US2225799A

US2225799A - Solvent extraction apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2225799A
Application number: US264505A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry S Robinson
Original assignee: French Oil Mill Machinery Co
Current assignee: French Oil Mill Machinery Co
Priority date: 1939-03-27
Filing date: 1939-03-27
Publication date: 1940-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1957-12-24

Description

1940- H. s. ROBINSQN SOLVENT EXTRACTION APPARATUS Filed March 2'7, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 24, 194-0. H. s. ROBINSON SOLVENT EXTRACTION APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 warn-mp1," 1-- D6324, H. s. Rosmsou" 2,225,799

SOLVENT EXTRACTIONCAPPARATUS.

Filed March 27, 1959 3 sheetssh eet b o l l H.9-Rbbl isO715 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 SOLVENT EXTRACTION APPARATUS Harry 8 Robinson, Piqna, Ohio, assignor to The French Oil Mill Machinery 00., Piqna, Ohio, a

corporation oi Ohio Application March 27, 1939, Serial No 2s4,so5

22 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the extraction of soluble substances from materials of, various kinds, and particularly to an apparatus for more satisfactorily extracting oils and fats s from vegetable seeds and other oleaginous or iatq containing materials.

Various typeset apparatus have beenproposed for the solvent extraction of materials. In the paternoster type of apparatus the extraction takes place continuously while the material is conveyed in containers carried by a continuously moving chain; suitable means being provided for flllingthe containers during their cycle of movement with material to be extracted, passing solvent through the material while in the containers, and discharging the extracted material from the containers and removing it from the extraction chamber. a

In the patemoster type of apparatus, as reoils or fats, or other extractablesubstances, from the material may be introduced into theconta iners at the upper ends of their flights and, as the containers areperforated. caused to pass downwardly by gravity through the several containers of the flights. l

In an apparatus of the kind referred to, the

solvent heretofore has been supplied from a sta-1 35 .tionary nozzle directed to introduce the solvent,

serially, into the several containers just as they beginrtheir downward movement. When it is also desired to have the solvent pass through the containers in a counter-current direction on the 40 upwardly moving side of the cycle nozzles are positioned to introduce solvent into the several containers as they approach the upper end of their upward movement. As the open top of the containers are opposite the stationary nozzles 45 for only a very limitedperiodoi time it has been necessary to introduce a relatively large amount oi the solvent intothe containers in a very short period of time, with resultant packing of material in the baskets due to the pressure exerted on the material in the containers by the solvent. Also, it has beendiiiicult, tointroduce the solvent into the moving containerwithout considerable spillage.

It is an object of the present invention to pro-a vide an apparatus of the paternoster type for the,

extraction of oleaginous and like material in which the solvent is introduced into the several containers in a manner which will prevent spillage of the liquid solvent, and in a manner which will give a longer period in which to introduce the desired amount of solvent into each container, thereby avoiding packing of the material in the containersas occurs when the supply of solvent is added at one point in the limited time possible with a stationary nozzle.

More particularly, my invention comprises an extraction apparatus of'the'paternoster type in which the nozzles for supplying the solvent to the container are adapted to engage suitable sockets or-openings in the containers, move with the containers while the solvent is being supplied through the nozzles, and thereafter to move away trom the containers and returnto their initial position, ready to engage other containers or buckets of the series.

In order that the liquid solvent may be more evenly distributed over the material in the containers, each container is provided at its bottom with a depending perforated pan or tray, and the solvent from the nozzles is introduced into those pans rather than into that part of the container which carries the material. The

solvent after being introduced into the pan or tray carried by any particular container passes through the perforations therein in small streams into that part of the next lower container which carries the material to be extracted. Thus, the only force exerted by the solvent on the material in any container, is the slight gravitational force of the solvent in dripping from the depending perforated pan ortray of one. container to the next lower container, which is insuflicient to cause appreciable packing or channeling oi the material.

