US1614636A - Apparatus for transforming gelatinic colloids into globules or pearls - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 18 1927 w. WACHTEL APPARATUS FOR TRANSFORHING GELATINIC COLLOIDS INTO GLQBULES 0R PEARLS Filed Nov. 9. 1925 mama Jan. 18, 1921.

WILHILI WAQHTBL, OI rmm-cnauorrannune, 03m.

APPARATUS FOR TQANSI'OBHDIG GILATINIO COLLOIDS INTO GLOBULIB OB rams.

Application fled Iavember 9, 1925, Serial No. 67,998, and in Germany Kay 18, 1985.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cooling gelatinic colloids, that .is to say colloids capable of gelatinizing, by allowing them to drop into a cooling liquid, and in particular to an apparatus in which the liquefied colloids may solidify in the form of globules or pearls. In this case still liquid drops in descending must traverse the cooling liquid for the purpose of solidifying to separate globules or pearls, without coalescing or sticking to ether.

It is very iin ortant t at the formation of such pearls s ould proceed in a continuous manner, and the object of this invention is to provide a suitable apparatus which will enable this to be done. In this connection, difficulties in two directions have to be overcome. On the one hand arrangements must be provided which enable the finished products to be removed in a uniform and continuous manner, without affecting the depth of the liquid in the cooling bath, and on the other hand, any interru tion of the solidifying process must avoided. The drops entering the solidifying bath must travel. a certain distance through this bath until they have become so far solid that they will not lose their shape or cake together during subsequent removal. It is only after a certain time has elapsed that the globules or pearls formed can be handled, without damage in the manner necessary for continuous removal. It is essential that the still perfectly liquid drops must not be disturbed in any way at the moment of entry into the cooling bath, since that would cause them, on the one hand, to lose their perfectly globular shape, and on the other would lead to the coalescence of several drops into one, or cause a number of globules to cake together, with the result that the pearls would vary in size or flow together into lumps. It is also important to maintain the bath liquid at a suitable level, to ensure the necessary length of travel of the solidifying drops, and also to prevent entirely any disturbance, eddying or irregular flow of the li uid cooling agent of the bath in the zone 0? primary solidifi cation.

The invention therefore consists, in the first place, in providing an apparatus for transforming gelatinic colloids into globules or pearls, consistin of a vessel char d with a cooling liqui and having means or enabling the liquefied colloid to be introduced into said liquid in the form of drops, with a lock at the discharge end of said vessel, and in addition in providing means to produce, through the vessel and the look, a fiow of liquid which carries the solidified product away, without disturbing the bath liquid in the solidification zone.

The apparatus is arranged in difl'erent ways according as the cooling li uid is specifically lighter or heavier than t e colloidal solution from which the pearls are formed. Whereas, in the case of cooling liquids which are lighter than the collodial so ution, the apparatus may consist of a simple vessel charged with the cooling liquid and through which the solidifying drops of liquid gradually sink by gravitation, to arrive in a solidified condition at the bottom of the vessel, where they are carried b the-flow of the liquid through the lock, it is necessary to employ a special form of apparatus when cooling agents tl: it are heavier than the globule-forming colloidal solution are used. In this case the vessel takes the form of a trough (usually covered in) with an overflow weir at the discharge end, said trough being traversed by a horizontal stream of cooling medium, which carries away the introduced drops of colloid in suspension, solidifies them to pearls and discharges them over the weir at the outlet end. In this case the weir acts as a lock and maintains the bath liquid at a constant level, and also prevents eddies in the lower part of the trough.

Liquids which are adapted for use in such a process and with such an apparatus are, for example, trichlorethylene and tetrachlorethane which are specifically heavier than the collodial solution and are particularly adapted for use with the ap aratus shown in Figs-2 and 2 described ereinafter. Benzol, benzene and carbon disulfid are specifically lighter than the collodial solution and are particularly adapted for use as liquids in the device shown in Fig. 1.

According to the invention, in order to prevent the colloidal dro s falling into the intake end of the troug from being destroyed or driven together b the inflowing cooling liquid, the current 0 cooling liquid is admitted into the trough at such a distance up-stream in relation to the device supplying the drops of colloid that the liquid flows, free from eddies, at the point where the drops of colloid enter.

