IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE BLEACHING AND DYEING OF YARNS OF WOOL, SILK, OR OTHER ANIMAL FIBRES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Auchinvole, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
CONNECTED WITH THE BLEACHING AND DYEING OF YARNS OF WOOL, SILK,
OR OTHER ANIMAL FIBRES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Auchinvole at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1881.
JOHN AUCHINVOLE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE BLEACHING AND
DYEING OF YARNS OF WOOL, SILK, OR OTHER ANIMAL FIBRES."
This Invention has for its object to obtain improved results with fewer
operations and less waste than heretofore in bleaching and dyeing yarns of wool,
silk, or other animal fibres.
In carrying out the Invention, the yarns are in the cop form when being
subjected to the dyeing process as well as when undergoing scouring, bleaching,
mordanting or other preparatory processes. The cops are formed on special tubes
which extend entirely through them, and which are such as to sufficiently resist the
action of the various processes and of the various liquids employed. For this purpose
the cop tubes may be made of or covered with vegetable parchment, or of paper
or cloth treated with gelatine and bichromate of potash, or with any other suitablo
stiffening substance. The cop tubes are perforated to give easy ingress for liquids
to pass to the inner parts of the crops, and to facilitate evaporation and drying.
With the view of avoiding the waste ordinarily arising from the entangling of
loose ends, the cops are put together in sets of threes or other numbers, and the
individual ends of each set are gathered and wrapped a few times round the set
and fixed. This arrangement very much facilitates packing and handling besides
preventing waste. It will in many cases be convenient and advantageous to
arrange the set of cops so that one or more sets may represent particular weights.
The yarns made up in this way may be put in cloth bags or in skeps in which
they inay remain without disturbance whilst being subjected to the preparatory
and bleaching or dyeing processes. When woollen or other yarns have to bo
scoured for the removal of oleaginous matters they are by preference arranged in
special boxes or frames of particular sizes adapted for the apparatus in which the
ID 021

page_text: yarns are to be operated on. In one modification each box is made with its lid
and bottom, used in transit, removable, and a perforated plate is applied to the
bottom the top being left open. Or separate sectional or small-sized boxes may be
combined to form one large box-there being a single lid and a single bottom for
the latter but separate perforated plates-for the former. In this state the box
with the yarn in it is introduced into a keir or vat, which is of a size to allow of
one inch clearance on every side of the yarn box. The keirs or vats are fitted
with covers which can be closed airtight, and are arranged in sets in connection
with pumps for exhausting them, and with holders for scouring, dyeing, and other
liquors with steam and water pipes, and with pipes for supplying cold and
heated air.
The yarns being enclosed in the keir or vat, the air is exhausted and the scouring
bleaching, or other liquid is admitted, in a hot or cold state as may be found best
in each case. The preliminary exhaustion of air causes the liquid to penetrate the
more easily into the inner part of the cops, and may be adopted before applying
any of the liquids or the dyes. In some cases as when scouring woollen yarns
containing much oleaginous matter, hot water is admitted whilst the scouring
liquor is being drawn off or immediately afterwards. This facilitates the action of
the hydro-extractor to which the yarns are next subjected, the cops being still kept
in their frames or boxes if the hydro-extractor is (adapted to receive them; or
-when-the-frames,-boxes,-or-skeps-are-too-large-for-the-hydro-extractor-employed,
the separate parcels or sets of the cops are easily transferred without risk of
entanglement or waste. For some aniline and other colors it is not necessary to
completely remove the soap used or formed in the scouring process; but when
required complete saturation once or twice with hot water and subsequent drying
in the hydro-extractor will effect all that is desired. In some cases the entire
scouring process may be repeated with advantage.
In carrying out the Invention it is desirable in the cases of many kinds of yarn
and when using various colouring matters, to thoroughly dry the yarn between
every two stages of the operations; and for this purpose heated air inay with
advantage be led into the hydro-extractor so as to pass through the yarns when
being operated on therein. For bleaching woollen and some other yarns they are
put again in a closed vat or vessel and after the air has been exhausted sulphurous
acid is introduced in a gaseous form or in solution, or any other suitable bleaching
agent is similarly applied.
For dyeing aniline and other colors that do not require previous mordanting,
the cops are taken as dried in the hydro-extractor or, if necessary in any particular
case, as more completely dried in a stove and being enclosed in a vat or vessel the
air is exhausted and the coloring matter is admitted, such coloring matter being
dissolved in methylated spirit or in some analogous solvent which like the spirit
has the property of penetrating fibrous materials when in a compact condition
more easily than ordinary solutions in water. After the coloring matter has acted
sufficiently on the cops the liquid is drained off as completely as possible and the
remaining moisture is volatilised and driven off by the application of heat, the
spirit being saved by means of condensing apparatus fitted in connection with
the dyeing vessel.
Where a mordant is required it is applied when possible in a similar manner,
that is to say it is dissolved in methylated spirit or similar solvent.
Or in some
cases the mordant, or the coloring matter may be first dissolved or formed into
a decoction or extract in water or other liquid and then have a quantity of spirit
added to it.
