Improvements in Treating Rhea Bark, China Grass, or other Material of similar Nature, and in Apparatus Applicable therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 16th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 16th Feb., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating Rhea Bark, China Grass, or other
Material of similar Nature, and in Apparatus Applicable
therefor.
We, GEORGE ISAAC JAMES WELLS of 41 Francis Terrace, Victoria Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry, and SAMUEL LLOYD
HOWARD, of Cranley Mansion, Gloucester Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
For many years past various methods have been proposed and patented for preparing
this fibre for textile purposes, both chemically and mechanically. In those cases where
the chemical treatment has been most perfect, the mechanical and physical difficulties
have hindered its success, and vice versa.
This improvement relates both to chemical and mechanical treatment.
We have found that in the treatment of rhea ribbons china grass and such like,
treated in chemical solutions or baths, the product has not been uniform or
satisfactory.
According to this invention, we suspend the ribbons on rails or laths of wood in
rows close together, so as to fill the whole chamber with suspended ribbons, we
should prefer this chamber being of such a height as to admit of 3 tiers, one above
the other. The chamber to be made of wood, iron or lead, preferably the latter,
underneath the roof of the said chamber, there is a second or false roof perforated,
preferably, made of porcelain or earthenware or in place of this a spraying or
shower bath rose arrangement capable of giving a heavy uniform shower over the
entire area of the chamber. At the bottom of the chamber, channels are arranged
with suitable valves to run off any liquid into reservoirs required outside. The
cold liquids from these reservoirs are raised to the top of the chamber by an
elevator of the archemedean description, or other suitable pump or elevator. The
hot liquids of the reservoirs are raised by a vacuum injector, or other suitable
pump or elevator; by this arrangement, water and chemical baths or solutions,
hot or cold, can be brought from the bottom of the chamber to the top of the
perforated roof, and rained on the rhea as a shower bath, continuously for any space
of time required.
Connected to the chamber is a fan which forces a current of air (hot or cold as
required) in and dries the suspended rhea after its treatment with its suitable chemical

page_text: baths and washings. By this method every particle of rhea is evenly treated and dried
with only twice handling, namely, hanging up in the chamber and taking down which
leaves it in a straight and uniform condition.
Connected with the chamber there is a still or stills, for the introduction of
gaseous elements, the chamber is also connected with a chimney shaft, or connected
with a duplicate chamber to take off and economize the surplus gas. A steam
pipe is attached to the chamber to raise the temperature when required.
Having described the apparatus required, we now proceed to describe the mode of
treating the rhea therein which is as follows:
The ribbons having been carefully suspended or hung double over the rails in the
chamber until it is completely filled, water is caused to flow on the perforated
roof which causes a continuous rain over the whole surface of the ribbons, by this
means the rhea is washed and freed from all dust and extraneous dirt, the waste
tap at the bottom being open, leaves the chamber clean and the ribbons or rhea
hanging in a straight and perpendicular condition, the wasto tap at the bottom,
now being closed, the water is again turned on to the perforated roof, the steam
injector set to work which causes the fallen water to be circulated from the bottom
to the top, and so on until the temperature is raised to boiling point or nearly
SO. This operation is repeated till the whole of the extractive matter soluble in
water is taken out, which liquid is run off by the waste pipe. A valve is now
opened which causes a solution of caustic soda of suitable strength which has
already been prepared in a tank above to rain over the surface of the rhea, as the
water did in the previous operation. This caustic solution runs off by channels
into a reservoir, the injector again is set to work which causes a continuous flow
or rain of caustic soda solution with increasing temperature for any desired length
of time. After this operation the water is again caused to flow on the perforated
roof, and rained on the rhea until it is perfectly washed and cold. The elevator
is now set to work which causes a flow of hydrochloric acid of suitable strength
on the perforated roof, and so on continuously for the time required.
After this the washing operation with water is repeated, but at the ordinary
temperature of the atmosphere.
