Improvements in Separating Wool Grease and Alkali from the Used Liquors of Wool Washing and like Operations.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Loft 49th July 1805 Accented 24th Aug
1805
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Separating Wool Grease and Alkali from the Used
Liquors of Wool Washing and like Operations.
I, ROBERT BIGGART GOW, of Bridgend Mills, Dalry, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, Worsted Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows, that is to say :--
This invention has for its object the treating of the used liquors of wool washing
and like operations, in an improved manner, and so as, whilst avoiding or lessening
the exhalation of objectionable vapors and the pollution of rivers or other waters,
to separate the wool grease and alkali in a utilisable condition.
In carrying out the invention the liquor is run into the second of a series of
evaporating tanks, the first and second tanks being on the same level and
communicating with each other by a bottom pipe connecting the ends of the tanks
furthest from each other. The first tank, to the bottom of which the most intense
heat is applied, is deeper than the second to accomodate the boiling and frothing
taking place, and is made with an overflow outlet into the second and cooler tank.
A constant circulation takes place through the bottom connecting pipe from the
cooler second tank to the hotter first tank.
Heat is applied by means of a furnace directly under the first tank, and the fire
gases find their way through one or more openings in a brick partition into a
chamber having a calcining hearth formed in the bottom of it. From the
calcining chamber the fire gases proceed through one or more openings in a second
brick partition, and whilst in the calcining chamber and beyond it, acting on the
bottoms of the first and second tanks, proceed over a third tank and finally under
the third tank to a flue communicating with a chimney. The first and second
tanks are covered and the vapor arising from the liquor in them is drawn into the
main flues and thus disposed of in an inoffensive manner, the communication being
by preference, by a short vertical pipe fixed in the second tank and also serving as
an overflow pipe. When the liquor is in the third tank the fatty or carbonaceous
matter in it is liable to become ignited if flame reaches it from the calcining
chamber, and to avoid that the third tank is placed sufficiently far from the
calcining chamber, or any suitable baffling device is adopted, to prevent contact of
the flame. The fire gases are made to pass onwards in close contact with the
liquor in the third tank by depending dampers or plates under the bottom edges
of which the fire gases must pass, and which are suitably adjusted.
From the third tank the liquor after sufficient concentration is transferred to
shallow pans outside the main buildings. The liquor is allowed to cool in the
outside pans, whereupon the wool grease or a large part of it rises to the surface
and is separated by skimming it off.
The liquor from which the grease has been separated is next transferred to a
small pan or pocket tank in which it becomes more or less heated again and from
which it is transferred as required to the hearth in the calcining chamber, where
its concentration is completed, the combustible matter in it finally taking fire and
thereby supplying a part of the heat for evaporating the liquor.
The residue after the combustible matter has been burned off consists of crude
potash or other alkali. On the crude alkali being dissolved impurities separate

page_text: from it, and the clear liquor is afterwards concentrated in a steam-jacketed tank
and then transferred to a cooling tank in which the alkali salts are allowed to
crystallise. The alkali-carbonate liquor may be used again as such for wool
scouring or soap making; or after further concentration and crystallisation it may
be again treated in a calcining hearth and made into a saleable carbonate of
potash or other alkali.
The second or finishing calcining hearth is by preference constructed in the same
building as the apparatus herein before described, being heated by a separate
furnace, and flues from it and its furnace being connected with the main flues.
Adjustable dampers are provided for controlling and regulating the action in the
various parts of the apparatus.
Dated this Twelfth day of October 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Separating Wool Grease and Alkali from the Used
Liquors of Wool Washing and like Operations.
I, ROBERT BIGGART GOW, of Bridgend Mills, Dalry, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, Worsted Spinner, 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 :-
This invention has for its object the treating of the used liquors of wool washing
and like operations, in an improved manner, and so as, whilst avoiding or lessening
the exhalation of objectionable vapors and the pollution of rivers or other waters,
to separate the wool grease and alkali in a utilisable condition.
On two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings an arrangement of
apparatus is shown as an example of what may be used in carrying out the
invention, the arrangement may however be varied in different cases to suit the
area which may be available or other circumstances or requirements.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings is a longitudinal vertical section showing
furnaces, evaporating tanks, and other parts; and Figure, 2, is a horizontal section
corresponding to Figure, 1, but as taken through the furnaces and below the
uppermost tanks.
Figure, 3, on Sheet, 2, is a transverse vertical section; and Figures, 4, and 5,
are horizontal sections at different levels and show parts not seen in Figures, 1,
and 2, and which would have occupied the lower part of Figure, 2, if extended
downwards.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out the invention with apparatus arranged as shown in the accom-
panying drawings, the used liquor is transferred from one of two settling
tanks, A1, A2, provided for alternate use, into the second, C, of a series of
evaporating tanks, B, C, D, the first and second tanks, B, C, being on the same
upper level, and communicating with each other by a bottom pipe, indicated by
dotted lines in Figure, 1, and connecting the ends of the tanks furthest from each
other. The first tank, B, to the bottom of which the most intense heat is applied
is deeper than the second, C, to accomodate the boiling and frothing taking place,
and is made with an overflow outlet, B1, into the second and cooler tank, C.
