Improvements in and relating to the Extracting and Recovering of Oil from Fish, Fish Refuse, or other Oil Producing Animal or Vegetable Matters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan.. 1307
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Extracting and Recovering of
Oil from Fish, Fish Refuse, or other Oil Producing Animal or
Vegetable Matters.
We, JOHN JACK, of 96 Buchanan Street, in the City and County of Glasgow,
Manufacturer, and MATTHEW BLAKE of the Firm of Blake, Barclay & Coy.,
Engineers, Victoria Works, Greenock, Renfrewshire, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a new or improved method of extracting oil from
cod livers, herring gut, or the flesh and other offal of any other kind of fish or
from other oil producing animal, or vegetable matters.
The most important object, amongst others, of this invention is to recover the
oil contained in the above mentioned bodies, in a much more economical manner
than has hitherto been attained and that by a method which is practically automatic
and continuous.
The process is carried out in a series of containing vessels which may be of
round, rectangular, or other shape either independent of each other or, as a matter
of convenience, made in one piece and partitioned off into compartiments of varying
capacities; but the actual details of this apparatus may be varied to a great extent,
and the number of compartments, or vessels increased or deminished, according to
the nature of the material to be operated upon. The capacity of the whole is
made to suit the desired type though the depth of the vessels forming the apparatus
remains constant, whether the capacity is greater or less.
Heat is supplied to the various vessels or compartments by steam, or hot water,
or other convenient media, passing through coils, or introduced into a jacketted
space surrounding the vessels, the heat being generated in a separate apparatus.
In working the apparatus, the flow of this water or steam, or other heating
agent, will be so regulated by valves, or cocks fitted to each vessel or compartment
that any desired temperature can be maintained in any, or all of the vessels of the
series, though, for the object in view, the greatest heat be applied to what is called
the last vessel of the series or that one of the series in which the process, within
the vessels, terminates, the temperature in each preceding vessel gradually decreasing
until the first is reached. The top of all those vessels will be set up dead level,
one with the other, and, in addition to the water or steam supply pipes already
described, there will be sight glasses to indicate the levels of the various con-
stituents in each vessel under process as well as run off pipes, syphon pipes and
cocks for each vessel. There is also a pump, the suction of which is connected to
the main pipe, serving the various vessels, the discharge pipe of the pump being
connected to a rubber hose, so that all, or any part of the contents in any one tank
can be transferred to all, or any one of the others in the series if necessary.
In order to further explain the construction of the apparatus it will be necessary
to describe the modus operandi, which is generally as follows:-
The cod liver, fish gut, or other offal or substance to be used is, when necessary,
passed through a disintegrator to reduce any bones to pulp, or reduce any
refractory portions or constituents to a reasonable degree of fineness, and the
disintegrated materials are charged into the first vessel, or compartment of the
apparatus, preferably, by a shoot passing through the cover of the first vessel,

page_text: projecting down to about the level of the top heating, and provided with a flap
valve and cover laid down, so that each separate charge dropped into the vessel
could be introduced without exposing the atmosphere, or those in the immediate
neighbourhood to the disagreeable odour arising from the decomposing mass within.
This vessel, to be called No. 1, is subjected to a moderate heat by means of heating
coil, to accelerate the decay of the material contained therein. The process of
disintegration, or fermentation, accompanied by swelling and general decomposition
now sets in tending to separate the oily particles from the membraneous substances
with which they are associated. The water originally in the mass precipitates
itself along with a portion of the decomposed membrane, leaving the lighter oil,
still in a crude state, and with a considerable admixture of organic matter floating
on the surface. Provision is made by which the floating contents of each vessel,
from the first to the last, overflow, one into the other, namely No. 1 overflows into
No. 2 and No. 2 into No. 3 and so on, the level of the overflow of No. 2 into No. 3
being slightly lower than that from No. 1 into No. 2, and thus, down to the last
vessel, so that under ordinary working conditions a continuous or regulated flow
takes place from the first vessel to the last. Under ordinary working conditions
No. 1 vessel is kept charged with fresh material, the limits of the charging being
regulated by the capacity of the vessel and the requirements of the process itself,
the water and solid matter accumulated, being drawn off periodically by a cock
provided for this purpose. The oily matter overflowing from vessel No. 1 into
No. 2 is therein further cleansed by the continued decomposition of the organic
matter and its separation into its various constituents, the oil overflowing from this
No. 2 vessel into No. 3, the water and solid matter being periodically withdrawn
as in No. 1. This separation and cleansing is continued in all the succeeding
vessels which may be of any suitable number, though 5 or 6 is believed to be
sufficient under ordinary circumstances, the oil becoming gradually clearer and
freer of organic matter, until, in the last vessel a considerable degree of purity is
attained.
