IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE PREPARATION OF THE FIBRE OF THE STALK OF THE COTTON PLANT AND THE UTILISATION OF THE GAME
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wheaton of Brooklyn in the County of Kings and
State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, for an invention
of
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE PREPARATION OF THE FIBRE
OF THE STALK OF THE COTTON PLANT AND THE UTILISATION OF THE GAME
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wheaton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1882.
FRANK WHEATON of Brooklyn in the County of Kings, and State of New York
United States of America Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
PREPARATION OF THE FIBRE OF THE STALK OF THE COTTON PLANT, AND THE
UTILIZATION OF THE SAME IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS
OR ARTICLES
"
This invention relates to a process hereinafter described for disintegrating the
fibre of the stalk of the cotton plant and to the treatment and preparation the
same for various useful purposes.
There are several fibrous parts of the cotton plant, such as the fibre of the cotton
itself, that of the bark of the stalk and that of the root, besides others differing in
quality and characteristics. Practically these fibres alone, except that of the cotton,
have been of little benefit, if not almost useless. I have discovered that the fibre
of the stalk separated from the pith, bark and ligneous parts of the stalk, and
properly treated as hereinafter described (having long thread and light yet strong
texture, both soft and silky, and readily yielding to and preserving an inexpensive
bleaching when desirable) is of great value, and serviceable in various ways, while
it is very inexpensive, and can be woven into bagging and spun or woven into
fabrics by the ordinary machines in use for such work, and can also be made into
paper and various articles.
I am aware that it has been sought to make articles from the said fibre used with
leaves, on the pith, wood, or root and the bark of the stalk, but in practice all these
combinations have proved failures. The parts used with the fibre and supposed
ID 17

page_text: to be necessary, actually destroyed the value which the cotton-stalk fibre, when
wholly separated and properly prepared as herein described really possesses.
In carrying out my invention I take the stalks and branches in their green state,
or after maturity, (cutting off the stalks near the ground) and strip the leaves
therefrom immediately after, or as soon as possible after they have been cut; the
stalks and branches are then passed through rollers in order to crush them, or they
may be retted in, any of the ordinary methods of retting jute or hemp, so that the
bark can easily be separated from the pith and woody or ligneous portions of the
stalk.
I then take the bark in a dry state that is after drying it in the sun for two or
three hours, or in a house or enclosure for one day or more, and pass it through
corrugated rollers, in order to scutch or break the outer covering from its fibrous
parts; then by carding or hackling, I get the fibre.
Having obtained the fibre in the manner above described, and prepared the same
I weave it into bagging, and spin or weave it into fabrics by the ordinary machines
in use for such work. I spin and make it into yarns, threads, twines, cordage, and
ropes, and weave it into sacks, covers, cloths and various other articles. I prepare
the same also for wadding purposes, and for packing or stuffing pillows, cushions,
mattresses, chairs, sofas, horse-collars, and for other padding and stuffing, and
also for caulking.
I also take the prepared fibre and steep it in a solution of caustic ammonia, one
pound to each one hundred and fifty pounds of clear water, kept at a temperature
of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit for thirty hours. Any other alkaline solution may
be used being of suitable strength.
According to another process I boil the fibre in a solution of caustic soda con-
taining from six to eight per cent of caustic soda keeping the same at a temperature
of about 150 degrees Fahrenheit for twelve hours or more. Caustic potash, lime, or
resin soap may be substituted for the caustic soda.
After cleansing the same by washing, the fibre will then be in the proper state
for the cutting, beating, or grinding processes such as are employed to make pulp
of rags, by which means I work it into a pulp fit and ready for the "finishing
engine" so called, ordinarily used in the manufacture of paper, whereby I make it
into paper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wheaton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th September
1882.
FRANK WHEATON, of Brooklyn, in the County of King's and State of New York,
United States of America, Gentleman, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
PREPARATION OF THE FIBRE OF THE STALK OF THE COTTON PLANT AND THE
UTILIZATION OF THE SAME IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS
OR ARTICLES
"
This Invention relates to a process hereinafter described for disintegrating the
fibre of the stalk of the cotton plant, and to the treatment and preparation of the
same for various useful purposes.
