IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ashton, of Heywood, in the County of
Lancaster, and Mytholmroyd, in the County of York, Dyer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE
MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ashton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
May 1862.
I, GEORGE ASHTON, of Heywood, in the County of Lancaster, and Mytholm-
royd, in the County of York, Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND
MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE," to be as follows:--
This Invention relates chiefly to the dyeing of fibrous substances with bar-
wood, but applicable when employing other dye wares. In the employment
of barwood it is necessary to maintain a continuous boil of the liquor with
the wood, either in chips or raspings, loose in the vessel during the process of
dyeing, and heretofore the fibrous substances to be dyed have been placed
therein, the wood or other dye ware mixing freely with and adhering to the
fibrous substances, to remove which is exceedingly difficult, and the adhering
of the wood or wares produces unevenness in the dye. To remedy this evil I
employ a perforated false bottom in the dye vessel so placed as to give room
underneath for the wood.or other wares to be;boiled, as usual, which I make

page_text: of wire gauze or other suitable material, and of such mesh or size of perfora-
tions as to prevent the wood or wares from passing through it, thereby
filtering the liquor. By this means fibrous substances can be dyed in the
usual manner or process without the chips or other wares coming into contact
therewith, thus avoiding the difficulty of removal thereof, and obtaining a
more even dye.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Ashton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ASHTON, of Heywood, in the County of Lancaster, and Mytholmroyd, in the
County of York, Dyer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Ashton, Her special license that I, the said George Ashton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Ashton, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DYEING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR
THAT PURPOSE,",upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said George
Ashton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands 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 George Ashton, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment (that is to say):-
This Invention relates chiefly to the dyeing of fibrous substances with bar-

page_text: wood, but applicable when employing other dye wares. In the employment
of barwood it is necessary to maintain a continuous boil of the liquor with
the wood, either in chips or raspings, loose in the vessel during the process of
dyeing; and heretofore the fibrous substances to be dyed have been placed
therein, the wood or other dye wares mixing freely with and adhering to the
fibrous substances, to remove which is exceedingly difficult, and the adhering
of the wood or wares produces unevenness in the dye. To remedy this evil I
employ a perforated false bottom in the dye vessel, so placed as to give room
underneath for the wood or other wares to be boiled, as usual, which I make
of wire gauze or other suitable material, and of such mesh or size of perfora-
tions as to prevent the wood or wares from passing through it, thereby
filtering the liquor. By this means fibrous substances can be dyed in the
usual way or process without the chips or other wares coming into contact
therewith, thus avoiding the difficulty of removal thereof, and obtaining a
more even dye.
In order that this Invention may be more clearly understood, I have given
reference to an accompanying Sheet of Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a longi-
tudinal and vertical section of a dye vessel with my improvements applied
thereto; and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
A is the perforated false bottom, which is made of fine copper wire gauze
fixed on a wood frame, similar to a wire gauze window blind, and to
strengthen or support the gauze a strong wire netting B is placed on each
each side thereof, and fixed to the wood frame; also a number of iron ribs C-
are fixed across the said frame. This frame is attached to another frame D
by pins and cotters d, but may be secured by screw bolts or other convenient
means, so as to be readily removed for the introduction of the barwood, or
other dye wood or wares beneath it into the vessel. Also for the more ready
removal of the spent wood or wares another similar sheet of wire gauze E
is fixed near to the bottom of the frame D, and supported by strong wire
netting, the whole thus forming a box or vessel with perforated bottom and
lid, so that the wood or other wares employed may be introduced or placed
therein when out of the dye vessel and the lid secured, and then the box or
vessel lowered into the dye vessel, from which it can be lifted out again when
the wood or wares are spent to be removed, and a fresh supply introduced.
It will now be seen that barwood, logwood, fustic, or other dye woods or
wares may be employed loosely in the vessel, or so as to admit of moving
freely in the dye vessel, and not to be in contact with the fibrous substances
being dyed, the dye liquor only passing through the gauze, by which it is
filtered into the upper part of the vessel, consequently fibrous substances may

page_text: be dyed in the usual manner, and at the same time avoiding or preventing the
evil complained of, by the wood or other wares mixing therewith during the
operation or process of dyeing. And if during the process the liquor becomes
too weak or not of sufficient strength, an additional supply of the wood or
wares may be introduced through the spout or pipe F.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details of the apparatus herein set forth;
but what I claim as of my Invention is, the method of employing barwood
or other dye woods or wares in the process of dyeing fibrous substances by
having a perforated false bottom in the dye vessel to prevent the wood or
wares coming into contact with the fibrous substances being dyed.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ashton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named George Ashton, in the
presence of
W. TASKER, Patent Agent,
Halifax.
GEORGE ASHTON. (L.s.)