IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED WHEN APPLYING INDIA-RUBBER TO FABRICS AND CONSERVING THE VAPOURS EVOLVED DURING THE PROCESS, AND IN THE METHOD OF DEALING WITH THOSE VAPOURS."
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Barrow, of Clayton, near Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED WHEN
APPLYING INDIA-RUBBER TO FABRICS AND CONSERVING THE VAPOURS EVOLVED
DURING THE PROCESS, AND IN THE METHOD OF DEALING WITH THOSE
VAPOURS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Barrow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd October 1875.
I, JOHN BARROW, of Clayton, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED
WHEN APPLYING INDIA-RUBBER TO FABRICS AND CONSERVING THE VAPOURS EVOLVED
DURING THE PROCESS, AND IN THE METHOD OF DEALING WITH THOSE VAPOURS," to
be as follows:-

page_text: apparatus to be used when applying india-rubber to fabrics and con-
serving the vapours evolved during the process, and in the method of
dealing with thoso vapours. In the application of india-rubber to
fabrics machines known as spreading machines are employed. In these
machines the fabric is passed between rollers or other apparatus, and
during its passage a coating of india-rubber softened with naptha is
applied.
Sometimes wood naptha and turpentine are used, and it is to be
understood that my Invention as herein-after described for dealing with
the vapours of naptha is applicable also for dealing with the vapours of
wood naptha and turpentine. After coating, 'the coated fabric is passed
over a heated surface to evaporate the naptha. The naptha thus
evaporated in ordinary machines goes to waste.
Various methods have been proposed of recovering the evaporated
naptha, ct cætera, but so far as I know such methods have been costly
or inefficient. The vaporized naptha as it leaves the spreading machine
has in admixture with it a considerable proportion of atmospheric air,
which renders it extremely difficult to condense the naptha vapour. It
has been proposed to do this in ordinary condensers aided by additional
condensers charged with liquid naptha, but the lowness of temperature
essential to such process involves the use of powerful and costly
refrigerating apparatus, such as by my Invention I am enabled to
dispense with. For this purpose a chamber (which I will call the
evaporating chamber) having been formed by placing a loose cover over
the steam chest, I connect with the said evaporating chamber vessels
or chambers into which I by suitable apparatus cause the vapour to
flow; within such vessels or chambers I cause the vapour to come in
contact with and be absorbed by an oil or olcaginous absorbent
vapourizable only at a higher temperature than that at which the
naptha to be absorbed will evaporate, which oil or oleaginous absorbent
when saturated with condensed naptha I subject to heat sufficient with-
out distilling the oil or oleaginous absorbent to distil from it the naptha,
which I condense in a suitable condenser and collect so that it and the
oil or oleaginous absorbent may be used over and over again.
In one arrangement I combine with the spreading machine a series of
vessels or chambers charged with oleaginous substance, vapourizable only
at a higher temperature than the naptha intended to be absorbed, the

