IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOSENING AND MOISTENING TOBACCO, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOSENING AND MOISTENING TOBACCO, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Hermann Messmer, of Magde-
burg, in the Empire of Germany.
ealed the 31st May 1878, and dated the 14th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th January 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOSENING AND MOISTENING TOBACCO, AND IN
THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Hermann
Messmer, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to means to be employed for loosening tobacco pressed
closely together in a complete and expeditious manner without damaging the leaves,
and also for rapidly imparting the necessary moisture and softness to every
description of tobacco throughout the whole of its parts uniformly and to a degree
proportionate to the nature of the tobacco under treatment.
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed to employ a rotary drum (by
preference, of sheet iron) which is provided at one end with a short journal turning
in a suitable bearing, and at its opposite end with a stuffing box running on a tube
which is held fast in its place in a convenient support.
Near the end, last mentioned, of the drum there is fitted a partition, by means of
which a small space is separated from the remainder of the drum, and from the sides
of the drum depend three or any other suitable number of longitudinal hollow pro-
jections forming steam passages which are perforated in their sides so as to be in
communication with the interior of the drum, and also communicate by apertures
with the said space. A tight fitting cover serves to open and close the drum, the
said cover being adapted for screwing on and off.

page_text: Both the bearings or supports are carried on the rim or flange of a water recep-
tacle, in which dips the lower half of the drum. On the journal, outside the
corresponding bearing, there is fitted a crank handle, or, in case the apparatus is
driven by machinery, a pulley.
The tube is in connection with a steam boiler by an inlet pipe in which are
inserted a stop-cock, a reducing or regulating valve, and a device for the removal of
water.
During the manipulation, the drum is covered with a box, heated by the steam
entering it, and which is especially intended to prevent the premature cooling of
the drum in case the apparatus is placed in a cold room, and also the premature
condensation of steam within the drum.
In the cover of the box there is fitted a longitudinal gutter or rose, through
which cooling water is subsequently allowed to fall on the drum, the box preventing
the dispersion of the water.
The method hitherto in use for loosening and moistening, consists in drawing
the lumps of tobacco through water and in leaving them to repose in large heaps.
Owing to the capillarity, the water successively penetrates to the interior of the
lump, but in order to effect this a period of time of twenty-four hours and upwards,
according to circumstances, is required.
By means of the apparatus above described, the operation is carried out more
expeditiously in the following manner:-The drum is charged with tobacco in
lumps of larger or smaller size in the condition in which they are when freed from
packing, and it is then closed steam-tight by means of the cover or flap. This
having been accomplished, dry-steam of more or less-tension-is-allowed to enter the
drum for a period of time, varying according to the quality and condition of the
tobacco, the drum being at the same time put in motion so as to cause it to rotate
slowly.
In consequence of the pressure, steam penetrates into the whole of the pores and
interstices of the tobacco, and by degrees entirely unfolds it. The whole mass of
tobacco is thus acted upon in the drum, since when the drum is rotating the mass is
brought into contact with the hollow projections, through the perforations of which
the steam is injected into the drum, and different portions of the tobacco are thus
continuously presented to the action of the steam.
As soon as it is to be presumed that the loosening has been sufficiently effected
the supply of steam is discontinued, and cold water is allowed to enter the receptacle
through the rose head over the drum. In the meantime, during the period of
cooling, the drum is still kept in motion.
The object of such cooling is,-
1st. To condense the steam and thereby to moisten the tobacco.
2nd. To ensure that the tobacco shall not be withdrawn when still in a heated
condition, for the warm tobacco, when in the open air, would, by evaporation, easily
Jose its moisture and so become hard and dry.
During the process of cooling, a safety valve provided in the inlet pipe is to be
lifted to allow air to enter and occupy the place which has been vacated by the
condensation of the steam.
If it is required to give the tobacco a higher degree of moisture, this object is
attained by admitting steam for a short time, even during the process of cooling.
If desired, a blast of air may be substituted for the method of cooling by water.
The drum may also be arranged so as to oscillate in lieu of rotate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
July 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOSENING AND MOISTENING TOBACCO, AND IN
THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Hermann
Messmer, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany.
The said Invention relates to means to be employed for loosening tobacco pressed
closely together in a complete and expeditious inanner without damaging the leaves,
and also for rapidly imparting the necessary moisture and softness to every
description of tobacco throughout the whole of its parts uniformly, and, to a degree,
proportionate to the nature of the tobacco under treatment.
