Improvements in the Treatment of Rhea, Ramie, and other Grasses, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1889-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Rhea, Ramie, and other Grasses,
and in Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRISON DOTY, of The Doty Lighting and Heating Corporation
Limited of Mansion House Chambers, 11 Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the treatment of rhea, rami and other grasses, and to
apparatus therefor.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a reservoir or tank of suitable
dimensions fitted with a movable cover.
At one side or end of this tank and near the bottom of the same I provide a draw
off cock through which the liquor or fluid in the tank may be drawn, or run out of
the same, when required.
At the side or end of the said tank I place in a vertical position a copper or other
metal coil formed of a tube of suitable diameter wound into a coil in such a manner
as to leave two feet, more or less of the said tube unwound at each end of the said
coil, these extremities are inserted into the said tank and are arranged to point at
right angles to the axis of the said coil both in the same direction. The tube extending
from the lower extremity of the coil is preferably inserted in and attached to, the
side of the tank close to the bottom, and the tube extending from the upper extremity
of the coil is preferably inserted in and attached to the side of the tank as high up
as it will conveniently reach. Both extremities of the tube forming the coil have
open communication to, and within the tank, and coil, in a similar manner to a water
gauge attached to a steam boiler.
The coil is wound so as to leave about half an inch space all round between the
convolutions thereof. Upon the lower convolution of the coil, I place grates or fire
bars or I set the coil on a grating on which I put coke or coal for heating the said
coil, the supply of air necessary for combustion being admitted through the space
between the convolutions hereinbefore described. The tank is charged with the
material to be treated, and water, which latter must reach some distance above the
upper portion of the coil. Upon the application of heat to the coil a rapid upward
current will be induced in the coil, the cold liquid being drawn in at the lower
extremity from the hottom of the tank, and discharged at a higher temperature over
the surface of the liquid in the tank.
In order to maintain a uniform temperature I place two or more tubes or water
ways on the bottom of the tank; the extremities of these tubes or water ways are
connected at one end with a receptacle, at or near the inlet of the coil and the other
extremities diverge and extend to the opposite side or end, and corners of the tank.
The ends of these tubes are open so that they will carry the cold fluid to the coil from the
remotest parts of the tank and thereby maintain a uniform, or nearly uniform,
temperature throughout the latter.
I prefer to maintain the said temperature at from 95° to 100° Fahrenheit or
thereabouts.
The operation of my apparatus is as follows:-that is say, I place within the
tank above mentioned, the fibrous materials in bundles or bales in any desired quantity,
care however being taken not to place too much in the said tank as the material
usually increases in bulk when wet. The said material is placed preferably cross
ways in layers, sufficient spaces being allowed for the free circulation of the fluid.
The material is covered with wood gratings, bars or boards, on which I place
weights of stone or other suitable material to keep the said material submerged.
The tank is then filled or nearly so, with cold water and one ounce or other suitable
quantity of brown sugar to the gallou is added, so as to accelerate fermentation.

page_text: The cover is then placed upon the tank and a fire is lighted in the coil, and kept up
for three or four days more or less the temperature of the fluid being maintained at
from 95° to 100° Fahrenheit or thereabouts."
After the third day, the material is examined and if found to be free from gluten,
is washed in a weak hot solution of crude carbonate of soda, or soft washing soap.
The fluid in the tank is then drawn off and the tank refilled with fresh water which
is immediately drawn off, carrying with it any slime or film left from the first
let off.
The first application of cold water will greatly facilitate the setting free of the
gluten.
In treating that class of grasses which have their fibres surrounded with bark, the
bark should be stripped from the fibre when wet.
On removing the material from the tank it is spread out in the open air to dry,
or it may be dried by artificial means and treated like flax.
Should any resinous gum remain in the material it can be readily and entirely
dissolved by means of the vapour of naphtha, or petroleum in a closed tank. The said
gum and naphtha and petroleum can then be removed by means of a heated solution
of crude carbonate of soda composed of one part of soda to forty of water, the
material being then rinsed out, or it may be washed with common soft washing soap,
rinsed and dried, ready for the machinery, and other appliances preparatory to working
it into fabrics.
