Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Suint from Wool and other Substances.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1894-'ccepted, 18th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Suint from Wool and
other Substances.
I, EMILE RICHARD-LAGERIE of 296 Grande Rue, Roubaix, Nord, France,
Chemical Engineer 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 :-
This invention relates to the kind of apparatus for extracting suint from wool
described in the Specification of Patent No. 12433 A.D. 1893, and consists in
improvements applied thereto by means of which the distribution of the liquors
according to the graduated concentration of the extracts into the different com-
partments of the tank or their equivalents, and the discharge of said compartments
upon the wool in the required succession, is effected automatically, instead of
requiring the intervention of a workman watching the indications of the hydrometer,
and in modified arrangements of apparatus for carrying out the method of
extraction described in said Specification; the improved apparatus being applicable
to the extraction and concentration of other substance besides suint.
The automatic distribution and discharge of the liquors referred to can be
effected in two ways.
One of these consists in using the change of level of the
liquors during the filling and emptying of the compartments for setting in motion
mechanism changing the discharge and delivery from and to said compartments; the
other in utilizing the rise and fall of the hydrometer according to the degree of
concentration of the liquor for this purpose.
On the drawing appended hereunto
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the application of the first of these ways to an apparatus
constructed in other respects similarly to that described in Specification No. 12433
A.D. 1893, the figures representing a front view, side view and 'plan respectively.
Fig. 5 showing its application to a modified apparatus.
.
Figs. 4 and 44 show the application of the other way for automatically changing -
the distribution of the liquors.
Figs. 6 and 7 show two modifications of apparatus for carrying out the method
of extracting suint described in said Specification.
On Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A and B are the platforms; C the tank, D the carriage, E the
pump, H the tappet shaft for opening the valves t, T the discharge pipe, N the
cistern, O the hydrometer, and Q 'the revolving distributing trough; all arranged
and connected similarly as described in the Specification aforesaid.
In carrying out my improvements for effecting the distribution of the liquor
automatically, I employ, one tank C and set of mechanism for each carriage D,'as
represented by Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
In both the arrangements shown by Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and by Figs. 4 and 4*, the
annular trough Q effecting the distribution of the liquor to the different com-
partments of the tank or their equivalents is encircled by a rope or chain a
Figs. 4 and 4 one end of which is fixed to said trough and the other passes over 'a
pulley and has a weight a¹ attached to it, so that the latter continuously has a
tendency to turu the trough round its axis in one direction.
In order to effect this intermittent rotation as required after each compartment
has been filled, there is in the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a peg c
Fig. 1 fixed to the bottom of the annular trough Q, while upon a shaft d extending.
across the six compartments of the tank C there are at suitable distances fixed
levers G of the first order, the front ends of which lie in the path of the peg o
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page_text: when the trough revolves, so that each time one of the levers G liberates the
peg, the trough Q can move round only until the peg comes against the next
lever G.
The disengagement of the levers is effected by means of floats S arranged in the
six compartments. As soon as the compartment has been filled to a certain height
with the suint liquor, the float therein lifts the backward heavier end of the lever G,
whereby the front end of the lever is lowered and the peg liberated, in
consequence the trough Q is turned by the weight a¹ until the peg e comes against
the next lever G. The outlet opening q' of the trough is thereby brought over the
next of the six compartments, which now is filled when the play of the parts is
repeated.
The time at which the disengagement of the several levers G takes place, can be
determined by making the compartments of a suitable size or by means of adjustable
collars or their equivalents on the rods s of the floats S in such a manner that the
suint liquor in each compartment when reaching the level required for disengaging
the pege contains the percentage of suint at which this compartment is to stop.
- I have found that the volume of the suint liquors is approximately in inverse
ratio as the density and the adjustment of the automatic distributing mechanism can
be made according to the indications of the hydrometer O, which also serves as a
control for the correct working of the apparatus.
