Improvements in Apparatus and Means for Cleaning Vegetable Fibres.
Year: 1888

page_text: RESER
Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Mar., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Means for Cleaning Vegetable
Fibres.
I AUGUSTUS FIGGE of 43 Ladbroke Square, Notting Hill, in the County of Middlesex
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide convenient apparatus and means for
destroying or removing gluten and other organic matter from vegetable fibres.
According to my invention I provide a tank fitted with electrodes and containing a
revolving drum with suitable openings, into which the raw vegetable fibrous material
is placed. This tank is charged with lukewarm water, to which 1 add a sufficient
amount of animal blood as will not interfere with the conductability of the liquid.
The lid of the tank is then closed and the electrodes set in action by means of a suitable
The effect of
current and the drum is then rotated by any suitable mechanical means.
the electric current upon the animal matter (blood) contained in the liquid is a rapid
fermentation and putrefaction of the latter, thus creating the germs of destruction
necessary to infect and destroy the glutinous organic matter which encases the fibres;
and the fibre itself being of a resisting nature and not easily soluble is unaffected
by the process. The gases evolved during the process are drawn off by any suitable
means.
Instead of rotating the fibrous material in the stationary liquid as described, the
process may he reversed-that is to say, the fibrous material may remain stationary and
the liquid be caused to circulate through it in any suitable apparatus provided with
electrodes.
After the fibrous material has undergone this cleansing process it is subjected to the
alkaline and acid process usually employed for finishing fibres.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus and Means for Cleaning Vegetable
Fibres.
1 AUGUSTUS FIGGE of 43 Ladbroke Square Notting Hill in the County of Middlesex
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention has for its object to provide convenient apparatus and means for
destroying or removing gluten and other organic matter from vegetable fibres.
Broadly my Invention may be stated as follows:-In obtaining the offect which arises
from putrefaction in the ordinary rotting of fibres in a much more expeditious and
satisfactory manner than hitherto. For this purpose I submit the fibres whilst in the
presence of a putrefying agent such as blood urine or other organic matter to electric
action whereby a gradual but rapid and efficient decomposing action is caused upon
the gummy matter in the fibre without causing injury to the fibre itself.
My Invention may be carried out as follows:-
I provide a tank I such as is represonted in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings or other receptacle fitted with electrodes e e and containing a revolving
perforated drum D with containers C into which the raw vegetable fibrous material is
placed. This tank is charged with water (preferably slightly warm) to which I add
a sufficient quantity of organic matter such as blood (varying from 10 to 20 %
according to the thickness and hardness of the fibrous matorial) which is capable of
being rapidly decomposed by means of an electric curront. The tank or receptacle is
then closed and an electric current is passed through the liquid the drum or receptacle
being rotated or rapidly moved by any suitable means. The effect of the electric
current upon the organic matter (blood) contained in the liquid is a rapid fermentation
and putrefaction of the latter thus creating the germs of destruction necessary to
infect and destroy the glutinous matter which encases the fibres the fibre itself being
of a resisting nature and not easily soluble is unaffected by the process which is
particularly adapted for delicate fibrous grasses. In cases where the working apparatus
itself is lined with lead or otherwise made proof against the action of chlorine, and
the fibrous material to be treated is coarse and strong enough to withstand the action
of a stronger caustic element, an addition of common salt to the liquid mentioned
above the salt being decomposed by the electric current and caustic alkali and chlorine
are formed the caustic alkali acting in its nascent form upon the fibrous material under
treatment with the effect of completing the destruction of the gummy matter and the
nascent chlorino exercising a bleaching influence on the fibre. The addition of an
inorganic salt or salts to the liquid (as an auxiliary agent) becomes necessary when
an excess of dissolved or partly dissolved vegetable matter (generally adhering to the
fibre plant) thickens and adulterates the liquid to such an extent that it begins to offer
an inconvenient resistance to the electrical current. In such case the introduction into
the liquid of inorganic salts (preferably common salt in proportion of about 2% of

page_text: weight of liquid) at once causes this liquid to regain its conductability of the Electrical
current and so facilitates the whole operation. This decomposition accelerates the
process of converting the raw fibrous matter into fibre ready for spinning in a gradual
inild but effective form by letting the caustic soda and chlorine formed by the process
act in the nascent state upon the fibre thus avoiding the pernicious operation at present
existing of subjecting the fibre to a prolongod treatment with caustic lyes and chlorido
of lime which destroys the strength of the fibre. Of course the apparatus to be used
for this process may be varied according to the nature and length of the fibrous
material to be treated thus instead of putting the same into an apparatus which rotates
or moves in a liquid as is herein described the fibrous material may remain stationary
and the liquid be caused to circulate by a pump or other device through any suitable
receptacle provided with electrodes as aforesaid. The gases evolved during the process
are drawn off by any suitable means. After the fibrous material has undergone this
cleansing process it is or may be subjected to the opening process usually employed
for finishing fibres but proferably performed under a vacuum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is.
The means herein described for treating or cleaning vegetable fibres consisting in
immersing them in a solution or liquid of or containing putrefiable organic matter
(with or without common salt) or in a solution of the ordinary effective products of
putrefaction substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Zota
Mary Looy.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agents.