Improvements in the Treatment of Vegetable Textile Fibres for the Manufacture of Yarns and Fabrics.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1892-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Vegetable Textile Fibres for the
Manufacture of Yarns and Fabrics.
I, FELIX VICTOR MAX RAABE, otherwise called Max Raabe, of 5 Copthall
Buildings, in the City of London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in the treatment of vegetable
textile fibres to prepare them for being manufactured (alone or with other raw
materials) into yarns and fabrics of superior qualities which improvements are
based upon those described in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated
August 18 1885 No. 9811. The improved process hereinafter described is
especially suitable for the treatment of those fibres covering the stalks of fibrous
plants which ordinarily are not employed in the production of superior goods owing
to their inferior quality and to the necessity for special treatment to render them
suitable for such purposes.
Now by this invention such textile fibres can be made suitable for the production
of superior goods, and fit to compete successfully with raw materials of a superior
description at present in the market, especially such as what is known as cotton
waste. The treatment of the textile fibres according to this invention is as
follows:-
The fibres are treated in a solution of alkali mixed with urine. Soda is
a suitable alkali, because it is cheap; but other alkalies will answer the purpose.
Suitable proportions for a bath to be used in carrying out my invention are
5 lbs. (English weight) of soda (or similar alkali), 500 gallons of water, and
12 gallons of urine for every 60 lbs. of fibre to be treated. In the mixture of
alkaline solution and urine the fibres are boiled. The boiling can conveniently be
effected in an apparatus such as is represented in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings, Fig. 1 being a plan, and Fig. 2 an end view. 1 is a vat that may
advantageously be of wood built up in pieces held together by plates, tie-bolts and
nuts as shown. This vat the internal dimensions of which may be about 8 ft.
long x 3 feet deep x 4 feet wide, is provided with a ledge or support 2 and
cross bearer 2 for a perforated false bottom 3 that may be of copper; the
perforations may be 6 inch diameter and the distance between their centres
1 inches. 4 is a steam inlet pipe terminating in two branches 4* located between
the two bottoms and perforated laterally. 5 is an outlet also between the two
bottoms.
Figs. 3 and 4 show a vat the internal dimensions of which are 8 ft. long × 8 ft.
wide x 1 feet deep. In this case the steam inlet pipe 4 terminates in three
laterally perforated branches 4ª. The vat shown in Figs. 1 and 2 would in
practice be charged with water to a height of about 2 feet and that shown in
Figs. 3 and 4 to a height of about 1 feet so that they would each contain about
500 gallons of water to which the above mentioned quantities of alkali, urine and
fibre are added.
It has been found in practice that by employing a solution of alkali mixed with
urine a valuable improvement is effected in the process described in the prior
Specification 98118 as the result aimed at is more economically and efficiently
effected.
As the fibres usually contain a good deal of dust and other impurities it is
advisable to pass them through a wimsy or shaker preparatory to the above
described boiling process. After boiling (for, say, 2 hours) in the above described
mixture, the fibre is removed therefrom, and then properly rinsed. This rinsing it

page_text: is desirable to effect in a longitudinal rinsing machine. Then the fibre is treated
in a hydro-extractor; and after this treatment the fibre is dried. It is advan
tageous to effect the drying by a powerful current or currents of hot air, taking
care that the air shall not be at a temperature so high as to carbonize the fibres o
render them brittle. A suitable temperature is about from 150 to 20 degrees
Fahrenheit.
After being thoroughly dried, the fibres are opened by means of a "shake-willey.
Such machines are well known. The machine employed should be such as
ordinarily used for breaking up and shaking wool previous to spinning. By using
such a machine the fibre will not be injured or reduced in length but will simply
be sufficiently broken up and softened to prepare it for being opened, divided, and
further freed from adhering impurities. For these purposes the fibre is now treated
in: a combined machine, comprising an opener of the type of a "Garnett" machine,
and a carding engine to which the fibre is fed from the said opener. Suitable
types of compound machines for carrying out my process are made by Klein and
Hundt of Dusseldorff, Germany, and by Celestin Martin of Verviers, Belgium.
The class of carding engine best adapted for this purpose is a double swifted one;
it must be provided with fine steel card clothing, which is best selected as follows,
namely:-
swift" and "workers," unstuffed clothing No. 24 steel wire.
doffer," unstuffed clothing No. 26 steel wire.
-
For the 1st
For the 1st
For the 2nd
<:
swift" and "workers," stuffed clothing No. 26 steel wire.
