Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of
this invention 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 processes and apparatus for bleaching textile and other
fabrics, tissues and materials by electrolysis.
It is the purpose of my invention to provide an electrolytic process in which the
electrolyte employed is sea-water which contains naturally the several re-agents
necessary in suitable proportions, so that I can produce better results. at less
expense and in less time than has heretofore been practicable, and can secure, also,
a substantial uniformity of results in a series of bleaching operations.
In this electrolytic bleaching process one step according to my invention consists
in agitating the fluid in which the fabrics, tissues or materials are treated, by air or
other gases so as thoroughly to distribute the bleaching agents and force them into
intimate contact with the materials, to increase the production and action of ozone
resulting from the electrolytic decomposition of the water and from the presence of
atmospheric oxygen in the electric field, the oxydizing power of the ozone, in the
presence of chlorine, aiding materially in expediting and perfecting the bleaching
process.
It is also an object of my invention, to provide an apparatus for electrolytically
bleaching, in which the free circulation of a volume of air or other gas, can be
applied to produce agitation of the fluid and loosening of the fabrics, tissues, fibres
or other material undergoing treatment, this air or part of it being if desired
caused to traverse the electric field, thus aiding decomposition producing oxygen
and ozone, and forming an oxygenated compound of chlorine which possesses
increased bleaching power, without detriment to the substances operated upon.
I provide also a novel form and construction of electrode for use in an
electrolyzing apparatus, such that the corrosive action of the generated gases do
not affect the parts to which the conductors are attached; and I provide simple
[Price &

page_text: means whereby the products of electrolytic decomposition are employed in their
nascent states.
Thus my invention consists in the method or process hereinafter explained and
in the apparatus about to be described arranged in a convenient form by which the
process can be carried into effect, as I shall describe referring to the accompanying
drawing, shewing a convenient form of apparatus.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation.
Figure 2 is a detail view, of one of the electrodes removed from the apparatus.
Figure 3, is a partial vertical section, shewing a modified construction of
electrodes.
Figure 4 is a detail view of one form of the air discharge.
In the said drawing 1, indicates a vat or tank of any suitable form and material.
Within this vat I arrange electrodes 2 and 3, 2 being the positive electrode,
preferably, of platinum, and 3, the negative electrode usually made of carbon. In
order to utilize both surfaces of the positive electrode 2, I prefer to place it between
two branches of the negative electrode 3, as shown in Figure 3. I may employ,
however, electrodes of any other kind and of any approved material.
From one end of each electrode projects a terminal 4 preferably, though not
necessarily, integral with the electrode. To these terminals are attached preferably
by soldering the conductors, or cable-wires 5 and 6, the jointing being covered by
any material capable of resisting the corrosive action of the products of the
electrolysis, it may be for example, gas proof paint, paraffine, adhesive tape, or
other suitable material. The wires are led through elastic plugs 7 in the side or
end of the vat as shewn in Fig. 1. The wires 5 and 6 are connected to the
terminals of a storage battery 8, or other source of electricity the storage battery
being preferred on account of its easy regulations to suit the requirements of any
particular case.
The negative electrodes 3 are perforated with small holes 9 at intervals for
the passage of the gases generated.
10 indicates an air pipe which may be wholly or partly of glass, hard rubber, or
other material capable of resisting the action of the electrolyte, or of the products
of electrolytic action. It leads to a perforated discharging terminal 12. Obviously
the air pipe 10 instead of entering the vat from the top may pass through the side,
or the bottom.
The pipe 10 is connected with a fan 13 or other air forcing apparatus so that air
forced through the contents of the vat maintains agitation which promotes the
action. Mechanical agitators may also be used instead of or in addition to the air
discharge.
The terminal 12 or a terminal of suitable form may be in some cases be inserted
between the electrodes 2 and 3. In operating with this apparatus the vat 1 being
charged with sea water in its natural state and the fabrics, fibres, tissuses, or
materials to be operated upon being placed therein, the circuit of the battery or
other source of electricity is closed. Electrolysis thereby established causing
such decomposition of the fluid and if the positive pole be of platinum or plated
with platinum causing liberation of ozone by decomposition of the water to be
increased so that an oxygenated chlorine compound is formed which possesses
marked bleaching qualities. Probably also, the production or action of the ozone
may be more or less increased by the introduction of the air currents in such
manner that by traversing the field between the poles it may undergo certain
reaction.
Instead of sea-water solution of rock-salt, or of sea-salt of substantially the same
density as sea water may be employed.
I am aware that bleaching processes have been practised, in which chlorine has
been liberated froin solutions of chloride of inagnesium by electrolysis, and I make
no claim to such process.
It may be found convenient to use more than one group of electrodes, especially
in large vats.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not claim broadly the electrolysis of sea-water in a bleaching process but
I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The herein described process of bleaching by subjecting fabrics fibres or other
like materials to the action of the products of electrolysis in an electrolyte of sea-
water, or equivalent salt solution, the electrolysis being effected by the use of electrodes
substantially of the kind described.
2. In the process of bleaching herein described forcing atmospheric air into the
electrolyte, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a bleaching apparatus, in combination with a vat, containing an electrolyte,
positive and negative electrodes arranged therein, a source of electric energy
connected therewith an air forcing device, and an air conduit, or tube, entering the
electrolyte, substantially as described.
4. In a bleaching apparatus, such as is above referred to arranging the positive
electrode between perforated branches of the negative electrode, and arranging the
air discharge to deliver the air into the body of the electrolyte, in such manner that
it shall traverse the electric field, substantially as described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.