GB1568174A

GB1568174A - Rubber seed processing

Info

Publication number: GB1568174A
Application number: GB4660/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Simon Rosedowns Ltd
Current assignee: Simon Rosedowns Ltd
Priority date: 1977-11-11
Filing date: 1977-11-11
Publication date: 1980-05-29

Description

(54) RUBBER SEED PROCESSING (71) We, SIMON ROSEDOWNS LIMITED, a British Company, of Cannon Street, Hull, Humberside, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention concerns a method and apparatus for separating low quality rubber seed and high quality rubber seed from a mixture thereof.

There have been numerous proposals to use rubber seeds as a source of edible oil and of animal food stuff. The main difficulty which has prevented the exploitation of this valuable source of oil and food stuff is that the seeds contain a lipolytic enzyme which causes the fat to develop rancidity rapidly. To a considerable extent the quality of the seed can be improved bv rapid collection and heat sterilisation of the seed but still quality is not good.

We have found that in freshly collected and sterilised seed some seed is of good quality with fresh looking kernels from which oil of a relatively low free fatty content can be obtained. A minority of the seed is of poor quality with withered kernels from which a small quantity of oil of high free fatty acid content only can be obtained.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for separating the poor quality seed from the high quality seed.

The invention is based upon our observation that the good quality seeds have complete shells whilst degraded seeds have shells with a small perforation therein.

According to the present invention, a method for separating low quality rubber seed from high quality rubber seed includes the steps of replacing the air within the interior of the shells of the low quality seed with water, whereby the low quality seed is rendered more dense than water whilst the high quality seed remains less dense than water, and separating the two by a flotation technique.

The invention also includes apparatus when in use for separating low quality rubber seed from a mixture of low and high quality rubber seed.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of apparatus embodying the invention and for carrying out one method thereof.

Of the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a partly cut-away sectioned side elevation of part of the apparatus; Fig. 2 shows a partially sectioned side elevation of a further part of the apparatus; and Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the first part of the apparatus is comprised by a generally cylindrical vessel 10 having domed ends 11 and 12, the upper of which forms a removable lid which can be seal ably secured to the body of the vessel 10 by releasable clamp means 13.

The vessel 10 is adapted to receive a cylindrical basket 14 formed from wire mesh or similar material which can be located on support members disposed within the lower domed end 11 to the vessel 1Q.

The basket 14 is provided with a circular removable lid 15 also of wire mesh or similar material. A vacuum pump (not shown) is provided and connected with the interior of the vessel 10 by means of a pipe 16 and via a check valve 17. A pipe 18 extends downwardly from the base of the vessel 10 to a water reservoir 19 via a valve 20.

In use the basket 14 is filled with rubber seed and its lid 15 is secured firmly in position. The basket 14 is then lowered into the vessel 10 and the lid 12 positioned on the vessel 10 and properly secured. The valve 20 is opened and air is drawn from the interior of the vessel 10 via line 16 causing water to rise from the reservoir 19 into the vessel 10 to submerge the seed contained within the basket 14. A level sensing device 21 is provided to cause automatic closure of the valve 20 once the basket 14 is fully submerged to prevent further water passing into the vessel 10. The check valve 17 ensures that no water can pass to the vacuum pump even if the valve 20 should inadvertently remain open longer than intended.

Further air is drawn from the interior of the vessel 10 to cause the air contained within the interiors of the shells of damaged seed to be expelled. The degree of vacuum required for this purpose is not critical but a pressure reduction to about one-sixth of one atmosphere or even less is desirable.

The vacuum is held for a few minutes to allow time for the air to escape from the damaged seeds and then air is re-admitted to the vessel 10 via line 16 so that water is forced into the interiors of the shells of the damaged seed. The lid 12 if then removed and the basket 14 lifted out from the vessel 10.

The damaged or low quality seeds are filled with water at this stage and are more dense than water whilst the good quality, undamaged seeds are less dense than water.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that this part of the apparatus is essentially comprised by an open-topped tank 30 having a sloping base 31 whereby the depth of the tank increases gradually from a minimum at one side to a maximum at the other. The tank 30 is filled with water. A drag link conveyor 32 contained within an open ended tube 33 extends into the tank so that its lower end is located in or adjacent the deepest part of the tank. A wheel 34 mounted for powered rotation about a horizontal axis 35 dips into the water contained within the tank 30 at a position located alongside the drag link conveyor 32. The periphery of the wheel is provided with vanes 36 forming scoops.

In use, the seed from the basket 14 is tipped into the tank 30. The damaged seeds which sink are collected by the drag link conveyor 32 and discharged through a chute 37, whilst the good seeds which float are collected by the wheel 34 and discharged by the chute 38.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended

Claims

claims. Thus, for example, the basket 14 need not be completely filled with seed before being lowered into the vessel 10, and the final separation of the good quality floating seed from the poor quality sunken seed may be effected in the vessel 10 using any of a variety of possible mechanical devices which could be permanently fitted within the vessel 10 or lowered into position after the first stage of the process and following removal of the lid 12. Again, for example, the apparatus used for effecting the final separation of the low quality seed from the good quality seed may take many forms and manual collection of the floating seed and sunken seed using nets or the like may be effected if desired. Yet again, for example, the mixed seed may be subjected to vacuum to cause the air contained within the interior of the shells of the damaged seed to be expelled before submerging the seed in water and raising the pressure to force water into the damaged seed. It is, however, preferred to submerge the seed in water before applying a high degree of vacuum since the volume from which air needs to be drawn to create such vacuum is then much less. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method for separating low quality rubber seed from a mixture of low and high quality rubber seed including the steps of replacing the air within the interior of the shells of the low quality seed with water, whereby the low quality seed is rendered more dense than water whilst the high quality seed remains less dense than water, and separating the two by a flotation technique.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the seed mixture is immersed in water and then subjected to low pressure whereby the air within the interior of the shells of low quality is expelled and then subjected to a higher pressure whereby water is forced into the shells from which air has been expelled.

3. Apparatus when in use for separating low quality rubber seed from a mixture of low and high quality rubber seed comprising air-replacement means enabling the seed mixture to be subjected to an airreplacement step whereby air present in the interior of the shells of the low quality seed is replaced with water, thereby to render the low quality seed more dense than water, whilst the high quality seed remains less dense than water and flotation means for separating the two qualities of seed.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the air replacement means comprises a vessel having a removable lid, a basket for containing the seed mixture and having a removable lid and which can be fitted into said vessel, a valve for connecting the interior of the vessel with means for exhausting air therefrom and a further valve for connecting the interior of the vessel with a water supply.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a pipe extends from the base of the vessel via said further valve to a water reservoir located beneath the vessel whereby water can be forced into the vessel by atmospheric pressure when the vessel is partially exhausted and the valve is opened.

6. A method of separating low quality rubber seed from high quality rubber seed substantially as described herein.

7. Apparatus when in use for separating low quality rubber seed from high quality rubber seed, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the figures of the accompanying drawings.