Improvements in the Process of and Apparatus for Bleaching and Treating Fibrous Materials and Fabrios.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Process of and Apparatus for Bleaching and
Treating Fibrous Materials and Fabrios.
We, EUGENE CADORET and ALOYS JOST, both of Crefeld, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved process of, and apparatus for, bleaching,
dyeing, removing gummy matters from, heating, washing, scouring, and the like, all
kinds of woven fabrics, threads, skeins, cops, wadding, and the like, or other substances
either natural or artificial, by the simultaneous use of a vacuum and of compression,
combined with the introduction or discharge of a liquid or gaseous body operating
in a medium either hot or cold, liquid or gaseous.
The improved process depends upon the principle that a liquid or gas injected
into the pores of any substance penetrates more completely into such substance if
it meets no elastic medium in its course, and consequently if all gaseous medium
or substance (such as air or other fluid by which a material is impregnated) is
eliminated, the liquid or the gas will readily take the place of the latter, and if such
liquid or gas possesses special physical or chemical properties it will impregnate
every fibre of the inaterial, in which the presence of such properties will remain
perceptible. If then it is desired to drive out these penetrating principles by the
pressure of liquid or gas, it will be easy to do so without danger of objectionable
traces, resulting from the separation of certain of these principles, remaining
permanent. Thus for instance, to render our intention as clear as possible, suppose
that we desire to impregnate a compact woven fabric with a solution of any hypo-
chlorite. By means of a vacuum we can readily effect the impregnation, but it will
never be possible by a vacuum alone to entirely expel the solution, for in the
experimental conditions under which the industry is carried on it is impossible,
whatever the system used, to create a perfect vacuum and under such conditions it
will be practically impossible to drive out all traces of the chlorine. If, however,
when a certain relative vacuum is obtained the latter is destroyed by the sudden
admission of a liquid or gaseous mass under pressure, the element previously
irremoveable, will be driven forcibly out. It is this alternative use of a vacuum
and of compression, produced in a special medium and in the order hereinafter
pointed out, which constitutes the improved process forming the subject of our
present invention.
The apparatus for use in our system includes as essential parts, a boiler or
vessel of suitable metal or material, (according to the purpose for which it is
destined), and clothed, if it is constructed of metal, with a non-conducting
covering to prevent the loss of heat. This vessel or boiler is connected by means
of pipes with a blowing engine or other machine by which a vacuum and compression
can be simultaneously produced. Two pipes are also provided for the introduction
of liquids or of gases, one being placed at the upper part, and the other at the lower
part, of the vessel or boiler. Finally, a spiral coil arranged at the bottom of
the vessel allows the heating or cooling of the substances contained in the latter.
The apparatus consists therefore of a metal vessel covered with a non-conducting
material, and capable of resisting without injury the external pressure when a
vacuum is formed in it, and also an internal pressure of several atmospheres, its
upper part being closed by a cover hermetically attached to it by an indiarubber

page_text: ring and suitable bolts. This cover is moveable, and can be raised and lowered or
taken from place to place as required by a ring fixed in it, and it is fitted with a
cock for the admission and discharge of gases, and with a pressure gauge. A
spiral pipe or coil in its upper part, perforated with holes, is connected directly
with the engine by which the vacuum and compression are obtained, and is
provided with a branch by which when a vacuum has been formed in the vessel a
liquid can be caused to flow from the upper part of the latter upon the substances
placed inside it. A pipe may also be arranged provided with a cock or valve and
communicating at its upper end with the inlet pipe and coil just described, whilst
its lower end extends to the bottom of a cistern or tank arranged below the
vessel, any liquid in which can therefore be raised and discharged into the vessel.
The vacuum is obtained in the vessel or boiler by connecting the upper part of
the latter with the pumping engine by a pipe, and a glass gauge shows the quantity
of liquid introduced into the vessel. A transverse platform open or perforated
with holes, is fitted in the lower part of the vessel near the bottom, and serves to
carry the materials to be treated, and below it is arranged a pipe or coil by which
the contents can be heated or cooled. Lastly, at the bottom of the vessel is fixed
a pipe provided with a regulating valve, which dips into the cistern or tank below
already described, or which may be connected when desired with generators of
suitable gaseous compounds or volatile liquids.
