Improvements in and relating to the Tanning of Hides and Skins.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 31st July, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Tanning of Hides and Skins.
I, ADOLPH EDWARD VIDAL, of 20, Central Hill, Norwood, in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements on a former invention for which I
made application for Letters Patent on the 1st May 1899 No. 9114.
With reference to my said application for Letters Patent dated the 1st May,
1899, I prefer to have the tail pieces (mentioned in the specification accompanying
the said application) entirely detachable from the frames. I further propose to
make the gripping strips and bevels on the side or sides adjustable longitudinally.
One way of doing this is to make slots in the fixed portion of the side or sides of
the frame, and to attach the gripping strips and bevels to the said fixed portion
by means of bolts and nuts.
In using the frame in this form (taking as an example the case where a single
folded hide or butt is gripped between two frames) the tail end of the hide or butt
is first gripped between the curved tail pieces, then the opposite end of the hide
or butt is gripped between the opposite end pieces, and then the adiustable side
strips and bevels are pushed along and adjusted according to the length of the hide
or butt. The tail pieces may be screwed or bolted to the frames, or may simply
be clamped between them.
I propose to provide a series of sizes of these curved tail pieces, corresponding
to the different sizes of hides or butts.
I may also, if desired, make the opposite end pieces entirely detachable.
With reference to the backing, used to support the hide during the process of
tanning, whether such backing be made of corrugated wood, metal or other
material: I may make such backing in one piece, and attach it to the frame by
means of hinges or other suitable fastening devices, with sufficient play in the
hinges or other fastening devices to make such backing movable. The backing
may thus be closed when desired, and opened when it is required to examine the
hide or butt.
Instead of making the frames of the forms mentioned in the specifications
accompanying the aforesaid application, I may in some cases make them circular,
oval or polygonal in shape.
Taking the case of a circular frame, I propose to construct the same substantially
as follows:-
I form a skeleton drum, preferably capable of extension longitudinally, and
over the outside of the said drum, I stretch the hide or butt, and grip the edges
thereof, so that a liquid-tight chamber is formed. Into this chamber I cause the
tan liquor to enter, preferably under pressure.
According to one way of constructing such circular frame, I mount on a rod
or tube of brass two circular plates of suitable diameter. These plates I bevel
around their edges, and provide with a projecting strip or flange. I further pass
rods or tubes through holes in the said plates, so as to form a skeleton drum.

page_text: Around this drum, to support the hide or butt when tanning, I propose to clamp
a suitable covering. This may consist, for example, of wire gauze, fastened at
each end to rings which rings are made in halves, and of such a size that when
adjusted they embrace the edges of the aforesaid plates. These rings may he
provided with rubber or other suitable material, so that the edges of the hide or
butt may be tightly gripped between them and the aforesaid projecting strip or
flange. Round one of the plates, I form the projecting strip or flange
curved, so as to correspond to the form of the tail end of the butt or hide. I grip
the two sides of the hide or butt together by means of two sliding strips. The
plates may be drawn further apart by having the holes through which
the said rod or shaft passes sufficiently large to allow the plates to slide freely on
the said rod or shaft and I may screw a nut, so as to come inside each plate in
order to force the plate outwards. The other rods forming the skeleton drum
also work freely in the holes in the plates.
I may vary the diameter of the drum, to adapt it for different widths of hides
or butts, by having slots for the ends of the rods to pass through, instead of round
holes and the rods may be held in position by thumb screws or other suitable
means. I provide washers or other means for making the plates liquid tight.
In order to reduce the capacity of the drum, I may fill up a portion of such
drum by having a cylinder of suitable size round the shaft.
offal" can be
I may have a door in one of the plates, through which the "
introduced. so that it may be tanned at the same time as the butt.
Instead of having curved gripping strips, for the tail end of the hide or butt,
I may adapt the tail end to fit a straight strip, by sewing or otherwise fastening
this end at its edge to a piece of waterproof material, and grip this material,
instead of the edge of the hide or butt; or I may effect this by placing a backing
such as canvas over the hide or butt, the said backing being waterproof only
where it extends beyond the edges of the hide or butt.
Instead of having frames of the kind previously described, I may in some cases
have a wire gauze or perforated metal cage. so constructed that its edges may be
clamped together, with the edges of the hide or butt gripped between, one edge
I prefer to make curved, to adapt it as nearly as possible to the tail end of the hide
or buft.
Or I may make a corrugated metal case to take the folded hide or butt.
The liquor is introduced into the space between the folded hide as aforesaid.
Dated this 31st day of May 1899.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Tanning of Hides and Skins.
