AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF THREADS FROM RHEA FIBRE, RAMIE OR CHINA GRASS AND THE APPLICATION OF SUCH THREADS TO THE PRODUCTION OF FABRICS REQUIRING GREAT STRENGTH, SUCH AS PUMP to HOSE, DRIVING BELTS, CLOTHS FOR FILTER PRESSES, CORDAGE AND THE LIKE be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the county of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF THREADS FROM
RHEA FIBRE, RAMIE OR CHINA GRASS AND THE APPLICATION OF SUCH THREADS
TO THE PRODUCTION OF FABRICS REQUIRING GREAT STRENGTH, SUCH AS PUMP
to
HOSE, DRIVING BELTS, CLOTHS FOR FILTER PRESSES, CORDAGE AND THE LIKE
be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to an improved manufacture of threads from the fibre-
bearing nettle species such as are known under the names of Ramie, Rhea fibre or
China grass (Urtica Boehmeria Nivea, Urtica Boehemeria utilis) whereby such
threads are rendered of great strength, so as to be applicable for the production of
fabrics requiring to be of great resistance, such as pump-hose, driving belts, cloths
for filter presses, and the like.
It is known that the fibres of the above plants are united together by a vegetable
cement composed mainly of three substances to which Fremy has given the names
of "Pectose," "Cutose" and "Vasculose," as set forth in the specification to Patent
No 763 of 1883.
In the said specification, it was stated that for applying the said fibres to the
production of textile fabrics it was necessary to remove all three of the above named
substances, so as to obtain the fibre in a soft condition, in which condition, it did
not, however, possess the requisite strength for the manufacture of fabrics such as
are above referred to. Now, it has been discovered by my correspondents that, by
merely removing the Pectose, leaving the Cutose and Vasculose in the fibre and

page_text: then subjecting this to a combing operation, threads of great strength may be
produced therefrom that are readily applicable for the manufacture of the said
fabrics requiring great strength.
For this purpose, the fibre is subjected to the ordinary retting or steeping
operation whereby the Pectose alone is removed, after which it is submitted to the
action of combing apparatus, employing for this purpose by preference the description
of combs consisting of bars with fine teeth to which a rectilinear motion is imparted,
such as are used for combing flax or hemp, whereby the fibres will be laid parallel
to each other, being left of their full length. The fibres are then spun by means of
spinning machinery, such as is used for spinning hemp in a dry state, and are
doubled" in the usual manner.
**
If desired for special purposes, a certain proportion of the Cutose or of the
Vasculose, or of both, may also be removed from the fibre by the treatment
described in the said Specification to Patent No 763 of 1883, but for fabrics
requiring very great strength, the whole of these substances should be left in the
fibre.
The threads produced above described are then woven into fabrics requiring to
be of great strength, such as above reforred to, the number of filaments and amount
of torsion to be employed for the threads being carefully determined for each
particular application. By this means, manufactures have been obtained that
surpass in their strength any resulta that have been attained heretofore.
Thus, for pump-hose, conduits for water or steam, driving belts, cloths for filter-
-presses, sacks-for-hydraulic presses,-for-the-manufacture-of-sugar, stearine-or-chemical
products, cloths for linoleum, sail or tent cloth, for canvas shoes and caps, five-cord
threads are employed, with a torsion of four turns to the inch; for cords for spin-
ning machinery; two-cord threads, torsion, 10 turns to the inch; fishing lines:
from 2 to 3-cord threads, according to the numbers of fineness, and proportionate
torsion; 10 turns to the inch for No 10, and 20 turns for No: 40; cables for mines,
cordage for shipping, traces for horses, more particularly for artillery, cord for
champagne bottles: three cord thread, torsion 30 turns to the inch.
The threads are also applicable for carpet weaving, for shoemakers thread, and
other similar purposes requiring threads of great strength and durability.
Dated thie 17th day Annil 1004
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF THREADS FROM
RHEA-FIBRE, RAMIE OR CHINA GRASS AND THE APPLICATION OF SUCH THREADS
TO THE PRODUCTION OF FABRICS REQUIRING GREAT STRENGTH, SUCH AS PUMP
HOSE, DRIVING BELTS, CLOTHS FOR FILTER PRESSES, CORDAGE AND THE LIKE" and
in what manner the same is to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved manufacture of threads from the fibre-
bearing nettle species such as are known under the names of Ramie, Rhea-fibre or
China grass (Urtica Boehmeria Nivea, Urtica Boehemeria utilis) whereby such
threads are rendered of great strength, so as to be applicable for the production of
fabrics requiring to be of great resistance, such as pump hose, driving belts, cloths
for filter presses, and the like.
It is known that the fibres of the above plants are united together by a vegetable
cement composed mainly of three substances to which Fremy has given the names
of "Pectose ""Cutose," and "Vasculose," as set forth in the specification to Patent
N° 763 of 1883.
In the said specification, it was stated that for applying the said fibres to the
production of textile fabrics it was necessary to remove all three of the above named
substances, so as to obtain the fibre in a soft condition, in which condition, it did
not, however, possess the requisite strength for the manufacture of fabrics such as
are above referred to, now, it has been discovered by my correspondents that, by
merely removing the Pectose, leaving the Cutose and Vasculose in the fibre and
then subjecting this to a combing operation, threads of great strength may be
produced therefrom that are readily applicable for the manufacture of the said
fabrics requiring great strength.
For this purpose, the fibre is subjected to ordinary retting or steeping operation
whereby the Pectose alone is removed, after which it is submitted to the action of
combing apparatus, employing for this purpose by preference the description of
combs consisting of bars with fine teeth to which a rectilinear motion is imparted,
such as are used for combing flax and hemp, whereby the fibres will be laid parallel
to each other, being left of their full length. The fibres are then spun by means of
spinning machinery, such as is used for spinning hemp in a dry state, and are
"doubled" in the usual manner.
If desired for special purposes, a certain proportion of the Cutose or of the
Vasculose, or of both, may also be removed from the fibre by the treatment
described in the said Specification to Patent N° 763 of 1883, but for fabrics
requiring very great strength, the whole of these substances should be left in the
fibre. The threads produced above described are then woven into fabrics requiring
to be of great strength, such as above referred to, the number of filaments and
amount of torsion to be employed for the threads being carefully determined for
each particular application. By this means, manufactures have been obtained that
surpass in their strength any results that have been obtained heretofore.
Thus, for pump-hose, conduits for water or steam, driving belts, cloths for filter-
presses, sacks for hydraulic presses, for the manufacture of sugar, stearine or chemical
products, cloths for linoleum, sail or tent cloth, for canvas shoes and caps, five cord
threads are employed, with a torsion of four turns to the inch; for cords for spinning
machinery; two-cord threads, torsion, 10 turns to the inch; fishing lines; from 2 to

page_text: 3-cord threads, according to the numbers of fineness, and proportionate torsion;
10 turns to the inch for No 10, and 20 turns for No 40; cables for mines, cordage
for shipping, traces for horses, more particularly for artillery, cord for champagne
bottles three cord thread, torsion 30 turns to the inch.
:
The threads are also applicable for carpet weaving, for shoemakers thread, and
other similar purposes requiring threads of great strength and durability.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The herein described improved manufacturo of threads from Rhea fibre, Ramie
or China grass wherein merely the Pectose is removed from the fibro in order. to
obtain threads of great strength therefrom.
2. The use of threads made of Rhea fibre, Ramie or China grass as herein set
forth for the production of fabrics requiring great strength, such as pump hose,
driving belts, cloths for filter presses, cordage and the like.
Doted this oll 1
T
1007