It is obvious moreover that I can somewhat modify the construction of my apparatus
without however departing in any way from the nature of my said invention.
Dated this 14th day of August 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Rhea, Ramie, and other Grasses,
and in Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRISON DOTY of the Doty Lighting and Heating Corporation, Limited,
of Mansion House Chambers, 11 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London,
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:-
C
This invention relates to the treatment of rhea or ramie and other fibrous plants,
and to apparatus therefor.
The main feature of the said invention consists in subjecting the rhea or ramie or
other fibrous plants to an acid fermentation. By this means, the degumming or
deglutination thereof or the destruction of the tenacity or adhesiveness of the gum
or glutinous substances and the separation of the bark from the fibres and of the
fibres from the internal ligneous portion can be effected without injury to the said
fibres.
For this purpose, the rhea or ramie or other fibrous plants are placed in a suitable
tank or vessel in which they are submerged in water having dissolved therein brown
sugar, molasses, cane juice or other substance which will cause an acid fermentation,
in the said tank or vessel. Heat is, if necessary, applied to the solution in the said
tank or vessel so as to maintain it at a temperature of about from ninety five to one
hundred degrees (95° to 100°) Fahrenheit.
The said invention also comprises the subsequent treatment of the fibrous materials
with petroleum or other hydro-carbon.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a plan of an improved apparatus for carrying on the process herein
described, the cover of the tank being removed.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the said apparatus, partly in vertical central
section.

page_text: Like letters indicate corresponding parts in these two Figures.
A is a reservoir or tank of suitable dimensions, which is provided with a movable
cover B and with a draw-off cock C. D is a coil formed of a tube of copper or
other suitable metal, the extremities of which are inserted into the said tank A, one
close to the bottom thereof, and the other as high up as may be convenient, both
extremities of the tube being left open to permit free communication between the said
tank and the coil.
The coil D is preferably wound so as to leave a space of say half an inch between
the convolutions thereof. In or upon the lower convolution of the coil, is arranged
a grate or fire-bars D¹; or the said coil is placed upon a suitable grate. On the
said grate, coke or coal or other fuel is to be placed for heating the said coil, the
supply of air necessary for the combustion being admitted through the spaces between
the convolutions of the coil and through the said grate. Or other means are
provided for heating the water in the tank when necessary. For example it may be
heated by a jet or jets of steam. In some instances, a jacket or casing D² of sheet
metal or other suitable material is provided around the coil D to protect it from
the weather and to concentrate or confine the heat, the said jacket or casing being
provided with suitable holes to admit the air necessary for combustion.
To provide for maintaining the temperature uniform throughout the liquid in the
tank, two or more tubes or water-ways E are arranged at the bottom of the tank A.
These tubes or water-ways E are connected at one end with a receptacle or chamber F
enclosing the lower or inlet end of the coil D. The said tubes or water-ways E
diverge from each other and extend to the corners and opposite side of the tank A.
The ends of the said tubes or water-ways E are open.
In some cases I treat the material in pits or in indigo-vats or the like. To
provide for maintaining a uniform temperature throughout the liquid, in such cases,
it may be advantageous to employ a pump so arranged that, when the surface of
the liquid becomes heated by the temperature of the atmosphere and by the sun's
rays, the colder liquid can be drawn from the bottom of the vat or pit and discharged
over the surface of the liquid.
The treatment of the rhea or ramie by means of the apparatus shown in the
drawing, is as follows, that is to say --The said rhea or ramie, preferably in the
green state as gathered, is made up into bundles or bales, which are placed in the tank A
care being taken not to place therein too large a quantity of the material, having
regard to its increase in bulk when wetted. The said bundles or bales are preferably
arranged in layers, so that the bundles or bales in one layer are at right angles to
those in the adjacent layer or layers, sufficient spaces being left between the bundles
or bales to permit the free circulation of the liquid.