Under certain favourable circumstances, it may be found desirable to remove
the separated oil before the final tank has been reached, and to accomplish this
there will be fitted on to any one, or all of the vessels, or compartments a runoff
cock at a level slightly below the overflow of that. tank to which the cock is fixed.
Also, in order to transfer any partly decomposed organic matter from one vessel
to another with the least disturbance to the subsiding process going on, syphon
pipes would be provided and fixed in the proper position so that the transference
of this portion of the contents would be accomplished without disturbing the
superimposed layer of oil in the tank into which the organic matter was being
discharged. These syphon pipes, like the overflows, on the top edges of the tank,
would preferably be fitted at heights varying according to the number of the
vessel and the presumed proportion of organic matter contained therein, so that in
effect there would be two sets of overflows both acting at the same time, thus
ensuring that any oil separated and partly cleansed is not subsequently polluted by
admixture with organic matter previously separated. To further facilitate the
separation of the various constituents at different levels, other syphous could be
added. .
In the contents of the last vessel there may still remain a small proportion of
organic matter in addition to the oil. From this vessel the oil is run into a
reservoir by a pipe attached near the top of the side of the tank at the level of the
oil, and the organic matter below is syphoned over into another vessel called the
filter, which is fitted with a considerable heating surface of steam, or hot water
coil placed round its sides, or along the bottom. Inside this filter is placed a wire
.cage lined with flannel, or other efficient filtering medium, into which the organic
oil residue is run and the filtering process is facilitated by the application of heat
in the manner described. The oil recovered 'from this filter is of 'higher colour
and lower degree of purity than that recovered by natural. gravitation owing to the
degree of heat to which it has been subjected.

page_text: The organic residue from all or any of these vessels may be removed and treated
for manure purposes; and the sulphuretted hydrogen, ammonia, or other gases
given off from the concentrated matter in these vessels may be led away by a pipe
at the top and treated for recovery as bye products.
This apparatus might be made in such a manner, that for use in isolated localities,
or where the exigencies of trade require changes of site, it can be easily transported
by being mounted on wheels, or on a boggie with wheels and drawn by an animal
or by manual labour; or by a suitable adaption of a universal joint to ensure an
upright position it may be employed on board ship.
This invention therefore serves the purpose of a combined apparatus, in which
all stages of oil producing are carried on simultaneously and completely from
beginning to end, economising time, plant and labour.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1896
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Extracting and Recovering of.
Oil from Fish, Fish Refuse, or other Oil Producing Animal or
Vegetable Matters.
We, JOHN JACK, of 96 Buchanan Street, in the City and County of Glasgow,
Manufacturer, and MATTHEW BLAKE, of the Firm of Blake, Barclay and
Company, Engineers, Victoria Works, Greenock, Renfrewshire, do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in
writing that is to say
This invention has reference to a new or improved method of extracting oil from
cod livers, herring gut, or the flesh and other offal of any other kind of fish or
from other oil producing animal or vegetable matter.
The most important object, amongst others, of this invention is to recover the
oil contained in the above mentioned bodies, in a much more economical manner
than has hitherto been attained and that by a method which is practically automatic
and continuous.
In order that our said invention and the manner, of carrying it out may be
properly understood, we hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to.
be hereinafter referred to, and shewing modifications of this apparatus.
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of apparatus constructed to carry our
improvements into practice; and Figures 2 and 3 represent similar views of
modified arrangements thereof, while Figure 4 represents a detached view
illustrating the detail of one of the parts.
In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated, those on the vessels themselves being
preceded by No.
