US3871820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wool scouring
Assignee: Wool Research Organization of New Zealand Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-17
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1993-08-17
Abstract
Abstract The invention includes a method and apparatus for use in wool scouring operations and the treatment of the aqueous scouring liquids after and during use to extract recoverable lanolin or wool grease and heat from such liquids, and separate solid and extraneous matter from the liquids prior to discharge. The method and apparatus provides for removal of excess liquid from wool leaving a main scouring tank, passage of hot liquor and suspended solids from the wool and main scouring tank to a side tank, recycling of liquid from which solids have precipitated and passage of the solids to a heavy solids settling tank via a dump tank, removal of heavy solids precipitated in the settling tank and passage of the remaining liquid through a lanolin extractor; and recycling the remaining liquid or discharging all or part of such remaining liquid to waste via a heat exchanger which recovers heat from the discharge liquid for heating fresh water or liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Rex George Stewart
- 👤 Gerald Vivian Barker
- 👤 John Leonard Hoare
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:11
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01B; D01B3/00; D01B3/04; D01B3/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
APPARATUS FOR USE IN WOOL SCOURING OPERATIONS COMPRISING A SCOURING TANK FOR CONTAINING HOT AQUEOUS CLEANING SOLUTION INTO WHICH WOOL TO BE SCOURED IS PASSED, MEANS FOR MOVING THE WOOL TO LIQUOR REMOVING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCOURING TANK AND WHEREBY EXCESS LIQUOR IS REMOVED FROM THE WOOL LEAVING THE SCOURING TANK, A SIDE TANK FOR RECEIVING OVERFLOW LIQUID AND SUSPENDED SOLIDS FROM THE SCOURING TANK AND LIQUID REMOVED FROM WOOL LEAVING THE SCOURING TANK, MEANS FOR RECYCLING LIQUID FROM THE SIDE TANK TO THE SCOURING TANK, SAID SCOURING AND SIDE TANKS HAVING BOTTOM OUTLETS FOR HEAVY SOLIDS AND FROM WHICH THE HEAVY SOLIDS CAN BE PASSED TO A HEAVY SOLIDS SETTLING TANK, SAID SOLIDS SETTLING TANK HAVING AN OUTLET FOR THE DISCHARGE OF SOLIDS AND AN OUTLET IN COMMUNICATION WITH LANOLIN EXTRACTION OR RECOVERY PLANT WHEREBY LANOLIN IS RECOVERED FROM LIQUID FROM THE SOLIDS SETTLING TANK TO LEAVE LIQUID FOR RECYCLING TO THE SCOURING TANK AND/OR DRAINAGE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
APPARATUS FOR USE IN WOOL SCOURING OPERATIONS COMPRISING A SCOURING TANK FOR CONTAINING HOT AQUEOUS CLEANING SOLUTION INTO WHICH WOOL TO BE SCOURED IS PASSED, MEANS FOR MOVING THE WOOL TO LIQUOR REMOVING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCOURING TANK AND WHEREBY EXCESS LIQUOR IS REMOVED FROM THE WOOL LEAVING THE SCOURING TANK, A SIDE TANK FOR RECEIVING OVERFLOW LIQUID AND SUSPENDED SOLIDS FROM THE SCOURING TANK AND LIQUID REMOVED FROM WOOL LEAVING THE SCOURING TANK, MEANS FOR RECYCLING LIQUID FROM THE SIDE TANK TO THE SCOURING TANK, SAID SCOURING AND SIDE TANKS HAVING BOTTOM OUTLETS FOR HEAVY SOLIDS AND FROM WHICH THE HEAVY SOLIDS CAN BE PASSED TO A HEAVY SOLIDS SETTLING TANK, SAID SOLIDS SETTLING TANK HAVING AN OUTLET FOR THE DISCHARGE OF SOLIDS AND AN OUTLET IN COMMUNICATION WITH LANOLIN EXTRACTION OR RECOVERY PLANT WHEREBY LANOLIN IS RECOVERED FROM LIQUID FROM THE SOLIDS SETTLING TANK TO LEAVE LIQUID FOR RECYCLING TO THE SCOURING TANK AND/OR DRAINAGE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for use in wool scouring operations comprising a scouring tank for containing hot aqueous cleansing solution into which wool to be scoured is passed, means for moving the wool to liquor removing means associated with the scouring tank and whereby excess liquor is removed from the wool leaving the scouring tank, a side tank for receiving overflow liquid and suspended solids from the scouring tank and liquid removed from wool leaving the scouring tank, means for recycling liquid from the side tank to the scouring tank, said scouring and side tanks having bottom outlets for heavy solids and from which the heavy solids can be passed to a heavy solids settling tank, said solids settling tank having an outlet for the discharge of solids and an outlet in communication with lanolin extraction or recovery plant whereby lanolin is recovered from liquid from the solids settling tank to leave liquid for recycling to the scouring tank and/or drainage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for use in wool scouring operations comprising a scouring tank for containing hot aqueous cleansing solution into which wool to be scoured is passed, means for moving the wool to liquor removing means associated with the scouring tank and whereby excess liquor is removed from the wool leaving the scouring tank, a side tank for receiving overflow liquid and suspended solids from the scouring tank and liquid removed from wool leaving the scouring tank, means for recycling liquid from the side tank to the scouring tank, said scouring and side tanks having bottom outlets for heavy solids and from which the heavy solids can be passed to a heavy solids settling tank, said solids settling tank having an outlet for the discharge of solids and an outlet in communication with lanolin extraction or recovery plant whereby lanolin is recovered from liquid from the solids settling tank to leave liquid for recycling to the scouring tank and/or drainage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquor removing means comPrises squeeze rolls through which the wool is passed and whereby excess liquor is squeezed from the wool for transfer to the side tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a dump tank is provided in juxtaposition with the heavy solids settling tank, the dump tank being arranged to receive the liquor and solids from the scouring and side tanks and subsequently discharge its contents to the settling tank as required.