AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND REFINING FATS, FATTY MATTERS, AND OILS GENERALLY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gabriel Hugon, of 34, Eastcheap, in the City of London,
Merchant, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND
REFINING FATS, FATTY MATTERS, AND OILS GENERALLY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gabriel Hugon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1880.
GABRIEL HUGON, of 34, Eastcheap, in the City of London, Merchant.
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND REFINING FATS, FATTY MATTERS,
AND OILS GENERALLY."
The object of this Invention is to provide an apparatus which will both melt fats
and refine them at one operation in the same vessel so effectually, and in a manner
and with such cleanliness, as to render them particularly fit for human consumption
or the finer purposes of industry, these objects being attained by simple and easy
mechanical means which I now describe.
:
The melting and refining apparatus, which I shall continuo to describe as the
"vat," can be made of any suitable material, but I prefer the inside to be
enamelled on account of the perfect cleanliness it ensures.
Having ascertained that the flavor, smell, or color of fats (particularly beef fat)
are very much injured by being subjected to a great heat in the melting, I melt
them in a large quantity of water, and I apply the heat to my vat by means of
a low steam jacket which does not reach higher than the body of water, so that
the fat as it melts and rises to the top is no longer in contact with the steam
jacketted part of the vat, and it is not subjected to greater heat than that given off
by the boiling water.
The upper part of the vat is provided with a second jacket which is open at the
top for the purpose of receiving any accidental overflow during the boiling; this
jacket has also the effect of maintaining gentle heat round the body of melted
fat. The jacket is fitted with a tap at the bottom for drawing off any overflow
which may have fallen in, and it is poured back into the vat; this same upper
jacket may be provided with a warm air blast pipe for the purpose of more
effectually driving the steam produced by the ebullition of the water in the vat up
and through the conical cap described further on.

page_text: The vat is fitted with several pipes; one is connected with a hot water tank so
that the water evaporated by the ebullition may be replaced from time to time
without interrupting the boiling; this pipe is connected with the vat in two
places, in the lower part and also at about one third the height of the vat, so that
it may be used, if desired, to raise the bulk of the melted fat to any desired level to
meet the taps for drawing off the fat when it is melted and refined, or to chango
the water in the vat without traversing the melted fat.
Another pipe similarly fitted to the vat is connected with a cold water tank.
The bottom of the vat is rounded off so as to make the skins and impurities
collect in the centre where there is a plug, which when removed enables an easy
discharge through the pipe provided for that purpose.
The vat is also fitted with a "spray distributor" connected with the hot and the
cold water pipes, by means of which it will be easy to distribute over the fat a
spray of hot or cold water, as may be desired. The vat is fitted with taps at
various heights for drawing off the melted fat.
The vat is also provided with a conical moveable cap intended to carry off the
-steam and the smell of the melting outside the building or up the shaft. This cap
is not fixed to the vat; it may be raised or lowered by means of counterpoise
weights, and it has an inside hollow rim intended to catch the condensed steam
when it is lifted up, and prevent tho same from falling back in or on the vat or
the stage or floor.
3
The various improvements upon the apparatus or vats at present in use for
melting or refining fatty matters, which I have described, will enable the operator
to melt raw fats and refine them, or to remelt and refine lard, tallow, or other
fatty matters or oils generally, in one and the same vessel rapidly and at the
- minimum cost of labor, as the simple turning of the different cocks and taps will
enable the operator to deal effectually with the bulk under treatment in any way
that may be desired. And I would have it understood that what I claim is,--
1st. The construction of a vat with a low steam jacket which shall not reach
higher than the intended level of the water used for melting, so that the fat or
matter to be treated shall not be subjected to greater heat than that given off by
the boiling water.
2nd. An upper jacket open at the top for the purpose of receiving any accidental
or any desired overflow.
3rd. The fitting and connecting of the vat with hot and cold water tanks for the
purposes described.
4th. The fitting and connecting of the vat with a spray distributor for the
purpose described.
5th. The arrangement of the moveable conical cap with an inside hollow rim for
the purpose described.
