File:Seeds oils extracting vessel.png

English: Bessemer & Heywood's patent also mentions another machine for the expression of oils from the seeds, &c., by pressure in connection with water, or water rendered slightly alkaline. A sectional drawing of it is represented in fig. 468. a is a cast-iron cistern, having semicircular ends, and open on the upper side. At one end of it is fixed a cylindrical vessel, b, with hemispherical ends. This vessel is of considerable

strength, and should be capable of withstanding a pressure of 5,000 pounds to the square inch. It is held in an upright position by a flange, c, formed upon it, and extending around one-half of its circumference. Tliis flange rests upon a similar one formed around the upper side of the cistern a, and is bolted thereto. At the upper part of the vessel b is formed a sort of basin, b1, the edge of which supports an arch- shaped piece of iron, d. At the centre of the basin there is an opening into the vessel, and a hydraulic cup-leather, e, is secured within the opening by means of the collar g. In the bottom of the vessel b there is also an opening, into which is fitted a cup-leather, H, secured in its place by the ring j, which is firmly bolted to the vessel b. A strong wrought-iron rod, k, extends from the top of the arch d, down through the vessel b, having two enlargements or bosses, k1, K2, formed upon it, -which are fitted to the cup-leathers. The upper part of rod k has a screw formed upon it at k3, which passes through the boss d1 and enters the boss n, in which a screw thread is formed. The boss n is provided with handles, p, by turning Which the rod K may be raised or lowered when required. R is a pipe, through which water may be injected into the vessel b by a force-pump, such as is generally employed to work hydraulic presses, s is a cock, whereby a portion of the contents of the vessel b may be run off, and the pressure relieved when necessary. The two bosses, k1 and k2, being of equal area, whatever pressure may be exerted within the vessel B, it does not tend to raise or lower the rod K, but such pressure, acting on the cup-leathers, will keep the joint tight, and prevent the matters under pressure from leaking out. After a certain quantity of oil or oleaginous matters have been expressed from vegetable or animal substances, the remaining portions which they contain are more difficult to obtain, and we therefore treat the oil in combination with the substances in which it is contained in the following manner: — The aforesaid substances, after coming from the oil-press or mill, are mixed with as much warm water, or water slightly impregnated with alkaline matter, as will reduce them to a semi-fluid state. They are then to be operated upon in the apparatus last described. For this purpose the handles p p are turned round, and the boss k1 withdrawn from its opening, while the boss k2, which is much longer, will still close the lower aperture. The semi-fluid materials are then put into the basin b1, and fall from thence into the vessel b ; when it is fully charged the rod k is again lowered into the position shown in the figure. The communication with the hydraulic press pump is then made by means of a cock attached to the pump, from which the water flows* through the pipe R into the vessel b, and thus with a few strokes of the pump the whole of the con-

tents of the vessel b will be subjected to the requisite ressure. An interval of a few minutes is then allowed for the combination of the oil and water, and the cock s is then opened, and a small portion of the fluid contents of the vessel allowed to escape into the cistern. The pressure being thus relieved, the handles p p are to be again turned so as to lift the rod k sufficiently high to withdraw the boss k2 from the lower opening ; the contents of the vessel b will then How out into the cistern a, and the boss k.2, being again lowered so as to close the lower aperture, the refilling of the vessel may take place for another operation. The pressure thus brought upon the mixture of oleaginous matters and water wilt cause the oil therein contained to mix with the water, and form a milky-looking fluid, from which the oil may be afterwards separated from the water, either by repose in large vessels or by evaporating the water therefrom by heat. When the oil is to be used for soap-making, and some other purposes, this combination of oil and water may be used without such separation. When seed oil is thus obtained, the mucilaginous matters assist in combining these fluids. After the materials have been drawn off from the cistern a, and passed through a strainer, the solid portions are to undergo another pressing, in order to displace the remaining portion of their fluid contents. In some cases it will be found advantageous to boil up the milky-looking fluid resulting from the operation last described, in order to coagulate the albuminous portions and otherwise assist in the purification of the oil.