Referring to these drawings, in the apparatus shown in Figure 1 the fish gut or
other material is charged into a hopper A which passes down the filler pipe B and
lodges in chamber No. 1 in which the decomposition and fermentation takes place,'
accelerated by the beating coils C. The water accumulating and precipitating in
this process is run off by the cocks E, or otherwise the ejecting syphon F to be
arranged at such a height that the weight of a column of water overflowing at
point G will balance a column of the oil and gelatine inside the apparatus when
the quantity of water at the bottom of chamber has reached a minimum level and

page_text: will begin to discharge when the water rises above this existing level. Any solid
matter which remains after the disintegration or decomposition of the material
under treatment falls into a well H in the bottom of this first vessel and may be
withdrawn therefrom even when the apparatus is in operation, by closing over it a
shutter or valve I, and extracting the material by hand bole J. The oil which
finds its way to the top may either be decanted straight off by means of a main
pipe K, and having a cock at each vessel, to a gutter L, and thence to a reservoir.
But the oil would preferably be led from the first to the succeeding vessels by
means of a syphon pipe M with an adjustable inlet whereby the levels of one or any
of the tanks may be varied, the oil being run from the highest level of the No. 1
vessel into a slightly lower level of No. 2 vessel; or alternatively, this oil may
overflow from one vessel to another over a weir N cut in the partition plates
between the two vessels. In the same way the large syphon O fixed at a convenient
level, enables the partially exhausted material to be transferred from the bottom
of No. 1 to a higher level in No. 2 vessel. The same arrangement of syphon
obtains in all the succeeding intermediate vessels, those being adjusted at varying
levels. In the last vessel, or No. 5, the oil is discharged through main pipe K,
while the residue of decomposed matter, now formed into a gelatine mass, is
syphoned through the pipe O into a drying apparatus consisting of a rectangular
shaped vessel P, with heating coils C all round the sides, and having a portable
wire basket Q placed within the coils C, the wire basket having a flannel or other
filtering medium suspended therein. The gelatine discharged into this filter parts
with some of the oil still held in suspension owing to the considerable heat to
which it is subjected by the coils C, and is run off by the cock R, the partially
dried gelatine remaining being disposed of in any suitable manner.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 the modus operandi is practically the same
as in Figure 1 the only differences being the nature of the syphoning arrangements
for transferring the oil and gelatine from one vessel to another, and the filtering
apparatus.
The water discharging syphon F on Figure 1 and the means of discharging any
of the solid precipitate can be applied to this modification, though not shewn.
The oil accumulating on the top of each of the vessels may be transferred from
one to the other, and so on to the ultimate discharge, or decanted from each vessel
as it is formed, substantially as shewn and described for Figure 1.
Instead of the syphon O, as in Figure 1 the transference of the decomposing
and maturing material through each vessel is by the annular spaces O formed by
the two divisions or diaphragm plates, placed transversely in the vessel, the whole
breadth of the vessel, the material from the lower level of No. 1 passing up and
over the weir N into No. 2 and so on throughout the whole series of whatever
number. For the sake of convenience we only illustrate three. From the vessel
No. 3 the exhausted gelatine gravitates through passage O on to plate S, from
which are suspended any number of filter bags T into which the gelatine passes,
the same being heated by coils C. The oil draining from those bags is run off by
means of cock U.
In order to get rid of the steamy vapour arising from the filter bags during the
operation, the funnel V is provided for its exit, the side plates of the filter close
to the bottom being perforated with a series of small holes for the admission
of air.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 vessel I may be one of a series of jacketed
maturing tanks into which in turn may be deposited the raw material, these tanks
being arranged in battery fashion so that the process is continuous and the
connections common to all. When one vessel is full the mass is subjected to heat
applied either with coils or a jacket, and when the disintegration is considered
sufficient a small jet of water is admitted through cock 2, which raises the level of
the whole contents very slowly. The oil which is floating on the top can be ruu
off by cock 3 to the middle reservoir tank 4 by means of pipe 5. After the pure
strata of oil has thus. been drained off the run of oil may be diverted into the left

page_text: hand reservoir tank 6 by means of pipe 7. When impurities begin to shew
themselves in the oil this cock 3 is shut off and the remaining contents are
gradually discharged by shoot 8 on to sieve 9 on hopper A.
After the vessel 1 has been emptied, the water level standing up to the lip of the
shoot 8, cock 2 is shut and cock 10 is opened an the water discharges either into
a drain 11 or into a reservoir. After this is accomplished the cleaning door 12 is
opened and all the bone or other solid material which has been precipitated during
the disintegrating process is drawn out and conveyed away by bogie 13 or other
means for subsequent treatment.