The invention will be further described in con nection with the accompanying drawings but it is to be ,understood'that such further illustration and description is by way of exempliflcation and the invention is not limited thereto except as material-conveying containers, with the carrier chain at one side being broken away to better show certain features of the structure.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through one of the material-conveying containers and the distributing pan secured thereto.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the solvent supplying nozzles, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the cam bar for withdrawing the nozzles from engagement with the sockets of the materialconveying containers.

Referring now to the drawings, the extraction apparatus comprises a vapor tight tank I having a main driving shaft 2 driven in any suitable manner rotatably mounted in the upper end thereof. A shaft 3 is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings adjacent the lower end of the tankl and 'in vertical alignment with the driving shaft 2. ,A pair of spaced sprockets 4 and a pair of spaced sprockets 5 are rigidly secured to and rotate with the shafts 2 and Irespectively. The. sprockets 4 function'as driving means for a pair of carrier chains 6, the alternate links of which are formed as brackets! having bearings 8 in their outer ends for receiving trunnions 3 secured to and extending from opposite sides of material-:conveying containers ||i positioned between the chains.

As shown in the drawings, .the sprockets 4 and 5 are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and cause the containers l0 carried by the chains 8 to move in a cycle in which they pass downwardly on the left hand side and upwardly on the right hand side of the apparatus, as viewed in Fig. 1. Suitable means (not shown) such as commonly is used in extraction apparatus of the type disclosed is provided for introducing the material to be extracted into the containers as they begin their downward movement for rotating the containers about the trunnions 8 to invert them after they have passed substantially through their cycle of movement and when they have reached the top, to discharge the extracted material. After the material has been discharged from,the inverted containers the assume their normal position ready to receive a fresh charge of the material to be extracted as they again begin their downward movement. The material discharged from the containers may be conveyed from the tank and treated in any suitable mannor for the recovery of any solvent remaining therein.

Each container it has a perforated bottom over which is secured foraminous material l2 which will permit free passage of solvent and extracted oil from the material but will retain thereon the material undergoing extraction. A distributing pan or tray I3 is suspended beneath each container III by means of straps or thelike l3. The bottom of each pan I3 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally-extending v-shaped or corrugated troughs H which are perforated to. permit the passage of solvent and extracted oil therethrough. Each container l0 also is provided at one side with a pair of sockets l5 and II which communicate with conduits I6 and II, respectively, which converge inwardly and downwardly and terminate in a common outlet II which passes through the perforated bottom ll of the container so that solvent from nozzles l9, located in the upper portion of the apparatus at each side thereof, may be introduced directly through either socketand conduit into the distributing pans secured to the bottom of the containers through either socket and the conduit extending therefrom, in the manner to be hereinafter set forth.

A driving gear 20 is rotatably secured to the main driving shaft 2 at one side of the tank I and meshes with and drives a pinion 2| rotatable upon a stub shaft 22, secured to one of the side walls of the tank. A sprocket 23 rotatable with the pinion 22 drives a chain 24 which passes around and drives a sprocket 25 rigidly secured to and rotatable with a shaft 26 mounted in a pair of brackets 2! secured to the top of the tank I. A shaft 28 mounted in the upper end of the brackets 21 pivotally supports an oscillatable lever 29, having arms extending from each side of the shaft 28 and pivotally secured to the upper ends of adjustable connecting links 29'. The lower ends of the connecting links 23 are pivotally secured to the upper ends of a pair of vertically reciprocable guide bars 30 positioned at opposite sides or the tank. An oscillatable lever 3| is also pivotally mounted on the shaft 28 and, like the lever 29, has arms extending from opposite sides of the shaft 28. Adjustable connecting links 3| are pivotally secured to the outer ends of the arms of the lever 3| and have their lower ends pivotally secured to the upper ends of a pair of vertically reciprocable cam bars 32, also positionedat opposite sides of the tank and adjacent the guide bars 30.

