Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Oil-cake.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Oil-cake.
I, FREDERICK CECIL CALTHROP, of 18, Irwell Chambers, Fazackerley Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of
my said invention to be as follows:-
It is the practice of many makers of cattle feeding cake-generally termed
oil-cake-in the process of manufacture, to press the meal in the presses, which
are employed in the usual way for the purposo, to such an extent, as to express
very large proportion of the oil originally contained in the meal, from it, the aim
and object of the intense pressing being chiefly to obtain as much oil as possible
from the meal; the result being that, although the proportion of oil obtained from
the meal of that which it contained before pressure, is a large one, yet, the cake
so produced is very hard and not so suited for after manipulation, or for feeding,
as are cakes subjected to lighter pressure in the press. Now the chief object of
this invention is to press the same quantity of oil from the meal as heretofore,
and as above specified, but at the same time to produce such a manufacture of
cake as shall not possess the defects above referred to; or in other words, to render
such hard cake unobjectionable in breaking or otherwise preparing for use, and not.
only harmless to live stock, but more nutritious.
The densely pressed cake at the present time is generally on the Liverpool market
termed "hard" by farmers, and other users; that is to say, this kind of cake goes
generally by the name of "hard cake" and is mostly of American manufacture.
To effect the above ends, and according to my invention, in the manufacture of
oil cake, and subsequently to its being hard pressed, it is moistened and heated, or
subjected to either of such treatments, that is, it is subjected to an artificial softening
process; and this I do preferably in one of the manners presently described.
This operation or treatment may either be done by the manufacturer of the cake
from the meal in the first instance, or it may be subsequently done by others prior
to using it.
In the practice of my invention in connection with hard cake subsequently to its
disposal by the original manufacturer, it is softened by subjecting it to the action
and influence of water, hot or cold steam or vapour or other suitable fluid, preferably
under pressure. If a vapour of a liquid is employed, it may be that of water or
oil, such as cotton seed oil or linseed oil-or the like.
The process of softening the cake is, under my invention, preferably carried out
in closed chambers or vessels. The cake is placed in the chambers or vessels in
which the softening fluid exists or is introduced, and is subjected to the influence
thereof until sufficiently softened.
The action of the fluid is rapid, and causes the cake to swell; and after treatment
it retains this soft and open nature, and is consequently more suitable for cattle
food than "hard cake
and moreover is easy to crack or break, which "hard
cake" is not, and therefore should be of a greater market value.
22
The apparatus may take various forms, such as for instance it may consist of
tanks, into which the cake is introduced from above; or according to another
arrangement it may consist of chambers, the cake being supported upon carriages
or cages on wheels and adapted to be run in and out of such chambers.
According to a modification of my invention I may first disintegrate the cakes by
wet or dry method, and then again press them into cakes.
In conclusion I wish to state that the invention is not confined to the treatment of

page_text: hard cake, nor to the particular type of apparatus specified, or the particular manners
of or fluids used for effecting the softening of the cake.
Dated this 27th day of January 1890.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Agents.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Oil-cake.
I, FREDERICK CECIL CALTHROP, of 18, Irwell Chambers, Fazakerley Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, 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 :-
It is the practice of many makers of cattle feeding cake-generally termed oil-cake,
but particularly decorticated cotton seed cake-in the process of manufacture, to
press the meal or prepared material in the presses, which are employed in the usual
way for the purpose, to such an extent, as to express a very large proportion of the
oil originally contained in the meal, from it, the aim and object of the intense
pressing being chiefly to obtain as much oil as possible from the meal; the result
being that whilst the proportion of oil obtained from the meal in this wise is a large
one, yet, the cake so produced is very hard and not so suited for after manipulation,
or for feeding, as are cakes subjected to lighter pressure in the press, being indigestible
and difficult of mastication by animals. Now the chief object of this invention is to
improve the condition of the cake which has been rendered too hard as above
described, and so produce such a manufacture of cake as shall not possess the defects
above referred to; but shall be fit for breaking or otherwise preparing for use, and
not only harmless to live stock, but more digestible, easier of mastication and
nutritious and generally of improved quality.
The densely pressed cake at the present time is generally on the Liverpool market
termed hard or "hard pressed" by merchants, farmers, and other users; that is to
say, this kind of cake goes generally by the name of "hard cake" and is mostly of
American manufacture."
In carrying out the production of relatively "soft" cake from the hard cake,
I, according to my invention, in the course of the manufacture of oil cake, and sub-
sequently to its being hard pressed, moisten and heat it, or subject it to other
treatment as hereinafter described.
These operations or treatments may either be carried out at the time of the first
manufacture of the cake from the seed, or subsequently at any time prior to its being
used.
According to one modification of my invention the "hard cake" is softened by
subjecting it to the action and influence of water, hot or cold, steam or vapour, or
other suitable fluid, and preferably under pressure. If a vapour of a liquid is
employed, it may be that of water or oil, such as cotton seed oil or linseed oil-or
the like.
The process of softening the cake is preferably carried out in closed chambers or
vessels. The cake is placed in the chambers or vessels in which the softening fluid
exists or is introduced, and is subjected to the influence thereof until sufficiently
softened.
The action of the fluid is rapid, and causes the cake to swell, loosening the particles
of it; and after treatment it retains more or less this soft and open nature, not
reverting to its original hardness, and is consequently more suitable for cattle food
than "hard cake," and moreover is easy to crack or break, which "hard cake" is not,
and therefore should be of greater market value.
The apparatus may take various forms, for instance, it may consist of tanks, into
which the cake is introduced; or according to another arrangement it may consist of

