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Home > THK ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOAP...
Previous Next The best candle and soap tips online! THK ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOAP FACTORY. Fig. 17. rn i—i 02 through the wall of the laboratory. Also affixed to the main feeder is another pipe, with a stopcock attached, and leading immediately downwards to the bottom of the kettle, 218 TECHNICAL TREATISE ON SOAP AND CANDLES. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOAP FACTORY. 219 where it is affixed to a circular iron tube, pierced around its circumference with holes. It is set immediately below the worm, and is called the "blowpipe," serving to give additional heat occasionally to the contents of the kettle, as well as to stir it up when necessary—an operation more effectually executed in this way than by a crutch in the hands of a workman. The whole interior arrangement of the boiling pan is seen at the figure AD, the worm detached at K, and the "blowpipe" at L. These kettles are worked much in the same manner as the ordinary fire caldrons, except that they require less attention. The charge of material is put in and melted by a rush of steam through both the blowpipe and worm, the cock of the latter being shut oft* when it is necessary. The cock P serves to regulate the current of steam from the generator. We have inserted three caldrons in our figure. In large factories it is convenient to have this number; one, however, will answer in a small laboratory, though there will necessarily be a loss of time in cleansing it always, when the charge is to be changed from yellow to white soap. The curbs of conical form are preferable, though other shapes are used. Some manufacturers dispense with the iron bottoms entirely, and boil in water-tight vats, or tubs, made wholly of wooden staves, hooped together with strong iron clamps. This series of kettles is well adapted for bleaching palm oil. In the steam series above described, the steam is introduced directly into the material. But as it is desirable for some soaps to apply the steam upon the outer surface of the kettle, we present below (Fig. 18) a suitable arrangement for that purpose. A is the interior of a cast-iron kettle, surrounded by brickwork. B is the outer cast-iron caldron, which should fit to the inner kettle tightly, so as to prevent any escape of steam. D D is the tube leading from the steam boiler, and conveying the steam to the kettles. It is fitted with a cock, which is opened or shut, according as the steam is to be let on or off, for accelerating or retarding the boiling of the soap. C C is the tube by which the condensed vapor is discharged. The cock in this tube can be left slightly open so as to operate as a safety-valve, when one of these necessary appendages is not fixed to the apparatus. The tube E is the discharge-pipe of the caldron. The brick-work F F is similar to that for other furnaces. TJ- Fig. 18. ZE n: iii J i —n i i i i Hubert's Apparatus for Boiling Soap by Means of Surcharged Steam.—This apparatus, represented in Fig. 19, was patented by Mr. H. G. Hubert. "A is a steam boiler of ordinary construction. B is a steam pipe provided with a stopcock C. D is a steam super-heater. £ is a pipe leading from the super-heater D to the receiver F. G- is a pipe supplying air from a force pump. II is a valve for regulating the introduction of air into the apparatus through the pipe I. F is a receiver, where the steam and air are mixed together. K is a pipe conveying the mixed air and steam to any number of soap-boiling apparatus. L L are pipes conveying the steam and air to the bottom of the vats M M ; S, S, S, S, are radiating pipes perforated with holes, turned in opposite directions, so that when the air and steam issue from them, they will cause a rotating motion of the whole mass of supernatant liquid in the vats M M. R is the tank for receiving the lye drained by the cocks P P. The operation of this apparatus is easily understood. The lye and fats being introduced into 221 220 TECHNICAL TREATISE ON SOAP AND CANDLES. Fig. 19. P the vats M M, steam is allowed to escape gradually into the apparatus D, where it becomes super-heated, and is carried THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOAP FACTORY. over and injected through the mass in the tanks MM. When it is required that the mass be stirred, then air is introduced into the apparatus by turning the valve H. It will be observed that the workman has perfect control of the operation, being able by simply turning the cock C or II, to increase or diminish the heat, and to stir or leave the pasty contents of the vats M M at rest." St. John's Steam Jacket.—This apparatus accomplishes the mixing and boiling of the soap ingredients simultaneously. As the steam circulates around the kettle, and through tube?, instead of being admitted directly into the paste, a uniform temperature may readily be established. The whole arrangement is shown in longitudinal vertical section, by Fig. 20. The boiling pan a a is enveloped by a steam casing or jacket b, adjusted to which is a tube k, communicating with the steam generator, and leading the steam into the space c c, between the pan and outer casing. The exit pipe u, with its stopcock x, is for drawing off the condensed steam, as may be necessary; and the safety valve v is a protection against excessive pressure. The stirring is accomplished by means of the revolving, horizontal arm d d, carrying teeth /"/, and mounted upon a perpendicular shaft e. The stirring apparatus is put in motion by suitable gearing, consisting of the bevel wheel g, mounted horizontally on the vertical shaft e. and working into a similar wheel h, on the horizontal shaft i, which has a pulley J on its other end, driven by a band or strap E. When the boiling is completed, the contents of the kettle or pan are drawn off through the pipe/, and its branches m m. The tubes p p p, closed at their upper ends, and communicating with the space between the pan and jacket, by conveying the steam throughout the contents of the pan extend the heating surface of the latter. They also serve the purpose of stops for breaking the mass as it is carried around by the stirrers//. The swivelor T joint u is so constructed that the arms in m may be turned horizontally in a circle, so as to bring the cocks z x over a range of receivers. J. is a cock for letting the charge into the branch pipes m m. Another cock, _B, is for regulating 223 222 TECHNICAL TREATISE ON SOAP AND CANDLES. the admission of steam to the chamber c, and the tubes p p. The clutch lever n is for adjusting the cog-wheel h with the Fig. 20. Previous Next
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