page_text: vessels or chambers so charged being connected to the said machine and
combined with each other, and with a suitable condenser (herein-after
called the final condenser) in such manner as that cach of the said
vessels or chambers charged as aforesaid may be caused to act alter-
nately as an absorber of vapour issuing from the evaporating chamber
and as a still for giving off from the olenginous absorbent the naptha
thereby absorbed during such process of absorption. The naptha vapour
distilled from the oleaginous absorbent is condensed in the final con-
denser, which may be of any well known construction, and is connected
in suitable receivers for re-use.
In carrying out my Invention a series of four vessels or chambers,
charged with heavy oil of tar, or with linseed oil or with other oleaginous
absorbent, may be conveniently employed. These vessels or chambers
I connect together, and with them and the evaporating chamber
of the spreading machine I combine a pressure blower or other appa-
ratus for exhausting the mixed air and vaporized naptha from the
evaporating chamber, and feeding the same to the vessels or chambers
charged with oleaginous absorbent. I arrange the connections between
the vessels themselves and their connections respectively with the
evaporating chamber and with the final condenser in such wise that
when the machine is in operation three of the four vessels or chambers
shall be in action as absorbers of the naptha vapour, forming a con-
secutive series, whilst the fourth vessel or chamber shall be in action as
a still. Thus, let the four chambers charged with oleaginous absorbent
be called respectively A, B, C, and D. Suppose that the machine bas
been in operation, during which time the vapours from the spreading
machine have been passing through A, thence through B, and finally
through C, the air previously mixed with the naptha vapour being
thence liberated, and that the oleaginous absorbent in A has become
saturated with condensed naptha, I now by adjusting the connections
close the communication between A and the other chambers, and place
it in communication with the final condenser; I place B in communi-
cation with the evaporating chamber, and through C with D I apply
heat to A. Thus, whilst the vapours from the evaporating chamber are
being absorbed by the oleaginous absorbent in B, C, and D, the naptha
previously absorbed by the oleaginous absorbent in A will be distilled,
condensed, and collected for re-use, and the oleaginous absorbent in A
prepared for commencing a fresh absorbing operation and so on.

page_text: By the foregoing arangement I attain efficient and economical con-
densation of the naptha ordinarily wasted. By my plan I effectually
guard against risk of such damage to the india-rubber as might result
from contact with the oil or oleaginous substance; the oil or oleaginous
substance remains isolated from external objects.
In lieu of the above described arrangement the oleaginous absorbent
may be caused to meet the vapour from the spreading machine in the
form of drops or spray, such drops or spray with the naptha thereby
absorbed being collected and subjected to heat so as to separate the
naptha, which may then be condensed and separately collected in 1
receivers for re-use, as described with reference to the preceding arrange-
ment.
It will be evident that various kinds of oils or oleaginous substances
may be used for the purposes of my Invention, so long as the oil or
oleaginous substance employed shall be vapourizable only at a higher
temperature than the naptha it is intended to absorb.
It will likewise be obvious that the number of vessels or chambers
charged or fed with oleaginous absorbent and the forms of the parts
may be varied, and that various arrangements of apparatus may be
constructed to operate on the principle of my Invention as above set 2
forth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Barrow in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 21st April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN ?
BARROW, of Clayton, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five,
in the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Barrow, Her special
license that I, the said John Barrow, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Barrow, my executors,

page_text: It
has in admixture with it a considerable proportion of atmospheric air,
which renders it extremely difficult to condense the naptha vapour.
has been proposed to do this in ordinary condensers aided by additional
condensers charged with liquid naptha, but the lowness of temperature
essential to such process involves the use of powerful and costly
refrigerating apparatus, such as by my Invention I am enabled to
dispense with. For this purpose a chamber, which I will call the
evaporating chamber, having been formed by placing a loose cover over
the steam chest of the spreading machine I connect with the said
evaporating chamber other vessels or chambers, into which I by suitable
apparatus cause the vapour to flow. Within such vessels or chambers
I cause the vapour to come in contact with and be absorbed by an oil
or oleaginous absorbent vapourizable, or, in other words, boiling only
at a higher temperature than that at which the naptha to be absorbed
will evaporate or boil, which oil or oleaginous absorbent when saturated
with condensed naptha I subject to heat sufficient, without distilling the
oil or oleaginous absorbent, to distil from it the naptha, which I
condense in a suitable condenser and collect, so that it and the oil or
oleaginous absorbent may be used over and over again.
In one arrangement I combine with the spreading machine a series
of vessels or chambers charged with oleaginous substance that will boil
only at a higher temperature than the naptha intended to be absorbed,
the vessels or chambers so charged being connected to the said machine
and combined with each other, and with a suitable condenser (herein-
after called the final condenser), in such manner as that each of the
said vessels or chambers charged as aforesaid may be caused to act
alternately as an absorber of vapour issuing from the evaporating
chamber and as a still for giving off from the oleaginous absorbent the
naptha thereby absorbed during such process of absorption. The naptha
vapour distilled from the oleaginous absorbent is condensed in the final
condenser, which may be of any well known construction, and is
collected in suitable receivers for re-use.
In carrying out my Invention a series of four vessels or chambers
charged with heavy oil of tar or with linseed oil, or with other oleaginous
absorbent, as herein-after described, may be conveniently employed.
These vessels or chambers I connect together, and with them and the
evaporating chamber of the spreading machine I combine a pressure
blower or other apparatus for exhausting the mixed air and vapourized

