US2055943A - Waste reclamation process - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29V, l Ev 5 PEARCE 2,055,943

WASTERECLAMATION PROCESS I l Filed May l5, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheetl 1 ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1936. E s, PEARCE 2,055,943

WASTE RECLAMATION PROCESS Filed May l5, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN YJ' Sept. 29,- 1936. E 5 PEARCE l I .2,055,943

WASTE RECLAMATION PROCESS Filed May -l5, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR f77/2, #1,@ su my@ ATTORNEY! Sept.29, 1936. E. s. PEARCE WASTE RECLAMATION PROCESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May l5, -l930 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASTE RECLAMATION PROCESS Application May 15, 1930, Serial No. 452,708

Claims.

The invention disclosed in this application relates to the method of treating journal box packing and has particular reference to the improvement of the process and the product not only as a whole but throughout its various stages and at the same time enabling the oil part to be more effectively and more readily renovated.

The oil part of used journal box packing is of a highly emulsified character and contains Water, lint, and other contaminations, such as cinders, sand, dirt of all kinds, metal fragments, and the like. This emulsied oil by reason of its emulsiled condition is extremely dicult to renovate Without resorting to the expensive methods of redistilling and reblending. The conditions under which the packing as a whole must be renovated are such that a separation of the waste part and the oil part is necessary and this very operation lends itself very readily to an increase of the emulsied condition because of the intensive agitation of the oil part accompanying its removal. This highly emulsified condition of the oil is one of the disturbing factors in the oil and in the entire packing.

Heretofore this journal box packing has been renovated by separating the oil and the waste parts by the use of an extractor which uniformly removes the oil from the waste part. By this separation of the oil from the waste part the latter is left more or less uniformly fiber saturated with most of the contaminations above referred to left with it; some ne lint, fine dirt, and some emulsion however remaining with the oil which forms the oil lm around the fibers. IThe separated oil also contains some of the above mentioned contaminations and therefore must be teated by a suitable process to remove such contaminations.

The present invention, therefore, aims to improve the entire process, to reduce the amount of handling of the different parts, to improve the fiber saturation, the texture and color and the general condition of the waste part, and to improve the condition of the oil after separation before renovation to relieve it of, if not to entirely eliminate, its emulsied condition.

In accomplishing the foregoing, the inbound dirty packing is placed in a soaking tank with a quantity of soaking oil which may be oil previously extracted from the dirty waste or clean oil. This oil, heated to about 200 to 212 F., readily permeates the dirty packing, renders the entire oil content thereof uid and removes to some extent some of the contaminations. It furnishes a very effective means for thoroughly and uniformly heating the product at this point so that later uniform oil extraction may be had with a remaining uniform fiber saturation only of the Waste part. As Vthe product is treated by this soaking oil, it is subjected to the effect of a vacuum which removes any air or gas and substantially all of the moisture which has been raised to the vapor point by the heat in this step.

This vacuum treatment is highly important because it not only removes the air, gas, and the moisture from the oil, but also removes considerable moisture wherever present on the fibers, thus thereby completely exposing all parts of the fibers to the action of the oil and making more perfect and uniform the liber saturation of each ber. The removal of the moisture at this stage therefore by robbing the entire product of moisture,`breaks up the emulsions, thereby improving and simplifying the after form extraction of the oil part with an increase in the amount of undesirable matter which may pass lout with the oil due to the absence of the emulsion. It alsol greatly improves and simplies the after oil treatment by reason of the absence of emulsion and also improves the treatment of the waste part in that its undesirable moisture has been removed and it is in the best possible condition to receive renovated oilin the impregnation step.

Further features of the invention will be brought out in the following description, drawings, and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus for use in practicing the process; Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section showing the parts utilized for soaking, extracting, and

operations throughout and permitting better and more uni- 1 washing the packing; Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the tumbler utilized for iluiiing the waste and removing some of the contamination; Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the tumbler; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the oil washing and impregnating unit; Fig. 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the oil renovating apparatus; and Fig. 7 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the impregnator.

