Improvements relating to the Tanning of Skins and the like, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Tanning of Skins and the like, and to
Apparatus therefor.
I, GEORGE FETTWEIS, of Verviers, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
For the purpose of tanning skins rapidly the use of concentrated tannic solu-
tions and of agitator drums has been tried. It has heretofore been proposed to
use concentrated tannic solutions at 8° B., contained in a movable receptacle in
which the skins are placed, without having been submitted to the action of other
tannic solutions.
I have found that it is preferable to first submit the skins, as was done formerly,
to the action of weak solutions in simple vats, without agitation, for a few days,
and then to place the skins into a solution of more than 20° B., contained in a
rotating drum, constructed in such a way as not only to agitate the skins, but also
to turn them over and to spread them out.
This process is in fact a combination of the three elements which have already
been applied to tanning, viz. :-
-
1. Placing the skins into weak solutions.
2. Tanning in a strong solution.
3. Agitating the skins in the ooze.
In the said formerly proposed process the first of these three elements was
rejected and the tanning effected directly with a solution which may be called,
in comparison with those used by the applicant, moderately concentrated.
This process has the inconvenience that the skins taken from the water and
put into the receiver may roll up and remain in this condition when in the tun.
They may thus become unevenly tanned, while the skins which have for some
days been submitted to a slight tanning or ooze have become sufficiently rigid
not to roll up in the same manner. This is the reason why, with the applicant's
apparatus, which tends to open them more, they can spread out in the receiver
and thus he perfectly submitted to the action of the tannin solution under such
favorable conditions that the degree of concentration may be three times that of
the beforementioned former process.
Thus this process consists in introducing the skins directly into a moderately
concentrated liquid, contained in any movable receiver, whilst that which is the
object of the present application consists in first putting the skins into weak oozes,
for the purpose of afterwards introducing them into a highly concentrated ooze,
contained in a receptacle specially constructed for the purpose of agitating them,
turning them over and spreading them out while they are being tanned.
•
This receiver comprises a drum constructed in such a manner that the skins
which it contains move during the rotation of the drum in all directions for
instance in the direction of the length and the width of the drum, while continu-
ally turning over and spreading out. To accomplish this the drum is made poly-
gonal and is provided at the edges with inclined pieces or baffles which are placed

page_text: in alternately inverted directions in such a manner that the skins may turn with
the drum and at the same time slide longitudinally in its interior, first in one
direction and then in the other. The carrying of the skins with the drums in
the direction of rotation is further assisted by the use of recesses or scallops in
the said baffles which catch the skins while they are sliding and compel them to
spread out.
The drum may be formed of eight sides held one against another by hoops and
to which are fixed on the inside, the said baffles arranged perpendicularly to the
walls, in the direction of one of the diagonals of these walls; these baffles are
recessed or scalloped along the edges thereof.
The skins slide on the baffles which form inclined planes in the direction of the
length of the drum. The grooves retain them in this direction, prevent them
from rolling up, and compel them to spread out. The drum revolves at the
ordinary speed of tanning drums, the skins are carried in the direction of rotation
quicker than they can slide along the baffles so that they rise high enough to fall
down and spread out at the bottom of the drum. They thus present large sur-
faces to the action of the tannin, which surfaces are constantly being renewed.
For this reason they can be subjected to the action of a highly concentrated
tannic solution, indicating 30° Beaume. This is introduced into the drum, as
are also the skins to be tanned, through an opening which is afterwards hermeti-
cally sealed.
It is to be noted that the ooze in the vats does not constitute a serious outlay.
because it is made of the spent ooze from the tuns, and thus allows the complete
utilisation of such oozes.
Dated this lot law of V 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W (..
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements relating to the Tanning of Skins and the like, and to
Apparatus therefor.
I, GEORGE FETTWEIS, of Verviers, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
For the purpose of tanning skins rapidly the use of concentrated tannic solu-
tions and of agitator drums has been tried. It has heretofore been proposed to
use concentrated tannic solutions at 8° B., contained in a movable receptacle in
which the skins are placed, without having been submitted to the action of other
tannic solutions.
I have found that it is preferable to first submit the skins, as was done formerly,
to the action of weak solutions in simple vats, without agitation, for a few days
and then to place the skins into a solution of more than 20° B., contained in .
rotating drum, constructed in such a way as not only to agitate the skins, but also
to turn them over and to spread them out.
This process is in fact a combination of the three elements which have already
been applied to tanning, viz.:—
1. Placing the skins into weak solutions. 2. Tanning in a strong solution.
3. Agitating the skins in the ooze,

