Improvements in the Manufacture of Guncotton and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1899.
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1900-Accepted, 23rd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Guncotton and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, ALFRED HOLLINGS, of 57, High Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Heretofore it has been the practice in nitrating cotton to place such cotton in
the acids in small quantities or parcels intermittently. This necessitates much
labour and the process is very slow.
The object of this invention is to subject the cotton to the usual acids em-
ployed in nitrating in a continuous, more expeditious, and uniform manner
than has been practicable hitherto; to prevent to a great extent fumes arising
from the acids; to afterwards readily and more completely free the said cotton
from the excess of acid taken up thereby; and to provide apparatus therefor.
For these purposes I form the cotton to be treated into a sheet or band com-
posed of several superposed layers or sheets thoroughly dried, most of the fibres
being preferably disposed longitudinally of the sheet. The sheet or band is
passed through a pair of rollers preferably arranged to put a slight pressure on
the band. Such band is then passed into a tank containing the acids and is
passed through such acids in the tank, preferably up and down or back and forth
round rollers, for a sufficient length of time for the cotton to become properly
nitrated. The rollers in the tank may be either driven or free. The band is
then passed through one or more pairs of rollers to press out any excess of acids
from the cotton and is finally passed to one or more pairs of rollers arranged to
open or separate the fibres so as to allow of washing out any remaining uncom-
bined acid by jets of water or other desired washing liquid or by immersion
in a tank of water or other liquid. If desired opening or separating rollers may
be interposed between the pairs of pressing rollers so as to open or separate
the fibres and facilitate the pressing out of the excess acids. The pressing
rollers may be, if desired connected to the rollers at the entrance to the tank
by gearing either variable or otherwise. The opening rollers are preferably
toothed or corrugated and are preferably caused to have a longitudinal motion
on their axes as well as a rotary motion so as to thoroughly separate the fibres
both longitudinally and laterally. The teeth are preferably arranged in right
and left hand helices from the centre so as to widen the band of nitrated cotton.
Further such rollers may be so arranged as to have differential surface speeds
which will also aid in separating the fibres of cotton.
The rollers in the tank are preferably made of glass and are formed hollow so
that they will float or nearly float in the acids, thereby greatly reducing friction
on the bearings. The bearings are preferably held in position by rods or the
like from the top of the tank. The rollers for pressing and for opening the
cotton are preferably formed of discs of glass bolted together on an axis or core.
The tank is provided with a cover made preferably in several sections. The
underside of such cover is preferably in contact with the acids in the tanks so

page_text: that air is excluded from the surface of such acids and thereby the formation of
fumes is prevented to a very large extent. Sufficient space is left at each end of
the tank or in the cover to allow entrance and exit of the band of cotton. A
division piece is preferably placed at the end of the tank to prevent any air
bubbles from the band of cotton mixing with the general body of the acids.
A convenient construction of cover consists in making the sections of dished
form, fitting within the tank and resting on ledges in the sides, the undersides
of the sections being immersed in the acids, and the ledges being so much below
the top of the sides that there will be little liability of overflow of acids.
T
th
T1000
Improvements in the Manufacture of Guncotton and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, ALFRED HOLLINGS, of 57, High Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompany-
ing drawings:-
Heretofore it has been the practice in nitrating cotton to place such cotton in
the acids in small quantities or parcels intermittently. This necessitates much
labour and the process is very slow.
The object of this invention is to subject the cotton to the usual acids em-
ployed in nitrating in a continuous, more expeditious, and uniform manner
than has been practicable hitherto; to prevent to a great extent fumes arising
from the acids; to afterwards readily and more completely free the said cotton
from the excess of acid taken up thereby, and to provide apparatus therefor.
I attain these objects by apparatus such as is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1, is a plan of the apparatus.
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section on the line A A on Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line B B on Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of one of the tank rollers and bearings.
For the purposes of my invention, and referring to the drawings, I form the
cotton to be treated into a band or sheet as at 2. The band is composed of
several superposed layers or sheets of fibres thoroughly dried, most of the fibres
being, preferably, disposed longitudinally of the band. 3 and 4 are a pair of
rollers between which the band of cotton 2 is passed. The rollers pressing on
the band slightly, grip it and pass it downwards into a tank 7 containing the
acids. The shafts 5, 6 of the rollers 3 and 4 are carried in bearings in the frames 8
and are connected by gear wheels 9 so that the rollers revolve together. The
roller 4 is provided with deep flanges 10 to prevent spreading of the band 2.
The band then passes through the acids in the tank in a zigzag direction.
preferably up and down round rollers 11 preferably flanged, and made of glass,
hollow, so that they will float or nearly so, so as to reduce friction in their
bearings 12 which can be slid up and down in dovetail guides 13 so that the
rollers 11 may easily be removed when desired. The bearings 12 reach to the top of
the tank as slides or rods so they they can be easily held in position by the cover
of the tank. From the last of the rollers 11 the band passes to pressing rollers 14
and 15 which press out any excess of acids from the cotton, such acids running

