IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FIBROUS MATERIALS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN SUCH TREATMENT
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Watson Burton, of Leeds, in the County of
York, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT
OF FIBROUS MATERIALS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN SUCH TREATMENT."
Sealed the 4th October 1867, and dated the 26th April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Watson Burton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th April 1867.
I, JOHN WATSON BURTON, of Leeds, in the County of York, Gentleman,
5 do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF FIBROUS MATERIALS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN SUCH
TREATMENT," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to effect improvements upon the improved
means and apparatus described in the Specification of my Patent, dated
April 25th, 1866, No. 1160, for treating animal fibrous substances and fabrics
by means of fixed and volatile alkalies.
The first part of my improvements consists in adapting an alkali or alkalies,
as described in the Specification of my aforesaid Patent, for converting oil and
grease contained in fibrous materials into a soap by combining an alkali, either
potash or soda, in a caustic or semi-caustic, or in a carbonated state, or a
mixture of caustic and carbonated alkali, with oils and fats; and sometimes I
make a potash soap and add carbonated soda in its manufacture in such a

page_text: mauner as shall form a compound or an improved soap, rendering the alkali
better adapted for treating fibres and fabrics, and also more portable for the
convenience of the user. I make this compound by combining or mixing the
aforesaid alkalies or either of them with oils or fats or mixtures of them, and
in such proportions that the compound shall contain an excess of alkali; but I
prefer to use tallow and cocoa nut oil or lard oil in combination with either
potash or soda, because these oils and fats absorb more water than other oils
and fats; or I make a potash soap and combine it with a carbonated soda as
best calculated to form the "yolk" oils and grease into soaps or saponified
solutions having a detergent property. The "yolk" or natural fats of wool
contains a yellow colouring matter which imparts to all wools a yellow colour;
the fatty acids in the improved soap combine with this colouring matter and
render it soluble and capable of removal by the alkali, so as to remove the
natural yellowness of the wool and produce a pure and white fibre. The
decolorizing or bleaching of the wool, is due to the fatty acids in the improved
soap, which by their lubricity effect an easy washing away of the dissolved
matter, but the removal of the dirt and impurities is due to the cleansing and
dissolving powers of the alkali. By mixing with much water the alkali
modifies the acid salts of the fatty acids, but at the same time the free alkali
keeps the fibrous substances pliant which would become rigid if they were
cleansed with caustic alkalies alone, therefore I prefer an excess of alkali in
my compound to cleanse and remove the soluble impurities, and as potash
exists largely in the composition of the "yolk" of wool I sometimes use a
carbonated soda with the potash and combine them with oils and fats into a
compound for treating new wools; and I use this carbonated soda chiefly to
prevent the shrinking of the fibres, applicable especially in removing burrs
and other refuse by maintaining an open fibre, and in forming these fatty
matters and alkalies into a compound I use as little water as possible so that
the compound when used shall require a large amount of water to dissolve it
Sometimes I add to the alkali a salt or salts like "borax" having
an alkaline reaction, and I sometimes add glycerine, or retain the glycerine
of the fats, and in this manner my compound or improved soap differs from the
ordinary soaps. When I use fixed alkalies or ammonia, or a salt of ammonia
and urine for converting fatty matters into soap, I use them at a temperature
of about boiling point for scouring fibrous materials, and under pressure if
ammonia or urine be used. When I use either alkalies or compounds of oils,
fats, and alkalies for the purposes herein described, for opening or expanding,
decolorizing or bleaching, and scouring wools, I prefer not to agitate the wool
as is customary in the scouring of wools, but I allow it to steep and expand
for use.