For the 2nd "doffer" stuffed clothing No. 28 wire.
However, as it is most difficult to properly cleanse the material, and as the
impurities are chiefly separated in the carding engine at the feeders and between
the swifts and doffers, it is still better to use a carding engine constructed with
more than two "swifts." Thus the carding engine may advantageously have three
swifts of moderate diameter; each of the first two swifts being provided with
three workers, and the third "swift" with four "workers."
In this case the following card clothing may with advantage be employed,
namely
-
For the 1st "swift," "workers" and "doffers" unstuffed clothing with No. 24
steel wire.
For the 2nd "swift," "workers" and "doffers" unstuffed clothing with No. 26
steel wire.
For the 3rd swift" "workers" and "doffers," stuffed clothing with No. 28
steel wire.
With this combination, without much increase in the cost of the machinery the
fibres can be more efficiently cleaned carded and split. To use these carding engines
in the most economical and advantageous manner it is necessary to have them
completely covered in with the exception of the last doffer and the places under-
neath the machines where the feeders and the doffers touch the swifts, to allow the
impurities to drop out of the material at these places; for this purpose it is
likewise necessary to bring the bands, carrying the workers strippers and fancy as
close as possible to the swift, in order to prevent the machine from throwing out
material at the sides.
To produce bleached vegetable wool, it is best to proceed with the bleaching
immediately after the above described chemical treatment. The bleaching can,
however, be effected after the drying process; but in this case it is advisable to
properly soak the material in warm water, before bleaching, in order to soften the
fibre and facilitate the bleaching.
It is desirable that the bleaching vats should be of only moderate depth, but of
large area in order to admit of the material being spread out. Suitable dimen-
sions in English measurement are 6 feet long by 6 feet wide, by 2 feet deep
(Figs 3 and 4).
It is to be noted that in carrying out this invention I do not limit myself to the
precise details above given in regard to proportions, dimensions, temperatures, andl

page_text: duration of each stage in the process since under some circumstances more or less
variation in these respects might be found advantageous.
Dated this 2nd day of Ma. 1901
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Vegetable Textile Fibres for the
Manufacture of Yarns and Fabrics.
I, FELIX VICTOR MAX RAABE, otherwise called Max Raabe, of 5 Copthall
Buildings, in the City of London, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention has reference to improvements in the treatment of vegetable
textile fibres to prepare them for being manufactured (alone or with other raw
materials) into yarns and fabrics of superior qualities which improvements are
based upon those described in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated
August 18th 1885 No. 9811. The improved process hereinafter described is
especially suitable for the treatment of those fibres covering the stalks of fibrous
plants which ordinarily are not employed in the production of superior goods
owing to their inferior quality and to the necessity for special treatment to render
them suitable for such purposes.
Now by this invention such textile fibres can be made suitable for the production
of superior goods, and fit to compete successfully with raw materials of a superior
description at present in the market, especially such as what is known as cotton
waste. The treatment of the textile fibres according to this invention is as
follows:-
The fibres are treated in a solution of alkali mixed with urine. Soda is a
suitable alkali, because it is cheap; but other alkalies will answer the purpose.
Suitable proportions for a bath to be used in carrying out my invention are
5 lbs. (English weight) of soda (or similar alkali), 500 gallons of water, and
12 gallons of urine for every 60 lbs. of fibre to be treated. In the mixture of
alkaline solution and urine the fibres are boiled. The boiling can conveniently be
effected in an apparatus such as is represented in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings
left with my Provisional Specification, Fig: 1 being a plan, and Fig. 2 an end
view. 1 is a vat that may advantageously be of wood built up in pieces held
together by plates, tie-bolts and nuts as shown. This vat the internal dimensions
of which may be about 8 ft. long, 3 feet deep, 4 feet wide, is provided with a
ledge or support 2 and cross bearer 2" for a perforated false bottom 3 that may
be of copper; the perforations may be inch diameter and the distance between
their centres 1 inches. 4 is a steam inlet pipe terminating in two branches 4"
located between the two bottoms and perforated laterally. 5 is an outlet also
between the two bottoms. Figs. 3 and 4 show a vat the internal dimensions of
which are 8 ft. long, 8 ft. wide, 14 ft. deep. In this case the steam inlet pipe 4
terminates in three laterally perforated branches 4ª. The vat shown in Figs. 1
and 2 would in practice be charged with water to a height of about 24 feet and
that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to a height of about 14 feet so that they would each
contain about 500 gallons of water to which the above mentioned quantities of
alkali, urine and fibre are added.