It will easily be understood that if any substance is placed in the vessel, which
it is desired to impregnate with a liquid for example, it is sufficient to fix the cover
and to place the pipe in the upper part of the vessel in communication with the
air pump so as to produce a vacuum, and when the latter bas obtained the desired
degree, to open either the cock in the lower pipe which descends into the
cistern, or the cock which communicates between the said cistern and the pipe
leading to the perforated coil in the cover (all the cocks being ordinarily kept
closed), and the liquid in the lower cistern will re-enter the vessel either at its lower
or at its upper part.
If, on the other hand, it is desired to force a liquid or a gas into the vessel, the
cock or valve in the pipe communicating between the perforated coil in the cover
and the blowing engine is opened, and compression is effected in the vessel. By
opening the valve or cock in the lower pipe, the liquid is discharged from the vessel
into the cistern below.
The improved system allows the movements to be obtained in succession and
continuously, as may be desired, and it consists of a development and practical
application to industrial purposes, of the displacement apparatus used in chemical
laboratories, in which a liquid or a gas is raised by means of a vacuum and is
then driven back by compression. A hot or cold liquid may therefore be made to
circulate under the action of the pump, which serves to introduce the said liquid to,
or to withdraw it from, the materials which are being submitted to treatment.
addition of intermediate reservoirs between the vessel and the pump allow the effects
produced by pressure or vacuum to be varied.
The
From the description given above, it will be easily understood that the improved
system and apparatus are capable of almost infinite application to the bleaching,
dyeing, and other treatment described of woven fabrics or other substances.
Dated this 30th day of April 1891

page_text: Improvements in the Process of and Apparatus for Bleaching and
Treating Fibrous Materials and Fabrics.
We, EUGENE CADORET and ALOYS JOST, both of Crefeld, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, and accompanying drawing, that is
to say :-
This invention relates to an improved process of, and apparatus for, bleaching,
dyeing, removing gummy matters from, heating washing, scouring, and the like, of
all kinds of woven fabrics, threads, skeins, cops, wadding, and the like, or other
substances, either natural or artificial, by the simultaneous use of a vacuum and of
compression, combined with the introduction or discharge of a liquid or gaseous
body operating in a medium either hot or cold, liquid or gaseous.
The improved process depends upon the principle that a liquid or gas injected
into the pores of any substance penetrates more completely into such substance if it
meets no elastic medium in its course, and consequently if all gaseous medium or
substance (such as air or other fluid by which a material is impregnated) is
eliminated, the liquid or the gas will readily take the place of the latter, and if
such liquid or gas possesses special physical or chemical properties it will impregnate
every fibre of the material, in which the presence of such properties will remain
perceptible. If then it is desired to drive out these penetrating principles
by the pressure of liquid or gas, it will be easy to do so without danger of
objectionable traces, resulting from the separation of certain of these principles,
remaining permanent. Thus for instance, to render our intention as clear as
possible, suppose that we desire to impregnate a compact fabric with a solution of
any hypo-chlorite. By means of a vacuum we can readily effect the impregnation,
but it will never be possible by a vacuum alone to entirely expel the solution, for
in the experimental conditions under which the industry is carried on it is
impossible, whatever the system used, to create a perfect vacuum and under such
conditions it will be practically impossible to drive out all traces of the chlorine.
If, however, when a certain relative vacuum is obtained the latter is suddenly
destroyed by the sudden admission of a liquid or gaseous mass under pressure, the
element previously irremoveable, will be driven forcibly out. It is this alternative
use of a vacuum and of compression produced in a special medium and in the order
hereinafter pointed out which constitutes the improved process forming the subject
of our present invention.