Theguide bars 30 and the cani bars 32 are guided in brackets 33 secured by other brackets 34 to a side wall of the tank. The brackets 33 have generally c-shaped extensions 35 including inwardly directed guide flanges 38 which engage in slots 31 and 38 formed in the opposite sides of the guide bars 30 'and in the cam bars 32, respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The nozzles on the descending side are connected by flexibleconnections 40 to a solvent header 4| and the nozzles on the ascending side are connected by like flexible connections 42 to a solvent header 43. Valves 44 and 45 are interposed between theflexible connections 43 and 42 and the headers 4| and 43, respectively.

The guide bars 30 have a plurality of vertically spaced circular openings 33 of a diameter approximately equal to the external diameter of the nozzles l3, through which the nozzles extend. The cam bars 32 are positioned opposite the guide bars 30 and are provided with plurality of vertically spaced, vertically-extending elongated openings or slots 43 through which the nozzles I9 also extend. Cams 41 are formed on each of the-cam bars 32 at opposite sides of and adjacentthe lower ends of the elongated openings or slots 48, and each nozzle is formed intermediate its length with a flange 48 having cams 48 at opposite sides thereof which are adapted to engage and ride upon the cams 41 as the cam bars are reciprocated. Springs SI are interposed between the guide bars 30 and theflanges 48 of the nozzles to constantly urge the nozzles l9 inwardly towards the path of the traveling containers H).

The oscillatable levers 23 and 3| carry rollers II and 52 respectively at one side of the shaft "which ride upon adJustable cams I3 and I4 rigidly secured in their adjusted position to the shaft 28 so that rotation of the shaft and the cams SI and 52 will cause the levers 23 and 3| absence to be oscillated and the guide bars 30 and the bars 32 to bereciprocated vertically. The vertical reciprocation of the guide bars 30 cause the nozzles to be raised and lowered dueto the fact that the nozzles pass through and snugly fit within the openings 33 of the guide bars. The flexible connections and 42 permit the raising and lowering oi' thenozzles without interfering with the flow of solvent therethrough. The reciprocation ofthe cambars flcause the cams 4! to be brought into and outci' engagement with the came 49 carried by the flanges 43 oi. the nozzles i9. Thus when the cam bars 32 are raised the cams 41 are caused to move op posite the cams 48 and to compress 'thesprings 50 and to move the nozzles IS in a direction away from the path oftravel of the containers I 0. When the cam bars 32 are lowered the cams 41 move from a position oppositejthe cams 43 and the springs act to again force the nozzles in a direction towards thepath of travel of the containers l0, and to the position'shown in Fig. 3 with their ends engaging the sockets l5 and ii of the containers Ill.

The chains carrying the containers l and the actuating mechanism tor the guidebars 30 and cam bars 32 are all driven from the main driving shaft 2 and their movements are so synchronized that the nozzles are permitted to move towards the path or travel of the containers Ill only at such times that the sockets i3 and I! are opposite the nozzles i9 so that the nozzles will be received within and make connection with the sockets. Also;.the reciprocationot the guide bars 30 and cam bars 321s such that after the nozzles have engaged the sockets l5 and ii of the containers Hi the nozzles will move downwardly with the containers for a limited period of time, after which the cam bars 32, are raised to cause the cams 41 to engage the cams 49 on ing which they move towards the moving containers lli engage the sockets l3 and i3, move with the containers for a limited distance, are

withdrawn from engagement with the sockets and then are moved upwardly to their original position. i

As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, each container II is provided with a pair of sockets l5 and I! and a pair of conduits I6 and I6 which terminate in the common outlet l1. Thus, on the descending side of the apparatus the sockets I! will come opposite and receive the nozzlesfon' that:

side; while on the ascending side the sockets I! will come opposite and receive the nozzles on that side of the apparatus. The downward inclination of the conduits i 6 and I8 is suiflcient to prevent solvent being introduced through one socket and conduit from flowing through the other conduit and out of the other socket.

