176 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Feb. 15 



THE LA BOUNTY ONE=PROCESS WAX-EXTRACTOR. 



By Three Separate Machines. 



BY S. O. LA BOUNTY. 



[The reader will get a much better idea of this arti- 

 cle if he understands at the very outset that this pro- 

 cess of wax rendering involves first, a separate and 

 distinct boiler or generator for steam, to stand on 

 the stove ; second, a wax-press located on a platform 

 off from the stove, but haviig a steam-pipe connec- 

 tion to the boiler, and third a refining-che-t connectt-d 

 to the last n^med. Although Mr. La Bounty does not 

 say so, the idea of having a separate boiler is to get 

 the wa'? press down to a convenient working dis- 

 tance, and away from the hot stove. — Kd.] 



The extractor consists of three principal 

 parts; 1, The generator; 2, The wax-press; 

 3, The refining-chest. 



FIG. 1, THE GENERATOR. 



In the generator, Fig. 1, B shows the 

 water in the generator; C is the offset for 

 pouring in water; D is the pipe connecting 

 with the wax press; E is a piece of asbes- 

 tos hose connecting the pipe projection from 

 the generator with that from the wax press; 

 F is the ste.am tight cover; G is the fasten- 

 ing for holding on the cover. 



In the wax-press, Fig. 2, A is the body of 

 the press: B is the comb-basket; C is the 

 follower; D is the plain part of the plunger- 

 rod; E is the part of the plunger-rod 

 hiving a thread cut on it; F is the 

 handle-bars: G is the steam-tight cover; H 

 is the p irt of the cover through which the 

 plunger-rod passes; I is an escape for let- 

 ting off the steam before putting on pres- 

 sure; J J are the fastenings for holding on 

 the cover; K is a projection or trough 

 soldered on all around the inside of the 

 press, in which water is placed. The up- 

 per pirt of the comb basket turns outward 

 and downward into this water, thus pre- 

 venting the steam from passing downward 

 outside of the basket, and compelling it all 

 to pass downward throutrh the comb. L is 

 the comb in the basket; M is the part of the 

 comb-basket which is perforated. The upper 



half is not perforated, as it is not necessary; 

 and the comb will melt more quickly if the 

 steam has to pass downward through it be- 

 fore it escapes. N is the pipe leading to 

 the refining chest; O is the pipe connect- 

 ing with the generator. The plunder rod 

 has a thread cut on the upper half. The 

 lower half of i lis plain. When the comb 

 is first melted it can be easily pressed 

 down half the depth of the plunger-rod by 

 a simple pressure on the handle bars, and 

 then screwed the rest of the way. This is 

 done much more quickly than if there were 

 a thread the whole length of the plunger- 

 rod. 



In the refining-chest. Fig. 3, A is the 

 body of the chest; B is the steam tight cover; 

 C is the fasteniuif of the cover; D is the re- 

 ceiving wax-dish having handles by which 

 it may be lifted out, and a lip for pouring 

 the wax out into other dishes for cooling; 

 E is the compartment in which the wax 

 strains and purifies when it comes from the 

 press; F is the hot wax, and G the water 

 on which it fioats; H is a strainer through 

 which it strains as it comes from the press; 

 I is an observation-glass in the side of the 

 chest, so that we may at any time see the 

 height of the water in the chest; J is a stop- 

 cock for letting off water, as it will be con- 

 stantly condensing, and some will occasion- 

 ally have to be drawn off; K is the exhaust- 

 pipe through which all steam should pass; 

 L is a dish to receive the drip from con- 

 densing steam. 



FIG. 2, THE WAX-PRESS. 



The refining-chest should be high enough 

 from the floor only to admit of putting the 

 dish to catch the drip. The press res's on 

 a box or platform near the stove, and should 

 be as low as possible, but high enough to 

 allow of a slant to t'^e pipe which connects 

 it with the refining-chest. 



