IM- PROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS FROM ANIMAL FIBRES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Office of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS FROM
ANIMAL FIBRES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR." A communication from
abroad by John Adams Southmayd, of the United States of America.
"
Sealed the 30th May 1879, and dated the 3rd April 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd April 1879.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Office of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS FROM ANIMAL FIBRES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR."
A communication from abroad by John Adams Southmayd, of the United States
of America.
This Invention relates to an improved manufacture of materials consisting of
animal fibre, and comprises the production of fibrous material from the fur or inner
coat of the bison. The hide of the bison is covered with a matting of coarse hair,
beneath which is found a layer of fur or material analogous thereto. It has been
customary heretofore to remove the hair and fur in a mass by the methods usually
practiced in the treatment of hides preparatory to their manufacture into leather,
and the product has been prepared for uses for which the cheapest kinds of hair
and similar materials are employed. No attempt has been made as far as I am
aware to separate the fur from the hair, nor has it been known that the fur if
separated is of any value as a felter or otherwise.
It has been discovered however that it is practicable to successfully effect a
separation of the fur and hair, and that by proper treatment and manipulation a
fibre can be produced from the fur which possesses very valuable and useful
qualities, and many of the most important qualities of the fibres of the best furs
and wools now in use. It is probable indeed, that in some respects the article
produced by this Invention is superior to any known fibre possessing, as it does,
characteristic qualities that make it of the greatest commercial value. It may be
successfully employed, either alone or in combination with other fibres, both animal
and vegetable, in the fabrication of a large proportion of the articles in which fur or
wool is used, and especially those which involve the use of a felter.
As hereinbefore stated, the hair and fur which form the coating of the hide of the
bison are removed from the hide without any attempt at separation, and in that
IDC21

page_text: condition are sold as an article of commerce, being utilized for purposes for which
the cheapest descriptions of hair are used. I obtain the combined hair and fur in
this condition if necessary, removing it from the hide in any convenient manner.
I then remove the locks or wisps of coarse hair which may be done by hand, the
locks or wisps being of such a nature that they can be readily separated.
These locks or wisps of coarse hair I discard. The remaining elements, the fur
and finer hair, which are very intimately interwoven and interlocked, I thoroughly
wash and dry in any convenient manner, the bath and means for drying being
substantially the same as are used in the treatment of wool. The washing and
drying having been effected, the material is ready to be subjected to the more
important steps in its reduction. These are effected by means of a picker the
construction of which is shown in vertical section in the accompanying Drawing,
in which A denotes the frame of the machine, at the front end of which are the
feed-apron B and feed-rolls C suitably arranged in respect to the picker D, the
rolls and picker being actuated in any convenient manner. The picker D is of the
usual construction, and is provided by preference with fans d, to assist in the
production of the currents of air utilized in the operation of the said machine. The
sides of the frame a, a, are enclosed to prevent the entrance or escape of air, and
are carried up to form the extensions b, b, the object of these extensions being to
assist in the direction of the working currents. Above the picker is the hood or
bonnet E, the shape and relative size and proportions of which are clearly shown
in the Drawing. Within the hood or bonnet E is the damper or screen H, which
consists of a flat piece of material hinged to the rear side of the hood, or otherwise
arranged so that its outer edge can be elevated or depressed and secured in place
at any desired angle. The chief function of the damper is to control the current
created by the picker; this object is accomplished by raising or lowering the outer
edge, its elevation having the effect of increasing, and its depression the effect of
decreasing the current. Its use and adjustment will be determined by circum-
stances, and by preliminary operations of the said machine.
K, K¹, are stops attached to the carrier x, which is adjustable by means of the
loops e, apertures c, and a rod; these stops serve to catch the hair and throw it or
cause it to fall upon the floor in proximity to the front part of the machine, whence
it may be removed by hand or otherwise.
In practice the picker is rotated with great velocity, say, about thirty five
hundred revolutions per minute, turning toward the feed-rolls. The effect of the
actuation of the picker, the frame being enclosed as it is will be to create a strong
current of air both above and below it. The action of the picker in loosening the
heavier and coarser hair from the lighter fur is almost instantaneous.
As & con-
sequence the superior specific gravity of the heavier hair causes it at once to move
further from the teeth of the picker than the lighter fur. The two will be so nearly
separated from each other that the weight of the hair aided by the current below
the picker will cause it to travel sufficiently far from the picker to ensure its catch-
ing upon the stops, while the fur is moved by the picker until it is acted upon by
the current above the said picker, which carries it away from and clear of the
machine in a different direction. To catch the hair the main stop is placed at a
point below that where the picker receives the stock, being so located and adjusted
as to arrest the progress of the hair and cause it to fall to the floor. Other stops
nearer to the said picker similarly adjusted and arranged to catch such hair as may
pass the main stop are also provided. The fur being lighter, clings to or follows
the picker until it is thrown by the current above the picker into the blow-room
beyond the influence of the machine.
The greatest care should be exercised in the adjustment of the said stops, and in
the employment of such as are adapted to the particular service to be performed.
The construction herein described is suited to the separation of average material of
the usual size, but may be modified to adapt the machine to perform its offices
under any conditions that can be foreseen.

page_text: It will also be expedient to wash the stock, and generally to observe the steps
which are customary in the preparation of wool or fur for the picker.
The fibre thus produced may be combined with other fibres, both animal and
vegetable, and utilized in many ways.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I do not limit myself to the specific method of production above described, but
I claim,
First. A fibrous material produced from the fur of the bison, as above set forth.
Second. A machine for disintegrating fibres, and in which the finer and coarser
fibres are separated by means of a picker and a stop or stops, and carried off in
different directions, as above set forth.
Third. In a machine in which a current of air is employed for the purpose
specified, the screen, the picker, the carrier, and the stop or stops, as above set
forth.
Fourth. In a machine in which a current of air is employed for the purpose
specified, the adjustable carrier provided with loops, and arranged in combination
with apertures c and a rod, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
H. H. LAKE. (L.S.)