In the accompanying Drawing, in which similar letters of reference indicate like
parts, Figure 1 represents a cross section of an apparatus for treating tobacco
in accordance with the said Invention, and Figure 2, is a longitudinal section of
the same.
The principal part of the machine is a rotary sheet-iron drum A, which is pro-
vided at one end with a short journal b turning in the bearing c, and at its opposite
end with the stuffing box d running on a tube e which is held fast in its place
in a support k.
Near the end last mentioned of the drum, there is fitted a partition e¹, by means
of which a small space f is separated from the remainder of the drum, and from
the sides of the drum extend radially inwards three longitudinal hollow projections g,
forming steam passages, which are perforated in their sides, as shewn, so as to be in
communication with the interior of the drum, and also communicate by apertures h
with the space f. A tight fitting iron cover i serves to open and close the drum,
the said cover being so arranged as to admit of its being readily disconnected' and
reconnected, as required.
Both the bearings or supports c and k are carried on the rim or flange of a water
receptacle L in which dips the lower portion of the drum. On the journal b outside
the bearing c there is fitted a crank handle m, or in case the apparatus is driven by
machinery, a pulley.
The tube e is in connection with a steam boiler by an inlet pipo in which are
inserted a stop-cock, a reducing or regulating valve, and a device for the removal of
water.
During the manipulation, the drum is covered with a box m (seo dotted lines),
heated by the steam entering it, which is especially intended to prevent the prema-
ture cooling of the drum in case the apparatus is placed in a cold room, and also
the premature condensation of steam within the drum.
In the cover of the box there is fitted a longitudinal gutter or rose o, through
which cooling water is subsequently allowed to fall on to the drum, the box pre-
venting the undue dispersion of the water.
The method hitherto in use for loosening and moistening consists in drawing the
lumps of tobacco through water, and in leaving them to repose in large heaps.
Owing to the capillarity, the water necessarily penetrates to the interior of the
lump, but in order to effect this a period of time of 24 hours and upwards, according
to circumstances, is required.
By means of the apparatus above described, the operation is carried out more
expeditiously in the following manner-The drum is charged with tobacco in
lumps of larger or smaller size in the condition in which they are when freed from
packing, and it is then closed steam-tight by means of the cover or flap. This
having been accomplished, dry steam of more or less tension is allowed to enter the
drum for a period of time, varying according to the quality and condition of the
tobacco, the drum being at the same time put in motion so as to cause it to rotate
slowly.

page_text: In consequence of the pressure, steam penetrates into the whole of the pores and
interstices of the tobacco, and by degrees entirely unfolds it. The whole mass of
tobacco is thus acted upon in the drum, since when the drum is rotating, the mass
is brought into contact with the hollow projections g, through the perforations of
which the steam is injected into the drum, and different portions of the tobacco are
thus continuously presented to the action of the steam.
As soon as it is to be presumed that the loosening has been sufficiently effected,
the supply of steam is discontinued and cold water is allowed to enter the receptacle
through the rose head o over the drum. In the meantime, during the period of
cooling, the drum is still kept in motion.
The object of such cooling is,―
(1.) To condense the steam and thereby to moisten the tobacco.
(2.) To ensure that the tobacco shall not be withdrawn when still in a heated
condition, since the warm tobacco, when in the open air, would, by evaporation,
casily lose its moisture and so become hard and dry.
During the process of cooling, a safety valve provided in the inlet pipe is to be
lifted to allow air to enter and occupy the place which has been vacated by the
condensation of the steam.
If it is required to give the tobacco a higher degree of moisture, this object is
attained by admitting steam for a short time even during the process of cooling.
If desired, a blast of air may be substituted for the method of cooling by water.
The drum may also be arranged so as to oscillate in lieu of rotate.
The whole operation from the introduction of one charge to another into the
..drum occupies only, say, from about twenty to thirty minutes.
The dimensions of the drum may vary according to circumstances.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefor claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use of a rotary or oscillating vessel capable of being
hermetically closed, in which the tobacco is loosened and moistened by steam under
pressure, substantially as herein-before described.
Second. The distribution of the steam inlets over a large portion of the interior
of the vessel in order to cause the steam to penetrate as uniformly as possible
into the pores and interstices of the tobacco, substantially as herein-before described.
Third. The construction of the vessel and the mode of cooling the same and
its contents, and the use of accessories for the purpose of inoistening the tobacco
and preventing the same from drying subsequently, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and scal, the Third day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)