page_text: in the hot solution, giving time for the "yolk" oils and grease to become
saponified and soluble, so that when the fibres are allowed to drip or to steep.
in clean water the fibres become cleansed of their impurities, and the wate
solutions I sometimes use for scouring and milling woollen cloth as a
substitute for alkalies, soap and urine, as now commonly used.
I use my improved soap or compound for the purpose of cleansing, scouring,
decolorizing or bleaching, expanding or opening and softening fibrous
materials such as wool, mohair, alpaca, camels hair, silk, flax, jute, China
grass, hemp, cotton and other like fibres, woollen and cotton waste, shoddy,
woollen, and cotton rags, silk rags and silk waste and other like fibrous
substances for scouring and milling woollen fabrics, and for cleansing, scouring,
and softening woollen fabrics, stuffs, and the like fabrics that do not require
to be milled, and also for the purpose of cleansing, scouring, and softening
woollen yarns, and other yarns requiring the like treatment. I avail myself
of the purifying and cleansing powers of this compound for the purpose of
entirely removing the "yolk" from the wools, and. the entire removal of oils
and grease from fibrous materials, whereby. I economize the use of dye wares.
in dyeing, and produce also a more even dye with greater brilliancy and
clearness in shades and colours, especially so when using tar colours and
scarlet dyes; I also find that by saponifying fibres in the process of spinning-
I increase the quality and strength of the yarns.
The improvements mainly effected by using the compound or improved
soap, or by a suitable alkali for converting oils and fats into detergent soaps
are, that wool and the like fibres when allowed to steep in hot soapy solutions
are expanded or opened and become sponge-like, absorbing a large quantity
of the detergent solution, and when removed from the steeping vats or cisterns.
and allowed to drip the soapy solution acts as a detergent or scour, carrying.
away with it as it leaves the fibres all the dirt and impurities, and thus.
rendering the said fibres white and pure. In yarns and fabrics the like action
takes place whereby they are better cleansed and scoured, and the waste
solutions I convert by decomposing them into good serviceable alkali or soap
for future operations, or I make them into fertilizing matter for agricultural
purposes by evaporating to dryness. For the purpose of drying and cleansing
these fibres, and for the removal of burrs, shove, and other refuse which they
contain, I use my drying and willeying machine as described in my afore-
named Patent, but sometimes I place heated surfaces under one or more
swifts instead of the grating, and so construct them that the swifts may bring
the fibres in direct contact with such heated surfaces to facilitate their drying,
leaving sufficient space for the escape of burrs, shove, and refuse, and for the

page_text: better removal of the moisture, or moist air or dust I sometimes use a fan
fitted to the machine.
The second part of my Invention consists in improvements in the surfaces
of parts of my milling apparatus described in the Specification of my Patent,
dated April 25th, 1866, No. 1160, and other milling machines, such parts
being known as plain and flanged rollers, throat, spout, and knocking-off board,
which produce a great amount of friction, thereby chafing and rubbing the
fabrics producing the waste called milling flocks, and often damaging and
tearing the cloth.
My improvements consist in making such parts or surfaces of glass, or in
making such parts of metal, and coating them or enamelling their surfaces
with substances analagous to glass and other vitreous substances, for
preventing friction in milling, which does not happen when soapy fabrics pass
over such surfaces. The absence of friction improves the milling of cloth,
and is especially suited for milling what I term my "Leeds alpaca cloth "
when made into a velvet pile fabric, and also my silk cloth consisting of a
plain or pile face with a woollen back, and which cloths are described in the
Specification of my afore-named Patent, and also for milling other pile fabrics
requiring the like treatment. These improvements in frictional surfaces are
also applicable to the surfaces of pressing and other rollers, and to surfaces
and utensils used in washing and scouring fibrous materials.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Watson Burton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN WATSON
BURTON, of Leeds, in the County of York, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord-One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Watson Burton, Her special licence that I, the said John Watson Burton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Watson Burton, 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,

page_text: the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF FIBROUS MATERIALS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN SUCH
TREATMENT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Watson Burton, 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 John Watson Burton; 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:
I will now state more fully the nature of my Invention; which is intended
to be improvements in the means and apparatus described, in the Specification
of my Patent dated April 25th 1866, No. 1160.
The first part of my improvements consists in adapting an alkali or alkalies,
as described in my aforesaid Patent, for converting oil and grease contained in
fibrous materials into a soap by combining an alkali or alkalies, either potash or
soda, in a caustic or semi-caustic or a carbonated state; or a mixture of caustic
and carbonated alkali, with oils and fats; and sometimes I treat potash soap
with carbonated soda in such a manner as shall form a compound or an
improved soap, rendering the alkali better adapted for treating fibres and
fabrics, and also more portable for the convenience of the user.
In carrying out my Invention I do not confine myself to one particular
make of compound or soap, but I make and adapt such compound or soap for
the different purposes to which it is put as follows! When I cleanse, scour,
expand, bleach, saponify, or otherwise treat fibrous materials I prefer to take
tallow or animal fat and melt it, and add thereto either lard, oil, or cocoa nut
oil, or both of them, and by means of the glycerine of the fats or other suitable
alcoholic radical I cause to combine the animal fat with the vegetable oil;
thereby giving greater solubility to my compound or soap when used in a cold
state or otherwise, and by which means the fatty acids of my compound act as
a mordant in the conversion of oils, grease, "yolk," or natural fats of wool,
into soap, and when the fats and oils are dissolved I saponify them with a
caustic alkali, by preference potash, for reasons herein-after stated; then the.
fats and oils being saponified, and the causticity of the alkali neutralized,
I treat the saponified mass with a lye of carbonated soda ash of commerce, and.
in such a manner that there shall be an excess of free alkali for the reasons

