CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF BLEACHING FUSTIANS AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Worrall, junior, of Salford, in the County
of Lancaster, Dyer and Finisher, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF BLEACHING FUSTIANS AND OTHER TEXTILE
FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 6th October 1854, and dated the 6th April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Worrall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
April 1854.
I, JAMES WORRALL, junior, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Dyer
and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF BLEACHING FUSTIANS AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My improvements in the method of bleaching fustians and other textile
fabrics consist principally in bringing the particles of bleaching liquids or
materials more frequently in contact with the cloth to be bleached, namely, by
changing the particles in contact as frequently and as constantly as possible
with the particles of the cloth. In bleaching fustians in particular this principle
requires carrying out more than is now done, especially in the alkali process,
as the mere immersion and distribution of particles of bleaching liquid by boil-
ing is not sufficient; the particles of the cloth and the particles of the alkali
require to be morc quickly and regularly changed, which cannot be done by.

page_text: immersion and wincing, as usually practised. Therefore I propose to draw the
cloth through the liquid in an even and uniform manner, or to obtain a similar
effect by pouring, raining, or showering the boiling alkaline liquors over or
against or through the cloth. The various processes of bleaching may be
severally thus performed, and much improvement in their effect obtained.
The process termed "chemicing," that is, the use of the chloride of lime, is
to be applied in the same way in the ordinary chemicing of calicoes; for
instance, the cloth being placed or laid in a vessel having a false bottom, the
bleaching liquor is pumped up, and, as it were, rained upon the cloth, and,
filtering through the cloth to the bottom of the vessel, is re-pumped up, thus
bringing fresh particles of cloth and liquor frequently in contact; but this pro-
cess is not applicable to fustians or similar heavy goods, in consequence of the
cloth being creased by the layers or folds in placing them in the vessel; hence
the necessity of the application of machinery to draw the cloth through the
liquid, or so to place the cloth that the liquid shall be equally poured, showered,
or distributed over or through every portion of the cloth, and thus obviate the
streaks and unevenness of bleach, usually occurring in these goods. The pro-
cess termed "souring" is also to be performed upon the same principle and in
a similar manner.
My improvements in the machinery or apparatus connected with such pro-
cesses relate principally to suitable arrangements of vessels, tension rollers,
pipes for the distribution of the liquids, and the necessary gearing for carrying
out the above essential features of my Invention, and will be fully detailed
and exhibited hereafter in a Complete Specification of my Invention,
and consist, First, in passing two or more pieces of goods or fabrics
simultaneously through the apparatus. Secondly, in carrying the pieces
upwards over a geared roller or rollers, placed above the "becks" or vessels
containing the bleaching liquids. Thirdly, in employing a heated steam pipe
to separate the pieces previously to their passing over the said geared roller,
so as to admit air to both sides of each piece, and also to heat the same, if
required. Fourthly, in employing a perforated pipe to separate the pieces
after they have passed over the said roller through which the bleaching
liquids are to be forcibly injected on to or into the cloth, so as more perfectly
to saturate the same; or the "chemic or other bleaching liquid may be
pumped upon the cloths, either through the perforated pipes or into a cistern
on such an elevation as to flow freely through the perforated pipes on to the
cloth, falling into a cistern below. And fifthly, in the introduction of a steam
cylinder into the vessel or vessels containing the bleaching liquor, for the
purpose of heating the cloth or the liquor when required. And lastly, in

page_text: those cases where it is preferable to boil the cloth in alkali, I place the goods
in a roll or rolls set on end and enclosed in a pan or vessel, and pump the
bleaching liquor upwards from under and through the goods, allowing it to
fall or descend again into the containing vessels, thus causing a rapid circula-
tion of the liquor through the goods, as well as obviating the creasing or
folding of the same, occasioned by plaiting or folding them, as now in use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Worrall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WORRALL, junior, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Dyer and Finisher,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Worrall, junior, Her special licence that I, the said James Worrall,
junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Worrall, junior, 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF BLEACHING FUSTIANS AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Worrall, junior, 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 per-
formed, 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 James Worrall, junior, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
My improvements in the method of bleaching fustians and other textile