It has been found in practice that by employing a solution of alkali mixed with
urine a valuable improvement is effected in the process described in the prior
Specification No. 9811 as the result aimed at is more economically and efficiently
effected.
As the fibres usually contain a good deal of dust and other impurities it is
advisable to pass them through a wimsy or shaker preparatory to the above

page_text: described boiling process.
After boiling. (for, say, 2 hours) in the above described
mixture, the fibre is removed therefrom, and then properly rinsed. This rinsing
it is desirable to effect in a longitudinal rinsing machine. Then the fibre is treated
in a hydro-extractor; and after this treatment the fibre is dried. It is advantageous
to effect the drying by a powerful current or currents of hot air, taking care that
the air shall not be at a temperature so high as to carbonize the fibres or render
them brittle. A suitable temperature is about from 150 to 200 degrees
Fahrenheit.
After being thoroughly dried, the fibres are opened by means of a "shake-willey."
Such machines are well known. The machine employed should be such as
ordinarily used for breaking up and shaking wool previous to spinning. By
using such a machine the fibre will not be injured or reduced in length but will
simply be sufficiently broken up and softened to prepare it for being opened,
divided, and further freed from adhering impurities. For these purposes the fibre
is now treated in a combined machine, comprising an opener of the type of a
"Garnett" machine, and a carding engine to which the fibre is fed from the said
opener. Suitable types of compound machines for carrying out my process are
made by Klein and Hundt of Dusseldorff, Germany, and by Celestin Martin of
Verviers, Belgium. The class of carding engine best adapted for this purpose is a
double swifted one; it must be provided with fine steel card clothing which is best
selected as follows, namely:
For the 1st swift" and "workers," unstuffed clothing No. 24 steel wire.
For the 1st doffer "unstuffed clothing No. 26 steel wire.
For the 2nd swift" and "workers," stuffed clothing No. 26 steel wire.
For the 2nd "doffer," stuffed clothing No. 28 wire.
However, as it is most difficult to properly cleanse the material, and as the
impurities are chiefly separated in the carding engine at the feeders and between
the swifts and doffers, it is still better to use a carding engine constructed with
more than two "swifts." Thus the carding engine may advantageously have
three swifts of moderate diameter; each of the first two swifts being provided
with three workers, and the third swift" with four "workers."
In this case the following card clothing may with advantage be employed,
namely:
For the 1st "swift,"
," "workers" and "doffers" unstuffed clothing with No. 24
steel wire.
For the 2nd "swift," "workers" and "doffers" unstuffed clothing with No. 26
steel wire.
For the 3rd "swift," "workers" and "doffers," stuffed clothing with No. 28
steel wire.
With this combination, without much increase in the cost of the machinery the
fibres can be more efficiently cleaned carded and split. To use these carding
engines in the most economical and advantageous manner it is necessary to have
them completely covered in with the exception of the last doffer and the places
underneath the machines where the feeders and the doffers touch the swifts to
allow the impurities to drop out of the material at these places; for this purpose
it is likewise necessary to bring the bends, carrying the workers strippers and
fancy as close as possible to the swift, in order to prevent the machine from
throwing out material at the sides.
To produce bleached vegetable wool, it is best to proceed with the bleaching
immediately after the above described chemical treatment. The bleaching can,
however, be effected after the drying process; but in this case it is advisable to
properly soak the material in warm water, before bleaching, in order to soften the
fibre and facilitate the bleaching.
It is desirable that the bleaching vats should be of only moderate depth, but of
large area in order to admit of the material being spread out. Suitable
dimensions in English measurement are 6 feet long by 6 feet wide, by 2 feet
deep (Figs. 3 and 4).

page_text: It is to be noted that in carrying out this invention I do not limit myself to the
precise details above given in regard to proportions, dimensions, temperatures, and
duration of each stage in the process since under some circumstances more or less
variation in these respects might be found advantageous.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
.
1. The production of vegetable textile fibres prepared so as to be especially
suitable for the manufacture of yarns and fabrics, by
(a) Boiling them in a solution of alkali and urine mixed together;
(b) Rinsing the fibres so treated ;
(e) Treating the fibres in a hydro-extractor;
(d) Drying the fibres;
(e) Treating them in opening and dividing and cleaning machines such as
those above mentioned in the manner substantially as herein described.
2. The new and improved method of treating vegetable textile fibres
herein before described a bath composed of a boiling solution of alkali and urine
mixed together being employed in the manner and for the purposes mentioned.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1892,
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.Č., Agent for the Applicant.