Improvements in Extracting Grease from Wool and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extracting Grease from Wool and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, WALTER ERBEN, of 20, South Third Street, in the City and County of Phila-
delphia, State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Manu-
facturer of Yarn, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide an efficient method of and means for
extracting grease from wool by means of naphtha or other suitable solvent, an
object which I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 represents diagrammatically apparatus constructed in accordance
with my invention; and
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of part of the extracting kier and
mechanism used in connection therewith;
The extraction of grease from wool by means of naphtha or equivalent solvent
of grease has not, so far as I am aware, been extensively used in practice, one
of the objections to the process being the highly inflammable character of the
solvent, another being the difficulty of removing all traces of the solvent from
the wool after the grease has been extracted therefrom, and still another being
the expensive character of the apparatus designed for carrying out the process.
My invention has been devised with the view of overcoming these objections,
the apparatus used by me being represented in the accompanying drawing, in
which A represents the extracting vessel or kier, and B, C, D, and E a series of
vessels for containing the naphtha or other solvent which is being used and
which will hereafter be referred to simply as solvent.
In connection with the extracting kier and solvent tanks are employed a
vacuum pump F, a solvent pump G, a high pressure water pump H, a solvent
heater I, solvent stills J and K with their condensers L and M, an evaporator N
to recover potash from the water used for washing the wool in the kier, a
heater P for the said water, and a condenser S for any solvent vapor that may
be withdrawn from any part of the apparatus by the vacuum pump.
In connection with the solvent vessels are used five mains a, b, c, d, and f
cach communicating with each of the solvent tanks through a suitable valved
branch, the main a constituting a vacuum main and being in communication
also with the condenser S, with the vacuum pump, with the upper and lower
portions of the kier and with the still J. The main is the solvent supply
main and in the said main is introduced the solvent pump G and the solvent
heater I, this main communicating with the lower portion of the kier and also
with the lower portion of the solvent still K. The main c is a solvent return
main communicating with the bottom of the kier and also with the solvent
pipes of the condensers L and M. The main d is also a solvent return main

page_text: communicating with the upper portion of the extracting kier. The main f is a
transfer main connecting each of the solvent tanks with the main b where it
issues from the solvent pump, whereby solvent may be transferred from any one
of the solvent tanks to any other one of the same, as desired.
A pipe g leads from the lower portion of the extracting kier to the lower
portion of the solvent still J, a branch h of this pipe leading to the sewer or
other waste outflow and another branch leading to the evaporator N. A pipe j
leads from the upper portion of the extracting kier to the solvent still J and a
pipe & serves to convey grease from the bottom of the solvent still K to a grease
receptacle, not shown in the drawing, but located at any suitable point. A
pipe m leads from the elevated reservoir and water heater P to the lower portion
of the extracting kier. The tank S in the vacuum main a has a cold water coil
or other cooling device so as to condense any solvent vapors which may be drawn
into the said tank and the discharge pipe of the vacuum pump may also, if
desired, be provided with such a cooling or condensing tank.
Valves 1 and 2 in the main a control communication between the vacuum
pump and the upper portion of the extracting kier, the two valves being employed
so as to open or close communication either from a point adjacent to the kier
or from a point adjacent to the pump.
Valves 3 control the communication between each solvent tank and the sol-
vent pump, a valve 4 governs the discharge from said pump into the main b
and a valve 5 governs the discharge from the solvent pump into the main f.
Valves 6 and 7 determine whether the discharge from the solvent pump shall
be directed to the solvent heater I or to the solvent still K and a valve S governs
the communication between the solvent heater and the lower portion of the
extracting kier.
A valve 9 governs communication between the upper portion of the extracting
kier and the solvent return main d and valves 10 control communication between
said main and the solvent tanks. A valve 11 governs the flow through the
pipe which leads from the high pressure pump H to a cylinder 37 forming
part of a ram used in connection with the kier, as described hereafter. A valve 12
governs the flow from the lower portion of the extracting kier to the solvent
return maine and valves 13 govern communication between said main and the
various solvent tanks, a valve 14 controlling the flow of solvent from the con-
denser L into the said return main c.
A valve 15 is interposed in the vacuum main between the solvent tanks
and the vacuum pump and valves 16 control the communication between the said
vacuum main and the different solvent tanks, a valve 17 controlling communi-
cation between the vacuum pump and the solvent still J. A valve 18 governs
the flow of water through the pipe m from the elevated reservoir P into the lower
portion of the extracting kier and a valve 19 governs the flow through the pipe j
from the upper portion of the extracting kier to the solvent still J.
A valve 20 governs the flow from the lower portion of the kier into the pipe 7,
a valve 21 governing the flow from the said pipe to the sewer, a valve 22 govern-
ing the flow from the said pipe to the still J and a valve 23 governing the
flow from the said still J through the pipe into the evaporator N. A valve 24
governs the flow from the still J to the condenser L, the flow from the con-
denser M into the solvent return main c being controlled by a valve 25 and the
flow from the still K through the grease discharge pipe & being governed by a
valve 26.