The contents of the chamber are now rained upon by a mixture of soda and
oleic acid prepared in another tank above, which we prefer to consist of 1 equivalent
of soda and 2 of acid which we term bi-oleate of soda. The injector is set to
work, and a continuous rain as before at an increasing temperature. After this
operation the contents of the chamber are now rained upon with water, and allowed
to thoroughly drain. The air valve is now opened, the fan set to work until the rhea
is dry. We prefer to leave a trace of moisture in it as we find it works better when
treating it with the softening machine.
In some cases where the fibre is required very white, we treat it while in the
apparatus with an ordinary bleaching solution. Other Chemicals than those set
forth can be used in the apparatus if required. Thus we may use an alkaline sulphide
or urine or like solution as solvents, and free chlorine gas as a bleaching agent as set
forth in a second application by us of this, or a later date.
One principle of the invention, that of successive application of the various
reagents without handling of the material, can be applied in a varied manner.
Thus instead of a mere shower, the liquids could be passed in till they covered
the fibre completely, and a constant downward current kept up by withdrawing
from the bottom, and admitting afresh at the top. The fibre can also be
arranged differently, but it should be so placed that there shall be little or no
entanglement.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating Rhea Bark, China Grass, or other
Material of similar Nature, and in Apparatus Applicable
therefor.
We, GEORGE ISAAC JAMES WELLS of 41 Francis Terrace, Victoria Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry and SAMUEL LLOYD
HOWARD of Cranley Mansion, Gloucester Road in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
For many years past, various methods have been proposed and patented for preparing
rhea fibre for textile purposes both chemically and mechanically. In those cases where
the chemical treatment has been most perfect, the mechanical and physical difficulties
have hindered its success and vice versa.
This improvement relates both to chemical and mechanical treatment.
We have found that when rhea ribbons china grass, and such like fibres, have
been treated in chemical solutions or baths, the product has not been uniform or
satisfactory.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawing of a small
plant.
In these,
Figure 1, is a transverse sectional elevation of plant.
Figure 2, plan of same.
Figure 3, enlarged longitudinal section of part of chamber.
The ribbons of rhea bark or China grass or other fibres are suspended by their
centres on rails, or rods, A A A. These rails are preferably about two feet apart
(or other distance suitable for lengil of fibre) vertically, and arranged as close
together as practicable horizontally. (so as to admit of the fibres hanging freely
without touching those of the next rail) in a chamber B so as to fill it two or
three tiers deep. We place above the uppor tier, a false roof C of perforated
porcelain, earthenware or lead, or other non-corrosive material, so as to form a shower
bath all over the chamber. Instead of this false roof, other arrangements could
be introduced for producing a uniform shower, such as a series of roses or perforated
pipes. D D'are tanksf or solutions. E is a distributing cistern. We find that ordinary
bleaching powder solution has a perceptibly bad effect on Rhea fibre, the lime in it
having apparently a tendency to rot it, we therefore prefer to use cold chlorine gas
acting on the damp fibre, which we find much superior, and without these bad
effects. G, still for chlorine, H cooling pipe from same. J, fan for injecting hot or
cold air.

page_text: At the bottom of the chamber, channels are arranged with suitable valves to run off
any liquid into reservoirs required outside. The cold liquids from these reservoirs are
raised to the top of the chamber by an archimedean screw elevator or other pump.
The hot liquids of the reservoirs are raised by a vacuum injector or any suitable pump.
By this arrangement, water and chemical baths or solutions, hot or cold, can be
brought from the bottom of the chamber to the top of the perforated roof,
and rained on the fibre as a shower bath continuously for any space of time
required.
The fan J is used to force a current of air into the chamber, and to dry the suspended
rhea after its treatment with suitable chemical baths and washings. By this method
every particle of rhea is evenly treated and dried with only twice handling, namely,
hanging up in the chamber and taking down. It is thus easily left in a straight
untangled and uniform condition.
Connected with the chamber there is a still or stills G for the introduction of
gaseous elements such as chlorine, the chamber is also connected with a chimney
shaft or connected with a duplicate chamber to take off and economize the surplus
gas.
