AN IMPROVED APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION OF SUBSTANCES INTO MATERIAL FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND TEXTILE PURPOSES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hanham Collyer, of Beta House, 8, Alpha
Road, St. John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, M.D., Ph.D., F.C.S.,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE
CONVERSION OF SUBSTANCES INTO MATERIAL FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER
AND TEXTILE PURPOSES."
Sealed the 30th August 1864, and dated the 12th March 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Hanham Collyer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th March 1864.
I, ROBERT HANHAM COLLYER, of Beta House, 8, Alpha Road, St. John's
Wood, in the County of Middlesex, M.D., Ph.D., F.C.S., do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS AND PROCESS
FOR THE CONVERSION OF SUBSTANCES INTO MATERIAL FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
PAPER AND TEXTILE PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention consists in the conversion and mode of treating
materials for the manufacture of paper and other similar uses. For this
object I employ a cylindrical machine or apparatus, which is so constructed
that the superheated steam or hot air is conveyed uniformly and distributed to
the body or mass of the materials. To effect this a series of pipes or tubes
are placed round and inside the said cylindrical machine; these are perforated
with small holes. The pipes may be placed at various distances from the
internal periphery of the machine, which revolves on gudgeons or fixed hollow
i

page_text: trunnions in which is placed a slot at the under side, through which the steam,
superheated or not, or hot air, is supplied to the radial pipes as they revolve at
the lower portion of the gudgeons. The radial pipes are fixed into the nave,
which is attached to the discs or end pieces; these discs also support the
longitudinal pipes which supply the machine with steam. The machine
revolves in a trough about from three to four feet deep; this trough may be
made circular, having an opening for the doorway of the cage; this trough
may be turned over, and also form a covering for the cage; in this alkali may
be introduced, and by the revolution of the machine the materials will be
thoroughly saturated with it; the trough may also be used to wash at the
various stages of the alkaline treatment as required.
The machine may be covered in by an external vessel having cocks at the
bottom and a cover at the side, as shown in my Patent dated January 1st,
1863, No. 1. The machine may be covered with wire or any other perforated
material, so as to admit the materials under treatment being showered by the
perforated pipes placed above the machine, and in communication with the
alkaline and water tanks or reservoirs, also when revolving in the tank or
trough below which collects all excess of liquor from said shower pipes, as the
case may be. The process consists, in brief, in charging the machine with the
raw materials. The trough may be charged directly or through the medium of
the shower pipes above the machine with a weak alkaline solution, say 1° or 2°
Twaddle's hydrometer, the depth of the liquor being about one foot or so.
The machine is allowed to revolve some three or four times, after which the
steam is turned on, which evaporates the superfluous liquor after some
twenty or thirty minutes, the material being kept moist by the water or
alkaline shower as the particular case will suggest. After one hour and a
half the alkali will have combined with the resinous matters, and the gummy
substance will have been dissolved by the water; then the trough is kept
full by the shower pipes with water, the excess running off carrying away the
resinous, colouring, and gummy matters; this washing process is kept up for
about half an hour, or until the liquor runs off clear ; I now allow the steam
which I prefer to superheat to at least 400°, to operate alone until such time
as to evaporate all excess of moisture, and render the material comparatively
dry. In this state it readily absorbs the concentrated alkaline liquor, which
I now shower over it for about one hour or so, the time in each case depending
on the nature of the materials under treatment. When this is completed and
the materials are thoroughly cooked, I remove the extraneous matters by
deluging the materials with a heavy shower of water, keeping the trough filled
until the excess of water runs off clear.

page_text: My machine may in some cases be used in a closed vessel with high-
pressure steam, but I prefer in all cases to use it without pressure, as it is
much more manageable, more convenient, and more efficacious in a practical
point of view.
When my machine is used for the preparation of fibres for textile manu-
facturing purposes, it will be necessary to have wire or other divisions, so as
to confine the said fibres so as to prevent their becoming entangled.
My process effects a saving in the alkali, the bleach, in the time and fuel
over the present methods in use, and the "half-stuff" produced is of a much
superior quality.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Hanbam Collyer in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th August 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
HANHAM COLLYER, of Beta House, 8, Alpha Road, St. John's Wood, in the
County of Middlesex, M.D., Ph.D., F.C.S., send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Hanham Collyer, Her special licence that I, the said
Robert Hanham Collyer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Robert Hanham Collyer, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION
OF SUBSTANCES INTO MATERIAL FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND TEXTILE
PURPOSES," upon
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert
Hanham Collyer, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their bands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Hanham Collyer, do bereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
The object of my Invention consists in the conversion and mode of treating
materials for the manufacture of paper and other similar uses, also to prepare
fibres for textile fabrics. To obtain these results I employ by preference a
cylindrical machine to be so constructed that the steam, which I prefer to
superheat to at least 400° Fahrenheit, or hot air, or both combined, may be
conveyed uniformly, and distributed to the body or mass of the material under
treatment. To effect this a series of pipes or tubes are placed round and
inside the said machine; these are perforated with small holes. The said
pipes may be also placed at various distances from the internal periphery of
the machine. The number and distance of these pipes from the internal
periphery should be increased in accordance with the diameter of the
machine. The machine revolves slowly on gudgeons or fixed hollow trunnions;
in these are placed a slot on the under side, through which the steam, super-
heated or not, is conveyed to the radial pipes as they revolve at the lower
portion of the gudgeons, corresponding with the slot, port, or steam way;
these radial pipes are fixed into the nave or boss, which is bolted on to the
discs or end pieces of the machine. These discs also support the longitudinal
pipes, which supply the machine with steam from the radial pipes. The
machine is covered with wirework or some other perforated or reticulated
substance. The machine revolves in a trough or external receptacle, say
from 3 to 4 feet deep, or in accordance with the size of said machine, so that
the lower half of the machine may be immersed in the hot alkaline liquor or
hot water when necessary. This trough may be made circular, having an
opening for the doorway of the machine; in this trough alkaline liquor may
be introduced directly or through the medium of the shower pipes, and on the
machine revolving the material contained therein will be saturated with the
liquor collected in said trough; the trough may be used to wash the materials
wben required. On the internal periphery of the machine bucket arrange-
ments may be made running the whole length of the machine; these will
carry up the alkaline liquor or water, and distribute it to the material.
The machine may be covered in by an external vessel having cocks at the
bottom and a cover at the side, as shown in my Patent dated January 1st
1863, No. 1.
My improved machine or apparatus is represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
ليم

page_text: Fig. 1, side view.-A, wire of the caged machine; D, radial pipes;
I, trough or external vessel in which the machine revolves; L, pinion or
worm; M, worm wheel or spur.
Fig. 2, end view.-D, D, D, D, D, radial pipes; I, tank, trough, or
external vessel.
Fig. 3, longitudinal section.-A, wire covering; B, hollow trunnion; C,
slot or steam way; D, D, D, D, radial pipes; E, E, E, E, E, longitudinal
pipes; G, steam supply pipe; M, driving wheel.
Fig. 4, transverse section.-C, slot port or steam way; I, trough.
Fig. 5, actual size of internal steam pipes E, showing perforations or
apertures for steam.
Fig. 6, showing trunnion, nave, radial pipes, slot.
My process may be described as follows:-
The machine having been filled with the material to be treated, rotatory
motion is communicated to it. I now charge the trough, directly or through
the medium of the shower pipes, with a hot caustic alkaline solution, with
materials as rags. I prefer a solution of from 1° to 3° Twaddle's hydrometer,
the trough being charged so that at least one-third of said machine is
immersed in the hot liquor; the machine is allowed to revolve until such time
so as to ensure the material being well saturated, the steam having been
turned on immediately after charging the trough with the alkaline liquor.
When the materials have been sufficiently acted on by the hot alkaline
solution I allow the excess to run off into reservoirs to be used again in
another operation. The superheated steam is now allowed to act on the
materials sufficient time to evaporate superfluous liquor, after which a gentle
shower of hot water is poured on the material, gradually increasing the
quantity of such water until an excess runs off, and continue this for about
one hour, more or less, in accordance with the nature of the material under
treatment. The dark colored liquor which runs off carries away the siliceous,
resinous, gummy, coloring, or other extraneous matters from the fibre. I now
turn on a full shower of hot water, and commence the washing operation,
which I continue until the refuse liquor runs off clear. If necessary, this
entire operation may be repeated with increased strength of alkaline liquor or
not, as each particular case will suggest. In washing the trough should be
charged with the hot water. When, however, the materials are of a stubborn
and hard nature, as straw, jute, cane, maize, esparto, and the like, I first
thoroughly clean them from all dust and dirt, and may commence the operation
by the use of a concentrated hot alkaline solution, that is, eight ounces or over
of caustic alkali to the gallon of water; or at times I may employ a saturated

