an Equable Heat in Flax Steeping Tanks.
Year: 1885

page_text: an Equable Heat in Flax Steeping Tanks.
I THOMAS LARGE HENLY of 166 Fleet Street, London, Flax Scutcher do hereby
declare the nature of the invention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is improved means and apparatus for heating and
maintaining an equable heat in flax steeping tanks.
For the purpose of my invention I fit one or more tubes bent, curled or similarly
formed to a tank in which flax is steeped said tube or tubes being in communication
with the liquor in the tank and with a fire or other heat producing medium acting
upon and in contact with the pipes in which a constant circulation of the liquor is
maintained at an equable heat the whole of the apparatus being enclosed or
protected from atmospheric influence so as not to interfere with the proper steeping
operation of the flax that would in any way interfere with the extraction of the
gum and other impurities contained in flax.

page_text: an Equable Heat in Flax Steeping Tanks.
!
I THOMAS LARGE HENLY of 166 Fleet Street, London, Flax Scutcher 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:
о
The object of this invention is improved means and apparatus for heating and
maintaining an equable heat in flax steeping tanks.
For the purpose of my invention fit one or more tubes, bent, curled or
similarly formed to a tank in which flax is steeped said tube or tubes being in
communication with the liquor in the tank and with a fire or other heat producing
medium acting upon and in contact with the pipes in which a constant circulation
of the liquor is maintained at an equable heat the whole of the apparatus being
enclosed or protected from atmospheric influence so as not to interfere with the
proper steeping operation of the flax that would in any way interfere with the
extraction of the gum and other impurities contained in flax.
The annexed drawings show two examples of my arrangement or invention,
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation through the line a, b, of Figure 2 which
is itself a transverse section through the furnace only.
A is the tank provided with a hinged lid B which when shut is enclosed by
another hinged lid C fitted above and connected to the frame work D in which the
tank A is set to prevent the atmosphere having access to the tank while the
steeping operation is in progress, the tank A being previously charged with bundles
of flax or equivalent straws.
The bottom of the tank is slightly inclined and one or more portions of the
tank A has a pipe E with a return F leading into the tank, the bend G Figures 1
and 2 or the curl Figures 3 and 4 being within the fire portion of a slow
combustion stove for maintaining a constant circulation of liquor within the tank
due to the heat imparted to the pipe or pipes.
I prefer to use a slow combustion stove of the form shown in the drawings, the
vapour from the fuel being drawn off by the uptake or chimney H just above or
about level with the pipe E, F, G so that the heat is kept uniform for any length
of time this being essential for a complete and thorough steeping operation to
the flax.
The neck I of the furnace is covered by a cap J and the consumption below
being regulated either by the size of the ash pit K or by valves fitted to the
door L
Figures 2 and 4 show the tank in dotted lines of great length compared to its
breadth and depth (see Figures 1 and 3) and in general practice one fire and one
pipe will be sufficient to maintain an equal temperature to the liquor contained in
said tank this being essential for the perfect steeping operation of flax.
:
1

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The method of separating or steeping flax in an enclosed tank to which
an equable degree of beat is maintained by a circulation of the liquor through a
bent or curled pipe in direct contact with the fire of a slow combustion stove as
hereinbefore described.
2. The particular arrangement of apparatus shown on the annexed drawings in
or by which the operation of steeping flax can be performed as set forth.
H. GARDNER,
Agent for the said T, L. Henly.