The apparatus for use in our system includes as essential parts, a boiler or vessel
of suitable metal or material (according to the purpose for which it is destined)
and clothed, if it is constructed of metal, with a non-conducting covering to prevent
the loss of heat. This vessel or boiler is connected by means of pipes with a
blowing engine or other machine by which a vacuum and compression can be
simultaneously produced. Two pipes are also provided for the introduction of
liquids or of gases, one being placed at the upper part and the other at the lower
part of the vessel or boiler. Finally, a spiral coil arranged at the bottom of the
vessel allows the heating or cooling of the substances contained in the latter.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of our invention, and represents a
vertical section of the apparatus, which consists, therefore, of a metal vessel A.
covered with a non-conducting material, and capable of resisting without injury the
external pressure when a vacuum is formed in it, and also an internal pressure of

page_text: several atmospheres, its upper part being closed by a cover hermetically attached
to it, by an indiarubber ring D and suitable bolts. This cover is moveable and
can be raised and lowered or taken from place to place as required by a ring K
fixed in it, and it is fitted with a cock J for the admission and discharge of gases,
and with a pressure gauge B. A spiral pipe or coil I in its upper part, perforated
with holes, is connected directly (by the pipe S and valve S¹) with the engine by
which the vacuum and compression are obtained and is provided with a branch by
which when a vacuum has been formed in the vessel a liquid can be caused to flow
from the upper part of the latter upon the substances placed inside it. Or, a pipe
Qmay be arranged provided with a cock or valve S" and communicating at its
upper end with the inlet pipe and coil I just described, whilst its lower end extends
to the bottom of a cistern or tank C arranged below the vessel, any liquid in which
can therefore be raised and discharged into the vessel.
The vacuum is obtained in the vessel or boiler by connecting the upper part of
the latter with the pumping engine by a pipe Z, and a glass gauge V shews the
quantity of liquid introduced into the vessel. A transverse platform E, open or
perforated with holes, is fitted in the lower part of the vessel near the bottom and
serves to carry the materials to be treated, and below it is arranged a pipe or
coil H by which the contents can be heated or cooled. Lastly, at the bottom of
the vessel is fixed a pipe F provided with a regulating valve G, which dips into
the cistern or tank below already described, or which may be connected when
desired with generators of suitable gaseous compounds or volatile liquids.
It will easily be understood that if any substance is placed in the vessel which it
is desired to impregnate with a liquid for example, it is sufficient to fix the cover
and to place the pipe Z in the upper part of the vessel in communication with the
air pump so as to produce a vacuum, and when the latter has attained the desired
degree to open either the cock G in the lower pipe which descends into the cistern,
or the cock S" which communicates between the said cistern and the pipe leading
to the perforated coil in the cover (all the cocks being ordinarily kept closed), and
the liquid in the lower cistern will re-enter the vessel either at its lower or at its
upper part.
If, on the other hand, it is desired to force a liquid or a gas from the vessel, the
cock or valve S' in the pipe communicating between the perforated coil in the
cover and the blowing engine is, opened and compression is effected in the vessel.
By opening the valve or. cock G in the lower pipe, the liquid is discharged from
the vessel into the cistern C below.
The improved system allows the movements to be obtained in succession and
continuously, as may be desired and it consists of a development and practical
application to industrial purposes of the displacement apparaius used in chemical
laboratories, in which a liquid or a gas is raised by means of a vacuum and is then
driven back by compression. A hot or cold liquid may therefore be made to
circulate under the action of the pump, which serves to introduce the said liquid
to, or withdraw it from, the materials which are being submitted to treatment.
The addition of intermediate reservoirs between the vessel and the pump allow
the effects produced by pressure or vacuum to be varied.
From the description given above, it will be easily understood that the improved
system and apparatus are capable of almost infinite application to the bleaching,
dyeing, and other treatment described, of woven fabrics or other substances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The method of bleaching, dyeing, removing gummy matters from, heating,
washing, and scouring, all kinds of fabrics, threads, skeins, cops, wadding, and
other fibrous substances, whether natural or artificial, by means of apparatus
consisting of a vessel having a removeable cover, an internal platform, and pipes
and valves suitably arranged, by which a suitable liquid can be made to circulate,

page_text: by means of exhausting and compressing pumps through the vessel, substantially as
described and illustrated.
2. The simultaneous use of a vacuum and of pressure, in the apparatus described
and claimed in Claim 1, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
and illustrated.
Dated this 17th day of January 1895.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.