While the entire apparatus constitutes an interconnected installation or plant for handling the product from the inbound dirty packing to the outbound lrenovated product, it, nevertheless, may be separated into units for convenience of description; the first unit being the apparatus for soaking the packing for separating itinto its waste and oil parts and removing the moisture to relieve' the oil part of its emulsied condition. The next unit, `,the uing and separating unit, termed the tumbler mechanism, for treating the extracted or fiber saturated waste part to separate it, uif it, and remove such contaminations as short ends, undesirable lint not carried away with-the oil, dirt, sand, cinderS, metal fragments, and the like.

Another unit is a washing unit wherein the luled, separated waste part taken from the tumbler is charged into an extractor or like device, operated at slow speed, where it is subjected to a clean oil washing to further remove any contaminations still remaining in the waste part and to exchange the oil ilm or ber saturation for a fresh, clean lm so that the waste part will not only actually be thoroughly renovated, but will possess the color and appearance of new unused ber saturated waste.

Still another unit is the impregnator Where the renovated clean waste part is impregnated with the proper quantity of lubricating oil to make the proper journal box packing. The product at this point of course is ready for shipment for use.

The final unit is the oil renovating mechanism which receives the contaminated oil from the various stages andrenovates it to return it as clean lubricating oil ready for use.

All of the foregoing units are interconnected by suitable piping and other means so that they will cooperate in a manner to constitute a single installation where the inbound dirty packing may be thoroughly renovated and returned for use as above stated.

In the drawings, the first unit is substantially shown in Fig. 2, wherein I represents a suitable soaking tank in the form of a circular Vat provided with a heating coil 2 within the same and with a centrally disposed oil supply hollow spud 3 projecting upward at the bottom and center and tapered as shown for a purpose to be described. This tank is provided with a suitable cover 4 applied in any suitable manner and provided with a pipe 5 leading to any suitable source of vacuum, not shown. Supported in a location convenient .to this soaking tank is an oil pump 6 driven by a. motor 'I and connected at its outlet side by a pipe 8 with the spud 3. This pipe is provided with a valve 9 and is connected to a branch line I0 provided with a valve I I and leading to the oil renovator. The inlet side of the pump is connected to a pipe I2 having a branch I3 leading to the bottom of the tank I, thisconnection is provided wth a valve I4. The other branch I5 is provided with a valve I6 and leads to the bottom of a d irty oil sump I'I.

Conveniently located with respect to the soak ing tank is an extractor curb I8 having a hinged tray I9 adapted to extend over to the edge of the soaking tank to drain the dripping of oil in the transfer of the load from the soaking tank to the extractor back into the soaking tank. Within the curb I8 is a suitable extractor shaft 20 prolvidedvvvith a conical ldriving member 2I of substantially the conical shape of the member 3, but longer, as shown in Fig. 2. Any suitable means may be provided for rotating the shaft 20 at varying speeds. Leading from the curb to the extractor is a drain pipe 24 branching at 25 and continuing on into the top of thesump I'I, a valve 26 being provided in this line. The branch 21, provided with a valve 28, leads to-a clean oil sump 29. It will be seen from this piping arrangement that dirty oil from the extractor curb may pass to the dirty oil sump I'I or to the clean oil sump 29. The sump 29 is connected by a pipe 39 with the pipe I5 above the Valve I'as shown in Fig. 2; a valve 3l vis provided in this line. By this arrangement it will be seen that the clean oil'when it becomes suiliciently contaminated may be pumped over and used in the soaking tank I, if

.and the extractor shaft 2U.

desired. Both of the sumps II and 29 are heated by heating coils generally indicated at 32.

