US2277463A - Rendering drum - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1942. P. F. wARTwur RENDERING DRUM Filed Jan.Y 3, 1939 Inventur' F. F. Ewa 1"l twcxu't Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE RENDERING DRUM Paul F. Swartwout, Cudahy, Wis.

Application January 3, 1939, Serial No. 248,951

1 claim.

This invention appertains to process cookers, and more particularly to novel means for facilitating the economical and expeditious use vof steel or other tanks employed in the wet rendering of lard and similar processes.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide means for preventing the loss of heat from the tanks during the rendering of the lard, whereby to not only reduce the cost of rendering. but to also prevent undue dilution of the product by excessive steam, and the cost and labor of evaporating excess stick water resulting from the prolonged use of steam.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide means for quickly cooling the tanks after the rendering, or other process, so as to reduce the time and labor incidental to the use of the tanks.

A further important object of my invention is to provide a novel jacket arrangement for the tanks, whereby to conserve heat therein during the rendering process, and for facilitating the quick cooling of the tanks after the rendering process.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an insulated jacket arranged in spaced relation to the tanks for insulating the tanks against heat radiation during the use of the tanks for a process employing high temperatures, and for permitting the circulation of air or uid around the tank to facilitate the economical cooling of the tank after the process has been completed.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a tank constructed in accordance with my invention, the section being taken on line I-I of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure 1 looking i in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several Views, the letter T generally indicates a tank employed in the wet rendering of lard, or similar processes. The tank T is of the usual or any preferred character, and my invention relates to novel means for preventing the excessive loss of heat from the tank, and for permitting the expeditious cooling of the tank. Thus, the tank T, as shown, includes an elongated, hollow, vertical body 5, having a tapered vlower end 6 leading to a large draw-pipe l. The flow of matter through the pipe 'I is controlled by a hand valve 8.

The upper 4end of the tank is closed by a head 9, which carries a removable closure plate I0. By removing the closure plate I 0, the fat or other subjects to be processed can be readily introduced into the tank. The head 9 has communimating therewith a steam inlet pipe I I, and flow of steam can be controlled through the pipe by the use of a valve I2.

In normal use, lard collects in the tank (after processing.) Aabove the dotted line indicated by the reference character I3, and stick water collects in the tank from the dotted line I4 to the dotted line I3. Below the line I4 waste or residue matter is collected, and this matter can be used for fertilizer. The stick water results from the condensing of the steam used in the rendering process and certain substances in the matter being rendered. This stick water is evaporated to form glue, as is readily understood by persons skilled in the art. Obviously, by reducing the amount of the water of condensation, time and money can be saved in the making of the glue. Draw-olf pipes I5 and I6 communicate with the tank for facilitating the drawing oi of the lard therefrom.

In accordance with my invention, I place a jacket 20 around the tank, and this jacket is preferablyA formed from sheet metal, and is arranged in vspaced relation to the tank so that an air space 2I is formed between the tank and the jacket. The jacket can be held in its proper spaced relation to the tank by the use of suitable angle irons or channel irons 22, as shown.

The jacket entirely surrounds the body 5 of the tank, and the lower end of the jacket has formed thereon, or secured thereto, an inverted frusto-conical depending extension 23, which surrounds the lower tapered end 6 of the tank. It is to be noted, however, that the lower end of the jacket is open, and is spaced a greater distance from the lower end of the tank than the body of the jacket is from the body of the tank.

The outer surface of the sheet metal jacket is coated with a bright paint, and is finally coated with a thick covering of insulation 24 of the desired character. The transfer of heat from the air space to the room is checked by the bright exterior of the sheet metal jacket or sheath and the layer of insulating material 24. The space between the upper end of the jacket and the tank can be closed in any desired manner, and, as illustrated, the tank and its head is provided with outstanding flanges Il, and the jacket can be secured to these flanges.

A relatively large air-conducting outlet pipe 25 is carried by the upper end of the jacket, and communicates with the air space 2|. A suitable valve 26 can be arranged within the pipe 25 so as to control the flow of fluid therethrough. In the present instance the valve 26 is in the nature of a butterfly damper, and the damper can be opened and closed by the use of a handle 21 arranged exteriorly of the pipe.

In use of my device, the damper or valve 26 is closed, and the matter to be treated is placed in the tank and the cover plate l is tightly sealed. Steam is now introduced through the pipe l I, and the fat or other matter is now processed for the necessary length of time. Loss of heat is effectively prevented by the air space 2|, the sheet metal jack 20, its bright coat of paint, and the layer of insulation 24. As undue loss of heat is prevented, a lesser amount of steam is needed. Consequently, money will be saved, and there will be less water of condensation in the tank. After the lard has been processed, and it is desired to cool the apparatus, the butterfly damper or valve 26 is opened, and air is drawn through the jacket and out of the pipe 21. A suitable suction fan or the like can be employed in the pipe 25, if so desired. The flow of air between the tank and the jacket will take the heat from the tank and the jacket, and, thus, the tank can be quickly and expeditiously cooled. The heat thus drawn oi can be used for any other purpose as can be well understood by persons skilled in the art.

While I have stated that air is adapted to be drawn between the space, it is to be understood that the space around the tank can be completely closed by the jacket, and that cold water can be run between the jacket and tank to cool the tank, if this should be found desirable.

As there will be less stick water (condensation) left in the tank, less time and heat will be necessary to evaporate the stick water, which is necessary in the making of glue from the stick water.

Changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

In a process cooker used in the wet rendering of lard and the like, an upright tank including an elongated body having a lower conical end, drawoif pipes communicating with the tank at spaced points, means for introducing steam into the tank, an insulated jacket closely surrounding the body of the tank in spaced relation thereto and conforming to the configuration thereof and dening a chamber between the same and the tank, a depending frusto-conical extension on the jacket opening out to the atmosphere around the lower conical end of the tank, said frusto-conical extension being spaced a greater distance from the conical end of the tank than the spacing of the body of the jacket from the body of the tank, means between the upper end of the jacket and tank for closing the upper end of the chamber, a large outlet pipe carried by the upper end of the jacket and communicating with the chamber and an adjustable damper in said outlet pipe for controlling the flow of air therethrough.

PAUL F. SWARTWOUT.

Images