IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND DECOMPOSING FATTY MATTERS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
& Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND DECOMPOSING FATTY MATTERS, AND IN
THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication
from abroad by Monsieur L. Martin, of 209, Rue St. Jacques, Paris, in
the Empire of France.
Sealed the 7th May 1861, and dated the 3rd December 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd December 1860.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND DECOMPOSING FATTY
MATTERS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a commu-
nication to me from abroad by Monsieur L. Martin, of 209, Rue St. Jacques,
Paris, in the Empire of France, to be as follows:-
These improvements have reference to, 1stly, the decomposition of fatty
substances, such as tallow and palm oils, &c. by means of acidulation; and 2nd,
an improved mechanism applicable to apparatus for distilling fatty substances.
For the first part of these improvements I operate on a certain quantity of
tallow, pure, or tallow containing oleic acid, to which I apply and maintain
heat during the whole operation; when the fatty substances are sufficiently
heated I allow them to flow gradually through a cock provided with a needle

page_text: or indicator running over a fixed dial, in order to be able to regulate the emis-
sion of these matters, and on the same pipe and in proximity with the said
graduated cock I place a small pipe also provided with a cock, by means of
which I establish a communication with the external atmosphere; the fatty
matters flow through this graduated cock to the bottom of a receiver contain-
ing nitro-sulphuric acid heated by steam or otherwise, and hydrated in order
to avoid carbonisation, they rise through the said nitro-sulphuric acid and are
then pumped out of the upper part of this said receiver and returned in the
vat from whence they flowed; the said pump is provided at its suction with a
graduated cock, in order that the amount of matter extracted may be equal to
that admitted from the vat; the receiver containing the nitro-sulphuric acid is
provided with a float or an external glass guage, in order to indicate precisely
the amount of fatty matters it contains; the circulation of the fatty matters
descending by their own gravity, rising through the nitro-sulphuric acid, and
returning to the vat by means of the pumps, is continued until decomposition
is complete; the fatty matters are then allowed to flow from the vat through
the receiver into a second vat, in which, if they are to be pressed without
undergoing distillation, they are washed in sulphuric acid at about 12° and
heated by steam, and if they are to be distilled they are washed twice in
water; in the second washing the said water to contain a small amount of
clhoruro of sodium in order to saturate the acid molecules remaining in the
fatty acids.
The second part of these improvements relating to the distillation of fatty
substances, consists in adapting to the pipe through which they flow into the
still a graduated cock, similar to the one above specified, and for the same
purpose, as well a small pipe provided with a cock, which when open esta-
blishes a free communication with the external atmosphere; the object of
this latter arrangement being to facilitate the flowing of the liquid fatty
matters through the pipe into the still, and to obtain a regular and continuous
feed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents, 123, 3
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said.
Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully.
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great.
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND DECOMPOSING FATTY MATTERS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from
abroad by Monsieur L. Martin, of 209, Rue St. Jacques, Paris, in the Empire
of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward.
Thomas Hughes, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing,
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great.
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say) :-
:-
These improvements in treating and decomposing fatty matters, and in the
machinery employed therein, relate to the process of decomposition of fatty
substances, such as tallows, palm oils, &c. by means of acidulation, and to the
distillation of such fatty matters by means of superheated steam. I effect the
decomposition by acidulation in either of the machines or apparatus hereafter
described, the first of which is represented in the sectional elevation, Sheet 1,
and the second in elevation partially in section, Sheet 2, Fig. 1; the operation
in the first of these machines is carried out in the following manner :-
I place in the vat A about six tons of fatty matter, either animal or vege-:
table, mixed with about 20% of oleic acid, and by means of steam circulating
in the worm B, I raise the whole to a temperature of about 125° to 150° cen-
tigrade, which I maintain during the entire operation. I then open the small
cock in the tube g, which communicates with the atmosphere, and the larger-
cock G, the aperture of which is graduated by the aid of the dial, in such a