page_text: solution. When the hot concentrated alkaline solution has thoroughly
saturated the entire mass of the material, which is effected by causing the
machine to revolvo a few times (that is, when the trough is charged with the
solution, so that over one-third of the machine is immersed in it,) I then
allow the excess of alkaline liquor or solution to run off into a separate
reservoir to be used in other operations, or extracted by pressure in another
receiver prior to steaming. The concentrated alkaline liquor may be first
brought to a boiling condition in a separate reservoir before being introduced
into the trough in which the machine revolves; this will materially accelerate
the process, for with about from 2 to 6 revolutions of the machine the material
will be sufficiently saturated for the steaming and subsequent treatment with
hot water. The material may first be immersed in the reservoir of hot alkali,
then pressed, and afterwards steamed in the cylindrical machine, as described,
or otherwise.
When the process or operation has to be repeated the superheated steam is
allowed to act alone for some time on the material prior to the second alkaline
treatment.
When hot air is used in combination with the steam, I prefer to introduce
it by suitable pipes inside the trough and under the caged machine. The air
is conveyed by a blowing machine through heated pipes, as is well understood.
I do not confine myself in any instance to the time required, or to the
strength of the alkaline solution to be used, as each different material presents
its own peculiar characteristics, and necessitates its own particular mode of
treatment. Even the same material constantly differs in quality.
The operator must be governed in each case by the attendant circum-
stances which arise, and which cannot be anticipated, as to the time required
and the strength of alkali to be employed.
The great simplicity and manageableness of the process will soon render
the operator an expert in each particular case.
When wood is treated it must be first finely disintegrated in the direction
of the fibre; in fine, all fibres are treated with much greater facility if they
are first opened out by submitting them to the action of rollers running at
different speeds prior to the alkaline treatment.
My machine and process may be used for the treatment of fibres for textile
fabrics; in that case it will be necessary to confine the material in the
machine by suitable wirework or perforated or reticulated substance, so as to
prevent them from becoming entangled.
My machine and process may in some cases be used in a closed vessel or
receptacle with high-pressure steam, but I prefer it at all times without

page_text: pressure, as being more efficacious, more manageable, and more convenient
in a practical point of view.
By this process a much superior article is produced in much or less time;
also a great saving of chemicals than is ordinarily employed.
My process is applicable to other manufacturing and useful purposes, as the
extraction of the active principle for plants for medicinal uses, or from hops,
malt, and others, in these cases using hot water or such other hot agents as
max bo moquisite
My process is applicable to other
anurac
purposes, as the
extraction of the active principle for plants for medicinal uses, or from hops,
malt, and others, in these cases using hot water or such other hot agents as
may be requisite
CLAIMS.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the process or processes substantially as described.
Second, the submitting the material to a hot bath of alkaline liquor prior
to the steaming or the use of hot air or both.
Third, the use of concentrated alkaline solutions for the treatment of fibres,
for the purposes substantially as described.
Fourth, the arrangement and construction of the machine or apparatus as
described and shown in the Drawings.
Fifth, the use of a slot or port, so arranged as to communicate steam to
the under pipes of the caged machine, in the manner substantially as
described.
Sixth, the use of a trough in connection with a caged revolving machine
for the purposes substantially as described and shown in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Hanham Collyer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
ROB. H. COLLYER.
(L.S.)