Improvement in the Process of Extracting Oil from Vegetable Seed.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
Improvement in the Process of Extracting Oil from Vegetable Seed.
I, HERMAN THEODORE CORNELIUS KRAUS, of No. 43 Ralph Street, in the
City of Brooklyn, County of Kings and State of New York, United States of
America, Civil Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the process of extracting oil or fatty matter from cotton
seed or other vegetable seeds, and consists of the novel steps hereinafter described
in connection with the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in
which
Fig. 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of a trough adapted to be used
in carrying out my invention.
Fig. 2 represents a plan or top view of a portion thereof.
Fig. 3 represents a vertical central section of an agitator.
Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section of said agitator.
Fig. 5 represents a side view of a carrier with pans.
Fig. 6 represents a vertical longitudinal section of a heater for receiving the
illustrated in the last preceding figure.
pans
Fig. 7 represents the vertical cross-section of the heater shown in Fig. 6, together
with parts accessory to and co-operating therewith.
Fig. 8 represents a cross-section of the retainer K at lines p p Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 represents a longitudinal section of the retainer K through line g
Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 represents a cross-section of the retainer K on line rr Fig. 7.
Fig. 11 is a modification of the retainer K.
Fig. 12 represents a horizontal cross-section of the heater and accessories, shown
in Fig. 7.
Fig. 13 represents the top or plan view of a tray.
Fig. 14 represents top or plan view of a wire pan.
Fig. 15 represents top longitudinal section of a carrier illustrated in Fig. 5, with
the pans G¹ therein.
Fig. 16 represents a cross-section of Figs. 13 & 14, one pan or tray within the
other.
Fig. 17 represents a cross-section of the enlarged part of inside cylinder P shown
n Fig. 12.
In the drawings similar letters of reference indicate aorresponding parts
Referring to Fig. 1 the letter A indicates a trough for receiving the seeds from
which the oil is to be extracted, with feeder B at one end thereof and an agitator C
therein. This trough is in practice supplied with flowing water or other liquid,
indicated by arrows, and in the passage therethrough of the disintegrated seeds
the latter being subjected to the action of the water under the impulse of the
agitator C emerge therefrom to the end of the trough; but the lighter hull to
trough D. The kernels are conducted through discharge spout E into the tub of
agitator F. This tub or tank F is composed of a jacketed cylinder with a vertical
shaft F¹ and arnis F2 F3 so arranged that in the revolution of said shaft one of
said arms has a tendency to propel the substance in the tub in an outward direction
and the other of said arms in an inward direction, at the same time lifting the
ubstance upwards as illustrated by Fig. IV.
From the agitator Fig. 3 the kernels pass into the pans and a carrier illustrated
Prins 1

page_text: in Fig. 5, and consisting of a frame G with a series of pans G therein. The
kernels are thence introduced into a heater shown in Fig. 6 and consisting of a
cylinder H with surrounding furnace of ordinary construction. The volatile
matters emanating from the seeds in the heater H escape therefrom through an
outlet pipe H and thence pass into and through a condenser H2 to tank T, Fig. 7.
In Fig. 7 is also illustrated a double boiler J and P, one within the other. Fresh
steam is supplied from boiler J to the space between and superheated by the furnace
below. The vaporized substance escapes through retainer K and condenser L to
tank T. The process as generally practised by me is as follows:-
The kernels soaked with water through the passage of the trough A and being
received into the agitator F are mixed with more water, acid, alkali or oils, as may
be deemed expedient. These ingredients have the effect of preparing the kernels
to be more susceptible or sensible for the evaporation. By the action of the
agitator F the kernels are reduced to a paste-like condition with all the substance
in the finest possible particles, in which condition, according to their density, it is
discharged into the pans G¹ of wire cloth, or perforated plates, or solid plates of
the carrier G and thence introduced into the boiler H to be submitted to steam
heat, dry or superheated, but preferably dry steam.
By the action of the heat in the boiler H the volatile substances are driven off
through the pipe H and thence into the condenser H2 and tank T. The fatty
matter from tank T is submitted in solid pans G2 to the indirect heat of super-
heated steam, surrounding and conducted by tubing u through the inside shell P.
The liquid evaporated is passed after a suitable time into chamber M and through
a series of perforated plates, wire cloth or arranged according to modification
Fig. 11, and so long as oily matter is more sluggish than steam, it will be retained
and of density according to size of holes or number of plates. This retaining
chamber is also surrounded by a heating chamber m in order to regulate the
passage of the vaporized substance. The more volatile matter will pass to the
condenser L and tank T. The vegetable fibre and heavy oils will remain in
the recess p and are removed partly by the aid of the cover of the retaining
chamber, or to tank K2 by a pipe from the recess in the chamber.
