CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING oz RECOVERING THE WOOL FROM COTTON AND WOOLLEN OR OTHER SIMILAR MIXED FABRICS, WHEREBY THE WOOL IS RENDERED CAPABLE OF BEING AGAIN EMPLOYED
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Aldred, of Manchester, Bleacher,
Richard Fenton, of Prestwich, Waste Dealer, and William
Crone, of Salford, Fent Dealer, all in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING
oz RECOVERING THE WOOL FROM COTTON AND WOOLLEN OR OTHER
SIMILAR MIXED FABRICS, WHEREBY THE WOOL IS RENDERED
CAPABLE OF BEING AGAIN EMPLOYED."
Sealed the 27th January 1854, and dated the 12th August 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William
Aldred, Richard Fenton, and William Crone at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the
12th August 1853.
We, WILLIAM ALDRED, of Manchester, Bleacher, RICHARD Provi
Speci
FENTON, of Prestwich, Waste Dealer, and WILLIAM CRONE, of
Salford, Fent Dealer, all in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEPARATING OR RECOVERING THE WOOL FROM COTTON AND
WOOLLEN OR OTHER SIMILAR MIXED FABRICS, WHEREBY THE WOOL IS
RENDERED CAPABLE OF BEING AGAIN EMPLOYED," to be as follows:-

page_text: Our Invention relates to the recovery of the wool or animal
fibre from any woven fabrics, either old or new, wherein the wool
is mixed with cotton, flax, or other vegetable fibre. Our Inven-
tion consists in destroying all the vegetable fibre by means of
mineral acid or gas, and afterwards neutralizing and extracting
the said acid or gas, so as to leave the wool in a fit state. to-be
again carded and spun. The process by which we effect the said
object is as follows:-The mixed goods or fabrics are first to be
immersed in a bath containing a solution of any mineral acid, or
combination of mineral acids, or they may be submitted to the action
of the vapor or gas evolved from such acid or acids. They are
then to be exposed to a high temperature. The goods are then
to be washed in lime water in order to neutralize the acid or
or gas,
and are subsequently to be washed in urine or ammonia, and dried.
The cotton or vegetable will then be found to be entirely de-
stroyed, and all traces of the mineral acid or gas to be removed
from the wool or animal fibre. It is merely inccessary then
pass the wool through a machine for opening the fibres of the same,
and removing therefrom the dust remaining after the destruction
of the cotton or vegetable fibre. The wool is thien in a fit state
to be again carded, spun, and woven.
then to
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said William Aldred, Richard Fenton,
and William Crone in the Great Seal. Patent Office on the
11th February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,
we, WILLIAM ALDRED, of Manchester, Bleacher, RICHARD FENTON,
of Prestwich, Waste Dealer, and WILLIAM CRONE, of Salford,
Fent Dealer, all in the County of-Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of August, in
the year of our Lord.One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three,]
in the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs
and successors, give and grant unto us, the- said William Aldred,

page_text: Richard Fenton, and William Crone, Her especial license that we, S
the said William Aldred, Richard Fenton, and William Crone,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others' as we,
the said William Aldred, Richard Fenton, and William Crone,.
our 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING OR
RECOVERING THE WOOL FROM COTTON AND WOOLLEN OR OTHER SIMILAR
MIXED FABRICS, WHEREBY THE WOOL IS RENDERED CAPABLE OF BEING
AGAIN EMPLOYED," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said William Aldred, Richard Fenton, and William Crone, or one
of us, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals,
or under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what mai
ner the sanic 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 J, the said William Crone, do hereby
declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what-manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say):
Our Invention of certain improvements in separating or re-
covering the wool from cotton and woollen or other similar'
mixed fabrics, whereby the wool is rendered capable of being
again employed, relates to: the recovery of the wool or animal
fibre from any woven fabrics, old gr. new, wherein the wool or
animal fibre is mixed with cotton, flax, or other vegetable fibre.
Our Invention consists in destroying all the vegetable fibre by
means of mineral acid or gas, and afterwards neutralizing and
extracting the said acid or gas, so as to leave the wool or animal
fibre in a fit state to be again carded and spun. The process-by
which we effect the said object is as follows: The mixed goods
or fabrics (or those composed of both animal and vegetable fibre)

page_text: are first to be immersed in a bath containing a solution of any
mineral acid, or combination of mineral acids, such as the
sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric, or any other acids which are
peculiar to the mineral kingdom, or they may be submitted to the
action of the vapor or gas evolved from such acid or acids. They
are then to be exposed to a high temperature. The goods are
then to be washed in lime water in order to neutralize the acid or
gas, and are subsequently to be washed in urine or ammonia, and
dried. The cotton or vegetable will then be found to be entirely
destroyed, and all traces of the mineral acid or gas to be removed
from the wool or animal fibre. It is merely necessary then to
pass the wool through a suitable opening and cleaning machine
for opening the fibres of the same, and removing therefrom the
lust (which may be shaken out) remaining after the destruction
of the cotton or vegetable fibre. The wool is then in a fit state to
be again carded, spun, and woven, or is in a fit state to be again
employed or used.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and
the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I would
remark, in conclusion, that we claim as of our Invention the above
particularly described process of separating or recovering the wool
from cotton and woollen or other similar mixed fabrics, by the
destruction of the vegetable fibre or material by the agency of
mineral acid or acids, or by the gas or vapor evolved from such
acid or acids, and whereby the wool or animal fibre is left intact,
and almost in its original state, and thus rendered capable of being
again employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Crone, have hereunto-
set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
WILLIAM CRONE. (L.S.)