IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING COTTON SEEDS, IN OBTAINING PRODUCTS THEREFROM, AND IN THE PROCESSES AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO DISTILLATION (
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
WALKER, of Dover, in the County of Kent, Merchant, send greeting.
year of
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters Patent. under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of
November, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Walker, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, Her especial
license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Joseph
Walker, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Walker, my exors, aditiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, occupy, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and the Islands of
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and all Her Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING COTTON
SEEDS, IN OBTAINING PRODUCTS THEREFROM, AND IN THE PROCESSES AND MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO DISTILLATION
(partly communicated by a Foreigner); in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso that I, the said Joseph Walker, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,

page_text: to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Walker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be fully described and ascertained
in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being had to the Draw-
ings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists of certain improvements in the treating of cotton
seeds in the state in which such seeds are found immediately after being
deprived of the cotton fibre or the greater portion of it by means of the cotton
gin or any other similar apparatus; and the object of these improvements is to
obtain valuable products from those seeds, which have not hitherto been
profitably obtained therefrom. Useful products have not hitherto been obtained
from cotton seeds, although it has long been thought that such products might
be obtained if adequate means could be discovered. The failure to obtain
such results I believe has arisen entirely from defects in the means used,
therefore these seeds have not hitherto been of much commercial value, except
for the reproduction of the cotton plant, notwithstanding large sums of money
have been spent in experiments in the hope of making the seed applicable to
serve a useful purpose. The Invention and improvements which are described
in the present Specification apply to all descriptions of cotton seeds, whether
having a portion of the lint or cotton adhering thereto or not. The first pro-
cess which I perform is the extraction of the kernel from the husk of the
seed, the portion of lint or cotton (if any) and the husk being converted into
pulp, and made into paper. A valuable oil is then expressed from the kernel,
the dregs or residue remaining after such expression forming an oil cake of
excellent quality for fattening cattle. From this oil are obtained important pro-
ducts by subjecting the oil to processes herein-after described. The cotton seed
of Egypt differs from most other cotton seeds in being free from the lint or
cotton fibre, or nearly so, and therefore it contains nothing which can profitably
be made into paper, but the refuse may be employed as a manure.
proceed to crack the husks of the seeds, for the purpose of separating them
from the kernals, in doing which the kernels are more. or less broken or
divided. I prefer, however, to effect this purpose by means of a mill, which I
will now describe:-This mill consists of an iron or steel roller furnished with
teeth, made along the cylinder in a direction oblique to its axis. This cylinder
works within a hollow or concave segment, filling the cylinder or nearly so.
I first

page_text: and having teeth made within it in such a direction that when the cylinder
rotates in its bearings the teeth of the cylinder and those of the concave case
are at angles with respect to each other, so as to produce an action upon the
seeds similar to that of a pair of shears.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a longitudinal section; Figure 2 a side elevation;
and Figure 3, an end view of the mill. A, A, is the framework. B is the
roller or cylinder, provided with rows of teeth arranged at an angle with its
axis, and extending the whole length of its surface. The roller is supported
and revolves in bearings or brasses a, a, in the two side frames, and receives
motion from a strap, pulley, or other suitable gearing keyed upon the shaft C.
D is a concave segment or case made of cast steel or cast iron, case-hardened,
and furnished with rows of teeth arranged in lines parallel with the axis of the
roller. The teeth in both the roller and segment are made similar to ratchet
teeth, with their faces in opposite directions. The segment D is capable of
being adjusted to various distances from the roller B to suit the size of seeds
to be operated upon, for which purpose the front end of the segment is
supported at each side upon the point of the set screws E, one only of which
is seen in the Figure, which are tapped through the nuts E' upon the cross.
bar E of the framing. The screws E are raised or lowered by the hand
lever a', passing through the head of the screw. The back part of tho
segment is carried up, as represented at D', and terminates in an eye b, to
which one end of the lever E is attached. This lever is centred at C, and
has attached to its lower end the screw G, which is tapped through the
nuts G', G', whereby that end of the segment is also capable of adjustment.
II is an endless web passed over the rollers H1, H2, supported in bearings H, H.,
mounted upon the framework. I is a distributing and regulating roller
mounted in the bearings H, H³. The roller has keyed on one end the
toothed wheel K driven by a pinion L upon the shaft of the toothed roller B.
The other end of the roller II' carries a toothed pinion M, which works into
the toothed wheel N upon the end of the regulating roller I, and thus motion
is given to the endless web H and regulating roller I. The seed to be
cracked falls from a reservoir (not shown in the Figures) upon the web, and
on reaching the roller I becomes evenly distributed across it, and is then fed
into the mill. After the seed has been crushed, it falls into acylinder lined with
wire cloth, to retain the husks and allow the broken kernels to pass through.
In the inside of this cylinder is a revolving shaft, with brushes so placed as to
cause the kernel to be sifted from the husk and lint.
Figure 4 (Sheet 1) is a side elevation; Figure 5 is an end view; and
Figure 6 a longitudinal section of such a cylinder with its brushes. A, A, is the