In some cases the exhaustion of the air before applying the preparing or dyeing
liquids may be dispensed with; but it is believed the best results will generally be
obtained when such exhaustion is employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Auchinvole in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st June
1882.
JOHN AUCHINVOLE, of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain
Merchant. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE BLEACHING AND
DYEING OF YARNS OF WOOL, SILK, OR OTHER ANIMAL FIBRES."
My said Invention has for its object to obtain improved results with fewer
operations and less waste than heretofore in bleaching and dyeing yarns of wool,
Bilk, or other animal fibres.
ל
In carrying out my Invention the yarns are in the cop form when being
subjected to the dyeing process as well as when undergoing scouring bleaching,
mordanting or other preparatory processes. The cops are formed on special tubes
which extend entirely through them, and which are such as to sufficiently resist
the action of the various processes and of the various liquids employed. For this
purpose the cop tubes may be made of or covered with vegetable parchment, or of
paper or cloth treated with gelatin and bichromate of potash, or with any other
suitable stiffening substance. The cop tubes are perforated to give easy ingress
for liquids to pass to the inner parts of the cops, and to facilitate evaporation and
drying.
The yarns may be put in cloth bags or in skeps in which they may remain
without disturbance whilst being subjected to the preparatory and bleaching or
dyeing processes. When woollen or other yarns have to be scoured for the removal
of oleaginous matters they are by preference arranged in special boxes or frames
of particular sizes adapted for the apparatus in which the yarns are to be operated
on. In one modification each box is made with its lid and bottom used in transit,
removable, and a perforated plate is applied to the bottom the top being left open.
Or separate sectional or small-sized boxes may be combined to form one large
box, there being a single lid and a single bottom for the latter; but separato
perforated plates for the former. In this state the box with the yarn in it is
introduced into a keir or vat, which is of a size to allow of one inch clearance on
every side of the yarn box. The keirs or vats are fitted with covers which can
be closed airtight, and are arranged in sets in connection with pumps for
exhausting them, and with holders for, scouring dyeing and other liquors with
steam and water pipes, and with pipes for supplying cold and heated air.
In practically carrying out my said Invention apparatus of the kind shown on
the accompanying Sheet of explanatory Drawings is used, but is susceptible of
considerable modification. Figure, 1, is a plan and Figure, 2, is a vertical section,
representing two vats or vessels, 7, 8, which are of rectangular form both as seen
in plan and elevation, and which are connected to each other, and to other vessels
or apparatus by a series of pipes fitted with stopcocks. A central vertical pipe, 9,
with stopcocks, 10, 11, has a pressure and vacuum gauge, 12 connected to its upper
end and also two branch pipes, 13, 14, with stopcocks, 15, 16, which latter are for
supplying steam and hot air respectively. The central vertical pipe, 9, is con-
nected by short branches with stopcocks, 17, 18, to the upper parts of the vessels,
7,8; and the same pipe, 9, is connected through stopcocks, 19, 20, with pipes,
21, 22, extending downwards from the bottoms of the vessels, 7, 8. The last
mentioned pipes, 21, 22, have also other connections with stopcocks, 23, 24, 25, and

page_text: a pipe with a stopcock, 26, is also connected to the upper part of one, 7, of the two
vessels. The two vessels, 7, 8, are fitted with glass gauges, 27, 28; and they are
provided with covers, 29, 30, which can be closed airtight by means of small hand
levers, 31, centered on lugs on the top flanges of the vessels and engaging on
inclines on the covers so as to have a wedging action. Chains 32, passing over
pulleys, 33, are provided for lifting the covers, 29, 30, when required.
Figure, 3, is a side elevation representing two boxes or deep trays, 34, for
holding the fibrous materials whilst being subjected to treatment in the vessels,
7, 8; and Figure, 4, is a horizontal section of part of one of these boxes. The
boxes may be conveniently made of a kind of wicker work of wood laths inter-
woven with vertical rods, and the bottoms may be similar; or the boxes may be
made of plain thin boards or other suitable material which however must be per-
forated to allow liquids to pass freely through. The corners of the boxes are
strengthened by angled metal pieces, 35, and these pieces are made to project
below and to terminate short of the tops of the boxes, so as to serve as feet when
the boxes are standing separately, and so as to connect the boxes together when
placed one above another in one of the vessels, 7, 8, the feet of one box fitting
down over the tops of the corners of the box next below it.
The vessels, 7, 8, are represented as made both of metal but one, 7, of them may
be made of wood; the other, S, however has to withstand_external_and_internal_
pressure, the central pipe, 9, communicating through its bottom stopcock, 11, with
an air pump to be used for producing a vacuum in carrying out parts of the
Invention as hereinafter explained. If preferred either of the vessels, 7, 8, may be
made with the cover or door at one side instead of the top with the view of
facilitating the introduction and removal of the fibrous materials.
The application of my Invention to yarns in the cop form is of special importance;
and the yarns are, for the purposes of my Invention, to be spun or wound in the
cop form on special tubes which extend entirely through them, as shown in
Figure, 5, and which are such as to sufficiently resist the action of the various
processes and of the various liquids employed. For this purpose the cop tubes, 38,
may be made of or covered with vegetable parchment, or of paper or cloth treated
with gelatine and bichromate of potash, or with any other suitable stiffening
substance. If necessary the cop tubes may be perforated to give easy ingress for
liquids to pass to the inner parts of the cops, and facilitate evaporation and drying.
