A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR SEPARATING WOOL FROM SHEEPSKINS IN-THE FRESH STATE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul Henri Picard-Goulet fils of Paris, in the republic
of France for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR SEPARATING
WOOL FROM SHEEPSKINS IN-THE FRESH STATE"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul Henri Picard-Goulet
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st August 1883.
"A NEW
PAUL HENRI PICARD-GOULET fils of Paris in the Republic of France
OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR SEPARATING WOOL FROM SHEEPSKINS IN THE FRESH
STATE
"
This invention relates to the separation of wool from shoep skins in the fresh
state, that is to say as they are found immediately or shortly after the skinning of
the sheep, without the necessity of drying then or submitting them to any
operation whatever either on the woolly or fleshy ride.
My process is exceedingly simple and is carried out in the following manner.
First. The skins freshly removed from the animals are hung just as they are,
without previous preparation in a well closed chamber, to beams or joists placed at
distances from one another according to the width of the skins to be peeled and
furnished with tenter hooks for receiving the same the said tenter hooks being
The skins are well stretched in
spaced according to the thickness of the skins.
every direction and are prevented as far as possible from touching each other or
the ground.
Second. When the chamber is wholly or partially full of suspended and stretched
skins, wholly (or nearly so) out of contact with each other, the door is closed
hermetically for a few hours in summer, or until the next day in winter, the
duration of the operation depending on the temperature of the chamber.
Third. When the necessary time has elapsed the wool becomes detached of itself,
and it is only necessary to remove it by the usual known means and tools. The
skin is thus unhaired and the wool entirely detached from it.
The wool thus separated from the skin can be packed immediately, or it may be
combed or washed without any other treatment, the skin is then tanned or tawed
on the spot, or exported after having been air dried, or simply salted.
The phenomenon of the natural separation of the wool from the skins suspended
in the lermetically closed chamber is easily explained.
The fresh skins being introduced into a closed chamber, as soon as possible after
they have been removed from the animal, and this chamber being full, or nearly

page_text: so, of these skins, hung near one another, it follows that in a few moments there
is disengaged from the skins, which are so to speak still warm, a soft natural heat
arising from that produced by the grease of the wool. This heat effects a
fermentation which forces the skin to perspire to a certain extent, the pores thon
open, and at that moment the wool is detached from the skin with the greatest
ease.
The wool obtained by this process is admirable, it is dry, ready for packing or
immediate uso. It has not suffered from contact with any ingredient either hot
or cold, and is worth as much as, and even more than shorn wool. In fact at
equal maturity my natural wool is longer than shorn wool, because it has been
removed with the whole of its root, whilst shorn wool is mutilated by the shears.
This operation of shearing cuts the tube of the wool, and the white grease
contained therein, which constitutes its nature and its elasticity, is partly lost.
My system, on the contrary preserves this white grease, since the tube which
contains it remains closed. It may therefore be concluded that my wool, which is
absolutely natural, preserves all the essential qualities for combing and spinning
which shorn wool has not, and never can have.
The sorting is also more easily effected; for by placing the skins on the tables
or benches where they are to be stripped the workman can easily separate the parts
which are superior as regards fineness and nature from the inferior, base, dirty, or
defective parts.
This operation is completely impracticable when the wool is
shorn on the back of the sheep.
If the advantages of my process are remarkably great as regards the wool they
are not less so as regards the skins for the latter have not suffered from the use of
any acid whatever, they have preserved all their elasticity and strength, and above
all they can be dried or salted for exportation under the best conditions.
To enable the importance of my invention to be appreciated and compared
with the other systems used heretofore, I shall describe the usual way of treating
sheep skins.
Fresh skins are taken as in my case; over the. fleshy side is passed either a
depilatory substance or, more frequently a quantity of lime, or arsenic or piment or
sulphuret of potassium; but all these substances or drugs are hurtful or corrosive
not only for the skin but also for the wool, which latter is powerfully attacked
thereby at the roots. The wool thus loses much of its value and is sensibly less
appreciated than shorn wool.
As regards the skins, the use of these various chemical processes has perhaps
smaller objections, but it is indispensable that they should be tawed on the spot,
as the acids which have hardened and affected them do not allow of drying or
salting them for exportation.
In comparing my new process with the old systems the results are; first, that by
my process I am able to effect the removal of the wool from fresh skins without the
necessity of touching them, that is to say without any operation either upon the
skin or the wool; whereby complete preservation of all the natural and primitive
qualities of the wool is effected. Second, as regards the skins not only are they
superior when immediately tawed after peeling as in the other systems, but they
offer the immense advantage that they can be exported either dry or salted.
By the systems heretofore used, not only are the depilatory substances costly,
and the manner of operating lengthy, but they notably depreciate the wool known
in commerce by the name of "tawing wool" (laine de mégisserie) or low priced
inferior wool. This tawing wool has the grave objection of not taking dye, or of
taking it badly.
In short the advantages of my process of separation of wool from the skins
in the fresh state will radically transform the industry relating to the treatment
of sheep skins.
4

