Improvements relating to the Cleansing of or Extraction of Fatty Substances from Wool and the like, and to a Method Clarifying the Solvent used therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM TENNY CUTTER, of East Lyme, in the
County of New London, State of Connecticut, United States of America.]
Improvements relating to the Cleansing of or Extraction of Fatty
Substances from Wool and the like, and to a Method
Clarifying the Solvent used therefor.
ot
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex 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 object of my invention is to provide a process for extracting fat from wool
and rendering the wool fit for manufacturing purposes, by the use of solvents,
without elaborate and expensive machinery, and by which is produced a comparatively
pure and clear solution of naptha (or other suitable fat solvent) and fat separated
from other foreign matters commonly found in raw wool.
I am aware that it is not new to make use of solvents for the purpose of
removing fat from wool.
My invention directly relates to the process for removing the wool fat, by the
use of a suitable solvent as naptha, from wool to prepare the latter for manufacture;
and it involves a subsequent treatment of the materials whereby the valuable
potash salts are recovered and the wool fibre is left unbroken, unfelted, and in a
pure condition ready for manufacture; and by this process a larger percentage
of pure wool is produced than by a process in which hot caustic alkalies are
used.
I have discovered that by allowing naptha slowly to trickle through the wool
and to be repeatedly returned, the suspended impurities are retained in the mass
of wool, the wool serving somewhat as a mechanical filter, and the solvent finally
appears as a clear solution which can then be distilled to separate the fat and recover
the solvent. The remaining valuable portions of the foreign matter including
potash salts may be recovered in any usual manner, and the wool finally cleansed
by water-washing and rendered fit for manufacturing purposes.
The machinery
required for this purpose is comparatively simple and inexpensive.
My invention consists in the method of cleaning the wool, and also clarifying
the solvent, as more particularly hereinafter described and pointed out in the
claims.
Referring to the drawings:
Figure 1 is a diagram view of an apparatus in which my improved process of
cleaning wool may be carried out.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the separator basket.
In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a naptha tank forming part
of an apparatus by the use of which my invention may be practised. A delivery
pipe from this tank leads to a separator b, which latter consists of a vessel adapted
for holding wool, and preferably of a capacity of about thirty-two (32) cubic feet,
and in operation about two-thirds filled with raw unwashed wool of an average weight
of about two hundred and fifty (250) pounds. This separator b is provided with a
cover b¹ so fitted that it may be tightly closed to hermetically seal the vessel.
Within the separater ba basket k is arranged, and it consists preferably of a
centrally perforated tube k', a disk-shaped bottom k³, and a disk-shaped top k³,
which disks are adapted to fit snugly within the separator and are perforated
for the passage of fluids. The central tube is provided at the upper end with
a nut to which is secured an eye that affords means for attaching a hook
by means of which the basket can be handled. The hollow central tube of the

page_text: basket is provided with a check valve k arranged to open inwardly so as to allow
the inflow of air from the bottom of the separator, the said check valve also
serving to obstruct the outflow of naptha or other suitable fat solvents from within.
The separator is provided with a sight glass 6 conveniently located at one side for
the purpose of observing the height of liquid in the separator.
At the bottom of the separator there is a tubular outlet communicating with
a vessel c that is, in part at least, of glass, so as to allow the solution to be
examined as it passes out from the separator into the circulation tubes by means of
which it is returned to the tank for repassage through the separator until it has
reached a certain density or condition that may be ascertained by inspection
through the glass. The vessel c discharges preferably through a pipe at its
bottom into holders d as soon as the solution has reached the proper condition
of purity.
The delivery pipe of a fan blower g is connected to the bottom of the separator
below the bottom of the basket, and by means thereof a current of air heated
to about two hundred and thirty degrees (230°) Fahrenheit may be passed through
the separator and its contents, whereby the latter is thoroughly dried prior
to the introduction of the naptha, and the fat which envelops the wool fibre
is so loosened that the solution will more readily remove it, thus minimizing
the quantity of naptha required.
From the naptha tank, or other suitable source of supply, a sufficient quantity
of naptha to saturate and cover the wool is supplied to the separator b.