page_text: cylinder frame. B, B, the wire cloth. C, C, the brushes, mounted upon a
frame D attached to the axis E, supported by and revolving in the bearings
F, F. Motion is communicated to the axis by a strap working the pulley G.
To obtain the oil from the kernel, it is to be ground and warmed, and put into
bags, containing from about 6 to 8lbs. each, and placed between perforated
iron plates, pierced with small holes and ribs, as shewn in Sheet 2 of the
Drawings. It is then put into a very powerful 'hydraulic press, as shewn in
Sheets 3 and 4 of the Drawings. By this means the whole of the oil that can
be obtained' is pressed out at once; but in pressing this seed it is desirable to
proceed slower than with other seeds, and I mix the ground kernel with bran
(or any similar material which will not render the oil cake unfit to be used
as food for cattle), for the purpose of facilitating the expression of the oil.
Figure 1 (Sheet 2) shews an internal view of the two surfaces of the
pressing plates, which I employ as above mentioned. Figure 2 is an external
view of the same. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, the parts being opened.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the parts, being closed, having matter to
be pressed between them; and Figure 5 shews a transverse section, taken at
a, b, in Figure 1. c, d, are the two plates of which the instrument is composed.
The two plates or surfaces c, d, are connected together by a piece of leather b,
which serves as a hinge; and there is a handle e, as shown. The plates c, d,
have each a rim f, along each of the two sides and the end of one of them, as
shewn. This rim I prefer to be of the form shewn by the Drawings; the
object of which is to prevent the material being pressed beyond the edges of the
plates c, d; and there are other projections g, g, which produce a succession of
hollows h, h, and ridges 9, 9, across each of the plates c, d, the ridges on the
plate c being so arranged as to come into the hollows between the ridges on
the plate d, as is clearly shewn in Figure 4. i, i, are a series of small holes
through the hollowed parts of each of the plates c, d, opening into grooves j, j
across the back of each of the plates c, d. These holes I make of one sixteenth
of an inch diameter, and about half an inch apart. I do not, however,
confine myself to those dimensions; nor do I claim this apparatus for expressing
oil. The seed to be pressed is placed between the plates c, d.
Figure 1, Sheet 3, is a vertical section of a triangular press which I employ
for pressing the seed. Figure 2, Sheet 4, is a transverse section through the
line a, b, of Figure 1 (Sheet 3). Figure 3, Sheet 4, is a plan of the head of
the press. Figure 4 (Sheet 4), longitudinal section of a portion of the plate
on the line c, d, of Figure 2, Sheet 4. Figure '5' (Sheet 4), plan of the under
side of a portion of the plate. A is a large cylinder or casing, in which the
pistón of the press works. It is encircled with iron hoops. Bis the piston,

page_text: the end of which terminates in a rounded top C, on which the lower
plate of the press rests. D is the lower plate, having a recess hollowed out
on its under surface to receive the head or cap of the piston. On the top of
this plate are placed the other plates, which are made convex on onc
surface and concave on the other, so as to work one into the other. Between
these plates are placed the perforated and ribbed plates which hold the
substances to be pressed. F, F, are intermediate plates above the under
plate D. The under surface or bottom of each of these plates has three
receivers G, provided with iron frames I for receiving the plates, which carry
the same to be pressed and the tables on which they rest. The top or upper
surface of each of the intermediate plates F, F, is provided with three tables E,
similar to those on the under plate. On the rim of cach plate is a flange I, I,
for retaining the liquid matters. J, J, are lugs or cars made on the plates, to
which are secured the guides K, which slide on the standards K', K'. There
are bolts for connecting the plates F, F, in pairs. The methods of operation is
as follows: The product of the kernel to be pressed is placed in bags made
of suitable fabric, which are then laid on the perforated ribbed plates repre-
sented in Sheet 2, and herein-before described, which are then placed (either
singly or in pairs) in the recess of the plates F, which are coupled together
under pressure; and in this respect the process is like that now practised in
expressing linseed oil. These plates are fitted with cast-iron frames or casings,
in and out of which they are made to slide like drawers. The oil cake which
is left in the press after expressing the oil from this ground kernal, whether
mixed with bran or any similar material or not, forms an excellent food for
cattle.
Having thus obtained the raw oil from the kernel of the cotton seeds,
soap and candles, and oleic acids, for the use of woollen cloth manufacturers,
may be obtained therefrom.
Treatment and Use of Cotton Seed Oil.-This oil may be either refined
directly or submitted to saponification, but it is better to put it into reservoirs,
and allow it to settle for about a month or six weeks, and to take the top
portion, and refine it by the means herein-after described, and to acidify and
make into fatty acids for candles the other portion that has settled, and either
alone or mixed with other fatty or oily substances.
Purification of the Oil.-I take a quantity of oil, and having placed it in any
suitable vessel, I proceed as follows:-I add to the oil five or six per cent. of
a caustic ley, made with soda or potash. (I prefer soda). I then agitate the
mixture till thoroughly incorporated, after which heat is applied, and the
stirring continued till the temperature rises to one hundred and. thirty-two

