of the Invention may be altered or varied without departing from
the nature thereof, for instance, there might be a shaft F to every pit instead
of to every two, or there might be a shaft F to a greater number than
two. The motion might be imparted by a crank shaft working directly
over the centre of the pits, there might be an upper framing to each pit with
four regulating rods connected to the four corners of the frame for the purpose
of giving the necessary motion. The motion itself might be altered from a
vertical (or very uearly vertical) motion to a horizontal or partially horizontal

page_text: motion, and still the substance of the Invention be retained; I do not, there-
fore, confine myself to the precise details herein described and referred to,
but what I do claim is,-
First. The improved method of treating hides in the process of tanning by
imparting to them a continuous motion whilst submerged in the tan liquor in
such a manner as to continually expose the whole of their surfaces to the
action of the tan liquor (except that portion upon which or from which they
are hung,) substantially as berein explained.
Second. The mechanical adaptation or combination of apparatus for
conducting the operation referred to, substantially as herein shown and
<lescribed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Brookes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM BROOKES. (L.S.)