IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES FOR TREATING, PREPARING. AND COMBING CERTAIN FIBROUS MATERIALS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THESE PURPOSES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tongue, of Chryssell Road, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROCESSES FOR TREATING, PREPARING. AND COMBING CERTAIN FIBROUS
MATERIALS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THESE
PURPOSES"
Sealed the 17th January 1862, and dated the 11th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tongue, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th November 1861.
I, WILLIAM TONGUE, of Chryssell Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROCESSES FOR TREATING, PREPARING, AND COMBING CERTAIN FIBROUS
MATERIALS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THESE PURPOSES;"
to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists in an arrangement of machinery for
breaking and removing the wood and other matter from flax, hemp, and other
similar fibrous materials. In this machinery the material may be fed by a
pair of ordinary rollers, and then passed through two or more pairs of
rollers, which have an up-and-down, or to-and-fro motion communicated
to them as they conduct the fibrous material through the machine, the
fibrous material being caused to assume an undulating line first in one
direction and then in another. This part of my Invention also consists

page_text: in causing for the above purpose, two pairs of rollers to more to and fro or up
and down together, in such a relative position to one another and to two pairs
of stationary rollers, that as the two pairs of rollers first mentioned move as
described between the two pairs of stationary feed and delivery rollers the
fibrous material will be caused to remain in a state of tension. This part of
my Invention also consists in causing the rollers which conduct the fibrous
materials through the above-mentioned machines to revolve first in one direc-
tion and then in the opposite direction; the amount of revolution of such
rollers being more in the forward than in the backward direction, so as to
conduct the fibrous material step by step through the machine. This part
of my Invention also consists in the application of a reciprocating feed
motion such as last described to the machinery described in the Specification
of a Patent granted to Edward Braiser, dated June 12th, 1857, No. 1651;
and also to that described in the Specification of a Patent granted to
Henry Gardner, dated February 12th, 1859, No. 404.
The second part of my Invention consists in a method of treating the fibres
taken from the stems of the "Pederia foetida," order "Convolvulacea," a
creeping or climbing plant growing in Assam and other parts of Eastern
Asia. According to this part of my Invention the above fibrous material
must first be steeped in an alcaline solution (by preference heated), and
afterwards bleached, if desired; the fibres being washed from time to time
during the process, and the fibres while undergoing such process may be
placed in bags, or trays, or otherwise as is well understood.
The fibres after having been treated as above described, have a soft and.
silky appearance, which renders them extremely valuable for manufacturing
purposes.
The third part of my Invention consists in giving motion, by preference an
üp-and-down motion, to trays containing certain fibrous material immersed
in an alkaline or other solution, when such trays are formed with transverse
divisions as described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Edward
Blake, dated September 6th, 1859, No. 2036. The object of this motion
is to cause the alkaline or other solution in which the fibre is immersed to
permeate more thoroughly through such fibrous material. And this part
of my Invention consists in giving motion, for the purpose above described,
when operating upon the fibres taken from the stalks or stems of the
following plants, namely: the "Boehmeria nivea" the Boehmeria puya," the
"Pederia foetida," the "Marsdenia tenacissima," the "Urtica heterophilla,"
the "Calotropis gigantea," and the "Beaumontia grandiflora," the above
plants being more fully described in other parts of this Specification.

page_text: The fourth part of my Invention consists in so constructing the steeping or
boiling apparatus (when treating the fibrous materials mentioned in the third
part of my Invention) fully described in the Specifi of the Patent granted
to E. Blake before referred to, that the whole of the trays containing the fibrous
material may be readily submerged & removed altogether at one and the
same time, in place of removing the trays one by one as hitherto practised,
this arrangement effecting a considerable saving of time and labor. For this
purpose the whole of the trays containing the fibrous material are supported
in a frame, which can be submerged in the steeping tank & withdrawn
therefrom by means of a crane or other lifting apparatus, so that the whole
series of trays may be placed on a truck & conducted away; or the crane or
other lifting apparatus may be so constructed & arranged that when the trays
are withdrawn from the steeping apparatus, it may conduct them away to the
washing rollers or other apparatus employed in subsequent operations.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in fixing spikes or pins into the
trays mentioned in the third and fourth parts of my Invention, such spikes
or pins acting so as to hold the fibrous material as it is first placed in the
tray, and so preventing the disarrangement and entanglement of the fibres.
The sixth part of my Invention consists in passing the fibrous materials
mentioned in the third part of my Invention, after it has been steeped, boiled,
or bleached, through a pair or a series of pairs of rollers, fluted or otherwise,
other pairs of rollers having an up-and-down motion, and fluted or otherwise,
being arranged to work in front of or between such first-mentioned pairs of
rollers, so as to have a rubbing, shaking, and softening effect on the fibre,
which, as it passes through the machine, is caused to assume undulating lines,
first in one direction and then in the other; and when the fibrous materials
have been operated upon as above described, they will be in a much more
suitable state for the dressing, heckling, or combing operations. And it may
be here remarked that in place of one or more pairs of rollers having up-and-
down motions being arranged to work with one or more pairs of stationary
rollers as above described, all the pairs of rollers may have an up-and-down
or a to-and-fro motion communicated to them. In place of passing the fibrous
materials through rollers arranged as above described, it may be passed
through openings in a series of frames having an up-and-down or a to-and-fro
motion imparted thereto, and, if desired, the fibrous materials may be enclosed
between two fabrics whilst passing through such frames or rollers, and the
rollers which conduct the fibrous material through the above-mentioned
machines may revolve continuously in one direction, or they may revolve first
in one direction and then in the opposite direction, the amount of revolution

