Year: 1885

page_text: пельдог.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me from abroad by Charles. Kollen-Corneille of Reims, in the Republic of France,
Tanner) to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the process of tanning leather,
and in apparatus used in such process by which improvements the time occupied in
tanning is reduced and the process facilitated.
The first part of the invention relates to an improved method of arrangement by
which the introduction of the skins to be tanned into the revolving vessels in
which they are treated, and their subsequent withdrawal, are facilitated. For this
purpose two wooden brackets are fixed upon each side of the interior of the vessel,
opposite to each other so that when the vessel is not revolving upon its horizontal
axis the ends of two wooden cross. beams can be fitted into holes or spaces in the
brackets, the cross beams being introduced through manholes in the sides of the
vessel.
The cross beams so temporarily fixed are held. by similar crossbeams fitted above
them, so that. they support planks for a solid platform for the workmen who
introduce and remove the hides or leather from the barrel, and where very large
vessels are used the work is thus greatly facilitated.
Where flanks or other pieces of leather of much greater length than width are
being tanned, which pieces have a tendency to become entangled into a mass which
rolls round in the vessel without becoming properly subjected to the action of the
projecting pieces inside the vessel by which the tanning process is promoted, the
vessel is preferably divided into two parts by a transverse disc or partition at
the centre of its length, a single vessel of sufficient length thus answering the
same purpose as two, shorter ones of the same diameter, and being much less
expensive.
Another part of the invention consists in novel methods of arrangement for
regulating the escape of the gases and vapours which are disengaged in the process.
For this purpose the central: pivots or axes in the ends of the vessel are made
hollow, one of them being made to communicate with an exhausting fan or
chimney, and the other with the open air preferably where it is always as pure as
possible, as for example the surface of a watercourse or the race of a waterwheel
or turbine.

page_text: In this way the vapours and gases produced from the materials used in the
tanning process can be readily withdrawn and replaced by fresh air.
On the other hand it is sometimes important, as for instance where strong partly
tanned leathers are being treated, to retain the gases and to keep them at the
proper temperature, so that when the gases are once present in the vessels con-
taining the leather, one hour of working will be sufficient to attain the moderate
heat for which seven hours under the ordinary system would be requisite.
This is effected either by storing them in suitable holders as they leave the
vessel, or more simply by making them pass directly from the vessel where they
are generated into another where their presence is desirable, by putting in commu-
nication the hollow axes of the two vessels and drawing or forcing the gases from
one into the other.. A simple and effective arrangement for effecting this with-
drawal of the gases and their transference to other vessels consists in admitting
the external air through the outer hollow axes of two revolving vessels arranged
in line, their inner hollow axes being connected by a fixed pipe having a transverse
partition at its centre separating the two vessels. The pipe is also divided by a
longitudinal partition into two parts with one of which upon each side of the
transverse partition a branched pipe is connected provided with suitable cocks or
valves and an inlet through which the liquids or substances to be used in the
tanning process can be introduced into either or both vessels as desired, whilst the
other part is similarly provided with a branched pipe and valves and an outlet
pipe provided with a three-way cock through which the gases may be withdrawn
from either or both vessels, to a gas holder as above described or to a chimney
or both..
In order to examine the condition of the liquids or materials in the vessel
without stopping the working of the latter, an opening provided with a valve
having an external handle is made at a convenient part of the circumference of the
vessel, through which a small quantity of the contents can be quickly withdrawn
when desired. The liquids being neither diluted nor cooled by passing through the
passages of a pump or other apparatus, show exactly the density and state of those
in the vessel, and their requirements according to the more or less active absorption
of the tannin by the leather.
In order to speedily remove the fragments of flesh and other foreign matters
which become detached and rubbed off from the hides by the projecting pieces or
pins in the vessels, and mixed with the tanning liquids the tannin from which they
absorb, thus causing waste and injuring the progress of the work, after the com-
pletion of each tanning operation the liquids in the vessel are discharged into a
tank below, above which is arranged a wicker basket or filter, which stops and
collects the fleshy and other foreign matters, and the liquid is then violently stirred
or agitated by any convenient means, as for instance by raising it to an elevated
reservoir and allowing it to fall back into the tank. The fleshy and other fragments
become in this way entangled in the bubbles of froth which are formed, and which
float upon the surface and can be casily removed by a scraper.
And in order to prevent the injurious effect of the froth which forms in the
vessel on account of the agitation to which it is submitted in the latter, which
froth has a tendency to cover the leather with an emulsion which prevents the
direct contact of the tanning liquids, raw pulverized borax is used, which when
applied in small quantity to the surface of the liquid, disperses the frothy matters
and causes them to settle, without affecting the acidity of the liquids as is the case
with fatty oils which have sometimes been used for the same purpose.

