IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP OR PAPER STOCK AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR 13
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Boulding Walker of Old Broad Street in the
City of London for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF PULP OR PAPER STOCK AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
13
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Boulding Walker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1883.
GEORGE BOULDING WALKER of Old Broad Street in the City of London
*IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP OR PAPER STOCK AND IN
MACHINERY THEREFOR
"E
13
My invention refers to the treatment of a species of cactus known as the Yucca
draconis or Yucca puberula or Yucca brevifolia or Sotal tree so as to render it
more suitable than heretofore, for the manufacture of pulp or stock for paper
manufacture. The greater part of the incrusting matter accompanying the Yucca
consists of detached particles of pith, also cellulose which can be removed by
mechanical means as concentrated fibre to be chemically treated is in commercial
demand and no species of fibrous material now known presents more favourablo
features than the Yucca for obtaining the objects of the present invention.
According to my invention the bark is removed from the tree or plant after it is
felled the remaining portion without the bark is then passed through cutting and
shredding machines or what are known as Deviling or Teazing and Bruising
machines such as those hereafter described whereby it is converted into the form of
tow most of the incrusting material consisting chiefly of the pith having been
removed therefrom by, and during the aforesaid operation of cutting and shredding.
The object of the deviling or teazing is to draw out the network of fibre, of which
the Yucca consists, into long fibres and at the same time to detach or remove the
fine pithy matter with which the fibres are coated. The object of the bruising is
to break the cells or for flattening the fibre to render it more suitable for
subsequent treatment and to reduce the bulk.
The aforesaid operation may be carried on in or under water but I prefer in
most cases to dispense if possible with the use of water because the presence of

page_text: tannic acid in the fibre tends to discolour it unless the machines used are made of
inaterial other than iron, moreover when water is used the material operated on
must be dried before it is suitable for baling or for its subsequent treatment to
manufacture it into pulp or paper stock.
Saws and frames are arranged so as to cut up the material into suitable lengths,
the material thus prepared is fed by a shoot or hopper to revolving discs provided
with knives the position of which can be adjusted according to the size to which
the material is to be reduced. The material is then carried on to the framework of
another machine similar to those now employed for cutting or tearing up or
preparing shoddy provided with teeth made of some non-corrosive material such as
hard wood, for example of hickory or lignum vitæ, horn or bone; and the object of
employing such teeth is to prevent the discolouration of the material under
treatment.
The material prepared in the manner beforo described is then subjected to a
solution of bleaching liquid for which purpose it is placed in a series of tanks con-
taining the solution and passed from one tank to another and macerated, aided by
suitable machinery such as granite rolls, agitators, or the material or fibre may be
subjected to the action of chlorine gas or liquid in "potchers" or tight chambers.
This treatment may continue for only a few hours or for several days according to
circumstances and the strength of the fibre under treatment; the important feature
however in this part of my invention is,-the treatment of the fibres prepared as
before described from the Yucca tree by maceration or chlorine gas or liquor without
boiling in caustic liquor.
The stock or pulp thus prepared is ready for use in the manufacture of paper
direct, or it may be dried and baled for shipment, or the material before mentioned
may be prepared and shredded from the incrusting material as before described, be-
packed into bales for shipment or otherwise and be subsequently bleached or
Treated by maceration or chlorine gas or liquor as before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Boulding Walker in the Patent Office on the 9th May 1884.
GEORGE BOULDING WALKER of Old Broad Street in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP OR PAPER STOCK AND IN
MACHINERY THEREFOR
"
My invention refers to the treatment of a species of Cactus known as the Yucca
draconis or Yucca puberula or Yucca brevifolia or Sotal Tree so as to render it
more suitable than heretofore for the manufacture of pulp or stock for paper
.manufacture.
The greater part of the incrusting matter accompanying the yucca up to 'n certain
growth (but where it has gained a greater age and become highly lignified it requires
a modification of treatment) consists of detached particles of pith and intercelluloso
matter which can be to a certain extent removed by mechanical means and a
concentrated fibre produced to be treated chemically, afterwards such a product
being in commercial demand no species of fibrous material now known presents
more favorable features than the yucca for obtaining the objects of the present
invention.
According to my invention the bark is removed from the tree or plant after it is
felled; the remaining portion without the bark is then passed through cutting and
shredding machines and what are known as devilling, willowing and Bruising
Machines such as those hereafter described, whereby it is converted into the form
of tow, most of the incrusting material, consisting chiefly of the pith, having been
removed therefrom by and during the aforesaid operations of cutting, shredding
devilling and bruising.
The object of the devilling or teazing is to draw out the network of fibre of which
the Yucca consists into long fibres and at the same time to detach or remove the
fine pithy matter with which the fibres are coated.
The object of the bruising or crushing is to break the cellular form or for
flattening the fibre to render it more suitable for subsequent treatment and to
reduce the bulk. The bruising or crushing may be effected by any known or
convenient means.
The aforesaid operations may be carried on in or under water but I prefer in
most cases to dispenso if possible with the use of water (the main exception being
with the hard and ligneous portion which should undergo prolonged maceration
previous to the mechanical treatment) because the presence of Tannic Acid in the
fibre tends to discolor it unless the machines used are made of material other than
iron and this must be strictly adhered to in cases where maceration has to be
resorted to.
The material after being barked by a suitable barking machine or otherwise
(by hand) is cut up into suitable shreds or fragments by means of saws and frames
arranged for the purpose and fed from these by a shoot or hopper to revolving discs
provided with knives the position of which can be adjusted according to the size to
which the material is to be reduced.
The material is then carried on to the framework of another machine similar to
those now employed for cutting or tearing up or preparing Shoddy provided with
teeth made of some non-corrosive material such as hard wood for example of
Hickory or Lignum Vita horn or bone, and the object of employing such teeth is to
prevent the discoloration of the material under treatment.
The accompanying drawings illustrato such a machine or combination of
machines as is or are suitable for the treatment by devilling or teazing and
screening or sifting of the Yucca according to my invention. Figure 1 is a