page_text: of such rollers being more in the forward direction than backwards, so as
by degrees or step by step to conduct the fibrous material forward.
The seventh part of my Invention consists in the use of milk in the treat-
ment of certain fibrous materials, so as to render them more flexible, and give
them superior spinning properties. The fibrous materials which I propose to
treat as above described are taken from the stalks or shoots of the following
plants, namely, the "Boehmeria nivea," "Boehmeria puya," and other slightly
different varieties of the species "Boehmeria," order "Urticaceæ," the fibres of
which are known as "rhea fibre," the plants growing in India, Assam, and
other parts of Eastern Asia; also the "urtica " or " girardinia," hetero-
philla" or the "neilgherry nettle" of the order "Urticaceæ;" also the
"Pederia foetida," order "Convolvulace," and the "Marsdenia tenacissima,"
order "Asclepiadacea" (native name "jettee fibre"), the two last named being
creeping or climbing plants growing in Assam and other parts of Eastern
Asia; also the "Calotropis gigantea," order "Asclepiadaceæ," growing in
various parts of the Indian peninsula, the fibre from which is known as the
"mudar" or "yercum" fibre; also the "Beaumontia grandiflora," a tropi-
cal plant of the order "Apocynaceæ." The fibres from the above plants
may be treated by any of the well known steeping or retting processes with or
without the aid of chemical solutions, but I prefer to treat the fibrous materials
according to the process described in the Specification of a Patent granted to
Francis Montgomery Jennings, dated Nov 15th, 1852, No. 756, or according
to the process described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Edward
Blake, dated Sep. 6th, 1859, No. 3026. The above-named fibrous materials,
after being prepared as above described, must be dressed, heckled, or combed
on combing, heckling, or silk-dressing machinery suited to the purpose, so as
to split or refine the fibres; and before or after combing or dressing the
fibrous materials, as above described, the fibrous materials are submitted to
the action of milk, either by steeping or by sprinkling, or otherwise applying
the same, so as to render the aforesaid fibres more flexible, and this part of
my Invention consists in so treating the fibrous materials above mentioned.
The eighth part of my Invention consists in combing the "noil" or tow
made in heckling, dressing, or combing the fibrous materials described in the
seventh part of my Invention, as it is found that a valuable "top" may be
obtained from "the noil," which may be applied to superior purposes than
has hitherto been the case. In order to carry out this part of my Invention,
the "noil" or tow above mentioned must be carded or otherwise brought into
a continuous sliver, then drawn, and afterwards taken to a combing machine;
and it may here be remarked that for this purpose it is preferred to use the

page_text: "
machinery described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Samuel
Cunliffe Lister and James Warburton, dated December 13th, 1859, No. 2832,
but other combing machines may be adapted to this purpose, as any of the
machines used for combing short stapled fibres will answer for this purpose.
This part of my Invention also consists in so treating the "noil" or "tow"
produced in heckling or dressing the fibrous materials described in the first
part of my Invention that the long fibres may be assorted and separated from
the short fibres. In order to accomplish this, the combing machine inust be
so arranged that by means of several successive pairs of drawing rollers, each
pair of drawing rollers being set nearer to the travelling comb than the
previous pair; one or more slivers of the fibrous materials may be drawn, the
first pair of rollers drawing out the longest fibres, and the second pair
the shorter ones. This part of my Invention also consists in separating into
various lengths the combed fibre or "top" from the above named fibrous
materials when such "tops" have been prepared on flax heckling or silk-
dressing machinery, The "tops," when so prepared, are found to contain a
number of short fibres, which in some cases it is desirable to remove; this
can be accomplished in various ways, either by passing the bundles of dressed
fibre through a machine similar to that described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to Charles de Jongh, dated May 21st, 1856, No. 1211, or
by passing the dressed or heckled fibres after being formed into a sliver
through a combing machine, using for this purpose any of the machines
well known in the worsted or cotton manufactures and in machines where
the fibre is placed in the form of tufts, or a beard on to a travelling comb;
it is preferred to work with several pairs of drawing rollers, so as to produce
several slivers of various lengths of fibre, as above described.
The ninth part of my Invention consists in cutting the fibrous materials
enumerated below, either before or after retting, boiling, or steeping into short
lengths varying, say, from one inch to two inches, so that they may be spun
on cotton machinery. The fibrous materials which is is proposed to treat in
this manner are obtained from the stems or shoots of the following plants,
namely, the "Boehmeria nivea," "Boehmeria puya," and other slightlydifferent
varieties of the species "Boehmeria," the "Urtica heterophilla," the "Pederia
foetida," the "Marsdenia tenacissima, the "Calotropis gigantea," and the
"Beaumontia grandiflora; " also the "noils" or "tow "produced in dressing
or heckling the above fibrous materials. This part of my Invention is carried
out by means of an ordinary silk-cutting engine or otherwise. The fibrous
materials being cut into short lengths, as described, either before or after the
retting or steeping process referred to in the seventh part of my Invention.

