Improvements in Drying Leather or Hides, and in Appliances therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drying Leather or Hides, and in Appliances
therefor.
I EDWARD PIM of Maghull in the County of Lancaster Leather Factor do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto it has been the practice in drying leather or hides to employ currents
of air travelling in a horizontal or upward direction with the result that the drying
has occupied considerable time and that unless great care were exercised the leather
or hides have been injured in quality and colour.
Now the object of my invention is to provide means for drying leather or hides
rapidly without injury and the invention consists in subjecting the leather or hides
to the action of currents of air of suitable temperature and dryness travelling
downwards and preferably lengthwise of the leather or hides which are suspended
out of contact with each other.
The drying is carried on in a closed chamber having openings for directing air
above the leather or hides to be dried through which air of the requisite temperature
and dryness is introduced and also at the bottom through which the moist air is
withdrawn. Within the chamber is an indicator of moisture and temperature by
which the supply, hydroscopic condition, and heat of the entering air can be
regulated.
Dated the 16th day of April 1891
Per pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drying Leather or Hides, and in Appliances
therefor.
I EDWARD PIM of Maghull in the County of Lancaster, Leather Factor, 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:-
Hitherto it has been the practice in drying leather and hides to employ current>>
of air travelling in a more or less horizontal or upward direction and in contact
with both sides of the leather or hide, with the result that the drying has occupied
a considerable time, and that unless great care were taken, and variable and too
energetic action of the air prevented, especially on the outer or grain surface of
the leather or hide, injury has resulted both in quality and in colour.
Now the object of my invention is to provide means for drying leather and hides
rapidly without injury.
The invention consists essentially in subjecting the leather or hides to the action
of uniformly moving air having a regular temperature and hydroscopic condition,
such air being directed on to the leather or hides so as to dry them equally and
not too rapidly all over.
In carrying my invention into effect I suspend within a closed chamber, from
cross bars or bearers, the leather or hides folded lengthwise with the outer surface
or grain within the fold and with the belly edges upwards. If desired to obtain
more complete protection for the grain surface the space between the edges is
covered with suitable material. The closed chamber is made with openings all
Pic 1

page_text: round or disposed evenly through the ceiling through which heated or dried air
may enter the chamber, and evenly spaced through the floor are apertures through
which air may be drawn off. The air is drawn off by means of a fan or suction
appliance such as a chimney, and valves are advantageously employed to regulate
the speed with which the air is removed from the chamber. The air which enters
the chamber to supply the place of that drawn off is heated by passing over pipes
or hot surfaces and is dried, if desired, by being passed over quicklime or other
absorbent of moisture. Thermometer- are provided for ascertaining the
temperature within the chamber and for indicating the hydroscopic condition of
the air by means of a wet bulb, or other suitable hygrometer can be used. From
the above arrangement it will be seen that the air descends uniformly and evenly
through the room and acts practically on the inside or flesh surface of the leather or
hides only and first on the belly or dampest portions so that the said leather
and hides are uniformly dried, and the outside or grain surface of the said leather
or hides is protected from injury. The air should pass through the room at a rate
of only a few feet a minute, and the difference between the wet and dry bulb of
the thermometers should be small say at the utmost not exceeding six degrees Fahr.
but this will vary according to the tannage.
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 :-
First. Drying leather and hides by means of evenly moving descending air,
having practically uniform temperature and hydroscopic condition, substantially as
set forth.
Second. Drying leather and hides suspended with the outside or grain folded
in, and the belly edges upwards by means of descending air substantially as set
forth.
Third. Drying rooms for leather and hides having uniformly disposed air entrance
ways above and exit ways below, combined with heating and drying, and draw off
appliances substantially as set forth.
Dated the 16th day of February 1892.
Per pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson,
Agent.