Improved Method or Process of and Apparatus for Bleaching, Dyeing, or otherwise Treating Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 27th Dec, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method or Process of and Apparatus for Bleaching,
Dyeing, or otherwise Treating Fibrous Materials.
I, SAMUEL DAVIS KEENE of 27 Somerset Street, City of Providence, State of
Rhode Island, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:---
In the methods usually employed heretofore in bleaching and dyeing fibrous
materials, more especially vegetable fibre, as cotton, flax, &c., as well as the
yarn and textile product, it has been a comparatively long and correspondingly
expensive process to properly treat such material, the processes involving a series of
somewhat complicated steps.
One great disadvantage of former methods is the difficulty experienced in attempting
to properly bleach or color the yarn or goods in bulk, from the fact that the chemicals
employed failed to permeate the fibres uniformly, the product having a cloudy
appearance. This defect is particularly true where the treatment of the goods has
been attempted in partly alosed kiers, because such former methods employed a con-
tinuous circulation of air or liquid, as one of the steps in the process, the result being
that the liquid say in its travel (more or less rapid, according to the pressure exerted
upon it) through the goods seeks the freest and most direct passage or outlet from the
kier and consequently in case some of the goods are considerably compressed or com-
pacted, as for example, being wound upon perforated spools or bobbins or in the form
of balls, the liquid fails to act upon them uniformly, thereby producing as before
stated, inferior or imperfectly treated goods. This also holds true to a considerable
extent even though a minus pressure or vacuum be first produced in the kier holding
the goods, and the bleaching or coloring liquids subsequently passed through them
and the kier's outlet simultaneously by gravity or pressure. It is due to this fact in
my opinion that such former methods have not been more successful.
"
The object I have in view is to overcome the disadvantages above referred to. By
means of my improvement the yarn as spun upon the cop, in the " gray may be
subjected to the process constituting my invention and after a few hours treatment the
yarn will be found perfectly and uniformly bleached, as may be verified by cutting
the cops in halves. The yarn can be as readily dyed if desired by simply substituting
the proper chemicals. By means of my improvement the time and labour required
for "skeining" and "quilling" yarn may be to a great extent saved.
My improved process or method of bleaching and dyeing yarn and textiles consists
in first, exhausting the air from a closed vessel or kier containing the material or
goods to be treated, as for example, yarn in a loose state, or yarn on cops, spools or
bobbins to form a vacuum, thereby also extracting the air from the yarn, next closing
the exhaust-air passage leading from the kier and admitting to the vessel the bleaching
or coloring compound in a fluid state which almost immediately completely fills the
interstices formed in the yarn. After the liquid under a normal pressure fills the kier
the inlet is closed and said liquid is subjected to a much greater pressure for a con-
siderable period by means of a force pump or compressed air, thereby forcing the
liquid into and through the yarn and ensuring its uniform action upon the material
thus treated. In case compressed air is employed it is then only necessary to admit
to the kier an amount of liquid sufficient to completely immerse the goods, after
which the liquid supply is shut off, and the air compressed to several atmospheres
(depending upon the nature of the materials under treatment) is admitted, which acting
upon the surface of the liquid forces it into and through the yarn, the action being sub-
stantiallythe same as just stated when the liquid itself is forced in under great pressure.
After being thus subjected to great pressure for a proper length of time while

page_text: confined in the closed kier the yarn is removed from the vessel and dried, it now
being ready for use, as in "beaming" weaving &c.
To carry out my process I propose to employ a suitable kier having pipe con-
nections with the bleaching; dyeing, or other tanks or sources of supply as also with
the requisite pump or other apparatus. For the purpose of observing and noting the
progress of the process I propose to connect a test tube with the kier in order that a
sample of the substance treated may be placed therein for like treatment and removed
for testing or observation from time to time. The admission and discharge of the
liquid and air is of course governed by suitable valves.
