NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WOOL FIBRES OBTAINED FROM THE SEPA- RATION OF COTTON FROM WOOLLEN FIBRES, FROM OLD OR WASTE FABRICS, OR RAGS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Alfred Barlow, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard,
London, Patent Agent and Engineer, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED
PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WOOL FIBRES OBTAINED FROM THE SEPA-
RATION OF COTTON FROM WOOLLEN FIBRES, FROM OLD OR WASTE FABRICS,
OR RAGS." A communication from abroad by Paulin Poulin, of Chaulnes,
in the Department of Somme (France).
Sealed the 21st May 1880, and dated the 24th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Alfred Barlow at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th November 1879.
"
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer. NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WOOL
FIBRES OBTAINED FROM THE SEPARATION OF COTTON FROM WOOLLEN FIBRES,
FROM OLD OR WASTE FABRICS, OR RAGS." A communication from abroad by
Paulin Poulin, of Chaulnes, in the Department of Somme (France).
This Invention has for object new or improved process for the treatment of wool
fibres obtained from the separation of cotton from woollen fibres by chemical
means, that is, by chemical solvents to deplete or destroy the cotton fibres, so as to
obtain the pure animal fibres to prepare the same for re-use.
In carrying the Invention into practice there will be. required a steam boiler,
coppers, vats, or pans, in which the fibres will be treated; a press or presses, drying
apparatus, and mechanical stirrers or agitators adapted to the treating coppers, vats,
or pans for stirring the fibres under treatment.
The old or waste fabrics or rags, or the same reduced to shreds in a "shake
willey" or other preparer, are placed in the treating copper along with the dis-
solvent liquid, which is compounded as follows:-
Bichloride of calcium at 20° 4 parts by measure, and water 8 parts by measure
are added together, which will give a liquid of about 12 degrees density of salt
solution, which will be the dissolvent liquid.
The bichloride of calcium at 20° is prepared by the admixture of hydrochloric
acid at 22° with water in the proportion of 1 part by measure of the acid to

page_text: 2 parts by measure of water, and to this mixture is added carbonate of lime in
sufficient quantity to give to the bichloride of calcium thus produced about 20° of
density.
Again, instead of the bichloride of calcium solution a dissolvent liquor of
bichloride of sodium may be employed, and is prepared as follows:-1 part by
weight of chloride of sodium is added to 1 part by weight of hydrochloric acid,
and these two components are put in mixture with 9 parts by weight of water, the
resultant dissolvent liquor having about 15° of density of salt solution.
Into the dissolvent liquor prepared according to either of the above formulac
are thrown the rags or fibres to be treated, and by means of a steam jet or jets the
liquor is brought to boiling point, and the whole boiled for about thirty or forty
minutes, and meanwhile stirred more or less actively, and the whole is then allowed
to cool. The fibres are then drained from the dissolvent and pressed between
pressing rollers; then the pressed material is placed into large lye tubs for washing
them, and finally they are dried by means of turbines in order to effect this
operation quickly, which is essential. The wool thus obtained has a certain hard-
ness, which is produced by the chemical solution which acts upon the cotton.
Before sending the wool to the market it is necessary to put it in a glycerine bath.
By this means the wool becomes soft and of superior quality.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Alfred Barlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
May 1880.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer. "NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WOOL
FIBRES OBTAINED FROM THE SEPARATION OF COTTON FROM WOOLLEN FIBRES,
FROM OLD OR WASTE FABRICS, OR RAGS." A communication from abroad by
Paulin Poulin, of Chaulnes, in the Department of Somme (France).
This Invention has for object new or improved process for the treatment of wool
fibres obtained from the separation of cotton from woollen fibres by chemical
means, that is, by chemical solvents to deplete or destroy the cotton fibres, so as to
obtain the pure animal fibres to prepare the same for re-use.
In carrying the Invention into practice there will be required a steam boiler,
coppers, vats, or pans, in which the fibres will be treated; a press or presses, drying
apparatus, and mechanical stirrers or agitators adapted to the treating coppers,
vats, or pans for stirring the fibres under treatment.
The old or waste fabrics or rags, or the same reduced to shreds in a "shake
willey" or other preparer, are placed in the treating copper along with the dis-
solvent liquid, which is compounded as follows:-
Bichloride of calcium at 20° density 4 parts by measure, and water 8 parts by
measure are added together, which will give a liquid of about 12 degrees of density
of salt solution, which will be the dissolvent liquid.
The bichloride of calcium at 20° is prepared by the admixture of hydrochloric
acid at 22° with water in the proportion of 1 part by measure of the acid to
2 parts by measure of water, and to this mixture is added carbonate of lime in
sufficient quantity to give to the bichloride of calcium thus produced about 20° of
density.
Again, instead of the bichloride of calcium solution a dissolvent liquor of
bichloride of sodium may be employed, and is prepared as follows:-
1 part by weight of chloride of sodium is added to 1 part by weight of hydro-
chloric acid, and these two components are put in mixture with 9 parts by weight
of water, the resultant dissolvent liquor having about 15° of density of salt
solution.
Into the dissolvent liquor prepared according to either of the above formulae
are thrown the rags or fibres to be treated, and by means of a steam jet or jets the
liquor is brought to boiling point, and the whole boiled for about thirty or forty
minutes, and meanwhile stirred more or less actively, and the whole is then allowed
to cool. The fibres are then drained from the dissolvent and pressed between
pressing rollers; then the pressed materials are placed into large lye tubs for
washing them, and finally they are dried by means of turbines or centrifugal
apparatus in order to effect this operation quickly, which is essential. The wool
thus obtained has a certain hardness, which is produced by the chemical solution
which acts upon the cotton. Before sending the wool to the market it is necessary
to put it in a glycerine bath, and by this means the wool is rendered soft and of
superior quality.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention I claim,--
The new or improved process for the treatment of wool fibres obtained from the
separation of cotton from woollen fibres from old or waste fabrics or rags, as herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Alfred Barlow, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WALTER A. BARLOW. (L.S.)