IMPROVED MEANS OF EXTRACTING OR RECOVERING ANIMAL FIBRES FROM MIXTURES OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE FIBRES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lionel Helliwell, of Birstal, in the County of
York, Shoddy Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS
OF EXTRACTING OR RECOVERING ANIMAL FIBRES FROM MIXTURES OF ANIMAL
AND VEGETABLE FIBRES.”
Sealed the 1st March 1872, and dated the 4th September 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lionel Holliwell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th September 1871.
I, LIONEL HELLIWELL, of Birstal, in the County of York, Shoddy
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED MEANS OF EXTRACTING OR RECOVERING ANIKAL FIBRES FROM MIXTURES
OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE FIBRES," to be as follows :—
In order to extract or recover the animal fibres from mixtures of
animal and vegetable fibres which have been dyed black, I immerse the
mixture in a bath of a compound of about one-third of muriatic acid
with two-thirds of sulphuric acid for any length of timo sufficient to

page_text: destroy the vegetable fibre. The animal fibre is afterwards removed
from the liquid in the bath and allowed to dry, and is then immersed
in liquid ammonia, which neutralizes the acids and restores the black
colour to the animal fibre.
In extricating animal fibres from mixtures of animal and vegetable 5
fibres which have been dyed other colours than black, I use the same
acids and in the same proportions, but instead of using ammonia I use a
solution of potash or soda. By these means I preserve the colours and
maintain the milling properties of such fibres.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Lionel Helliwell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LIONEL
HELLIWELL, of Birstal, in the County of York, Shoddy Manufacturer,
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 seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Lionel Helliwell, Her special licence
that I, the said Lionel Helliwell, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Lionel Helliwell, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree 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
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS
OF EXTRACTING OR RECOVERING ANIMAL FIBRES FROM MIXTURES OF ANIMAL AND
VEGETABLE FIBRES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Lionel Helliwell, 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.
3

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Lionel Helliwell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
In order to extract or recover the animal fibres from mixtures of
animal and vegetable fibres which have been dyed black, I immerse the
mixture in a bath of a compound of about one-third of muriatic acid
with two-thirds of sulphuric acid for any length of time sufficient to
destroy the vegetable fibre. The animal fibre is afterwards removed
from the liquid in the bath and allowed to dry, and is then immersed
in liquid ammonia, which neutralizes the acids and restores the black
colour to the animal fibrc.
In extracting animal fibres from mixtures of animal and vegetable
fibres which have been dyed other colours than black, I use the same
acids and in the same proportions, but instead of using ammonia I use a
solution of potash or soda. By these means I preserve the colours and
maintain the milling properties of such fibres.
Having described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
desire it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein-before set forth, but I claim the use of a compound of
muriatic acid with sulphuric acid for destroying the vegetable fibro
mixed with animal fibre; and liquid ammonia, or solutions of potash or
soda, for restoring or preserving the colour of the animal fibre.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lionel Helliwell, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this First day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
LIONEL HELLIWELL. (L.s.)
Witness,
Wч. TASKER,
Tusker & Brierley,
Patent Agents,
Halifax & Bradford.