page_text: naptha from the evaporating chamber and feeding the same to the
vessels or chambers charged with the oleaginous absorbent. I arrange
the connections between the vessels themselves and their connections
respectively with the evaporating chamber and with the final condenser
in such wise that when the machine is in operation three of the four
vessels or chambers shall be in action as absorbers of the naptha vapour,
forming a consecutive series, whilst the fourth vessel or chamber shall
be in action as a still. Thus, let the four chambers charged with
oleaginous absorbent be called respectively A, B, C, and D. Suppose
that the machine has been in operation, during which time the vapours
from the spreading machine have been passing through A, thence
through B, and finally through C, the air previously mixed with tho
naptha vapour being thence liberated, and that the oleaginous absorbent
in A has become saturated with condensed naptha, I now by adjusting
the connections close the communication between A and the other
chambers and place A in communication with the final condenser.
I place B in communication with the evaporating chamber, and through
C with D, and I apply heat to A. Thus, whilst the vapours from the
evaporating chamber are being absorbed by the oleaginous absorbent
in B, C, and D, the naptha previously absorbed by the oleaginous
absorbent in A will be distilled, condensed, and collected for re-use,
and the oleaginous absorbent in A prepared for commencing a fresh
absorbing operation, and so on.
By the foregoing arrangement I attain efficient and economical
condensation of the naptha ordinarily wasted.
In lieu of the above described arrangement the oleaginous absorbent
may be caused to meet the vapour from the spreading machine in the
form of drops or spray, such drops or spray, with the naptha thereby
absorbed, being collected and subjected to heat so as to separate the
naptha which may then be condensed and separately collected in
receivers for re-use, as described with reference to the preceding
arrangement.
It will be evident that, provided the directions in this Specification
contained relative to the requirements of the oil or oleaginous substance
to be used be carefully observed, various kinds of oils or oleaginous
substances having a boiling point above the boiling point of the naptha
intended to bo absorbed may be used for the purposes of my Invention.

page_text: Thus, for example, the oil or oleaginous substance employed may be
mineral, as coal tar, oil of coal tar, petroleum or shale oil, or the oily
acid bodies contained in and separable from coal tar and coal tar oils, or
vegetable, as wood tar, oil of wood tar, resin oil, or seed oils; or animal,
as lard, neatsfoot oil, whale oil, or seal oil, so long as the oil or oleaginous
substance employed be one that will not distil over at the temperature
requisite to evaporate the naptha from it. The oil or oleaginous
substance should be one which would not distil over if subjected in a
closed vessel to a jet of steam blown into it at a pressure of from
fifteen to thirty pounds per square inch.
Fig. 1 shews in vertical section, and Fig. 2 in plan, an apparatus
constructed according to my Invention. The vertical section Fig. 1 is
taken in the line x, x, of Fig. 2.
A, B, C, D, are four vessels, each provided at intervals with perforated
diaphragms or divisions a, and charged with suitable oleaginous absorb-
ing material, such, for example, as heavy oil of tar, with which each
vessel may be about half filled. Each of these vessels communicates
by a couple of pipes with a tank or vessel E, in which the extremities
of the said pipes project upwards, as shewn in Fig. 1. A' is a pipe
leading from the lower portion of the interior of the vessel A to the
tank or vessel E. A² leads from the upper part of the vessel A to the
tank E. B' leads from the lower part of the vessel B to the tank E;
B from the upper part of the vessel B to the tank E; C' from the lower
part of the vessel C to the tank E; C from the upper part of the
vessel C to the tank E; D' from the lower part of the vessel D to the
tank E; D from the upper part of the vessel D to the tank E.
F is a valve (shewn in horizontal section in Fig. 3, and in vertical
section in Fig. 1) made in the form of an inverted cup, with a
central circular or tube shaped division F¹ slotted at F*, and five radial
divisions, which divide the annular space between the central division
and the lateral portion of the main valve into five compartments or
chambers G, G', G, G³, Gʻ. This valve dips into a suitable sealing
liquid or luting in the tank E. Of the five compartments three, namely,
G, G, G³, are each large enough to contain the projecting ends of two
pipes connected with the absorbing vessels, but each of the other two
compartments, namely G', G', contains the terminal of one such pipe
only. The compartment G¹ is in direct communication with the central
circular compartment of the valve by the slot or opening F*, and the

