IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS OR ̈ APPLIANCES FOR TREATING OLEAGINOUS SEEDS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Back Lawther, of the City of Chicago, in the State
of Illinois, United States of America, but at present of the North Western
Hotel; Lime Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Seed Crusher, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS OR
¨ APPLIANCES FOR TREATING OLEAGINOUS SEEDS."
led the 28th March 1876, and dated the 26th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Back Lawther at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th January 1876.
ALFRED BACK LAWTHER, of the City of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, United
States of America, but at present of the North Western Hotel, Lime Street,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Seed Crusher.
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR TREATING OLEAGINOUS SEEDS."
My Invention relates to a novel method of and apparatus or appliances for
mixing, steaming, moistening, or heating oleaginous seeds after passing through
crushing rolls and before treatment by pressing. The apparatus employed consists
of a "kettle," being a steam jacketted cylindrical receptacle, which is provided
with a vertical rotating shaft which carries hollow perforated arms, being stirrers or
agitators capable of adjustment in their position relative to the bottom of the
kettle. The vertical rotating shaft also carries scrapers and plain stirrers which
are capable of adjustment. The vertical rotating shaft also carries a double spouted
feeding hopper which feeds the seed uniformly. The "kettle" is provided with a
suitable outlet orifice having a door capable of adjustment. The vertical shaft runs
in a footstep, and the upper end is provided with a stuffing box through which
steam, hot water, or hot air is supplied to the hollow perforated stirrer arms.
Steam is also led and supplied to the steam jacket of the "kettle" through pipes
provided with suitable cocks.
"
The method of operation according to my Invention is as follows:-The hollow
perforated arms or stirrers are adjusted to rotate in the "kettle" about four
inches from the bottom thereof, and the plain stirrers are adjusted to follow and
rotate close to the bottom of the "kettle." The seed is fed into the "kettle
through the rotating double spouted hopper, the feed being in advance of the hollow
perforated or steam stirrer. In rotating through the seed the steam stirrer leaves a
wake or space which is continually filled in by the seed, thus exposing a constantly

page_text: recurring fresh surface of seed to the action of the steam. This wake or space is
steam filled from the rotating stirrer, and such steam permeates uniformly through
the seed and does not moisten one particle of seed more than another, which is the
great advantage gained by this method of treating oleaginous seeds.
It will be obvious that my Invention can be modified by changing the rotary
into a reciprocating action, and also by causing the "kettle" to rotate round the
arins instead of the arms rotating in the "kettle."
A second modification of my Invention consists in forcing the seed by means
of a "worm" through a pipe or tube in which is caused to rotate steam stirrers or
agitators.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Alfred Back Lawther in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 18th July
1876.
ALFRED BACK LAWTHER, of the City of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, United
States of America, but at present of the North Western Hotel, Lime Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Seed Crusher. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR TREATING OLEAGINOUS SEEDS."
My Invention relates to a novel method of and apparatus or appliances for
mixing, steaming, moistening, or heating oleaginous seeds after passing through
crushing rolls and before treatment by pressing. The apparatus employed consists
of a kettle, being a steam jacketted cylindrical receptacle which is provided with
a vertical rotating shaft which carries hollow perforated arms, being stirrers or
agitators capable of adjustment in their position relative to the bottom of the
kettle. The vertical rotating shaft also carries scrapers and plain stirrers which
are capable of adjustment. The vertical rotating shaft also carries a double
spouted feeding hopper which feeds the seed uniformally. The "kettle" is pro-
vided with a suitable outlet orifice having a door capable of adjustment. The
vertical shaft runs in a footstep; and the upper end is provided with a stuffing box
through which steam, hot water, or hot air is supplied to the hollow perforated
Steam is also led and supplied to the steam jacket of the "kettle"
through pipes provided with suitable cocks.
stirrer arms.
The method of operation according to my Invention is as follows:-The hollow
perforated arms or stirrers are adjusted to rotate in the "kettle" about four inches
from the bottom thereof, and the plain stirrers are adjusted to follow and rotate
close to the bottom of the kettle. The seed is fed into the kettle through the
rotating double spouted hopper, the feed being in advance of the hollow perforated
or steam stirrer. In rotating through the seed the steam stirrer leaves à wake or
space which is continually filled in by the seed, thus exposing a coustantly recurring
fresh surface of seed to the action of the steam. This wake or space is steam filled
from the rotating stirrer, and such steam permeats uniformilly through the seed
and does not moisten one particle of seed more than another, which is the great
advantage gained by this method of treating oleaginous seeds.
It will be obvious that ny Invention can be inodified by changing the rotary
into a reciprocating action, and also by causing the kettle to rotate round the arms
instead of the arms rotating in the kettle.
A second modification of my Invention consists in forcing the seed by means
of a worm through a pipe or tube in which is caused to rotate steam stirrers or
agitators.
The before-going being the nature, object, and purposes of my Invention I will
now proceed to describe more in detail how the same may be carried out into
practical effect, and for that purpose I have hereunto attached two Sheets of
Drawings marked with letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in
the following explanation, and sufficient to enable any practical person to carry my