In conjunction with this unit and preferably alongside of the sumps I7 and 29 a clean oil tank or sump 33 may be provided and it is connected by a pipe 34 with the clean oil portion of the oil renovator. This clean oil sump 33 is provided with a heating coil 33. A valve 35 is provided in this line. Leading to the bottom of this clean oil sump 33 is a pipe S5 provided with a Valve 37; pipe 36 having a branch 36 provided with a valve 36" and leading to the bottom of the clean oil sump 29. It will be clearly understood that clean oil may be had from either of the clean oil sumps 29 and 33 leading to the inlet of an oil pump 38. The discharge of this pump is connected to a pipe 39 having two branches, 40 leading to the tank I and provided with a valve 4I, and pipe 4?. provided with a valve 43, and leading to a swinging pipe connection 44 provided with a depending distributor comprising a vertical pipe 45 and a yoke-shaped distributor 46 with two arms adapted to straddle the driver 2| as shown in Fig. 2. These arms are provided with perforations for discharging oil within the extractor basket throughout the height of the waste therein.

The inbound dirty packing may be handled in any suitable manner, but it is preferable to handle it in baskets, each of which may form a suitable basket structure for the extractor, such an arrangement is shown in the drawings and comprises a usual circular reticulated outer wall 41, solid bottom 48, and a centrally disposed conical basket distributor 49 adapted to fit down over the spud 3 and also to nest tightly with a driving t upon the driver 2i of the extractor. Each of these baskets is provided with upwardly extending loops 59 for attachment to load hooks of a hoist or the like. In practice the inbound dirty packing is loaded into the basket-like containers one of which may be placed in the soaking tank I with its central conical distributor nesting upon the spud 3. The several valves are then manipulated to cause therdirty oil in the sump Il to be pumped into the soaking tank I. This operation is continued until the packing is completely submerged. The supply of oil is then shut oi from the sump and the valves manipulated to cause the pump to re-circulate the oil in the soaking tank through the packing and so on. As the oil is re-circulated it is heated by the heating coil and in turn thoroughly heats the packing diluting the oil and dissolving any oil soluble contamination. During this heating and oil circulating step the oil bath and the packing is subjected to a vacuum through pipe 5. This operation removes substantially the entire moisture content from the packing and soaking oil and therefore removes any emulsied condition which may exist in the oil. After treatment in this soaking and heating tank, the basket is removed and placed in the extractor where the central distributing member 49 of the basket snugly ts the driver 2| and provides the necessary drive between the basket Here the dirty oil is extracted from the waste part and passes down through the pipe 24 into the dirty oil sump I'I. When the desired degree of extraction has taken place the operator may then manipulate the Valves and the oil distributor by moving it downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2 when clean oil from the oil sump 29 or from the clean oil tank 33 may be supplied to the waste part to wash out such contaminations and exchange to a 'degree thedirty ber saturation or oil lm for a cleaner one.

Substantially all of the lint'is in suspension in the oil and passes out with itin the rst extracting operation and further lint is taken out by the washing operation. v The next unit in the apparatus is the one for fiuing, separating, and tumbling the waste. This is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In these gures, 5| represents a suitable housing vprovided with a heated air inlet 52 near the bottom and on one side. This inlet is substantially the full length of the housing 5| and has a vertical part' 53 provided With heating coils 54 supplied with steam from any suitable source. Thisvertical heating housing 53 is connected to an air inlet 55 provided With a fan 56 or other induced draft device. The housing is further provided with a suitable stack 51 at the top and near the feed end for vent to the atmosphere. At the frontend the housing is provided with an inlet chute 58 extending in through the front end of the housing 5| and at substantially the center thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. At the rear or delivery end the housing is provided with a discharge chute 59 ending up in a spout 68 which may deliver the uffed waste part' to one of the containers 41 placed below it. This spout has its delivery end well below the housing to prevent, to some extent at least, the free discharge of heated air at this point. Near the feed end and Within the housing 5| is a roller sup-port 6| provided with grooved rollers 62 spaced apart, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. One of these rollers is driven by a suitable motor 63. At the delivery end and in the housing is another support 64 provided with grooved rollers 65, one on either side and one at the bottom, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Supported upon these rollers 62 and 65 is a tumbler cylinder having a reticulated side wall 66Y supplied with inwardly extending prongs 61. At the feed end theV cylinder is closed by a head 68 having a central opening y68', and just inside of this head and on the outside of the cylinder 66 is a band 69 of V-shape in cross section for engagement with the V-shapedrollers 62. This band and these rollers 62 serve to support the feed end of the cylinder and at the same time furnish a drive for the same. At the opposite end the cylinder is provided with a re-enforcing band 10 on the outside, and within this band and on the outside of the cylinder is another band or circular track 1| adapted to engage the rollers 65. The rollers 62 and 65 are so positioned that the cylinder 66 inclines fromthe feed end tothe .delivery end. .The head opening 68 receives the end of the feed chute 58.

