US1718778A - Soap flakes - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1929. B; w. COLTMAN 1 .778

SOAP FLAKES Original Filed Aug. 15, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l I M4196 w; zsqaw k/Q/a June 25, 1929. w COLTMAN 1,718,778

SOAP FLAKES Original Filed Aug. 15, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lBEBTR-AM WM. COLTMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SOAP FLAKES.

Original application My invention relates to soap flakes and is a division of my copending application, Serial Number 492,214, filed August 15, 1921, since granted as United States Letters Patent No. 1,653,390.

- An object of my invention is to provide a soap flake having voids therein and more particularly a soap flake having a greater volume per unit of weight than that of its'ingredients before mixed.

According to my invention, a soap flake is provided which is particularly flufl'y, quickly soluble in water and of attractive appearance, having a characteristic crystalline voidlike thin-walled structure which is exceedingly light and porous.

In order to apprise those skilled in the art how to practice and construct my invention, I shall now describe a preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which shows one form of structure that may be used to produce soap flakes in accordance with my invention, other forms that may be used having been disclosed and claimed in United States Letters Patent Nd. 1,653,390, it being under.- stood, however, that any of these other forms or processes may be used with equal advantage to produce my improved form'of soap product.

Figure 1 illustrates apparatus which may be used to practice the invention; and

Figure 2 is a photo-microscopic view of the product.

Referring to the drawing, liquid soap is fed into a vat 2 through a supply pipe 3 containing a supply control valve 4:. Supply pipe 3 may lead directly from the large vat wherein the necessary ingredients are prepared into soap. The solution taken from such a vat may contain any suitable percentage of water, but if a reater percentage is desired after the liquid soap flows into vat 2, water or other suitable thinning fluid such as alcohol or acetone may be added. Such thinning fluid may be supplied to vat 2 through a pipe 6 having valve 5. This fluid is mixed with the soapy solution by means of an ordinary wire stirrer 7. Stirrer 7 is carried upon a shaft 8, which is driven by any suitable means, as for instance by a belt 9. A hot air jacket 10 may surround the mixing vat 2 to keep its contents at a certain temperature.

From vat 2, the liquid soap of reduced confiled August 15, 1921, Serial No. 492,214, new Patent No. 1,653,390. Divided an this application filed December 20, 1927. Serial No.-241,361.

sistency is fed through a valve 11 into a whip p1ng vat 12, WlllCll, as shown, is of the ordinary type. The whippcr comprises simply the belt driven shaft 13 carrying wires or rods 14, which stir and aerate the'n'iaterial. The construction is such that the stirring instrumentalities, i. e., wires or rods, pass through the viscid mass with a smooth cutting, as distinguished from either an ebulliting or kneading action, whereby there is obtained indefinitely repeated cutting of the occluded air into smaller and smaller subdivisions, with comparatively small levitation or expulsion thereof, there being a conversion of the mass into froth, lather or foam. During the aerating step, the liquid soap may be kept at a certain temperature, which greatly facilitates the action thereof, the heat being supplied by a warm air jacket 23' surrounding vat 12.

A sprayer 17 driven by a pump 15 may be used to feed the liquid soap in the form of a mist upon a traveling surface 113, forming a thin film or pellicle of soap. This sprayer may act to divide theflow, so that the lather is discharged in a comparatively line mist, which settles upon the traveling surface in a thin sheet. The soap, owing to its plastic and adhesive character, will remain upon the belt and will spread evenly thereover by its own action. As the belt travels along its upper horizontal run, warm air of sufficient avidity to remove the moisture is directed against the soap by any suitable means, as for in.-

- stance by a blower 18 and manifold 19 having any number of jets 20, from which air is emitted. By the time the soap reaches the end of the belts horizontal run, it will be of a spongy andv friable nature, that is, there will be a tendency for it to crumble into fine flakes as soon as it is disturbed. It is here proposed to provide such disturbance by creating an abrupt break in the straight run of the belt. Roller 21 serves this purpose, while, if so desired, an auxiliary means may be used to remove soap which persists in clinging to the belt. This auxiliary means is in the form of one or more blades 22, which bear lightly against the belt without wearing or destroying the same. It is to be noted that the flakes are permitted to drop practically untouched into receptacle 23, which prevents lumping.

It will be noted that the soap will be somewhat spongy in character and friable, so thatit will break or crumble into flakes orparticles, when removed from the belt. These flakes or particles will have a definite porous structure and contain Voids therein which render them light and flutfy, giving them greater Volume and solubility. Having voids therein, when the flakes are removed from the belt, rather thin walled cellular structures are produced, which retain their unity as flakes or particles, and which does not thereafter crumble into powder. A greater surface is exposed by the thin celled walls separated by the voids, and consequently, greater solubility is obtained. The soap product consists of soap material which is heat dried to result in cellular or porous walls, these walls being highly absorbent of and quickly soluble in water. The particles of soap contain definitely formed voids within whereby the particles are relatively hollow and are surrounded by cellular walls, these walls appearing as small cells or pores interconnected by smaller finely divided walls. The particles are formed as such to a large extent in the making by the processes disclosed in my parent case, it betherein being substantially surrounded by thin cellular walls, said walls being sufficiently porous to render the product absorbent of and readily soluble in water.

2. A substantially dry soap product consisting of soap material. having cellular or porous walls, being highly absorbent of and qu ckly soluble in water, said product having voids therein surrounded by said cellular walls to thereby present available surface area which is large relative to the amount of soap contained therein.

3. A soap product which is light and is readily soluble in water and composed of soap particles which are generally of cavity 01 void form surrounded partially by walls which are of a porosity noted particularly by small cells or pores interconnected by smaller finely divided walls.

4. A spray processed soap product composed of generally hollow particles characterized by their dry thin walls notably filled with minute porous cellular-like openings.

5. A heat treated spray processed porous .soap product solidified into characteristic cellular component particles or bodies of void formation, so as to be large considering the amount of soap contained in each component particle or body thereby to present available surface area which is large relative to the amount of soap in each particle or body whereby each particle or body may be readily dissolved in an aqueous liquid, the said void formation being more particularly defined as.

thin walls substantially dry throughout, the thin dry walls being porous and partially onclosing cavity-like voids in the soap product.

6. A soap product formed of substantially small bodies having voids therein substantially surrounded by thin walls, the surface of said walls exhibiting minute cellular formation.

7fComponent particles of a porous soap product which are characterized by their thin dry porous cellular walls and with voids therein substantially surrounded by said cellular walls and of such size as to cause the particles to be large considering the amount of soap contained therein.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

BERTRAM WM. COLTMAN.

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