Improvements in or Applicable to the Treatment of Esparto Grass for Obtaining Fibre therefrom.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to the Treatment of Esparto Grass
for Obtaining Fibre therefrom.
I, JAMES MACTEAR of Victoria Mansions, in the City of Westminster, Chemical
Expert, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention to be as follows:
This Invention has reference to the treatment of esparto grass with the object of
effecting the separation of the silicious coating and the obtaining of the fibre for use in
manufactures.
The treatment to which such grass is at present effected for such purpose consists
essentially in boiling it in a strong solution of alkali until the silicious. coating is
dissolved. This treatment requires considerable time in being effectually carried
out and necessitates the use of a relatively large amount of alkali.
The special object of the present improvements is to improve the treatment of
esparto grass in such a manner as to effect a considerable saving in the amount
of alkali required and in the time employed in effecting the treatment.
To this end the Invention consists essentially in effecting a preliminary disinte-
gration and partial separation of the silicious coating of the grass by a suitable
mechanical treatment and in subsequently effecting the final removal of the
silicious coating by boiling the grass in the alkali solution. After such preliminary
mechanical treatment the remaining silicious particles of the coating can be much
more expeditiously dissolved by the alkali and a less quantity of the latter will be
required for the purpose. The mechanical means I employ for the aforesaid
purpose would preferably be of such a nature as would be operative in repeatedly
piercing the grass at different parts thereof in such a manner as to tend to dis-
integrate the silicious coating into small particles without injuring the fibre.
Dated this 20th day of November 1888.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to the Treatment of Esparto Grass
for Obtaining. Fibre therefrom.
I, JAMES MACTEAR, of Victoria Mansions, in the City of Westminster, Chemical
Expert, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
This Invention has reference to the treatment of esparto grass with the object of
effecting the separation of the silicious coating and the obtaining of the fibre for
use in manufactures.
The treatment to which such grass is at present subjected for such purpose
consists essentially in boiling it in a strong solution of alkali until the silicious
coating is dissolved. This treatment requires considerable time in being effectually
carried out and necessitates the use of a relatively large amount of alkali.
The special object of the present improvements is to improve the treatment of
esparto grass iu such a manner as to effect. a considerable saving in the amount
of alkali required and in the time employed in effecting the treatment.
To this end the Invention consists essentially in effecting a preliminary
mechanical disintegration and partial separation of the silicious coating of the grass
by series of closely set pins or like means operative in repeatedly piercing the

page_text: grass at different parts thereof in such a manner as to disintegrate the silicious
coating into small particles without injuring the fibre, and in effecting the final
removal of such particles of the silicious coating by boiling the grass in the alkali
solution. After such preliminary mechanical treatment the remaining silicious
particles of the coating can be much more expeditiously dissolved by the alkali
and a less quantity of the latter will be required for the purpose.
: The disintegrating means I prefer to use consists essentially of oppositely
arranged sets of fine pins closely set in supporting plates to which a rapid recip
rocating movement may be given by any suitable means such pins working
through correspondingly perforated guiding plates between which the grass is
slowly fed by any suitable means in a direction at right angles to the movement
of the pins so as in its progress to be repeatedly pierced thereby as aforesaid but
I desire it should be understood that my invention has no relation to the use of
any particular arrangement of such mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
The hereinbefore described improvements in or applicable to the treatment of
esparto grass for removing the silicious coating and obtaining the fibre.
Dated this 29th day of July 1889.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.