To keep the bundles or bales submerged, they may be covered with wood gratings,
bars or boards, on which are placed weights of stone or other suitable material. The
tank is then filled or nearly filled with water, preferably cold water, as this facilitates
the setting free of the gum or glutinous substances by the subsequent acid fermenta-
tion. Brown sugar, molasses, cane-juice or other suitable material that will produce
or set up an acid fermentation is then added in the proportion of about from one-
half to one-and-a-half (to 1) ounces of brown sugar or the like to each gallon of
water.
The cover B is then placed upon the tank A and a fire is lighted in the coil D
and is kept up for three or four days (more or less), the temperature of the fluid
being maintained at from ninety-five to one hundred degrees (95° to 100°) Fahrenheit
or thereabouts. Upon the application of heat to the coil D, a rapid upward
current will be induced in the said coil, the cold liquid flowing from the bottom of
the tank A through the tubes E into the lower extremity of the coal, and, after
having its temperature raised in the said coil, being discharged therefrom into the
upper part of the said tank.
The material under treatment is examined from time to time, and when it is found
that the bark is sufficiently loose to readily separate from the fibres and internal
woody portion, the bundles or bales are removed from the tank, the bark and fibres

page_text: are stripped from the stems and the said fibres are well washed in clean water and
then spread out in the open air to dry, or they may be dried by artificial means, and
treated like flax.
If necessary the said fibres may be further advantageously treated, in a closed tank,
by means of naphtha, petroleum or other hydrocarbon either in a liquid state or
in the form of vapour, whereby the said gum will be dissolved. The said gum and
naphtha or petroleum are then removed by means of a heated solution composed of
about one part of crude carbonate of soda or of soft-soap to forty parts of water.
The fibrous material is then rinsed with water or washed with common soft-soap, or
with soft-soap and petroleum in, or about in the proportions of one part of petroleum
to sixteen parts of soft-soap. The said material is boiled in this preparation for about
one hour, more or less. This treatment is also very advantageous for bleaching the
material. The material is then rinsed and dried ready for the machinery and other
appliances for treating it preparatory to its use for industrial purposes.
The improved process above described is chiefly designed for treating the rhea or
ramie or other fibrous plants in a green state, but is also advantageous for treating
the same or the fibres thereof in a dry state.
Amongst the fibrous plants which can be advantageously treated by the improved
process, may be mentioned, flax, hemp and the leaves of the pine-apple and banana.
In treating Phormium tenax or New Zealand flax and similar plants, it may be
necessary or desirable to slit or tear the leaves longitudinally to expose the gummy
portions, before subjecting them to the acid fermentation as above described.
Hemp and flax can, by the process above described, be thoroughly retted in from
five to seven days, and may be subsequently treated in the ordinary manner.
The fibrous material treated as above described is applied to the manufacture of
textile fabrics, to rope-making and to other manufactures.
In treating grasses which have their fibres surrounded with bark, the said bark
should be stripped from the fibre when wet, and the fibres afterwards removed from
the woody portion.
It is obvious that apparatus other than that shown in the drawing can be used for
carrying on the process above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim :-
First. The above described improved process of treating rhea or ramie and other
fibrous plants, by subjecting the same to an acid fermentation to destroy the tenacity
or adhesiveness of the gum or glutinous substance contained therein.
Second. The improved process of treating rhea or ramie and other fibrous plants,
consisting in subjecting the same to an acid fermentation and then to the action of
bydro-carbon, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Third. The improved process of treating rhea or ramie and other fibrous plants,
consisting in subjecting the same to an acid fermentation and then to the action of
hydro-carbon, and then removing the gum and hydrocarbon by means of a heated
solution of carbonate of soda or soft-soap, substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Fourth. The improved process of treating rhea or ramie and other fibrous plants,
consisting in subjecting the same to an acid fermentation and then to the action of
hydro-carbon and then removing the gum and hydrocarbon by means of a heated
solution of carbonate of soda or soft-soap and washing the material with a mixture of
hydrocarbon and soft-soap in, or about in the proportions stated, substantially as, and
for the purposes, set forth.
בד
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.