IMPROVEMENTS IN KIERS EMPLOYED IN THE BLEACHING, SCOURING, OR TREATMENT OF WOVEN FABRICS, YARNS, AND OTHER MATERIALS OR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sam Mason, junior, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, and Michael Alcock, of Pendleton, in the
same County, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KIERS EMPLOYED
IN THE BLEACHING, SCOURING, OR TREATMENT OF WOVEN FABRICS, YARNS, AND
OTHER MATERIALS OR SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 10th March 1874, and dated the 12th September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sam Mason and Michael
Alcock at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 12th September 1873.
We, SAM MASON, junior, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
and MICHAEL ALCOCK, of Pendleton, in the same County, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KIERS
EMPLOYED IN THE BLEACHING, SCOURING, OR TREATMENT OF WOVEN FABRICS, YARNS,
AND OTHER MATERIALS OR SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates in the first place to the high pressure or closed
kiers employed principally in the bleaching or scouring of yarns and
woven fabrics, and has for its object to improve the means whereby the

page_text: circulation of the lye or liquor has been obtained, and to obtain more
convenient access to the interior of the kier.
To effect the circulation of the liquor we employ an apparatus similar
to the well-known injector. In the said apparatus a jet of steam is
discharged from a tapering nozzle into a passage which is contracted to
obtain the most useful effect as in the ordinary injector. The liquor
flows from the lower part of the kier to the said apparatus, and is forced
up an ascension pipe which communicates with the upper part of the
kier. On the upper part of the said ascension pipe we fix a casting, on
which are mounted a safety valve and pressure guage, and with which
are connected the inlet pipes for water and liquor. The top of the kier
is thus rendered more accessable. We form the man-hole in the centre
of the top of the kier, and we connect the ascension pipe with an
annular passage or perforated tube which extends around the said man-
hole. This arrangement furnishes more convenient access to the interior
of the kier, and the kier can be more readily charged and discharged
than in the ordinary arrangement. In some cases we may employ a
central ascension or puffer pipe, the puffer plate being removable for
greater convenience when charging and discharging.
A second part of our Invention consists in constructing kiers of
suitable sizes for employment in the cleansing of wearing apparel and
household linen, such kiers being fitted with injectors as in the case of
the large kiers, and being supplemented with steam generators of sizes
suitable to furnish steam for the injectors, and heated by gas or by coke
or other fuel, as may be preferred.
The remaining part of our Invention relates to kiers which are
provided with revolving agitators, and consists in fixing or forming the
agitating blades or parts upon a tube closed at one end and fitted to
revolve in a gland in the cover. The said tube is fitted to slide on the
driving shaft when being withdrawn from the kier in order to obtain
access to the interior of the said kier.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Sam Mason, and Michael Alcock in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 12th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, SAM
MASON, junior, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and MICHAEL
ALCOCK, of Pendleton, in the same County, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Sam Mason, junior, and Michael Alcock,
Her special licence that we, the said Sam Mason, junior, and Michael
Alcock, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said Sam Mason, junior, and Michael Alcock, our executors, admini-
strators, 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 “IMPROVEMENTS IN KIERS EMPLOYED IN
THE BLEACHING, SCOURING, OR TREATMENT OF WOVEN FABRICS, YARNS, AND OTHER
MATERIALS OR SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Sam Mason, junior, and Michael Alcock, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 we, the said Sam Mason, junior, and Michael
Alcock, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, and accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
Our Invention relates in the first place to the high pressure or closed
kiers employed principally in the bleaching or scouring of yarns and
woven fabrics, and has for its object to improve the means whereby the

page_text: circulation of the lye or liquor has been obtained; and to obtain more
convenient access to the interior of the kier.
To effect the circulation of the liquor we employ an apparatus similar
to the well-known injector. In the said apparatus a jet of steam is
discharged from a tapering nozzle into a passage which is contracted to
obtain the most useful effect as in the ordinary injector. The liquor
flows from the lower part of the kier to the said apparatus, and is forced
up an ascension pipe which communicates with the upper part of the
kier. On the upper part of the said ascension pipe we fix a casting on
which are mounted the safety valve and pressure.gauge, and with which
are or may be connected the inlet pipes for water and liquor. The top of
the kier is thus rendered more accessible. We form the man-hole in the-
centre of the top of the kier, and we connect the ascension pipe with an
annular passage or perforated tube which extends around the said man-
hole.
A second part of our Invention consists in constructing kiers of
suitable sizes for employment in the cleansing of wearing apparel and
household linen, such kiers being fitted with injectors as in the case of
the large kiers, and being in some cases supplemented with steam
generators of sizes suitable to furnish steam for the injectors and heated
by gas or by coke, or other fuel as may be preferred.
And in order that our said Invention may be understood, we will now
refer to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, which are made to a scale
of about one inch to the foot and marked with letters of reference.
In the said Drawings Fig. 1 partly in section represents a vertical
elevation of a high-pressure kier fitted with our improvements. In the
said Figure a is the kier, and 6 is the apparatus which we employ to
elevate the liquid and to effect the circulation of the same through the
kier.
A view of the said apparatus taken at right angles to Fig. 1 is seen at
Fig. 2. The internal form and construction of the said apparatus being
the same or similar to that of the now well-known injectors which are
used in the feeding of boilers it has not been considered to be necessary
to exhibit the said internal form and construction in the Drawings.
The apparatus is fitted with a regulating spindle c, and is supplied with
steam through the pipe d. The inlet is connected by the pipe e with the

page_text: lower part of the kier, and the outlet is connected with the ascension
pipe f. The said ascension pipe is in connection with the annular
perforated pipe g, which extends entirely around the man-hole h, which
is formed in the centre of the crown of the kier. A portion of the kier
is represented as broken away to exhibit the said annular pipe. The
water or liquor from the lower part of the kier flows through the pipe e
to the elevating apparatus which forces the said liquor up the ascension
pipe and causes it to be discharged through the said annular pipe on to
the goods within the kier, the steam used in elevating the liquor serving
also to heat the same. An annular passage may be formed around the
man-hole h, the said passage answering the purpose of the pipe g. The
man-hole h is fitted with a cover as is usual. A hollow casting i fixed
on the top of the ascension pipe, and communicating internally there-
with, carries the safety valve k and the pressure gauge 1, and also serves
as a connection for any valves and pipes which may be required for the
supply of water or liquid to the kier as indicated by the valve m.
the example a portion n of the ascension pipe is formed of glass. Glands
o, o, serve to make a tight joint between the glass and the metal and
side rods or bars; p, p, connect together the metal portions of the
ascension pipe to maintain the resistance of the said pipe to the internal
In

page_text: Having now described and indicated the nature of our said Invention,
we would in conclusion have it to be understood that we claim,―
First. The kier fitted and arranged substantially as set forth and
indicated herein-before and by the accompanying Drawings.
And lastly. The adaptation of such kiers or of modifications thereof 5
to the uses indicated when referring to the second part of our Inven-
tion.
In witness whereof, we, the said Sam Mason, junior, and Michael
Alcock have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day
of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred 1
and seventy-four.
Signed and sealed by the said
Sam Mason, junior, and Michael
Alcock in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentees,
3, Princess Street,
SAM MASON, JR. (L.S.)
MICHAEL ALCOCK. (L.S.)
Manchester.