page_text: chambers, the cake being supported upon carriages or cages on wheels and adapted to
be run in and out of such chambers.
In the drawings which serve to illustrate a part of the apparatus just referred
to which I employ in carrying out this invention, is shewn one suitable form of
chamber in which softening or softening and drying can be carried out.
Figure 1 represents the chamber in elevation, and Figure 2 shews it in cross
section at X. X. Figure 1.
The
The apparatus represents a chamber A having a hinged door a¹, at each end, such
doors being adapted to make a tight joint with the body of the chamber A in any
known suitable way. The fluid which may be, say, steam, or hot or cold water, is
introduced through a pipe b and led away therefrom when desired by a pipe c.
fluid in the chamber may, as above described, be under pressure greater than that
of the atmosphere, by which means the rapidity of the softening process can be
accelerated, as the higher the pressure of the softening fluid, the more rapid will
be the permeation of the cakes by it. The interior of this chamber is provided
with rails & adapted to carry a waggon or waggons B in which the cake to be
softened is carried either in bags or bulk. These waggons may be made of any
suitable form such as of bars or other openwork, by which free access of the
softening fluid to the cake can be had.
When an apparatus of this kind is used as a drying chamber for drying the
cake subsequently to its having been moistened and softened; the heat necessary
to effect the drying may be imparted to it by jacketing the chamber, and leading
any suitable heated fluid through the space between the walls of the vessel and the
jacket or, it may be directly heated by a fire, if so desired.
Another mode of drying, although not the one I at present prefer, consists in
conveying heated air or other gas-not deleterious to the cake-into the interior of
the chamber.
A further modified mode of drying is by subjecting the cake to heat in a vacuum,
suitably produced within the drying chamber; if such a mode of drying be employed
the operation may be very rapidly effected.
It is to be understood that the same chamber may be adapted to serve alternately
as a moistening and softening chamber, and as a drying chamber, but at the same
time where convenient it is preferred to employ separate apparatus for these two
stages of the process.
As previously stated the effect of the softening treatment by fluids in the manner
above described is, that the cake is transformed from a bard one into a comparatively
soft one, and this nature will be preserved after it has become dry; that is to say,
it will not revert back into its original form.
According to another modification of my invention I disintegrate the hard cake.
by a dry method, or a wet one, and then subsequently press in into cakes. In the
case in which the dry process is employed I, according to one mode, effect such
disintegration by breaking or crushing it in any known suitable kind of machinery,
such as roller mills, or edge runners, or otherwise. After it is so disintegrated it
is repressed into cakes in the usual or any -known manner practised; and by the
same kind of pressing machinery as is at present used in making "oil cake," or
other kind of cattle feeding cake.
Unless the meal produced as just described is subjected to very high pressures-
say equal to a greater than those employed in the manufacture of the hardest
pressed cake-I. previously to its subjection to pressure, give to the meal a somewhat
moist or slightly sticky or adhesive nature, or add to it a substance so that in
ordinary cake presses it will bind or adhere well, and will not again of itself
disintegrate. This step in the process may be carried out by moistening the broken
meal very slightly with a fine spray of some liquid or vapour not deleterious to the
cake. This operation may be done in any suitable known way whilst the cake is
being disintegrated, or subsequently to disintegration, and, as will be understood
by those connected with the art of oil cake making, a very small quantity indeed
of the liquid need be supplied to the meal in order to render it sufficiently viscous

page_text: Or
when being pressed to effect the requisite degree of adhesion of its particles. This
nature in some cases may be imparted to it by heat, whereby the oil in the meal
becomes viscous to some extent, so that when pressed the particles adhere.
again, in lieu of this, sugar or starch, sago flour, size, or like material may be
added to the meal in such a manner as to give it the necessary sticky or adhesive
nature; or, further, a glutinous material such as that known in the Liverpool market
as "Irish moss," may be used for the purpose.
Another means of effecting the binding of the meal may consist in using cotton
or other suitable seed or seed meal having its original quantity of oil in it, and
mixing them thoroughly up together before pressing.
In carrying out this modification of the invention, if it is desired to improve
the quality of the cake manufactured, the broken or crushed material may, before
being pressed, be screened or otherwise equivalently treated and its husk or a portion
thereof, or cotton or other substances more or less deleterious to cattle removed
from it.
In using any of the above modes in which an organic substance is employed which
might become stale or bad if kept, a small quantity of salicylic acid, or other like
preservative, may be mixed with the meal to preserve it.
A modification however of this last described method consists in breaking the
hard-cake and softening it with water or other suitable liquid under pressure or
otherwise and bringing it to the consistency, say, of a paste, and then pressing
such pasto into cakes, expressing in such action the water or other liquid from it.
In conclusion i wish to state that my invention is not confined to cotton cake,
or the particular apparatus specified, or the particular manners of manipulating it, as
it will be plain to those skilled in the art to which this invention belongs or is
most nearly connected, that these things can be varied and modified according to
conditions under which the invention is being practised; and it is to be understood
that such variations or modifications may be effected without departing from the
general scope and characteristics of this invention; and further it is to be stated
that the particular fluids or substances specified which are to be used in the carrying
out of the invention are given as examples of suitable ones which I may employ, at
the same time, I may employ others having equivalent natures or effects under this
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is -
:-
The improved soft cake produced from hard cake substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.