Dated this 25th day of February 1890.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method or Process of and Apparatus for Bleaching,
Dyeing, or otherwise Treating Fibrous Materials,
I, SAMUEL DAVIS KEINE of 27 Somerset Street, City of Providence, State of
Rhode Island, United States of America, Engineer, 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 :—
In the methods usually employed heretofore in bleaching and dyeing fibrous
materials, more especially vegetable fibre, as cotton, flax, &c., as well as the yarn
and textile product, it has been a comparatively long and correspondingly expensive
process to properly treat such material, the processes involving a series of somewhat
complicated steps.
One great disadvantage of former methods is the difficulty experienced in attempting
to properly bleach or color the yarn or goods in bulk, from the fact that the chemicals
employed failed to permeate the fibres uniformly, the product having a cloudy
appearance. This defect is particularly true where the treatment of the goods has
been attempted in partly closed kiers, because such former methods employed a con-
tinuous circulation of air, or liquid,. as one of the steps in the process, the result
being that the liquid say in its travel (more or less rapid, according to the pressure
exerted upon it) through the goods seeks the freest and most direct passage or outlet
from the kier and consequently, in case some of the goods are considerably com-
pressed or compacted, as for example, being wound upon perforated spools or
bobbins or in the form of balls, the liquid fails to act upon them uniformly, thereby
producing, as before stated, inferior or imperfectly treated goods. This also holds
true to a considerable extent even though a ninus pressure or vacuum, be first
produced in the kier holding the goods, and the bleaching or coloring liquids
subsequently passed through them and the kier's outlet simultaneously by gravity or
pressure. It is due to this fact in my opinion, that such former methods have not
been more successful.
"
The object I have in view is to overcome the disadvantages above referred to. By
means of my improvement the yarn as spun upon the cop, in the " gray may be
subjected to the process constituting my invention and after a few hours' treatment
the yarn will be found perfectly and uniformly bleached, as may be verified by
cutting the cops in halves. The yarn can be as readily dyed if desired by
simply substituting the proper chemicals. By means of my improvement the time
and labor required for "skeining" and "quilling" yarn may be to a great extent
saved.
My improved process or method of bleaching and dyeing yarn and textiles consists
in first, exhausting the air from a closed vessel or kier containing the material or
goods to be treated, as for example, yarn in a loose state, or yarn on cops, spools, or
bobbins to form a vacuum, thereby also extracting the air from the yarn, next, closing
the exhaust-air passage leading from the kier and admitting to the vessel the bleaching

page_text: or coloring compound in a fluid state which almost immediately completely fills the
interstices formed in the yarn. After the liquid under a normal pressure fills the
kier, the inlet is closed followed by subjecting the said liquid to a much greater
pressure for a considerable period by means of a force pump or compressed air,
thereby forcing the liquid into and through the yarn and ensuring its uniform action
upon the material thus treated. In case compressed air is employed it is then only
necessary to admit to the kier an amount of liquid sufficient to completely immerse
the goods, after which the liquid supply is shut off and the air, compressed to several
atmospheres corresponding to the nature of the materials under treatment, admitted,
which acting upon the surface of the liquid forces it into and through the yarn,
the action being substantially the same as just stated when the liquid itself is forced in
under great pressure. After being thus subjected to great pressure a proper length of
time while confined in the closed kier the yarn is removed from the vessel and dried,
it now being ready for use, as in "beaming" weaving, &c.
In order to more clearly set forth my invention I have prepared the accompanying
drawing, illustrating an apparatus embodying the improved process forming the
subject of this application, a detailed description thereof being as follows:
A designates a closed vessel or kier of ordinary construction provided with a man-
hole h at the top through which the goods to be treated are passed. A perforated
false bottom s is located near the lower end of the kier; p being a vertical perforated
stand-pipe passing up into the centre of the kier.
