IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TREATING CERTAIN FIBROUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES SO AS TO RENDER THEM SUITABLE FOR THE MANU- FACTURE OF TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Nelson, of 13, Johnson's Place, Ranelagh
Road, Thames Bank, in the County of Middlesex, Chemist, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TREATING CERTAIN FIBROUS
VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES SO AS TO RENDER THEM SUITABLE FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS."
Sealed the 1st March 1867, and dated the 4th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Nelson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th September 1866.
I, EDWARD NELSON, of 13, Johnson's Place, Ranelagh Road, Thames Bank,
in the County of Middlesex, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TREATING CERTAIN FIBROUS
VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES SO AS TO RENDER THEM SUITABLE FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS," to be as follows:-
My improvements have reference to the treatment of any fibrous vegetable
substances from which a fibrous or filamentous material is obtained applicable
to the manufacture of yarn for weaving textile fabrics, twine, rope, paper,
and other objects to which fibrous or filamentous materials are applied, and
consist in the method or methods employed for removing the siliceous and

page_text: albuminous matter, with which certain fibrous vegetable substances are com-
bined, and this I effect by treating or combining the said vegetable substances
with argillaceous or oleaginous matter in suitable proportions, cither separately
or combined, in conjunction with heat applied by steam, either by its simple or
superheated state, or by any other convenient and suitable medium, by which
means I facilitate the removal of the siliceous and albuminous matter in such
manner as to render the adaptation of the fibre to manufacturing purposes
more suitable and economical than heretofore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Nelson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
NELSON, of 13, Johnson's Place, Ranelagh Road, Thames Bank, in the County
of Middlesex, Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Edward Nelson, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Nelson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others. as I, the
said Edward Nelson, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agrec 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 Ohannel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TREATING CERTAIN FIBROUS VEGETABLE SUB-
STANCES SO AS TO RENDER THEM SUITABLE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE AND
OTHER FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edward Nelson, 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 Edward Nelson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My improvements have reference to the treatment of fibrous vegetable
substances from which a fibrous or filamentous material is obtained appli-
cable to the manufacture of yarn for weaving textile fabrics, twine, rope,
paper, and other objects to which fibrous or filamentous materials are applied,
and consist in the method or methods employed for removing the siliceous and
albuminous matter with which certain fibrous vegetable substances are com-
bined, and this I effect by treating the said vegetable substances with
argillaceous or oleaginous matter, either separately or combined, in conjunction
with heat applied by steam, either in its simple or superheated state or other-
wisc by any other convenient and suitable medium, by which means I
facilitate the removal of the siliceous and albuminous matter in such manner
as to render the adaptation of the fibre to manufacturing purposes more
suitable and economical than lieretofore:
The fibrous vegetable substances to which I contemplate applying my
improved mode of treatment are such as are rich in filamentous matter, and
as such are applicable for spinning into yarn for the purposes of weaving
textile fabrics, the making of rope, twine, yarn for canvas and sacking, paper-
making in all its varieties, including pasteboard, papier maché, and the like.
For the manufacture of paper I use the extensive family of the grasses,
among which are included the Spanish and alfu grass (known commercially
as." esparto."), also East and West India and China grasses, bamboo and other
canes (male and female), palm treo and its Icaves, bark of trees, wood saw-
dust, and shavings of ditto, wlieat and other straws, stalks and leaves of plants
(British and foreign) which bear fibre, hemp, flax, jute, Manilla-fibre, cocoa-
nut fibre and husks, seaweed; cotton and woollen rags, old floorclothi, tarpauling,
tarred rope, and junk.
For the manufacture of yarn, rope, twine and such like productions as
require a longer fibre or staple than is necessary for the manufacture of paper,
I adopt such a mode of treatment as will preserve the suitable length of the
fibre.
For the manufacture of half stuff for paper making I operate upon any of
the aforesaid fibrous substances singly or combined, so far as their nature and
character will permit, in a vessel, which I prefer to be similar to those used
by soap boilers, called soap pans, having a fire underneath it. The section or
part of the pan which is over the fire is ordinarily cast in iron of an egg shape,
and erected so that when the portion exposed to the action of the fire is burnt
out a new one can be readily substituted for it without disturbing the upper