page_text: If the fibres, are cut previously to the retting or steeping, or boiling process,
they must, after cutting, be subjected to such process, and after they have
been dried they may be carded and spun on ordinary cotton machinery, as is
well understood. In carrying out this part of my Invention when dealing
with the "noils" of the various fibres above mentioned, they must be carded
and brought into a sliver, then cut and worked afterwards, as above described.
After the fibres above named have been cut and carded, as above described,
they may be combed on similar machinery to that used for cotton or silk noils;
and this part of my Invention also consists in combing the fibres prepared by
cutting and carding, as above described, of the "Bochmeria nivea," the
"Bochmeria puya," and other slightly different varieties of the species
"Boehmeria," the "Urtica heterophilla," the "Pederia factida," the "Marsdenia
tenacissimia," the "Calotropis gigantea," and the "Beaumontia grandiflora."
The tenth part of my Invention consists in carding the fibrous materials
enumerated below, after being steeped, boiled, or retted either by the pro-
cesses described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Edward Blake,
before referred to in the seventh part of my Invention, or by any other known
process. The fibrous materials which it is proposed so to card are obtained
from the stalks or skins of the following plants, namely, the "Boehmeria
nivea," the "Bochmeria puya," and other slightly different varieties of the
species "Boehmeria," the "Urtica heterophilla," the "Pederia factida," the
"Marsdenia tenacissima," the "Calotropis gigantea," and the "Beaumontia
grandiflora." The object of carding the above-named fibrous materials, as
above described, is to prepare them for a combing operation; for this purpose
it is preferred to use a tow or flax carding engine, but other constructions of
carding engines will answer the same purpose. When the fibrous materials
have been carded, as above described, they may be passed through a gill box
or other drawing operation, and then taken to a combing machine. And it may
be here remarked that though any of the combing machines at present known
and in use will answer for this purpose, it is preferred to use the machinery
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Samuel Cunliffe Lister
and James Warburton, Dated December 13th, 1859, No. 1211, before
referred to, though the use of this machine does not constitute any part of
this part of my Invention, which consists in a combined carding and combing
process as applied to the various fibrous materials above named.
The eleventh part of my Invention consists in preparing for combing,
heckling, or dressing certain fibrous materials by means of drawing operations.
The fibrous materials which it is here proposed to treat in this manner are
obtained from the stems and shoots of the following plants, namely, the

page_text: "Boehmeria nivea," the "Boehmeria puya," and other slightly different
varieties of the species "Boehmeria," the "Urtica heterophilla," the "Pederia
foetida," the "Marsdenia tenacissima,' the "Calotropis gigantea", and the
Beaumontia grandiflora." These fibrous materials must be first steeped,
boiled, or retted, as described in the seventh part of my Invention, and then
passed through several gill or other toothed drawing operations; and in such
operations the whole or nearly the whole of the drawing must be effected by
thedrawingrollersdrawing the fibres through the toothed surfaces insteadof by
the toothed surfaces passing through the fibres presented by the feed rollers.
In performing this operation I prefer the drawing rollers to have a draught of
not less than twenty-five inches to one inch delivered by the gill porcupine
or other toothed surfaces. The fibre so drawn is collected in the form of a
lap; and I also prefer that in each successive drawing operation the gill or
porcupine, or toothed surfaces be finer and closer than in the previous drawing.
operations. After the above-named fibrous materials have been prepared as
above described, the laps must be pieced end to end at a drawing operation,
so as to form them into an endless sliver, and then taken, after being suitably
prepared as is well known and understood, to a heckling, dressing or a
combing machine. And I would here remark that any of the combing
machines at present known and in use will answer for this purpose, but I
prefer to use the machine described in the Specification of a Patent granted.
to Samuel Cunliffe Lister and James Warburton, dated December 13th,
1859, No 2832, before referred to. This part of my Invention consisting
in preparing the above-named fibrous materials, as above described.
The twelfth part of my Invention consists in a peculiar construction of
machine known as the "filling engine," and at present commonly used as a
preparatory machine to the silk-dressing frame. This machine as at present.
constructed consists of a drum armed at intervals with rows of pins, which by
the revolution of the drum detach tufts of the fibrous material from a feed
apparatus, and the machine is so constructed and arranged that the rows of
pins in detaching the tufts of fibrous material draw such fibre at an angle
from the line of feed, thereby causing great strain': upon and destruction to
such fibres. Now, this part of my Invention consists in so arranging and
constructing the "filling engine," that the fibrous material may be detached
from the feed in a straight line or nearly so, so as to avoid the above-
mentioned objection. In carrying out this part of my Invention the fibrous
material must be fed forward in a straight line by a gill or porcupine, or
other toothed surface; and in place of mounting the rows of pins upon a
drum, such rows of pins or comb bars are mounted upon an endless sheet, or

