Grease from Cotton Waste and similar Materials.
Year: 1886

page_text: Grease from Cotton Waste and similar Materials.
I JOHN WHITTLE of 14 Elton Road, Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my 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 relates to improvements upon an invention for which Letters
Patent No 1939 were granted to me and dated 10th February 1886.
On the accompanying drawing Fig. 1. is a front view of my improved apparatus
shewn partially in section.
I employ a pair of metallic tanks or vessels called the cotton waste pans A. into
which the cotton waste or other material to be treated, is introduced through man-
hole doors A¹ at the top and which contents can be conveniently withdrawn
therefrom through a doorway B. as described in my former Specification, but in
this case I surround these pans A. with a jacketed casing C. into which I can
introduce steam or water through the stop cocks C₁ or C³ according as to whether
I desire to heat or cool the contents and I withdraw the waste water from this
casing by means of the stop cock C³.
Each pan is also provided with a perforated series of radiating pipes D. which in
this case however are all connected with a central perforated ring D' as seen in
Fig. 2. which is an inverted plan view of part of Fig. 1. viz:-on the line a-b.
These radiating pipes D. all branch from a large perforated encircling pipe D³
which passes through to the outside and there communicates through the ascending
pipe E. and stop cock E¹ with the upper part only of the hydro-carbon tank F.
situated at a lower level than the pans A. as illustrated. This tank F. is also
similar to that illustrated in my former Specification but instead of employing a
coil to heat and cool the same I form a steam jacket F¹ around the lower part
thereof as illustrated and provide the same with a steam inlet pipe F and waste
water pipe F. I also find it convenient to apply a man-hole door F* near the
upper part of this hydro-carbon tank.
Instead of the pans A being in communication with each other as heretofore
I place the upper part of each of the same in constant communication with the
upper part of a receiver through the tapered descending pipes H. These pipes H.

page_text: at their lower extremities leading into a pair of coils I and I' the one I¹ being of
smaller diameter than and arranged inside that of I. and both passing through the
cold water cistern J. and finally opening into the receiver K. The receiver K is
also provided with an inner coil L. located within the same cold water cistern and
the upper extremity of which coil L. is open to the atmosphere above the water
level and is there turned down and thus constitutes a safety vent or outlet whilst
a communication can be opened at will through the pipe K¹ with the tank F. to
draw off the hydro-carbon liquid.
Each of the pans A. is provided with a false or perforated bottom (seen in plan
view Fig. 3.) upon which lies a coil of steam heating pipes M. and a pair of drain
pipes controlled by suitable stop cocks lead the one N. into the hydro-carbon
tank F. and the other N¹ joins its own descending pipe H. at or about the junction
of the same with its coil I. or I¹ respectively.
The action of this my improved apparatus may be thus described:-
Into the hydro-carbon tank A I introduce benzine or other suitable hydro-
carbon spirit and into each of the cotton waste pans A. I introduce through the
man-hole A¹ the cotton waste or other material to be treated. I then turn on
steam into the steam jacket F' and so volatalise the benzine spirit contained in the
tank F. and by opening one of the cocks E¹ permit the vapour so produced to rise
and find its way up the pipe E. and through the radiating pipes D. and central
perforating ring D₁ into the midst of the cotton waste or other contents of one of
the pans A. and amongst which it condenses itself, the surrounding jacket C. being
at this time filled with cold water.
This introduction of hydro-carbon vapour amongst the waste surrounded by the
cold water jacket, condenses the vapour which falls like dew amongst the waste
and so gradually fills up the pan A with the condensed hydro-carbon liquid, the
height of which is indicated by the water gauge. This treatment has the effect of
loosening the oil or grease from the waste impregnated with the condensed vapour.
I then run off the cold water from the casing C. turn off the steam from the hydro-
carbon tank F. and close the communication between such tank and pan A.
previous to turning on the steam into the coil M. in the waste pan. This applica-
tion of the heat of a steam coil in the waste pan is to heat the entire contents
viz:--the waste and hydro-carbon liquid and so to boil the same bodily or in a
mass and which gradual introduction of heat is advantageous in keeping the hydro-
carbon longer in contact with the waste. The vapour given off passes down the
tapered pipe H. and thence in passing through the coil I. is condensed into liquid
and in that state falls into and accumulates in the receiver K. the height of same
being indicated by glass gauge. The oil or grease separated from the waste being
of heavier specific gravity falls through the false bottom to the bottom of the
pan A. and is eventually drawn off through the pipe N. into the hydro-carbon
tank F.
The next operation is that of drying off and for this purpose I introduce steam
both into the bottom coil M and also into the steam jacket C. and thus by
imparting greater heat I drive off the vapour without waste and condense the
same by passing through the coils I. and I into the receiver K. During this
drying off I open the cock N' and thus allow the vapour to escape from the
pan A both downwards through the pipe N¹ and upwards through the immersed
coils.
I then re-heat the contents of the hydro-carbon tank F. and permit the vapour
to rise into the adjoining pan which has in the meantime been charged with waste,
and so the operation is repeated therein. The oil from the waste along with any
hydro-carbon which has not been volatalised is then admitted through the cock O.
and pipe O¹ into the smaller steam jacketed tank P. wherein, being of smaller
capacity and more highly heated the remaining hydro-carbon is driven off and
passing through the coil Q. located in the cold water cistern R. becomes condensed
into liquid and in that state is received into the small receiver S. and eventually is
allowed to run into the larger tank through stop cock S¹ whilst the liquid oil or

page_text: grease remaining is withdrawn through the draw-off cock S'. I prefer that all the
nclosed vessels shall be fitted with glass gauges as illustrated.
In order to be able to introduce a slight current of air by means of the perforated
pipes D. and thus to dislodge any hydro-carbon vapour lurking in the pans A,
I further provide a small inlet pipe T. opening into the upper part of the ascending
pipes E. and supply the same with air from any convenient source through the
branch pipe T¹.
It will thus be observed that in this my improved invention the arrangement
permits the two cotton waste pans to be worked separately, and that the coils
being situated below the pans, the hydro-carbon is allowed to drain into the
receiver whilst drying off.
In conclusion I wish it to be distinctly understood that I make no claim herein
to any part of my invention as disclosed in my former Specification.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st The general arrangement and construction of apparatus for extracting or
separating Oil or Grease from Cotton waste and similar materials substantially as
herein before described.
2nd The improved construction and arrangement of cotton waste pans in com-
bination with the intermediate receiver whereby it is rendered possible to work
the pans separately substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3rd The application to the cotton waste pans of steam heating coils and sur-
rounding steam and water jacket and central perforated ring, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
4th The improved construction and arrangement of condensing coils placed at
a lower level than the pans substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
5th The improved method of condensing the hydro-carbon liquid in the pans
and then of drying off the hydro-carbon and of blowing air through the pans and
apparatus employed therefor, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described.