IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF AND VERMINE-PROOF TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS OR MATERIALS, WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES A COMPOUND AND SOLUTION FOR THE SAME AND دو SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1882. Communicated
to him from abroad by Daniel M. Lamb, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
WATERPROOF AND VERMINE-PROOF TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS OR MATERIALS,
WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES A COMPOUND AND SOLUTION FOR THE SAME AND
دو
SIMILAR PURPOSES [Communicated to him from abroad by Daniel M. Lamb, of
the City and State of New York, United States of America.]
This invention consists partly in combining with textile fabrics or other materials
either before, during the time of, or subsequent to, the manufacture of such fabrics,
a certain compound, hereinafter described, which will render the fabrics so manu-
factured or treated waterproof, vermine-repellant, and non-oxidizable, and will give
to the said fabrics more body and more elasticity or flexibility, and render them
capable of a better, more enduring, and more brilliant finish, and in every way
produce a more desirable article than would be practicable without the compound
combined with them, as hereinafter described.
The said invention further consists in an improved compound and solutions to
be used for this and for similar purposes, In preparing the said compound and
solutions, I take, in the first place, any hydro-carbon gum, such as, india-rubber
gutta-percha, or milk-weed, with or without paraffine, and dissolve them in any
suitable light hydro-carbon solvent, such as naphtha, benzine, benzole or gasoline
but always using such solvents as are about 0.72 specific gravity, more or less.
Into this solvent I put about a half an ounce more or less, of the hydro-carbon gum,
and, also when paraffine is used about two ounces, more or less, of the paraffine to
each gallon of the solvent. The bydro-carbon gum and the paraffine should be cut
up into small pieces before they are put into the solvent so as to facilitate forming
the solution, and after they have been thoroughly dissolved the solution is treated
with a gas or gases in the following manner that is to say :-I introduce for each
gallon of the solation about one pound, more or less, of chloride of sodium, or

page_text: common salt, and also immediately thereafter about one pound more or less, of
sulphuric acid, in such a manner as to allow the acid to settle down directly upon
the salt, and act thereon so as to set free a gas or gases, which will rise up through
the mass of the compound under treatment and act upon it.
It has been discovered that gas generated as described, (from common salt and
sulphuric acid) under hydro-carbon oils, paraffine and hydro-carbon gums acts
directly upon the oils, paraffine and hydro-carbon gums, bleaching, deodorizing and
curing the same; and it also combines with the hydrogen of the oil, paraffine and
gum, and forms solids, to the amount of three quarters of an ounce per gallon, or
more.
The proportions herein before given for the different materials that are used to
form the solution, and also the materials that are employed to generate the gas or
gases, may be varied for different purposes, the proportions herein given being
merely intended to serve as a general guide in conducting the operations.
The gas or gases above mentioned are introduced into the bottom part of the
fabricating vessel, and rise up through the mass of the compound under treatment,
and attack all the sedimentary and mucillaginous portions of the compound and
precipitate them to the bottom of the fabricating vessel, whence they may be drawn
off, or the purified compound may be extracted from the top of the vessel. This
gaseous treatment is continued from about say three to ten days, more or less,
during which time the solution will be thoroughly bleached and rendered colorless,
After the
or nearly so, and a complete chemical change will be effected in it.
sediment has been drawn off or removed from the purified solution, the remaining
gas is eliminated from the compound by any suitable means. This may be accom-
plished by allowing the mixture to stand a sufficient length of time to discharge
the gas, or the mixture or compound may be agitated by any suitable mechanical
appliance but I usually effect it by a powerful current of air, driven through the
compound from the bottom to the top, using for this purpose some suitable air-
compressor or blower conveniently located with reference to the fabricating vessel
and connected therewith by means of suitable piping so arranged within the
fabricating vessel as to deliver the air-current at, or near, the bottom of the same,
in order that the air current may be driven up through the mass of the compound
so as to carry off any gases, impurities, or other foreign substances that may be
held in suspension in the solution.
This agitation is continued for from five to thirty minutes or until the gas is
removed from the compound along with all foreign substances or impurities that
may be carried with it.
The fabrication and purification of this solution can best be conducted in such a
vessel as is ordinarily employed as, and termed, an "agitator" in coal-oil refining
operations. After the agitation of the compound, or elimination of the gas there-
from as above described, has been completed, the sediment should be again drawn
off and then the solution or compound thoroughly freed from any residual acid or
gas, by treating it with a small quantity of caustic soda or ammonia, or both, or
with any suitable alkaline solution, either with or without the use of water
to facilitate the washing or purifying process. During this process of freeing the
compound from any residual acid or gas, the compound is agitated by some suitable
mechanical appliance so as to throw up the alkaline solution into the mass of the
compound and enable the alkaline solution to act upon all parts of the compound,
and thereby completely remove all adhering gas or acid.
After the purification of the compound has been fully completed as above
described, the solution is retained in a tightly-closed vessel and for this purpose if
left in the "agitator," or fabricating vessel, a cover should be provided therefor, which
will extend into a water chamber, so as to tightly seal the vessel and prevent the
evaporation of the solvent, which is exceedingly volatile.
The application of the compound to the fabrics or articles to be treated may be
effected by means of a brush or sponge, but I prefer, in ordinary cases, where it is
practicable, to immerse the articles to be treated, in a bath; in either case the

page_text: articles treated (if they be textile or other light and portable materials) must have
all adhering moisture drained off or pressed out, and then the treated articles must
be gently dried in a closed room, at a temperature preferably kept at about 60°
Fahrenheit and after the articles are so. freed from moisture the coating or material
remaining on the said articles must be thoroughly fixed, and vulcanized or cured
(preferably in the same room in which they have been dried) by raising the
temperature thereof to about 180° Fahrenheit more or less,
This high heat will thoroughly force the applied compound into, and upon, all of
the fibres, and give them the coating desired.