IMPROVEMENTS IN RENDERING FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS WATER REPELLENT, INCAPABLE OF PER- MANENT DISCOLORATION OR STAIN, IMPERVIOUS TO MOTп OR OTHER INSECTS OR MILDEW, AND MORE DESIRABLE FOR WEAR AND USE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Clara Beatrice Warner, of Tredegar Square, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RENDERING
FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS WATER REPELLENT, INCAPABLE OF PER-
MANENT DISCOLORATION OR STAIN, IMPERVIOUS TO MOTп OR OTHER
INSECTS OR MILDEW, AND MORE DESIRABLE FOR WEAR AND USE." Partly
a communication from abroad by Lucas P. Britt, of New York.
"
(Void by reason of the Patentee having neglected to file a Specification in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Clara Beatrice Warner at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1881.
CLARA BEATRICE WARNER of Tredegar Square in the County of Middlesex
IMPROVEMENTS IN RENDERING FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS WATER REPEL-
LENT, INCAPABLE OF PERMANENT DISCOLORATION OR STAIN, IMPERVIOUS TO
MOTH OR OTHER INSECTS OR MILDEW, AND MORE DESIRABLE FOR WEAR AND
USE." [Partly a communication from abrond by Lucas P. Britt, of New York.]
This Invention has for its object improvements in rendering fabrics and other
materials water repellent, incapable of permanent discoloration or stain, impervious
to moth or other insects or mildew and more desirable for wear and use.
For this purpose a solution in any mineral oil of any clastic gum and wax
natural or artificial is treated with a mixture of either sulphuric acid and water or
with the black oxide of manganese and salt (chloride of sodium) or with nitric acid
and common salt, or of common salt and sulphuric acid or of this and muriate of
ammonia or the nitrate of potassium or with nitrous nitric or muriatic acids.
Such treatment is effected either by combining in the same vessel, such a solution
with either of such mixtures or of such acids (as the last named) and by suitable

page_text: agitation of the contents of such vessel; or by placing the solution in one vessel,
and either mixture or acid in another vessel connected with the first by tubing, so
that the gas arising from the mixture or the vapour to be evolved by moderate
heat from the acid shall permeate such solution and be sufficiently absorbed by it.
Thereafter so much of such solution as can be decanted from the matter precipitated
(water having been added to hold such matter) is well shaken or stirred with a
weak solution of potash or other alkali. After being allowed to stand for further
clarification, and when by the litmus test it is seen to be without any acid or
alkaline reaction there remains the fluid attained by these improved processes.
The fabrics or materials to be rendered water repellent, are passed through or
dipped into the fluid once or oftener according to the texture of the material to be
operated upon are thereafter dried by natural or artificial heat, and thus gain the
properties resulting from such application of said fluid.
I will now proceed to describe the manner in and by which these processes securing
the objects of my Invention, may be at their different stages attained, and the same be
carried into effect.-
First. I take caoutchouc or other like gum and paraffin, or other wax natural or
artificial and cut them into small bits to secure their more rapid solvency. Then I
dissolve by natural or artificial heat, not to exceed 80° Fahr: in naphtha benzole or
other mineral oil in proportions by weight of one part each of gum and wax to
from seventy to two hundred and ten parts of the oil according to the purity of
the latter, and-the-texture-of-the-fabrics-to-be-treated. These proportions may
also be stated as from four to twelve drachms each of gum and wax to one gallon
of oil refined. It is to be understood however, that in the formula next hereinafter
mentioned the medium of the above proportions of one part each of the gum and
wax to one hundred and forty parts by weight of oil or of eight drachms
each of the former to one gallon of the latter is to be taken as the standard on
which the treatment by such formulas is based.
Second. This solution I proceed to treat by either of the following methods :-
(a). I take two parts each of water and sulphuric acid each being by weight
twice that of the gum and wax employed, mix them and when cooled I pour the
mixture on the solution or vice versa; and then add one part of- pulverized black
oxide of manganese and one part of chloride of sodium by weight as aforesaid (or this
formula may be varied as hereinafter mentioned in (b); provision having been mado
that the whole (to wit the mixture and the solution) shall have been combined as
aforesaid in a vessel sufficiently large to hold the chlorine gas to be developed after
it shall have driven out the atmospheric air and being so held therein by simple
contrivance as corking and the like may be absorbed by the said solution, agitation
of the same being employed if necessary to hasten or insure such absorption; and
thereafter water being added in sufficient quantity to hold the residium or waste
falling to the bottom of the vessel, so as to render the decanting of the solution
after it has absorbed such gas or so much thereof as may be necessary, easily
practicable.
Or (b) To manufacture the fluid on an extensive and economical scale I place
the gum wax and oil in the proportions above given and in a suitable vessel or in
a cylinder (with apparatus attached securing its revolution) either being placed in
water sufficiently heated to effect a solution of the wax and gum at a temperature.
not exceeding 80° Fahr:. Next I develope chlorine in a separate vessel from the
chemical ingredients above mentioned.
The
The vessel in which the gas is developed I connect with the vessel containing
the solution by glass or other tubing, the end of the tube dips into the solution
and is furnished with a rose of glass or other material punctured with minute holes
to allow the gas to be passed in numerous minute streams into the solution.
gas as made might be collected in a gasometer so that it might be passed into the
solution from the gasometer. Provision is made that the gas escaping from the
solution unabsorbed may by like tubing pass over into other vessels either empty
or partly filled with the solution of gum and wax or from the cylinder either into

page_text: other cylinders or gasometers; or instead of using such above named chemical
ingredients:-
(c) I take either nitric acid and common salt, or it, and sulphuric acid or this and
muriate of ammonia or the nitrate of potassium (saltpetre) in the proportion of
three ounces of either acid to six ounces of the salt employed and one gallon of the
solution and proceed as in (a) or (b).
Third. After any such gas or vapour has been acting on the solution from twelve
to twenty four hours, according to the activity of its absorption, or the density of
the solution or when this has attained a dark purplish hue, further devolution or
intromission of the gas or vapour developed is discontinued the solution allowed to
settle is decanted into other vessels or cylinders, and washed or agitated with
potash or other alkali sparingly dissolved in warm water.
Fourth. The solution is then allowed to stand until another settling occurs of a
heavy fatty mass, when the presence of the slightest acid or alkaline reaction is
determined by the litmus test. Appropriate treatment must be further pursued
until any such reaction entirely disappears either by addition of the acid or alkali
employed or by dashing or agitating with warm water.
Tho solution thereafter attains a perfectly clear or pellucid state according to the
proportion of the solid hydrocarbons it originally contained and is ready for
application to the fabrics or materials to be treated by pouring it more or less
frequently over them, or immersing them in it for a greater or less period
of time, according to their thickness or the wear or use for which they are
designed.
On their being dried they become water repellent, incapable of permanent
discoloration or stain, impervious to moth or insect or mildew and more durable
for wear and use.