ROVE. MENTS IN TREATING, PREPARING, AND BLEACHING TEXTILE FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Alexander, of Dillichip, in the County of
Dumbarton, North Britain, Bleacher, for the Invention of IMPROVE.
MENTS IN TREATING, PREPARING, AND BLEACHING TEXTILE FABRICS AND OTHER
MATERIALS."
Sealed the 28th January 1859, and dated the 27th November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Alexander at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th November 1858.
I, ROBERT ALEXANDER, of Dillichip, in the County of Dumbarton, North
Britain, Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING, PREPARING, AND BLEACHING TEXTILE FABRICS AND
OTHER MATERIALS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the use of steam in treating, preparing, and bleach-
ng woven goods and other materials, whereby the processes are materially
quickened, whilst the result is a very great improvement in the treated goods.
and particularly in the colours of printed or ornamented goods. Instead of
boiling the goods, as is usually the practice, the fabrics are passed in an open
sheet form slowly through steum chests, or through or in contact with steam,
in any convenient way. This steam treatment is employed instead of the
usual boiling processes atall or any of the stages of preparation and bleaching
[Price 8d.]

page_text: where boiling is resorted to, and with or without the presence of the
chemical ingredients employed in the process. The time occupied by the
processes is in this way very much reduced, and the colour, effect, and
appearance of the treated goods are very greatly improved.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Alexander in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th May 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
ALEXANDER, of Dillichip, in the County of Dumbarton, North Britain,
Bleacher, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Alexander, Her special license that I, the said Robert
Alexander, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such othersas I, the
said Robert Alexander, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TREATING, PREPARING, AND BLEACHING TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Robert Alexander, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Alexander, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to the use of steam in treating, preparing, and
bleaching woven goods and other materials whereby the processes are
materially quickened, whilst the result is a very great improvement in the

page_text: treated goods, and particularly in the colours of printed or ornamented goods.
Instead of boiling the goods, as is usually the practice, the fabrics are passed in
an open sheet form slowly through steam chests, or through or in contact with
steam in any convenient way. This steam treatment is employed instead of
the usual boiling processes at all or any of the stages of preparation and bleach-
ing where boiling is resorted to, and with or without the presence of the
chemical ingredients employed in the processes. The time occupied by the
processes is in this way very much reduced, and the colour, effect, and
appearance of the treated goods are very greatly improved.
of
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheets of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose
showing certain modifications under which my improvements may bejudiciously
carried out in practice, that is to say:-
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a sectional elevation
of the main portion of one arrangement of my improved apparatus for treating,
preparing, and bleaching texile fabrics by steam; Figure 2 is a plan
corresponding to Figure 1 on the same Sheet. Figure 1 on Sheet 2 is a
sectional elevation of the end portion of the apparatus and forming a cou-
tinuation of the part shown in Figure 1 on Sheet 1; Figure 2 is a plan
corresponding to Figure 1 on the same Sheet; Figure 3 is a view of the right-
hand end of the apparatus; and Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged views of
portions of the details.
My improved apparatus consists of a range or series of cisterns and steam
chests, which are disposed in a continuous line as delineated in the accom-
panying Drawings. The cisterns and steam chests are arranged upon a stone
or brick foundation A, and the series consists of seven iron and two wooden
cisterns and three steam chests; the whole of these vessels are of a rectangular
figure, the metal ones are formed of cast-iron plates, the wooden cisterns
being bound together by malleable iron tie rods and nuts. The first cistern B
of the series is filled with hot water, which is kept up to the boiling temperature
by the steam which flows through the perforated pipe C; this pipe branches
off from the steam pipe D that is carried along the side of the apparatus above
the cistern B. The steam pipe I) communicates with the main pipe E, which
steam pipe is connected with the boiler; the steam way of this pipe is
controlled by a valve in the valve chest F, which is actuated by the haud
wheel G. The goods or fabrics to be bleached are conveyed into the cistern B,
and downwards beneath the first of a series of hollow sheet iron rollers H,
which are arranged parallel to each other at the lower part of the cistern

page_text: There are six of these rollers at the bottom of the cistern, and at the upper
part there is a corresponding set of five rollers I. The fabrics are passed
successively over and under these rollers, and after passing under the last of
the rollers H, they are carried upwards and passed between a pair of nipping
rollers J, K, which are carried in end standards that are bolted to the longi-
tudinal framing L; this framing extends the whole length of the apparatus
and is supported at intervals by the columns M. The framing Loverhangs
the cisterns on one side, and to this overhanging part the pedestal bearings N,
which carry the main shaft O are fitted. This shaft, which is driven from a
steam engine or other prime mover, actuates a pair of nipping rollers which
are fitted over cach cistern and steam chest; the arrangement of these nipping
rollers being in all respects similar to the first pair. they are marked throughout
with corresponding letters of reference, the description of one pair being in
like manner applicable to the whole series. The shaft O bas keyed to it a
level wheel P which gears with a corresponding wheel Q fast to the spindle
of the lower roller K; in this manner the whole series of the rollers K are
driven at a uniform velocity. The bearings of the upper rollers J are carried
in slots made in the end standards, so that by means of the weighted lever R
the upper roller may be caused to press with more or less force upon the
lower roller. The lever Ris centred upon a stud that is carried in a vertical
arm S, which springs from the end standard; the lever is jointed to the short
presser bar which bears upon the spindle of the roller J. The balance
weight T is adjusted upon the lever according to the amount of pressure
required upon the fabrics undergoing the process. As the goods pass up from
the cistern B, prior to their reaching the first pair of nipping rollers, they are
subjected to the washing action of streams or jets of water which issue from
the horizontal perforated pipes U. There are two of these pipes, which are
arranged parallel to one another, and branch off from the vertical pipe V.which
communicates with the main water pipe W, the waterway of the pipe V being
controlled by a suitable tap or valve. A branch pipe and cock X also connects
the main water pipe W with each cistern throughout the series, by means of
which they are supplied with water as required. Each cistern is also furnished
with an outlet valve Y, which is actuated by the handle Z to allow of the
contents being drawn off from time to time. The fabrics after passing over
the first roller K are carried downwards into the second cistern a, in which
they are subjected to the action of a boiling chemical solution, heated by the
branch steam pipe a¹, the chemical solution consisting of half a pound of soda
ash and half a pound of Irish lame to each gallon of water contained in the
cistern. From the cistern a the goods are carried between the second pair of