page_text: upon a chain or chains, which are caused to pass over rollers, so that the pins
after entering into the fibrous material will travel away so as to draw out the
fibres in a straight line with the feed or nearly so, the pins or teeth pointing
in the direction of their line of motion or nearly so; and, in some cases, I
prefer to mount and work the rows of pins or comb bars so that after they
have penetrated the fibrous material fed to them they are caused to make
one-fourth of a revolution or nearly so previous to travelling away from the
feed apparatus. The object of this improvement being to more effectually
lock the fibres into and among the pins. The roller over which the comb
bars pass nearest to the feed apparatus is so actuated that by the movement
of such roller the comb after penetrating the fibres presented by the feed
apparatus will be caused to travel away in a straight line or nearly so. The
movement of the roller being either governed by reason of slides acting upon
the comb bars or by separate mechanical contrivances. The filling engine,
constructed as above described, may be used to prepare any of the fibres pre-
viously mentioned, or for silk or flax, as is well understood. This part of my
Invention consisting in constructing a filling engine, as above described.
The thirteenth part of my Invention consists in an improvement upon a
machine known as the silk-dressing frame. In this machine the fibrous
material is placed in books or holders, a number of which are arranged in a
table, a spacing bar being placed between each holder, and it is found that
when these books or holders have to be removed some time is lost in con-
sequence of the books or holders forming one surface with the other parts of
the table. Now this part of my Invention consists in attaching to the
table a bar or other apparatus, which by means of a lever or otherwise
causes the whole of the books or holders to rise above the surface of the
table, when such holders have to be removed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Tongue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TONGUE, of Chryssell Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth yearof Herreign

page_text: did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors. give and grant unto me, the said
William Tongue, Her special licence that I, the said William Tongue,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Tongue, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROCESSES FOR TREATING, PREPARING, AND COMBING CERTAIN FIBROUS
MATERIALS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THESE PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I the said William Tongue,
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 William Tongue, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The first
part of
my
Invention consists in an arrangement of machinery
for breaking and removing the wood and other matter from flax, hemp, and
other similar fibrous materials. In this machinery the material may be fed
by a pair of ordinary feed rollers and then passed through two or more
pairs of rollers which have an up-and-down or to-and-fro motion com-
municated to them as they conduct the fibrous material through the
machine, the fibrous material being caused to assume an undulating line
first in one direction and then in another.
This part of my Invention also consists in causing for the above purpose
two pairs of rollers to move to and fro or up and down together in such a
relative position to one another and to two pairs of stationary rollers, that
as the two pairs of rollers first mentioned move as described between the
two pairs of stationary feed and delivery rollers, the fibrous material will
be caused to remain in a state of tension.
This part of my Invention also consists in causing the rollers which conduct
the fibrous materials through the above-mentioned machinery to revolve first
in one direction and then in the opposite direction, the amount of revolution

page_text: "
of such rollers being more in the forward than in the backward direction so
as to conduct the fibrous material step by step through the machine.
This part of my Invention also consists in the application of a reciprocating
feed motion, such as last-described, to the machinery described in the Specifi-
cation of a Patent granted to Edward Brasier, dated June 12th, 1857,
No. 1651, and also to that described in the Specification of a Patent granted
to Henry Gardner, dated February 12th, 1859, No. 404.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING A.
Figure 1 shewsso much of a section of a machine for breaking and removing
the wood, "boon," or other refuse matter from flax, hemp, and other similar
fibrous inaterials as will enable me to describe my improvements under the
first part of my Invention; Figure 2 shews a plan of some of the parts.
The travelling cloth or creeper a carries the fibrous material laid upon it
to the rollers b, revolving in stationary bearings, and pressed together by the
weight b¹.
As the fibrous material is carried forward by the rollers 6 it is
presented to and is taken hold of by the two pairs of rollers c, d, pressed
together by springs. The necks of the rollers c, d, are carried by and revolve
in frames c' at each side of the machine. The frames c¹ are so constructed
that they slide in the stationary framing of the machine, and a reciprocating
motion is given to the frames c¹ and rollers c, d, by the crank shaft c², and
connecting rod c³. The rollers c, d, by their revolution present the fibrous
material to the rollers e, revolving in stationary bearings, and pressed together
by the weight e¹, which rollers e conduct the fibrous material on to the
travelling cloth or creeper f, from which it may be received. The reciprocating
movement of the rollers c, d, between the rollers b, e, has a tendency to break
and remove the wood or "boon" from the fibrous material under operation,
and it will be seen upon examining the Drawing that the pairs of rollers candd
are so arranged between the rollers 6 and e, that as the rollers c recede from
the nip of the rollers b, the rollers d approach the nip of the rollers e, and vice
versa, so that as the fibrous material (by reason of the reciprocating movement)
becomes slack between the pairs of rollers b and c, it becomes tight between
the pairs of rollers d and e; and in order to cause the rollers c and d to retain
the fibrous material in a state of tension between the rollers band e, a partial
revolution first in one direction and then in the other, besides the movement
which conduct the fibre through the machine, is given to the rollers cand d,
so that they may during their reciprocation first in one direction and then in
the other take up the slack on one side and relieve it on the other. These