I, ADOLPH EDWARD VIDAL, of 20, Central Hill, Norwood, in the County of
London, Gentleman, 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 improvements on a former invention for which I
made application for Letters Patent on the 1st May 1899 No. 9114.
With reference to my said application, I prefer to have the tail and opposite
end pieces entirely detached from the side piece or pieces (which form the frame
when made up).
With reference to the hacking, used to support the hide or butt during the pro-
cess of tanning, whether such backing be made of corrugated wood, metal or other

page_text: material; I may make such backing in one piece, and attach it to the frame by
means of hinges or other fastening devices, with sufficient play in the hinges to
make such backing movable. The backing may thus be closed when desired, and
opened when it is required to examine the hide or butt.
Instead of making the frames in the form mentioned in the specification of the
aforesaid former application I may in some cases make them circular, oval or
polygonal in shape.
Taking the case of a circular frame, I propose to construct the same substan-
tially as follows:
I form a skeleton drum, preferably capable of extension longitudinally, and
over the outside of the said drum, I stretch the hide or butt, and grip the edges
thereof, so that a liquid-tight chamber is formed. Into this chamber I cause the
liquid to enter, preferably under pressure.
According to one way of constructing such circular frame, I mount on a rod
or tube of brass two circular plates of suitable diameter. These plates I bevel
round their edges, and provide with a projecting strip or flange. I further pass
rods or tubes through holes in the said plates, so as to form a skeleton drum.
Around this drum, to support the hide or butt when tanning, I propose to clamp
a suitable covering. This may consist of wire gauze,
fastened at
cach end to rings, which rings are made in halves, and of such a size that when
adjusted they embrace the edges of the aforesaid plates. These rings may be
provided with rubber or other suitable material, so that the edges of the hide or
butt may be tightly gripped between them and the aforesaid projecting strip or
flange. Round one of the aforesaid plates, I form a projecting strip or flange,
curved, so as to correspond to the form of the tail end of the butt or hide. I grip
the two sides of the hide or butt together by means of two sliding strips. The
aforesaid plates may be drawn further apart by having the holes through which
the said rod or shaft passes sufficiently large to allow the plates to slide freely on
the said shaft, and I may screw a nut so as to come inside each plate in
order to force the plates outwards. The other rods forming the skeleton drum
also work freely in holes in the plates.
I may vary the diameter of the drum, to adapt it for different widths of hides
or butts, by having slots for the ends of the rods to pass through instead of round
holes; and the rods may be held in position by thumb screws or other suitable
I provide washers or other means for making the plates liquid tight.
In order to reduce the capacity of the drum, I may fill a portion of such
drum by having a cylinder of suitable size round the shaft.
means.
I may have a door in one of the plates, through which the "offal
introduced, so that it may be tanned at the same time as the butt.
can be
Instead of having curved strips for the tail end of the hide or butt
I may adapt the tail end to fit a straight strip, by sewing or otherwise fastening
this end at its edge to a piece of waterproof material, and grip this material,
instead of the edge of the hide or butt: or I may effect this by placing a backing
such as canvas over the hide or butt, the said backing being waterproof only
where it extends beyond the edges of the hide or butt.
And in order that my said invention may be better understood, I will now pro-
ceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings accompanying this
specification, in which Figs. 1 to 7 shew a method of carrying out my invention.
Fig. 1 shews the gripping pieces, as they would appear when placed in position
for gripping a folded hide or butt: Fig. 2 shews end view of the two sets of grip-
ping pieces, bolted together with a folded butt between them: Fig. 3 shews cross
section on line A B Fig. 1, drawn to a larger scale: Fig. 4 shews section through
a folded butt in position as it would appear when gripped and during the process
of tanning; Fig. 5 shews a number of butts arranged in a tank or pit: Fig. 6
shews section through the tank or pit representing one of the grooved boards
hereinafter referred to; Fig. 7 shews section through one of the grooved boards.
The same letters of reference denote the same parts in all the views.

