A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING AND HEATING BUILDINGS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WINDING OF SILK FROM THE COCOON
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "A METHOD
OF CONSTRUCTING AND HEATING BUILDINGS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WINDING
OF SILK FROM THE COCOON."-A communication from Felix Rignon, of
Turin.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners. of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 2nd March 1857.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING AND HEATING BUILDINGS AND APPARATUS FOR THE
WINDING OF SILK FROM THE COCOON," (communicated to me by Felix Rignon,
of Turin, a foreigner residing abroad,) to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to permit of the winding or spinning of silk
from the cocoon under every condition of the external. atmosphere, in the
winter and in the plains, as efficiently as in the summer and in mountainous
districts. Those acquainted with the winding of silk are aware of the influence

page_text: the atmosphero exerts on the silk, and also of the superiority of silk spun in
mountainous countries over that spun in the plains.
Now, this Invention consists in fitting over the baths in which the cocoons
are placed bells or receivers, which communicate with the outside of the apart-
ment in which the winding is effected, and carry off the steam and evaporation
entirely, or the greater part thereof, arising from the baths. Also in fitting
the winding reels inside of glazed cases, into which heated air is admitted
through branch pipes, which rise from a main hot air pipe running under
all the cases. These pipes are provided with valves to regulate the admission
of the hot air, and the cases have also ventilators or valves fitted to them to
regulate its discharge therefrom. The heated air also serves to maintain any
desired degree of temperature in the body of the apartment. By the reels or
bobbins being caused to rotate to wind on the silk a rapid circulation of heated
air is caused in the cases, whereby the layers and threads of silk become dried,
and gumming together is prevented.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 "A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING AND HEATING BUILDINGS AND APPA-
BATUS FOR THE WINDING OF SILK FROM THE COCOON," (a communication from
Felix Rignon, of Turin ") upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Richard Archibald Brooman. my executors or administrators, by an

page_text: instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that:
is to say:-
The object of this Invention is to permit of the winding or spinning of silk
from the cocoon under every condition of the external atmosphere, in the
winter and in the plains, as efficiently as in the summer and in mountainous
districts. Those acquainted with the winding of silk are aware of the influenco
the atmosphere exerts on the silk, and also of the superiority of silk spun in.
mountainous countries over that spun in the plains.
Now, this Invention consists in fitting over the baths in which tho cocoons.
are placed bells or receivers, which communicate with the outside of the
apartment in which the winding is effected, and carry off the steam and
evaporation entirely, or the greater part thereof, arising from the baths. Also
in fitting the winding reels inside of glazed cases, into which heated air is.
admitted through branch pipes which rise from a main hot air pipe running
under all the cases. These pipes are provided with valves to regulate the
admission of the hot air, and the cases have also ventilators or valves fitted
to them to regulate its discharge therefrom. The heated air also serves to
maintain any desired degree of temperature in the body of the apartment.
By the reels or bobbins being caused to rotate to wind on the silk, a rapid
circulation of heated air is caused in the cases, whereby the layers and threads
of silk become dried, and gumming together is prevented.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed is a longitudinal sectional
elevation of a spinning factory constructed according to this Invention, with
the apparatus for heating the same fitted thereto; Figure 2 is a plan';
Figure 3 is a transverse section; Figure 4 is a view, in detail, of the valves
for regulating the temperature in the factory; and Figure 5 exhibits two views
of a clack valve which is employed in connection with this Invention. F, F,
are basins or baths which are placed near the middle of the factory, and in
which the cocoons are laid; E, E, are glass cases enclosing the winding reels;
G, G, are bells or receivers, the upper parts L, L, of which are formed of zinc
or other suitable material, and the lower part I, I, of glass. These receivers:

page_text: are placed immediately abovo the baths or basins F, F; H, H, are chimnies
or tubes, fitted to the top of tho .bells or receivers, and which convey the
vapour that escapes from the bath and, the room to the exterior of the building.
A, A, is the principal channel or tube for the passage of the hot air, which
,passes through the floor of the building to the lower part thereof, where it is
placed in. connection with a furnace or suitable apparatus for producing hot
air. .B is a tube in connection with the tube A, which is connected to branch
tubes C, C, terminating in conical ends D; D, which join smaller tubes d, d,
and these serve to heat the interior of the glass cases which contain the
winding reels; b, b, Figure 4, aro valves to regulate the temperature in tho
factory, or interior of the glass cases; a, seen in Figures 3 and 5, is a
clack. valve, which is employed in connection with the valves b, b, and which
regulates the admission of air into the glass chambers. This clack valve
when it is shut to the chimney prevents the hot air from ascending thereto,
and causes it to pass into the factory below the silk that is being wound.
(M is a room for sorting the cocoons). By this arrangement a rapid circula-
tion of hot air is obtained, and. constantly maintained in the interior of the
glass cases; the silk which is wound on the 'winders is always in contact with
air at a suitable temperature, so that a dry and glossy silk is obtained; the
factory is also kept at a proper temperature, which is much less than that of
the interior of the cases, so as not to be injurious to the health of the work-
people. The temperaturo both in the factory and the interior of the cases can.
be regulated at will by means of the valves b, b, b, placed in the principal
pipe A for the passage of the hot air.
Hitherto in factories where the work has been carried on in winter, in order
to get rid of the vapour which proceeds from the baths, it has been made to
traverse the building by pipes in connection with the main chimney. By this.
means a dry silk was never obtained, and the elasticity and tenacity were,
unequal, and consequently the silk produced did not possess the most essential.
qualities.
By the improved process before described, the winding may take place
when the exterior temperature is below zero, and as good a silk be produced
as when the winding takes place in summer.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First, the general arrangement of building and apparatus for winding or
spinning silk from the cocoon, herein-before described.
Secondly, the employment of bells or receivers, which communicate with
the exterior of the apartment in which the winding is effected for the purpose

page_text: of carrying off the steam and evaporation issuing from the baths, as herein-
before described, and represented in the Drawings annexed.
And, thirdly, the fitting of winding reels inside of glass cases, into which
heated air is admitted; in the manner herein-before described, and represented
in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this First day of September, Ono
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.S.)