IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ELASTIC COTTON AND IN THE MEANS THEREFOR." EMPLOYED PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Gordon de Luna Byron, of Prince's Square,
Brighton, in the County of Sussex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PRODUCTION OF ELASTIC COTTON AND IN THE MEANS
THEREFOR."
EMPLOYED
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Gordon de Luna
Byron at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October
1881.
GEORGE GORDON DE LUNA BYRON, of Prince's Square, Brighton, in the County
of Sussex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ELASTIC COTTON AND IN
THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR,'
"
The object of this Invention is rendering cotton elastic by a peculiar treatment,
hereinafter described, which will enable it to be employed as a stuffing for beds,
cushious, padding, and general upholstery.
In carrying out my Invention I take a quantity of clean cotton and place it in a
closed vessel provided with a false bottom and hollow sides, forming an annular
space around the vessel or chamber containing the cotton. Pipes are arranged for
the entrance of super heated steam to the annular space of the said yessel, as also
the other pipes for the entrance thereto of chemical solutions, such as alkalies,
potash, alum, or other like salts, which entering with the steam thoroughly
impregnate the same, in which state the steam thus chemically prepared passes
through suitable openings into and amongst the cotton, so as to permeate the
whole of its fibres, causing them thereby to interlace in a manner which gives a
permanent elasticity to the cotton so acted upon; but in order to finish or make
the cotton suitable for the purposes desired, I then place it in a second chamber
or vessel, where it is dried by hot air or other suitable heat, after which it is
formed into sheets for use; or the drying process may be effected by placing the
cotton on endless aprons, which are arranged to carry it over and around cylinders
heated with steam or hot air, which during the traverse the cotton is dried, and
finally delivered from the apron in a continuous sheet, in which state it is ready
to be cut into sizeable shapes, and placed one on the other to form a thickness
suitable for bed, cushion, or other article for which it is intended to form the
stuffing.
The cotton thus chemically prepared is rendered permanently soft and elastic,
and is in a condition which prevents it "matting" or becoming lumpy; it will
always remain perfectly sweet and wholesome, and is proof against moth, insects,
and dust.

page_text: Fig. 1 represents in sectional elevation an arrangement of apparatus which I
employ for carrying out the object of my Invention, viz., treating cotton fibres
chemically for the purpose of rendering thein elastic in the manner and suitable for
the purpose for which the cotton is intended to be used.
The manner in which I carry my Invention into practice will be understood on
reference to the Drawing annexed and following description:
I take a quantity of clean cotton of good quality and place it in the chamber or
receptacle a, first closing the tap a¹ so as to prevent the admission thereto of the
fluid, hereinafter described, only at those times when the chamber a is closed after
having been charged with cotton, which is then chemically treated as follows:-
I make a solution of alkali, potash, alum, or other salt in a vessel provided with
an outlet pipe b and tap 6', through which the solution can be drawn off as required
into the pan or vessel c; this pau c is surrounded by the outer case or cylinder d,
between the inner surface of which and the vessel or pan c an annular space is
formed; into this space superheated steam is admitted from the pipe d', which,
acting upon the outer surface of the pan c containing the chemical solution,
vapourises such solution and causes it to flow through the pipe d² and condenser c¹,
from which the said vapour and superheated steam is forced by an injector into
and amongst the cotton contained in the chamber a. The cotton after having been
subjected to the action of this vapour becomes thoroughly saturated therewith, the
action of which causes the fibres to streighten out and separate one from the other
in tubular form, giving them in bulk a springy and elastic property.
The cotton after the treatment mentioned is then dried in the same or another
chamber before removal by admitting thereto hot air, or the drying process may be
effected by placing the cotton on endless aprons, which are arranged to carry it
over and around cylinders heated with steam or hot air. The cotton so chemically
treated is then carded and passed direct from the carding room in layers over
hollow cylinders, where it is glazed with dextrine. A second layer of carded
cotton is then added to that which is glazed, the two uniting and forming one
sheet. It then passes over a chain, and is carried by an apron through the com-
pressing and drying cylinders, in which state the cotton is ready to be cut into
sizable shapes and placed one on the other to form a thickness suitable for beds,
cushions, or other article of upholstery for which it is intended to form the
stuffing.
The cotton thus chemically treated, dried, and formed into sheets is rendered
permanently soft and elastic, and is in a condition which prevents it matting or

page_text: becoming lumpy, or otherwise presenting any feature which would make it objec-
tionable as a packing or stuffing for beds, lounges, cushions, or other upholstery
purposes; therefore what I claim as new and as of my Invention is,-
First. Treating cotton fibres with superheated steam impregnated with such
chemicals as alkalies, potash, alum, or other salts, for the purpose of rendering such
cotton elastic, in the manner as substantially described; and
Second. Drying such cotton so chemically treated in bulk or in sheets, glazed or
otherwise, in the manner and for the purpose as herein substantially described and
set forth in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Gordon de Luna Byron, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this the Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
PERCY BYRON,
44, Osneburgh St.,
Regent's Park.
GEO. G. DE L. BYRON. (L.S.)