page_text: motions are communicated to the rollers c and d in the following manner:-
g is an axis which communicates motion by means of the bevilled wheels h to
the axis i; on the axis i is the worm, which communicates its motion to the
worm wheel carried by a socket attached to the stationary framing. The
axis m is carried by the reciprocating frame c¹, and moves with it and slides
through the worm wheel, which communicates its motion to the axis m by
means of feathers upon the axis m, which axis communicates its motion to the
rollers c and d. The compensating revolution first in one direction and then
in the other to the rollers c, d, is given in the following manner:-n is a bell
crank lever to which a reciprocating movement is given by a connecting rod from
the frame c'. The lever communicates its movement to the worm k, which
is capable of sliding on the axis i, the worm k being caused to revolve by
means of a feather on the axis i, and it will be seen that the reciprocating
movement given to the worm will impart a reciprocating revolving move-
ment to the axis m, and rollers c, d, the revolution of the worm imparting at
the same time a movement to the rollers c, d, so as to cause them to conduct
the fibrous material through the machine at the same speed as the rollers b
and e. The several rollers above described may be either plain or fluted
according to the character of the fibrous material under operation, and a series
of pairs of rollers revolving in stationary and reciprocating bearings as above
described may be combined and arranged to work together according to
this part of my Invention.
In applying a reciprocating feed motion to all the rollers in the above
machine, and also to the machines described in the Patents granted to
Edward Brasier and Henry Gardner before referred to, I employ either of
the arrangements of mechanism shewn and described in the Specification
of the Patents granted to W. Bundy, dated the first day of February 1817,
No. 4099, and to J. G. Marshall, dated the 9th day of March 1857, No.
690, or I employ the arrangement of mechanism previously described for
obtaining a motion of this character, or other suitable mechanism may be
employed for this purpose, the object in applying a motion of this character
being that the operation of the machine may be repeated several times
before the fibrous material passes out of the machine.
The second part of my Invention cousists in a method of treating the
fibres taken from the stems of the Pederia foetida, order Convolvulaceæ, a
creeping or climbing plant growing in Assam and other parts; of Eastern Asia.
According to this part of my Invention the above-named fibrous material
must first be steeped in an alkaline solution, by preference heated to a
temperature of about 90° to 100° Fahrenheit, and afterwards bleached if

page_text: desired, the fibres being washed from time to time during the process, and
the fibres while undergoing such process may be placed in bags or trays or
otherwise as is well understood. The fibres after having been treated as
above described have a soft and silky appearance which renders them ex-
tremely valuable for manufacturing purposes.
:
In carrying out the second part of my Invention for an improved method of
treating the fibres obtained from the stems of the Pederia foetida, I prefer to
place the fibres in bags or trays in order to keep them straight during the
steeping process; they are then deposited in vats or vessels containing the
alkaline solution to which heat may be applied by steam or otherwise, in order
to raise it to the desired temperature. The time to which the fibres are to be
subjected to the action of the alkaline solution, will to some extent depend upon
the quality of the fibres and upon the judgment and experience of the operator,
but from 2 to 3 days steeping between each successive washing will enable
the workmen to judge by the condition of the fibres whether they have been
sufficiently acted upon by the solution to obtain the desired result. After
thus steeping the fibres they must be dried and bleached by any of the
well known means employed for this purpose, when they will be found to
possess a peculiar softness together with a very light and silky appearance.
The third part of my Invention consists in giving motion (by preference an
up-and-down motion) to trays containing certain fibrous materials immersed
in an alkaline or other solution when such trays are formed with transverse
divisions as described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Edward
Blake, dated September 6th, 1859, No. 2026. The object of this motion is
to cause the alkaline or other solution in which the fibre is immersed to
penetrate more thoroughly through such fibrous material; and this part of
my Invention consists in giving motion to the trays for the purpose above
described when operating upon the fibres taken from the stalks or stems of
the following plants, namely, the Boehmeria nivea, the Boehmeria puya,
the Pederia foetida, the Marsdenia tenacissima, the Urtica heterophilla,"
the Caletropis gigantea, and the Beaumontia grandifloria, the above plants
being more fully described in other parts of this Specification.
As the nature and construction of the apparatus for steeping and treating
certain vegetable fibrous materials (to which this part of my improvements
is applicable was fully described in the Specification of the Patent granted to
Edward Blake before referred to, it will not be necessary for me to repeat the
same here, and as this part of my Invention simply consists in giving an up-
and-down motion to the trays therein described containing the fibrous materials
before mentioned during the process of steeping the same it will only be