B indicates a steam pump; the centre cylinder m being for steam; the cylinder m*
at the right being to exhaust the air from the kier to form a vacuum, while the
opposite or left cylinder m' is employed to force the bleaching or dyeing liquids into
the kier and to exhaust it therefrom.
a, a', a², indicate a series of tanks containing compounds or solutions employed in
bleaching or dyeing. The several tanks may be connected by short pipes c each
provided with a stop-valve c', the whole communicating with the vertical main pipe c
which in turn communicates with the inlet side of said pump cylinder m' and m² and
the stand pipe p. To the rear or opposite side of the cylinder m' is connected the
delivery pipe d, by means of which the kier is emptied of its liquid chemicals, or
water, which are discharged into the respective tanks as desired, by simply opening
the corresponding valve d'. For flushing the kier with water a pipe f passes from
the water tank to the top of the kier, the flow being controlled by the interposed
valve t. By means of a branch pipe f and valve t¹ compressed air from some
external source may be admitted into the kier. That is to say, a pipe f¹ of suitable
size may be connected with the delivery or outlet passage of an air compressor
capable of producing the pressure required, the compressed air being introduced into
the kier through the medium of said pipe, first closing the valve and opening
the interposed valve t¹, all other passages communicating with the kier being
closed ineanwhile.
Assuming now that the yarn on the cop or bobbin is to be bleached, the cops are
first deposited within the empty kier, the cover his replaced and the air exhausted
from the kier through the medium of the exhaust cylinder m², in which case the
several valves t, t', c² d³ and would be closed, the valves p' and c³ being open.
After a sufficient vacnum has been formed, as may be ascertained by an inspection of
a vacuum-gauge g located at the top of the kier, the valve c' is closed and the valves c²
and c' communicating say with the "chemic" tank opened, thereby allowing the
chemic to flow into the kier until the cops are entirely submerged and practically
filling it; the valve p¹ is then closed and valves c and opened, the action of the
cylinder m' of the pump being to force the chemic into the cops under a much greater
pressure than that due to gravity alone, the corresponding internal pressure being
indicated by a gauge g¹. The same result can be accomplished by means of a small
hand-pump, or test-pump, communicating with both the pipe c and kier; a few strokes
of the pump serving to maintain the pressure required. After thus maintaining the
cops or goods under a continuous high pressure a proper length of time (say an hour
or more, according to the nature of the materials being treated) the pump m³ is

page_text: started, thereby discharging the chemic from the kier into the chemic tank a through
the pipe d by first closing the valve c¹, c², and d³, at the same time opening the
valves p', d2 and the upper valve dwhich discharges the chemic into the respective
tank. The operation above described is substantially repeated with the "sour" liquid,
which latter in turn is admitted into the tank A and after acting upon the cops is
returned to the sour tank a¹, when, finally, water if necessary may be circulated
through the material lying in the kier to thoroughly wash out any trace of the
bleaching agents. The water may be conducted into the kier directly from the water
tank by means of the pipe f, first opening the valve t.
Certain fabrics or yarn require during the dyeing operation that the coloring matter
be heated, therefore I provide a branch pipe f for the introduction of steam, the same
freely passing into the kier from a boiler (or other generator of steam) by closing the
valvest, and opening the valve t³.
To the lower portion of the kier is secured a "test-tube" D which communicates
with the interior of the kier by means of pipes provided with stop-valves u, a cap us
being secured to the top of the tube. By means of this arrangement (the valves u
being open) a cop, &c placed within the tube is subjected to the same treatment as
those within the kier. Upon closing the valves u and removing the cap the cop
may be withdrawn from the tube for inspection at any time during the bleaching or
dyeing process.
Obviously the number of liquid-holding tanks employed may be increased or
diminished according to the character and degree of treatment required. In some
cases one or more of the steps employed as in bleaching, would be successively
repeated upon the material placed within the kier before removing it therefrom to
be dried.
