IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP AND IN CLEANSING WOOL AND WOOLLEN GOODS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Way, of 9, Russell Road, Ken-
sington, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP AND IN CLEANSING WOOL AND
WOOLLEN GOODS."
Sealed the 1st February 1870, and dated the 3rd August 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas Way at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd August 1869.
I, JOHN THOMAS WAY, of 9, Russell Road, Kensington, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP AND IN CLEANSING
WOOL AND WOOLLEN GOODS," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention consists in the addition to soap of
triphosphate of soda. By triphosphate of soda I mean that form of
phosphate of soda which contains three equivalents or combining
proportions of soda for each equivalent or combining proportion of
phosphoric acid. This salt is described in Graham's Elements of

page_text: Chemistry and other chemical works as sub-phosphate of soda, and
is usually produced by adding solution of caustic soda to a solution of
the ordinary rhombic phosphate of soda. I add the triphosphate of soda
to soap manufactured in the ordinary manner after separation from the
lye, and I vary the proportion of the triphosphate according to the
nature of the product which I desire to obtain.
The second part of the Invention consists in the use of triphosphate
of soda in the scouring of wool and woollen goods to remove dirt and
grease therefrom. I soak the wool or woollen goods in a solution of
the triphosphate of soda for a time proportioned to the strength of the
solution and the nature and quantity of the grease and dirt to be
removed, and I afterwards rinse the wool or woollen goods in successive
quantities of clean water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Thomas Way in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd February 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMAS WAY, of 9, Russell Road, Kensington, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Thomas Way, Her special licence, that
I, the said John Thomas Way, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Thomas Way, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SOAP AND IN CLEANSING WOOL AND WOOLLEN GOODS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Thomas Way, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and

page_text: ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same 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 I, the said John Thomas Way, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The first part of this Invention consists in the addition to soap of
triphosphate of soda. By triphosphate of soda I mean that form
of phosphate of soda which contains three equivalents or combining
proportions of soda for each equivalent or combining proportion of
phosphoric acid. This salt is described in Graham's Elements of
Chemistry and other chemical works as sub-phosphate of soda, and is
usually produced by adding a solution of caustic soda to a solution
of the ordinary rhombic phosphate of soda. I add the triphosphate of
soda to soap manufactured in the ordinary manner after separation
from the lye, and I vary the proportion of the triphosphate according
to the nature of the product which I desire to obtain.
I prefer to proceed as follows:-When the soap has been removed
from the pan I add to it the triphosphate of soda, either in the dry
state or dissolved in water. This addition may be made to the soap in
the frame, the salt or its solution being crutched in with the soap as
it cools; but any suitable mechanical arrangement for mixing the
materials may be employed. Triphosphate of soda is itself of the
nature of soap; of the three equivalents of soda in it, one is so lightly
held that it is readily given up to any greasy matter with which a
solution of the salt is brought in contact. In this respect its action as
a detergent is identical with that of soap, but whereas soap contains
only from 7 to 9 per cent. of soda, of which one-half is available, the
triphosphate of soda in the crystalline state contains 24.4 per cent.,
and when anhydrous 56.6 per cent. of soda, of which one-third is
available; whilst therefore one hundred parts of soap contain from
3 to 4 parts of alkali available for cleansing, the same quantity of
crystalline triphosphate furnishes 8 parts and of anhydrous triphosphate
of soda 19 parts of available alkali. Triphosphate of soda, whilst equally
free from caustic action as soap is therefore very much more powerful
as a detergent. Triphosphate of soda may with advantage be added to

page_text: soap in any proportion which will allow of the product being used as
soap is used.
When it is desired to retain the appearance and characteristics of
ordinary soap the following proportions will be suitable :-
Common soap containing water in a proportion
usually met with in commerce
Crystalline triphosphate of soda
Water (in addition to that contained in the
above-mentioned substances)
50 parts.
- 20 to 25
- 30 to 25
"
وو
When the object is to make a soap of the greatest efficacy consistant
with its use in the way in which common soap is used, and when to this
end some of the appearance and characteristics of ordinary soap may
be sacrificed, the following proportions will be suitable :-
Common soap containing water in a proportion
usually met with in commerce
Crystalline triphosphate of soda
Water (in addition to that contained in the
above-mentioned substances)
35 to 40 parts.
35 to 40
"
.30 to 20
"
If the soap be taken at a stage of the manufacture where it contains
more water than there is in ordinary commercial soap an allowance
should be made in the subsequent addition of water.
By common soap I mean any of the ordinary solid washing soaps of
commerce. The triphosphate of soda may be added in the dry state as
the crystalline or the anhydrous salt, or in solution in water. It is
convenient to fuse the crystalline salt in its water of crystallization, a
which can be readily done by heating it to a temperature of 140° or 150°
Fahrenheit. The fused salt is then crutched or otherwise mixed with
the hot and liquid soap.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention relating to the manu-
facture of soap, the compounding triphosphate of soda with ordinary
fatty or oleaginous soap, substantially as above described.
The second part of the Invention consists in the use of triphosphate
of soda in the scouring of wool and woollen goods to remove dirt and
grease therefrom. I soak the wool or woollen goods in a solution of the
triphosphate of soda for a time proportioned to the strength of the a
solution, and the nature and quantity of the grease and dirt to be

page_text: removed; and I afterwards rinse the wool or woollen goods in successive
quantities of clean water.
. In carrying out this part of my Invention I find a solution of from
5 lbs. to 20 lbs. of the salt in 100 gallons of water to be suitable for
cleansing wool; and if heat be applied I prefer to limit it to a tempera-
ture of 150° to 160° Fahrenheit. The wool may be immersed in successive
quantities of solution in order to remove the last portions of grease,
and these solutions may be used several times until the salt is exhausted.
A solution of similar strength may be advantageously employed either
alone or in conjunction with soap in cleansing woollen goods from the
oil used in the process of manufacture; the solution being changed, or
its strength renewed by the addition of a strong solution of the triphos-
phate of soda from time to time during the washing.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention relating to the cleansing
wool and woollen goods, the treatment of such goods with triphosphate
of soda, substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Way, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
J. THOMAS WAY. (L.S.)