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Paul Henri Picard-Goulet in the Patent Office on the 29th February
1884.
PAUL HENRI PICARD-GOULET, fils, of Paris, in the Republic of France
"A NEW
5 OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR SEPARATING WOOL FROM SHEEP SKINS IN THE FRESH
STATE"
This invention relates to the separation of wool from sheep skins in the fresh
state, that is to say, as they are found immediately or shortly after the skinning of
the sheep, without the necessity of drying them or submitting them to any
O operation whatever either on the woolly or fleshy side.
My process is exceedingly simple and is carried out in the following manner :-
First. The skins freshly removed from the animals are hung just as they are,
without previous preparation, in a well closed chamber, to beams or joists placed
.at distances from one another according to the width of the skins to be peeled, and
furnished with tenter hooks for receiving the same, the said tenter hooks being
spaced according to the thickness of the skins. The skins are well stretched in
every direction and are prevented as far as possible from touching each other or
the ground.
Second. When the chamber is wholly or partially full of suspended and stretched
skins, wholly (or nearly so) out of contact with each other, the door is closed
hermetically for a few hours in summer, or until the next day in winter, the
duration of the operation depending on the temperature of the chamber.
Third. When the necessary time has elapsed the wool becomes detached of itself,
and it is only necessary to remove it by the usual known means and tools. The
skin is thus unbaired and the word entirely detached from it.
The wool thus separated from the skin can be packed immediately, or it may be
combed or washed without any other treatment, the skin is then tanned or tawed
on the spot, or exported after having been air dried, or simply salted.
The phenomenon of the natural separation of the wool from the skins suspended
in the hermetically closed chamber is easily explained.
The fresh skins being introduced into a closed chamber, as soon as possible after
they have been removed from the animal, and this chamber being full, or nearly
so, of these skins, hung near one another, it follows that in a few moments there
is disengaged from the skins, which are so to speak still warm, a soft natural heat
arising from that produced by the grease of the wool. This heat effects a
fermentation which forces the skin to perspire to a certain extent, the pores then
open, and at that moment the wool is detached from the skin with the greatest
ease.
The wool obtained by this process is admirable, it is dry, ready for packing or
immediate use. It has not suffered from contact with any ingredient either hot
or cold, and is worth as much as, .and even more than shorn wool. In fact
at equal maturity my natural wool is longer than shorn wool because it has been
removed with the whole of its root, whilst shorn wool is mutilated by the shears.
This operation of shearing cuts the tube of the wool, and the white grease
contained therein, which constitutes its nature and its elasticity, is partly lost.
My system, on the contrary preserves this white grease, since the tube which
contains it remains closed. It may therefore be concluded that my wool, which is
absolutely natural, preserves all the essential qualities for combing and spinning
which shorn wool has not, and never can have.
The sorting is also more easily effected; for by placing the skins on the tables
or benches where they are to be stripped the workman can easily separate the

page_text: parts which are superior as regards fineness and nature, from the inferior, base,
dirty, or defective parts. This operation is completely impracticable when the
wool is shorn on the back of the sheep.
If the advantages of my process are remarkably great as regards the wool they
are not less so as regards the skins, for the latter have not suffered from tho uso
of any acid whatever, they have preserved all their elasticity and strength, and
above all they can to dried or saltod for exportation under the best con∙litions.
To enable the importance of my invention to be appreciated and compared with
the other systems used heretofore, I shall describe the usual way of treating sheep
skins.
-
Fresh skins are taken as in my case; over the fleshy side is passcil either a
depilatory substance or, more frequently a quantity of lime, or arsenic orpiment
or sulphuret of potassium; but all theso substances or drugs aro hurtful or
corrosive not only for the skin but also for the wool, which latter is powerfully
attacked thereby at the roots. The wool thus loses much of its value and is
sensibly less appreciated than shorn wool.
As regards the skins, the use of these various chomical processes has perhaps
smaller objections, but it is indispensable that they should be tawed on the spot,
as the acids which have hardened and affected then do not allow of drying or
salting thein for exportation.
In comparing my new process with the old systems the results are; first, that by
my process I am able to effect the removal of the wool from fresh skins without
the necessity of touching them, that is to say, without any operation either upon
the skin or the wool; whereby complete preservation of all the natural and
primitive qualities of the wool is effected. Second, as regards the skins not only
are they superior when immediately tawed after peeling as in the other systems,
but they offer the immense advantage that they can be exported either dry or
salted.
By the systems heretofore used, not only are the depilatory substances costly,
and the manner of operating lengthy, but they notably depreciate the wool known
in commerce by the name of "tawing wool" (laine de Mégisserie) or low priced
inferior wool. This tawing wool has the grave objection of not taking dye, or of
taking it badly.
In short the advantages of my process of separation of wool from the skins in
the fresh state will radically transform the industry relating to the treatment of
sheep skins.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be carried into effect, I would have it understood that what
I claim is
The new or improved process for separating wool from sheep skins which
process consists in separating the wool from sheep skins which are preferably us
fresh as possible, without any previous treatment or preparation either on the
wool or flesby side, by arranging the said skins in any suitable manner, in a moro
or less perfectly closed chamber or place as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul Henri Picard-Goulet, fils, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty-eighth day of February in the year of our Lond
One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
PAUL HENRI PICARD-GOULET FILS (L.S.)