IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION AND USE OF DYE LIQUIDS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Keighley, of Bradford, in the County of
York, Dyer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION
AND USE OF DYE LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 22nd December 1857, and dated the 14th October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Keighley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
October 1857.
I, EDWARD KEIGHLEY, of Bradford, in the County of York, Dyer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PREPARATION AND USE OF DYE LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
Dye liquids are, as is well understood amongst dyers, for the most part
obtained by decoction of certain woods or wares, and it is the general practice
to allow these woods or wares to remain in the solution during the steeping or
dyeing of the goods, by which the decoction progressively becomes stronger
adapted to the dyeing of deeper tints or colors, but considerable inconvenience
is experienced owing to the smaller particles of the dye woods or wares float-
ing about irregularly, thereby giving off more coloring matter at one part of
the vessel containing them than at another, by which want of uniformity of
tint in the goods is produced, and also by the particles often adhering to the
surface of the goods, from which they are removed with difficulty. And also
at the completion of a process much unspent dye ware is wasted by passing
away with the waste liquids.
My improvements consist in the use of filtering means in connection with
the vessels or chambers used in the dyeing process, in order to separate the
portions of dye woods or ware from the goods being dyed, and also to
separate any remaining portions of such matter from the waste liquid at the

page_text: completion of a process, in order that such as are not fully spent may be again
used.
As a filtering media I employ finely perforated copper or other suitable
metal, or metal weaving, aided by moleskin or other suitable fabric, but I do
not confine myself to these materials, and I apply the media employed by 5
preference to a frame capable of fitting and sliding lightly in the vessel or
chamber containing the solution.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Keighley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
KEIGHLEY, of Bradford, in the County of York, Dyer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Keighley, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Keighley,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Keighley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION
AND USE OF DYE LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edward Keighley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Keighley, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
Dye liquids are, as is well understood amongst dyers, for the most part
obtained by decoction of certain woods or wares, and it is the general practice

page_text: small holes answer this purpose well. The edges of the filtering material are
secured by plates or laths 63, or otherwise. The uprights 64, of the frame b,
serve to conduct that frame into and from the cistern; Figure 3 shows the
filtering frame separately.
In proceeding to use the apparatus thus arranged, I first place the filtering
frame b, in the cistern by allowing it to slide down therein, and then 1 apply
my dye woods or other matters so as to obtain a dye solution or extract
therefrom in the ordinary manner, and when the solution is of the strength
desired, I, by means of a pulley or other suitable apparatus acting upon the
cord or chain 67, withdraw the frame b, by which whilst the solution will pass
freely through the filtering media the particles of dye wood or other matter
will rest upon the surface thereof, and be withdrawn, thereby leaving a
uniformly impregnated solution for dyeing purposes. And in order to prevent
the escape of the particles of matter past the sides of the frame, I apply all
round the same brushes 65, which are capable of sliding in the grooves of the
frame b, as shown, and are forced outwards therefrom so as to form a packing
with the sides of the cistern by means of suitable springs 6; sometimes I
employ for this purpose steel, at other times hammered brass or other metal;
and also india-rubber according to the chemical character of the dye liquid in
use; c, c, are pins which I find it convenient to pass through holes e, when
the brushes b', are pushed back to hold them there when letting the filtering
frame into the cistern; I also sometimes proceed to use the dye liquids in the
cistern in the ordinary way without first withdrawing the filter, and only with-
draw the filter after a certain time, or at the end of the process, to save the
remainder of the unspent dye liquids or materials.
I
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
carry the same into effect, I would have it understood, that I do not confine
myself to the precise details shown and described, or the method of operating
explained, so long as the peculiar character of the improvements be retained
substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Keighley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
EDWARD KEIGHLEY. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN KEIGHLEY.