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the scouring tank is provided at its base with a screw or worm solids collection and feed device for feeding precipitated solids to the scouring tank outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a heating means is provided between the settling tank and the lanolin extraction or removal plant for heating liquid passed to such plant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a centrifuge of the horizontal decanter kind is provided for receiving solids discharged from the settling tank and removing water from such solids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lanolin extraction or recovery plant is of the centrifugal kind.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lanolin extraction or recovery plant includes a nozzle centrifuge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a surge tank is provided to receive at least part of the liquid discharged from the lanolin plant and to pass such received liquid to a flow-down pump, there being a heat exchanger to receive liquid from the flow-down pump and heat clean or cleaning liquid for use in the apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein a second surge tank is provided to receive part of the liquid discharged from the lanolin plant for recycling by way of a recycle pump feeding the side tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided at the wool removal part or end of the scouring tank to effect a counter current flow of liquid in the scouring tank and prevent or discourage a carryover of liquid from the scouring tank to a next scouring tank of a series arranged in juxtaposition with and arranged to receive wool from the first or main scouring tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the counter current flow of liquid for the scouring tank is provided by a liquid jet distributor at the wool removal part or end of the scouring tank, and which jet distributor is fed by flow back liquid pumped by way of a flow back pump from the next scouring tank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side tank is provided with heating means for its contents.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of processing aqueous scouring liquids after and during use in wool scouring operations and before drainage or discharge, comprising the steps of passing hot liquor and suspended solids from a main scouring tank and removed from wool leaving the scouring tank into a side tank, allowing heavy solids to precipitate in the scouring and side tanks, recycling liquid from the side tank to the scouring tank and passing liquor containing heavy solids from the scouring and side tanks to a heavy solids settling tank, allowing the heavy solids to precipitate in the settling tank for subsequent discharge, and passing liquid from the settling tank to an extractor whereby lanolin is extracted from the liquid, the remaining liquid being recycled to the scouring tank and/or passed to drainage.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of processing aqueous scouring liquids after and during use in wool scouring operations and before drainage or discharge, comprising the steps of passing hot liquor and suspended solids from a main scouring tank and removed from wool leaving the scouring tank into a side tank, allowing heavy solids to precipitate in the scouring and side tanks, recycling liquid from the side tank to the scouring tank and passing liquor containing heavy solids from the scouring and side tanks to a heavy solids settling tank, allowing the heavy solids to precipitate in the settling tank for subsequent discharge, and passing liquid from the settling tank to an extractor whereby lanolin is extracted from the liquid, the remaining liquid being recycled to the scouring tank and/or passed to drainage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 and including the further step of passing liquor and solids from the side and scouring tanks to a dump tank, from which dump tank the liquor and solids are fed to the settling tank.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein excess liquor is removed from wool leaving the scouring tank by means of squeeze rollers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein liquid discharged from the lanolin extractor is utilised to provide heat by way of a heat exchanger for clean or cleaning liquid for use in or on apparatus for performing the method of this invention.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 whereiN a flocculant is added to the liquor and solids passing or passed to the settling tank.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the flocculant is aluminium suphate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the flocculant is an organic polymer such as of the polyacrylamide kind.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein slurry discharged from the settling tank is subjected to treatment by a centrifuge of the horizontal decanter kind to remove liquid from such slurry.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein liquid from the settling tank is heated prior to being passed to the lanolin extractor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein liquor in the scouring tank is subjected to counter current flow means at the wool removal part or end to prevent or discourage carryover of liquor from the scouring tank to a next scouring tank of a series.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |