IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonathan Scharr, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Practical Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jonathan Scharr at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July 1880.
JONATHAN SCHARR, of Bradford, in the County of York, Practical Chemist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING MOHAIR
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES WHILST IN THE BALE."
I accomplish the object of my Invention in the following manner :-
I construct a vessel capable of holding an entire bale of the mohair or other
fibrous material which it is proposed to disinfect. This vessel is provided with a
false bottom. Through the centre of this false bottom I pass a taper pipe or
needle, being pointed at the top for insertion into the bale of material. This
taper pipe or needle is perforated, except for a few inches at the top, and the same
distance at the bottom. These needles or pipes are of varying lengths to suit the
varying sizes of the bales of fibrous material, and are screwed into a pipe that
passes into the bottom of vessel. When it is proposed to. disinfect a bale it is
lifted by means of a crane; a slit is made in the centre of the bottom of the bale;
it is then lowered on to the point of the needle, and if need be subjected to
When this has
pressure in order to force the needle up the centre of the bale.
been accomplished the vessel or steeper is covered over by means of a tight fitting
cover. Under the false bottom is an inlet pipe before mentioned, so arranged that
either fresh air or air saturated with a disinfecting spirit, or any disinfecting gas,
is blown into the centre and through the contents of the bale. The air or gas so
blown in passes out at a suitable outlet near the top of the vessel, suitable bags or
holders for the gas being provided, whilst the former is carried in bottles or in

page_text: some other convenient vessels above the level of the top of the vessel or steeper.
By means of taps the spirit is allowed to percolate through a pipe filled with
pumice-stone down into the air pipe.
The bale being ready for disinfecting, by means of a vertical or centrifugal
pump I can draw either simple air, or by arrangements named I can pass up the
tapered needle into the interior of the bale air, or air saturated with either a
disinfecting spirit or a gas, which shall kill all living insects or fungus, and entirely
disinfect the putrid matter found associated with these fibres. Before taking out.
the bale I can steep the same by means of a steam pipe passing into the air pipe,
and forward into the bale through the perforated tapered needle, steam thus laying
the dust, which is by some thought to be one of the sources of disease and death.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Jonathan Scharr in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
January 1881.
JONATHAN SCHARR, of Bradford, in the County of York, Practical Chemist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING MOHAIR
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES WHILST IN THE BALE."
My Invention has for its object the disinfecting of mohair or other fibrous
material whilst in the bale, and consists of a vessel having a perpendicular tapered
perforated pipe or hollow needle pointed at the top for insertion into the bale of
material when placed into the vessel. This perforated pipe is in connection with
a fan or blower, and by an arrangement of pipes and valves air, or air saturated
with a disinfecting spirit, or any disinfecting gas or steam may be blown into the
centre and through the contents of the bale. The air or gas so blown in passes
out at a suitable outlet near the top of the vessel in the manner hereinafter
described, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, which represents an
elevation partly in section of my apparatus as applied to one vessel.
I wish it to be understood that by an extension of the pipes I can have a number
of vessels fitted to the same fan or blower.
In the accompanying Drawing the vessel in which the fibre is disinfected is
indicated by the letter A.. Into the bottom of this vessel is .screwed a taper pipe
or hollow needle B pointed at the top and perforated, except for a few inches at
the top, and for the same distance at the bottom.
When it is proposed to disinfect a bale it is lifted by means of a crane; a slit is
made in the centre of the bottom of the bale covering; it is then lowered on to
the point of the perforated hollow needle, and if needs be subjected to pressure in
order to force the hollow needle up the centre of the bale C, which is shewn by
dotted lines in the accompanying Drawing. When this has been accomplished the
vessel is covered by lids D, and the rotary blower E is put in motion, blowing
either fresh air, or air saturated with a disinfecting spirit, steam, or a disinfecting
gas, such as carbolic acid, sulphurous acid, terebene, sanitas, or other well known
disinfectants. Should the attendant desire to blow air saturated with disinfecting
spirit through the bale, the valve F communicating with combustion chamber G is
closed and valve H opened; fresh air will then pass through blower E, which will
become saturated with spirit when passing through pipe J partly filled with
pumice stone or other porous substance K. The supply of spirit is obtained from
bottle L, the spirit dropping on to the pumice stone, and the air passing through
same carries the spirit in the form of spray through the pipes and perforations in
hollow needle to the centre of the bale, blowing saturated air through the bale,
which passes out of vessel through pipe M to a furnace or chimney stack, as the
case may be.
By closing the tap in connection with bottle L fresh air is blown through the
bale.
By reversing the valves regulated for passing or blowing saturated air through
the bale, and closing tap in connection with bottle L, disinfecting gas prepared in
combustion chamber G can be blown through the bale, passing away through
pipe M, as before described. By an arrangement of valves and pipes I am enabled
to return the gas to combustion chamber G; this is accomplished by closing valve N
and opening valve O. The gas will then flow from combustion chamber G through
valve F to blower E, which will blow the same through the perforations in hollow
needle B into the centre and through the contents of the bale, returning through
pipes M, N¹, and valve O to combustion chamber G, where it is renovated.
By closing valves P and F and opening valve Q, the blower E will obtain the
}

page_text: supply of disinfecting gas from combustion chamber through valve O and pipes N¹
and M into the vessel. A, the gas passing from the said vessel through the bale
towards the centre of same to the hollow needle B, thence to the blower E, and
thence to the furnace or chimney stack through pipe R; thus by reversing the
direction of the current in which the gas is made to flow the fibre near the
exterior of the bale is more directly exposed to the disinfecting influence of the gas,
and the bale more thoroughly disinfected;-killing-all-living- insects and fungi, and
entirely disinfecting all putrid matter found associated with these fibres.
Before taking out the bale I can thoroughly moisten the fibre by means of a jet
of steam supplied by pipe S blowing into taper needle B, thus thoroughly saturating
the fibre from the centre to the outside, and laying the dust, which is thought by
some to be one of the sources of diseases and death.
My apparatus is also applicable for disinfecting clothes, bed linen, and such.
fabrics, which may be accomplished by placing a basket having a conical perforated
pipe fitted in the centre, which is placed on pipe B, and the basket filled with the
clothes or other. fabric. The modus operandi for disinfecting the same is sub-.
stantially the same as that already described for mohair.
What I claim as my Invention is,-
First. The perforated pipe or hollow needle, substantially for the purpose and as
hereinbefore described.
Second. The use of pumice stone or other porous substance as a means of
converting any liquid used into spray, substantially as herein before described;
Third. The arrangement of pipes M and N' in combination with valves N. and O
for causing the return of any gas used to the combustion chamber, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Fourth. The arrangement of valves P and Q in connection with pipes for
reversing the flow or current of air or gas in order to equally disinfect each part.
of the bale, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fifth. The arrangement and combination of the parts, substantially for the
purpose and as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jonathan Scharr, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JONATHAN SCHARR (LS)
JONATHAN SCHARK (LS)