page_text: degrees Fahrenheit. The heat and agitation are then discontinued, and the
coloring matter of the oil falls to the bottom, combined with the alkali, in the
form of an imperfect soap. When perfectly cold I either filter the oil in the
ordinary way, or wash with diluted sulphuric acid by mechanical means, or in
some cases I prefer using free steam, filtering the oil, if necessary, after repose.
A second mode of refining the oil is by mixing with it mechanically from
three to five per cent. of finely granulated charcoal, and then adding five or
six per cent. of the caustic ley, and stirring and heating it as above indicated.
Should the refined oil not be rendered pale enough by either of these processes
for sale on the market, I bleach it further by the addition of from five to ten
per cent. of ground fullers' earth, with which it is agitated cold, then allowed to
settle, and, if necessary, afterwards filtered. The oil thus purified is not more
coloured than good olive oil, and is fit to be employed as a burning oil for the
manufacture of white soap, to replace Gallipoli and other oils in the manu-
facture of woollen goods, and also for painting.
Treatment of the Residuary Products deposited in the Refining Process.―
The residuum which is produced by refining oil as above described is decom-
posed, and for this purpose. I use milk of lime in the proportion of about
fifteen parts of good quicklime to on: hundred of the fatty residuary matter.
I boil this in the usual way until a paste is partly formed. I then draw off the
alkaline and caustic liquor, which evaporate to the necessary degree for the
refining of a fresh quantity of oil. When this ley contains a proportion of
glycerine which would impede its operation, I evaporate it to dryness, and
calcine it. This gives a carbonated alkali, which I render caustic again in the
usual way. I then take the lime soap named above, and add to it about 100
per cent. of water, and continue the boiling until a complete combination of
its elements is effected. I then distil this soap by means of currents of heated
steam, in order to obtain by known means oleone and margarone, which being
separated by crystallization and pressure, give a substance analogous to
paraffine, and a neutral oil admirably adapted for machinery. Also excellent
hydrocarbons for burning and for the solution of caoutchouc are prepared
by subjecting the oleone and margarone again to distillation at a tempe-
rature under 392° Fahrenheit, using at the same time a current of heated
steam for that purpose. The above lime soap may be treated also in another
manner, thus I decompose it in the ordinary way by an acid, and the result-
ing mixture of fatty acids, as herein-after described, is immediately submitted
to clarification and pressure, to be used in the same manner as the known
fatty acids, solid and liquid, arc, either alone or mixed with other fatty sub-
stances, neutral or acid; or, secondly, I distill by like means the separated