The self-acting discharge of the different compartments in succession is likewise
effected by means of the floats S and latch levers. For each compartment a single
cog ratchet wheel or catch G and a latch lever F is arranged, the latter being
extended on the opposite side of the fulcrum into the path of a collar s fixed upon
the rods s attached to the float. The catches or ratchets G¹ are all fixed upon the
same shaft H set at an angle of 60 degrees one against the next one, the shaft H
carrying likewise the six lifters or cams h¹ as described in Specification No. 12433
A.D. 1893. Upon the end of the shaft a chain pulley is fixed to which a
chain with weight is attached, which tends to turn the shaft in one direction
and to open the valves t by means of the lifters . Each time one of the lifters
has opened the corresponding outlet valve t, the shaft is arrested by the corres-
ponding lever F catching the respective ratchet or catch G₁, so that the valve is
kept open and the contents of the compartments are discharged over the wool. As
the emptying of the compartment proceeds, the float in it descends and finally the
collar & depresses the end of the lever F in its path, whereby the other end is
lifted and disengages the catch or ratchet G', when the shaft H under the influence
of the weight will make a sixth part of a revolution and the outlet valvet from this
compartment is liberated and closes, while that of the next compartment is opened
by the next lifter h' and the shaft arrested again by the corresponding lever F and
catch G', this action being repeated as each compartment becomes emptied until
all of them have been discharged, when the shaft H is returned to its starting
position and the weight wound up by means of the handwheel fixed upon the
shaft.
Instead of the arrangement of a trough Q rotated intermittently, an arrangement
of balanced gutters m Fig. 5 may be used, which are likewise operated by means
of floats in such a manner, that as each successive compartment becomes filled, the
gutter over it is joined to the preceding one so as to form a continuation thereof.
Above each conipartment of the tank C, with the exception of the last compartment,
a balanced gutter is arranged.
Starting from the delivery pipe n, each succeeding gutter is placed lower than
the preceding one. The gutters are open at both ends. Through a slot in the
bottom of each gutter passes the rod attached to the float S and provided with
two adjustable stops and above and below the bottom. In the position
represented on the drawing, the two compartments 5 and 4 have already been
filled and liquor is drawn from the compartment 2 and delivered into. the
compartment 3, having become increased in density by its passage through
the wool.

page_text: When the compartment 3 has been filled to the desired height, the stops on the
rod lifts the depending end of the gutter and places it in the position similar to
those over compartments 4 and 5 so as to form a continuation of the same, while by
the emptying of the compartment 2 which has taken place meanwhile, the gutter
over this compartment has by the descent of the float been placed into a position
analogous to that shown over compartment 3, so that the liquor taken from com-
partment 1 is then after passing through the wool, transferred to compartment 2.
The play of parts is then repeated respecting the gutters over compartments!
and 2, and so on.
The self-acting discharge of the compartments may be effected in the same
manner as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The volume of liquor to be contained in each compartment can be regulated by
adjusting the stops * and *.
Instead of regulating the self-acting intermittent rotation of the trough Q by
means of floats, it may be regulated by means of the change of position of the
hydrometer corresponding to different degrees of density of the suint liquor or other
extract. This may be done as follows:-To the inner wall of the annular trough Q,
Fig. 4, pegs 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are fixed, each following peg being lower by one of
the divisions of the hydrometer scale than the preceding one. The hydrometer O
made of a suitable large size is connected to a lever fulcrumed at b, the other
limb of which is encountered by the pegs. In the highest position of the hydro-
meter the end of the lever is so low that the peg abuts upon it. . As the
hydrometer sinks to indication 5 on the scale in consequence of the decrease of the
density of the liquor passing through the tank N, the end l' is raised and liberates
peg 6, when the trough Qis turned by the chain and weight till peg 5 comes
against the lever, whereby the delivery opening in the trough Q is shifted over the
corresponding next compartment of the tank C. The lever thus acts as a pawl,
permitting a further partial rotation of the trough Q each time the hydrometer
sinks lower by one division of the scale, so that the orifice of the trough is
successively brought over the different compartments and these are each filled with
liquor corresponding in density to the actual position of the hydrometer.
Fig. 4 shows a modification, the several pegs being replaced by a stepped semi-
cylindrical prolongation of the inner wall of the trough. The hydrometer O is
preferably placed into a cistern N receiving the liquor from an ante-chamber N¹
through openings at the top and bottom and discharging it in the middle of 'the
opposite wall, as shown on Fig. 4^, in order to avoid the lifting of the hydrometer
by the current.
The final discharge of the fully saturated liquor which is no further to be used
for washing can be effected self-actingly in a similar manner by causing the orifice
of the trough Q to be placed over a gutter discharging the liquor into a separate
vessel when the required density has been obtained, similarly as in the hand
operated arrangement described in Specification No. 12433. A.D. 1893. This may
be done by means of a float or the hydrometer in the same manner as the
distribution to the different compartments is effected.