And when the yarns are of worsted or when it may otherwise be considered
necessary, perforated metal tubes or fluted spindles may be inserted inside of the
cop tubes to prevent them from becoming closed.
The cops are placed loosely in boxes, 34, such as are shown in Figures, 3, and 4,
and the boxes are placed in the stronger vessel, 8, the boxes being of a size to have
a small space on every side of them when in the vessel. The cover, 30, is then
closed and made airtight, and the air is exhausted from the vessel. The scouring,
bleaching, or other liquid is filled by means of a pipe from cisterns or other vessels
and cominunicating by the stopcock, 20, into the other vessel, 7, up to a height
shown by the gauge, 27, and as determined by previous experiments. The
vessels, 7, and 8, are next put in communication by opening the stopcocks, 19, 20,
and the liquid passes into the vessel, 8, the preliminary exhaustion of air
causing it to penetrate the more easily into the inner parts of the cops. In some
cases as when scouring woollen yarns containing much oleaginous matter hot water
or steam is admitted into the vessel, 8, whilst the scouring liquor is being drawn
off by the stopcock, 2+, or 25, or the hot water may be admitted immediately
afterwards, being supplied through the pipe, 14, and stopcock, 16 (also used for
steam) and entering the vessel through the stopcock, 18, the other stopcocks being
closed.
In the cases of many kinds of yarn and when using various coloring matters, it
is important to thoroughly dry the yarn between every two stages of the
operation; and for this purpose heated air may with advantage be led by the

page_text: pipe, 13, and stopcocks, 15, 18, into the vessel, 8, and be drawn through the yarns
and out of the vessel by the botton pipe, 22, connected for that purpose to a fan
or other suitable apparatus. When the yarns cannot be satisfactorily dried in the
vessel, 8, they may be taken out and put into a hydro-extractor, which is by
preference constructed so that the boxes, 34, can be placed in it.
Heated air may
be led into the hydro-extractor to render the drying operation rapid and complete.
For bleaching woollen and some other yarns they may be treated whilst in the
closed vessel, 8, and after the air has been exhausted, with sulphurous acid
introduced either in a gaseous form or in solution; or any other suitable bleaching
agent may be similarly applied.
For dyeing aniline and other colors that do not require previous mordanting,
the cops are taken as dried in the hydro-extractor or, if necessary in any particular
case, as more completely dried in a stove, and being enclosed in the vessel, 8, the
air is exhausted, and the coloring matter is admitted, such coloring matter being
dissolved in methylated spirit, alone or in a more or less diluted condition, or in
some analogous solvent which like the spirit has the property of penetrating
fibrous materials when in a compact condition more easily than ordinary solutions
in water. As soon as the solution of coloring matter has acted sufficiently on the
cops, the liquid is drained off as completely as possible with the aid of steam
admitted to the top of the vessel or by means of a hydro-extractor care being of
course taken to save as much of the 'solvent as possible as it can be used over
again in some cases without requiring purification whilst in others any necessary
purification can be easily effected. It is in many cases desirable to remove the
solvent as speedily as possible after the coloring matter has combined with the
yarn; and for this purpose the hydro-extractor may be fitted inside of the vessel, 8,
or inside of a vessel constructed to suit the form and size of the hydro-extractor
but otherwise fitted like the vessel, 8, the shaft for driving the hydro-extractor
passing through a stuffing box.
In cases in which a mordant is required if it will not penetrate the cops when
dissolved in water, it may be applied by means of methylated spirit or similar
solvent. After the application of a mordant the dye may be applied in the samo
way as when no mordant is used, the fibrous materials being, if necessary,
thoroughly dried between the dyeing and mordanting operations. In some cases
the mordant or the coloring matter may be first dissolved or formed into a
decoction or extract or solution in water or other liquid and then have a quantity
of spirit added to it.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the saine I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
:-
1. The bleaching and dyeing of yarus of wool, silk, or other animal fibres when
in the cop form, the cops being upon tubes made of or covered with vegetable
parchment, or of paper, or cloth treated with gelatin and bichromate of potashi or
other suitable substance substantially as herein before described.
2. The combination of two or more processes employed in bleaching or dyeing
or both bleaching and dyeing yarns of wool silk or other animal fibres in the
manner substantially as herein before described the yarns in the cop form being
put through the several processes in the same quantities arranged in perforated
boxes or otherwise without being opened or separated between the processes.
3. The dyeing and mordanting of yarns of animal fibres by means of dyes or
other substances dissolved in liquids consisting wholly or partially of methylated
spirit or other analogous penetrative solvent as herein before described.
4. The process of dyeing and mordanting yarns of animal fibres wherein the
previous exhaustion of air is combined with the subsequent application of the dyes

page_text: or other substances dissolved in liquids consisting wholly or partially of methylated
spirit or other analogous penetrative solvent as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Auchinvole, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-two.
Witness: EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
JOHN AUCHINVOLE. (L.S.)