IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOL AND OTHER MATERIALS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Brailsford Bright, of 11, Delahay Street, West-
minster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOL AND OTHER MATERIALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Brailsford Bright
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1878.
EDWARD BRAILSFORD BRIGHT, of 11, Delahay Street, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOL
AND OTHER MATERIALS."
In my Invention I withdraw or neutralise the electricity from materials, such
as wool, hair, etc., which are.subject to electrification during the process of manu-
facture.
With this object I place such electrified wool, hair, or other materials in a closed
cylindrical or other shaped chamber, the interior of which is electrically connected
with the earth, and by means of an air pump or other suitable apparatus I exhaust
or partially exhaust the air contained in such chamber, and by this operation the
electricity is withdrawn from the fibres and pores of the material.
Other conducting gases or vapours may be used instead of rarefied air.
In another part of my Invention, I apply electricity of the opposite character to
that of the wool, hair, or other materials for the purpose of neutralising their
electrical condition.
I also in some cases enclose in chambers that part of the manufacturing machinery
where the electrification has hitherto occurred, and by suitable pneumatic apparatus
I cause the air in such chambers to be rarefied or exhausted, when requisite, after
closing the doors or openings of such chambers. Such chambers may be internally
connected electrically with the earth or with apparatus supplying neutralising
electricity.

page_text: The feeding of the machines may be carried on by the action of the pneumatic
apparatus of such chambers.
Portions of such chambers are constructed of glass, so that supervision during the
process of manufacture may be exercised.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Brailsford Bright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th August 1878.
EDWARD BRAILSFORD BRIGHT, of 11, Delahay Street, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOL
AND OTHER MATERIALS.'
In the manufacture of wool and other materials, such as hair, silk, and cotton, it
is found that they become electrified by the friction of the carding, combing, drawing,
and other machines, especially under certain conditions of temperature and atmo-
sphere, by which difficulty and delay are occasioned in the successive processes of
the manufacture.
Endeavours have been made to obviate this difficulty, without however attaining
the desired result, by letting steam into the working rooms and by other methods.
Air in its ordinary state is a very imperfect conductor of electricity, but when
rarefied or considerably exhausted, it becomes a good conductor of electricity of
high tension, such as that generated by the friction produced by machinery.
In my Invention I place the electrified wool, hair, or other materials in a metallic
chamber, the door or lid of which can be closed so as to render it air-tight, such
chamber being in electrical connection with the earth. By means of an air pump
or other suitable apparatus I then rarefy the air contained in such chamber until
the electricity accumulated in or upon the wool or other materials is discharged.
Where the machinery by which the electricity is produced is self-feeding and of
such a character that it can be encased without practically interfering with the
procese of manufacture, I cover it with an air-tight metallic chamber, and by
rarefying the air I prevent the development of any electricity in the materials.
A portion of the metallic chamber may be made of glass of sufficient strength
whereby the process of manufacture may be watched.
The chambers may be of any convenient form and dimensions suitable to the
works in which they are placed, and an air pump may be connected with a pipe or
pipes leading to such chambers and fitted with cocks by which the exhaustion of
air in the chambers may be commenced or stopped when required. The chambers
are also to be fitted with cocks to admit the outer air when required.
.
Other conducting gases or vapours may be employed in my Invention instead of
rarefied air, but I prefer the employment of rarefied air.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is, the application

page_text: of rarefied air or other electrically conducting gases or vapours in closed chambers,
as described, for the purpose of discharging electricity or of preventing the develop-
ment of electricity during the manufacture of wool, hair, silk, cotton, and other
materials.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Brailsford Bright, have hereunto set
iny hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
E. B. BRIGHT. (L.S.)