IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF AND VERMIN-PROOF TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS OR MATERIALS, WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES A COMPOUND AND SOLUTION FOR THE SAME AND SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Harris Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1883. Communicated to
him from abroad by Daniel M. Lamb of the City and State of New York,
United States of America
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co, Patent Agents;
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
WATERPROOF AND VERMIN-PROOF TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS OR MATERIALS,
WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES A COMPOUND AND SOLUTION FOR THE SAME AND
SIMILAR PURPOSES":[a communication to him from abroad by Daniel M. Lamb
of the City and State of New York, United States of America]
This Invention relates to the manufacture of waterproof and vermin-proof textile
and other fabrics or materials and a compound or solution for the same and similar
purposes.
The said invention consists partly in combining with textile fabrics or other
materials either before, during the time of, or subsequent to the manufacture of
such fabrics, a certain compound hereinafter described, which will render the
fabrics so manufactured or treated waterproof, vermin-repellant and non-oxidizable,
and will give to the said fabrics more body and more elasticity or flexibility, and
render them capable of a better, more enduring and more brilliant finish, and in
every way produce a more desirable article than would be practicable without the
compound combined with them, as hereinafter described.
The said invention further consists in an improved compound and solution to be
used for this and for similar purpose.
In preparing the said compound and solutions I take, in the first place, paraffine
or any hydro-carbon substitute for paraffine, such as mineral wax, stearic acid or
bees-wax, with or without a hydro-carbon gum, such as india-rubber, gutta percha
or milk-weed gum, and dissolve each separately in any suitable hydro-carbon
solvent, such as naphtha, benzine, benzole or gasoline, but always using such
solvents as are about 072 specific gravity, more or less. Into this solvent I put
one quarter of an ounce, more or less, of hydro-carbon gum where the hydrocarbon
gum is used, and about two ounces, more or less, of the paraffine, mineral wax,
stearic acid or bees wax, to each gallon of the solvent. The hydro-carbon gum and
the paraffine should be reduced to small thin pieces, so as to facilitate the process of
[Price Adl

page_text: putting them in solution, and preferably should be dissolved separately in the
solvent. After they have been thoroughly dissolved and mixed, the solution is
trented with a gas or gases in the following manner, that is to say, I introduce for
each gallon of the solution, two ounces, more or less, of chloride of sodium, or
common salt, which is allowed to settle evenly at the bottom of the solution, and
immediately thereafter two ounces of sulphuric acid in such a manner as to allow
the sulphuric acid to settle down upon the salt, so as to set free the gas or gases,
which will rise up through the solution and act upon it. I repeat the introduction
of the common salt and sulphuric acid in the above quantities each twelve hours,
or twice a day, for from three to ten consecutive days.
It has been discovered that gas generated, as described,. (from common salt and
Bulphuric acid) under hydro-carbon oils, paraffine, and hydro-carbon gums, acts
directly upon the oils paraffine and hydro-carbon gums, bleaching, deodorizing and
curing the same.
The proportions hereinbefore given for the different materials that aro used to
form the solution, and also the materials that are employed to generate the gas or
gases may be varied for different purposes, the proportions herein given being
merely intended to serve as a general guide in conducting the operations.
The gas or gases above mentioned are introduced into the bottom part of the
fabricating vessel, and rise up through the mass of the compound under treatment
and attack all the sedimentary and mucilaginous portions of the compound, and
precipitate them to the bottom of the fabricating vessol, whence they may be drawn
off or the purified compound may be extracted from the top of the vessel. This
gaseous treatment is continued from about say three to ten days, more or less,
during which time the solution will be thoroughly bleached and rendered colorless,
or nearly so, and a completo chemical change will be effected in it. After the
sediment has been draun off or removed from the purified solution, the remaining
gas is eliminated from the compound by any suitable means. This may be
accomplished by allowing the mixture to stand a sufficient length of time to
discharge the gas, or the mixture or compound may be agitated by any suitable
mechanical contrivance, but I usually effect it by a powerful current of air driven
through the compound from the bottom to the top, using for this purpose some
suitable air compresser or blower conveniently located with reference to the
fabricating vessel, and connected therewith by means of suitable piping so arranged
within the fabricating vessel as to deliver the air current at or near the bottom of
the same, in order that the current may be driven up through the mass of the
compound, so as to carry off any gases, impurities or other foreign substances that
may be held in suspension in the solution. This agitation is continued for from
five to thirty minutes, or until the gas is removed from the compound, along with
all foreign substances or impurities that may be carried with it.
The manufacture and purification of this solution can best be conducted in such
a vessel as is ordinarily employed as, and termed, an "agitator" in coal oil refining
operations. After the agitation of the compound or elimination of the gas
therefrom, as above described, has been completed, the sediment should be again
drawn off, and then the solution or compound thoroughly freed from any residual
acid or gas, by treating it with a small quantity of caustic soda or ammonia, or
both, or with any suitable alkaline solution, either with or without the use of
water, to facilitate the washing or purifying process. During this process of freeing
the compound from any residual acid or gas, the compound is agitated by somo
suitable mechanical appliance, so as to throw up the alkaline solution into the
mass of the compound, and enable the alkaline solution to act upon all parts of the
compound, and thereby completely remove all adhering gas or acid.
After the purification of the compound has, been fully completed as above
described, the solution is retained in a tightly closed vessel, and for this purpose, if
left in the "agitator" or fabricating vessel, a cover should be provided therefor,
which will extend into a water chamber, so as to tightly seal the vessel and prevent
the evaporation of the solvent, which is exceedingly volatile.

page_text: The application of the compound to the fabrics or article to be treated may be
effected by means of a brush or sponge, but I prefer, in ordinary cases, where it is
practicable, to immerse the articles to be treated in a bath; in either case, the
articles treated (if they be textile or other light and portable materials) must have
all adhering moisture drained off or pressed out, and then the treated articles must
be gently dried in a closed room, at a temperature preferably kept at about 60° F,
and after the articles are so freed from moisture, the coating or material remaining
on the said articles must be thoroughly fixed and vulcanized or cured (preferably in
the same room in which they have been dried) by raising the temperature thereof
to about 180° F, more or less.
This high heat will thoroughly force the applied compound into and upon all of
the fibres, and give them the coating desired.