The decomposing material from tank 1 passes by hopper A and shoot B into No. 1
of the clarifying vessels, and from this to the subsequent discharge of the finished
oil and the exhausted gelatine, the process is identical to that as described for
Figure 1 and Figure 2 except that, in this modification, while the oil rises to the
top of each vessel the gelatine or heavier material accumulates and passes over the
weir N and down the passage O into the succeeding vessel, and so on throughout
the whole series which as before mentioned inay be of any number.
The gelatine passing by passage O from the fourth vessel may be run into a
revolving jacketed, or other steam or air drier W, within which the vapour is
thrown off and the residue taken but in a powdery or granulated state, which can
be used singly or in combination with other chemical substances for manure.
In order to conserve the purity of the oil decanted off either from the maturing
tanks or from the clarifying vessels, the receiving tank for the former is divided
into three compartments 0, 4 and 6.
No. 4 compartment receives the first overflow of the oil which is comparatively
pure, and compartment 6 receives the oil which is of a less degree of purity, and
these two are provided with syphon pipes 14 and 15 fitted to given levels near the
top of the reservoirs, so that an overflow can only take place from 6 to 4 and
from 4 to 0 from these levels, and any sediment or impurity settles to the bottom
and may be withdrawn from time to time through cock 16, the pure oil in
compartment 0 being filled into barrels or other receptacles by cock 17. The
same method of decanting the oil from one compartment to another of the oil
reservoirs is adopted for the oil flowing from the clarifying vessels, two or any
number of compartments being used for this purpose.
Figure 4 illustrates the detail of the adjustable syphon which admits of the
level of the oil in any of the aforementioned apparatus, being varied to such an
extent as will bring the apparatus when at work to the proper balance or otherwise
induce a flow wherever and whenever necessary. The scum which may have
forined on the surface is kept back by a cap or guard X. The inside piece Y is
screwed externally and is suitably formed for being turned by a portable key Z
and which when moved to right and left will raise and lower the said inside piece Y.
This or any similar device may be applied to any of the arrangements shewn to
alter the level of oil and also to adjust the relative depths. It may also be applied
to the automatic water discharging syphon F at point G to regulate the quantity
of water accumulating at the bottom of the chambers. These various details
shewn in the several modifications may be interchangeable and adapted to suit any
special local requirements, it being understood that in applying this invention,
1st. That the fresh cod liver, herring gut, fish offal, and the like be placed in
any form of a separate or attached vessel kept to a temperature sufficient only to
stimulate fermentation.
2nd. That sufficient quietude be maintained in the apparatus to admit of the
various constituents separating according to their specific gravity.
3rd. That one or more additional compartments or vessels be utilised for super-
heating, disintegrating, and further eliminating the oil and water from the gelatine,
and that the transfer from one to another be through syphon pipes or equivalent
passages.
4th. That heat may be applied either by external casing or internal coils, with
steam, hot water or air, or be heated by open fire.

page_text: 5th. That the gelatine after leaving the apparatus may be treated in any suitable
manner to suit its profitable disposal.
6th. That the apparatus may consist of several chambers connected by syphons
and overflow arrangements, with vertical adjustment to enable the operator to
temper the proportionate quantities of oil, gelatine or water under treatment.
7th. That a partial or modified adoption of this apparatus may be introduced
on board fishing boats, whereby the bulk of the oil may be extracted at sea and
the other constituents thrown overboard, or finished off and conveyed ashore.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
First. The method or process of flotation and precipitation by gravity of fluids,
or semi-fluids, of different degrees of density as applied to the extraction of oil
from fish gut, livers, or such like material, substantially as and in the manner
herein set forth.
Second. The combination of two or more vessels connected by double or multiple
syphons whereby liquids of different densities can be transferred from one to the
other, or removed, from oil extracting apparatus during the process of disintegration
or clarification, substantially as and in the manner set forth.
Third. The placing of connecting syphon pipes in a fish oil extracting apparatus
in such a position that they shall automatically regulate the relative quality,
quantity, or depth of stráta of the liquids of different densities substantially as
and in the manner set forth.
Fourth. The introduction or application to an oil extracting apparatus of an
overflow syphon pipe with adjustable opening for the purpose of conveniently
altering the relative levels or quantities of liquids contained in one or more
receptacles or vessels, substantially as and in the manner herein set forth.
Fifth. The construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of an oil
extracting apparatus, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 28th dox of October 1906
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.