In some cases where a kier having a comparatively small diameter is used, the
entire head or top may be removable the same being secured to the kier by a screw-
thread or by a series of bolts.
My improved process may be employed for treating other substances or materials
having a somewhat fibrous or porous character,as for example, certain kinds of wood,
paper, leaves, flowers, &c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The improvement hereinbefore described in the art or method of treating
fibrous or porous materials or substances, as in bleaching or dyeing, which consists
in exhausting the air from such materials or substances while in a dry or normal
state within a closed kier: next, closing the exhaust air passage and gradually
admitting to the kier the bleaching or dyeing agent in a liquid form at a normal
pressure; then subjecting the contents of the closed kier to a pressure of several
atmospheres for a considerable period, according to the character and requirements
of the materials under treatment; and, finally, removing the thus treated materials
from the kier.
2. The improvement hereinbefore described in the art or method of treating
fibrous or porous materials or substances, as in bleaching or dyeing, which consists
in exhausting the air from such materials or substances while in a dry or normal
state within a closed kier; next, closing the exhaust air passage and gradually
admitting to the kier the bleaching or dyeing agent in a liquid form at a normal
pressure; then subjecting the contents of the closed kier to a pressure of several
atmospheres for a considerable period, according to the character and requirements
of the material under treatment; then exhausting the liquid agent from the kier
and admitting to the kier other bleaching or dyeing liquids, or "chemics," and
washing out the goods with water; and finally, removing the thus treated materials
from the kier.
3. The improvement herein before described in the process of bleaching and
dyeing fibrous materials, the same consisting in, first, forming a vacuum in the

page_text: vessel containing the materials to be treated to exhaust the air from the fibres
before the admission of liquids; next, admitting suitable bleaching or coloring
compound in a fluid state into the vessel; then, shutting off the supply of said
liquid and subjecting that in the kier or vessel to a considerable plus pressure of
compressed air or of liquid for a suitable period to force the fluid through the fibres
and thoroughly permeate them; and finally, removing the treated material from
the vessel and drying it.
4. The herein before described process of treating yarn on the cop, bobbin and
spool, the same consisting in first placing said yarn in a dry state in a suitably piped
empty kier or vessel; then closing the kier and exhausting the air therefrom to form
a vacuum; next, successively submerging the yarn in suitable bleaching, coloring
or washing agents at a normal pressure, each submergence being followed by
subjecting the respective agent while retained in the kier or vessel to a pressure of
several atmospheres of compressed air, or of liquid, for a suitable period, thereby
forcing it through the yarn and thoroughly perineating it; and finally, removing the
treated yarn from the kier.
5. The improvement in bleaching or dyeing fibrous or porous materials or
substances which consists in first, subjecting them while in a closed kier to a minus
pressure to produce a vacuum; next, closing the air exit passage and admitting to
the kier the bleaching or coloring agent in a fluid state at a normal pressure; and
then subjecting the said agent to a much greater and continuous pressure for a suitable
length of time, all outlets from the kier being closed meanwhile, thereby forcing the
liquid into and thoroughly permeating the entire mass of goods, and then removing
the goods from the kier.
6. The apparatus hereinbefore described for bleaching or dyeing or otherwise
analogously treating fibrous or porous materials, or substances, consisting of an air-
tight kier provided with means for access thereto, a pump or pumps, for exhausting
air from the kier and goods and also for forcing bleaching or dyeing agents in a
fluid state into the kier and materials enclosed therein after the vacuum has been
produced, reservoirs or tanks containing the several liquid agents, and piping con-
necting the tanks with said pumps and kier provided with suitablyarranged stop-valves
all combined and adapted for operation substantially as set forth.
7. The combination, with a kier connected and arranged substantially as herein-
before described and adapted for dyeing or bleaching fibrous materials therein, of a
test-tube D communicating with the interior of the kier, valves u for closing such
connection, and a removable cap secured to the tube, substantially as described
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 25th day of November 1890.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.