Valves 27 govern communication between the transfer main f and the various
solvent tanks and a valve 28 governs communication between the vacuum main a
and the lower part of the extracting kier.
The extracting kier A has at the top an annular chambers which is in com-
munication with the interior of the kier through a perforated plate carried by
the removable cap or cover u of the kier and through channels formed in the
underside of said cap or cover.

page_text: The lower portion of the kier is combined with a ram carrying a movable
perforated plunger or false bottom the construction of this portion of each kier
being represented in the enlarged view, Figure 2, in which 30 represents the
said false bottom which is in the form of a piston or plunger fitted to the interior
of the kier so as to slide freely therein and having a perforated horizontal web 31
on which is supported a perforated grate 32, the web 31 having a central hub 33
which is supported, preferably by means of a ball and socket joint, upon the
upper end of the plunger 34 of the ram, a bolt 35 serving to confine the false
bottom vertically to said plunger.
To the bottom plate 36 of the kier is bolted the upper end of the ram cylin-
der 37 which has a stuffing box casing 38 through which passes the ram or
plunger 34, the said stuffing box casing having a follower 39 as usual, for com-
pressing the packing therein.
Communicating with the upper portion of the ram cylinder 37 is the pipe n
leading to the high pressure pump.
It will be understood that the kier, the stills, and the various solvent tanks
which I use in carrying out my invention are intended to be provided with
gauge glasses, try-cocks, vacuum breakers, air vents, safety valves, sight boxes,
and such like details, which it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate because
of the small scale of the drawing, and it is preferable to connect all vents through
which solvent vapor can escape with a single main leading to any convenient
point, where such vapor can be either condensed or carried to the outside of the
apartment in which the operations are being carried on, so that there will be
no accumulation of solvent vapor in the said apartment.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
-
The false bottom of the kier being lowered to its full extent the wool is placed
in the kier and the cover of the same is fastened on. The vacuum pump is then
started and valves 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 are opened. When the desired partial
vacuum in the kier has been obtained the valves 3 and 10 of one of the solvent
tanks, say the tank B, are opened, and the solvent pump G is started, thereby
drawing solvent from the said tank B and forcing the same through the solvent
heater into the lower portion of the kier.
When the kier is almost full of solvent, the vacuum pump is stopped and the
valves 1 and 2 are closed to prevent solvent being drawn into the vacuum pump,
the solvent pump still continuing to run until the kier is full and overflows by
the main d, valves 9 and 10 being open, into tank B. If the wool is not suffi-
ciently degreased by this one charge of solvent another charge is put through by
merely closing valves 3 and 10 on tank B, and opening valves 3 and 10 on
tank C, and so on until the wool is thoroughly degreased. After the wool has
been degreased all of the valves previously open are closed and the valve 12 and
a valve 13 of one of the tanks B, C, D or E are opened so that the solvent may
be permitted to drain back into the said tank through the main c.
When the wool is well drained the valve 11 in the pipe is opened and the
pump H is started so as to force water under pressure into the ram cylinder 37
thereby elevating the false bottom of the kier and compressing the wool against
the perforated plate of the cover.
The solvent thus expressed from the wool flows back through the main c and
valves 12 and 13 to the solvent tank and the draining of the wool is facilitated
by starting the vacuum pump and opening the valve 15 and the valve 16 of
the tank into which the solvent is being drained, so as to create a partial vacuum
in the said drainage receiving solvent tank and in the kier.
Such solvent as may have entered the annular chamber at the top of the kier
can be permitted to flow back into its proper tank by way of the main d and
valves 9 and 10.
The valves on all pipes communicating with the interior of the kier being
now closed the false bottom is caused to descend and the wool thus permitted
to expand or loosen up, the valve 17 being then opened and the vacuum pump

page_text: started. When sufficient vacuum has been obtained in the still J, the valves 18
and 19 are opened and the heated water from the elevated tank P flows into and
through the kier and carries with it the remaining traces of solvent contained
in the mass of wool, at the same time dissolving and carrying along with it the
potash salts usually associated with the wool.
The mixture of water and solvent flows into the still J and when the potash
has all been removed from the wool (and before which time the remaining traces
of the solvent are entirely removed) the pump H is started, the valve 11 is
opened, the false bottom of the kier is raised and the wool is compressed. The
valves 18, 19 are now closed and the valves 20 and 21 opened, so as to permit
the water now contained in the kier, and which contains neither solvent nor
potash, to escape to the sewer. The valve 22 is provided, however, in case it
is desired to run this water into the still J instead of into the sewer.
The open-
ing of the valve 19 permits water which may be in the channel at the top of
the kier to run into the still J through the pipe j. All of the valves previously
opened being now closed, the false bottom of the kier is lowered the vacuum
pump is started and the valve 28 is opened so as to create a partial vacuum in
the kier, and, air being permitted to enter the upper portion of the kier to
break this vacuum, the cover is removed and the false bottom of the kier is
again raised so as to force the wool out of the same, the downward flow of air
through the wool preventing the escape of any fumes or vapors which might
otherwise arise therefrom.
