IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND BLEACHING TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Kay, of Busby, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Bleacher, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING
AND BLEACHING TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.”
Sealed the 20th December 1859, and dated the 26th September 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Kay at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th September 1859.
I, RICHARD KAY, of Busby, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PREPARING AND BLEACHING TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows, that is to
say:
This Invention relates to a simple and effective arrangement of machinery
for steaming or preparing and bleaching textile fabrics and materials, together
with an improved mode or system of working the same. The arrangement
consists of two open chambers or vessels, the smaller one, the bottom of which
is level with the top of the other and larger one, contains the necessary
bleaching liquor, which is heated by a steam pipe. From this vessel a pipe

page_text: conducts the heated bleaching liquor into the open top of the larger chamber.
This chamber has a solid bottom convex externally, and above this is a per-
forated or false bottom having a large central hole in it. Over this hole is
placed a central vertical steam pipe of large diameter, standing up to near the
top of the chamber. This pipe is fitted on its top or upper end with an
adjustable valve, on or over which is a spreading cap or convex shield piece.
Another steam pipe opens into the bottom of this vessel so as to fill the space
between the false and real, bottoms. In commencing to bleach with this
apparatus, the goods to be treated are deposited in the vessel upon the false
bottom, and the valve on the top of the central steam pipe being closed, the
steam is restrained from escaping in that direction, but passes through the
false bottom directly into the mass of goods. The steam is shut off from the
goods when the latter are properly steamed, and a quantity of hot bleaching
liquor is then allowed to run into the vessel upon the goods. The valve on
the top of the internal central pipe is then opened and the steam is readmitted
beneath the goods. The bleaching liquor supplied to the goods flows down
through them, and fills the space beneath the false bottom, and the readmitted
steam enters into the liquor collected at this part, and forces it up the central
pipe against the interior of the top cap or spreader above the valve. This
causes a constant current of hot liquor through the mass of the goods, for as the
fluid forced up descends again through the goods it again reaches the space
beneath the false bottom, and is again forced up, and so on.
In this way the
bleaching liquor is made to act in a most energetic manner upon the goods.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Kay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
March 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
KAY, of Busby, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Bleacher, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year
of
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Kay, Her special license that I, the said Richard
Kay, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Richard Kay, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should

page_text: 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND BLEACHING TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMYLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Richard Kay, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Kay, do hereby 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to a simple and effective arrangement of
machinery for steaming or preparing and bleaching textile fabrics and materials,
together with an improved mode or system of working the same. The
arrangement consists of two open chambers or vessels, the smaller one, the
bottom of which is level with the top of the other and larger one, contains the
necessary bleaching liquor, which is heated by a steam pipe. From this vessel
a pipe conducts the heated bleaching liquor into the open top of the larger
chamber. This chamber has a solid bottom convex externally, and above this
is a perforated or false bottom having a large central hole in it. Over this
hole is placed a central vertical steam pipe of large diameter, standing up to.
near the top of the chamber. This pipe is fitted on its top or upper end with
an adjustable valve, on or over which is a spreading cap or convex shield piece.
Another steam pipe opens into the bottom of this vessel so as to fill the space..
between the false and real bottoms. In commencing to bleach. with this
apparatus the goods to be treated are deposited in the vessel, upon the false,
bottom, and the valve on the top of the central steam pipe being closed, the
steam is restrained from escaping in that direction, but passes through the
false bottom directly into the mass of goods. The steam is shut off from. the
goods when the latter are properly steamed, and a quantity of hot bleaching
liquor is then allowed to run into the vessel upon the goods. The valve on
the top of the internal central pipe is then opened' and the steam is readmitted
beneath the goods. The bleaching liquor supplied to the goods flows down

