IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING USEFUL PRODUCTS FROM OLD TARRED CORDAGE AND OTHER OLD FABRICS COMPRISING VEGETABLE FIBRES AND RESIN
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Boggett, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING USEFUL
PRODUCTS FROM OLD TARRED CORDAGE AND OTHER OLD FABRICS COMPRISING
VEGETABLE FIBRES AND RESIN."
Sealed the 13th June 1878, and dated the 15th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Boggett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1877.
WILLIAM BOGGETT, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman. "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING USEFUL PRODUCTS FROM OLD TARRED CORDAGE AND
OTHER OLD FABRICS COMPRISING VEGETABLE FIBRES AND RESIN."
All attempts to convert tar-impregnated vegetable fibres to profitable use for
making white paper or other white goods have heretofore proved fruitless.
Now the object of this Invention is to convert vegetable fibres containing tar,
such as old cordage, sacking, and other fabrics, into commodities which can be
profitably employed for manufacturing purposes, my improvements being carried
into practice as follows:-
In the first place the different kinds of materials are assorted according to the
purpose they are intended to serve; those for making paper, such as old sacking
and tarpaulins, are cut into pieces and put into hot water contained in a washing
machine to remove dirt and other impurities.
Cordage is treated with a view to the ultimate utilization of its fibres, and is
first cut into suitable lengths, then unlaid, and the yarn steeped for two hours in
water at a temperature of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
When cleansed by these means the fibrous materials are put into a strong solution
of caustic alkali for about two hours, more or less, at a temperature of 200 degrees
Fahrenheit or thereabouts, then steeping them in a fresh but weaker solution for the
same time and temperature as before, afterwards boiling them in a weaker solution
for one hour, and again boiling them in a still weaker solution for about another
hour, the materials being well washed and squeezed after each of the foregoing
our operations of steeping and boiling.

page_text: The far having been removed by the above processes, the fibrous matters are
dried (those intended for spinning) and passed through a teaser or other suitable
inachine for pulling them asunder, when they and those intended for paper are
ready for bleaching, for which purpose they are put into a strong solution of
chloride of lime, say, about eight ounces of the lime to two gallons of water for
every pound of the fibres, keeping them in the solution from 50 to 70 minutes, at a
temperature of about 135 degrees Fahrenheit; they are then well washed and put
into a weak solution of sulphuric acid (one pint of acid to ninety-gallons of water,
or thereabouts), for about one hour, after which they are well washed, and the
cordage fibies finally steeped in a strong mixture of soap and water at a tem-
perature of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The cordage fibres are then passed
through squeezing rollers, but not again washed. When dried they aic ready for
combing, the chief part being suitable for spinning and weaving, the residue, as
well as the products of old sacking, being convertable into paper of good quality.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Boggett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th June
1878.
"
WILLIAM BOGGETT, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman.
JM-
PROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING USEFUL PRODUCTS FROM OLD TARRED CORDAGE AND
OTHER OLD FABRICS COMPRISING VEGETABLE FIBRES AND RESIN."
All attempts to convert tar impregnated vegetable fibres to profitable use for
making white paper, or other white goods, have heretofore proved fruitless.
Now the object of this Invention is to convert vegetable fibres containing tar,
such as old cordage, sacking, and other fabrics, into commodities which can be
profitably employed for manufacturing purposes, my improvements being carried
into practice as follows:-
In the first place the different kinds of materials are assorted according to the
purpose they are intended to serve; those for making paper, such as old sacking
and tarpaulins, are cut into pieces and put into hot water contained in a washing
machino to remove dirt and other impurities.
Cordage is treated with a view to the ultimate utilization of its fibres, and is
first cut into suitable lengths, then unlaid, and the yarn steeped for two hours in
water at a temperature of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
When cleansed by these means the fibrous materials are put into a strong solution
of caustic alkali for about two hours, more or less, at a temperature of 200 degrees
Fahrenheit, or thereabouts, then steeping them in a fresh but weaker solution for
the same time and at the same temperature as before, afterwards boiling them in
a weaker solution for one hour, and again boiling them in a still weaker solution
for about another hour, the materials being well washed and squeezed after each of
the foregoing four operations of steeping and boiling.

page_text: The tar having been removed by the above processes, the fibrous matters
are dried (those intended for spinning) and passed through a teaser or other
suitable machine for pulling them asunder when they and those intended for paper
are ready for bleaching, for which purpose they are put into a strong solution of
chloride of lime, say, about eight ounces of lime to two gallons of water for every
pound of the fibres, keeping them in the solution from 50 to 70 minutes at n
temperature of about 135 degrees Fahrenheit; they are then well washed and put
into a weak solution of sulphuric acid (one pint of acid to ninety gallons of water,
or thereabouts), for about one hour, after which they are well washed, and the
cordage fibres finally steeped in a strong mixture of soap and water at a tem-
perature of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The cordage fibres are then passed
through the squeezing rollers, but not again washed. When dried they are ready
for combing, the chief part being suitable for spinning and weaving, the residue, as
well as the products of old sacking being convertable into paper of good quality.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I make no claim to the
process of bleaching above mentioned, but what I claim is, the improved method
of expelling or discharging the tar or resinous matters from the above-named
materials, so as to obtain useful products therefrom, substantially in the manner
and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Boggett, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM BOGGETT. (LS.)