page_text: herein-after stated. Sometimes I add also a lye of caustic soda, sufficient to
saponify any excess of fatty matter that may be observed during the boiling or
evaporating, and I maintain the boiling until I form a soft, a hard, or a granular
soap or compound. When I treat some of the fibrous materials herein named
I prefer to use in combination with the above compound a salt or salts like
"borax," having an alkaline reaction; I prefer to use a potash soap combined
with carbonated soda, as best suited to form the "yolk," oils, and grease into
soaps or saponified solutions having a detergent property. The "yolk" or
natural fats of wools contains a yellow colouring matter, which imparts to all
wools a yellow colour; the fatty acids in my improved soap combine with this
colouring matter, and render it soluble and capable of removal by the alkali,
so as to remove the natural yellowness of the wool, and produce a pure and
white fibre. The decolourizing or bleaching of the wool is due to the fatty acids
in the improved soap, which by their lubricity effect an easy washing away of
the dissolved matter, but the removal of the dirt and impurities is due to the
cleansing and dissolving powers of the alkali. By mixing with much water, the
alkali modifies the acid salts of the fatty acids, but at the same time the free
alkali keeps the fibrous substances pliant, which would become rigid if they
were cleansed with caustic alkali alone, therefore I prefer an excess of alkali
in my compound to cleanse and remove the soluble impurities, and as potash
exists largely in the composition of the "yolk" of wools I prefer to use a
carbonated soda with the potash, and combine them with oils and fats into a
compound for treating raw wools; and I use the carbonated soda chiefly to
prevent the shrinking of the fibres, applicable especially in aiding the removal
of the burrs and other refuse by maintaining an open fibre.
In carrying out my process for cleansing wool and the like fibrous materials
by means of my compound or soap the ordinary means and apparatus may be
used, but I prefer to use a treble set of vats arranged with a railway over all
for the purpose of removing the cradles containing the wool from vat to vat,
the fall and block for hoisting them worked by a windlass attached to the
framework for supporting the railway. In the first vat I remove the sand,
earthy matter, and other refuse by steeping and allowing to drip. In the
second vat I saponify, scour, or bleach the fibres by means of the soap or
compound herein-before described, giving time for the action of the fatty acids,
and aiding their action sometimes by heat; and in the third vat I remove the
soapy matter by steeping, wasbing, or rinsing in clean water, using hard water
when the fibrous materials have been previously dyed, to strike or fix the
colours when the fibres are cleansed, I allow them to drip or I pass them
through pressing rollers to remove excess of water, and dry in the ordinary