Pure solvent is supplied from any source through a supply line 5| to the solvent header 43 on the ascending side of the apparatus and,

when the nozzles is on that side are in engagement with the sockets i5 pure solvent will flow from the header 43 through the nozzles on that; side and conduits ii to the distributing pans left hand sideof the apparatus.

, 3 I 31o! those containers with which the nozzlesengage. j The solvent will spread-out in the distributing pans and pass through theperforations in the V-shaped troughs II in amyriad of line,

streams, much like rain, intothe portion of the next lower container containing the material to i be extracted, Thus, theforce or the flow of the solvent'intothe containers is broken and the kinetic energy of the solvent introduced is in suillcient to cause-packing or channeling of the material undergoing extraction with the result that extraction is more readilyand thoroughly accomplished; r V

In eachcontainer on the ascending the solvent passes downwardly throughthe material and through the icraminous material it and perforated bottom It into the distributing pan l8 secured thereto irom which it, together with any solvent which may be introdu ced directly into the distributing pan from the nozzles. 19 when the containers are at the upper end of the ascending column, drips into the container next below until the solvent, now partially enriched with dissolved, oil by passing through the oilbearing material drips into the; accumulator compartment 52 at the bottom of the tank.

The partially enriched solvent, termed half miscella," .is, withdrawn through a pipe 53 and pumpedby a pump 54 through a pipe line 55 to an upper reservoir 56, from which it flows through a supply linei'l to the header H at the The half miscellaf' from the header 4! is supplied through the nozzles l9 at the left hand side to the fresh oil-bearing material in the upper containers of the descending column, the fresh material having been introduced into the containers as they began their descent. miscella through the containers in the descending column is the same as thepassage of the pure,

solvent through the containers oi the ascending column. A's/the containers in the descending col The passage of the half maybe dischargedthrough a pipe 59 for treatment to recover the extracted oil. The solvent also is recovered and returned through the supply line 3| as pure solvent.

The supply of pure solvent through'the supply line 5|, header 43 and the nozzlesat the right handside of the apparatus is controlled by a normally closed valve 60 in the supply line 5|. Likewise, the supply of half miscella" from the reservoir 53 to the header 4| and the nozzles at the left hand side of theapparatus is controlled by a similar valve Si in thesupply line 51. The valve stems of the valve and SI are pivotally connected to levers 62 and 63, which have their other ends pivotally connected to a common adjustable actuating link 84. The lower end of the adjustable actuating link 64 is pivotally connected to one end .ofna lever 65- oscillatably-v mounted on a stub shaft 66 secured to one side v of the tank. The other end or the lever 5 cars ries a roller which bearsupon an adjustable cam 61, which,like the sprocket 23 is rotatable with the pinion 2|.

The valve-actuating cam 61 being rotatable with the pinion 2| and sprocket 33,,the opening, and closing o1 the valves 60 and ii is synchronized with vthe movement. of the cam bars 32,

the guide} bars 30 and the nozzles I! carried,

thereby, and the cam 61 isso formed and adjusted that the valves 30 and 6| are opened only while the nozzles I! are in their inward position and engage "withinthe sockets I! and I! of the containers. 'As soon as the nozzles I." are'rnoved away from the sockets oithe container-shy the camsll or the cam'bars 32, the valves II and I are closed to prevent leakage or dripping oi the solvent from thenozzles.

