IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES IN ORDER TO BLEACH AND SEPARATE THE FIBRES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Gray, of Lower Mitcham, in the County of
Surrey, Bleacher, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING FLAX,
HEMP, AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES IN ORDER TO BLEACH AND
SEPARATE THE FIBRES."
Sealed the 18th November 1863, and dated the 5th June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Gray at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
June 1863.
I, THOMAS GRAY, of Lower Mitcham, in the County of Surrey, Bleacher,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING
FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES IN ORDER TO BLEACH AND
SEPARATE THE FIBRES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in treating flax, hemp, and
other vegetable fibrous substances in order to bleach and separate the fibres.
For these purposes the fibrous vegetable substances are first washed in water,
they are then soaked for a time in a weak bleaching liquor, after which they
are again washed and then boiled in a solution of soda ash or other suitable
alkali; they are then again washed and subjected to the action of bleaching
liquor mixed with a solution of soda ash or other suitable alkali. If the fibres
are to be used in the manufacture of paper, they are then submitted to the

page_text: action of a paper engine; or if they are to be employed for the production of
yarns, they are to be opened out and prepared for spinning by ordinary
mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Gray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
GRAY, of Lower Mitcham, in the County of Surrey, Bleacher, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Gray, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Gray, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Gray,
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 TREATING FLAX, HEMP,
AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES IN ORDER TO BLEACH AND SEPARATE
THE FIBRES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Gray, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
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 Thomas Gray, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in treating flax, hemp, and
other vegetable fibrous substances in order to bleach and separate the fibres.
For these purposes the fibrous vegetable substances are first washed in water
to cleanse them from dirt; they are then placed in a weak bleaching liquor
composed by preference of from 4 to 6 ounces of chloride of lime to 1

page_text: gallon of water, and are left to soak for from 6 to 12 hours, according to the
substance of the fibres operated on, the stout harsh fibres requiring to be
soaked longer than the more delicate ones; after this they are again washed
and are then boiled in a solution of soda ash or other suitable alkali for from
2 to 4 hours, employing by preference about 1 oz. of ash to a gallon of water.
If the fibres are very stout and harsh they may, before being boiled in the
alkaline solution, be first laid in a weak solution of sulphuric acid (oz. sul-
phuric acid of commerce to about 1 gallon of water) and be afterwards laid to
drain before being boiled. After being boiled in the alkaline solution they
are again washed, and are then placed in bleaching liquor (which may be
either cold or warm) mixed with a solution of soda ash or other suitable
alkali. The mixture is composed by preference of from 4 to 6 oz. chloride of
lime, 1 oz. soda ash, and 1 gallon water. If the fibres are allowed to remain
in this solution for from 4 to 6 hours they will generally be sufficiently
bleached; the operator will, however, be able to see when the bleaching
operation has been carried sufficiently far. The fibres are then washed to
cleanse them from the bleaching solution, and if the fibres are to be used in
the manufacture of paper, they are subjected to the action of a paper, rag, or
pulping engine; or if they are to be employed for the production of yarns,
they are to be opened out and prepared for spinning by ordinary mechanism.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Gray, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
THOMAS GRAY. (L.S.)