IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING OR DESTROYING VEGETABLE MATTERS FROM OR CONTAINED IN WOOL, WOOLLEN RAGS, OR WOOLLEN CLOTH
Year: 1877

page_text: "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Walter Alfred Barlow at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1877. A communica-
tion from abroad by Carl Friedrich Gademann, Manufacturer, of Biebrich on
the Rhine.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING
OR DESTROYING VEGETABLE MATTERS FROM OR CONTAINED IN WOOL, WOOLLEN
RAGS, OR WOOLLEN CLOTH." A communication from abroad by Carl Friedrich
Gademann, Manufacturer, of Biebrich on the Rhine.
This Invention has for object to destroy vegetable matters, such as cotton,
knots, or parts of straw, contained in wool, woolen rags, or woolen cloth, or to
render such vegetable matters so rotten, that they may be easily removed without
injury to the animal wool or its color.
The said apparatus that is employed for this purpose of cleansing wool, woolen
rags, and the like, consists of a cylinder or drum of sheet iron, both ends of which
are closed by air-tight covers. Within the cylinder is a spiral tube, which allows
of the interior being heated by the passage of super-heated steam through said
spiral tube.
The matters which are to be treated are introduced into the cylinder through an
opening therein, which opening is then closed hermetically by a perfect fitting
cover.
A double passage or conduit is provided through the trunion of the cylinder, one
opening or way of the double conduit being connected with an air pump, which is
capable of producing a vacuum (of about 45°/m of the quicksilver column) within
the cylinder or treating chamber.
The interior passage of the double conduit allows of the admission of an un=
limited supply of fresh air, and an opening in the said double conduit is connected
with a condenser or receiver, in which is stored gas of acid salt prepared from
sulphuric acid and salt. Valves are provided for opening or closing all the
different above-mentioned tubes.
The gas of acid salt before entering the treating cylinder is conducted through a
Woulff's" bottle, containing sulphuric acid, so as to absorb the water which may
still be contained in the said gas; then the gas without being allowed to condensate
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page_text: is conducted into the heated treating cylinder, wherein the gas is less likely to
condensate, as the cylinder is heated by the steam which circulates through the
spiral tube.
Heat and acid of salt jointly produce the destruction of the vegetable matters
contained in the wool, or in mixture therewith, as follows:-
The cylinder being brought to its normal heat, the matter intended to be
treated is introduced into the treating chamber through the opening provided
therefor; and when this is done the cylinder is rotated, so that the contents are
thoroughly turned during the process.
The wool or rags now gradually acquire the temperature of the cylinder, and the
little moisture they may yet contain is extracted from them in the form of steam or
evaporation. The air pump is now brought into action and draws off the damp air
from the cylinder, wich is at the same time being supplied with fresh atmospheric
air through the air passage, until the wool fibres or rags are perfectly dry and
thoroughly heated to about 110° c. The goods being now perfectly dry and heated,
the valve of the air passage is shut, and the supply of fresh air thereby stopped.
The action of the air pump is however still continued, until a vacuum is produced
of about 45 of the quicksilver column, whereupon the valve of the air pump
passage is closed, and the gas of acid salt is admitted by opening a valve in the
connecting pipe between the gas receiver and the treating cylinder, and the gas,
together with the heat within the cylinder, destroys the vegetable matters contained
in the wool without injuring the animal substance.
For treating ready made cloth containing knobs, or lumps, or cotton fibres in
mixture with the wool, the process is substantially the same, but a differently
arranged apparatus is employed.
This apparatus consists of a receptacle also made of sheet iron and fitted with a roller.
The cloth intended for treatment is drawn over the roller, and both ends are sewn
together with a woollen thread, so that the piece forms an endless ribbon or band
slowly moving over the roller, so that all parts of it are equally heated and brought
in contact with the gas contained in the receptacle.
The heating of the said receptacle effected in similar manner to the cylinder of
the apparatus first described by the passage of superheated steam through a spiral
tube. The steam is passed into the spiral tube within the receptacle, and circulates
therethrough, and passes off by an exit tube or valve. Another tube admits the
necessary air to the receptacle, and and the air pump is connected therewith, and
another tube leads in the gas required for the treatment.
In this manner, within about half an hour, all vegetable matter will be destroyed
without injury to the woollen fibre, or to the color, or without producing a yellowish
tint on white cloth.
The following are the principal advantages arising from the employment of this
Invention, viz.-The wool, woollen rags, or cloth, before being exposed to the
influence of the gas, are perfectly dried and heated, thus preventing the condensation
of the gas, and the gas being easily dissolved in water, and such solution having a
bad effect on the color and substance of the wool, the previous removal of all
moisture from the wool is a very important point. In fact a perfect destruction of
all vegetable matter is obtained without the slightest injury to the substance of the
wool, and without coloring white material a reddish yellow tint, as is usual with
other apparatus and processes based upon the application of acid of salt.
A more instantaneous result is obtained by this apparatus in consequence of the
extraction of the air allowing of a larger amount of gas to enter the treating
cylinder or receptacle, than if the gas is mixed with atmospheric air.