page_text: matter entirely, or the solid part of it only, having previously submitted it to
pressure.
Distillation of Fatty Acids produced from Cotton Oil.-This distillation
must be carried on, according to the products to be obtained, in combination
with alkaline saponification or with acid saponification; I say according to the
products, either alkaline or acid, although the two methods yield the same
results; that is to say, the transformation of the cotton seed oil into fatty acids,
and that both prepare it for distillation. The commercial results are different.
For the production of oleic soap alkaline saponification is preferable, the loss
being less than by acid saponification; and, again, the oleic acid is more fit to
be made into soap; on the contrary, for the manufacture of candles, acid
saponification should be employed, because concentrated sulphuric acid las
a highly solidifying effect upon cotton oil, and the oleic acid obtained is more
fitted than that above described to the oiling of wool and of woollen goods.
I proceed to describe the two methods of saponification:-First,-
Saponification of Cotton Oil by Alkalis.-I follow the ordinary process,
adding from 14 to 15 per cent. of lime, to obtain a soap which retains its pasty
state by heat, taking care in the decomposition to observe the following direc-
tions: The soap, after getting cool, is broken by the ordinary means, and
introduced in the vessel, in which decomposition is to take place, at a low tem-
perature, so as not to form a thick body; it is only when the decomposition is
far advanced that the temperature is to be brought to the boiling point. I
mix generally with the soap the residuary products from the refining process.
This process is nearly the same as for any other fatty substance, as stated here-
after in the description of distillation.
principally applicable to the most solid
mixed with other solid fatty substances.
above stated, to the making of soaps, I sometimes make use of the fatty acids
obtained by the decomposition of the soap, but I distill them generally in
particular stills which form part of the present Invention.
This process of saponification is
part of the oil, either by itself or
When the oleic acid is destined, as
Acidification and Solidification.-Cotton oil solidifies considerably whea
treated by concentrated acils, principally sulphuric acid; and, as already stated,
for alkaline saponification, I treat the cotton oil either alone (thick or liquid,
or mixed with other fatty substances in proportions varying according to the
solidification required. To one hundred parts of ordinary oil or thick oil,
either alone or with the addition of fatty substances, 1 put slowly and gradually
twelve parts of concentrated sulphuric acid. The whole is kept in agitation
during the operation, which will be from twenty to twenty-four hours, until
acidification is complete. This time will vary according to the solidity of the

page_text: fatty substances treated. The temperature must be gradually raised, so that the
last four hours it may be kept at from 221° to 225° Fahrenheit. I then wash
the fatty acid in different waters; and the fatty acids being completely sepa-
rated from the water, I then distill them by the processes and apparatuses
described in and represented by Sheet 5 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Another part of my Invention consists of an improved distilling apparatus
for distilling fatty bodies, which is also applicable to the distillation of other
matters capable of being distilled. Figure 1, Sheet 5, is a side elevation,
partly in section, of this improved distilling apparatus. Figure 2 is a
top or plan view of part of Figure 1. A is a cistern or boiler for the containing
the substances to be distilled. B is a vessel or flue in which heated air, steam,
or other fluid circulates; and C is an escape pipe leading from the flue B. D is
a pipe for the passage of the contents from the boiler A. E, E, is the still, and F
is a wide aperture for the passage of the products of the distillation. G is a
man hole. His a tube for admitting air, steam, or other fluid, heated to the tem-
perature required (about 300° Centigrade, more or less, according to the nature of
the matters distilled. This tube is provided with a small pipe H', closed at
bottom, in which a thermometer may be placed. I is a coiled pipe or worm
through which the heated air, steam, or other fluid passes, and on the top of
which are fixed or formed lips or ribs so as to produce a gutter or channel.
The upper end of this gutter J is somewhat widened out, so as to form a
kind of hopper or vessel J', for receiving the matters to be distilled. K is a
tube connected to the upper end of the coil, and which conveys the whole or
any required portion of the heated air or steam under the cistern or tank A.
I is another and smaller tube, which is carried down towards the bottom of
the still, and is perforated with small holes through which the heated steam, in
finely divided streams, issues in a lateral direction into the still. M is the
bottom of the still. N, a syphon discharge pipe, having a stopcock at the
lower end. O is a small pump for exhausting the syphon pipe. P is an
ordinary furnace. Q, an ash pit, and R, R, the brickwork or walls. S is the
chimney, Instead of the tube L, several small tubes may be employed of
about of an inch in diameter, and 1 to 13 in in length, and soldered to the
top of the coil in the middle of the gutter at intervals apart. They should
be closed in at top, and perforated with holes, through which very small currents
of steam would pass in the direction of the gutter.
Figure 3, Sheet 5, is a vertical section, and Figure 4 a transverse section
through the line, y, y, Figure 3, of the condenser. a, is the casing. b, is a
head or pipe for conveying and admitting the distilled vapours.. c is a space
for the reception of the same. dis a receiver for the products of distillation