Instead of the open compartments containing the liquors of different density,
closed chambers or vessels Fig. 6 may be used, communicating each with the next
one by a tube B B¹ B" etc. These tubes extend from near to the bottom of one
vessel to the upper part of the next one as shown. The inlet pipes o o' etc. of the
several vessels are packed in the covers of the vessels and adjustable so that the
lower end thereof enters more or less deeply in the corresponding vessel. By
adjusting them the volume and corresponding density of the liquor in each vessel
can be regulated. One vessel after the other becomes filled, the air contained in
each being partly compressed and the equilibrium of the liquors filled into the
vessels to different levels being thus produced. The inlet and outlet pipes are each
fitted with a cock, the handles p and p' of the cocks being connected by rods p³, p
and levers p, ps with rod p' so that the cocks in the discharge pipes t¹ are opened
when those of the delivery pipes r are closed and vice versa. The inlet of the first

page_text: vessel 4 is not provided with a cock, so that air can enter the same when the vessels
are discharged.
Instead of arranging the chambers receiving the liquors of different densities at
the side of each other, they may be arranged above each other as shown by Fig. 7.
The tank for the suint or other liquor in this case consists of a kind of column with
a suitable number of compartments C' each provided with an outlet pipe e¹ in the
bottom descending for some distance so that in the upper part of each compartment
a volume of air is retained, which prevents the mixing of the contents of the
different compartments. The filling is effected by means of the upper funnel G³,
the discharge by the pipes T, R; the liquors ranging themselves in gradually
decreasing strength from the bottom to the top end.
As the average percentage of suint or other extract in the liquor in each
compartment decreases proportionally to the increase of volume, the level of the
liquor in each assuming them to have equal area-at the same time indicates as
already stated herein before, its density, and consequently in the various arrange-
ments herein described the density in each compartment can be regulated by
adjusting those parts that determine the volume contained in each compartment,
and thus the ratio of the densities of the liquors contained in the different
compartments regulated beforehand and adjusted during use as may be required.
The entire apparatus in each case is so arranged and adjusted that the total
volume of liquor contained therein used successively suffices for extracting the
suint or other substance from the wool or other material contained in one carriage
or its equivalent, so that the extraction proceeds in a methodical manner successively
with exclusion of all mistakes or errors.
The improved arrangements or apparatus described may be used for the
extraction of other substances than of suint from wool, for instance for the
extraction of sugar from sugar cane or beet, of dyes and for analogous purposes.
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. In apparatus for extracting suint and other substances arranged similarly as
described in Specification No. 12433 A.D. 1893 the arrangement for automatically
effecting the distribution of the liquors to the different compartments by means of
mechanism controlled by floats in the said compartments substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
2. In apparatus for extracting suint and other substances arranged similarly as
described in Specification No. 12433 A.D. 1893 the arrangement for automatically
effecting the distribution of the liquors to the different compartments by means of
mechanism controlled by the hydrometer substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figures 4 and 4 of the drawings.
3. In apparatus for extracting suint and other substances by irrigating the wool
or other material successively with liquors of graduated strength or density from
compartments of a partitioned tank or their equivalents and drawing off the liquors
from the vessels containing the wool or other material by means of a pump and
redistributing said liquors into the said compartments or their equivalents according
to the strength of the liquors, the arrangement of balanced gutters and floats for
effecting said redistribution automatically substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figure 5 of the drawings.
4. In apparatus for extracting suint and other substances by irrigating the wool
successively with liquors of graduated strength or density from compartments of a
partitioned tank or their equivalents, the arrangement of opening the outlet valves
of said compartments automatically in succession by means of mechanisin controlled
by floats in said compartments substantially as herein before described with reference
to Figures 1, 2 and 3.
5. The combination in one apparatus of the arrangement specified in Claim 4
with one of the arrangements specified in Claims 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

page_text: 6. For carrying out the process of extracting suint and other substances by
irrigating the wool or other material in vats successively with liquors of graduated
strength or density and drawing off said liquors from the vats by a pump and
redistributing then to the storage vessels according to their strength, the use and
arrangement of closed storage vessels arranged, connected and fitted substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6 of the drawings.
7. For carrying out the process referred to in the preceding claim, the modified
arrangement of superimposed closed vessels or compartments described with
reference to Figure 7 of the drawings.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.