page_text: pipe H leading from the evaporating chamber of the spreading machine
terminates within the central compartment of the valve, so that which-
ever pipe is for the time being in the compartment G' is in communica-
tion through the valve with the pipe H. On the other hand, whichever
pipe is for the time being in the compartment G' will be open to the
external atmosphere through the hole E (Fig. 2) formed in the top of
the valve F.
A pump, pressure blower, or other form of exhauster, which may be
of ordinary construction, is employed for drawing the naptha vapour
from the evaporating chamber, and feeding it through the pipe H and
the valve F to the vessels A, B, C, D. I is a steam pipe in communication
with a steam boiler; its four branches I', I³, I³, I', are each provided
with a cock or valve, as shewn at K and K, and each branch pipe
passes down into the lower part of its respective vessel A, B, C, or D.
L is a naptha vapour pipe communicating with a final condenser M, and
having four branches L, L, L³, L'; each branch pipe is provided with
a valve or cock, as shewn at N and N2, and communicates with the
upper part of the interior of its respective vessel A, B, C, or D, as
shewn.
In the position of the parts shewn in Fig. 2 the oil of tar in the
vessel A is supposed to have become saturated with condensed naptha,
and the valve F has been adjusted, so that the terminations of the two
pipes A', A³, of the chamber A are contained in the one compartment G
of the valve, thus cutting off all communication between the chamber A
and the other chambers B, C, D.
The valves K and N are supposed to be open, so that steam is flowing
by the pipe I' into the vessel A, and thus the naptha which has been
absorbed by the oil of tar in the vessel A is being distilled, and is passing
by the pipes N*, N³, through the condenser M, the condensed naptha
passing out at M' into any suitable receiver. The cocks or valves of the
pipes I, I, I, and L³, L, L, are closed. Naptha vapour is passing
through the pipe H, slot F*, compartment G', and pipe B' down into
the lower portion of the chamber B, the oil of tar in which will absorb a
considerable portion of the vapour; the uncondensed vapour from B
passes by the pipe B, compartment G, and pipe C' into the oil of tar
in the vessel C, the uncondensed vapour from which passes out by the
pipe C², compartment G³, and pipe D' into the vessel D, and any air
and uncondensed vapour that may pass out by the pipe D is permitted

