IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR UP- HOLSTERY AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR UP-
HOLSTERY AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by La
Société Anonyme des Seychelles, ancienne Société Eug. Pallu et Cie., of Paris,
France.
Sealed the 26th February 1878, and dated the 3rd September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1877.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN
VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR UPHOLSTERY AND OTHER PURPOSES." [A communication
from abroad by La Société Anonyme des Seychelles, ancienne Société Eug. Pallu et
Cie., of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to a novel, mechanical, and chemical process of treating
cocoa-nut fibre for the purpose of producing from the same a substitute for horse-
hair or other vegetable or animal matters used for like purposes as horsehair.
The fibres of the cocoa-nut are usually obtained by subjecting them to a pro-
longed retting and hand separating process, during which they lose their firmness
and elasticity; the retting moreover induces a fermentation which causes a con-
tinuous deterioration of the fibre.
Certain fibres of the cocoa-nut after being subjected to a rapid mechanical disinte-
gration are suitable for producing a material having the same qualities as what is
known as vegetable hair as regards strength, suppleness, and elasticity.
One species of fibre is of sufficient length, strength, and elasticity to serve for the
manufacture of a substitute for horsehair.
To effect the separation of the fibres, a breaker carding engine is employed, such
as is used for preparing other fibres, but especially adapted for effecting the drawing

page_text: "
or sorting of the fibres. This machine forms the fibres to be converted into "hair"
into a sliver, which is then twisted in order to maintain the parallelism of the fibres
in the subsequent operations. The slivers are cut of a certain length, and then
steeped in a bleaching solution, after which they are dried in a closed chamber with
the aid of a dried and superheated current of air charged with vapors of sulphur.
The slivers are then dyed generally of a black color in a bath composed of a solution
of tannate and gallate of iron; for example, the processes being the same as those
ordinarily employed for dyeing vegetable or animal fibres and tissues. Aniline
blacks may also be employed. The slivers are then twisted or curled by mechanical
means to increase the elasticity of the fibres.
Cocoa-nut fibre converted into "hair" in the manner described is superior to all
kinds of vegetable or animal hair, and possesses the further advantage of being
destructive to insect life.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on 'the 2nd March
1878.
"
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN
VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR UPHOLSTERY AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication
from abroad by La Société Anonyme des Seychelles, ancienne Société Eug. Pallu et
Cie., of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to the treatment of cocoa-nut fibre for the manufacture
therefrom of a material suitable as a substitute for horsehair and for other purposes.
Cocoa-nut fibres, as obtained in India, by prolonged retting and a manual dis-
integrating process, suffer in the course of this operation a loss of strength and
elasticity, and the fermentation set up in the retting process not being entirely
arrested, continues to impair the fibre while in the manufactured state.
Certain fibres only of the cocoa-nut, obtained by a rapid mechanical dis-
integrating process, are suitable for producing a material having the same
qualities as what is known as vegetable hair, as regards strength, suppleness, and
elasticity.
Cocoa-nut fibres are of several kinds, one only by the length, size, and elasticity
of the fibres being more particularly applicable for the manufacture of a substitute
for white or black horsehair; while the other kinds are capable of being employed
for various purposes, either alone or mixed with other fibres, such as wool, cotton,
hemp, flax, jute, China grass, phormium tenax, ramie, aloe, &c.
According to this Invention the fibres are separated by a breaker carding engine,
such as is used for preparing other fibres, but specially arranged for effecting the
sorting of the fibres. This machine forms the fibres into slivers, which then receive
a slight twist, in order to maintain their parellelism in the subsequent operations.
The slivers are cut of a certain length, and then immersed in a bleaching solution,
after which they are rapidly dried in a closed chamber by a current of dried and
superheated air charged with sulphur vapors. The slivers are then dyed usually
of a black color in a bath composed, for example, of a solution of tannate and

page_text: gallate of iron, the process being the same as that ordinarily employed for dyeing
vegetable or animal fibres and tissues of a black color. Aniline blacks may also be
used for the purpose. The slivers are then twisted or curled by mechanical means
to increase the elasticity of the fibres.
Cocoa-nut fibres converted into "hair" in the manner described are superior
to all kinds of vegetable or animal hair, and possess the further advantage of being
inimical to insect life.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the herein-described mechanical and chemical
process of treating cocoa-nut fibre for the manufacture of a substitute for horse-
hair, and applicable also for various other purposes, as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W. CLARK. (LA)