GB191407762A - Improvements in the Tanning of Butts or Hides and in Apparatus to be used therefor. - Google Patents

Abstract

7762. Wilson, E. March 27. Rotary-drum apparatus; controlling flow of extracts to vats.-Hides or butts are mounted between outer and inner drums rotating in a vat into which strong extract is introduced at a predetermined rate, the weaker content being simultaneously displaced. The outer drum 6, Fig. 3, is positively driven by a worm-wheel 9 and the spindle 14 of the inner independent drum 5 passes freely through the boss 15, the hides being secured along the belly edges to rails 11, 12 which constitute the drum surfaces. Bv means of a band-brake applied to a wheel 13, the inner drum is caused to lag behind the outer one, the hides being thereby kept in tension. In an alternative construction, the hides are attached only to the outer rails 11, and the two drums are connected positively so as to rotate together. The drums rotate in a vat 3, Fig. 1, having a swivelling outlet pipe 20, the mouth 20<Î> of which is set to the required height by means of a chain 40. Strong extract passes from a tank 16 into the vat at 19 through a swivelling pipe 17, the mouth 17<Î> of which is lowered gradually by a screwed rod 18 and nut 28 through a pawl and ratchet-wheel shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A worm 21 on the driving-shaft 10 reciprocates an arm 26 through gearing 22, 23 and :a rod 25, and the arm carries a pawl engaging a ratchet-wheel 32 integral with a worm 30. This worm drives a wheel 29 having a face ratchet 37, Fig. 8, which drives the nut 28 through a pawl. Adjoining the ratchet-wheel is a disk 33 adjustable on its axis by means of handles 34 and having a peripheral part 33<Î> extending beyond the ratchet teeth. By means of a hinged stop 35, which engages notches 36 at another part of the disk, the pawl 27 may be made to engage any desired number of the ratchet teeth 32 during its oscillation and the rate of descent of the extract pipe 17 is thus controlled by the setting of the disk 33. By means of a hand-wheel 41, Fig. 1, the nut may be turned independently of the ratchet-wheel. An index 38 on the rod 18, and a scale 39 show the amount of extract added as the tanning proceeds. The Provisional Specification states that the drum-actuating mechanism may be arranged to reverse the rotation automatically at intervals.