page_text: fabrics consist principally in bringing the particles of bleaching liquids or
materials more frequently in contact with the cloth to be bleached, namely, by
changing the particles in contact as frequently and as constantly as possible
with the particles of the cloth. In bleaching fustians in particular this prin-
ciple requires carrying out more than is now done, especially in the alkali
process, as the mere immersion and distribution of particles of bleaching liquid
by boiling is not sufficient; the particles of the cloth and the particles of the
alkali require to be more quickly and regularly changed, which cannot be done
by immersion and wincing, as usually practised; therefore I propose to draw
the cloth through the liquid in an even and uniform manner, or to obtain a
similar effect by pouring, raining, or showering the boiling alkaline liquor over
or against or through the cloth. The various processes of bleaching may be
severally thus performed, and much improvement in their effect obtained. The
process termed "chemicing," that is, the use of the chloride of lime, is to be
applied in the same way in the ordinary "chemicing." of calicoes; for instance,
the cloth being placed or laid in a vessel having a false bottom, the bleaching
liquor is pumped up, and, as it were, rained upon the cloth, and, filtering through
the cloth to the bottom of the vessel, is re-pumped up, thus bringing fresh par-
ticles of cloth and liquor frequently in contact; but this process is not applicable
to fustians or similar heavy goods, in consequence of the cloth being creased
by the layers or folds in placing them in the vessel; hence the necessity of the
application of machinery to draw the cloth through the liquid, or so to place
the cloth that the liquid shall be equally poured, showered, or distributed over
or through every portion of the cloth, and thus obviate the streaks and un-
evenness of bleach, usually occurring in these goods. The process termed
souring" is also to be performed upon the same principle and in a similar
66
manner.
My improvements in the machinery or apparatus connected with such pro-
cesses relate principally to suitable arrangements of vessels, tension rollers,
pipes for the distribution of the liquids, and the necessary gearing for carrying
out the above essential features of my Invention, and consist,-First, in passing
two or more pieces of goods or fabrics simultaneously through the apparatus.
Secondly, in carrying the pieces upwards over a geared roller or rollers, placed
above the "becks" or vessels containing the bleaching liquids. Thirdly, in
employing a heated steam pipe to separate the pieces previously to their passing
over the said geared roller, so as to adinit air to both sides of each piece, and
also to heat the same, if required. Fourthly, in employing a perforated pipe
to separate the pieces after they have passed over the said roller through
which the bleaching liquids are to be forcibly injected on to or into the cloth,

page_text: so as more perfectly to saturate the same; or the "chemic" or other bleaching
liquid may be pumped upon the cloth, either through the perforated pipes or
into a cistern, on such an elevation as to flow freely through the perforated
pipes on to the cloth, falling into a cistern below. And, fifthly, in the intro-
duction of a steam cylinder into the vessel or vessels containing the bleaching
liquor, for the purpose of heating the cloth or the liquor, when required.
And lastly, in those cases where it is preferable to boil the cloth in alkali, I
place the goods in a roll or rolls sets on end, and enclosed in a pan or vessel,
and pump the bleaching liquor upwards from under and through the goods,
allowing it to fall or descend again into the containing vessels, thus causing a
rapid circulation of the liquor through the goods, as well as obviating the
creasing or folding of the same, occasioned by plaiting or folding them, as now
in use.
But in order that my improvements may be better understood and explained
in detail, I have hereunto attached three Sheets of Drawing; Sheets 1 and 2
being made to a scale of about one half inch to a foot, and Sheet 3 made to a
scale of about one inch to a foot. I would here remark, that all those parts or
portions of the machinery or apparatus, as represented in Sheets 1 and 2,
which are liable to come into contact with the "sours or "chemicing"
employed (as hereafter to be described), such as rollers, bearings, &c., should
be made or composed of wood, or wood in combination with lead, or any other
appropriate and suitable material or metal that may be capable of resisting the
acidifying effects of the "sours or "chemicing."
I will now proceed to describe the Drawings, but would still previously
remark that the same machinery or apparatus may be used for " chemicing "
as I shall hereafter describe for "souring," and instead of the souring liquid
being boiled at the top of the boiler house and above the main delivery pipe
to the fustians or cloth, an arrangement may be made by which the "souring
liquid" may be boiled at any height or elevation that may be desired, and
thence pumped up to the main delivery and distributing pipe. The reason
that I prefer boiling the "souring liquid" at some height above the employ-
ment of all operatives is, that all detrimental effects usually experienced from
the steam given out from the boiling "souring liquid " is by this means avoided,
and whatever portion does escape from the boiling cistern is at once dissipated
at a height above the works.
Sheet 1, Fig. 1, represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of my machinery
or apparatus for "souring." a is the boiler; b, the flue surrounding the "sours
cistern at U,, previous to its final termination in the chimney; c, d, exhibits
the tank in which the "sours' are boiled, and e, e, e, the coils of leaden pipe
"