The naptha
is a solvent for the fat or animal oil in the wool, and it is, after a certain time,
drawn from the bottom of the separator in a slow stream through the outlet pipe
into the vessel c, a valve 3 for controlling the flow being provided in the inter-
mediate pipe. This naptha holding the fat in solution is pumped repeatedly back
by means of any suitable form of pump through the branch piper in which
a valve 5 is located, that connects with the outlet from the vessel c; the pump h¹
delivers the solution into the tank from which it flows again through the separator;
and this is continued until the solution runs clear and free from any extraneous
matter, the wool in fact forming a sort of mechanical filter for the naptha. The
solution is then in proper condition to submit to distillation for the purpose of
separating the naptha from the fat by a process that is hereinafter described,
and when it has reached this condition it is allowed to flow into the holder d by
opening the valves 4 and 6 and closing valves 7 and 5 in the several pipes that
are joined to the connection between the vessel and holder d.
The wool while in the separator is again saturated with naptha until it shows
but little traces of fat or is exhausted, and this last run of naptha may be used to
saturate a fresh batch of wool in a repetition of the process. After a batch of
wool has been cleansed of its fat in the manner described, the valve 2 in the
delivery pipe of the exhaust blower, is opened and a current of air at a
temperature of about two hundred and fifty degrees (250°) Fahrenheit is
caused to pass through the wool that holds a certain portion of the naptha
adhering to it, and by this current it is vaporized and driven through the
connecting pipe e', through a condenser e and delivered into a tank. The valve 9
in the pipe e controls the flow of any fluid through the pipe. On the separator
side of the valve 9 there is an exhaust pipe p through which any vapor may be
discharged by closing the valve 9 and opening valve 10.
After this hot air treatment the wool is thoroughly dried at a temperature of
about two hundred and fifty degrees (250°) Fahrenheit, and then water at a
temperature of about one hundred degrees (100°) Fahrenheit is admitted into the
separator in any suitable manner.
By the flow of this water the potash salts are washed out, and from the resultant
mixture the pure salts may be recovered in the usual manner. After this treatment
the cover of the separator is removed and the basket with its contents lifted out
and the wool rinsed in tepid water.
As a portion of the naptha. purifying mechanism, the still ƒ is used, and it

page_text: consists of a steam-jacketed apparatus connected by means of pipe / with the
bottom of the holder. A steam pipe i leading from a suitable source of steam
supply, is arranged to deliver into the still, and the pipe his united to the pipe i in
such manner that the flow of steam through the pipe i draws the naptha with
it by an operation analogous to that of an injector, and delivers it in a spray
through the rose jet ¹ into the still. Another steam pipe projects within the
still and it is perforated so as to deliver jets of steam within the still, and mixed
steam and naptha pass out through the pipe m in which the valve 11 is fixed,
through the worm to a condenser j, and is then delivered into a tank from which
the naptha may be pumped into the tank from which the separator is supplied.
The lower part of the still is provided with a delivery pipe f¹ having a valve
to control the flow, and through which the fat that has been separated from the
naptha may be drawn off into any suitable vessel.
A preferred manner of practicing my invention is as follows:
a
The naptha tank is first filled with naptha and a supply of wool put into the
separator, the perforated top of the basket being put in place and the nut screwed.
on to afford a means of handling the basket and its contents. The cover of the
separator is then clamped on and sealed and hot air from the blower it admitted
through the mass of wool until all moisture has been driven out through the pipe p.
In this operation, valves 1, 3 and 9 are closed, and valves 2 and 10 open. The
blower is then shut off by closing valve 2; valve 10 is still left open and valves 3, 4,
5 and 9 then opened and naptha admitted through valve 1 until the glass gauge 12
shows the solution to stand at about level with the top of the basket. By connecting
the pump with the vessel c and the separator, the naptha is caused to circulate
rapidly through the separator, and this circulation is continued until the solution
shows clear at c, when valve 5 is closed and valves 6 and 8 are opened. Valve 11
in the connection between the still and condenser is opened and this lets air escape
through the condenser. After the wool in the separator b is free from fat, the
valves 3 and 10 are closed (valve 1 having been previously closed) and valve 2 is
opened. A current of hot air driven from the blower, removes the naptha, which
latter passes out through valve 9 into the condenser e and thence into a storage tank.
The valves 2, 6 and 9 are then closed, valves 3, 4 and 7 are opened and water
admitted by opening valve 10, and this flows out at valve 7 removing the potash in
solution and carrying it into an evaporator by means of which the potash salts are
recovered. The cover of the separator is then removed and a block attached and
falls or tackle or other means used to lift the basket and wool freed of fat and
potash out of the separator and moved to where it may be rinsed in tepid water
and dried. Steam is then allowed to enter the still through the pipe i, valve 8 in
the connecting pipe to the naptha holder being opened and the solution or mixture
of naptha and fat drawn into the still and separated in the manner already described,
the valve in the steam pipe being opened so that a supply of steam enters to keep
the fat in a liquid condition so that it may be drawn off through the delivery
pipe. The naptha that passes over in the form of a vapour through the pipe m
is condensed and delivered into a storage tank whence it may be pumped into the
supply tank a.
I have found by repeated experiment that the complete and perfect elimination
of the foreign matters other than wool fat takes place in the separator before the fat
in the wool is exhausted. The foreign matters other than wool fat are thus rendered
absolutely free in the separator (and not by any subsequent process) and are
removable by ordinary water washing. The solution of naptha and fat in the
practice of my process is practically free from all extraneous matter except free
fatty acids and wool fat and ready for immediate distilling; this is also one of the
important features of my invention. I eliminate that part of the natural wool that
is harmful and worthless so far as known, and produce a high gravity solution of
naptha and fat at one process, treating the raw unwashed wool directly just as it
comes from the fleece. I have referred to the fat solvent preferably used by me in
the practice of my invention as naptha, but by that term I mean to include all

page_text: suitable solvents of fat that are the equivalent of naptha in their action upon the
fat and fatty acids in the material to be cleansed and purified.
My process obviously differs greatly from those that depend upon the removal of
the fats by saponification and also from those in which a continuous flow of solvent
is employed, the solvent passing from vessel to vessel.
It is obvious that my invention is not confined to any specific form of machinery,
and that described herein is simply one form in which the invention may be success-
fully practised.
Neither do I restrict my invention to any particular method of or means for
removing the naptha from the wool, nor of removing the suint, the broad invention
consisting in the removal of the oil from the wool in the first instance by repeated
flowing or percolating of naptha through the wool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :
1. The process of cleansing animal fibre as wool, that consists in passing and
repassing the initial quantity of naptha at a regulated speed through the animal
fibre that is enclosed in a vessel, then passing a current of hot air in a reverse
direction through the mass of fibre, and then washing the mass by passing a current
of water through it, all substantially as described.
2. The process of cleaning wool that consists in confining a compressed mass of
the material in a closed vessel, then passing a current of hot air at a temperature of
about 250° Fahrenheit, through the mass, then saturating the mass with a suitable
fat solvent and passing and repassing the initial quantity of the solvent at a
regulated speed through the mass of wool, all substantially as described.
3. The process of cleaning wool that consists in first drying the mass of wool
that is held in a suitable vessel by passing a current of hot air therethrough, and
then subjecting the dried mass to repeated washings by a suitable fat solvent
repeatedly passed through the mass, then driving off the excess of solvent by a
current of hot air, and then washing out the potash salts and other deposited
impurities from the mass of wool by means of a current of water at a suitable
temperature passed through the mass, all substantially as described.
4. The process of cleaning wool fibre that consists in first drying the mass of
wool that is held in a suitable vessel by passing a current of hot air therethrough,
and then subjecting the dried mass to repeated washings by a suitable fat solvent
repeatedly passed through the mass, then driving off the excess of solvent by a
current of hot air, and then washing out the potash salts and other deposited
impurities from the mass of the wool by means of a current of water at a temperature
of about 100° Fahrenheit passed through the mass, all substantially as described.
5. The process of extracting the fat from wool which consists in subjecting the
greasy wool to the action of a suitable solvent of fat in an enclosing receptacle and
repeatedly percolating the same or initial charge of solvent through the wool, all
substantially as described.
6. The process of extracting fat from a fibrous material which consists in subjecting
a mass of such greasy fibrous material to the action of naptha in an enclosing
receptacle and repeatedly percolating the initial charge of solvent through the mass,
substantially as described.
7. The process of extracting fat from wool which consists in percolating the fat
solvent through greasy wool and thereby freeing it of foreign matter, then repeatedly
passing this resulting solution so charged through the wool until the fatty bodies
are dissolved out and taken up by the solvent, and the suspended impurities are
filtered out and deposited in the wool, all substantially as described.
8. The process of cleansing wool from grease and other foreign matters which
consists in subjecting wool in an enclosing receptacle to the action of a current of
suitable solvent then filtering the initial charge of solvent through the wool to
dissolve out the fatty bodies and redeposit the suspended impurities in the wool and

page_text: repeating the percolation of this initial charge of solvent until the fluid solution of
fatty matters is substantially clear of suspended impurities, and then washing the
wool to cleanse it of the deposited impurities, all substantially as described.
9. The process of clarifying a fatty solution obtained by passing a quantity of
suitable fat solvent as naptha, through a mass of auimal fibre that consists in
repeatedly filtering this solution of fat mixed with foreign matter through a mass of
the same animal fibre, all substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of September 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.