Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1888
Specification Accepted, 19th Oct., 1888
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM JOHN WILLIAMS, of Camden, in the
State of New Jersey, United States of America.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 manufacture of fabrics of cotton, wool, silk or other fibres, considerable
difficulty is experienced in keeping the fibres and the yarn made therefrom, suffi-
ciently moist to be properly operated on the various machines through which they are
successively passed in making the fibres up into yarns or threads, and in knitting or
weaving the yarns or threads into fabrics.
50.
If the fibres or yarns become too dry, they are apt to break and more or less
trouble is experienced by the electricity generated when the fibres or yarns become
Various means bave been proposed for keeping the fibres and yarns moist, as for
instance, by the use of steam sprays, or by dampening the fibres or yarns with a
solution of borax, glauber's salts, or carbonate of soda, which solutions were intended
to prevent the fibres or yarns losing their moisture.
The use of borax, glauber's salts, or carbonate of soda solutions is, however,
attended with the disadvantage that it causes the wire card clothing and combs, or
any bright metal, on the textile machinery, to become oxidised or rusty.
My correspondent has discovered that this difficulty of the oxidizing or rusting of
the bright metallic portions of the textile machinery may be avoided, and the fibres
or yarn kept moist without danger of causing oxidation or rust by moistening the
fibres or yarn with a solution of an alkaline phosphate, and particularly sodium
phosphate, although potassium phosphate or ammonium phosphate, may if preferred
be used.
It is preferred to use sodium phosphate, and this by preference in the form of
tri-sodium-phosphate, not only because it is cheap as compared with other alkaline
phosphates, but also because in that combination, the phosphoric acid is fully
neutralized, so that there is no free acid in the compound, nor is any produced in
the several baths in which it may be employed.

page_text: The fibres or yarns may be moistened with this solution at any convenient stage
in the manufacture of the fibres, yarns or fabrics, as for instance, previous to the
passing of the fibres through the carding or combing machine. This solution keeps
the yarn moist throughout the process, and in that way entirely prevents the diffi
culties which would otherwise arise from the generation of electricity, and prevents
the snapping or breaking of the fibres and yarns. At the same time, the solution
has the effect of keeping the wire of the card clothing, the teeth of the combs, and
other bright metal parts of the machinery with which the yarns come into contact,
perfectly clean, bright, and free from rust, so that the expense of cleaning, polishing
or renewing these bright metal parts is saved.
Further, my correspondent has discovered that dye colors may be fixed on fibres
or fabrics, whether of cotton, wool, jute, flax, or other textile fibres or fabrics, by
subjecting them to the action of alkaline phosphates, and particularly sodium phos-
phate, although potassium phosphate or ammonium phosphate may if preferred, be
used, and as above mentioned it is preferred to use sodium phosphate, and this by
preference in the form of tri-sodium-phosphate, not only because it is cheap as com-
pared with other alkaline phosphates, but also because in that combination, the
phosphoric acid is fully neutralized, so that there is no free acid in the compound,
nor is any produced in the several baths in which it may be employed.
In carrying out the invention, the phosphate may be added directly to the dye-
bath, or it may be employed in the finishing bath, or it may be added to the water or
other liquid which is to be used in either of these baths. Or fibres or fabrics may
be treated to the action of a solution of sodium phosphate before being put in the
dye bath, or after they have been dyed and finished.
The quantity of sodium phosphate to be used will vary with the character of the
material to be dyed, and with the nature of the dye used and to some extent with
other attendant conditions. With tri-sodium-phosphate, (which as has been said, it
is preferred to employ) a one per cent. solution gives the desired effect, that is, it has
the property of fixing the colors on the textile fabrics or fibres so as to give a dense
and lasting color, and if the phosphate is to be used in the dye bath, it will prevent
the absorption of any superfluous coloring matter in the stock, so that the fibres or
fabrics will be free from "rust," and the colors be prevented from "crocking."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to he performed as
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
communicated to
1. The mode herein described of keeping fibres or yarns moist in textile manu-
factures, said mode consisting in subjecting the fibres or yarns to the action of a
solution of an alkaline phosphate, substantially as set forth.
2. The mode herein described of keeping fibres or yarns moist in textile manu-
factures, said mode consisting in subjecting the fibres or yarns to the action of a
solution of tri-sodium-phosphate, substantially as described.
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"
3. The mode herein described of fixing colors and prevention of "rust" and
crocking' in textile fabrics or fibres, said mode consisting in subjecting the
fabrics or fibres to the action of an alkaline phosphate.
31
4. The mode herein described of fixing colors and prevention of "
rust and
"crocking " in textile fabrics or fibres, said mode consisting in subjecting the
fabrics or fibres to the action of tri-sodium-phosphate.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1888.