page_text: portion. A perforated or grated false bottom is placed within the said pan
near to its bottom to prevent the fibre from coming into contact with the
metal, which is exposed externally to the naked fire and thereby "becoming
carbonized; care must be taken also to keep the fibre from coming into
contact with the sides of the pan, at least such parts thereof as are con-
tiguous to the flues, and this may be done by placing perforated plates or
gratings (or a perforated or grated cage, or inner case may be employed)
up to that height, and as a further precaution against the carbonization
of the fibre a pipe, either perforated or open at its end, or a combination
of both, may be coiled or otherwise disposed in one or more tiers, as may
be found necessary according to the capacity of the pan, which pipe may
be placed near and rest upon the bottom of the boiling pan, being sup-
ported thereon on bars or studs so. as to allow of the free circulation of
the steam and liquor employed over the bottom of the pan. The pipe should
be supplied from a steam boiler which can, if needful, be worked at high
pressure, so as to keep all the ingredients in the pan well agitated and at a
proper temperature. For the argillaceous treatment of the fibre I mix fire-
clay or potters' clay into a thick creamy state by simply drying, powdering,
and finally soaking it in hot or cold water (but I find that alumina or any of
its natural or artificial compounds will produce a similar effect, though at an
additional cost, and for this reason I prefer the former). With this mixture
I cover the false bottom to the thickness of about four inches, and then
procced to charge the pan with a convenient quantity of the fibre to a suitablo
thickness, say about twelve inches; I then cover it with the thick creamy clay
as before described, and called by the potters "slip" and "slurry;" over this I
place another layer of fibre and cover it with clay, as before described, and so on
successively until the pan is charged to about two-thirds of its height, leaving
room for the foam or fob which is caused by the evolution of carbonic acid
gas copiously liberated from the fibre and the menstruum employed. When
two or three layers have been placed in the pan the fire may be lighted, and
the steam turned partly on, not only to save time but also to prevent the
choking of the steam pipe by the subsidence of the substances above it. To
obviate this more completely I place near to the end of the pipe at or about
the commencement of the perforated part thereof a valve, which will close by
the back pressure of the liquor in the pan when the steam is turned off at
any period of the operation, and thus prevent obstruction to the passage of
the steam. Though not absolutely necessary I prefer the boiling pan to be
provided with a lid secured steam-tight or nearly so, with clamps or thumb-
screws, and on a convenient part thereof should be placed a small chamber,

page_text: having a valve and a pipe attached to it, which valve should be loaded so as
to blow off at any desired pressure, the steam from which may be conducted.
into a coil of pipe fitted as already described at the bottom of another boiling
pan charged with fibre and clay, or other argillaceous matter, and having a
fire under it in like manner as before described. A similar arrangement may
be applied to a consecutive number or continuous series of boiling pans, each
being arranged to blow off the steam generated within it at successively
decreased pressures until the whole of the latent heat contained in the steam
has been expended; such an arrangement will economize fuel and labor.
While any one of the boiling pans is being examined or emptied, or additional
menstrua supplied, the current of steam may be shut off, when chemicals are
rendered necessary to effect the affinity of the cuticle of the fibre with the
allumina of the clay, they may be applied in solution, and injected into the
boiling pan by a pump without disturbing the lid. The chemicals which I
use to flux the alumina with the silica, iron, and other foreign matter in
combination with the fibre in order to render them miscible or soluble are.
boracic acid, or any of its compounds, or such other known chemicals as
possess similar properties in relation thereto. A main pipe may be continued.
from the high-pressure steam boiler, and provided with branches and suitable
stop-cocks, so that the steam may be made to pass through any one or
all of the boiling pans at the will of the operator. It is desirable to
affix a close-ended dip pipe to the side of the boiling pan containing oil
or stearine to indicate the temperature of the liquor, and when the tem--
perature registered by the thermometer immersed therein reaches 350° to
450° Fahrt., the grass or such other fibrous substances operated upon
will be found to be sufficiently treated, that is to say, the siliceous film
or cuticle will be softened, and if on wringing a portion of it and being
thereby able to sever the cuticle from the fibre the boiling may be con-
sidered completed. In this state the fibre will be fitted to pass the beating
engine, being previously cleansed of the argillaceous matter adhering to
it, and any chemicals which may have been rendered necessary by the
stubbornness of the grass under treatment, the root or heel of the grass or the
knots in straw sometimes requiring such treatment. The fibre is now to be
rinsed with water, which together with the clay in suspension may be pumped-
out of the vessel, or otherwise discharged into a suitable receptacle, and there
allowed to subside, when the supernatent liquor may be drawn off, and the
clay is then in a fit state to be used for other succeeding batches of grass or
other fibrous material until the silica combined with it is in excess of the
alumina. The fibre is now to be well steamed during about fifteen minutes