The solvent distilled from the mixture of water and solvent in the still J, is
condensed and run back into any desired one of the solvent tanks, through the
maine and valves 14 and 13 and the water remaining in the still is run into the
evaporator N through the pipe i and valves 22 and 23 in order to recover
the potash.
When the solvent contained in any one of the solvent tanks becomes saturated
with grease and it is desired to distil the same, the valves 3, 4, 7 and 25 are opened
as well as the valve 13 of that tank into which it is desired to return the distilled
solvent, the greasy solvent being pumped into the still K through the main b,
the vaporized solvent being condensed in the condenser M and returned to the
desired tank through the main c and valves 25 and 13 and the grease remaining
in the still K being run off to the grease tank through the pipe k and valve 26.
A separate pump may be used for conveying the greasy solvent from the sol-
vent tanks to the still K and a pump may be used for circulating the water
through the kier, although I prefer to employ the elevated reservoir of heated
water and to draw the same through the wool by creating a partial vacuum in
the kier, cold water may be used if the kier has means of heating the water
after it has been introduced therein.
An important feature of my invention is the heating of the solvent prior to
its action upon the wool, for I have found that when this is done not only am I
enabled to remove the grease from the wool, but also to remove what is known
as the "yolk" and "suint." If this is not removed the hot water subsequently
introduced into the kier to remove the solvent remaining in the wool will com-
bine with said solvent, "yolk" and "suint" to form an emulsion which not
only prevents the circulation of the water through the mass of wool but also
seriously interferes with, if it does not actually prevent, the subsequent washing
and scouring of the wool.
I have found that in order in obtain the best results the temperature of the
solvent employed should be about 100° F. and the temperature of the water used
to remove the remaining traces of solvent from the wool should be about 130° F.,
and while my invention is not limited to the use of the solvent at such tempera-
tures, they are preferred.
Some of the advantages of my invention can also be obtained even if the com-
pression of the wool, after treatment with the solvent and after washing, is
omitted, but such compression is preferred for obvious reasons.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A process for extracting grease from wool by means of liquid solvent, the
said process consisting in first subjecting the wool to the action of heated solvent,
then expressing surplus solvent from the wool by mechanical pressure, then
washing the wool with heated water to remove the remaining traces of solvent
therefrom, and then expressing surplus water from the wool by mechanical pres-
sure, the 'said operations being successively conducted in a single vessel, sub-
stantially as herein before described.
2. In the process herein before described and claimed by the preceding claim,
causing the inflow of the heated solvent or the heated wash water, or both, by
creating a partial vacuum in the treating vessel or kier in advance of such flow,
substantially as herein before described.
3. In addition to the process herein before described and claimed by the first
claiming clause, causing a partial vacuum in the mass of wool after the surplus
wash water has been expressed therefrom and the kier has been opened for the
discharge of the wool, substantially as herein before described.
4. In apparatus for extracting grease from wool by means of liquid solvent,
the combination of an extracting kier having a movable false bottom, and means
for actuating the same, a solvent tank, a solvent heater, means for causing a
flow of solvent from the tank through the heater and into the kier, a water
reservoir communicating with the kier, means for heating the said water, and
means for draining the solvent and water from the kier, substantially as herein-
before described.
5. In apparatus for extracting grease from wool by means of liquid solvent,
the combination of an extracting kier having a movable false bottom, means for
operating the latter, a solvent tank, a solvent heater, means for causing solvent
to flow from the tank to the extractor through the said heater, a water reser-
voir communicating with the extractor, means for heating the said water, and
drain pipes communicating with both ends of the extractor, substantially as
herein before described.
G. In apparatus for extracting grease from wool by means of liquid solvent,
the combination of an extracting kier having a movable false bottom, and means
for operating the same, a solvent heater, means for causing a flow of solvent to
the kier through the said heater, a water reservoir communicating with the
kier, means for heating the said water, and an air exhausting apparatus com-
municating with either or both ends of the kier, substantially as herein before
described.
7. In apparatus for extracting grease from wool by means of liquid solvent,
the combination of the extracting kier having a movable false bottom, and
means for operating the same, a chamber at one end of the kier for receiving
liquid expressed from the wool, a detachable cap having channels communi-
cating with the said chamber, and a perforated plate covering the said channels
and constituting a bearing for the wool when the same is being compressed,
substantially as herein before described.
8. In apparatus for extracting grease from wool by means of liquid solvent,
the combination of a kier, having a ram cylinder connected to or forming part
of one head of the same, and having a detachable cap at the opposite end, a
perforated false bottom mounted upon the plunger of the said ram, and a drain
pipe leading from the cylinder below the said perforated false bottom, substan-
tially as herein before described.
9. In apparatus for extracting grease from wool by means of liquid solvent,
the combination of an extracting kier having a ram cylinder at one end, and at
the other end a chamber for receiving liquid expressed from the wool, a detach-
able cap covering the said end of the kier and its receiving chamber, and having

page_text: channels formed in its inner side, a perforated plate covering the said channels
and forming a bearing for the wool when the latter is under pressure, a
perforated false bottoni connected to the ram plunger, and a drain pipe com-
municating with the kier below the said false bottom, substantially as herein-
before described.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.