A constant circulation takes place through the bottom connecting pipe from the
cooler second tank, C, to the hotter first tank, B.
Heat is applied by means of a furnace, E, directly under one end of the first
tank, B, and the fire gases find their way through one or more openings, E 1, in a

page_text: brick partition into a chamber, F, having a calcining hearth; F 1, formed in the
bottom of it. From the calcining chamber, F, the fire gases proceed through one
or more openings, F2, in a second brick partition, and whilst in the calcining
chamber and beyond it, acting on the bottoms of the first and second tanks, B, C,
proceed over the third tank, D, and finally under the third tank to a flue, G,
communicating with a chimney. The first and second tanks, B, C, have a
cover, B2, over them; and the vapor arising from the liquor in them is drawn
into the main flues and thus disposed of in an inoffensive manner; the communi-
cation being by preference, as shown, by a short vertical pipe, C 1, fixed in the second
tank, C, and also serving as an overflow pipe. When the liquor is in the third
tank; D, into which it is charged periodically from the first tank, B, through a
delivery pipe, B 3, provided with a plug, the fatty or carbonaceous matter in it is
liable to become ignited if flame reaches it from the calcining chamber; F, and to
avoid that the third tank, D, is placed sufficiently far from the calcining chamber ;
or any suitable baffling device may be adopted to prevent contact of the flame.
The fire gases are made to pass onwards in close contact with the liquor in the
third tank, D, by depending dampers or plates, D1, D2, D3, another damper, D 4,
being arranged at the extreme end of the tank for closing the passage there when
required. The fire gases must pass under the bottom edges of the dampers,
which are suitably adjusted. The dampers may be separately adjustable, or three
D1, D2, D3, may be adjustable together.
From the third tank, D, the liquor, after sufficient concentration is transferred
to shallow pans, H1, H2, H3, outside the main buildings. The liquor is allowed
to cool in the outside pans, whereupon the wool grease or a large part of it rises to
the surface, and is separated by skimming it off.
The liquor from which the grense has been separated is next transferred to a
small pan or pocket tank, J, in which it becomes more or less heated again, and
from which it is transferred as required, along a duct, J 1, to the hearth, F1, in
the calcining chamber, F, where its concentration is completed, the combustible
matter in it finally taking fire and thereby supplying a part of the heat for
evaporating the liquor.
The material is removed from the chamber, F, in a highly heated state and is
allowed to lie in one or other of two bins, F3, F4, where the combustion of the
carbonaceous matter becomes completed.
The residue after the combustible matter has been burned off in the calcining
chamber, F, and bins, F3, F4, consists of crude potash or other alkali. On the
crude alkali being dissolved, for which a tank, K, (Figure, 5) is provided,
impurities separate from it by settling, and the clear liquor is afterwards concen-
trated in a steam-jacketed tank or boiler, L, and then transferred to a cooling
tank, M, in which the alkali salts are allowed to crystallise. The alkali-carbonate
liquor may be used again as such for wool scouring or
soap making,
tanks, N1, N2, being provided for temporarily storing it; or after further
concentration in a boiler, P, which may be directly heated by a fire, and crystalli-
sation in tanks, P1, P2, it may be again treated in a calcining hearth and made
into a saleable carbonate of potash or other alkali.
The second or finishing calcining chamber, Q, is by preference constructed in
the same building as the apparatus herein before described, being heated by a
separate furnace, R, and flues, Q1, from it, and R 1, from its furnace being
connected with the main Hues.
Adjustable dampers are provided for controlling and regulating the action in
the various parts of the apparatus. Pipes with valves or stopcocks may also be
previded for transferring the liquors from one vessel or tank to another, with
pumps where required; or the transference of the liquors or materials may be
effected in any other convenient way. The grease separated in the cooling
tauks, H1, H2, H3, is transferred to an upper tank, Si, in which it is washed
to remove soluble matters, and from which it is run into a lower tank, S2, for
temporary storage.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The separating of wool grease and alkali from the used liquors of wool
washing and like operations, in the manner and by means of the combination of
apparatus substantially as hercinbefore described.
2. The arranging and combining together of the evaporating tanks, B, C, D,
the cooling tanks, H1, H2, H3, the furnace, E, calcining chamber, F, and their
accessory parts in the improved manner substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination with the evaporating tanks, of the outside tanks, H1, H2, H3,
for cooling the concentrated. liquor and for separating the floating wool grease
prior to calcination of the remaining ingredients of the liquor substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this Eleventh day of July 1895.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.