page_text: way; or I dry the wool by means of my cleansing and drying apparatus, which
consists of a species of enclosed willey, by preference three swifts revolving at
varying speeds, as described with Drawing in my aforesaid Patent; but under
one or more of such swifts I place heated surfaces instead of the grating, and
so constructed that the swifts may bring the fibres in direct contact with such
heated surfaces, by which means I not only dry the wool, but also remove the
burrs and other refuse; and I also remove the burrs and other refuse from
wool and the like fibres when such fibrous materials are in a soapy or a wet
state by any other apparatus or machines whatsoever. After thus treating
wool I use the waste solutions for economical and useful purposes, viz., for
economizing the use of soap and alkalies in the scouring and milling of cloths
and in cleansing and scouring woollen yarns by using the solutions for this
purpose; and I also recover the animal potash contained in the "yolk" and
other products, either by evaporation, or I mix with the waste solutions a
quantity of fat, and by boiling down produce a semi-soap or substance suited
for soap boilers and other commercial uses; and this mode of recovering the
products from wool washings is applicable when other soaps or alkalies are
used. My compound or soap I use for cleansing and scouring yarns and
woollen cloths in the manner other soaps are used for this purpose. In
treating woollen rags as described in my aforesaid Patent my improvement is
to convert the grease contained in such rags by means of my compound or soap
(other soaps or alkalies may be used) into a detergent soap, thereby cleansing
and softening such rags, and making them better suited for tearing into mungo
either in a wet, soapy, or dry state; and I clean, tear or dry them in the
ordinary way, or by means of my cleansing and drying apparatus herein-before
described; and in the like manner I convert the grease impregnating woollen
waste into soap, and I cleanse such waste, and when clean I use it for flock
purposes, or I grind it into short woollen fluck for felting and short flock
purposes.
In treating silk waste from rags for the purpose and in the manner described
in my aforesaid Patent, my improvement consists in saponifying silk rags and
spun silk waste, and in this state I tear, pull, tease, or grind such silk fibrous
materials by suitable machines, and thereby put them into a condition for
carding and spinning, and I use them for fabricating my velvet cloth con-
sisting of a woollen back made from woollen yarn with a silk velvet face or a
pile face in imitation of velvet, and which I make from silk yarn or silk waste
yarn, and such velvet cloth I shrink, mill, or dye in the way woollen cloths
are shrunk, milled, or dyed.
My process of saponification as described in my aforesaid Patent for con-

page_text: verting oil and grease into soap by means of volatile and fixed alkali for
milling cloth, is also applicable for saponifying wool, known as long and short
wools, alpaca, mohair, and the like fibres, for the purposes of spinning or
milling them into yarn, and my improvement consists in converting the oil or
grease, in such fibres required for their treatment before spinning, into soap,
and thereby saponifying them by means of my compound or improved soap;
or I use any other soaps, compounds, or alkalies to saponify the fibres for the
purpose of spinning them either in the sliver or otherwise, and, if previous to
condensing, so that the process of condensing shall mill or partially mill the
fibres into yarn, or I saponify the fibres after they have been condensed, and
in this state I spin or mill them into yarn, or I only partially mill them and
afterwards spin into yarn, thus combining both spinning and milling either in
a saponified or a wet state after I have removed the soap by passing the soapy
fibres through clean water. I do not always mill the fibres into yarn, but I
spin them direct from the sliver or from the condenser in a saponified or a wet
state, or I remove them to be spun in a saponified or a wet state to spinning
apparatus suited for such spinning, and sometimes I saponify the sliver or I
afterwards, remove the soap and treat the sliver in a wet state to effect
improvements in the condensing, thereby producing a more even or stronger
yarn in spinning fibrous materials. In treating fibrous materials in this
manner I do not confine myself to any particular spinuing or condensing
apparatus.
My saponification of animal fibrous materials is also applicable to the
treatment of silk and vegetable fibres. In spinuing silk, flax, and the like
fibres I pass them through one or more solutions of my compound or soap, or
other soaps or compounds, for the purpose of producing a better and more
even spun yarn.
. In treating flax before spinning I use a solution of my compound or soap,
or other means of saponification, to remove the fatty acids produced by
fermentation during the steeping or retting, thereby facilitating the removal
of the epidermis and shove, and to give a better handle, colour, and spinning
quality to the fibres; and in the treatment of raw silk, China grass, and the
like fibres I use and adapt my compound or soap to dissolve the gummy
matters peculiar to them, and wash and cleanse them of their objectionable
impurities.
I spin silk, waste cotton, tow, jute, hair, China grass, and the like fibrous
materials, whether alone or mixed with wool, when in a saponified state,
preferring to use my compound or soap, but I use other soaps or compounds
for this purpose and also for saponifying raw cotton to facilitate the removal