There are several fibrous parts of the cotton plant, such as the fibre of the cotton
itself, that of the bark of the stalk, and that of the root, differing in characteristics.
These fibres alone, except that of cotton, have hitherto been almost entirely useless.
The said invention is based upon a discovery that the fibre of the stalk, separated
from the pith, bark, and ligneous portions of the stalk, with its long thread, its
light yet strong texture, both soft and silky, properly treated as hereinafter
described, is of great value and very serviceable in various ways, while it is
inexpensive and easily prepared.
According to one part of my invention I disintegrate cotton stalks whereby I
produce, when properly prepared, a long, strong, and valuable staple, light, durable,
and soft and silky in its nature, readily yielding to, and preserving an inexpensive
bleaching.
Fibre obtained in this manner can be woven into bagging, cloths, and different
fabrics; it can also be made into paper; and be used in the manufacture of yarns,
threads, twines, cordage, ropes and wadding, and also for stuffing pillows, cushions,
mattresses, chairs, sofas, and horse collars and for other padding, stuffing, and
calking.
I am aware that heretofore endeavours have been made to manufacture articles
from the fibre used with leaves, or the pith, wood, or root and the bark of the stalk,
but in practice all these combinations have proved failures. The parts used with
the fibre and supposed to be necessary, actually destroyed the value which the
cotton stalk fibre (when wholly separated and properly prepared as herein described)
really possesses.
In carrying this invention into practice, I take the stalks and branches in their
green state, or after maturity cutting off the stalks near the ground, and stripping
the leaves therefrom. Immediately thereafter, or as soon as possible, the stalks
and branches are passed through rollers, in order to crush them, or they are retted
in any of the ordinary manners of retting, so that the bark can be easily separated
from the pith and woody or ligneous portions. I then take the bark in a dry state,
that is, after drying it in the sun for two or three hours, or in a house or enclosure
for one day or more, and pass it through corrugated rollers in order to scutch or
brake the outer covering from its fibrous parts. Then by carding or hackling I get
the fibre.
Having obtained the fibre in the manner above described it can be woven into
bagging and other fabrics or spun into yarns, threads, or the like by the ordinary
machines used for such purposes.
In manufacturing paper according to this invention, having prepared the fibre in
the manner specified and described, I steep the said fibre in a solution of caustic
ammonia, one pound to each one hundred and fifty pounds of clear water, kept at a

page_text: temperature of about one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, for thirty hours (any other
alkaline solution may be used being of suitable strength); or I boil it in a solution
of caustic soda, six to eight per cent caustic to water, keeping the same at a
temperature of about one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, for twelve hours or
more. Caustic potash, lime, or resin-soap may be substituted for the caustic soda.
After cleansing the same by washing, the fibre will then be in the proper state for
the cutting, beating, or grinding process (such as is used to make pulp of rags) by
which I work it into a pulp fit and ready for the "finishing engine," ordinarily
used in the manufacture of paper.
Some advantages, amongst others, of this invention are cheapness, strength,
quality and great durability.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I claim,
First. The method of disintegrating cotton stalks, consisting in separating the
fibre from the stalk by passing through rollers or by retting, then drying, then
scutching or breaking, and then carding or hackling the same, thus producing a
staple of the fibre alone, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. Staple formed of disintegrating cotton stalks having the fibre separated
therefrom, preserved, and prepared, substantially as set forth.
Third. A woven fabric such as bagging or cloth covers, made of the fibre of the
cotton-plant stalk separated, prepared and woven, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The separation of the fibre from the stalk of the cotton-plant, and the
spinning of the same, when prepared substantially as described, into yarns, threads
or other articles, as set forth.
Fifth. The fibre separated from the cotton-stalk and dried and prepared,
substantially as set forth, for wadding, stuffing, and calking.
Sixth. The fibre of the cotton-plant separated from the bark and stalk, and
prepared, steeped or boiled, cut, beaten, or ground and finished for the manufacture
of paper, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Frank Wheaton have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 28th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.
Witness:-
JOHN THEALL
State of New York
City and County of New York
} U.S.
FRANK WHEATON. (L.S.)
On this twenty eighth day of July A.D. 1882 before me personally came and
appeared Frank Wheaton to me known to be the individual described in and who
executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged that he executed the same.
JOHN THEALL
A