US1056378A - Apparatus for extracting wax from plants. - Google Patents

Description

F. THATOHBR.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRAOTING' WAX FROM PLANTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 14, 1911, 1,056,378

Fatented Mar. 18, 1 913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Eiwuwwtoz J$wniffiaibar Mott H1 13 F. THATGHER;

APPARATUS FOR EXTEAOTING WAX FROM PLANTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1911., Patented M81. 18, 1913 2 gums-SHEET 2.

UNITED SlTES FRANK THATGHEE OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

APPARATUS F93 EXTBJLOTING "WAX FROM PLANTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

."latented llllaix 18, 1913.

Application filed March 14, 1911. Serial No. 614,314.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK THATOHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvement-s in Apparatus for Extracting Wax from Plants, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for extracting wax from the candelilla plant and other species of plants of the class ill'g/rz'ca (Lin).

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whereby the material may be subjected to a series of successive extractions by the use of a quantity of solvent which is employed over and over again until all the waxes and oils are extracted from the material, and whereby a continuous auto matic process may be carried out in an cco-' nomical manner and with a minimum amount of care and attention.

The invention consists of the features construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrami'natic elevation of an extracting apparatus embodying my i11- vcntion. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the digesters and the siphon connected therewith. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. is a detail vertical section through the lower end of one of the siphon iteeders.

Referring to the drawings. 1 designates a storage tank or other suitable source of supply for the solvent to be employed, which tank is in communication through a pipe 2 with a vaporizer 3. said pipe having a. controlling valve 4. The vaporizer comprises a vessel or tank containing a steam heating coil 5 provided with a valved inlet (3 and a valved outlet 7. The tank is also provided with a thermometer 8, whereby the temperature of its contents may be determined at any time, and with a gage glass 9, for indi cating the level of the liquid contents there in. At one end of the tank is an outlet pipe having a valve 11, through which pipe any portion of the contents of the tank may be drawn oll' whenever it is desired to determine the condition thereof. The tank 3 comnumicates at its bottom through a drawotl pipe 12- having a. controlling valve 13 with a, separator tank or vessel let containing a steam heating coil 15 having a steam inlet communication 16 and a steam outlet or exhaust connection 1.7, said tank also being provided with a draw-ofi pipe '18 having a valvel9, whereby the oil and wax separated therein from the solvent may be discharged.

Arranged at a suitable elevation above the vaporizer is a condenser 20 comprising a vessel containing a condenser coil 21 eommunicating at its inlet end through a main vapor flow pipe with the vaporizer and at its outlet or discharge end with a delivery pipe 253. The condenser is provided with a water inlet 2-l and a water outlet 25, whereby cold water may be continuously circulted therethrough to cool the coil and its contents and effectthe condensation of the solvent. Leading from the delivery pipe 23 to the storage tank or source of supply 1 is a conducting pipe 26 having a controlling valve 27', through which pipe the condensed solvent may be conducted back to the source of supply when desired.

In the practical operation of the appara tus and carrying out of the process, I employ one or more digesters 28, two being shown in'the present instance, arranged at an intermediate level between the vaporizer and condenser. Each of these digesters comprises an ordinary tank or vessel containing a steam heating coil 29 provided with a valved steam inlet 30, and a valved steam outlet 31. At the top of each digester is a charging inlet 32, having a suitable door or closure, through which inlet the plant, in a suitable divided or comminuted condition, is introduced. The bottom of each digester is preferably of conical form and provided with an outlet 33 for the dis charge of the refuse material, which outlet is normally covered by a suitable closure.

Leading from the main vapor flow pipe 22 to the top of each digester is a vapor con.- ducting pipe 3 containing a controlling valve 35, through which pipe the vapor liberated by the solvent in the digester may flow to the main vapor flow pipe and thence to the condenser :tor liquefaction, the valves allowing either pipe to be thrown into and out of operation at will. A conducting pipe 36 containing a controlling valve 37 connects the upper portion of each digester with the pipe 23 for thesupply of liquefied solvent from the condenser to each digester, said valves 87 permitting either digester to be cut out of communication with the oa ers enser and digester, a valved vapor ""g connection between the digester n vapor conducting pipe, a separator a valved communication with the vaporizer, and a vapor conducting pipe leading said separator to said main vapor conducting pipe.

apparatus of the character described comprising a vaporizer, a condenser, a main vapor feed pipe leading from the vaporizer to the condenser, a digester, a siphon feed connection between the digester and vaporizer, a valved connection between the condenser'and digester, a valved vapor conducting connection between the digester and. main vapor conducting pipe, a sepahaving a valved communication with the vaporizer, a coil in said separator having valved terminals extending out at opposite ends thereof, and a vapor conducting pipe leading from said separator to said main conducting pipe.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a vaporizer, a condenser, a pair of digesters, a main vapor pipe leadfrom the vaporizer to the condenser, valved vapor conducting pipes leading from t digesters to said main vapor pipe, a feed e pipe leading from the condenser, valved "3,

4 connected therewith and leading to the respective digcsters, a separator having a valve; connection with the vaporizer, a siphon feed connection between each digcster and'the vaporizer, a valved bypass connection between the lower ends of the of each siphon "teed device, and a vapor pipe leading from the separator to said main vapor pipe.

An apparatus of the character described comprising a vaporizer, a condenser,

a solvent feed pipe leading from the condenser, a solvent reservoir, valved conducting pipes leading respectively from the reservoir to the vaporizer and solvent feed pipe, a pair of digesters, siphon feed connections between the same and the vaporizer,

each of said siphon feed connections having a valved bypass between the lower ends or the legs thereof, valved conducting pipes leading fI'OIll'tllG solvent feed pipe to the digesters, a separator in valved communication with the vaporizer, a main vapor pipe leading from the vaporizer to the condenser, valved branch pipes leading from said 'Inain vapor pipeto the digesters, and a vapor pipe connecting the separator with said main vapor pipe.

5. An apparatus for extracting wax from the candelilla and similar plants comprising a vaporizer, a condenser, a main vapor feed pipe leading from the vaporizer to the condenser, a digester, a valved solvent supply pipe connected with the top thereof, a siphon arranged alongside said digester, a valved pipe connecting the inlet leg of said siphon with the bottom of the digester, a valved pipe connecting the lower ends of the legs of the siphon with each other, the outlet leg of said siphon being in communication with the vaporizer, a separator arranged below and having a valved connection with the vaporizer, a coil in said separator having valved terminals extending outwardly at opposite ends thereof, and a vapor conducting pipe leading from said separator .to sai main vapor teed pipe.

In testimony whereof I athx my sn 'nature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK THATCHER.

lVitnesses v D. F. SULLIVAN, W.. H. Bnoons.

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