Improvements in the Preparation of Fibre for Textile and other Purposes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 13th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 16th Aug., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Fibre for Textile and other
Purposes.
I, THOMAS HONYWOOD, of Courtenay House, the Causeway, Horsham, in the
County of Sussex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FIBRE FOR TEXTILE AND OTHER PURPOSES
to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates to the production of fibre adapted for textile purposes from
the stems of the common Nettle (Urtica Dioica) and allied species, and other plants.
I separate the bark together with the bast from the woody fibre and-then prefer to
macerate it in cold water for a few days, or I sometimes proceed to the next step
without such maceration, after which I then boil it in a mixture of one or more of
the following ingredients viz. a solution of soap jelly with or without the addition of
lime water or milk of lime, borax, soda, or potash rinsing the fibre in hot or cold
water repeatedly and repeating the boiling in the same or a modified solution as
often as may be required until the outer bark and extractive matter are removed and
the fibre thoroughly cleansed, after which I rinse it until it is free from the chemicals
and then dry it, preferably in the open air or in the sun.
T: 7th day of October 1886
THOMAS HONYWOOD.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Fibre for Textile and other
Purposes.
"
I THOMAS HONYWOOD, of Courtenay House, the Causeway, Horsham, in the
County of Sussex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FIBRE FOR TEXTILE AND OTHER PURPOSES
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the production of fibro adapted for textile purposes from
the stems of the common Nettle (Urtica Dioica) and alied species, and other plants.
I separate the bark together with the bast from the woody fibre of the recently
gathered stems by any of the known machines or processes, and then prefer to
macerate it in cold water for a few usually 7 to 14 days, or I sometimes proceed to
the next step without such maceration after which I then boil it in a mixture of
soap jelly and lime water, which I prefer to use of about the strength and proportion
hereinafter described, rinsing the fibre in hot or cold water repeatedly and repeating
the boiling in fresh quantities of the same solution or similar solution made stronger
or weaker in either one or both of its constituents as may appear desirable as often
as may be required until the outer bark and extractive matter are removed and the
fibre thoroughly cleansed after which I rinse it until it is free from the chemicals
and then dry it, preferably in the open air or in the sun.
I prepare the soap jelly by boiling say 1 lb. of soap in 4 gallons of water and of
the jelly so formed I use about 2 oz. to each gallon of solution to be used for boiling
the fibre.
The lime water I prepare in the usual manner making the solution as nearly
saturated as conveniently may be, and of such lime water I use about one pint to
each gallon of the solution to be used for boiling the fibre.
The first boiling should be continued until the solution has taken up a considerable
proportion of the vegetable matter other than the fibre, and has consequently become
rather deeply colored green, which may occupy about an hour more or less, I then
rinse the fibre freely in plenty of clean water to remove as much of the partly
dissolved and detached vegetable matter as can be got away, and then wring it out
and put it into a fresh quantity of the soap jelly and lime water solution, and
repeating the process usually 3 or 4 times until the fibre is obtained clean and bright.
I wish it to be understood that I am aware that soap combined with soda potash
borax and some other analogous substances has been used in the separation of such
fibre from its matrix and I do not claim the use of such known combinations nor
do I claim the use of lime and soap jelly separately, but I have found that by the use
of soap jelly combined with lime water as described I am able to separate cleanse and
bleach the fibre without the use of a complicated series of baths and chemicals and
without the use of chlorine or similar bleaching agents by which the texture
and strength of the fibre is liable to be injured.

page_text: Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be carried into practical effect I claim
1. The use of a solution of soap jelly and lime water for the purpose of separating
the fibre contained in nettles (Urtica) and allied species and plants of a similar
character substantially as herein before described and set forth.
2. Obtaining a fibre suitable for textile and other purposes from plants of the nettle
tube and similar plants by boiling the outer coverings stripped off the woody portion
of the stems in a solution comprised of soap jelly and lime water substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and set forth.
Dated the Thintranth den of T 1007