In operation the extracted wasteis delivered continuously, if desired, to the chute 58 from whence it is fed to the inside of the cylinder 66 Where it is tumbled and fed along the cylinder to the discharge end, from whence it passes out through the chute 59 and into the container 41. As the material is acted upon by this tumbler, heated air is supplied and this heated air vaporizes any moisture present in the waste and oil in fiber saturation and also maintains this oil film in a fluid condition so that it may by capillary attraction extend to any portion of the bers not before covered with oil. The heat and the oil moisture of ber saturation tends to curl the fibers themselves and return the wastejto the original wiry or elastic condition. During this process contaminations are `removed from the waste part. These contaminations Would be `short ends or strands which have not passed out with the oil in the extracting step, sand, grit, dirt of all kinds. and metallic parts freed by the tumbling operation.

After the waste part has been thus treated the container 41 with the charge of fluifed waste in it is then delivered to the washing unit which will now-be described.

.The washing unit comprises a table 12 upon which the fluffed, tumbled packing is placed from the container 41.' Adjacent this table is another extractor 13, aduplicate of the extractor described in the original soaking unit. The curb of this extractor is connected by a pipe 14 with a sump 15 which forms a part of the Washing oil cleaner and it compris-es not only this sump but a settling chamber 16 closely adjacent thereto and having its bottom on the same level as the bottom of the sump 15. A partition 11 is arranged between these two chambers and is provided with an opening 18 for the passage of the washing oil from the sump 15 to the settling compartment 16. The compartment 16 is separated by a horizontal wall 19, approximately midway ybetween the top and bottom of the chamber and provided with an opening 88 for the reception of a filter plug 8| of a suitable filtering medium adapted to close communication between the bottom chamber 16 and the upper chamber 82. This chamber 82 communicates by a U-shaped syphon pipe 83 with themain lwashing oil storage sump 84. This storage sump 84 is provided with a suitable heating coil 85 and with a discharge pipe v86 connected to a suitable skimmer pipe 81. This pipe 86 leads to the inlet of a pump 88 driven by a suitable motor 89. The discharge of this pump is connected to the pipe 9D and extends up and over to a point near the extractor where it is connected to a swiveled pipe 9| having a depending yoke-shaped oil distributor 92 similar to that used in connection with the extractor of the initial soaking and extracting unit. The pipe 96 may be provided with a valve 96. This yoke distributor 92 is adapted to be lowered into the extractor 13 so that Y treated clean oil from the clean oil sump 84 may be delivered to the fluied waste in the Washing extractor. The pipe 86 is also connected'to another pipe 93 leading up to the renovated oil storage tank 33. The washing oil is used over and over again so long as it is suiciently cleaned of contaminations by the filtering plug 8|. But when it becomes so dirty that it needs renovating the dirty oil is removed by means of a pipe having two legs 96 and 91 extending down to a point near the bottom of the chamber 15 and 16. inlet of another pump 98 driven by a motor 99 and having its discharge pipe |66 extending to and connected with the oil renovator as will appear.

It is to be notedY that while the lint cannot be ltered out of the dirty oil in the first extraction, it can be filtered out of this washing oil by reason of th-e lack of moisture in the waste at this stage so that the washing oil is cleansed by the filtering device and serves to further cleanse the waste part and exchange its fiber saturation of dirty oil for clean oil.

The impregnator may be of any suitable form and is very conveniently of the type set forth in my prior Patent No. 1,723,747, granted August 6th,

1929, and generally speaking, comprises a cylindrical tank I6! closed at the bottom and open at the` top and adapted to receive in the bottom a quantity of renovated oil or new oil through a `pipe |02. This pipe |02 is also connected This pipe leads tothe i l to the pipe 34 for supplying such renovated or new oil. as may be needed in the apparatus. This oil is hot and is measured o in a suitable quantity in the bottom of the tank IOI. Fitting the tank is a cover or plunger |03 of substantially the form shown in Fig. 7 and provided with a central tubular structure |04 closed at the top |05 and open at the bottom end at |06 to the tank. This plunger |03 is also provided with a suitable packing |07 upon its top so that it will form a seal at this point against suction or a vacuum within the tank. The plunger is supported, as shown, by suitable diagonal links |08 connected to any hoisting device, such as the rope |09 connected to a caunterbalance weight I I0. This rope |09 passes over suitable pulleys and ||2. Passing up through the center of the bottom of the tank IOI is a vacuum pipe ||3 and this pipe is adapted to pass up into the central tubular structure |04 throughout the entire movement of the plunger. Underneath the tank this pipe ||3 leads to a suitable suction device, generally indicated at I I4, and driven by a suitable motor IIS.

This impregnator is near the extractor 'I3 and has between it and the extractor a suitable scale receptacle ||6, adapted to receive the washed waste from the extractor "I3, so that a suitable quantity of this waste may be measured out for the impregnator, The scale itself is generally indicated at II'I.

A suitable quantity of oil is first admitted into the tank |0| through the pipe |02, and into this oil is plunged a suitable weighed quantity of washed waste from the receptacle IIS. The plunger or cover |03 is then lowered upon the top of the waste, and the suction device is set in operation, when all air or gas is withdrawn from the tank under the plunger and it is caused to move down upon the waste. As the plunger moves down, the waste is immersed in the oil and the suction should be so regulated that the speed of depression of the plunger is substantially that of the uniform travel of the oil up through the waste part. The impregnation step is carried on until the cover has ceased to descend, which is regulated by the provision of a 'loose coupling or hook arrangement, generally indicated at ||8, between the frame work and the counterbalance weight I|0.

The renovation of the oil from the sumps I l, 29, l5, and 82 may take place from time to time through the use of the apparatus and process set forth in the application of Leonard D. Grisbaum, Serial No. 74,949, filed December 12, 1925, and Patent Number 1,791,474, February 13, 1931, to which reference may be had for a more complete description of the same.

Briefly described, and as shown in the drawings, this oil renovating plant includes features as follows:

The oil to be renovated from the rst unit is delivered by the pump 6 to the line I0 to a vertical pipe |20. This oil of course is from the sumps Il and 29. The oil from the washing step sumps I5 and 82 is delivered by the pump 98 through the pipe |00 to this same pipe |20 so that this pipe |20 represents the conduit leading from the entire apparatus to the renovating plant.

The renovating plant includes three tanks D, E, and F interconnected and performing the several oil renovating steps, as will appear.

