CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PROCESS OF REFINING SUGAR
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Aitken, of Tottington Higher End, in the
County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner and Manufacturer, for the In-
vention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN
PROCESS OF REFINING SUGAR."
Sealed the 13th September 1867, and dated the 13th April 1867,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Aitken at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th April 1867.
I, JOHN AITKEN, of Tottington Higher End, in the County of Lancaster,
Cotton Spinner and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PROCESS
OF REFINING SUGAR," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the outer case or cover which encircles and encloses
the bags employed for filtering the saccharine liquid in the process of refining
sugar, which covers or cases have invariably been made of flax which soon
becomes rotten and interferes with the process of filtration. My Invention con-
sists in making these cases of cotton instead of flax, and weaving them in tubular
form in an ordinary tube-weaving loom, the advantage of the employment of
cotton instead of flax being its increased durability and consequent better

page_text: filtration and less cost, as I find by experiment that cotton will endure and
resist the action of the acidity of the sugar, heat of steam, and moisture for
double the time that flax filter covers have hitherto endured such influences.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Aitken in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
AITKEN, of Tottingnton Higher End, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton
Spinner and Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Aitken, Her special license that I, the said John Aitken, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Aitken, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PROCESS OF REFINING SUGAR," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Aitken, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
bands 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 John Aitken, 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 (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to the outer case or cover which encircles and encloses
the bags employed for filtering the sacharine liquid in the process of refining
sugar, which covers, cases, or "sheathing" have invariably been made of flax
which soon becomes rotten.

page_text: My Invention consists in making the cases or "sheathing" of cotton
instead of flax and weaving them in tubular form in an ordinary tube-
weaving loom, the advantage of the employment of cotton instead of flax
being its increased durability and consequent less cost; as I find by ex-
periment that cotton will endure and resist the action of the acidity of the
sugar, heat of steam and moisture, for double the time that flax filter covers
have hitherto endured such influences; or I use one cotton tube alone and
filtering bag and "sheathing" combined, by which means the usual separate
outer "sheathing" is dispensed with, and I do not confine myself to the
peculiar form of manufacture, as the fabric may be made either plain, or
twilled, or a combination of both.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, I wish it to be
distinctly understood that I claim the application and use of cotton woven in
tube form for outer cases, covers, or "sheathings" for sugar-filtering bags
instead of flax covers, as now used.
And, secondly, I claim the manufacture and application of a single bag
made of cotton and constituting in itself a perfect filter of the combined use of
cotton bags and flax "sheathing."
In witness whereof, I, the said John Aitken, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES,
Office for Patents,
Manchester.
JOHN AITKEN. (L.S.)