page_text: In the said formerly proposed process the first of these three elements was
rejected and the tanning effected directly with a solution which may be called,
in comparison with those used by the applicant, moderately concentrated.
This process has this inconvenience that the skins taken from the water and
put into the receiver may roll up and remain in this condition when in the tun.
They may thus become unevenly tanned, while the skins which have for some
days been submitted to a slight tanning or ooze have become sufficiently rigid
not to roll up in the same manner. This is the reason why, with the applicant's
apparatus, which tends to open them more, they can spread out in the receiver
and thus be perfectly submitted to the action of the tanning solution under such
favorable conditions that the degree of concentration may be three times that of
the beforementioned former process.
Thus this process consists in introducing the skins directly into a moderately
concentrated liquid, contained in any movable receiver, whilst that which is the
object of the present application consists in first putting the skins into weak oozes.
for the purpose of afterwards introducing them into a highly concentrated ooze,
contained in a receptacle specially constructed for the purpose of agitating them
turning them over and spreading them out while they are being tanned.
This receiver comprises a drum constructed in such a manner that the skins
which it contains move during the rotation of the drum in all directions for
instance in the direction of the length and the width of the drum, while continu-
ally turning over and spreading out. To accomplish this the drum is made poly-
gonal and is provided at the edges with inclined pieces of baffles which are placed
in alternately inverted directions in such a manner that the skins may turn with
the drum and at the same time slide longitudinally in its interior, first in one
direction and then in the other. The carrying of the skins with the drum in
the direction of rotation is further assisted by the use of recesses or scallops in
the said baffles which catch the skins while they are sliding and compel them to
spread out.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings:
Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent in longitudinal and transverse sections a tan or
drum constructed in accordance with this invention.
The drum or tun is formed of eight sides A held one against another by hoops B,
and to which are fixed on the inside, the said baffles C arranged perpendicularly to
the walls, in the direction of one of the diagonals of these walls; these baffles are
recessed or scalloped as at D along the edges thereof.
The skins slide on the baffles which form inclined planes in the direction of the
length of the drum. The grooves retain them in this direction, prevent them
from rolling up and compel them to spread out. The drum revolves at the
ordinary speed of tanning drums, the skins are carried in the direction of rotation
quicker than they can slide along the baffles so that they rise high enough to fall
down and spread out at the bottom of the drum. They thus present large sur-
faces to the action of the tannin, which surfaces are constantly being renewed.
For this reason they can be subjected to the action of a highly concentrated
tannic solution, indicating 30° Beaume. This is introduced into the drum, as
are also the skins to be tanned, through an opening which is afterwards hermeti-
cally scaled.
It is to be noted that the ooze in the vats does not constitute a serious outlay,
because it is made of the spent ooze from the tuns, and thus allows the complete.
utilisation of such oozes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. For the purpose of producing rapid and regular tanning, a process in which
the skins after having been for same days in ccbtle concentrated tonnin

page_text: tions, are introduced into a rotary drum, in which they are agitated, turned over
and spread out and which contains a tannic solution indicating above 20° B.
2. For carrying out the process according to Claim 1 a polygonal drum, the
faces of which are provided with inclined baffles and with recesses or grooves which
retain the skins as they slide on the baffles and force them to spread out.
1 77th
С
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.