page_text: ack into the tank. The roller 15 is provided with flanges 16 to prevent spread-
ng of the band 2. The shafts 17, 18 of the rollers 14 and 15 are carried in
bearings in the frames 19. The speed of travel of the band is such that it is
mmersed in the acids for a sufficient length of time for the cotton to become
properly nitrated. If desired the rollers 11 may be driven by any convenient
means. The shafts of the rollers 14 and 15 are connected by gear wheels 20
so that the rollers revolve together. The shafts 5 and 17 are preferably geared
ogether by bevel wheel gearing 21 and 22 and a shaft 23 so that the rollers 3
and 4 revolve when the rollers 14 and 15 revolve. 24 is a driving pulley on the
shaft 23. The rollers 3 and 4 may be caused to rotate at a different speed to the
rollers 14 and 15 by varying the ratio of the bevel wheels as may be found
desirable according to the quality of the cotton, and if the band varies in length
in passing through the acids. Several pairs of pressing rollers similar to 14
and 15 may be used if desired instead of one pair. 25 and 26 are a pair of
toothed rollers between which the band 2 passes from the pressing rollers for
the purpose of opening and separating the fibres of the band so as to allow of
any uncombined acid, not removed by the pressing rollers, being washed out of
such band by jets of water or other desired washing liquid or by immersion
of the band in a tank of water or other liquid in any desired way; or, lengths
of the band may, after the fibres are separated, be placed in a hydro extractor to
extract the last of the acids. If several pairs of pressing rollers, 14, 15 are used
opening rollers like 25, 26 may be interposed between each pair if desired to
open the fibres and facilitate pressing out of the excess acids. The rollers 14, 15.
25 and 26 are preferably made of discs of glass pressed together by screwed
nuts 29 on the shafts of the rollers, and the circumference of the discs of the
rollers 25 and 26 is formed into teeth preferably arranged in right and left hand
helices from the centre so that the band in passing through is widened. The
shafts 27, 28 of the rollers 25 and 26 are carried in bearings in the frames 19 and
are connected by gear wheels 30 and preferably such rollers are, either by making
them of different diameters as shown, or by varying the ratio of the wheels 30
caused to have differential surface speeds which will assist in separating the
fibres of the cotton. The roller 26 is also caused to have a small reciprocating
motion longitudinally of its axis by means of a zigzag cam 31 secured to the
shaft 28 and engaging with a pin or roll 32 fixed to the frame 19. Any other
convenient device than a cam may however be used for this purpose. This
reciprocating motion, by means of the teeth on the rollers, together with the
rotary motion, effectively separates and opens the fibres of the band of cotton
both longitudinally and laterally so that any remaining uncombined acid may
Both rollers may, as
easily be removed by washing or otherwise as desired.
will be obvious, receive reciprocating motion in opposite directions if desired.
The shaft 27 of the roller 25 is driven from the shaft 23 by means of bevel
wheels 33. Several pairs of opening rolls similar to 25, 26 may be used if
desired one pair after another, when the band 2 is very dense. The tank 7 is pro-
vided with a cover 34 preferably made in several pieces as shown. The sides
of the tank near the top are recessed so as to form ledges 35 upon which the pieces
of the cover rest. The pieces may be dished as shown or they may be solid.
The level of the acids is maintained above the level of the underside 36 of the
cover so that air is excluded from the surface of the acids in the body of the
tank and the formation of fumes thereby prevented. The ledges 35 as so much
below the top of the sides of the tank that there is little liability to overflow
of acid. 37 is a narrow space between the pieces of the cover to allow entrance
of the band 2 into the tank and 38 is another space to allow exit of the band.
These spaces may be formed between the ends of the cover and the edges of the
tank if found more convenient. 39 is a division piece formed or secured in the
tank in any desired way near the space 37 so that the bubbles of air which escape
from the band of cotton during its travel through the acid to the first of the
rollers 11 are prevented from mixing with the general body of acid, and escape

page_text: through the space 37 thus obviating the formation of fumes. 40 is a pipe through
which acid may be supplied to replace that taken up by the cotton."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. In the manufacture of guncotton, nitrating the cotton by passing a con-
tinuous band of cotton fibres through nitrating acid in a tank substantially as
and for the purposes. set forth.
2. In the manufacture of guncotton the combination with a tank containing
the nitrating acid of means for passing a band of cotton fibres through the acids
in the tank in a continuous manner substantially as set forth.
3. In the manufacture of guncotton the combination with a tank containing
the nitrating acid of rollers to feed a band of cotton fibres into the acids in the
tank, rollers to press out excess acids from the band and means for rotating the
rollers substantially as set forth.
4. In the manufacture of guncotton the combination of rollers for feeding a
band of cotton fibres to the acids in a tank, rollers for guiding the band through
the acids, pressing rollers to press out excess acid and means for rotating the
feeding and pressing rollers substantially as set forth.
5. In combination with apparatus for nitrating a band of cotton fibres to form
guncotton, toothed rollers, at least one of which is movable longitudinally on its
axis to separate the fibres of the band, and means for driving and reciprocating
the rollers substantially as set forth.
6. In apparatus for nitrating a band of cotton fibres the construction of the
pressing and opening rollers of discs of glass pressed together by screwed nuts
or equivalent devices substantially as set forth.
7. In the manufacture of guncotton the combination with a tank containing
the nitrating acid of guides in the sides of the tank, slides movable in the guides
and adapted to form bearings for the rollers which guide the band of cotton
substantially as set forth.
8. In the manufacture of guncotton the combination with a tank containing
acids, of ledges disposed below the level of the surface of the acids, a cover resting
on the ledges and spaces in the cover to allow entrance and exit of a band
of cotton fibres substantially as set forth.
9. In the manufacture of guncotton the combination with a tank containing
acids, of a division piece disposed near one end of the tank and extending down-
wards from near an opening in the cover of the tank, to direct escaping bubbles
of air through such opening substantially as set forth.
10. In the manufacture of guncotton the combination with a tank containing
acids of a cover having its underside in contact with the acids, and spaces to
allow entrance and exit of a band of cotton fibres substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
11. Apparatus for nitrating cotton constructed and operating substantially in
the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Twenty second day of March 1900
W. B. JOHNSON,
4, Clayton Square, Liverpool, Agent.