Improvements in or connected with the Spinning of Yarn from Flax or other similar Fibres.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Spinning of Yarn from Flax
or other similar Fibres.
I, JOSHUA VALENTINE EVES, of The Forth River Mills, Falls Road, Belfast,
in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
In the spinning of yarn from flax or other similar fibres it is customary to pass
the slivers or roves through a trough of heated water or chemically prepared liquor
to soften or dissolve the constituents of the fibre before the rove or slivers enter
the drawing rollers of the spinning frame.
The object of this invention is to increase the solvent action of the alkaline or
acid liquid or water through which the fibres pass upon the resin or gum or other
constituents which prevent the fibres from being easily drawn and separated in
the spinning process and consists essentially in the use or application of a current
of electricity to such water or liquid whereby its solvent or decomposing action is
increased.
In carrying out the invention I apply to each end of the troughs or in any
suitable position therein suitable electrodes in connection with a dynamo, battery
or other source of electricity.
I consider that by the use of this invention the action of the water or liquid
upon the rove or sliver in the short time in which it is passing through the trough
will be greatly increased and consequently a cleaner and more even and a stronger
yarn will be spun.
Dated this 12th day of February 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Spinning of Yarn from Flax
or other similar Fibres.
.
I, JOSHUA VALENTINE EVES, of The Forth River Mills, Falls Road, Belfast,
in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Mill Manager, 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 :-
In the spinning of yarn from flax or other similar fibres it is customary to pass
the sliver or roves before entering between the drawing rollers through hot water
or chemically prepared liquor contained in a trough placed contiguous thereto for
the purpose of softening the fibres or for softening or dissolving out the gummy
resinous or similar constituents of the stalk.
The object of this invention is to increase the solvent action of the alkaline or
acid liquor or water through which the fibres pass upon the resin or gum or other
constituents which prevent the fibres from being easily drawn and separated in the
spinning process.
It consists essentially in electrolyzing the fibres of the rove or sliver pre-
paratory to spinning by passing a current of electricity through the water or
liquor in the trough in which they are immersed whereby the solvent or
decomposing action upon the gummy resinous or other matters adhering to the
fibres is increased.

page_text: To each of the water troughs in the spinning frame, which may be of any
ordinary construction I apply two electrodes placed in any suitable position
preferably one at each end of the trough. The electrodes will preferably be made
of platinum and carbon or other materials least liable to decomposition, during
process. The electrodes are connected with a dynamo, battery or other source
of electricity.
the
The liquor in the trough may be acidulated or rendered alkaline a suitable acid
or salt being used the constituents of which as they are decomposed will not
prejudicially attack or affect the fibres, sulphuric or hydrochloric acids or salts of
sodium or potassium will be found suitable for the purpose.
It will be evident that the electric current may be caused to pass direct through
the rove or fibre entering through each rove or sliver and passing out again through
an electrode placed in the bottom of the trough. This can easily be carried out by
moistening the fibre before it enters the water in the trough and passing it over a
bar or other contact piece in connection with the source of electricity.
I consider that by the use of this invention the action of the water or liquid
upon the rove or sliver in the short time in which it is passing through the trough
will be greatly increased and consequently a cleaner and more even and a stronger
yarn will be spun.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I am well aware that the immersing of the rove in an acid or alkaline liquor
in the trough of a spinning frame is not new nor is bleaching fibrous materials by
an electrolytic process and neither of these constitute my invention nor are they
claimed by me, but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In the spinning of yarn from flax or similar fibres the electrolyzing of the rove
or sliver in its passage through the spinning frame by passing a current of electricity
through the liquor in the trough in which it is immersed substantially as and for
the purpose described.
2. In a machine for spinning flax and similar fibres the combination with the
trough in which the rove or sliver are immersed of a positive and negative electrode
connected with a source of electrical energy substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Dated this 11th day of November 1892.
Dated this 11th day of November 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.