page_text: mm shew the gripping pieces for gripping a folded butt. It will be seen that
the gripping piece for the tail is shaped to the contour of the tail end of the butt
when folded. The said gripping pieces may be made of metal, wood, glass, or
any other suitable material. The inner surfaces of the gripping pieces m are
bevelled and grooved so as to allow the liquor to percolate through the portions
of the hide or butt coming in contact with these surfaces. n shews lugs formed
on the pieces m m, provided with holes for bolting the two sets of gripping pieces
together when the folded hide or butt is between them. o shews semi-circular
depressions in the pieces m, so placed that when the two pieces m are superposed
with the hide or butt between them, a pipe pinay be passed through so as to
come in between the folded butt or hide. This pipe I prefer to make telescopic
as shewn, so as to be adjustable to suit the hide or butt being tanned, in order
that the pipe may come within a short distance from the bottom of the folded
butt, as shewn dotted at Fig. 4. shews another pipe for the exit of air. r shews
back boards which may be similar to those described with reference to my afore-
said former application. shews main pipe, to which branches are connected,
for supplying a number of hides or butts arranged in a tank or pit as shewn at
Fig. 5.
q
In using this apparatus, the hide is first prepared in the ordinary way for 'tan-
ning, the offal is cut off, and the remaining butt is folded over lengthwise. The
edges are then gripped tightly between the pieces m, m. This is effected by
placing the pieces in position, one set under the folded butt and the other set over
it, so that the edges are gripped between the gripping pieces m m, which are then
bolted together tightly. The whole is then suspended in a tank or pit between two
of the grooved boards as shewn in Fig. 5. The pipe p is then passed through the
hole and is connected with an elevated tank containing the tan liquor, such tank
being supplied with a ball cock so that the pressure may be kept uniform during
any desired time.
The boards are perforated and grooved, so that when the tank or pit u is
supplied with tan liquor, this liquor will come in contact with the outside of the
folded butt.
The internal pressure should always be in excess of the external. The boards r
are held in position by blocks w in such a way that the grooved surfaces may
come next to the butts. The liquor which percolates through the butts passes
down the grooves and out through the perforations.
Instead of having grooved boards I may have rods of wood glass or other suit-
able material, fixed closely to one another, or I may have any other description
of backing to support the hides or butts, such as cane work or a net work of metal
or cord.
Hides by this process may be tanned in from two to four weeks according to
their thickness.
Although I have stated that the hides or butts are doubled over lengthwise, it
is obvious that two open hides or butts may be superposed and gripped between
suitably shaped gripping pieces, but I prefer to double the hides or butts, so as
to economize space and facilitate handling.
According to a modified form of apparatus shewn at Figs. 8 to 11, the process
of tanning is precisely the same as that already described but the gripping pieces
are of circular form, so that when the butt is in position it forms a drum through
which the liquor percolates into a tank or pit also containing tan liquor.
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the tank shewing the framework of
the drum Fig. 9 is an elevation of the drum formed by the hide or butt when
gripped in position: Fig. 10 is a section on line E F Fig. 8: Fig. 11 is an end
view of the gripning strips.
According to this modification, a shaft 1 is mounted in the tank 2 This shaft
carries two discs or drum heads 3 and 4, one of which (3) is fixed and the other (4)
loose upon the shaft. These drum heads are connected together by telescopic
rods 5. The position of the drum head 4 upon the shaft 1 is regulated by the

page_text: nut 6 which screws upon the said shaft.
Each of these drum heads 3 and 4 is
formed with a gripping edge 7 round it. The gripping edge 7 on the drum head +
is curved to suit the shape of the tail end of the butt. The shaft 1 is hollow and
provided with outlets 8, so that the liquor may be supplied to the drum. 9 shews
a spur wheel attached to the drum-head 3, by means of which the drum may be
rotated from a countershaft. 10, Figs. 9 and 11, shews a ring in two halves to
fit over the drum-head 4 and grip the hide on to the gripping edge 7. A similar
ring fits over the drum-head 3.
11 Figs. 9 and 11 shews gripping bars for the side edges of the hide or butt.
The modus operandi is as follows:-
The hides having been prepared for tanning, the offal may be cut off and the
butt hung on the rods 5. The side edges of the butt are then gripped between
the pieces 11, and the rings 10 are bolted round the discs 3 and 4, so that the two
ends are gripped tightly and a drum is formed by the butt. Liquor is then
admitted through the shaft 1. Round the drum formed by the butt I propose
to fix a covering of wire gauze or other suitable material so as to form the backing.
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. Apparatus for tanning hides and skins constructed substantially as set forth.
2. In apparatus for tanning hides and skins, a gripping frame composed of
separate gripping pieces which may be adjusted relatively to each other in making
up the frame, whereby different sized hides or butts may be secured in said franc
or gripping pieces substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for tanning hides and skins, a cylindrical gripping frame, said
frame being provided with closed ends, one of which is shaped to conform to the
shape of the tail end of the hide or butt, substantially as described.
Datod the Xth dox
ECTATI
Dated the 28th dox of
FUT TIT
BROWNE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
9, Warwick Court, Gray's Inn, London, W.C.