US18381A - Improvement in preparing fats for candle-making - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE.

MORGAN W. BROlVN, OF BUFFALO, NEIV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PREPARING FATS FOR CANDLE-MAKING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 18,381, dated October 13, 1857.

To aZZ whom it Hwy concern:

heat applied until it boils. WVhile it is boil- Be it known that I, lVIORGAN WV. BROWN, of 1 ing I add a dilute solution of sulphuric acid the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Candles, &c., from Animal and Vegetable Fatty and Oleaginous Bodies; andI do here by declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

The nature of my invention consists, first, in converting animal and vegetable fatty and oleaginous bodies into a soluble soap (having the properties of a detergent or washing soap) preparatory to and for the purpose of converting the same into candles; second, in the employment and use of the sulphate of soda in admixture with soluble soap and before its decomposition or change into fatty acids, for the purpose of economy, and as an auxiliary to the action of sulphuric acid in the suc ceedingdegree in my process; third, in a decomposition or change of the soluble soap into the liberated fatty acids by the employment and use of dilute sulphuric acid in admixture therewith; fourth, in the use of spirits of turpentine, camphene, or burning -fluid in admixture with the fatty acids while in afluid state before and preparatory to the expression of the oleic-acid oil therefrom bypressure; fifth, in the employment and use of alcohol in admixture with stearic acic (in a liquid state) and after the stearic acid has been separated from the oleic acid, as aforesaid, by pressure, for the purpose of purifying the same before it is molded into candles.

To enable others skilled in the art to practice my process and make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same.

In the first place, I convert the raw material or crude fats into a soluble soap (having the properties of a detergent or washing soap) by any of the usual methods of producing the same. This constitutes the first product and first degree in my process of manufacture. I then mix a quantity of the sulphate of soda with this soluble soap, and boil the same by steam-heat until well mixed. This is for the purpose of obtaining a larger yield of stearic acid, and also as auxiliary to the action of sulphuric acid used in the decomposition of the soluble soap into fatty acids. It is then discharged into the separating-vessels and steamin a slow steady stream. This action is continued until a separation is completed and the liberated fatty acids float in a body on the top. This fatty body, which is thus obtained and which floats on the top, is now removed into ironbound wooden vessels, and spirits of turpentine, camphene, or burning fluid added, in a suitable quantity, therewith. This fatty body or fatty acids is then run into pans, to form suitable cakes or blocks for pressing. This completes the second degree, and forms the second product in my process of manufacture. After these cakes or blocks are four or five days of age, they are put into the presses and subjected'to a gradual pressure from eight to ten hours. This pressing separates the oleic-acid oil from the stearic acid and completes the third degree in my process and 7 produces a third productviz., stearic acid. This oleic-acid oil, which is also produced at this stage of the process, is not used in the candle. The stearic acid thus produced is now melted into clean wooden vessels by open steam-pipes and heated to about 160 or 170 Fahrenheit and washed in weak acid-water by agitation. It is then left to repose until the temperature sinks to about 140 or 150 Fahrenheit. Then, for the purpose of settling the same clear, I use a small quantity of alcohol, (say about half per cent, by weight,) by sprinkling the same over the surface slowly until it is thoroughly settled. This purifies the stearic acid and renders it clear, and completesthe fourth degree in my process, and produces a fifth product or'pure stearic acid, of which the candle is made. The stearic acid thus produced and treated is now ready to be molded into candles by any of the well- I known methods.

I am aware that soluble soap for washing and cleansing purposes is wel1 known and has long been used; therefore I do not claim its manufacture, application, and use for any such purpose. I am also aware that insoluble lime soap has heretofore, been used in the manufacture of candles; therefore I do not claim its manufacture, application, or use for such purpose.

I claim- 1. The employment of soluble soap as a base upon which to work my process for converting the same into stearic-acid candles, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The application and use of the sulphate of soda and its equivalent corresponding salts in admixture with soluable soap before a de composition or change of the soluble soap into fatty acids, for the purpose, and substantially as herein set forth.

3. The application and use of dilute sulphuric acid, or its equivalent, in admixture with soluble or deturgent soap, for the purpose of decomposing or changing the soluble soap into fatty acids, substantially as herein set forth.

4. The use of spirits of turpentine, camphene, or burning fluid in admixture with the fatty acids while in the liquid state before and preparatory to the expression of the oleicacid oil therefrom by pressure, substantially as herein described.

MORGAN XV. BROWVN. Witnesses:

E. B. FoRBUsH,

HENRY A. FOSTER.