Tank D has a cylindrical body and conical base to the bottom of which the pipe |20 is connected. It is provided with a jacket |2| in which is a steam heating coil |22. At the top of the tank are one or more spray nozzles |23 communicating with a hot water pipe |24 from the tank |25. This pipe |24 also communicates with the jacket |2| by a pipe |25 to supply hot water thereto. Both of these pipes |24 and |25 are provided with valves, generally indicated at |26. In the tank D is placed a charge of a solution of a suit able alkali, such as caustic soda. Water is supplied to the jacket and steam is passed through the heating coils |22 to raise the temperature even to a point above boiling, the water supply pipes being shut off to hold the water under pressure. The oil to be cleaned is then admitted to the bottom of the tank and bubbles up through the alkali solution, producing a sufficient agitation for the treatment. When a sufficient quantity of oil has been admitted the tank is allowed to stand for an appreciable time, say ve hours, at this higher temperature, and the heating under pressure stimulates the mixing action. Finally, the valve |26 in the water supply, which comes from the open tank |25, is opened, relieving the pressure in the jacket and permitting the temperature to drop to approximately boiling, in which condition the tank is maintained for an other period of about five hours. The cover is now removed from the tank and hot water is sprayed onto the surface of the oil through the nozzles |23. This spraying is continued to thoroughly wash the oil. All soluble matter goes into solution and stays with the water, and the solid matter, including dirt particles, which may have been suspended in the oil, is carried down and settles with the sludge. The oil has a lower specie gravity and floats on the top of the water, while the sludge collects at the bottom. There are now three layers in tank D-rst, at the top there is clean oil containing traces of chemicals and water; second, the water; and third, the sludge.

The continued heating in tank D prior to the spraying or washing with water breaks down or destroys part of the lint, such as the woolen or animal fibers, and precipitates the remainder, such as cotton or vegetable bers. It also produces chemical reactions with chemical impurities, such as soaps, grease and the like, and makes them either soluble or precipitates them. As a consequence, when the water washing step has f been performed the oil in the top layer is free of lint and mechanical impurities and contains but a small protion of chemical impurities with the moisture or water in it.

The oil in the upper layer is now drawn off through the pipe |21 and supplied thereby to a perforated pipe |28 at the bottom of tank E, which is filled with hot water. In said tank the oil rises in a greatly broken up condition and accumulates above the water level and below a hollow plate |29 heated by steam circulated through it by the pipe |30. Said plate is of bell form with a center opening or mouth and is preferably kept heated at about 250 F. As the rising oil strikes it any water entrained in it is vaporized and escapes. Above the hollow plate |29 is a cone |3| with a center opening |32. As the oil accumulates it iinally ows out through the center opening |32 and down the sides of the cone |3| to a pipe I 33 by which it is supplied to the tank F. The oil may be tested to determine its chemical content and if some chemicals still remain some clean hot water may be mixed with the oil in tank F for further washing and then drawn oil through the pipe 34.

In any event,

the oil is supplied to tank F and permitted to collect therein by settling with the oil on top and the Water at the bottom. Finally the water is drawn off and the tank F is then heated by the steam coil E34 so as to vaporize and drive oif any Water by Way of the pipe |35 beneath which is a baflie 36 to prevent oil loss by spattering or otherwise. This treatment dehydrates the oil and drives off all Water, leaving a clear, clean usable oil free of chemicals and mechanical impurities, such as lint, dirt and the like.

The renoted oil may now be drawn oif through the pipe 34 to the new oil storage 33 and from thence supplied to the apparatus for use.

