Improvements in the Process of Spinning Flax or other analogous Fibres.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1891
Complete Specification. Left, 22nd Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Process of Spinning Flax or other
analogous Fibres.
I, CHARLES CUNNINGHAM CONNOR, of the firm of Fenton Connor & Company,
Belfast, Ireland, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the process of spinning flax or other
analogous fibres, and has for its object the production of yarn uniform and strong
which is free from the faults. known as "snarls" and "beads." It consists in
passing the rove through a solution which has the effect of emulsifying the natural
oils of the fibre,, but which does not attack the pectio constituents.
-
In the process of spinning flax and various other analogous fibres the fibres. are
drawn out through combs or "gills," after which it is termed " rove.'
"It is the
practice at present to pass the rove through water at various temperatures for the
purpose of softening or macerating it so as to facilitate the drawing and twisting
in the process of spinning. According to the present invention I pass the rove
through a solution of one of the salts of the alkalis with certain weak acids such
as, more. particularly, acetic, phosphoric, or sulphurous acid, with the alkaline
reaction, or a mixture of two or moro of them, which has the effect of emulsifying
the natural oils of the fibre without being sufficiently alkaline to attack the pectic
constituents.
By treating the rove in the manner above described it is affected in such a way
that the reach or distance between the nips of the drawing rollers can be reduced
very considerably below what is possible when water alone is used. It is well
known that the reach should be as short as possible, consistent with the production
of yarn free from the faults known as
< snarls and "beads."
Dated this 13th day of July 1891..
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Process of Spinning Flax or other
analogous Fibres.
I, CHARLES CUNNINGHAM CONNOR, of the firm of Fenton Connor & Company,
Belfast, Ireland, Manufacturers, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in the process of spinning flax or other
analogous fibres, and has for its object the production of yarn uniform and strong
which is free from the faults known as "snarls" and "beads." It consists in
passing the rove through a solution which has the effect of emulsifying the natural
oils of the fibre but which does not sensibly attack the pectic constituents.
It is the
In the process of spinning flax and various other analogous fibres the fibres are
drawn out through combs or "gills," after which it is termed "rove."
practice at present to pass the rove through hot water for the purpose of softening
or macerating it so as to facilitate the drawing and twisting in the process of
spinning. This treatment was a manifest advance on the old process of dry spinning
and cold water maceration, but I now find that by the addition of certain compounds
to the hot water still further improvements can be obtained, from the nature of
Pins77

page_text: which it is to be inferred that their effects are due to a. modification which they
bring about in the condition of the constituents of the fibre and the consequent
improvements in the spinning qualities of the fibre.
According to the present invention I pass, the rove through an alkaline solution.
This may be made of a highly dilute solution of one of the caustic alkalis or a
solution of one of the salts of the alkalis with the weak acids such as more
particularly acetic, phosphoric, boracic, or sulphurous acid, or a mixture of two or
more of them,, which has the effect of emulsifying the natural oils of the fibre
without being sufficiently alkaline to dissolve the pectic constituents.
By treating the rove in the manner above described it is affected in such a way
that the reach or distance between the nips of the drawing rollers can be reduced
very considerably below what is possible when water alone is used. It is well
known that the reach should be as short as possible, consistent with the production
of yarn free from the faults known as "snarls" and "beads."
The following illustrates the method of carrying out my invention. I place in
the water trough a solution of phosphate of soda containing one pound of
crystallized phosphate of soda (hydrodisodic phosphate) dissolved in from twelve
to fifteen gallons of water giving a 0.5 to 0.75 per cent. solution. This solution
is heated up to a suitable temperature by means of a steam pipe passing through
the trough, no steam being allowed to escape into the trough. In this way the
strength of the solution is kept uniform. Using this solution 1 can spin the rove
with a much shorter reach than hitherto and obtain a yarn of much greater
uniformity and freedom from the defects above mentioned. For instance I find that
yarns of 90 Lea can be spun with a reach of 1 inch representing a reduction of
about 40 per cent. upon the usual minimum.
The use of the chemicals in solution will allow of a colder solution being used,
which may be an advantage in some cases.
Having now-particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In the process of spinning flax or other analogous fibres, the use of an alkaline
solution in the water trough of the spinning frame, preferably solutions of the salts
of the alkalis having an alkaline reaction in solution, as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. In the process of spinning flax or other analogous fibres, the treatment of the
rove with an alkaline solution preferably solutions of the salts of the alkalis having
an alkaline reaction in solution, by means of which it is possible to use a shorter
"reach" than has hitherto been attained.
Dated this 21st day of August 1891.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.