IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES WHICH YIELD FIBRES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTURING FROM THEM FIBRES ADAPTED TO BE SPUN INTO YARN AND THREAD
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Kane, of Templemoyle, near Dungwen, in the
County of Londonderry, Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TREATING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES WHICH YIELD FIBRES,
FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTURING FROM THEM FIBRES ADAPTED TO BE SPUN
INTO YARN AND THREAD."
Sealed the 4th February 1862, and dated the 21st August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Kane at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st
August 1861.
I, JAMES KANE, of Templemoyle, near Dungwen, in the County of London-
derry, Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TREATING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES WHICH YIELD
FIBRES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTURING FROM THEM FIBRES ADAPTED TO
BE SPUN INTO YARN AND THREAD," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in treating flax, hemp, and
other analogous substances preparatory to manufacturing the same into yarn
and thread. For these purposes the flax straw, hemp straw, or other substance
which yield fibre are when being steeped in water to be subjected to the action
of certain ingredients, which have for their object to induce or hasten the
putrefaction of the nitrogenous and gummy matters which surround the fibres
in their natural state. These ingredients, which may be used in a solid or
liquid state, consist essentially of a nitrogenous substance or substances con-
taining phosphoric acid or phosphates, or to which these latter are added, and

page_text: which will produce ammonia by putrefaction, such as ground bones, guano, a
solution of glue to which phosphate of soda is added, or yeast. In some
cases I may prefer using a solution of a soluble phosphate and carbonate
nitrate or caustic ammonia only.
This Invention is also applicable to the improvement of the quality of
inferior flax fibre prepared by other processes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Kane in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
February 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
KANE, of Templemoyle, near Dungwen, in the County of Londonderry, Ireland,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Kane, Her special licence that I, the said James Kane,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Kane, 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, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TREATING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES WHICH
YIELD FIBRES FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTURING FROM THEM FIBRES ADAPTED TO BE
SPUN INTO YARN AND THREAD," upon the condition (amongst others) that I
the said James Kane, 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 James Kane, 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 fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in treating flax, hemp, and
other analogous substances preparatory to manufacturing the same into yarn
and thread. For these purposes the flax straw, hemp straw, or other substances
that yield fibre are when being steeped in water to be subjected to the action
of certain ingredients which have for their object to induce or hasten the
putrefaction of the nitrogenous and gummy matters which surround the fibres in
their natural state. These ingredients, which may be used in a solid or liquid
state, consist essentially of a nitrogenous substance or substances containing
phosphoric acid or phosphates, or to which these latter are added, and which
produce ammonia by putrefaction, such as ground bones and guano, a
solution of glue to which phosphates of soda or any soluble phosphate is added
or yeast. In some cases I may prefer using a solution of a soluble phosphate
and carbonate nitrate or caustic ammonia or other salt of ammonia only.
When I use bones and guano I prefer using the following quantities
namely 4lbs. of guano and 20lbs. of ground bones for each ton (20 cwts.) of
the straw of flax or other fibre, and I use them in the following manner :-I
prepare a water-fast tank or dam, and fill it with clean pure water as long as
possible before using it. I mix the bones and guano together, and at the end
of ten days when the mixture has fermented, I sprinkle it over the water
and in twenty-four hours after I steep the flax in the usual way. I sometimes
add a pint of oil to the above mixture.
When I use animal substances, such as glue, &c., I prefer using the following,
7lbs. of cheap glue, 1lb. of super-phosphate of lime (such as is used for manure),
and 1lb. of soda ash. The phosphate and carbonate of soda are to be dissolved in
about two gallons of boiling water, and the glue previously steeped for some
hours in water, is to be dissolved in this solution; lb. of sulphate of ammonia
is then to be added to this mixture, and the whole to be poured into the steep
water in which the flax is retted.
The quantities above stated are intended for half a ton of flax straw (10 cwt).
This Invention is also applicable to the improvement of the quality of
inferior flax fibre prepared by other processes.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Kane, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
JAMES KANE (10)
JAMES KANE
(ro)