Improvements in the Preparation or Treatment of Silk, Wool and like Fibres.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation or Treatment of Silk, Wool and
like Fibres.
I, CHARLES HENRY, of 2, Rue de Beauvais, Paris, France, Professor do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is a well known fact that plants have no inherent heat, whilst animals need
to maintain a constant heat or temperature which is always more or less superior
to the temperature of the atmospheric air. It is noteworthy that the silk which
surrounds the silkworm during the conversion of the chrysalis into a butterfly,
as well as the wool found under the fur of animals, are electrifiable by friction.
Flax, hemp, cotton which are vegetable on the contrary, are not electrifiable.
When the bare skin of a rabbit is exposed to the action of electric breath" it
will be seen that its temperature is rapidly lowered whilst the cutaneous vapori-
sation is increased. I have compared the cooling velocity of a thermometer raised
to a comparatively high degree of heat and then brought into a comparatively cool
atmosphere, (L) when the bulb of said thermometer was surrounded with a bag
made of ordinary silk; (2) when the same bulb was surrounded with an identical
bag made of silk which is previously prepared in accordance with my process.
In the second case I have found a much more ready cooling than in the first case.
The dilation of the air produced by raising the temperature results in the elec-
trisation of the silk or the wool obtained by friction; by discharging themselves
these materials produce electric breath" the effect of which is to lower the tem-
perature. Reciprocally, it may be shewn that the contraction of the air pro-
duced by a lowering of the temperature has for effect to produce electric dis-
charges between the electrised silk and the air from which results in an elevation
of the temperature. Consequently, by reason of these electric properties, the silk
tends to increase in temperature the instant it is exposed to cold, and vice versa,
to decrease in temperature when it is exposed to heat. Therefore the di-electri-
sation of wool and silk may be advantageously utilised for securing the constancy
of the temperature.
..
The silkworm, the sheep and mammiferous animals generally maintain more
readily their constant temperature by reason of the di-electric qualities of their
coating. It must therefore be apparent that the increase of the di-electric quali-
ties of said materials for hygienic purposes is very important.
Silk being ordinarily negative when subjected to friction by the skin or the
air, it is necessary to incorporate in it a di-electric material which is also nega-
tive under the same conditions. Otherwise the electricity produced by the incor-
porated material subjected to such friction would neutralise the electricity pro-
duced on the parts which are not prepared. Gun cotton being the most negative
insulating substance, I combine it with silk in the state of a solution of collo-
dium in Hoffmann's ether, amyle acetate, acetone, methylic alcohol, and the
like, or in the state of a solution of celluloid.
The tissues thus treated are capable of producing sparks of a length of 15
centimetres by friction, which may be easily seen in a dark room.

page_text: My invention consists in the treatment of silk and of wool and like fibres with
the guncotton solution, as above described, which confers upon these materials
the hygienic property of preserving the normal temperature of the body, when
used as clothing. In the case of silk, cutaneous evaporation is increased, while,
in the case of wool, there is an increased resistance to the passage of heat, its
positive electrical properties being neutralised by the negative electrical proper-
ties of the said dressing. Tissues so treated may be washed without detriment to
these qualities and are in no way deteriorated, either in regard to wear or appear-
ance, by the dressing in question.
Dated this 6th day of October 1899
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 33, Cannon Street, London, E.C.
Improvements in the Preparation or Treatment of Silk, Wool and
like Fibres.
I, CHARLES HENRY, of 2, Rue de Beauvais, Paris, France, Professor do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to the treatment of silk wool and like fibres with a gun-
cotton dressing and its object is to utilise the electrical properties of these sub-
stances with a view to enhancing their hygienic value as materials for clothing
the human body. The silk, wool or the like so treated maintains the bodily tem-
perature at a uniform degree of heat, having a cooling tendency in hot weather
and a heating tendency in cold weather.
My process consists in combining gun-cotton with silk or wool and like fibres
and I effect this by impregnating the silk or wool with a solution of collodion or
a solution of celluloid. The dissolvent used may be ether (preferably Hoff-
mann's) amyle acetate, acetone, methylic alcohol, or the like.
A solution is made consisting of 1 part of gun-cotton (octonitric cellulose) or
of celluloid, in 100 parts of Hoffmann's ether (a mixture of alcohol and sulphuric
ether) or any other suitable solvent. Or 1 part of tetracetate of cellulose may be
dissolved in 100 parts of nitrobenzine. (The proportions are by weight.)
of the above solutions forms the required dressing to be applied to the
material.
دو
Either
The process of applying the "dressing" is a well-known one. The material to
be treated is made into a roll either of a loose fibrous material or as a fabric,
according to the purpose for which it is designed. This roll is immersed in a
cylinder filled with the solution. The roll is turned round several times in this
bath, and the cylinder is then emptied by means of a tap provided for that pur-
pose. The material is taken out, unrolled and left to dry.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
A process. of treating silk or wool or like fibres with a solution of collodion or
of celluloid as and for the purpose above described.
th: 6th Jan of T... 1000
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 33, Cannon Street, London, F.C.