IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WOOL, HAIR, FEATHERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ANIMAL MATTERS, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SIZE AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS THEREFROM
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Smith at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
November 1873.-Partly a communication from abroad by David
Melville, of Christiania, in the Kingdom of Norway.
I, ALFRED SMITH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF WOOL, HAIR, FEATHERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ANIMAL
MATTERS, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SIZE AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS THEREFROM," to
be as follows:-
The said Invention has for its object more particularly to utilize
woolen or hair waste, waste feathers, old carpets, and other mixed
fabrics containing wool or hair and other similar matters or materials.
When carrying the said Invention into effect such matters or
materials as aforesaid are placed within high-pressure kiers or boiling
vessels capable of withstanding a comparatively high internal steam
pressure, and are therein subjected to the combined action of water,
heat, and pressure, until the animal matters are reduced into an aqueous
solution, which may then be "run off" into suitable settling tanks or
receivers.

page_text: When artificially coloured animal matters of the description herein-
before indicated are treated as aforesaid, the aqueous solution will
contain the colouring matter, which may be recovered from the said
solution by filtration or precipitation, or by other suitable means.
Valuable dying matters, such for example as indigo, cochineal, and
madder may thus be recovered. Any oil or grease which may be
contained in or held by the matters treated as aforesaid will collect on
the surface of the said aqueous solution, and may be removed and
utilised. The remaining solution is suitable to be employed as a size,
or as a substitute for gelatine or gum, and may also be found to be
useful for other purposes; and to render the said solution more fit for
certain uses it may be purified or decolourised, and may in some or in
all cases be evaporated to a dry substance, which can be dissolved in
water when required. The said solution may also be employed as a
manure. When mixed fabrics or materials containing vegetable
material, such for example as cotton, flax, hemp, or jute, are treated
as aforesaid the animal matter dissolves as aforesaid and the vegetable
matter remains undissolved, and may be utilised as a paper material
or be otherwise utilised.
The vessel in which the solution of the said matters is effected may
be heated by means of heat externally applied, as for example by means
of an oil bath, or by means of internal steam coils or pipes, or by means
of steam admitted into the said vessel and permitted to act directly
upon the materials therein. In the last case the condensation of the
steam within the said vessel may furnish the water which is to aid in
effecting a solution of the said materials. It is preferred to provide
the said vessel with a false bottom, which is formed to act as a strainer,
and in case the direct action of steam is employed steam is admitted
below the said false bottom. When a solution is effected, or during the
operation, the solution can be drawn off from the lower part of the
vessel, the said false bottom retaining any matter or material not
dissolved.