1 The cams 53,, and U may be made'adiustable in any manner, but preferably are" secured in the desired'position to'cam driving rings, in a 1. manner wellknown. The adiustability oi the guide bars 80 and cam bars 32 which control the parallelogram movement of the nozzles ll, during which they move into and out of "engage-' mentwith the sockets of the containers. couf pied with the adjustable means i'or controlling theop'ening and closing oi the'valves 8| and 8! whichfcontrol the flow of'the pure solvent and half misc'ella to-the'headers ll. and ll, and consequentlyto the nozzles ll, provide flexibility oi" adjustment-for the time or flow of the solvent to the containers and the length of the reciprocal travel of the nozzles while in engagement with the sockets of the containers. The provision of the valves 44 and "between the headers 4| and 43 and the flexible tubes l and II which lead to the nozzles enable the amount of solvent supplied from the headers to the flexible connections and the nozzles-connected thereto to be controlled.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides means for positively controlling the supply of solvent to the material "to be extracted; Furthermore,

theefllciency oi the extraction is increased by the use of the present apparatus-in that the solvent is so introduced into the containers containing the material to be extracted, that packlng and'channellng oi' the material does'not occur; thereby enabling the solvent to pass through the material in an even flow the flow being controlled by time and amount oi solvent applied. The downward travel of solvent is more even and thereby more 'eiiicient in its action on soluble material, and is less influenced by, the insoluble material. Also, as the present invention provides for. the control of the time during which given amounts of solvent may be introduced into the containers, the speed of the extraction may be controlled.

In addition to the advantages or the present apparatus set forth above, it also enables the solvent to be supplied to the containers while they are passing through their cycle of movement without appreciable loss of solvent, and enables the solvent passing, through the material in the upper containers in each column to be collected in the distributing pans secured beneath those containers and there to be redistributed and mixed with the solvent introduceddirectly into the distributing pans by the traveling nozzles and to pass through theperforations in the bottom of those pans with a minimum of force and thereby be evenly distributed over the material in the containers directly beneath. In the lower containers of each flight the solvent passes through the material undergoing extraction and into the distributing pans carried by the containers until the solvent and the constituents ex-' tracted from the material drop into the accumulator compartments 5! or 58 in the manner above 1 described.

Various changes maybe made in the details of the apparatus disclosed without departing irom the invention-or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. For example, the openings Ii and II may be placed'in one or the vertical sides.

of the containers "instead or one of the ends. as shown in the drawings. and the nozzles I! and the carriers therefor placed at such sides of the containers.

I claim:

1. An extraction apparatus comprising a series of moving containers ior material to be extracted, solvent-supplying means, and means for moving said solvent-supplying means to engage and move with said containers and supply solvent to them while they are in motion.

2. An extraction apparatus comprising a series of containers movable through a cycle, means for driving said containers through said cycle, a solvent supplying nozzle, means for moving said nozzle into engagement with a moving container and for supplying solvent thereto while the container is in motion.

3. An extraction apparatus comprising a series of containers movable through a cycle, means {or moving said containers through said cycle.

a solvent supplying nozzle, means. for causing said nozzle to successively engage and move with diiierent containers of said series and to supply,

solvent to the containers while they are in motion. M

4. An extraction apparatus comprising an endless conveyor, means for driving said endless conveyor, a series or containers for material to be extracted carried by said endless conveyor, a solvent supplying nozzle, means for causing said nozzle to move into engagement withsaid containers,"to move with said containers for a limited distance and then return to its initial position, and means for supplying solvent through said nozzle while it is in engagement with said containers.

5. An extraction apparatus comprising an endless conveyor, means for driving said endless conveyor, a series of containers for material to be extracted carried by said endless conveyor,

a solventsupplying nozzle, means for causing said nozzle to have a parallelogram movement during which it moves into engagement with one of the containers of said series, moves with said container for a limited distance, moves out of engagement with said container and returns to its initial position, and means for supplying solvent through said nozzle only while it is in engagement with a container.