page_text: which effect that object supplied by and from the steam pipe f, which com-
municates at its other end immediately with the boiler a; 9, 9, 9, are junction
pipes carrying from each of the coils e, e, e, the partially condensed steam to a
common pipe h, which passes considerably beneath the bottom of the boiler,
and then returns upwards, and being secured to the bottom of the boiler forms
a perfect and endless course; the steam entering in a highly rarified state by
the steam pipe f to the coils, and returning in a condensed state to the boiler
by the pipe h.
The operation of boiling the "sours by the heated coils will now be
understood; and I now proceed to describe the application of the "sours."
Above the level of the "boiling" sours, which covers the coils of leader pipe,
a sufficient quantity flows through the pipe 7, to supply the branch perforated
pipes k, k, l, (the supply being at such an elevation above the delivery as to
cause the souring liquid to be thrown out or rained upon or even through the
cloth at some requisite degree of pressure, as well as the hottest sours being
constantly delivered from the upper level of the boiling sours). is a framing,
carrying upon it the two rollers m and m", with the fabrics to be operated
upon; these fabrics are now passed under the guide roller n, and upwards, one
on each side of the perforated pipe k, thence in contact over the drawing roller
o, descending on each side of the second perforated pipe (through which pipes
boiling "sours" are constantly ejected) and under (in contact with) the guide
roller P, thence again ascending and descending alternately until the fabrics
have arrived at the last drawing roller, and throughout the whole of their
traverse being constantly rained or showered upon by fresh particles or boiling
sours. At the end of the traverse the fabrics are taken under the drawing roller
and respectively distributed over the rollers and s, either to be taken away
in the truck or otherwise conveniently disposed of. t is the driving shaft and
w, v, the bevil gear, which gives motion to the drawing on upper rollers 0, 0, 0.
w is the pump, through which the sours are pumped up to the "sair cistern
from the bottom cistern a, which receives the dripping and superfluous sours
from the fabrics under operation. y represents a fitting, for the purpose of
limiting the distribution of the sprinkling sours and throwing them on to the
fabrics. The same letters of reference refer to similar parts of the machinery or
apparatus in Sheets 1 and 2. Sheet 2, Fig. 2, exhibits a transverse section of
my machinery or apparatus, as described in Sheet 1. In the apparatus or
machinery as above described, all the pipes are perforated, and are employed
as "souring" pipes; but it may be found necessary in different cloths or fabrics
to adapt each alternate pipe as a steam pipe for heating and separating the
fabrics, as well as admitting air between them.
2,

page_text: In Sheet 3, Fig. I represents a front elevation; and rig. 2, a side elevation
of my improved wheel or drum, on which I roll fabrics or fustians to be boiled
in alkali, whereby I am enabled to obtain a thorough and equal circulation of
the boiling liquid throughout the fabrics under operation, as well as being
enabled to remove with case from one part of the works to any other part
larger quantities than are at present carried by manual labour, thereby effecting
economy in the manufacture, as well as greater excellence in the bleaching of
fabrics. In Fig. 1, Sheet 3, it will be seen that six or eight longitudinal rods or
bars a, a, a, may form the axle of the wheel or drum rivetted or secured by nuts
and screws to the plate b, in which two opposite indentations are sunk or made
c, c; these are for the purpose of receiving a key suspended from a crane, which
key, by being half turned, effects a grip and enables the drum to be raised. The
arms d, d, form the supports of the tyre c. When required for use, a shaft is
passed through the hollow axle of the drum; it is placed in the framing, and
the cloth wound on; when wound on to within two or three inches of the
periphery of the tyre of the wheel or drum, it is taken from the framing, and
at once rolled wherever desired without further trouble; it is now fit to be
placed within a receptacle, which I consider to be the second novelty of this part
of my improvements. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, represents a front view of two cylinders;
one in elevation with the cover removed, and one in section with the cover
secured and in operation; Fig. 4 exhibits a plan of the same. The same letters
of reference refer to similar parts of the apparatus or machinery. In Figs. 3
and 4, Sheet 3, f represents the fustian or fabric to be operated upon, which,
when brought on the drum g, is elevated by a crane in the manner previously
described, and the hollow axle dropped or lowered over the inlet pipe h, and
rests on the projecting pieces j, j. The apparatus represented is capable of con-
taining two such drums in one cylinder, but may be made to hold more when
the cylinder is fully occupied by the rolls or drums. The cover is fastened on
steam-tight, and the mode of operation is as follows:-It will be observed on
reference to the Drawing, that at the bottom of the cylinder k, k', is a quantity
of alkaline solution (above this may be a perforated plate or sieve, but it is not
absolutely necessary) heated from and by the steam pipes to a boiling heat;
this boiling liquid, by the aid of the force pump m, is drawn through the ex-
haust pipe n, and forced up the inlet pipe h, which extends through the drums
and rolls of fabric to within six inches of the crown or cover of the cylinder,
against which the boiling liquid is dashed and forced, and consequently distri-
buting itself over the top of the vertically placed folds of cloth, and equally
filtering through the entire mass or rolls of fabric, fresh boiling liquid being
continually dashed or rained from the top, supplied from the central inlet pipe h
'

page_text: by the force pump, and exhaustion from the bottom of the cylinder continually
o represents a draw-off tap, by which the
going on from the same means.
spent liquor is allowed to escape.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I claim,-
First, the method of bleaching fustians and other textile fabrics by the novel
employment, application, and use of the machinery or apparatus, as herein
particularly described and set forth, and fully. illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly, the employment, application, and use of drums or wheels, upon
which large quantities of textile fabrics may be rolled for the purpose of
bleaching or otherwise, and which drums or wheels, as fully set forth and
described herein, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, are capable of
being moved, rolled, or conveyed with the fabrics uninjured, and thereupon
independent and exclusive of any other framing.
Thirdly, in the adaptation, employment, and use of such apparatus or
machinery, as herein particularly described and set forth, as will enable me to
place textile fabrics with their folds or rolls on end, or vertically and parallel
with their axis.
And, fourthly, the employment of bleaching liquids showered or rained from
above upon vertically placed rolls of fabric, either by the method as herein
particularly described and set forth and fully illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, or by other similar means.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Worrall, junior, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JAMES WORRALL, JR. (L.S.)