page_text: longitudinal vertical section and Figure 2 is a plan of the devilling or teazing or
willowing machine. Figure 3 is a side elevation and Figure 4 is an end view of
the screening or sifting machine to be used with the aforesaid devilling machino to
receive and screen the material after it has passed through the first machine.
The mechanism indicated by the chain lines in Figure 1 is in front and outside
of machine as seen at Figure 2.
a is the driving shaft on which the rigger b is keyed round which a strap c
passes to pulley d on shaft e to which the cylinder is keyed; g is a second
cylinder on shaft h carrying pulley h' to which motion is transmitted by strap h³
from pulley & on shaft e. The cylinders ƒ and g are made of wood or of metal lined
with wood and on each cylinder is mounted strong teeth i, k, made of wood or of
some non-corrosive material. These teeth intersect one another as the cylinders
revolve; 7, 7, are other teeth secured to the casing m and these teeth as well as the
casing are made of some non-corrosive material or lined with such so that the
Yucca material coming in contact with same may not be discolored by any
chemical action that would take place if the teeth cylinders or casings were made
of metal unless the same is nickelled or otherwise protected; o is the revolving
baud platform on which the Yucca is placed to be fod into the machine between
the cylinders fand g; p is a grating below the cylinders on to which the material
falls for passage to the screening or dusting machine or such of the material which
is not carried off to the end of the machine through the door q which is opened
and closed automatically by the action, and from the same motion as the revolving
band platform or feed sheet is driven that is from the pulley h³ on the small
cylinder shaft by strap ht to pulley ? on cross shaft which through mitre, spur,
and worm wheels as shown communicates an intermittent motion to the rocking
lever & which through the connecting rod 8¹ communicates with the pulley t round
which a cord passes to the door q. is a weighted lever for bringing the door
and pulley back and for keeping the door closed until it is operated on by the
connecting rod s¹. u is a rotary brush below the door which is revolved at a great
speed say 600 revolutions a minute and in so doing it carries off any of the
material which may have clung to the door. 8 is a shoot whereby the material
which falls through the grating p is carried to the screen w which is rotated by
strap passing round rigger b to pulley cl which through another strap and
pulley communicates motion to the toothed wheels y, y', which latter y¹ is keyed
to the shaft or trunnion on which the screen wis mounted. This machinery is
particularly suitable for devilling and screening and so rendering the Yucca
suitable for treatment by the process hereafter described but it must be distinctly
understood that I do not limit myself to any particular construction of machine
provided that the teeth and parts of the machine with which the material under
treatment comes into contact shall be made of some non-corrosive material.
P
The aforesaid bruising or opening out of the fibre is accomplished by passing the
material after the foregoing treatment through corrugated rollers or vertical
millstones. The material thus prepared is subjected to a solution of bleaching
liquid for which purpose it is placed in a series of tanks containing the solution
and passed from one tank to another by which a species of maceration is set up
aided by suitable machinery such as agitators or the material or fibro may be
subjected to the action of chlorine gas or liquor in Potchers or tight chambers or
drums.
In employing chlorine gas care must be taken that the fibre contains sufficient
moisture 70% more or less to aid the action of the chlorine.
°
To remove any discoloration caused by the unequal action of the gaseous chlorine
such discoloured material will have to be washed and steamed in a ley or solution
of soda or Potash Carbonate and finished by passing it through a weak solution of
chlorine.
The waste wash water may be employed for primary maceration where necessary
This treatment may be continued for only a few hours or for several days
decording to bremstance and the strength or condition of the fibre--

page_text: The important feature however in this part of my invention is the treatment of
the fibres prepared as before described from the yucca tree by maceration or
chlorine gas or liquor without boiling in caustic liquor.
The stock or pulp thus prepared is ready for use in the manufacture of paper
direct, or it may be dried and baled for shipment.
Before drying the stock I propose to pass it through wringers or India rubber
rolls so as to facilitate or expedite the drying and preserve the texture of the fibre
which would be injured to a certain extent by excessive pressure such as by
hydraulic presses.
The drying is or may be effected by passing a current of hot air through it in
chambers revolving drums or travelling bands.
Or the material having been shredded devilled and bruised and thus freed from
incrusting mattor as hereinbefore described may be packed into bales for shipment
or otherwise as Yucca tow and subsequently be bleached and treated by maceration
and Chlorine gas or liquor as herein before set forth.
"
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my improvements in the
manufacture of pulp or paper stock and in machinery therefor.
First The preparation of the yucca fibre so as to render it suitable for
treatment and manufacture into pulp or paper stock substantially as set forth.
Second The treatment of yucca fibres by maceration or chlorine gas or liquid
without boiling in caustic liquids so as to manufacture it into and to render it
suitable for pulp or paper stock substantially as herein before described.
Third-In machinery suitable for the devilling and teazing of the yucca fibre
the construction and employment of machinery where the teeth and cylinders are
made of non-corrosive material in combination with the process of treatment of the
material prepared in such machines in and by maceration all substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof I the said George Boulding Walker have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Fifth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.