Briefly stated, the inbound dirty packing is loaded into the containers and one of these containers is placed in the soaking tank I Where hot dirty o-il from the dirty oil sump I1 is pumped through the packing, heating the same and performing the various functions as above set forth. After the packing is thoroughly heated and treated in this step the container is removed and placed in the extractor where the dirty oil is extracted and returned to the sump I1. When the extraction of the dirty oil has taken place clean oil is then flushed through the packing with the extractor speed reduced. This is accomplished by lowering the oil distributor 46 into the extractor. The Washing oil at this stage travels to the sump 29. After this Washing step the packing is thoroughly extracted to separate the Washing oil from the waste part and the waste part is oonveyed to the tumbler Where it is fluffed, separated and made ready for the Washing step which is performed in the extractor 13. Here the fluffed Waste relieved of substantially all of its contamination and in loose condition is again Washed by the clean oil which not only takes out further contaminations not hitherto removed, but exchanges the dirty oil lm for a clean oil film. It has been found in practice that many undesirable long fibers incapable of passing out with the oil heretofore are removed in this step. When this second Washing step has been completed the o-il soaked Waste part is now extracted to uniform ber saturation and the oil passes down to the sump 15 from which it is gradually ltered and made ready for further use in the Washing step. After the product has been treated in this step it is ready for impregnation Where it is combined with the renovated oil and is ready for use in journal boxes. The oil during the entire operation is treated from time to time to maintain the proper quantity of renovated oil for carrying on the process Without the undue accumulation of oil at any point. Throughout the entire process the oil is maintained heated and is transferred from one point to another in a heated condition to avoid the loss of heat.

What I claim is:

1. The herein described steps of a method of reclaiming used journal box packing made up of a fibrous waste part and an oil part, which steps consist of the step of treating the packing to remove therefrom substantially all of its moisture; the step of subjecting the substantially moisture-free packing to an extracting operation to remo-ve from the packing the major portion of its oil part; the step of tumbling the substantially moisture-free Waste part of the packing; the step of reconditioning the substantially moisture-free oil part of the packing; and the step of combining the reconditioned oil part of the packing and the reconditioned Waste part of the packing; the Waste and oil parts of the packing during said steps being maintained heated to a point close to but lower than the point of vaporization of the packing oil part.

2. The herein described steps of a method of reclaiming used journal box packing made up of a brous Waste part and an oil part, which steps consist of the step of subjecting the packing to a vacuum to remove moisture from both of its parts; the step of subjecting the substantially moisture-free packing to an extracting operation to remove from the packing the major portion of its oil part; the step of tumbling the substantially moisture-free waste part of the packing; the step of reconditioning the substantially moisture-free oil part of the packing; and the step of combining the reconditioned oil part of the packing and the reconditioned Waste part of the packing; the Waste and oil parts of the packing during said steps being maintained heated to a point close to but lower than the point of vaporization of the packing oil part.

3. The herein described steps of a method of reclaiming used journal box packing made up of a fibrous waste part and an oil part, which steps consist of the step o-f subjecting the packing to a vacuum to remove therefrom substantially all of its moisture; the step of subjecting the substantially moisture-free packing to an extracting operation to remove from the packing the major portion o-f its oil part; the step of tumbling the substantially moisture-free Waste part of the packing; the step of reconditioning the substantially moisture-free oil part of the packing; and the step of combining the reconditioned oil part of the packing and the reconditioned Waste part of the packing.

4. The herein described steps of a method of reclaiming used journal box packing made up of a fibrous Waste part and an oil part, Which steps consist of the step of placing the packing in a perforated container; the step of placing said container with said load of packing in a bath of heated oil and while in said oil bath subjecting said packing to a vacuum to remove from said packing an'y moisture therein; the step of removing said container vvith its load of packing from said oil bath and placing said container with its load of packing in a centrifugal extractor; and the step of subjecting said packing in said container to an extracting operation in said extractor to remove from the packing the major portion of its cil part.

5. The herein described steps of a method of reclaiming used journal box packing made up of a fibrous Waste part and an oil part, which steps consist of the step of subjecting the packing to a vacuum to remove therefrom any moisture therein; the subsequent step of subjecting the substantially moisture-free packing to an extracting operation to remove from the packing as much of its oil part as possible; the subsequent step of subjecting the remaining Waste part of the packing to a supply of washing oil cleaner than that of the oil of the oil part removed from the packing; the subsequent step of subjecting the Waste part of the packing to an extracting operation to remove therefrom the major portion of said Washing oil; the subsequent step of tumbling said packing Waste part; and the subsequent step of again subjecting said packing Waste part to an oil Washing o-peration.

i EDWIN S.PEARCE.

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