Improved Process and Apparatus for the Removal of Cotton Lint or Fibre from Cotton Seed
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Dec, 18
Improved Process and Apparatus for the Removal of Cotton Lint or
Fibre from Cotton Seed
ROBERT SIMPSON BAXTER, of No 6 Rugby Terrace, Broughty Ferry, in the
County of Forfir, merchant, and GEORGE DUNCAN MACDOUGALD, of No 82 High
Street, Dundee, in the County of Forfar, chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows
-
Our invention consists, in its first stage, of an impregnation of the lint or fibre
surrounding the cotton seed with dilute solution of sulphuric acid The strength
of such solution may be five parts acid and ninety five parts water, and we mention
this strength merely is an indication of a strength which is suitable for the working
In its second
of our process, although we do not limit ourselves to this strength
stige our process consists in drying off a part or the whole of the water from the
impregnated seed with or without heat
The object of the process up to this stage is to effect a more or less perfect sub-
division or distribution of a much smaller quantity of a concentrated acid on or
within the hut or cotton surrounding the seed, than has hitherto been required in
We effect
other processes to cause the lint or cotton to assume a friable condition
economy together with less chance of contamination of the seed with chemicals, and
less need for any subsequent neutralizing operation
The third stage of our process consists of a beating or whipping operation,
and a separation of the friable cotton or lint from the seed, with or without the
aid of a current of air
Our improved apparatus is as follows
We have found that the power absorbed in the whipping or driving of wires or thin
rods, which are supported at their ends, through a mass of cotton seed, is less than
that required by ordinary stirrers, and we employ such apparatus in our process in the
mixing and whipping operation We have also found that in the part of our process
where mixing with dilute acid is effected, the use of absorbent rollers supplied with
liquid and between which the seed is passed effects the distribution of the liquid, but
we do not confine ourselves to these methods as the impregnation may be effected by
simple immersion, with or without subsequent centrifugal action
Dated this Fourth day of June 1888
RS BAXTER
G D MACDOUGALD

page_text: Improved Process and Apparatus for the Removal of Cotton Lint or
Fibre from Cotton Seed
WC, ROBERT SIMPSON BAYIFR, of 6 Rugby Terrace, Broughty Ferry, in the
County of Fort ir, Merchant, and GEORGE DUNCAN MACDOUGALD, 82 High Street,
Dundee, County of Forfar, Chemist, 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, that is to say
-
Our said Invention has for its object the removal of cotton lint or fibre from
cotton seed in an improved and economical minner
In carrying out our Invention we first moisten or impregnate the fibre on the
cotton seed with dilute sulphuric acid We next apply a heating and drying process,
and it is distinguishing feature of our Invention thit the diluteness of the acid is
such as, with the heat subsequently applied to alter the cotton fibre without cu bonizing
or destroying it, but in a manner to facilitate its subsequent removal and so that it
may be applicable for some useful purpose After the heating and drying process has
been effected the cotton seeds are subjected to beating or whipping or other suitable
mechanical operation when cby the altered fibre is removed from the seeds with
comparative facility
In the first stage of the process it is important to insure the uniform or equable
distribution of the dilute acid throughout the whole of the cotton seeds operated on
As means of effecting the desired uniform distribution or impregnation, we, according
to one modification, employ sturing apparatus into which the cotton seed and dilute
acid are put ind in which a series of wires or thin rods are made to rotate, the diving
or whipping of the wires or rods through the mass of moistened seeds operating with
less power and more effectually than ordinary apparatus employed for similar purposes
According to second modification we pass the cotton seeds between rollers covered
with soft absorbent material such as cloth, asbestos, felt, or similar material, to
which rollers the dilute acid is also supplied The rollers are adjusted as regards
pressure and contact so as to supply each seed with the proper mount of dilute acid
According to third modification the cotton seed is immersed in a bath of the dilute
acid, and then separated from excess by draining with or without pressure, or by
means of centrifugal apparatus
By insuring uniform distribution of the dilute acid as hereinbefore indicated we