page_text: through them and fills the space beneath the false bottom, and the readmitted
steam enters into the liquor collected at this part, and forces it up the central
pipe against the interior of the top cap or spreader above the valve. This
causes a constant current of hot liquor through the mass of the goods, for as
the fluid forced up descends again through the goods it again reaches the
In this
space beneath the false bottom, and is again forced up, and so on.
way the bleaching liquor is made to act in a most enerjetic manner upon the
goods.
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in preparing and
bleaching textile fabrics and materials may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of
showing certain modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously
carried out in practice, that is to say :-
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a partially sectional
elevation of one modification of my improved apparatus for preparing and
bleaching textile fabrics and materials; Figure 2 is a transverse sectional plan
of the same.
The vessel A in which the bleaching operation is effected is the ordinary iron
"kier," which is of a cylindrical figure; the ends are convex, the upper part
having an opening for affording access to the interior of the kier. The
opening at the upper part of the kier is closed during the bleaching operation
by means of the cover B. At the lower part of the kier the pipe Centers;
this pipe is connected to the vertical steam pipe, the passage of which is
controlled by the cock D. Branching off from the pipe C, in a lateral
direction, is a secondary pipe E, which has fitted to it the cock F; the branched
pipe thus serves the two purposes of conveying steam to the interior of the kier
and of carrying off the used or impure bleaching liquor therefrom. At the
lower part of the kier is fitted the false bottom G; this is made of cast iron in
two parts, which fit the cylindrical portion of the kier, and rest upon short
feet cast on the under sides. The false bottom G has rectangular or other
shaped openings formed in it to admit of the passage of the steam and
bleaching liquor through it, a large aperture being also left at the centre, to the
margin of which is bolted the pipe H. The pipe H is of a conical figure at
the lower end, above which part it is cylindrical; the pipe extends upwards
nearly to the top of the kier, and above the height to which the piece goods
are placed therein. Above the pipe H is arranged the concave cap or
spreader I, which is supported upon short screwed uprights fitted into snugs
cast on the exterior of the pipe H. Through the centre of the cap I there is

page_text: passed a screwed spindle J, the lower end of which is attached to the valve K;
the
upper
end of the valve spindle is fitted with a hand-wheel or is made square
to receive a box-ended key by means of which the valve is raised from 'or
screwed down upon its seat. The goods after being passed through the
washing machine are run through a quantity of liquor into the kier in the
usual manner, the several pieces being in consecutive layers around the central
pipe H until the pile of goods L, reaches the desired height in the kier. The
cover B of the kier is placed on, and the valve K is screwed down so as to
close the upper end of the pipe H. The steam is now turned on by the cock
D, so as to pass down the pipe C, and upwards through: the false bottom G,
permeating and moistening the goods in its upward progress. When the
goods have been thoroughly saturated in this manner, the steam is turned off,
the cover B is lifted off, and the valve K is raised by means of its key or hand-
wheel, the cover is replaced; and the goods are ready to receive the bleaching
liquor. Contiguous to the kier A is arranged a "back" or reservoir M for holding
a supply of the bleaching liquor, which may consist of a solution of caustic soda
or other chemical ingredient, according to the nature of the goods or materials
to be operated upon. The bleaching liquor is supplied to the back M by the
pipe N, and the contents of the back are kept up to the boiling temperature by
means of steam which is admitted through the pipe O. The boiling liquor is
conveyed into the kier by means of the pipe P, the passage of which is
controlled by the cock Q. A sufficient quantity of bleaching liquor is run
into the kier to cover the goods or materials, the air within the kier being
allowed to escape by means of the cock R. The cock Q is now shut and the
steam turned on, by which means the boiling of the bleaching liquor is
immediately renewed. The boiling liquor now flows up the pipe H, and
impinges forcibly against the valve K and the cap I, so as to be scattered in a
shower over the surface of the goods or textile materials.
As the liquor
percolates through the goods it descends through the false bottom to be again
carried up the pipe H, and in this way a constant circulation of the boiling
liquor is carried on. After boiling a sufficient length of time, the steam is
turned off, and the liquor is run off by the pipe E; upon the
removed the goods are ready for being taken out of the kier. The bleaching
liquor may either be returned to the back M, if fit to use again, or be allowed
to run to waste. In this manner goods or textile materials may be bleached
with superior effect and economy, at the same time the system of operation
ensures the goods being properly and most effectively subjected to the action of
the bleaching liquor, and so prevents the discolouration of the upper pieces,
which commonly occurs with the ordinary apparatus.
cover B being

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for. preparing and bleaching textile fabrics and materials, as herein-before
described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of preparing and bleaching textile fabrics and
materials in the manner and with the aid of the apparatus herein-before
described and shown in the accompanying Drawings..
Third, the application to and use in bleaching apparatus of a valve or any
equivalent therefor applied to the upper or any other suitable part of the
central pipe in the kier or bleaching vessel, for the purpose of closing the pipe
when required, as herein-before described and delineated in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Kay, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty.