IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FLAX AND OTHER SIMILAR VEGETABLE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Buchanan, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF FLAX AND OTHER SIMILAR VEGETABLE FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Scaled the 5th March 1853, and dated the 6th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Buchanan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th December 1852.
I, JAMES BUCHANAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FLAX AND OTHER SIMILAR VEGETABLE
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be
as follows:
The flax straw or other vegetable fibrous substance to be operated
upon is placed in an open vat (No. 1) of a certain capacity &
having a perforated false bottom.
Alongside of this vat is placed a chest. No. 2, wh communicates
by means of a pipe with the bottom of No. 1, in which the flax, &c.
is placed.

page_text: This chest (No. 2) is connected by means of a pipe with a boiler
(No. 3), wh is used for the purpose of generating power to drive
the machinery, & also of furnishing the supply of steam, hot
water, & hot air requisite for the process.
Having charged the chest (No. 2) with water, sufficient in quan-
tity to fill up the vat (No. 1), steam is turned into it from the boiler
(No. 3). This is rapidly condensed by the water, wh gradually
rises in temperature; and as soon as it reaches boiling point, &
is unable to condense, it is driven thro' the communication pipe
into No. 1, gradually covering the substances placed therein.
When the immersion is complete, self-acting valves are arranged,
by which the supply of steam from No. 3 is cut off, & at the
same time a jet of cold water is turned into the chest No. 2. This
immediately condenses the steam, & causes a partial vacuum, to
compensate for which the fluid is withdrawn from the vat No. 1,
leaving its contents in a comparatively dry state. These operations
are repeated as often as may be necessary.
When the desired condition is obtained, air heated & deprived
of its moisture is driven thro' another pipe, wh communicates
with the bottom of vat No. 1. This hot air passes up thro' the
contents of the vat & carries off the moisture that may still
remain in the substance operated upon.
The entire operation of steeping & drying is then complete, & the
substance is then ready for scutching.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said James Buchanan in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 6th June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES BUCHANAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the

page_text: sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, IIer heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Buchanan, Her
special licence that I, the said James Buchanan, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Buchanan, 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 THE TREATMENT OF FLAX AND OTHER
SIMILAR VEGETABLE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED
THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Buchanan, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 James Buchanan, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed (that is to say):
My improvements in the treatment of flax and other similar
vegetable fibres consist, Firstly, in the temperature of the water used
in the steeping process; Secondly, in the mode by which the
steeping is effected; Thirdly, the mechanical arrangements em-
ployed; and, Fourthly, the mode and mechanical means for drying
the steeped straw.
In reference to the temperature of the water, I take in the first
instance water raised to the boiling point in the manner herein-after
explained, and mix it in the steeping vat with sufficient cold water
to reduce it below 180° Fahrenheit, keeping it at a regulated tem-
perature during the whole period of steeping between 150° and 180°,
which I find to be the most advantageous temperature for effecting

page_text: my purpose. The mode by which the steeping is effected is by a
series of immersions in heated water, and this I do by means of the
following mechanical arrangements:-I take an open vessel of
suitable size and shape, made of wood or other material I, which I
call the steeping vat, having a false bottom (2), in which I place
flax or other substance to be operated upon; alongside of this I
place another closed vessel made steam tight II, which I call the
condenser, and which communicates with the lower part of the
steeping vat, by means of a pipe (4), and on the other side by a
pipe (3) with the steam boiler III.
The condenser having been filled with water from the cistern IV,
by means of the pipe 10, the steam is turned on from the boiler,
and passing into the condenser, rapidly heats its contents.
As soon
as it is raised to 212°, and condensation no longer takes place, the
hot water is driven over the pipe 4, to the steeping vat I, where it
mixes with the proportion of cold water, and completely immerses
the flax, &c. contained in it: the process of immersion is then
complete, and this is repeated as often as required. The water
then runs out by the overflow pipe 5, falls into the overflow bucket
VI, which is suspended by the chain 7, 7, 7, working over the
pullies 8, 8, 8, which are keyed on to the cold water cock 12, and
steam cock 9, the empty bucket being balanced by the weights 17,
and 18. As soon as the bucket is filled, it overcomes the resistance
of the balance weights, and acting upon the pullies, it reverses the
cocks, turning on the cold water, and cutting off the steam; con-
densation rapidly takes place in II, and the liquid is immediately
drawn back from I into the condenser II. When the bucket
has reached its full descent the conical valve 15, is lifted, by striking
against the fixed pin 16, and its contents are discharged into a tank
placed below. The balance weights.17, and 18 then resume their
original power, draw back the pullies, and again reverse the action
of the cocks, cutting off the cold water, and turning on the steam,
when the operation of immersion immediately recommences. The
duration of each immersion may readily be regulated, by fixing a
cock on overflow pipe; the first, I consider, should not be less than

page_text: half an hour. At the end of the operation the concentrated steep
liquor remains in the condenser, and is discharged into a tank, and
may be used for feeding purposes.
-
The mode and mechanical means for drying the steeped goods
are as follows: Across the chimney of the boiler III, I fix a
certain number of porous carthenware pipes 20, 20, communicating
on the one side with the hot air pipe 19, which discharges under
the false bottom of the steep vat I, and on the other with a blower
26, driven by power. Motion is given to the blower, and air is
rapidly driven through the pipes 20, by which it is deprived of its
moisture, and also raised to a suitable temperature; it is then dis-
charged by the pipe 19, and passing up through the steeped goods,
it absorbs and carries off the moisture necessary to be removed. The
flax, &c. is then ready for rolling and scutching. The temperature
of the air may easily be regulated by the speed of the blower. I
prefer to use dry air of a moderate temperature, about 80° to 100°.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that
I claim,
Firstly, the mode of effecting the steeping process by a series of
immersions.
Secondly, the temperature at which these immersions are made.
Thirdly, the mechanical arrangements by which the immersions
are effected.
Fourthly, the mode and arrangements by which the steeped
straw is dried, all as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Buchanan, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JAMES BUCHANAN. (L.S.)