are enabled to operate with a small quantity, thereby not only effecting economy of the
acid employed but also proventing unequal action on the cotton fibre or excessive and
defective actions on different portions In dealing with cotton seeds well covered with
fibre we mix from 1 to 2 pounds sulphuric acid of a strength of 110 degrees Twaddell
(or an equivalent quantity of another strength) with 2 gallons of water thereby
forming solution for treating 100 pounds of cotton seeds We do not restrict our-
selves to the quantities we have mentioned, as the quantities of acid and water to
be used will vary with the quantity of fibre on the cotton seeds, and the quantities
may also be varied to some extent without detriment even with similar kinds of
cotton seeds
On an accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings mixing or distributing and
drying and beating apparatus of the kind we prefer to use is delineated, figures, 1,
and 2, being vertical sections as at right angles to each other of the mixing machine
and figure, 3, being a vertical section of the drying and heating apparatus

page_text: The mixing machine figures, 1, and 2, comprises a horizontal cylindrical vessel, A,
of wood or metal or a combination, a shaft, B, placed in or near the axis of the vessel, A
and passing through the ends, pulley, C, on one end of the shaft for driving
rope, two ishs, DD, fixed on the shaft, B, inside the vessel, A, and sets of wires or
thin rods, E, extending from one disk, D, to the other A hopper, F, for introducing
the cotton seeds and dilute acid is provided at the top of the vessel, A, and a discharge
door, G, is fitted to the bottom or the dilute acid may be introduced by separate
openings or pipes, or in the form of spray We fill the vessel, A, about one third full
and we find 150 to 200 revolutions of the shaft, B, per minute a convenient speed the
dimensions of the machine and the speed may however be varied
The drying pparatus figure, 3, comprises two wire-gauze cvlinders, H, J, carried
on shafts, KL, in the upper part of stove or closed chamber, M, having grates, NN,
for fires, and an outlet flue, P, leading to a chimney The cylinders, HJ, are
made to rotate by me ins of bevil wheels, Q, R, gearing with bevil wheels, S, T, on
vertical shaft, U, driven in any convenient way The moistened cotton seeds are by
meins of hopper, V led into one end of the upper cylinder, H, and are made to
travel along it by means of inclined blades, W, fixed inside the cylinder From
the upper cylinder, H, guide duct, X, leads the seeds mto one end of the lower
cylinder, J, long which it is made to travel by inclined blades, Y, being delivered
from the other end down a shoot, Z The cylinders, H, J, may be inclined in
reverse directions instead of being fitted with inclined blades to cause the sceds to
move long them The inclined blides, W, and Y, have a tipping action which
greatly facilitates and expedites the drying process, each blade as it moves round
carrying up a quantity of seeds and when reaching a certain height allowing the
seeds to drop down across the cylinder The cylinders, H, J, may be made of
any length found advantageous or convenient in practice, a single cylinder of
sufficient length may be used or more than two
A modification of our mixing machine shown in figures, 1, and 2, of the drawings
and hereinafter described may be used for the final stage of the process, that is for
removing the altered fibre from the seeds
For this purpose the machine must be
made with a perforated or wire gauze shell instead of the close shell so that the
altered fibres may find their way out of the machine when detached
Having now particululy described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
and in what minner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is
1 The removing of cotton lint or fibre from cotton seeds by a combination of
processes in which the fibre is first treated in an improved manner with sulphuric
acid so as to alter without carbonizing or destroying it and is subsequently removed
by mechanical means, substantially as herein before described
2 The treating of cotton lint or fibre on cotton seeds to facilit ite its removal from
the seeds by processes consisting in, first, uniformly moistening or impregnating the
fibre on the seeds with small quantity of dilute sulphuric acid and subsequently
heating and drying it without carbonizing or destroying it substantially as herein-
before described
3 The improved mixing apparatus for equalising the distribution of the dilute
acid to the cotton-seed fibre, such apparatus being constructed with wires or thin
rods which are driven through the mass of seeds, substantially as hereinbefore
described
of Namba 1000
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent