Improvements in the Treatment of Cotton Seed for the Removal of Fibrous Matters therefrom, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Cotton Seed for the Removal of
Fibrous Matters therefrom, and in Apparatus therefor.
A communication by WILLIAM HENRY STEAD, of Boundary Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, at present at Hotel de la Paix, Geneva,
Switzerland.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements on the type of invention
described in communicator's previous Patents Nos. 1383184 and 109927. The latter
Specification describes a process for using hydrochloric, nitric and other acids
other than sulphuric, which was covered in the previous Specification. In the
actual working however there have been numerous defects in the way of using
these acids; hydrochloric has a much weaker effect than sulphuric and a longer
time is occupied in the process. The result has been that practically these
latter acids have remained unused though theoretically preferable to sulphuric.
The present invention is designed for the purpose of enabling these acids, more
especially hydrochloric to be used with as good as, or better effect than
sulphuric acid. According to this new invention, the pan in which the acid is
mixed with the seed is jacketed with a coil of pipes, or otherwise heated by
steam or other heating device while the acid is being added and during a part
or the whole period of the process, the time varying according to the nature of
the cotton seed and the quantity of moisture which it contains.
The machine employed is substantially that set forth in the aforesaid Patent
of 1884 but ordinary bydrochloric acid of commerce is used in variable propor-
tion according to the nature of the seed and the quantity of cotton lint with
which it is coated; it is therefore impossible to give the exact quantities.
Hydrochloric acid has the advantage that it does not appear to attack or char
the husks of the seed like sulphuric acid does when the latter is not immediately
neutralized; it is therefore preferable to allow both the seed and the dust to
leave the cleaning machine together as soon as the lint has become sufficiently
destroyed, and to pass the contents of the pan over or through a shaking or
revolving screen, the meshes of which are so arranged that the cotton dust goes
through the first portion of the sieve, the seed through a more advanced portion
and at the end of the screen or sieve, any lumps of cotton, seed and cotton,
chips and other materials of like nature pass over as tailings. A blast of air
may be used to separate the seed from the cotton dust or the latter may be
aspirated from the seed. In the machine as set forth in the previous mentioned
Specification, it is preferable to have the stirrers arranged somewhat like the
blades of a screw in a screw steamer, and make these pass round the pan
scraping or almost scraping the bottom the pan itself not moving. In this
way all the force is expended in securing friction attrition, and thorough
mixing of the seed and the thorough absorption by and coating of the lint
by the acid or other liquid used, and the subsequent rubbing off and abrading
of the cotton as soon as the texture of the fibre is destroyed by the acid.
In some cases a single arm may be placed about the middle height of the

page_text: tank, midway from the top and bottom of the tank. In some cases dry alkali
or a solution of the same is mixed with the seed before the latter is passed
under the crushing stones or into the cooking vessel preparatory to the oil being
expressed, or it can be placed in the ordinary iron pan with revolving arms and
mixed with the seed after it has been acted upon by the acid.
When hydro-
chloric acid is used however its treatment with alkali and long continued friction
and grease are not required.
Another plan of removing the acid is by means of a current of heated air
passed through the treated seeds. This can be done by placing the seed in a
chamber having a false bottom and passing the heated air into the false bottom.
This can be done in what is called on the Continent, methodically, that is, the
apparatus can be so arranged that the fresh air strikes the nearly completed seed
and the nearly exhausted air the seed fresh from the acid treatment.
Dated the 8th day of June 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Cotton Seed for the Removal of
Fibrous Matters therefrom, and in Apparatus therefor.
A communication by WILLIAM HENRY STEAD, of Boundary Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, but at the time of this communication at Hotel de
la Paix, Geneva, Switzerland.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvements in that type of invention
described in communicator's previous Patents Nos. 13831 and 10992". The latter
Specification describes a process for using hydrochloric, nitric or other acids other
than sulphuric, which latter was covered in the previous Specification.
In the
actual working however there have been numerous difficulties in the way of using
these acids, hydrochloric having a much weaker effect than sulphuric acid and a
longer time is therefore occupied in the process when using the former. The
result has been that practically hydrochloric and nitric acids have remained unused,
though hydrochloric is theoretically preferable to sulphuric.
The present invention is designed for the purpose of enabling these acids, more
especially hydrochloric to be used with as good or better effect than sulphuric
acid.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus, and
Figure 2 a plan of the kettles or pans.
In these A is a jacketted pan usually kept nearly filled with cotton seed, either
by continuous or intermittent feed, B is a shaft passing through this and the
kettles below, C scrapers for stirring and scraping out the material, D is an exit
to a second pan E. In the pan near the top is an arm F, best shown in plan
G is a third
in Figure 2, revolving on the shaft B serving to level the material.
pan and H a fourth pan having similar parts. It is found preferable to use these
series of pans one above another, each of them having a scraper and a leveller
rather than having a much deeper pan with a series of stirrers, as by this means,
thorough mixing and an equal amount of friction are insured. It is however

page_text: obvious that a single jacketted pan with Archimedean stirrers such as that set
forth in Figures 3 & 4 would accomplish substantially the same result. I is a
driving wheel driven from any convenient source. J is a spout leading to
elevator K. This elevator delivers into the rotating screen L on shaft M driven
by gearing N from shaft B. In this screen or riddle the dust is eliminated from
the cotton seed falling out through the fine meshes into the hopper P, from
whence it is carried away to any suitable point; the cotton seed passes on, escapes
through the broad meshes at the end into spout Q and falls down into a heap below
or into a waggon or other conveyor.
In carrying out the operation, the acid from 90 to 120 pounds of commercial acid
to the ton of seed can be added at the beginning or during the whole or part of
the period of the process. It can all be put into the first pan or kettle or a part
be added at E G H according as by sampling it may be found to require it, some
seed requiring more than others. Hydrochloric acid bas the advantage that it
does not appear to attack or char the husks of the seed like sulphuric acid does
when the latter is not immediately neutralised. It is therefore preferable with
hydrochloric acid to allow both the seed and the dust to leave the cleaning
machine or kettles together as soon as the lint has been sufficiently destroyed and
then pass the contents to the revolving screen where the dust very quickly gets
rubbed off the cotton seed. A blast of air may be used in the sieve if required to
assist in separating the dust. In some instances it is desirable to add a small
quantity of oil or grease in the lower kettles and it is also desirable to add
caustic or carbonate of soda solution in the lowest kettles to neutralise the
hydrochloric acid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, 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 improvement in the treatment of cotton seed for the removal of fibrous
materials therefrom, which consists in treating it with hydrochloric acid in a
heated kettle with constant stirring and adding oil or grease when it is desired to
have a polish, and then separating the dust by friction and sieving with or without
aspiration.
2. The improvement in apparatus for treating cotton seed which consists in a
stationary jacketted pan with revolving stirrer in combination with the sieving
device.
3. The arrangement of either a deep pan or preferably a series of pans one
below the other as shown, having several stirrers and means for introducing acid,
at or near the top and alkali or oil, or any of them in the lower parts of the single
pan or the lower portions of the series of pans, whereby the lint can first be
destroyed by the acid, and then the acid neutralised prior to it arriving at the
sieving device.
4. The arrangement of stirring or levelling apparatus BFC substantially as
described.
5. The general plant for treating cotton seed for the removal of fibrous matters
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 7th day of April 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.