page_text: to escape through the opening E* into the atmosphere. This opening E*
in the top of the valve F serves to enable a judgment to be formed as to
when one of the three vessels for the time being in use as absorbers
should be cut off from the rest, and a fresh one substituted for it.
It will be evident that if any considerable quantity of naptha vapour
be found escaping by the aperture E*, the absorbing power of the
apparatus for the time being may be considered as insufficient; there-
upon assuming the parts to be in the positions shewn in Fig. 2, and the
naptha previously contained in the vessel A to have been distilled, the
valve F should be raised so that the lower edges of its divisions shall
clear the upper ends of the pipes A', A³, B', B³, C¹, C³, D', D³, then the
valve should be turned to the extent of a quarter of a revolution, and
again lowered, whereupon the vessel B will be cut off from communi-
cation with the other three vessels, the terminal of the pipe A* will be
in the compartment G of the valve, and the chamber A will be in
communication by its pipe A' and the compartment G³ of the valve
with the pipe D' and chamber D. The cocks or valves K, N, are to be
closed, and the cocks or valves of the pipes I and L are to be opened,
and so on.
The perforated plates or divisions a may cach be formed in two or
more parts, so as to be capable of withdrawal, if needful; they are for
the purpose of diffusing the vapour. O, O', 0, 0³, are cocks or valves
for cleaning purposes.
Fig. 4 shews another form of apparatus designed to carry out my
Invention; in this case the oleaginous absorbent is caused to meet the
vapour from the spreading machine in the form of drops. P is a cistern
containing oil or oleaginous substance to be used for absorbing the
naptha vapour, and the said oil or oleaginous absorbent is fed by a
pipe Q (regulated by a cock Q') through roses Q into the upper portion
of a series of chambers R. The end of the pipe Q over the chambers R
is bent in the form of a ring to accommodate the requisite number of
roses. The chambers R contain coke or pieces of brick or other such
like
porous material for diffusing the oil or oleaginous absorbent. His
the pipe leading from the evaporating chamber of the spreading
machine.
The naptba vapour to be condensed is propelled by a suitable pump
holown stated a steam int at the and of the

page_text: pipe answering very well, and enters the lower chamber R', passing up
through the perforated plates R* and through the pieces of coke, brick,
or other material in the chambers so as to meet the oil or oleaginous
absorbent as the latter descends in drops or particles. The oil or
oleaginous substance charged with condensed naptha passes out by the
pipe S into any suitable receiver ready for distillation. Any vapour
reaching the upper part of the top chamber R, and any air mixed with
such vapour, will escape by the exit pipe T.
Fig. 5 shews an arrangement of apparatus wherein the oleaginous
absorbent is caused to meet the vapour from the spreading machine in
the form of spray; in this case the pipe Q from the oil reservoir P passes
down into the pipe H leading from the evaporating chamber of the
spreading machine, and the pipe Q terminates in a horizontal part Q³
provided with a nozzle Q Concentric with the pipe Q and its hori-
zontal part Q is a steam supply pipe U communicating with any
suitable boiler or source of steam supply. The horizontal part U¹ of
this steam pipe does not quite reach the base of the conical nozzle Q*.
The nozzle Q' is concentric with the pipe H, which is in direct communi-
cation with the condenser M, as shewn. V is a receiver for the oil or
oleaginous substance charged with condensed naptha; T is an escape
opening for air, et cætera. The naptha vapour drawn from the evapo-
rating chamber of the spreading machine in the direction of the arrow
by the action of apparatus U, U', Q, Q³, Q', after passing the nozzle Q'
meets the oil or oleaginous absorbent projected by the steam jet from
the nozzle Q, the intermingled steam, oil, or oleaginous substance and
naptha vapour pass on towards and through the coil of the condenser,
condensation of the vapours and absorption of the naptha by the oil or
oleaginous substance taking place as they proceed, and the oil or
oleaginous substance and naptha being collected in the receiver V may
be separated by distillation in any suitable still.
It will be obvious that the number of vessels or chambers charged or
fed with oleaginous absorbent, as herein-before described, and the forms
of the said vessels may be varied to suit circumstances without departing
from the distinctive character of my Invention.
It will be also understood that the requisite heat for separating the
naptha from the absorbing substances may be obtained by applying heat
from furnaces to the still externally, and that I use steam only as the
most convenient way of applying heat.

page_text: Having described the nature of my said Invention, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I desire to have it
understood that I do not intend to claim any parts of the apparatus
herein-before shewn and described when taken separately and apart from
the combination or application thereof, in manner and for the purposes
herein described; but what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the method, substantially as herein-before
described with reference to the accompanying Drawings, of recovering
by the use of oils or oleaginous absorbents naptha evaporated in the
process of applying india-rubber to fabrics.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Barrow, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.