Improved Apparatus for the Production of Colouring Matters.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for the Production of Colouring Matters.
JAMES EDWARD BEDFORD 9 Cardigan Road Leeds Manufacturing Chemist do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The manufacture of colouring matters from Orchella weed is accomplished by
acting on the substance directly or on a solution containing the extractive principle
by ammonia along with atmospheric air and the application of heat.
My experiments prove that in order to facilitate the process the material should be
exposed to a large surface of air or oxygen gas-In order to accomplish this in the
most effective manner I arrange an apparatus consisting of a tank fitted with a series
of inverted trays or dishes-These may be arranged in various ways and may be in
the form of shelves having a rim or edge along the underside.
Whatever shape or form they may be the object to be attained is the saine and
serves to confine a stratum of air or other gas on the underside when the tank is filled
with liquid.
Each shelf tray or dish is fitted with escape air tubes so arranged as to confine only
a certain quantity of air or other gas and to allow any excess to pass into the shelf,
tray or dish above and so on from one tray to another to the top one of the series.
From the top tray the air or gas may be allowed to escape into the outer air
or may be conveyed to other apparatus with the object of collecting the waste
ammonia.
I claim the use of inverted trays or dishes or shelves fixed below the level of the
liquid and arranged to confine a stratum of air or other gas for the production of
colouring matter from Orchella weed.
Dated this 20th day of Anril 1880
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for the Production of Colouring Matters.
I, JAMES EDWARD BEDFORD of 9 Cardigan Road, Leeds in the County of York,
Manufacturing 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 :-
The full invention of which this present invention forms a part was protected by
two provisional specifications set forth in Nos. 6777 and 6778 of 1889, and as it is
impossible to describe the process and the best manner of carrying. it into effect
without describing the apparatus I use, and vice versa, I will describe the two
together, using the same specification for both parts of the invention, and will simply
differentiate in the claims.
This invention relates to the production of colouring matter from the lichens known
in commerce as orchella weed. In order to produce colouring matter, these lichens
are acted upon by ammonia and atmospheric air with the application of heat to the
apparatus. This process is slow in action and requires many days or weeks to
complete according to the bulk of the substance acted upon.
I have discovered that by using oxygen gas in place of air or by adding oxygen
gas to the air used in the process, the production of colouring matter is much
accelerated.
By my invention, therefore, I use oxygen or air with an addition of oxygen in
preference to air only.
In order to enable the air or oxygen to lie in intimate contact with the material or

page_text: solution, or, in other words, to enable the material to be exposed to a large surface of
air or oxygen gas, I form the apparatus in the following manner, reference being had
to the accompanying drawing, showing a vertical section of my apparatus, which is
preferably circular in plan, but can be octagonal or any other convenient shape.
A, is a tank fitted with a series of horizontal shelves or floors B B, having down-
wardly projecting rims or flanges C, thus forming a series of horizontally placed
inverted trays or dishes. These shelves, trays or dishes are so arranged one over the
other that when the tank is filled with liquid, and air or oxygen admitted, this air or
gas will collect on the underside surface of the trays or dishes, forming a stratum of
air or gas which is retained below the surface of the liquid. The air or gas may be
admitted below the lowest tray of the tank, by pipe H and in order to allow the gas or
air to pass into the trays above, overflow pipes D are placed in each dish or shelf, the
rims of which overflow pipes are shorter than the rims of the trays, consequently,
the air or gas will pass up these pipes before overflowing at the edges. The overflow
pipes are so arranged that they deliver the excess of air or oxygen into or opposite
the air space of the shelf above, being placed at a considerable distance from those of
the two contiguous shelves so as to prevent the air or oxygen taking a straight course
to the top. The air and gas escaping at the top can pass off into the outer air or be
led into sulphuric acid to collect the waste ammonia.
A shaft F, carrying scrapers G, passes vertically through the trays or dishes, and to
prevent the escape of the air or gas, the apertures through which the shaft passes are
fitted with deep flanges H', reaching below the level of the air or gas contained in the
tray. The object of the scrapers G is twofold, firstly ;-
To prevent deposit of colouring matter on the upper surface of the shelves:
secondly, to facilitate the process by the motion they produce in the liquid under-
going change.
In working the process, the soluble portions of the orchella weed which go to form
colouring matter are extracted with the addition of ammonia as usual, .and the
solution obtained is placed in the tank above described. Oxygen gas or air is now
admitted into the trays, and heat applied.
The apparatus is applicable in other cases where colouring matter is developed by
exposing a solution to the prolonged action of gaseous matters, the gas or gases used
in each case taking the place of the air or oxygen above mentioned.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture and use of apparatus applicable for the production of
colouring matters from orchella weed, so arranged that the solution shall be
continuously exposed to extended surfaces of air or oxygen at numerous points
below the surface.
2. Apparatus applicable for the production of colouring matters from orchella weed,
consisting inter alia of a tank provided with numerous inverted trays arranged to
retain the air and gas below the surface of the liquor and to present, by this means, a
large surface of liquid to the action of the gas or air.
3. The improved apparatus applicable for the production of colouring matters froin
orchella weed constructed and arranged as a whole, substantially as described and
illustrated.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.