6th. The particular arrangement of the pipes with which the vat is fitted, which
enables the operator to maintain the fat at any desired level, and to pour upon it
a continuous stream of clarifying water whilst the underneath water is being drawn
off with the impurities removed from the fat.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Gabriel Hugon in the Great Seal. Patent Office on the 18th
December 1880.
GABRIEL HUGON, of 34, Eastcheap, in the City of London, Merchant.
“AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND REFINING FATS, FATTY MATTERS,
AND OILS GENERALLY."
The. object of this Invention is to provide an apparatus. which will both melt
fats and refine them at one operation in the same vessel so effectually, and in a
manner and with such cleanliness, as to render them particularly fit. for human
consumption or the finer purposes of industry, these objects being attained by
simple and easy mechanical means which I now describe.
The melting and refining apparatus (which I shall continue to describe as the
"vat"), can be made of any suitable material, but I prefer the inside to be enamelled
on account of the perfect cleanliness it ensures.
:
Having ascertained that the flavor, smell, or color of fats (particularly beef fat)
are very much. injured by being subjected to a great heat in the melting I melt
them in a large quantity of water, and I apply the heat to my-vat by means of a
low steam jacket which does not reach bigher than the body of water, so that tho
fat as it melts and rises to the top is no longer in contact with the steam jacketted
part of the vat, and it is not subjected to greater heat than that given off by
boiling water.
The upper part of the vat is provided with a second jacket which is open at tho
top for the purpose of receiving any accidental overflow or desired overflow during
the boiling; this jacket has also the effect of maintaining a gentle heat round the
body of melted fat. The jacket is fitted with a tap at the bottom for drawing off any
overflow which may have fallen in, and it is, if desirable, poured back into the vat;
the same upper jacket may be provided with a warm-air blast pipe for the purpose
of more effectually driving the steam produced by the ebullition of the water in the
vat up and through a conical cap described further on.
The vat is fitted with several pipes; one is connected with a hot water tank so
that the water evaporated by the ebullition may be replaced from time to time
without interrupting the boiling; this pipe is connected with the vat in the lower.
part, and also at about one third the height of the vat, so that it may be used, if
desired, to raise the bulk of the melted fat to any desired level to meet the taps
for drawing off the fat when it is melted and retined, or, to change the water in
the vat without traversing the melted fat:
Another pipe similarly fitted to the vat is connected with a cold water tank.
The bottom of the vat is rounded off so as to make the skins and impurities
collect in the centre where there is a plug, which .when removed enables an easy
discharge through the pipe provided for that purpose.
The vat is also fitted with a spray distributor connected with the hot and cold
water pipes, by means of which it will be easy to distribute over the fat a spray
of hot or cold water, as may be desired. The vat is fitted with taps at various
heights for drawing off the melted fat.
The vat is also provided with a moveable conical cap intended to carry.off the
steam and the smell of the melting outside building or up the shaft. This cap
is not fixed to the vat; it may be raised or lowered by means of counterpoise
weights, and it has an inside-hollow rim intended to catch the condensed steam
when it is lifted up, and prevent the same from falling back in or on the vat or
111

page_text: _under treatment in any way that may be desired. And I would have it understood
that what I claim is,―
1st. The construction of a vat with a low steam jacket which shall not reach
higher than the intended level of tho water used for melting, so that the fat or
matter to be treated shall not be subjected to greater heat than that given off by the
boiling water.
.
2nd. An uppor jacket open at the top for the purpose of receiving any accidental
or any desired overflow, and for the other purposes already explained.
3rd. The fitting and connecting of the vat with hot and cold water tanks for
the purpose described.
4th. The fitting and connecting of the vat with a spray distributor for the
purpose described.
5th. The arrangement of the moveable cap with an inside hollow rim for the
purpose described.
6th. The particular arrangement of the pipes with which the vat is fitted, which
enables the operator to maintain the fat at any desired level, and to pour upon it a
continuous stream of clarifying water whilst the underneath water is being drawn
off with the impurities removed from the fat or other matter under treatment.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gabriel Hugon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.