An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Treating Linseed Oil to Obtain a Product applicable as a Varnish.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1892-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Treating Linseed Oil
to Obtain a Product applicable as a Varnish.
"
I, HEINRICH PFANNE of Rixdorf near Berlin Germany, 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:
This invention consists in a method for the production of varnish from linseed oil
by means of an electric current and also comprises apparatus for carrying such
invention into effect.
The varnish which is almost colorless and perfectly free from all mineral or
metallic admixtures or impurities is according to this invention produced by the
following process.
Linseed oil which has been purified in a proper manner, is thoroughly mixed and
agitated with sulphuric acid and water and subjected for about two to three hours
to the passage and action of an electric current so that the oxygen produced in the
nascent state by the passage of the current converts the oil into varnish.
Apparatus for carrying this process into effect is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing in which
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the whole apparatus.
Fig. 2 a front elevation Fig. 3 a side elevation and Fig. 4 a plan of a belt fork
used therein.
.
Fig. 5 a plan of a part of the framework near said belt fork.
A is a vat made of any suitable material with a removeable cover.
A' is a
framing of suitable form and construction to carry the apparatus. B is a central
vertical shaft in the vat A supported at its lower end on an adjustable pivot bearing C
and at its upper end in a suitable collar bearing over the lid of the vnt.
H¹ is a
bevelled frictional wheel and H is also a bevelled frictional wheel on the shaft F.
These wheels may be replaced by toothed bevelled wheels. By them the motion
of the shaft. F is transferred to shaft B. The shaft F carries three pulleys GG'G'
close together, the middle one being a loose pulley the other two fixed. On the
parallel driving shaft F is a broad pulley G fixed thereon which is geared with
the pulleys G G G by two belts I l' one of which is straight the other crossed.
Sliding on the bar J is the belt fork J engaging both belts I and having also
the two lugs JJ between which one arm of the lever K engages. This lever K
is pivoted on the pin K₁ (Fig. 5) and has on its upper arm a weight K2 which holds
it inclined to the one side or the other against the respective stop K³ or K (Fig. 5)
and so throws the belts onto the two pulleys G' G' or onto the two G G¹.
Cords M M passing over rollers rrrr connect the lever K to a lever L. On the
shaft F is the worm which gears with the worm wheel N having the pin n
adapted to strike and deflect the lever L.
The parts being in position as in the drawing and power applied to revolve
shafting F, the shaft F is revolved through pulley G on which the straight belt
is running, the loose belt moves idly with the loose pulley G¹. The movement
continues until the pin n rocks the lever L, this draws over the lever K which falls
to the opposite side moving the belt fork J and carrying the crossed belt onto the
pulley G and the straight belt onto the loose pulley G¹. The movement is then in
the opposite direction until the pin a moving back to its first position again strikes
the lever L and brings the latter again into its former position.
The speeds and proportions are preferably such that the shaft B is revolved at
the rate of about 50 to 60 turns per minute and reversed every minute.

page_text: The shaft B is provided with a number of radiating arms D of metal and ou
these arms project in all directions metal wires forming brushes d d. On the inside
of the vat A are inetal plates preferably two in number E E' of zinc or other metal
covering the whole surface from bottom to top but not touching each other. To
these plates are connected terminals ee¹ which are both connected with one terminal
of a dynamo electric machine or other source of electric current. The other
terminal of this machine is connected to the contact spring Z which rides on the
contact collar Z on the shaft B.
To use this apparatus, the vat is filled with purified linseed oil together with so
much water and sulphuric acid as to form an emulsion when the mixture is agitated
and through which the current will pass. Convenient proportions of oil water and
acid are two parts of oil, one part of water and 1 per cent. of acid. The cover is
replaced the current switched on and the apparatus set in action and continued for
three to four hours when the oil will have been converted into varnish.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
1.) A method of producing varnish by the action of an electric current upon
linseed oil.
2.) A method of producing varnish, in which an electric current is caused to
traverse linseed oil and acidulated water mixed therewith.
3.) A method of producing varnish in which an electric current is caused to
traverse linseed oil and water and sulphuric acid mixed therewith.
4.) A method of producing varnish in which an electric current is caused
to traverse a mixture of linseed oil and acidulated water kept in constant agitation.
5.) A method of producing varnish in which an electric current is caused to
traverse a mixture of linseed oil and acidulated water kept in constant rotary
agitation periodically reversed.
6.) A method of producing varnish in which a mixture of linseed oil with
acidulated water is agitated in a vat through which a current of electricity is
passed.
7.) A method of producing varnish in which a mixture of linseed oil with
acidulated water is subjected to the action of a periodically reversed rotary
agitator and to the action of an electric current passing between said agitator and
the sides of the vat.
8.) For the production of varnish from linseed oil under the action of electric
current apparatus comprising in combination a vat having its sides lined with metal
plate, a rotary agitating shaft therein, metallic brushes on said shaft, a periodical
reversing gear, driving gear for said shaft and a producer of electric current of
which the terminals are connected to said plate linings and agitating shaft
respectively.
Dated this 19th day of Lule 1805
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.