page_text: for every half ton of grass. The fibre is then to be taken out of the boiling
pan, and is in a fit state to be conveyed to the beating engine. Should the
fibre be very rigid the reduction of it to half stuff may be expedited by passing
it between one or more pairs of rollers, so as to break up and loosen the
cuticle and detach it from the fibre. While in the beating engine I apply
muriatic acid to extract the coloring matter when in excess until it acquires a
sour taste, which I neutralize with sesqui-carbonate or carbonate of soda or
lime; the use of the acid must be governed by the judgment of the operator.
I find this mode of treatment to effect a great saving: in the subsequent
bleaching, and rendering a second bleaching unnecessary for some qualities of
fibre. As the half stuff leaves the beating engine I pass it between a pair of
rollers, or place it in a hydraulic press as ordinarily used by paper makers to
squeeze out the water and coloring matter. I again steam: the half stuff
with superheated steam, care being taken not to decompose it, but in general
ordinary high-pressuro steam will after the treatment with muriatic acid and
soda or lime answer all the purposes required, but may not be so economical
and expeditious. After the second steaming the half stuff is placed in a vat.
and hot water is added to it, by which a further quantity of the coloring
matter will be extracted. I again press out the water and bleach the half
stuff in precisely the same manner as now practised by paper makers and
bleachers.
With reference to the treatment of long fibre for the manufacture of yarn
for textile fabrics, and also for the treatment of such manufacturo of flax
which I convert by my process and render available for the making of rope,
twine, canvas, and sacking, and such like, I subject the fibrous substance
employed to the influence of highly heated fixed fatty matters rich in stearic
acid, and I find that some of the grasses yield up the objectionable coloring
matter and disintegrate the same into fine fibre by boiling it in olcaginous,
vegetable, animal, and cetacious matter when heated to a temperature below
the volatilizing point, and extracts the coloring matter by first rendering it
in a state to become saponified with alkali, potash, soda, or limo in a caustic
state. And for very fine fibres I much prefer to use a carbonate, and that a
deliquescent salt, or that made so as the cost may permit. I heat this oil or
fixed fatty matter up to as high a temperature as practicable, that is, somc-
what below the heat that would fire the same in an open vessel. So soon as
the temperature arrives at 500° Fahrt. (for a tallow bath) it is drained off
and cooled, and a weak solution of carbonate of soda is added to it and boiled
up until the carbonic acid gas is evolved and saponification ensues with the
fat, &c. which is retained in the pith or mucilaginous matter of the fibre.

page_text: This solution may now be made stronger if necessary, even caustic, as there
will be no fear of the coloring matter becoming a mordaunt. This last mode
of treatment will be found to save cost and labour. When treated in the
foregoing manner it is subsequently cleansed with steam or subjected to a cold
boil in common soda of commerce (carbonate), and afterwards passed between
rollers to collapse and split the grass or fibre and loosen the cuticle. It is
then heckled to any degree of fineness, boiled up in a cold boil with pure oil
soap (free from resin) and carbonate of soda, and finally rinsed in water to
clear it from the suds, when it will be in a fit state for bleaching. The
solution which I prefer for bleaching is composed proportionally of one pound
of chloride of lime to ten gallons of water. In this bath the fibre is immersed
for about twelve hours, when the batch is to be agitated and a small quantity.
of sulphuric acid added for the purpose of evolving the dormant chlorine and
causing it to bleach more uniformly throughout the mass, otherwise it is liable
to be very unequal in whiteness, varying in shade at different depths of the
mass, the bottom layer being the whitest. I prepare the tallow for the bath
by decomposing it or separating from it the glycerine, either by saponification
or acidification. The former is effected by mixing caustic lime in the pro-
portion of about twelve pounds to one hundred and twelve pounds of fat,
boiling it up with free steam into soap, allowing the glycerine to subside, and
finally draining off the liquor. The tallow combined with the lime is extracted
or removed from the pan or vessel in the ordinary manner, and is further
treated with about fifteen pounds of sulphuric acid (of °880) per hundred-
weight, and with highly heated steam. The absence of glycerine is more
healthy for the workpeople, as acroline is not then formed whatever may be
the temperature employed.
With reference to the application of my proposed method of treating fibrous
vegetable substances to the preparation of fibre suited to the manufacture of
rope, twine, cordage, canvas, and the like, I take old or refuse manufactures
of hemp, flax, &c., as old floorcloth, tarpaulins, tarred rope, junk, matting,
and the like, all of which are more or less by present known means converted
into millboard and other useful purposes. These articles I subject to the
action of an argillaceous bath, as before described, to get rid in the first
instance of the pigments or other matters with which they are coated or
otherwise combined, and this I continue and further stimulate its action by
means of heat applied, às herein-before described, both externally to the vessel
containing the fibrous material and chemicals, and internally by means of high-
pressure steam, taking care to maintain a continual agitation in the vessel,
which will have the effect of softening, loosening, and detaching the extraneous

page_text: matter, leaving the fibre in a fit state to be cleansed. To cleanse or separate
the fibre in the batch from the paint, clay, &c. I treat it with high-pressure
steam, as already specified for the preparation of half stuff for paper making
and fibre for spinning, and I further boil it up with carbonate of soda or
caustic soda, as herein-before mentioned.
The apparatus by which I apply the treatment forming the subject of my
Invention being so well known and understood, and more especially as it does
not form a specialty in connection with my said Invention, it is unnecessary
for me to describe it with greater minuteness of detail than has been herein
set forth.
Having now fully described the nature of the process or mode of treatment
whereby the objects contemplated by me and set forth in this Specification
may be practically carried out and effected, I would observe that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details or proportions hercin-before
mentioned, as they may be varied without departing from the principle or
main features of my said Invention; but what I claim as constituting my said
Invention is, the treatment of fibrous vegetable substances by means of
argillaceous, oleaginous, or fatty matter, as herein described, or substantially
so, by which means the siliceous cuticle enclosing or otherwise combined with
the fibres and the albuminous matter also combined therewith are successfully
removed, so as to render the filamentous portion of the substances treated
more suitable for the purposes of spinning and weaving for the manufacture
of
paper in its various forms, and for the making of rope, twine, cordage,
canvass, and the like.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Nelson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
EDWARD NELSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
A. ALDERSON ADDISON.