page_text: Invention into operation. Like letters and figures marked on the Drawings are
used to denote similar parts throughout the various views.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1, are drawn to the scale of inch and a half to the foot,
and represent a general arrangement of an apparatus constructed according to my
Invention for carrying out my improved method of treating oleaginous seeds.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, Figure 2 an outside elevation, Figure 3 a plan of
my improved apparatus.
Figures 4 to 21 are details of the apparatus as shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Figures 22 to 25 illustrate modifications of an apparatus constructed according
to my Invention.
Upon reference to the Drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that the
apparatus that I employ consists of a kettle A, being a cylindrical receptacle
surrounded by a steam jacket A¹; the kettle A is provided with a vertical rotating
shaft B, driven by the toothed gear C, and provided with a stuffing box G; the
vertical shaft B is provided with horizontal arms D, D¹, to which are fixed the
vertical arms E, F. The arins E, F, are made adjustable in their relative.
position on the arms D, D¹, and thereby in their position relative to the bottom of
the kettle A. The arm E is made hollow, the horizontal part E' is perforated; the
arm E is connected to the stuffing box G by means of the pipe G₁; G is a steam
pipe leading to the stuffing box G. The arm F is solid and acts as a plain stirrer
At the end of the arm D and following the arm F is a scraper H, used for cleaning
the sides of the kettle and preventing the seed "baking" thereon; I is a double
spouted feeding hopper rotating with the shaft B and supplied by the shoot J ;
K is an outlet orifice or door from the kettle A; K, lever for opening door;
L, steam pipes and drain pipes connected with steam jacket A¹; M, oil cup.
The inethod of operation according to my Invention and the use of the apparatus
just described is as follows:-the hollow perforated arm E' is adjusted to rotate
about four inches from the bottom of the kettle A, the plain stirrer and scraper H
being adjusted to follow and rotate close to the bottom of the kettle A, the rotation
being caused by the shaft B which is driven by the gear C. The crushed seed is
fed through the spout J and is distributed into the kettle through the rotating
double spouted hopper I, the feed being kept in advance of the hollow perforated or
steam stirrer E. In operation the seed is kept in the kettle about twenty inches
deep on a level with the line A, B. In rotating through the seed the steam stirrer E
leaves a wake or space which is continually filled in by the seed, thus exposing a
constantly recurring fresh surface of seed to the action of the steam.
This wake or
space is steam tilled from the rotating perforated stirrer arms E¹, and such steam
permeats uniformally through the seed and does not moisten one particle of seed
more than another, which is one of the great advantages gained by this method of
treating oleaginous seeds. As the seed becomes sufficiently "cooked" it is dis-
charged through the door K.
It will be obvious that my Invention can be modified by causing the kettle A to
rotate round the shaft B and its attendant parts, or the apparatus may be arranged
so that the kettle is revolving round on its centre while the hollow perforated
steam stirrer is revolving round on its centre, thus obtaining a cycloid movement
of the steam stirrer through the seed (see Figures 22 and 23. Also the rotary can
be changed into a reciprocating action by causing and arranging the arms E, E¹, to
move backwards and forwards in a rectangular trough or vessel in manner such as
shown in Figure 24.
Further, my Invention can be also modified by arranging an apparatus, as shown
in Figure 25, in the form of a pipe or tube, through which the seed is forced by
means of a worm, in conjunction with which there are caused to rotate steam
stirrers or agitators.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature, object, and purposes of
my Invention, and shown how the same may be carried out into practical operation,
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details,
dimensions, or arrangement of apparatus as shown in the Drawings, as the same

page_text: may be considerably varied without departing from my Invention; but what I
claim as my Invention, and secured to ine by Letters Patent as aforesaid is,
Firstly. In a kettle or machine for mixing, moistening, and heating oleaginous
seeds, a perforated steain stirrer or mixer, such as E, E; as shown in the accom-
panying Drawings, having either rotary or reciprocating motion, or travel through
the seed to be treated substantially as set forth.
Secondly. In a kettle or machine for treating, moistening, and mixing oleaginous
seeds the use and application of a rotating feeding hopper such as I, substantially as
set forth.
Thirdly. The machine for mixing, moistening, and heating oleaginous seeds
herein described, and such as shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying
Drawings, comprising a steam jacketted reservoir or vessel such as A, and hollow
revolving perforated stirrer arms such as E; E', the whole apparatus as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fourthly. The machine for mixing, moistening, and heating oleaginous seeds
herein described, and such as shown at Figures 22 and 23 of the accompanying
Drawings, comprising a steam jacketted reservoir or vessel such as A; and hollow
revolving perforated stirrer arms such as E, E¹, the whole apparatus as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fifthly. The machine for mixing, moistening, and heating oleaginous seeds herein
described, and such as shown at Figure 24 of the accompanying Drawings, com-
prising a steam jacketted reservoir or vessel such as A, and hollow revolving
perforated stirrer arms such as E, E', the whole apparatus as and for the purpose
set forth.
Sixthly. The machine for mixing, moistening, and heating oleaginous seeds herein
described, and such as shown at Figure 25 of the accompanying Drawings, com-
prising a steam jacketted reservoir or vessel such as A, and hollow revolving
perforated stirrer arms such as E, E¹, the whole apparatus às and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Back Lawther, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
ALFRED BACK (L.S.) LAWTHER.