- conveyor, a series of containers for material to be extracted carried by said endless conveyor, a solvent supplying nozzle, means for reciprocating said nozzle, means normally urging said nozzle toward the path of movement of said containers, a reciprocatory cam member for controlling the movement 01' said nozzle toward and from the pathoi movement of said containers, and means for introducing solvent from said nozzle into the containers when said nomle is in tainer beneath the perforated bottom and having its forward position towards the path of travel of said containers. g

8. An extraction apparatus comprising an endless conveyor, means for driving said endless conveyor, a series of containers for material to i be extracted carried by. said endless conveyor,

a solvent supplying nozzle, meansfor recipro cating saidfnozzle and causing it to .move into engagement successively with different containers of said series, cam means controlling the movement of said nozzle into and out of engagement with said containers, and means for sunplying solvent-through said nozzle while it is in engagement with said containers. V 1

9.-An extraction apparatus of the paternoster type comprising an endless conveyor, means for I driving said endless conveyor, a series of containers for material to be extracted carriedby said endless conveyor, said endless conveyor'and the containers carried thereby moving through a cycle in which the containers pass through descending and ascending columns of substantial length, a solvent supplying nozzle, a vertical reciprocable guide bar for raising and lowering said nozzles, means for causing said nozzles to move into engagement with said containers, a vertically reciprocable cam bar for controlling the movement of said nozzle toward and from the containers as they pass said nozzle, means for controlling the reciprocation of said guidebar and said cam bar whereby the nozzlehas a parallelogram movement imparted to it during which it moves into engagement with one of the containers of said series, moves with said container for a limited distance, moves out of engagement with said container and returns to its initial position, and means for supplying solvent through said nozzle only when it is in engagement with a container of said series.

10. In an extraction apparatus, a container for material to be extracted comprising a compartment for said material havinga perforated bottom, and a distributing pan having an open top secured to said container and extending beneath the entire perforated portion of the bottom thereofand having perforations in its bottom through which liquid may pass, andmeans for introducing a solvent for material to be extracted directly into the distributing pan.

11. In an extraction apparatus, a container for material to be extracted comprising a compartment for said material having a perforated bottom, and a distributing pan having an open top secured to said container and extending beneath the entire perforated portion of the bottom thereof and having perforations in its bottom through which liquid may pass, a solvent supplying nozzle, and means for introducing solvent for the material to be extracted from said nozzle into said distributing pan.

12. In an extraction apparatus, a container for material to be extracted comprising a compartment for said material having a perforated bottom, and a distributing pan having an open top secured to said container and extending beneath the entire perforated portion of the bottom thereof and having perforations in its bottom through which liquid may pass, a solvent supplying nozzle, and means for introducing solvent for the material to be extracted from said nozzle directly into said distributing pan.

13. In an extraction apparatus, a container for material to be extracted comprising a compartment for said material having a perforated bottom, and a distributing pan secured to said conperforations .in-itsbottom through which liquid may pass, an imperforate conduit passing through said container and communicating with anopening' in the bottom thereof, and means for-passing solvent for the material to be extracted through said conduit into said distributing pan.

14. In an extraction apparatus, a container for material to be extracted comprisinga compartment for said material having a perforated bottom, and a distributing pan's'ecured to said container beneath the perforated bottom and having perforations in its bottom through which liquid may pass, a conduit extending through said container and communicating with an opening in theflbottom thereof, a solvent supplying nozzle, and means for causing said nozzle to be temporarily engaged with said conduit, whereby solvent for material to be extracted may be introduced directly from said nozzle into said distributing pan,

15. In an extraction apparatus, a container for material to be extracted comprising a compartment for saidmaterial having a perforated bottom, and a distributing pan secured to said container beneath the perforated bottom and having perforations in its bottom through which liquid may pass, a conduit extending through said of said conduit terminating in a socket at one side of the container, a solvent supplying nozzle, and means for causing said solvent supplying nozzle to intermittently engage in said socket, and means for passing solvent through said nozzle whenit is in engagement with said socket, whereby solvent may be introduced directly from said nozzle into said distributing pan.

