Improvements in Bleaching and Disinfecting Fibrous Materials, and Apparatus for that purpose.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Bleaching and Disinfecting Fibrous Materials, and
Apparatus for that purpose.
We, VICTOR FLOQUET and LÉONCE BONNET both of 22 Rue Gambetta Reims
(Marne) France, Laundrymen, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
It has been found by experience that bleaching by sulphurous acid is not
always successful, owing probably to the fact that the sulphurous acid resulting
from the combustion of sulphur contains impurities coming from impure sulphur,
and when it is in contact with the air becomes mixed with compounds such as
sulphuric acid and arsenious products which affect the bleached fibre, causing
reddish stains. For these reasons we employ sulphurous acid previously prepared
in gaseous or liquid condition and subject to its action wool, silk, feathers and
other fibres, while air is completely excluded. We keep the fibrous materials
in a vessel, from which the air is exhausted by a pump, the vessel being provided
with suitable cocks for passage of air, sulphurous acid and water, and with a
pressure and vacuum gauge. The materials to be treated are introduced by a
When
charging opening which is then closed air tight, and the air is exhausted.
a sufficient vacuum is obtained the air cock is closed and the cock for the acid
is opened admitting it from a reservoir. The sulphurous acid rushing in penetrates
the interstices of the fibrous material which, owing to the vacuum, are swollen
and open, and effects the bleaching, with great rapidity with an expenditure of
acid much less than that usually required, and in much less time than that
occupied when the sulphur has to be burned. After a little time, the cock is
again opened to the pump, and the sulphurous acid is extracted, after which water
for washing can be admitted.
There may be several bleaching vessels with their cocks arranged for successive
working, so that bleaching and washing can be carried on in some while others
are charged and discharged. Instead of sulphurous acid, other known bleaching
agents may be employed in like manner, and operations preliminary to bleaching
such as treatment with hydrochloric and other acids may be carried on in the
same apparatus.
We have especially referred to bleaching as being the more important appli-
cation of our invention, but the treatment and apparatus described are obviously
applicable for disinfecting, particularly with sulphurous acid which is a powerful
disinfectant.
1
1041 1 of Tun
1907
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Bleaching and Disinfecting Fibrous Materials, and
Apparatus for that purpose.
We, VICTOR FLOQUET and LÉONCE BONNET both of 22 Rue Gambetta Reims
(Marne) France, Laundrymen, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
It has been found by experience that bleaching by sulphurous acid is not
always successful, owing probably to the fact that the sulphurous acid resulting
from the combustion of sulphur contains impurities coming from impure sulphur,
and when it is in contact with the air becomes mixed with compounds such as
sulphuric acid and arsenious products which affect the bleached fibre, causing
reddish stains. For these reasons we employ sulphurous acid previously prepared
in gaseous or liquid condition and subject to its action wool, silk, feathers and
other fibres, while air is completely excluded. We keep the fibrous materials
in a vessel A shewn in vertical section in the accompanying drawing, placing the
materials z on gratings C; a pipe with cock B communicates with a pump by
which the air is exhausted. A two way cock R or it might be two separate cocks
serve for the passage of air, sulphurous acid and water; the vessel is also provided
with a pressure and vacuum gauge. The cover being removed, the materials to
be treated are introduced and the cover is then closed air tight, and the air is
exhausted. When a sufficient vacuum is obtained the air cock is closed, and the
cock for the acid is opened admitting it from a reservoir. The sulphurous acid
rushing in penetrates the interstices of the fibrous material which, owing to the
vacuum, are swollen and open, and effects the bleaching with great rapidity,
with an expenditure of acid much less than that usually required, and in much
less time than that occupied when the sulphur has to be burned. After a little
time, the cock is again opened to the pump and the sulphurous acid is extracted, 2
after which water for washing can be admitted. There may be several bleaching
vessels with their cocks arranged for successive working, so that bleaching and
washing can be carried on in some while others are charged and discharged.
Instead of sulphurous acid other known bleaching agents may be employed in
like manner, and operations preliminary to bleaching such as treatment with 3
hydrochloric and other acids may be carried on in the same apparatus.
We have especially referred to bleaching as being the more important appli-
cation of our invention, but the treatment and apparatus described are obviously
applicable for disinfecting particularly with sulphurous acid which is a powerful
disinfectant.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and, in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
3
1. The herein described process for bleaching and otherwise treating fibrous
materials with sulphurous acid and other agents by placing the materials in a 4
closed vessel, exhausting the vessel by a pump, closing the exhaust cock, admit-
ting the agent in fluid form, and after a time again exhausting the

page_text: 2. Apparatus for bleaching, disinfecting and otherwise treating fibrous
materials, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 16th dose of T
1002
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.