page_text: 1
nipping rollers J, K, and into the steam chest ; the steam passes into this
chest from the pipe c, beneath and all round the edge of the plate, ina spray
or sheet. The steam pipe c is carried along beneath the range of cisterns and
into the three steam chests, receiving its supply from a laterally branching
steam pipe in connection with the main steam pipe E. As the steam within
the chest is kept above the atmospheric pressure it is provided with an
arrangement at the slits, where the goods enter and come out, for the purpose
of preventing as far as possible the escape of the steam. This consists of a
pair of brass jaws fitting closely to each other, and between the faces of which
the goods pass. Figures 4 and 5, on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings
represent enlarged end views of this portion of the apparatus. Two flat strips
of iron e are bolted to the top of the steam chest, one of these has cast to it
the fixed jawf, whilst the other has fitted to it the sliding jaw y; these jaws
are by preference made of brass, their contiguous faces being ground smooth
so as to clip the cloth closely, but without impeding its traverse through the
steam chest. The sliding jaw g is moved to and fro by the stationary screws,
which are fitted in the standards i, and work through the upwardly projecting
part of the jaw g. Figures 4 and 5 show the pair of these adjustable clips or
jaws, one pair for admitting the cloth in its downward passage, and the other
for allowing it to pass out from the steam chest. The two pairs of clipping
jaws are arranged on each side of the top of the steam chest, as shown in the
accompanying Drawings immediately beneath and in a line with the periphery
of the nipping rollers K. A corresponding arrangement is fitted on the top
of each steam chest in the series. The fabrics are subjected to the full action
of the steam heat by passing them successively under and over the rollers H
and I; after being carried through the third pair of nipping rollers, they are
subjected to the action of cold water in the cistern J. Before passing under
the fourth pair of nipping rollers the goods are subjected a second time to the
streams or jets of cold water which issue from the duplex perforated pipes U,
which are in all respects similar to those herein-before described.
From the fourth pair of nipping rollers the goods pass down into the
cistern, which is formed of wood, and furnished with a perforated steam
pipe. The cistern : is filled with a solution of muriatic acid and water, by
preference of a strength marking 2 degrees on Twaddell's hydrometer; this
acidulous solution is kept at a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit by duly
regulating the admission of the steam through the pipe . The goods are
next washed in the cistern m, which is filled with cold water, and are thea
passed into the cistern n, which contains a chemical solution composed in the
proportions of half a pound of resin, one gill of caustic soda, and one gallon

page_text: of water; this solution is kept at the boiling temperature. From the cistern »
the goods are conveyed into the steam chest o; this is in all respects similar
to the one herein-before described. The goods are next washed in the hot
water cistern p, which is heated by the steam pipe q, the passage of the steam
being controlled by the valve in the chest, and before passing into the next
compartment are washed by the jets of water issuing from the fourth pair of
pipes U. In the cistern s the goods are immersed in a solution of chloride of
lime and water, marking one and a half degrees on Twaddell's hydrometer.
From the chemical cisterns the goods are next conveyed into the steam
chest t, and thence into the cistern, which is constructed of wood, like the
cistern l, and contains an acidulous solution composed of sulphuric acid and
water of a strength marking two degrees on Twaddell's hydrometer; finally,
the goods are passed through a washing machine, which completes the pre-
paring or "bleaching" process. In the arrangement and working of the
foregoing apparatus preference is given to the cloth passing through the
machine in two breadths at the rate of thirty-four yards per minute. The
herein-before described apparatus and process is equally applicable to the
preparation of Turkey reds, as for what are technically known as "madders "
and "steams," excepting that the process in this modification is stopped when
the fabrics issue from the cistern γ. In this modification the chemical
solutions are modified from those herein-before described. The solution used.
for the cisterna, the second of the series, consists of caustic soda and water
made up to a strength marking eight degrees on Twaddell's hydrometer. In
the cistern / the acidulous solution is composed of sulphuric acid and water
of a strength of two degrees Twaddell, in the cistern ; the solution is the
same as in the cisteru a. After the fabrics are passed through the cistern p
they are further cleansed in a washing machine, which completes the process.
These improvements in treating, preparing, and bleaching textile fabrics,
accomplish the work in a very superior manner, and effect an important saving
of time and labour.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion
to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Iuvention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Pateut, is,―
First, the general arrangement and construction of apparatus or machinery

page_text: for treating, preparing, and bleaching textile fabrics and other materials, as
herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of treating, preparing, and bleaching textile
fabrics by means of the machinery or apparatus herein-before described aud
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third, the application to and use of, in the processes of treating, preparing,
and bleaching textile fabrics of steam chests or other receptacles in which the
goods are subjected to the action of steam during the several processes, as
herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
Fourth, the arrangement and construction of the mechanical jaws or clips
for preventing the escape of steam from the steam chests during the inward
and outward traverse of the goods or fabrics through the said steam chests, as
herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Alexander, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
ROBERT ALEXANDER. (L.S.)