Fabrics to Render them Waterproof.
Year: 1885

page_text: Fabrics to Render them Waterproof.
I THOMAS FERNELEY WILEY, of 41 Moss Street, Manchester Road, Bradford, in
the County of York, Cloth Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS OF TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS
TO RENDER THEM WATERPROOF and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved method or process of treating textile
fabrics to render them waterproof, by which they are made more perfectly, and
permanently impervious to water than heretofore.
.
Hitherto two distinct processes have been generally in use for this said purpose.
One of such processes being to more or less impregnate the fabrics with a water-
proofing agent soluble in water, as sugar of lead, alum, or soap, either alone or in
combination, and applied in solution. The other process being to treat the fabrics
with a waterproofing agent which is insoluble in water such as, india rubber,
paraffin wax or similar substances applied by means of a suitable solvant.
My improvements consist in passing the fabrics through both the above processes
consecutively, thus rendering them more perfectly and permanently waterproof.
Having now stated the principal of my invention I will proceed to describe what
I consider the best method of performing the same. The proportions hereinafter
mentioned are sufficient for waterproofing a piece of cloth about thirty pounds in
weight.
"
Two pounds of hard white curd soap is desolved in six gallons of water, at about
100 degrees Fahrenheit, contained in the vat of a padding" machine, fitted with
a roller below the surface of the solution under which the cloth is passed. The
machine is also provided with a pair of squeeze rollers to remove the superfluous
liquid from the cloth on leaving the machine. The cloth is passed forwards and
backwards through the solution, until the soap in such solution is absorbed by or
collected in the interstices of the material; when it is finally passed through the
squeeze rollers. The cloth is then passed in a similar manner through a "padding
machine containing two pounds of alum desolved in four gallons of water which
enables the alum held in solution to combine with the soap already carried by the
cloth, and form a soap curd within the body of such cloth. The cloth is then
"

page_text: passed through the squeeze rollers of the machine and dried in a hot air chamber,
or by steam drying cylinders and afterwards passed through a machine containing
water at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit, to wash away any superfluous alum, when
it is again thoroughly dried thus completing the first process.
The second process is performed by treating the cloth with a solution of four
ounces of india rubber, thoroughly macerated and desolved in one gallon of
benzoline, to which is added four ounces of paraffin wax. This solution is most
satisfactorily applied by the spray process for which I (in conjunction with Bertie
Hallett) have obtained Provisional Protection dated the 5th day of May 1885 and
numbered 5512. It consists in employing an ordinary dewing or damping
machine to distribute the solution on the cloth, such cloth being passed before a
shower of spray, of the solution of india rubber and paraffin wax, produced by the
machine thus completeing the second process.
I would have it understood that the waterproofing agents and the proportions
thereof herein named, are not absolute, but may be altered without departing from
the nature of the invention, and are only mentioned as those I consider to be
the best..
Q
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
I claim is
The combined application to textile fabrics of the two processes herein described,
consisting of a primary application of a waterproofing agent, or agents, soluble in
water; and a further application of a waterproofing agent, or agents, insoluble in
water, substantially as herein described and for the purpose specified.
DL: 00-1 dow of December 1805
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.