page_text: of the seeds, such seeds being easier to remove, and with less destruction and
injury to the cotton during saponification either in a hot ar a cold state, and
in the like manner I saponify rags, yarns, or felts and other fibrous materials
requiring the like treatment for the purpose of pulling, tearing, grinding, or
teasing them into loftier and better staple.
I also use my compound or soap for washing sheep, and also for washing
and scouring the cut fleece, and I utilize the waste solutions after such washing
and scouring by recovering the animal potash dissolved from the wool and other
products in solution either by evaporation or otherwise as is berein-before
described, or I use such waste solutions for the purposes of manure; and to
assist the flockmaster and farmer to carry out my Invention I adapt my
apparatus berein-before described for washing, scouring, and drying wools for
this purpose by having such apparatus made more portable and at less cost.
My wool cleansing and drying apparatus herein-before described I use for the
purpose of cleansing and drying other fibrous materials requiring the like treat-
ment, and by means of the heated surfaces I facilitate the removal of seeds,
shove, and other refuse, and I treat wool and other fibrous materials after dyeing
by the like means for the purpose of opening out the fibres and drying them,
and also to remove the waste dyewares or other refuse often produced by dyeing;
and I find that if animal fibres after dyeing be steeped for a time in dilute
ammonia, either cold or under pressure, they regain their strength and quality,
and their drying and cleansing is also greatly assisted.
The second part of my Invention consists in improvements in the surfaces
and parts of milling machines, apparatus, and utensils used in milling, washing,
and otherwise treating fibrous materials, and in the milling and otherwise
treating cloths and fabrics, for which such improvements are specially
applicable. The parts and surfaces when treated as herein-after described
being free or nearly free from friction or antifrictional when acting upon
fibrous materials in a soapy state, and suited especially for milling my velvet
cloth, herein-before described, which requires that in the milling the silk or
velvet face shall not be chafed, rubbed, or unevenly milled, but other milling
apparatus or machines may also be used; and in the milling of my "Leeds
alpaca cloth" after wasbing and shrinking the cloth I raise the face into a
long nap, and I mill this nap on the face, thereby producing an improvement
in the milling of such cloth and better adapting it for finishing either with a
plain pile or embossed face, and in the like manner I treat other woollen
fibrous materials requiring to be milled, and chiefly such as contain mixtures
of wool with shoddy or mungo and other non-milling fibrous materials, and
also felted cloth and the like fibrous materials requiring the like treatment.

page_text: The antifrictional surfaces above named relate to the application of glass or
enamel, or both, to certain parts of milling machines known as milling rollers,
throat, spout, and knocking-off board, having for its object the protection of
fibrous materials during milling against rubbing, chafing, and tearing caused
by friction. The parts I make of solid glass, or of metal, or other materials,
which I coat with enamel or any vitreous substance analagous to glass, and
sometimes I use glass alone as an enamel, or I use the ordinary enamel in use
for enamelling metals.
My improved antifrictional surfaces I also apply to the rubbing and wringing
surfaces of machines used in washing fibrous materials, and I prefer to make
the rollers used in connection with such machines, one antifrictional and the
other of wood, and by such improvements I preserve the fibrous materials
from injury and effect economy in labour and soap, and by enamelling the
surfaces of metal utensils which come in contact with soaps or urine I make
them more suited as receptacles for urine and soapy solutions.
Having now fully described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim as
and of my Invention is,
Firstly, saponifying and cleansing, as herein-before described, animal and
vegetable fibres and materials by means of a soap or saponaceous compound,
as herein described.
Secondly, the removal of burrs and other refuse from wool and other fibrous
materials when such fibrous materials are in a soapy or wet state, whether
such removal be effected by means of my improved apparatus or by any other
suitable apparatus.
Thirdly, saponifying animal and vegetable fibres during or preparatory to
the processes of spinning and condensing, the saponification of the said fibres
being effected by means of my improved soap or of ordinary soaps or alkalies,
as herein-before described.
Fourthly, the treatment and use of fibrous materials for the purpose of
fabricating my "velvet cloth," "Leeds alpaca cloth," and other cloths in the
manuer herein-before described.
Fifthly, the use of my improved soap or compound in the milling of cloths
and other like materials in the manner herein-before described.
Sixthly, the cleansing and drying of fibrous materials by means and
apparatus consisting of "swifts" arranged in combination with heated surfaces,
against which the materials under treatment are brought, as berein-before
described.
Seventhly, the improvements, herein-before described, in frictional surfaces

page_text: and in the treatment of fibrous materials, that is to say, making such surfaces
of glass or other like substances, either solid or applied as an enamel to metals
and cores of the shape required.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Watson Burton, have hereunto set
my band and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN WATSON BURTON. (L.S.)