page_text: when condensed. e, e, are tubes fitting into and connecting the receivers c, d,
together, and surrounded by water, which circulates about them, being admitted
by the tube f, and carried off when heated by the exit pipe. i is a cock for
drawing off the distilled matters. j is a cock for drawing off the water
when required. k, small reservoir for water, emptying itself. by means of a
syphon, so as to draw off from the bottom of this vessel and thus preserve any
fatty matter which might flow through the cock j with the water, and which
could be afterwards removed. is a pipe connecting the chamber d with a
vessel or chamber m, represented in Figure 6, to the top of which a short tubo
n is fitted, furnished with a steam jet o, which produces a partial vacuum in
the condenser and in the still; but this apparatus may be dispensed with when
preferred, and an ordinary air pump employed in lieu thereof. Figure 7 is a
section of the coil or worm and its channel or gutter before described; and
Figures 8 and 9 shew different modifications which may be employed, if pre-
ferred. Figure 5 is a section of another form which may be given to the
bottom of the still, which allows of the residuary contents being removed by
means of the tube and valve U, instead of the syphon before described.
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13 are modifications of the still shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a vertical section, with part in elevation. Figure 11 is a trans-
verse section through,, Figure 10. A is a vessel or chamber of a long
narrow form. B is a serpentine tube placed within it, in which heated air or
steam circulates, as described in reference to Figure 1. C is a tube for injecting
the steam on to the serpentine tube after it has passed through it. D is a
tube for conveying the excess of steam employed for heating the tank or boiler
E. F is a distributing pan, perforated with fine holes, for sprinkling conti-
nuously the matters to be distilled on the upper part of the serpentine tube,
whence they flow successively on to the next part, and so on to the other and
lower parts, where they are subjected to the action of a suitable temperature'
and of steam in minutely divided currents or streams which fill the interior
of the still in a somewhat similar manner to that first described. G is the
steam admission pipe. H, the orifice for the escape of the products of distilla-
tion. I is a tube and valve for emptying the apparatus, and which operates
nearly continuously. In other respects the explanations in reference to
Figures 1 to 6 are also applicable to the Figures 10 and 11.
Figure 12 and Figure 13 shew another description of distilling, apparatus.
A is the still. B, B, are tubes in which heated air or steam circulates, as
before described, and which are surrounded or packed in a frame or case C,
with such bodies' Cas resist the action of fatty matters and heat so as to

page_text: E is
increase the extent of surface, and retain or delay the escape of the matters
to be distilled. D is a pan or vessel for receiving and distributing continuously
the matters to be distilled on the upper surface of the frame or case C.
a tube for injecting the steam laterally as before described. F, passages for
surplus steam, when employed to heat the matters to be distilled. G, orifice
for the products of distillation, and which is in connection with the condenser,
as before described. II, tube (provided with valve) for emptying the still.
The mode of operating is as follows:-The matters to be distilled are intro-
duced into the tank A (Figure 1), where they are heated by the steam which
has passed through the coil or worm, and thence flow through the hopper or
receiving vessel on to the channel or gutter on the coil or worm throughout
its whole extent, the volatile parts being converted or partially converted into
vapour, and the non-volatile residuum alone falling to the bottom of the still,
whence it is removed by the syphon or the pump, or by other suitable means.
If the non-volatile parts are not entirely separated from the volatile matters, or
if it be considered desirable to increase the heat of the apparatus, a furnace
may be made use of in the ordinary manner. The temperature of the air or
steam employed will vary according to the nature of the matters to be distilled;
for example, for fatty acids it should be raised to about 300° (Centigrade), for
essences to 225° (Centigrade), for aqueous matter to 160° (Centigrade), and
for alcoholic matters to about 100° (Centigrade). In distilling the last-named
matters or others soluble in water the injection of steam into the still should
be avoided. The products of condensation fall into the receiver d, Figure 3.
If the matters under treatment are not fatty matters, nor essences insoluble
in water, they are separated according to their different specific gravities, and
may be removed or allowed to escape by the cocks i and j. The jet of steam
or the air pump is only of use when the vapour of the matters subjected to
distillation has scarcely any expansion, such as the vapours of fatty acids.
The products of cotton oil resulting from distillation are mixed in a vessel, in
which they are boiled for half an hour with one third of their weight in water
and acid, marking from 15° a 20° Beaumé. When settled, I run off the clear
parts in the usual way to produce crystilization; then I proceed to cold and
hot pressing. The solid part makes excellent candles, and may be used either
alone or mixed with other neutral fatty substances, such as solid fatty acids
obtained by alkaline saponification. As already stated, I distill the fatty acids
(either the whole or solid part only which has to be separated by strong
pressure); but in that case I should obtain liquid fatty acids highly colored
and less pure, and to improve them they must be submitted to distillation.

page_text: The liquid part is more adapted for woollen goods, and could not be so use-
fully employed for soap making, except where mixed with oleic acid obtained
by alkaline saponification.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, I claim the treating
cotton seed in the manner herein described, and obtaining valuable products
therefrom. And I also claim the arrangements or combinations of apparatus
herein described for distilling products of cotton seed and other matters.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Walker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-three.
JOSEPII (L.S.) WALKER.
Enrolled the Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.