page_text: necessary further to state in reference to this part of my Invention that a
competent workman, having a knowledge of this apparatus, will readily apply
suitable mechanism so as to impart a comparatively slow up-and-down motion
to the series of trays whilst they are immersed in the alkaline or other solutions
in order to cause the latter to permeate more thoroughly through the fibre
whilst under operation.
The fourth part of myInvention consists in so constructing the steeping or
boiling apparatus (when treating the fibrous materials mentioned in the third
part of my Invention), which apparatus was fully described in the Speci-
fication of the Patent granted to Edward Blake before referred to, so that the
whole of the trays containing the fibrous material may be readily submerged
or removed altogether at one time, in place of removing the trays one by one
as hitherto practiced, this arrangement effecting a considerable saving of time
and labor. For the purpose of carrying out this part of my Invention, the
whole of the trays containing the fibrous material are supported in a frame
which can be readily submerged into the steeping tank or vessel, and with-
drawn therefrom by means of an ordinary crane or other suitable lifting appa-
ratus; the whole series of trays may thus be placed on a truck and conducted
away, or the crane may be so constructed that when the trays are withdrawn
from the steeping apparatus it may conduct them away to the washing rollers
or other apparatus employed in subsequent operations.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in fixing spikes or pins into the
trays mentioned in the third and fourth parts of my Invention, such spikes or
pins acting so as to hold and retain the fibrous material in the same position
as at first placed in the tray, and as preventing the disarrangement and
entanglement of the fibres.
The sixth part of my Invention consists in passing the fibrous materials
mentioned in the third part of my Invention after being steeped, boiled, or
bleached through a pair or a series of pairs of rollers, fluted or otherwise,
other pairs of rollers having an up-and-down motion and fluted or otherwise,
being arranged to work in front of or between such first-mentioned pairs of
rollers, so as to have a rubbing, shaking, and softening effect on the fibre,
which, as it passes through the machine, is caused to assume undulating lines
first in one direction and then in the other; and when the fibrous materials
have been operated upon as above described, they will be in a much more suit-
able state for the dressing, heckling, or combing operations; and it
may be
here remarked, that in place of one or more pairs of rollers having up-and-
down motions being arranged to work with one or more pairs of stationary
rollers, as above described, all the pairs of rollers may have an up-and-down

page_text: or a to-and-fro motion communicated to them. In place of passing the fibrous
material through rollers arranged as above described, it may be passed through
openings in a series of frames, having an up-and-down or a to-and-fro motion
imparted thereto,and, if desired, the fibrous materials may be enclosed between
two fabrics whilst passing through such frames or rollers, and the rollers
which conduct the fibrous material through the above-mentioned machines
may revolve continuously in one direction, or they may revolve first in one
direction and then in the opposite direction, the amount of revolution of such
rollers being more in the forward direction than backwards, so as by degrees
or step by step to conduct the fibrous materials forward.
I have not thought it necessary to shew the arrangement of rollers or appa-
ratus for operating upon the fibrous material referred to under the sixth part
of my Invention, as the same may be greatly varied and be similar in descrip-
tion to that which has been before employed forthe purpose of operating upon
other descriptions of fibrous materials, such arrangements of apparatus form-
ing no part of the sixth part of Invention.
The seventh part of my Invention consists in the use of milk in the treat-
ment of certain fibrous materials, so as to render them more flexible and give
them superior spinning properties. The fibrous materials which I propose to
treat as above described are taken from the stalks or shoots of the following
plants, namely, the Boehmeria nivea, Boehmeria puya, and other slightly
different varieties of the species "Boehmeria, order Urticaceae, the fibres of
which are known as rhea fibre, the plants growing in India, Assam, and
other parts of Eastern Asia; also the urtica or girardinia heterophilla, or the
neilgherry nettle of the order Urticaceae; also the Pederia foetida, order Con-
volvulaceæ,and the Marsdenia tenacissima, order Asclepiadaceae (native name
jettee fibre), the two last named being creeping or climbing plants growing in
Assam and other parts of Eastern Asia; also the Calotropis gigantea, order
Asclepiadaceæ,growing in various parts of the Indian peninsular, the fibre from
which is known as the mudar or yercum fibre; also the Beaumontia grandi-
flora, a tropical plant of the order Apocynaceæ.
In carrying out this part of my Invention, the fibres from the above-named
plants may be treated by any of the well-known steeping or retting processes
with or without the aid of chemical solutions, but I prefer first to treat the
fibrous materials according to the process described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to Edward Blake, dated September 6th, 1859, No. 2036, or
according to the process described in the Specification of a Patent granted to
Francis Montgomery Jennings, dated November 15th, 1852, No. 756. The
above-named fibrous materials, after being prepared as above described, must

page_text: be dressed, heckled, or combing on, or by combing, heckling, or silk-
dressing machinery suited to the purpose, so as to split or refine the fibres ;
aud before or after combing or dressing the fibrous materials as above
described, the fibrous materials are submitted to the action of milk, either
by steeping, or by sprinkling, or by otherwise applying the same, so as to
render the aforesaid fibres more flexible, and this part of my Invention
consists in so treating the fibrous material above mentioned.
The eighth part of my Invention consists in combing the "noil" er tow
made in heckling, dressing, or combing the fibrous materials described
in the seventh part of my Invention, as it is found that a valuable "top"
may be obtained from the "noil," which may be applied to superior
purposes than has hitherto been the case.
In order to carry out this part of my Invention, the "noil" or tow above
mentioned must be carded or otherwise brought into a continuous sliver, then
drawn, and afterwards. taken to a combing machine; and it may be here
remarked that for this purpose it is preferred to use the machinery described
in the Specification of a Patent granted to Samuel Cunliffe Lister and James
Warburton, dated December 13th, 1859, No. 2832; but other combing
machines may be adapted to this purpose, as any of the machines used for
combing short-stapled fibres will answer for this purpose. This part of my In-
vention also consists in so treating the "noil" or "tow" produced in hackling or
dressing the fibrous materials described in the first part of my Invention, that
the long fibres may be assorted and separated from the short fibres. In order
to accomplish this, the combing machine must be so arranged that by means
of several successive pairs of drawing rollers, each pair of drawing rollers being
set nearer to the travelling comb than the previous pair,one or more slivers of
the fibrous materials may be drawn therefrom; the first pair of rollers drawing
out the longest fibre, and the second pair the shorter ones. This part of my
Invention also consists in separating into various lengths the combed fibre or
"top" obtained from the above-named fibrous materials, when such "tops"
have been prepared on flax-heckling or silk-dressing machinery. The tops
when so prepared are found to contain a number of short fibres, which in some
cases it is desirable to remove; this can be accomplished in various ways,
either by passing the bundles of dressed fibre through a machine similar to
that described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Charles de Iongh,
dated May 21st, 1856, No. 1211, or by passing the dressed or heckled fibres,
after being formed into a sliver, through a combing machine, using for this
purpose any of the machines well-known in the worsted or cotton manufac-
tures and in machines where the fibre is placed in the form of tufts or a

