Improved Process of and Apparatus for Tanning and Cleaning Hides and Skins.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process of and Apparatus for Tanning and Cleaning Hides
and Skins.
I THOMAS COWBURN of Mödling near Vienna in the Empire of Austria, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The object of this invention is to reduce the time required for tanning and
cleaning hides and skins.
By my new process, in combination with my improved apparatus, the time
necessary for cleaning hides and skins is reduced from eight days, as has hitherto
been the case, to about two days, and the time required for tanning proper, which
hitherto amounted to about fourteen weeks, is reduced to about one week.
My improved process is based upon my discovery that when a liquid is contained
in an oblong closed box, to which a rocking movement around an axis below the
liquid level is imparted, the liquid, by dashing against the ends and the cover of
the said box, is moved in the reverse direction, so that hides and skins of suitable
size, placed in the box, are turned over entirely at each up and down movement of
the said box.
The liquid employed for washing or cleaning or tanning, and the hides and skins,
are placed into an oblong box rocking to and fro on an axis. The arrangement is
such, that while the machine is rocking to and fro, the liquid is violently thrown
from one end to the other, turning the hides or skins over and over, so that
alternately the hair side and the flesh side of the saine are uppermost, and the
liquid acts uniformly on both sides. The to and fro movement of the liquid, and
the continuous turning over and over of the hides and skins, cause such a
mechanical and chemical action, that the hides and skins are much more rapidly
cleaned, impregnated and tanned, than by any other process hitherto known.
The apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, and designed to
carry out my herein before described improved process, consists of a box to contain
the washing or tanning liquid to about one half of its depth. This box is supported
by a horizontal axis situated below the liquid level. This axis is mounted in a
frame, and the ends of the box are supported by springs.
When the apparatus is used, the cover is opened, and the hides or skins to be
washed or tanned are placed into the box, and the required amount of liquid is run
into it. Then the cover is closed, and the box is rocked by means of a handle or
lever, or by a crank, or other suitable contrivance, whereby the springs are
alternately compressed, and the liquid contained in the box is thrown from one end
to the other.
Without departing from the essence of my invention, instead of using manual
power, the box may be rocked by any motor, and the springs may be omitted.
The box may be made of wood, metal, glass, or any other suitable material, and it
can be heated by admitting steam through a pipe, or by any other means.
The process herein described differs essentially from the well known processes of
treating hides or skins in rotary drums or barrels, because, in such processes, the
hides or skins are only raised and lowered, and the liquid is not dashed from one
end to the other, and also because, in such processes, the skins or hides are not
continually submerged in the liquid, and undergo considerable wear in their
movement in such rotary drums or barrels. In my process, owing to the to and
fro movement of the liquid, and of the skins or hides, the latter are always
submerged in the violently agitated liquid, and the latter is dashed against the
hide and skins, so as to penetrate into their innermost pores. The result is, that

page_text: irregular contractions and wrinkles produced on the hair side by other quick
tanning processes, are obviated.
Dated this 25th day of November 1805
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process of and Apparatus for Tanning and Cleaning Hides
and Skins.
I THOMAS COWBURN of Mödling, near Vienna in the Empire of Austria, 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 this invention is to reduce the time required for tanning and
cleaning hides and skins.
By my new process, in combination with my improved apparatus, the time
necessary for cleaning hides and skins is reduced from eight days, as has hitherto
been the case, to about two days, and the time required for tanning proper, which
hitherto amounted to about fourteen weeks, is reduced to about one week.
My improved process is based upon my discovery, that when a liquid is contained
in an oblong closed box to which a rocking movement around an axis below the
liquid level is imparted, the liquid, by dashing against the ends and the cover of
the said box, is moved in the reverse direction, so that hides and skins of suitable
size placed in the box are turned over entirely at each up and down movement of
the said box.
Figs. 1 to 4 show, in diagram, my improved process of washing and tanning, the
arrows indicating the direction of the movement of the liquid and of the hides and
skins.
Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention,
and designed to carry my herein before described improved process into practice.
The liquid employed for washing or cleaning or tanning, and the hides and skins,
are placed in an oblong box, which is arranged to rock to and fro on an axis.
The arrangement is such, that while the machine is rocking to and fro, the liquid is
violently thrown from one end to the other, turning the hides or skins over and
over, so that alternately the hair side and the flesh side of the same are uppermost,
and the liquid acts uniformly on both sides. The to and fro movement of the
liquid, and the continuous turning over and over of the hides and skins, cause
such a mechanical and chemical action, that the hides and skins are much more
rapidly cleaned, impregnated, and tanned, than by any other process hitherto
known.
The apparatus consists of a box A, to be filled with the washing, or tanning
liquid to about one half of its volume. This box is supported by a horizontal
axis B, situated below the liquid level. This axis is mounted in a frame D, and
the ends of the box are supported by springs E E. The box is provided with a
cover, part of which is hinged, as shown at G.
When the apparatus is used, the part G is opened, and the hides or skins to be
washed or tanned are placed in this box, and the required amount of liquid is run
into it. The box is rocked by means of a handle or lever H, or by a crank, or in
other suitable manner, whereby the springs E are alternately compressed, and the
liquid contained in the box is thrown from one end to the other.
Without departing from the essence of my invention, instead of using manual
power, the box may be rocked by any motor, and the springs may be omitted.
The box A may be made of wood, metal, glass, or any other suitable material, and
it can be heated by admitting steam through the pipe I, or by any other means.
The process herein described differs essentially from the well-known processes of

page_text: treating hides or skins in rotary drums or barrels, because in such processes the
hides or skins are only raised and lowered, and the liquid is not dashed from one
end to the other, and also because, in such processes, the skins or hides are not
continually submerged in the liquid, and they moreover undergo considerable wear
during their movement in such rotary drums or barrels.
In my process, owing to the to and fro movement of the liquid and of the skins
or hides, these latter are always submerged in the violently agitated liquid, which
is dashed against the hides and skins, so as to penetrate into their innermost pores.
The result is, that irregular contractions and wrinkles produced on the hair side by
other quick tanning processes, are obviated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved process of washing or tanning hides and skins, consisting in
rocking the same, together with the washing or tanning liquid, in a closed box, in
such a manner that the hides or skins are dashed to and fro, and caused to lie
alternately on the hair side and flesh side, while being continuously submerged in
and worked upon by the liquid, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
2. For carrying into practice the improved process hereinbefore set forth, an
apparatus consisting of a closed box supported by an axis situated below the level
of the liquid, and rocked to and fro by means of a crank lever, or any other suitable
mechanism, in such manner that the liquid contained in the box, together with the
hides or skins placed therein, are thrown from one end to the other, and turned
over, substantially as described and shown.
3. In the apparatus for treating hides and skins, the combination of the box A
with the axis B, the frame D, springs E, and lever H, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Dash: 1
1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.