page_text: manner as to allow the passage of exactly the same quantity of matter as that
raised by the pump C; the substances passing through the cock G are received
in the vessel D containing about one ton four hundredweight of sulphuric acid
at 53°, charged with a certain amount of azotic acid; the said sulphuric acid
is heated to about 105° centigrade and diluted to 50° density, when it is
employed to obtain fatty acids, nearly colourless, whilst it remains at 53°
when the said fatty acids have to undergo distillation after being acidified;
this difference in the density of the sulphuric acid employed is with the view
of producing colourless, or nearly colourless, fatty acids, similar to those
obtained by calcareous saponnication, and which, like the latter, can be
separated by pressure and without the aid of distillation; the cocks g and G
being open, the fatty matters to be decomposed descend to the lower extremity
of the pipe E, and from thence passing through the acids rise to the surface,
from whence they are taken off by the pump C and conveyed in the vat A,
from whence they again return to the surface of D through the acid; by this
circulation the points of contact are constantly renewed, and the fatty neutral
substances conveyed in small quantities through relatively large quantities of
acid, by which means a rapid and complete decomposition is produced in a
short space of time with a small amount of acid, and without producing car-
bonisation, as concentrated acid is not required for this process; the above
operation is carried on for about ten to fourteen hours; by drawing off a
certain amount through the cock F, the attendant ascertains if the decomposi-
tion is complete or partial, if complete the pump C is stopped, and the cocks.
g and G are thrown full open, as well as the cock H, through which the fatty
acids are conveyed into the vat K, where they are washed in water acidulated
at 12° for about four hours, when they are intended to be pressed without
undergoing distillation; and during this last part of the operation about 20%
of matter obtained 'from either hot or cold pressing is added, and the fatty.
acids thus obtained are subsequently pressed without being washed in water,
in order more effectually to extract the oleic acid; but if, on the contrary, the
fatty acids are subsequently to be distilled, they are washed for about three
hours in pure water, the said water being twice renewed, and in the last
supply 2% of chlorine of sodium is added in order to saturate the excess of
sulphuric acid suspended in the fatty acid.
With the above apparatus the conversion of neutral fatty matters into fatty
acids and glycerine can also be effected by passing the former once only
through the acid contained in the cylinder D, and therefore without making.
use of the pump; but for this end the temperature of the substances should.
not be under 150° centigrade, and they should flow in a very small stream

page_text: through the cock G, in order that they may arrive in minute quantities in
the cylinder D, and thus increase the time they will require to pass through
the acid and rise to the surface, from whence they flow through the cock H
into the vat K containing water acidulated to 30° or 35° centigrade, which is
kept boiling, and when decomposition is complete (which can be ascertained by
drawing off a small quantity through the cock L) they are allowed to subside
for two hours, and then conveyed through the cock L in the vat M, where
they are washed in water; the fatty acids thus obtained can be separated by
the press alone or by distillation.
a
pro-.
In the second apparatus referred to, and shewn in Fig. 1, Sheet 2, the
decomposition is effected in the following manner :-The fatty neutral matters
amounting to about four tons are placed in the vat B, where they are heated
by steam circulating in a worm to about 125° centigrade, and the acid they
are to be operated with having density of about 66°, and heated by steam to
about 105° centigrade, is placed in the smaller vat A. I draw off certain
portions of these two ingredients and mix them in the vessel C of the fatty
matters; I take about two hundredweight passing them through a cock at b,
and of the acid about twenty-five pounds, which are first received in the
guaging vessel D, made to hold exactly the above-mentioned amount; this
vessel is provided with two small cocks united by a rod, one for the inlet and
one for the outlet, and set in such a manner that they can never be opened
both at the same time. In order to charge the vessel the upper cock is first
opened till the vessel is filled, and then by first closing this cock and then.
opening the lower one the contents of the vessel are allowed to fall into the
receiver C; and in order to ascertain more correctly the quantities emitted
from the vats B and A, they are provided with floats and bobs running over
graduated scales placed.in a conspicuous position outside the vats. When the
vat C has been charged with the ingredients in the proportions above stated, I .
cause them to be agitated for a few minutes by a current of air at the temperature
of the atmosphere, or heated artificially, supplied from a blowing apparatus J, .
which forces the air through the pipe j; the amount of time during which this :
injection of air is effected will vary according to the nature of the substances
acted on, and the degree of concretion to be obtained; this agitation can be
caused by mechanical means, but I prefer the use of atmospheric air, because.
it regenerates part of the sulphurous acid into sulphuric acid; when the ingre-
dients have been sufficiently agitated the current of air is intercepted, and the
contents of c allowed to fall in the vat E through the cock c; during this
operation part of the sulphurous acid produced is discharged by the pipe F
into the substances contained in the vat B, and thereby assist their concretion;