page_text: beard on to a travelling comb; it is preferred to work with several pairs
of drawing rollers, so as to produce slivers of various lengths of fibre, as
above described.
The ninth part of my Invention consists in cutting the fibrous materials
enumerated below either before or after retting, boiling, or steeping, into short
lengths, varying, say, from one inch to two inches, so that they may be spun
in cotton spinning machinery; the fibrous materials which it is proposed to
treat in this manner are obtained from the stems or shoots of the following
plants, namely, the "Boehmeria nivea," the "Boehmeria puya," and other
slightly different varieties of the species "Boehmeria," the Urtica heterophilla,
the Pederia foetida, the Marsdenia tenacissima,the Calotropis gigantea, and the
Beaumontia grandiflora. The noils or tow produced in dressing or heckling
the above-named fibrous materials may also be treated in like manner. This
part of my Invention may be carried out by means of an ordinary silk-cutting
engine or otherwise. The fibrous materials are cut into short lengths, as
described, either before or after the retting or steeping process referred to in
the seventh part of my Invention. If the fibres are cut previously to the
retting, or steeping, or boiling process, they must, after cutting, be subjected to
such process, and after they have been dried they may be carded and spun on
ordinary cotton, carding, and spiuning machinery, as is well understood.
In carrying out this part of my Invention, when dealing with the "noils "
of the various fibres above mentioned, they must be carded and brought
into slivers, then cut and worked afterwards, as above described. After
the above named fibres have been cut and carded, as above described, they
may be combed on similar machinery to that used for cotton or silk
noils," and this part of my Invention also consists in combing the fibres
prepared by cutting and carding, as above described, of the Boehmeria nivea,
the Boehmeria puya, and other slightly different varieties of the species
Boehmeria," the Urtica heterophilla, the Pederia foetida, the Marsdenia
tenacissima, the "Calotropis gigantia," and the "Beaumuontia grandiflora."
66
The tenth part of my Invention consists in carding the fibrous materials
enumerated below, after being steeped, boiled, or retted either by the processes
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Edward Blake, before
referred to in the seventh part of my Invention, or after being treated by any
other known process. The fibrous materials which it is proposed so to card
are obtained from the stalks or stems of the following plants, namely, the
Boehmeria nivea, the Boehmeria puya, and other slightly different varieties of
the species Boehmeria, the Urtica heterophilla, the Pederia foetida, the Mars-
denia tenacissima, the Calotropis gigantea, and the Beaumontia grandiflora."

page_text: The object of carding the above-named fibrous materials, as above described,
is to prepare them for a combing operation. For this purpose it is preferred
to use a tow or flax-carding engine, but other constructions of carding engines
will answer the same purpose. When the fibrous materials have been carded
as above described, they may be passed through a gill box or other drawing
operation, and then taken to a combing machine. And it may be here remarked
that, though any of the combing machines at present known and in use
will answer for this purpose, it is preferred to use the machinery described
in the Specification of a Patent granted to Samuel Cunliffe Lister and James
Warburton, dated December 13th 1859, No. 1211, before referred to,
though the use of this machine does not constitute any part of this part of
my Invention, which consists in a combined carding and combing process
as applied to the various fibrous materials above named.
The eleventh part of my Invention consists in preparing for combing,
heckling, or dressing certain fibrous materials by means of several drawing
operations. The fibrous materials which it is here proposed to treat in this
manner are obtained from the stems and shoots of the following plants, namely,
the Boehmeria nivea, the Boehmeria puya, and other slightly different varieties
of the species "Boehmeria," the Urtica heterophilla, the Pederia foetida, the
Marsdeniatenacissima, the Colotropisgigantea,aud the Beaumontia grandiflora.
These fibrous materials must be first steeped, boiled, or retted, as described in
the seventh part of my Invention, and then passed through several gill or
other toothed drawing operations, and in such operations the whole or nearly
the whole of the drawing must be effected by the drawing rollers drawing the
fibres through the toothed surfaces instead of by the toothed surfaces passing
through the fibres presented by the feed rollers. In performing this operation.
I prefer the drawing rollers to have a draft of not less than twenty-five inches
to one inch delivered by the gill, porcupine, or other toothed surfaces. The
fibre so drawn is collected in the form of a lap, and I also prefer that in each
successive drawing operation the gill, porcupine, or toothed surfaces be finer
and closer than in the previous drawing operations. After the above-named
fibrous materials have been prepared as above described, the laps must be
pieced end to end at a drawing operation, so as to form them into an endless
sliver, and then taken after being suitably prepared (as is well known and
understood) to heckling, dressing, or combing machinery; and I would here
remark, that any of the combing machines at present known and in use will
answer for this purpose, but I prefer to use the machine described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to Samuel Cunliffe Lister and James
Warburton, dated December 13th 185, No. 832, before referred to, my

