IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR NEUTRALIZING THE ACID IN EXTRACT FIBRE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, SAMUEL LAW, of Low Lane, Birstal near Leeds, in the County of York, Wool
Extractor do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR NEUTRALIZING THE ACID IN EXTRACT FIBRE, to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for neutralizing the
acid contained in wool, silk or other animal fibre, after it has undergone the
operation of carbonization or extracting the vegetable fibre therefrom, and has for
its object the preparation of the extracted animal fibre in such a manner that it is
available for felting purposes, and will effectually take the "dye" without having
to wash the fibre as is now the common practice.
I accomplish my object in the following manner:-I construct a rectangular
casing and line the same with lead or other suitable metal, and inside the casing I
mount a series of rollers upon which I place an endless gauze sheet.
The animal fibre to be neutralized is fed on to this endless sheet by an apron,
and travels to and fro through the rectangular casing and is delivered at the
opposite end of the same.
In order to neutralize any acid that may be in the animal fibre as it is passing.
through the apparatus, I construct a perforated platform in the interior a little
above the bottom of the apparatus, and cover the same with a woollen bed upon
which I place sulphate of ammonia and sprinkle the same with a diluted solution
of ammonia supplied to the interior through funnels in connection with perforated
pipes fixed above the woollen bed.
Between the perforated platform and the bottom of the apparatus, I secure two
sets of steam pipes, one of them being perforated and the steam arising therefrom
generates the fumes from the chemicals on the woollen bed, which pass through.
the fibre and neutralize any acid on the same. The other set of steam pipes are
not perforated, but give off the necessary heat in the interior to disolve the crystal
and thus assist in the generation of the fumes.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, SAMUEL LAW of Low Lane, Birstal, near Leeds, in the County of York, Wool
Extractor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR NEUTRALIZING THE ACID IN EXTRACT
FIBRE," 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 certain improvements in apparatus for neutralizing the
acid in wool, silk, or other. animal fibre, after it has undergone the operation of
carbonization for extracting the vegetable fibre therefrom; and has for its object,
the preparation of the extracted fibre so that it is available for felting purposes,
and will effectually take the "dye" without having to wash the fibre as is now ]
the common practice after carbonization.
The invention consists in passing the carbonized fibre through a rectangular
casing lined with lead or other suitable metal; and is also fitted with rollers, upon
which are mounted endless sheets that convey the fibre through the apparatus, and
thereby subject it to the fumes arising from the chemicals distributed inside the
casing, or formed in a separate vessel; in either case the interior of the casing is
heated by a series of steam pipes.
Such being the object and nature of my invention, I will now describe the same
more in detail, by making reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig 1.
represents the side elevation of my apparatus with one side. removed in order to
shew the interior; and Fig 2. is a cross section through the same.
The exterior or frame of the rectangular casing is indicated by the letter A. and
is lined with lead or other suitable metal. Upon the shafts S, extending the
full width of the casing and mounted in suitable journals, I secure pitch chain
pullies B, upon each set of which I place an endless sheet of gauze C, C¹, and C²: 2
and impart motion to the same by the pullies D, and spur gearing E, and E¹.
The animal fibre to be neutralized is fed on the traversing apron F, which is
driven by the pinion wheels G: and on dropping on to the endless gauze sheet C,
travels in the direction of the arrow; then dropping to the endless sheet C¹ travels
in the opposite direction when it again drops on to sheet C2 which delivers it into 3
a suitable receptacle placed under the brackets at H.
The fumes for neutralizing the acid may be generated by covering the perforated
platform J, with a woollen bed, upon which is placed a covering of sulphate of
Ammonia which is sprinkled with a diluted solution of ammonia periodically
supplied to the interior through the funnels K; connected with the perforated 3
pipes L, fixed above the woollen bed. Below the perforated platform J, I secure
some steam pipes, M, which are also perforated, the steam from the same passing
through the sulphate of ammonia on the woollen bed, generates the fumes by
which the acid on the fibre is neutralized whilst it is passing through the apparatus
on the endless sheets of gauze; the necessary. heat in the interior being obtained 4
from the steam pipes N. placed near the bottom of the apparatus.

page_text: My object may be accomplished by generating the fumes in
separate vessel
similar to that shewn in sectional elevation by Fig 3. In the interior of the vessel,
I place a quantity of ammonia, mixed or diluted with fresh burnt lime: steam is
admitted and conveyed to near the bottom of the vessel by pipe P, by which the
ammonia is dissolved, and the gas or fumes generated are conveyed from the
vessel to the neutralizing apparatus by pipe R, connected to the perforated pipes M,
underneath the perforated platform J, through which the fumes pass and neutralize
the fibre as it travels through the apparatus in the manner as before described.
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
Apparatus fitted with endless sheets of gauze C. C¹ and C² for neutralizing the
acid on carbonized fibre, arranged substantially in the manner described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of April 1885.
WAUGH & CHAPMAN,
Agents for the Applicant,
70, Chancery Lane, W.C.