Two embodiments of apparatus of thisin 'vention are illustrated diagrammaticall in moving portions of the liquid and the granules therein "from time to time.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, in which solidifying liquids specifically lightgfit than the colloidal solution such as benzo' benzine and carbon disulfid are intende to be used, the comparatively tall vessel .1, containing the solidifying liquid, may be provided at the upper end with a dropping sieve, above which is located the chamber for the reception of the dissolved colloid.

Internally, the vessel is provided with a cooling coil 3 which is kept out of contact with the collodial drops b the shoulder 4, and is traversed by brine rom the intake 5 to the outlet 6.

At the lower end, the vessel tapers to a point at 7.

In the typical embodiment, the removal of the solidified drops is effected by the continuous admission, at 8, of liquid which carries the solidified drops with it into the upwardly bent pipe 9 connected to the bottom end 7 of the vessel, and delivers them at the point of discharge 10 on to any known type of separating device, such as a jig screen, screening drum, perforated belt or the like, where the liquid drains away from the fin- I ished pearls.

With this method of removing the drops, the vessel can be left without any cooling device, the solidifying liquid being cooled outside the vessel and then returned to the vessel in a continuous circulation.

On the other hand, however the removal of the drops can be effected dlrectly at the point 7, continuously or intermittently, by arrangin at that point any of the known lock devlces such as twin weirs, revolving locks, rotation pumps, double slides with an intermediate space, or the like.

Fig. 3 shows the employment with the tank 1 and its reduced bottom 7 of an enlarged section 7 which has a discharge pipe 9 connected therewith: in the enlargement 7 is located the addle wheel of a rotatable pump 25. In ig. 3 the enlargement 7 has associated therewith a plug 26 which has the rear passages 27 therethrough to permit the passage and discharge of a quantity of the'coolin liquid and of the solidified granules. In Fig. 3 the enlargement 7 has a similar plug 28 therein which has a passage 29 therethrough to form a revolving ules. In Fi 30 and 31 w iich are supported by a chamber 32: by appropriate movement of this double slide arrangement with successive movement of the slides, portions of the liquid and granules are drawn ofl from time to time. In Fig. 3 the enlargement 7 contains a bucket wheel 33 for the same purpose. In the form shown in Figs. 3, 3", 3 and 3 the rotatable element may be actuated by power or by hand either continuously or intermittently, in known manner.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, which is employed with liquids specifically heavier than the colloid such as trichlorethylene and tetrachlorethane, the solidification vessel takes the form of a covered horizontal trough 1' traversed by the solidification liquid, and is provided overhead, with a similar dropping sieve for the admission of the colloidal solution.

The vessel must be arranged so that the liquid entering at 11 flows, without eddies, under the drooping sieve, in order to prevent the still liquid drops of colloid from being whirled into contact and thereby caked together.

This result can be achieved by locating the inlet for the liquid at a point 11 a suitable distance upstream from the inlet 2 for the drops.

At the outlet, an overflow weir 12 is provided which maintains the level of the liquid in the trough at the re uisite height and prevents the formation 0? eddies; and over which the pearl shaped product is carried by the flow of liquid to the outlet 13.

In this case, the solidification liquid is cooled in a coilv 18, through which it flows from 19 to 11, whilst cooled brine flows, in the opposite direction, from 20 to 21. The cooling may, however, be effected directly in the vessel 1, as in the first example.

The outflow from the vessel at 13 leads, in this case also, to a separating device as in the first example.

Claims:

1. In an apparatus for transforming gelatinic colloids into globules or earls comprising a vessel adapted to be lled with a cooling liquid, means to form the colloid into drops and to pass such drops into the liquid, a look at the outlet end of the vessel, and means to produce a flow of liquid through the vessel and the lock to carry away the solidified globules without disturbing the bath liquid.

2. In an apparatus for transforming gelatinic colloids into globules or pearls comprising a trough ada ted to be filled with a cooling liquid speci cally heavier than the colloid, means to form the colloid into drops and to pass such drops. into the liquid, an overflow weir at the outlet end of said lug for the passa' of the liquid and gran- 3 t e pipe 9 contains 2 slides cooling liquid for said colloid, a droppin l5 device to form the colloid into drops an deliver the latter into the liquid, means to pass liquid through said vessel and maintaining the liquid adjacent mid dropping device substantially free from eddies, and .20

means to withdraw liquid and solidified granules from said vessel while maintaining the liquid level and eddyless condition thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 25 name to this specification,

WILHELM WAGHTEL.

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