page_text: Invention consisting in preparing the above-named fibrous materials, as above
described.
The twelfth part of my Invention consists in a peculiar construction of
machine known as the "filling engine," and at present commonly used as a
preparatory machine to the silk-dressing frame. This machine as at present
constructed consists of a drum, armed at intervals with rows of pins, which by
the revolution of the drum detach tufts of the fibrous material from a feed
apparatus, and the machine is so constructed and arranged that the rows
of pins in detaching the tufts of fibrous materials draw such fibre at an angle
from the line of feed, thereby causing great strain upon and destruction to
such fibres. Now this part of my Invention consists in so arranging and
constructing the "filling engine" that the fibrous materials may be detached
from the feed in a straight line or nearly so, so as to avoid the above mentioned
objection.
In carrying out this part of my Invention the fibrous material must be fed
forward in a straight line by a gill or porcupine, or other toothed surface; and
in place of mounting the rows of pins upon a drum, such rows of pins or
comb bars are mounted upon an endless sheet, or upon a chain or chains
which are caused to pass over rollers so that the pins after entering into the
fibrous material will travel away so as to draw out the fibres in a straight line
with the feed, or nearly so, the pins or teeth pointing in the direction of their
line of motion, or nearly so.
Figure 3, Drawing B, shews a section of so much of a filling engine or
apparatus for accumulating fibrous materials in the form of tufts upon rows
of pins or teeth, as will enable me to describe this part of my Invention. a is
the gill or other feed apparatus which conducts the fibrous material forward
into a position for the rows of pins or teeth b to pass into, and in travelling
away to detach tufts therefrom. The rows of pins or teeth 6 in this arrange-
ment are fixed in bars mounted on the endless band c, which is carried by
and travels around the drum d or rollers e and f so as to cause the pins or
teeth to enter or pass into or amongst the fibres at right angles to their
length, and then on passing around the roller the rows of pins or teeth
assume a horizontal position, or nearly so, by which the fibres are more
effectually locked and retained by the pins or teeth which are then caused to
draw out the fibres by travelling away in a straight line with the feet, or
nearly so, as clearly shewn in the Drawing. A circular or reciprocating brush
may be employed in combination with this apparatus in place of the plate g
to press the fibres into the gill a and combs b where they act to detach the
tufts of fibre, and a fixed or stationary cleaning comb may also be arranged

page_text: same.
to work in connection with the combs b, as is well understood, in order to take
or receive the loose fibres from the rows of teeth b as they travel past the
In some cases I prefer to mount and work the rows of pins or comb
bars so that after they have penetrated the fibrous material fed to them they
are caused to make one-fourth of a revolution, or nearly so, previous to
travelling away from the feed apparatus, the object of this improvement being
to more effectually lock the fibres into and among the pins. The roller over
which the comb bars pass nearest to the feed apparatus is so actuated that by
the movement of such roller the comb after penetrating the fibres presented
by the feed apparatus, will be caused to travel away in a straight line, or
nearly so, the movement of the roller being either governed by reason of
slides acting upon the comb bars or by separate mechanical contrivances.
I have not thought it necessary to shew a Drawing of the arrangement cf
mechanism just described for giving a partial rotation to rows of pins or
comb bars arranged to work according to this part of my Invention, as a
competent workman will readily apply the same aided by the foregoing
description thereof.
I would here remark that I am aware that it has before been proposed to
accumulate laps of fibrous materials upon toothed surfaces carried by endless
bands, and arrangements of machinery or apparatus for this purpose were
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to A. Templeton, dated
December 9th, 1841, No. 9169, and to S. C. Lister, dated July 14th, 1860,
No. 1701. I therefore make no claim to the construction of machines of
this description, only in so far as relates to the improvements thereon
previously described, by means of which detached tufts of fibrous materials
are obtained.
Filling engines constructed as above described may be used to prepare
any of the fibres previously mentioned, or for silk or flax, as is well under-
stood; this part of my Invention consisting of improvements in the con-
struction of filling engines, as above described.
The thirteenth part of my Invention consists in an improvement upon a
machine known as the silk-dressing frame. In this machine the fibrous
material is placed in books or holders, a number of which are arranged in the
form of a table, a spacing bar being placed between each book or holder, and
it is found that when these books or holders have to be removed, some time is
lost in consequence of the books or holders forming one uniform surface with
the other parts of the table; now this part of my Invention consists in
attaching to the table a bar or other apparatus, by which by means of a lever
or otherwise the whole of the books or holders may be caused to rise above

page_text: the surface of the table when such holders have to be removed, by which
arrangement the workman can more readily remove the books or holders when
required and thus avoid the loss of time hitherto resulting from the difficulty
previously described in removing the holders from the machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tongue, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal this Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
WILLIAM TONGUE. (L.S.)
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE, Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings, W.C.