US1227198A - Apparatus for the decomposition of fats and oils. - Google Patents

Description

B. E R'EUTER APPARATUS FOR THE DECOMPOSITION 0F FATS AND OIL S.

I 1 APPLICATION man NOV. 7.1913. 1,227,198.

Patented May 22, 1917'.

Inventor math/@6417" E. RP/ufier R M I I flwmaya.

BALTHASAR E. REUTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO REUTE B, PROCESS COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR THE DECOMPOSITION OF FATS AND OILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 191 7 Application filed November 7, 1913. Serial No. 799,699.

, TER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Gook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for the Decomposition of' Fats and Oils, of

which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My'invention relates to apparatus for use in the treatment of fatsor oils, the object of my invention being to provide improved equipment whereby the fats or oils may be decomposed, the glycerin content removed therefrom, and the said fats or oils rendered free from discoloration. The apparatus hereinafter described is particularly intended for use in carrying out the processes disclosed in my Patent No. 1,068,079, issued July 22, 1913, and my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 698,615 and 730,214, filed respectively on May 2, 1912-and November 8,1912.

Generally my invention consists in a plurality of tanks for carrying out the above mentioned process and mechanism associated with or connecting said tanks, the operation of which is described in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure 1 represents the apparatus of my invention, all of said apparatus with the ex ception of the saponification tank being illustrated more or less diagrammatically;

and

Fig. 2 -'is a fragmentary detail View of the air-tight closure for the opening in the top of the saponification tank. In the drawings A indicates the acid treating or wash tank; B is'a tank for the storage of wash water recovered from A; C is the saponification tank; D indicates the sweet water or glycerin storage tank E repre sents the tank for storing and. bleaching the fatty acids recovered from the saponifica- 'tion tank 0; E represents the condensed or distilled water tank.

The acid treating or wash tank A is open at the top. as shown, and is preferably provided with a lead lining in order that it may not be affected by the acid with which a charge admitted to the said tank is treated. The wash tank is also preferably protated in" opposite directions.

vided with a mechanical agitator, 3 and a steam coil 4L having jets 5, said coil being connected with a steam supply pipe as shown. The mechanical agitator with which the acid treating plant is equipped is conveniently, in all respects, similar to the agitator with which the saponification and 'bleaching'tanks are provided and therefore a description of the, agitator of the saponification tank will suflice for all. y Y

The storage tank B requires no detail description. It will suffice to say that this tank is connected with the wash tank A by suitable piping'Y.

The saponification tank C is air-tight and comprises the outer tank or shell 8 having a lead lining 9, which of course is not affected by the sulfuric acid which is employed in carrying out the process of decomposing the fats or oils. The bottom of the saponification'tank slopes toward the center as shown. The said tank is provided with a steam coil 10 having jets 11, said steam coil being connected by a pipe 12' with a steam supply pipe 6Q Said saponification tank is also provided with a lne'chanical agitator which comprises two mar ne propellers which are rotated-"in opposite directions. Supported by the bottom of the saponification" tank is abracket 13 I in which bears the lower end-0f a. shaft 14, which has mounted thereon the propeller 15.

Said shaft passes through the top of the-ea ponification tankand terminates in a gear case 16, where it is provided with bevel gear 17. The gear case 16 is supported by a platform 18 as shown. Disposed around the shaft 14 is a quill shaft 19 which has a pro peller 15 mounted upon its lower endf'the.

upper end thereof terminating in gear case 16, where it is provided with a bevel gear 20. .-Di sposed .at right angles to shafts 14- and 19 is a shaft 21 which projects into'gea-r case 16 and has attached thereto-a bevel geaia,

22 meshing with bevel gears 17 and 20. It"

isevident when thepulley 23 attached to the l shaft 21 is driven from any suitable source of power, the shafts-1a and '19 and consequently the propellers 15 and 13 will be ro- In the operation of the agitator the propellers moving in opposite directions serve effectually to br'eak the treated materials into very small particles and so facilitate the decomposition thereof.

The saponifica'tion tank is'also equipped 11 with a plurality of stop-cocks 24 and a pressure gage 25 as shown. The opening 26 in the top of the saponification tank is closed by means of a cover 27 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The tank carries an annular cover support 28 having a groove 29 1nto which an annular lip 30 carried by the cover.27 is arranged to project. A quantity of water or other suitable liquid is'poured into the groove 29 in order to form an air-tight seal between the cover 27 and its support 28. As the cover 27 is usually quite heavy, I prefer to attach thereto a rope or cable 31, which passes over a pulley and is provided with -a counterweight 33.

As is pointed out in my patent above re ferred to, it is desirable to preventair from cominginto contactwith the contents of the saponification tank. It is evident from the drawing that the steam which collects in the saponification tank above the contents therein effectually excludes air from said tank.

The sweet water tank D is connected by pipes 34 and 35 with the pump 36 and the saponification'tank C, respectively.

The bleaching and storage tank E is provided with a mechanical agitator 37 and a steam heating coil 38 connected by means of a pipe 39 with the live steam pipe 6, said coil being also connected withthe pipe 40;

providing the overflow cups 43 and 45 and the associated apparatus Just described, I

am enabled to maintain atmospheric pressure withi-n the saponification and bleaching' tanks, at the same time preventing temperatures over 212 Fahr; As is clearly pointed out in patent and patent applica- IOIIS referred to, it is very necessary, in order that my processes be satisfactorily carmaintain inspection of the drawing. with ried out, to maintain pressures not substantially above atmospheric pressure and to. temperatures not substantially over 212 Fahr.

At 46 I have illustrated an acid storage tank mounted for convenience upon scales 47. The contents of this acid storage tank may be connected through suitable piping,

to the acid treating, saponification and bleaching tanks. mention all of the valves in detail, as their functions will be apparent at once from an The agitator which the acid treating tank is equipped may be dispensed with if desired.

While I have illustrated my invention in the particular embodiments herein shown and described, I do not wish to limit myself to these. -particular constructions, but desire to claim broadly any equivalents thereof which may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

As a means for decomposing fats or oils, the combination of an-open tankhaving a steam jet coil for heating the contents thereof, a closed tank having a steam jet coil and provided with a mechanical agitator, said. tank receiving fats or 0118 previously heated insaid first tank, a. third tank for receiving glycerin water from the second tank,

a closed bleaching tank provided with a closed heating coil and amechanical 'agi tator for receiving the decomposed fatty acids from the second. tank, and means for I have not attempted to filling the top of the last-named tankwith.

steam at substantially"atmospheric pressure to prevent access of air to the contents of the tank.

my name this 4th day of November, A. D. 1913. i

- BALTHASAR E. REUTER. Witnesses: AUGUST H. L. AnNiyr,

LEONARD E. BOGUE.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe

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