page_text: the fatty acids thus produced in the vessel are emptied at each operation into
the vat E, which contains boiling water to regenerate the sulphate of glyce-
rine;
when full the ebullition is arrested, and after allowing them to subside
for about two hours the fatty acids are passed through the cock e into the vat
F, where they are washed in water, which renders them fit for distillation; the
acid remaining in the vat E is conveyed into a vat H containing neutral fatty
substances, with which they are first washed before being raised into the vat B.
In order to accelerate the acidulation by this process I can make use of
several guaging vessels D, receiving or mixing vessels C, with their accessory
parts, so that whilst one set is being charged another is being agitated, and a
third emtying, and so on.
The improvements in distilling fatty substances consist, firstly, in the manner
of introducing the superheated steam in the said still.
Secondly, in the apparatus for ensuring a constant and regular flow of the
liquid fatty acids in the still.
And, thirdly, in apparatus employed for facilitating the process of distilling.
I have represented a still provided with these improvements in Sheet 2,
Fig. 2, which is a sectional elevation.
Firstly, the superheated steam is introduced through the pipe C, which
descends and is projected laterally in the liquid fatty matter through a series
of holes in the rose D; hitherto the said steam has been allowed to flow
through a hole or holes opening downwards, so that it struck directly the
bottom of the still, to the great injury of the metal it is composed of.
Secondly, in order to ensure a constant and regular flow of the fatty matters
in the still, I place, in vicinity to the cock through which they flow, a small
pipe opening directly into the atmosphere and provided with a cock, which can
be opened more or less according to the requirements. In Fig. 2, E is the
supply pipe; e, the cock; F, the pipe opening into the atmosphere; and f,
the cock, to regulate its aperture; by this arrangement the pulsations and
throbbing of the liquid is arrested, and a constant and regular flow of matter
may be depended upon for the feed.
Thirdly, in order to promote or facilitate the operation of distilling I create
a vacuum, or a partial vacuum, in the still, at the upper part where the super-
heated steam rising through the liquid matters has brought with it the
molecules of fat to be subsequently condensed, and for this purpose I make
use of one or more pumps, which suck or extract the vapours from the still
faster than they would otherwise flow from it, and force them into the refri-
gérator; or I make use of and apply a rotary extractor, known as Beale's
extractor, which offers the advantage of simplicity in its construction as well

page_text: as that of constant suction with a single apparatus, and that of rotary motion
for its propulsion. I have represented such an extractor at G, in Fig. 2,
placed on a level with the top of the still; but it need not of necessity occupy
that position, as it may be advantageous in some cases to place it nearer or on
a level with the floor of the mill.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details with regard to particular
shape and precise quantities above mentioned, provided the principles of my
improvements are maintained; but I claim as new,―
Firstly, the process of acidulating fatty matters, as above described and
illustrated in Sheet 1, together with the mechanism therewith connected.
Secondly, the process of acidulating the same substances, and the mechanisın
connected therewith, as above described and illustrated Fig. 1, Sheet 2.
Thirdly, the direction given to the superheated steam in the still.
Fourthly, the means adopted for ensuring a constant and regular flow of the
fatty matters in the still.
And, fifthly, the means adopted for promoting or facilitating the process of
distilling, as such improvements are herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying 2 Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
EDW. T. HUGHES. (L.S.)