From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that the kernels
soaked with water are guided into the agitator in which the kernels are mixed
with more water and in addition with oil, acids or alkalies, as the case may demand,
which will make or prepare the kernels to be more susceptible or sensible for
evaporation, and to be further stirred and mixed until all the substance is in the
finest particles and paste-like condition. According to the density of the substance,
it is placed into the trays G2 of wire cloth or perforated plates, or if expedient to
make it very thin, into solid trays and is removed by the aid of a cage or carrier
into a boiler to be submitted to steam heat. The fresh steam is taken from an
ordinary steam boiler by pipe H3 and more heat is applied by a furnace below and
provision made so as to apply saturated, dry or superheated steam. By this
constant application of extra heat and sufficient pressure from the steam boiler, the
liquid contained in the trays, (including the little liquid contained in the solid
substance left in the particles of the kernels,) is evaporated or vaporized until if in
contact with the saturated steam, all of it is in condition and pressure equal to that
in the steam boiler. Now this evaporated liquid is led into the condensing worm;
from there it runs into the tank T and clear water as condensed steam and watery
matter will be at the bottom and the fatty matter on top, as indicated by the glass
gauge on the outside.
In the operation of this first apparatus H the condensed fatty matter is mixed
with vegetable matter and is not yet oil, although some of it will appear in a very
thick state. To clear and refine this substance, it is filled into solid pans and
submitted to indirect heat in the second and double boiler J. P. The application
of this indirect heat is by superheated steam surrounding between the space of
outside and inside still and communicating by tubing u. This indirect heat is
desirable in order to prevent the burning of the oily matter.

page_text: As soon as the pressure gauge, which is found expedient, indicates a constant
rising of pressure, the vaporized liquid is let into a chamber K as described, the
vegetable matter and heavy oily matter will be retained, and the water, in steam
form more volatile, will escape to the condenser and tank, and with it the very
volatile part of the oil, and which is tapped from the tank T. If necessary a
quantity of fresh or superheated steam of low temperature can be sent through the
chamber K and vegetable and oily matter therein will arouse the volatile matter
what is left and follow to the condenser. The chamber K is open and with the
remaining substance the same manipulations repeated as often as deemed necessary,
which changes with the kind and nature of the oil in demand. This process
allows perfect control over all the fatty matter or oil to be converted into a heavy,
almost solid state, or to an alcoholic-like state, and also to every color or tint
necessary for the trade and commercial purpose, all depending upon the number of
distillations and the length of time the substance is under the influence of the heat
as a vaporizing medium.
It will be apparent from this description that the seeds are not only speedily
separated from their hulls, but also subjected to a treatment which shall separate
therefrom all the oily matter, rendering the same of commercial value.
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 :-
Claim I. The herein described process of separating the kernels and hull by the
action of an agitator C under immersion in water, for the purpose set forth.
II. In the process of separating the seeds and hull for evaporation by preparing
and working the seed with water, and in addition mixed with oil, acids, or alkalies,
substantially as described.
III. In the process of separating the seeds and hull, submitting the seed in
a thin liquid paste-like form or condition to the action of steam-to be taken up or
dissolved by the action of steam heat, direct or indirect, substantially as herein
described.
IV. In the process of separating the seeds & hulls the retaining of the oil
by a hindrance within a chamber surrounded by a heating space, in order to
separate the more volatile water, in steam form, from the oil, substantially as
described.
V. The herein described repeating process by conducting or transforming of the
substance to be treated from the first boiler H and tank T to the double shell
boiler J. P. and through retainer K to tank T' for the purpose set forth.
VI. In the process of separating the hull from the seeds as specified, the
preliminary step therein, which consists in subjecting the seeds to the action of heat
while immersed in a liquid, for the purpose of facilitating the subsequent treatment
of the seeds, substantially as herein described.
VII. The herein described process of extracting the oil from vegetable seeds,
which consists in first soaking the seeds in a liquid, then separating the kernels from
the hulls of the seeds, then subjecting the kernels to the action of heat and, finally,
condensing the volatile portions separated from the kernels by the action of such
heat, substantially as herein described.
VIII. The herein described process of extracting the oil from vegetable seeds,
which consists in first soaking the seeds in a liquid, then agitating by additional
ingredients to a paste-like condition, then subjecting this to the action of direct
heat and, finally, condensing the volatile portions separated from the kernels by
the action of indirect heat, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 25th day of October 1895.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.