16. In an extraction apparatus, a container for material to beextracted comprising a compartment for said material having a perforated bottom, and a distributing pan secured to said container beneath the perforated bottom and having perforations in its'bottom through which liquid may pass, a plurality of conduits extending through said container, each terminating at one end in an outlet communicating with the bottom of said container, the other end of each of said conduits terminating in a socket in one side of the container, a solvent supplying nozzle, and means for intermittently moving said nozzle into engagement with the socket at the end of one of said conduits, and means for supplying solvent through said nozzle when it is in engagement with one of said sockets, whereby solvent may be supplied directly from said nozzle to said distributing pan.

1'7. In an extraction apparatus, a container for material to be extracted comprising a compartment for said material having a perforated bottom, and a distributing pan secured to said container beneath the perforated bottom and having perforations in its bottom through which liquid may pass, a plurality of inwardly and downwardly converging conduits, each terminating at one end in a common outlet in the bottom of said container, the other end of each of said conduits terminating in a socket at one side of the container, a solvent supplying nozzle, and means for intermittently moving said nozzle into engagement with the socket carried at the end of one ofsaid conduits, and means for supplying solvent through said nozzle when it is in engage- -ment with said socket, whereby solvent may be supplied, directly. from said nozzle to said dis- 18. Extraction apparatus 'of the paternoster type comprising an endless conveyor for material to be extracted, containers having perforated bottom carried'by said conveyor, said conveyor and containers moving through a cycle in which the containers pass through descending and ascending columns of substantial length, a distrib-, uting pan having aperforated bottom secured beneath the perforated bottom of each of said containers, each of said containers having a plurality of conduits extending therethrough, each terminating at one end in an outlet in the bottom of said container, the other end of each of said conduits terminating in a socket at one side of the container, at least one solvent supplying noztribnting pan.

. zle located adjacent both the ascending column and descending column of containers,- means for intermittently moving the nozzle adjacent the descending column successively into engagement with the socket of one of the conduits carried by the containers of said series, and means for intermittently moving the nozzle adjacent the ascending column successively into engagement with the socket of the other conduit carried by said containers, and means for causing solvent to pass through said nozzles when they are in engagement with said sockets, whereby solvent may be suppliedfrom the nozzles adjacent either column directly into the distributing pans carried by said containers.

19. In an extraction apparatus, a container for material to be extracted comprising a compartment for said material having a perforated bottom, a distributing pan having an open top secured to said container and extending beneath the entire perforated portion, of the bottom thereof, the bottomof said distributing pan having trough-like portions, said trough-like portions having perforations through which liquid may pass, and means for introducing a solvent for less conveyor, means for driving said conveyor through a cycle including a least one substantially vertical path, a series of containers for material to be extracted carried by said endless conveyor, means .for. introducing solvent into said containers during their cycle ofmovement, each of said containers having a perforated bottom whereby solvent from one container may pass to the subjacent container, and means below the perforated bottom of each container for redistributing solvent passing therethrough over substantially the entire surface of material in the subjacent container.

21. An extraction apparatus comprising an endless conveyor, means for'driving said conveyor through a cycle including at least one substantially vertical path, a series of containers for material to be extracted carried by said endless conveyor, means for introducing solvent into said containers during their cycle of movement, each of said containers having a perforated bottom whereby solventfrom one container may pass to the subjacent container, and means secured to the bottom of eachcontainer for receiving and redistributing solvent, whereby solvent draining through the material in a container will be caught by said solvent receiving and redistributing means and redistributed before it passes to the subjacent container.

22. An extraction apparatus comprising an endless conveyor, means for driving said conveyor through a cycle including at least one substantially vertical path, a series of containers for material to be extracted carried by said endless conveyor, means for introducingvsolvent into said containers during their cycle of movement, each of said containers having a perforated bottom whereby solvent from one container may pass to the subjacent container, and a pan having a perforated bottom secured beneath the perforated bottom of each container, whereby solvent draining through the material in a container will be caught by the attached pan and redistributed before it passes to the subjacent container HARRY S. ROBINSON.