Improvements in Tanning Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 24th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
Date of Application, 14th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 24th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tanning Apparatus.
I, ALEXANDRE LEVINSTEIN of 29 Avenue Wagrain, Paris in the Republic
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention has for its object a new system of fulling vat enabling the
temperature of the interior of said vat to be regulated as desired in order always
to maintain it within desired limits for the purpose of attaining perfect tannage
without any loss of time.
In order to vary when desired the temperature in the interior of the fulling vat,
either steam or cold air is introduced into it, according to requirements.
It is also possible to vary the temperature in the fulling vat by varying its
speed.
The arrangements adopted for enabling those different operations to be effected
without stoppage and in a very simple manner are as follows.
The fulling vat is supported by its hollow trunnions in two bearings. A pipe
connects the hollow shaft with a steam supply which can be regulated as desired.
In order to introduce air in the vat, a ventilator is provided with is driven from
the shaft by a belt. This ventilator, which can be started when desired, supplies
into the fulling vat fresh air taken from the atmosphere. This ventilator
communicates with the interior of the vat by a pipe merging into the hollow
shaft.
The extract is introduced in the vat through a suitable pipe.
The fulling vat provided with a door for the passage of hides, carries a toothed
wheel engaging with a pinion mounted on a shaft, driven from an upper shaft by
means of a belt.
The upper shaft is driven either directly by the motor or by means of some
transmission gear and transmits its movement to the shaft by a belt and conical
pulleys, so that the speed of the vat will vary according to the position of the belt
on the conical pulleys.
In the construction above described the cones are arranged so as to give three
different speeds; but of course the number of speeds can be increased by increasing
the number of steps in the cones.
It is therefore sufficient, in order to vary the speed of rotation of the fulling vat
and consequently to modify the temperature in the vat, to move the belt by means
of any suitable device without having to stop the vat.
In order to know how the temperature is to be varied in the vat, that is to say
whether it ought to be raised or lowered, it is necessary to be able to ascertain the
exact temperature of the vat at any moment. This is carried out as follows;-
On one of the hollow trunnions, is placed a test-tube provided with a thermometer.
The test-tube is continued in the vat by a kind of spoon rotating together with
the vat, and having its end widened. By rotating with the vat the spoon gets full
of extract and when the spoon passes in vertical position the extract from it passes
into the test-tube and comes into contact there with the thermometer, to which it
communicates its temperature, this being at the same time the temperature of the
interior of the fulling vat. It is thus possible to ascertain the temperature of the
fulling vat without having to stop it.
This test-tube also enables samples of extract used for tanning to be taken at

page_text: any moment without stopping the vat and the state of the extract, and the Baumé
degree of its contents of acid can be ascertained.
In order to make it possible to introduce again the extracts thus taken from the
vat, there is arranged a funnel with a cock which is in communication with the
hollow shaft of the vat. The extracts taken from the vat can be placed in
the funnel, and when the cock is opened, they!enter into the vat by the hollow shaft.
When either air or steam are introduced in the vat, it is necessary to be able to
set the vat in communication with the atmosphere in order to avoid rising of
pressure. For this purpose a cock is provided on the side wall of the vat.
A pressure gauge or hectometer and a safety valve complete the apparatus.
Tanning with my apparatus is effected by introducing into it hides and tanning
extract. Then the apparatus is rotated, the temperature brought to a suitable
degree, and maintained during the whole operation within desired limits for
obtaining a very good tannage, by acting as described.
Dated this 14th day of May 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tanning Apparatus.
I, ALEXANDRE LEVINSTEIN of 29 Avenue Wagram, Paris in the Republic
of France, 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 :-
The present invention has for its object improved apparatus for tanning skins
and the like whereby the temperature of the interior of the fulling vat may be
regulated as desired in order to always maintain it within desired limits for the
purpose of attaining perfect tanning without loss of time.
The improved fulling vat will be explained with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation and
Figures 2 and 3 are end views of the fulling vat.
Figure 4 is a section on lines C-D, E-F of Figure 5, which is a cross section
on the line A-B of Figure 4.
In order to vary when desired the temperature in the interior of the fulling vat,
I introduce into it either steam or cold air, according to requirements.
It is also possible to vary the temperature in the fulling vat by varying its speed
of rotation.
The arrangement adopted for enabling these different operations to be effected
without stoppage and in a very simple manner, are as follows:-
The fulling vat is supported by its hollow trunnions in two bearings F and F.
A pipe K connects the hollow shaft h¹ with a steam supply which can be regulated
ns desired.
In order to introduce air into the vat, a ventilator or blower I is provided which
is driven from the shaft C¹ by a belt i. This blower, which can be put in operation
when desired, supplies into the fulling vat fresh air taken from the atmosphere.
This blower communicates with the interior of the vat by a pipe J (Figure 4)
entering the hollow shaft h'.
Between the pipes J and K there is a pipe L, through which the extract is
introduced in the vat.
The fulling vat A provided with a door or opening a for the passage of hides,
carries at B a toothed wheel engaging with a toothed pinion C mounted on a
shaft C', driven from an upper shaft D by means of a belt D'.

page_text: The upper shaft D is driven either directly by the motor or by means of any
suitable transmission gear aud transmits its movement to the shaft C¹ by a
belt D and conical pulleys E E', so that the speed of the vat will vary according
to the position of the belt D' on the conical pulleys E E¹.
In the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing the cones are
arranged so as to give three different speeds; but of course the number of speeds
can be increased by increasing the number of steps in the cones.
It is therefore sufficient, in order to vary the speed of rotation of the fulling
vat and consequently to modify the temperature in the vat, to shift the belt by
means of any suitable device without having to stop the vat.
In order to know how the temperature is to be varied in the vat, that is to say
whether it ought to be raised or lowered, it is necessary to be able to
ascertain the exact temperature of the vat at any moment. This is carried out as
follows:-
On one of the hollow trunnions, in the present instance the left hand one
of Figure 1, is placed a tube G (Figure 4) provided with a thermometer G'.
The tube is continued into the vat by a kind of spoon or tubular funnel g
rotating with the vat, and having its end g' widened. By rotating with the vat
the funnel gets full of extract and when it passes a vertical position the extract
from it passes into the tube G and comes into contact there with the thermometer G¹
thus indicating the temperature of the fulling vat without having to stop its
rotation.
This tube G also enables samples of extract used for tanning to be taken
at any moment without stopping the vat and the condition of the extract, and
the Baumé degree of its contents of acid can be ascertained.
In order to make it possible to re-introduce the extract thus taken from the
vat, there is arranged a funnel H having a cock h which is in communication with
the hollow shaft h' of the vat. The extract taken from the vat can be placed
in the funnel, and when the cock h is opened it enters into the vat through the
hollow shaft h¹.
When either air or steam is introduced in the vat, it is necessary to be able to
set the vat in communication with the atmosphere in order to avoid increase of
internal pressure. For this purpose a cock M is provided on the side wall of
the vat.
A pressure gauge or bectometer N and a safety valve n complete the apparatus.
Tanning with my apparatus is effected by introducing the hides and tauning
extract into it. The apparatus is then rotated, the temperature brought to a
suitable degree by the means described and maintained during the operation
within desired limits for obtaining a perfect tannage of the goods treated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In tanning apparatus a rotatable vat provided with steam or air supply
apparatus for regulating or varying the internal temperature of the vat, substantially
as described.
2. In tanning apparatus a rotatable vat provided with means for ascertaining
the internal temperature and taking samples of its liquid contents substantially as
described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts forming a complete fulling vat
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 94th dow of Decembar 1906
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.