Having described the apparatus required we now proceed to describe the mode of
treating the rhea therein, which is as follows:-
The ribbons or other fibres having been carefully suspended or hung double over
the rails in the chamber until it is completely filled, water is caused to flow on the
perforated roof, which causes a continuous rain over the whole surface of the ribbons,
by this means, the Rhea or other fibre is washed and freed from all dust and
extraneous dirt, the waste tap at the bottom being open, leaves the chamber clean
and the ribbons of Rhea hanging in a straight and perpendicular condition, the waste
tap at the bottom is now closed, and the water again turned on to the perforated
roof, the steam injector set to work, which causes the fallen water to be circulated
from the bottoni to the top, and so on until the temperature is raised to boiling
point. This operation is repeated till the whole of the extractive matter soluble in
water is taken out, which liquid is run off by the waste pipe. Weak hydrochloric
acid or sulphuric acid solution is now used in the same manner. A valve is now
opened which causes a solution of soda ash or other solvent of suitable strength,
which has already been prepared in a tank, above, to rain over the surface of the
rhea, as the water did in the previous operation. This solution runs off by channels
into a reservoir D¹, the injector again is set to work, which causes a continuous
flow or rain of the solution with increasing temperature, for any desired length of
time. After this operation the water is again caused to flow on the perforated
roof and rained on the Rhea until it is perfectly washed and cold. The still is now
set to work, and chlorine is driven in cold for the time necessary to oxydise the cuticle,
this time differs with different qualities of fibre, and can only be found by experiment
with the fibre operated on.
After this, the washing operation with water is repeated, but at the ordinary
temperature of the atmosphere.
The contents of the chamber are now rained upon by a mixture of soda and
oleic acid prepared in another tank above, which we prefer to consist of 1 equivalent
of soda and 2 of acid, which we term bi-oleate of soda. The injector is set to
work, and a continuous rain is produced as before at an increasing temperature.
The weak solution of sulphuric acid is again used, and followed by a weak solution
of ammonia. After this operation the contents of the chamber are
upon with water and allowed to thoroughly drain. The air valve is now opened,
the fan set to work until the rhea is dry. We prefer to leave a trace of
moisture in it, as we find it works better when treating it with the softening
machine.
now rained
With the exception of bi-oleate of soda and dry chlorine gas, which we believe
were never before made or used for this purpose, all the chemicals herein before
enumerated and also oleate of soda have been long used for treating Rhea fibre,
and their proper densities or strengths and quantities are well known for each

page_text: description of fibre, and form no part of our invention. We, however, sometimes
use an entirely different set of chemicals in this novel apparatus of ours, which
chemicals, we believe, have never before been used for this purpose, thus, instead
of the soda, sulphuric acid, oleic acid, or bi-oleate of soda, we use a single solvent,
sulphide of sodium (other alkaline sulphides will answer more or less, but sulphide
of sodium is best and cheapest.) The sulphide of sodium solution can be of any
desired strength, but the stronger it is the quicker the reaction is effected.
After the treatment with sulphide of sodium the fibre is bleached with chlorine
gas.
In actual practice we find the following a very good plan of operation for rhea
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
--
1. The treatment of rhea bark, china grass and the like, which consists in suspending
it in such manner as to be freely exposed to sprinkling from above and showering the
successive baths, liquid chemicals, or reagents upon the fibre, and introducing the
gaseous ones without handling the latter during the process substantially as
described.
2. The processes for treating rhea fibre and the like, which consists in successively
exposing the fibre to the various baths herein set forth.
3. In apparatus or plant for treating rhea bark, China grass or other material of a
similar nature, a chamber having one or more tiers of rails, both tiers and rails being
placed sufficiently far apart from each other and from the floor to accommodate the
fibre hung freely over them and a sprinkling device above, through which the baths
or reagents are evenly sprinkled all over the area of the chamber, for the purposes
described.
4. The combination with a chamber, for treating rhea bark or the like suspended

page_text: therein and treated with sprinkling from above, of a still, for the introduction of
gaseous elements, and also of a fan, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
5. The plant for treating rhea fibre; China grass and the like, constructed and
arranged as a whole, substantially as herein described.
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