IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS AND APPARATUS FOR WETTING AND DRYING WEFTS OR YARNS TO PREPARE THEM FOR WEAVING
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Clarance Brazil, of Chorley, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, and Robert Grime, of Preston, in the said
County, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS
AND APPARATUS FOR WETTING AND DRYING WEFTS OR YARNS TO PREPARE
THEM FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 12th November 1867, and dated the 15th May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Clarance Brazil and
Robert Grime at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their.
Petition, on the 15th May 1867.
We, CLARANCE BRAZIL, of Chorley, in the County of Lancaster, Manu-
facturer, and ROBERT GRIME, of Preston, in the said County, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED ARRANGE-
MENTS AND APPARATUS FOR WETTING AND DRYING WEPTS OR YARNS TO PREPARE.
THEM FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to use the same power or means for
effectually wetting and drying the wefts or yarns, and to dispense with the
ordinary methods of pressing the cops, or subjecting them to the action of
centrifugal force for expelling the superfluous water. We place the skewered-
cops, or those spun on metallic tubes in a strong vessel and cover them with

page_text: the usual mixture of soap and water, after which we close the vessel and
supply steam of about thirty pounds pressure to the interior, which pressure
forces the soap and water into and through the cops. To dry or remove the
surplus water we open a tap at the bottom of the vessel and allow the water
to escape by the continued action of the steam pressure until the cops are
dried as required, after which the steam is shut off, the lid of the vessel
removed, and the weft thus prepared ready for use is taken out. The
pressure to force the soap and water through the cops may be obtained by
hydraulic or other means, but as the drying of the cops is our principal object,
we consider steam to be the most simple and efficaceous. The process may
be effected in two vessels, one for wetting and the other for drying when
desired, and it is evident that these improvements can be applied to spooled
yains.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Clarance Brazil and Robert Grime in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
SHALL COME, we, CLARANCE
BRAZIL, of Chorley, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, and ROBERT
GRIME, of Preston, in the said County, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of May, 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 us,
the said Clarance Brazil and Robert Grime, Her special licence that we, the
said Clarance Brazil and Robert Grime, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Clarance Brazit and Robert Grime,
our 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
Istants, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS AND
APPARATUS FOR WETTING AND DRYING WEPTS OF YARMS TO PREPARE THEM
FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others), that we, the said Clarance
Brazil and Robert Grime, our executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calender months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Clarance Brazil and Robert Grime, do
bereby declare the nature. of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say):-
Our Invention consists in improved arrangements and apparatus for wetting
or preparing weft for wet weaving, whereby we dispense with the necessity of
submitting the cops to mechanical pressure, or subjecting them to the action
of centrifugal force for the purpose of expelling or getting rid of the super-
fluous water. The cops of weft must be first skewered, as in the present or
general practice, or they must have been spun on metallic tubes. We place
the cops in a strong vessel capable of being made steam-tight, and cover them
with the usual mixture of soap and water, after which we close the vessel and
supply steam of about twenty to thirty pounds pressure to the square inch to
the interior, which pressure forces the soap and water into and through the
cops. The amount of pressure used to force the soap and water through the
cops is not very important, the only difference being that the less the pressure
obtained the longer is the time required to force the soap and water through
the cops, but in no case is it necessary to apply more than about twenty-five or
thirty pounds pressure to the square incb, and this will accomplish the purpose in
about two minutes. To dry the cops or expel the superfluous water we open
a tap at the bottom of the vessel to allow the water to escape, the continued
action of the steam pressure in the interior of the vessel driving the water out
of or drying the yarn as may be required. When sufficiently dry for the
purpose, which may be regulated according to the picks required, the steam
is shut off, the lid or cover of the vessel removed, and when the yarn is taken
out it is ready for use. As drying or expelling the superfluous water is our
principal object, and steam being necessary to accomplish this, we consider
the use of steam to be the most simple and effective, and forms the peculiar
feature of our Invention, whether as applied as before described or employed in
forcing the superfluous water out. of the cops after they have been wetted, or
the soap and water forced into them by hydraulic force or other means. The
process may be effected in two vessels, one for wetting and the other for
drying the cops, but unless a very large quantity is required the one vessel
will be found most advantageous.
The following are some of the advantages to be derived from our Invention.
First, simplicity in the construction of the utensils and apparatus, the system

page_text: requiring only simple processes, whereby the cops are thoroughly wetted and
afterwards made fit for immediate use.
Secondly, efficiency of results, for by this method no difficulty is experienced
in thoroughly wetting the cops to the core, retaining the requisite degree of
dampness, and regulating the quantity of soap as required.
Thirdly, economy in first cost and labor, as the use of air pump, cop press,
or any other mechanical method for expelling the superfluous water is dis-
pensed with.
And, fourthly, prevention of waste, for by this process the cops retain their
original shape and form, not being damaged in the least, consequently they
will weave as well and make little or no more waste in wet weaving than in
dry work, thus reducing the ordinary excessive loss in waste, and making wet
and dry work in this respect about equal.
The process is equally applicable to spooled yarn, and the same advantage
derived as far as simplicity, cost of labour, and effectiveness are concerned.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be
understood that we claim, the improved arrangements and apparatus for
wetting and drying wefts or yarns by the use of steam pressure to prepare
them for weaving, as herein described; and also the use and application of
steam for the purpose of drying the weft or yarns after they have been wetted
by hydraulic pressure or other means.
In witness whereof, we, the said Clarance Brazil and Robert Grime,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Clarance Brazil and
Robert Grime, in the presence of,
G. SEPTIMUS HUGHES,
CLARANCE BRAZIL. (L.s.)
ROBERT GRIME. (L.S.)
Patent Agent,
Manchester.