page_text: Leather.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me from abroad by Charles Kollen-Corneille of Reims, in the Republic of France,
Tanner) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, and accompanying
drawing (that is to say):―
This invention has for its object improvements in the process of tanning leather,
and in apparatus used in such process by which improvements the time occupied in
tanning is reduced and the process facilitated.
The first part of the invention relates to an improved method of arrangement
by which the introduction of the skins to be tanned into the revolving vessels in
which they are treated, and their subsequent withdrawal, are facilitated.
In the accompanying drawing which is in illustration of the invention figures 1
and 2 are vertical sections through the apparatus figure 2 being somewhat
modified.
For the purpose above described two wooden brackets are fixed upon each side
of the interior of the vessel, opposite to each other so that when the vessel is not
revolving upon its horizontal axis the ends of two wooden cross beams H can be
fitted into holes or spaces in the brackets, the cross beams being introduced through
manholes M in the sides of the vessel.
The crossbeams so temporarily fixed are held by similar crossbeams fitted above
them, so that they support flanks for a solid platform for the workmen who
introduce and remove the hides or leather from the barrel T and where very large
vessels are used the work is thus greatly facilitated.
Where flanks or other pieces of leather of much greater length than width are
being tanned, which pieces have a tendency to become entangled into a mass which
rolls round in the vessel without becoming properly subjected to the action of the
projecting pieces inside the vessel by which the tanning process is promoted, the
vessel T is preferably divided into two parts by a transverse disc or partition K
(as shown in figure 2) at the centre of its length, a single vessel of sufficient length
thus answering the same purpose as two shorter ones of the same diameter, and
being much less expensive.
Another part of the invention consists in novel methods of arrangement for
regulating the escape of the gases and vapours which are disengaged in the process.
For this purpose the central pivots or axes on the ends of the vessel are made
hollow, one of them being made to communicate with an exhausting fan or
chimney, and the other with the open air preferably where it is always as pure as
possible, as for example the surface of a watercourse or the race of a waterwheel or
turbine.
In this way the vapours and gases produced from the materials used in the
tanning process can be readily withdrawn and replaced by fresh air.
On the other hand it is sometimes important, as for instance where strong
partly tanned leathers are being treated, to retain the gases and to keep them

page_text: at the proper temperature, so that when the gases are once present in the vessels
containing the latter, one hour of working will be sufficient to attain the moderate
heat for which seven hours under the ordinary system would be requisite.
.
This is effected either by storing the gases in suitable holders as they leave the
vessel, or more simply by making them pass direcitly from the vessel where they
are generated into another where their presence is desirable, by putting in commu-
nication the hollow axes of the two vessels and drawing or forcing the gases from
one into the other.
A simple and effective ärrangement for effecting this withdrawal of the gases
and their transference to other vessels is shewn in plan partly in section in figure 3,
and consists in admitting the external air through the outer hollow axes A,
(figures 1 and 2), of two revolving vessels arranged in line, the inner hollow axes
being connected by a fixed pipe a häving a transverse partition b at its centre
separating the two vessels. The pipe is also divided by a longitudinal partition
into two parts one g for the admission of the requisite liquids, and the other c for
the withdrawal of the gases, with one of which c upon each side of the transverse
partition b a branched pipe is connected provided with suitable cocks or valves d
for withdrawing the gases from one or both vessels as desired, and a threeway cock
or valve at ef for taking the gases to the reservoir or chimney, or both, whilst the
other (also provided with cocks or valves h) is connected with an inlet j through
which the liquids or substances to be used in the tanning process can be introduced
into either or both vessels as desired.
In order to examine the condition of the liquids or materials in the vessel T
without stopping the working of the latter, an opening provided with a valve
baving an external handle is made (as shewn, separately at R, figure 4) at a
convenient part of the circumference of the vessel, through which a small quantity
of the contents can be quickly withdrawn when desired. The liquids being
neither diluted nor cooled by passing through the passages of a pump or other
equivalent apparatus, shew exactly the density and state of those in the vessel, and
their requirements according to the more or less active absorption of the tannin by
the leather.
In order to speedily remove the fragments of flesh and other foreign matters
which become detached and rubbed off from the hides by the projecting pieces or
pins in the vessels, and mixed with the tanning liquids the tannin from which they
absorb, thus causing waste and injury to the progress of the work, after the com-
pletion of each tanning operation the liquids in the vessel are discharged into a
tank below, above which is arranged a wicker basket or filter, which stops and
collects the fleshy and other foreign matters, and the liquid is then violently stirred
or agitated by any convenient means, as for instance by raising it to an elevated
reservoir and allowing it to fall back into the tank.
The fleshy and other fragments become in this way entangled in the bubbles of
froth which are formed, and which float upon the surface and can be easily
removed by a scraper.
And in order to prevent the injurious effect of the froth which forms in the
vessel on account of the agitation to which it is submitted in the latter, which
froth has a tendency to cover, the leather with an emulsion which prevents the
direct contact of the tanning liquids, raw pulverized borax is used, which when
applied in small quantity to the surface of the liquid, disperses the frothy matters
and causes them to settle, without affecting the acidity of the liquids, as is the case
with fatty oils which have sometimes been used for the same purpose:
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
४
1. The method of arrangement of a moveable platform in the revolving Vessel,
substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
シス.
111112

page_text: 2. The transverse partition K in the revolving vessel, substantially as and for
the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
3. The method of withdrawing gases or vapours from the vessel by means of
hollow axes communicating on one side with the external air and on the other with
exhausting apparatus or a chimney, substantially as described and shewn.
4. The method of using such gases or vapours when desired, for the purpose of
accelerating the tanning process, substantially as described.
5. The opening, and valve and handle at the circumference of the vessel, for the
purposes of ascertaining the exact density and condition of the contents, substan-
tially as described and shewn.
6. The methods of separating particles of flesh or other impurities contained in
the liquids, by first separating the principal part of such impurities by filtration
through a wicker receptacle; secondly, by violently agitating the liquid and forming
bubbles by allowing it for instance to fall from a height into a receiving vessel such
bubbles containing the impurities and rising to the surface, whence they can be
readily removed, substantially as described.
7. The use of borax, substantially as described, for the purpose of dispersing the
frothy matter.