IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING, WASHING, CLEANING, BOILING, DYEING, AND DISINFECTING.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonathan Scharr, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Soap Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS AND
APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING, WASHING, CLEANING, BOILING, DYEING, AND
DISINFECTING.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jonathan Scharr at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1879.
JONATHAN SCHARR, of Bradford, in the County of York, Soap Manufacturer.
"IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING. WASHING, CLEANING,
BOILING, DYEING, AND DISINFECTING.”
My apparatus mainly consists in the following particulars :-
-
This apparatus preferably is fitted with four cisterns, numbered respectively I.,
II., III., IV.
Connected with these cisterns are three apparatus so fitted that the flow of the
liquid from each cistern can be effected in any of the three apparatus separately.
There is a false bottom which is made for this purpose. Fibres to be boiled,
washed, dyed, or bleached are filled in.
The liquid from one of the cisterns flows into the apparatus below the false
bottom, passes through the fibres, and runs through an overflow into a receptacle,
to which is connected a steam injector or pump for the purpose of throwing the
liquid up again into any of the cisterns where it may be required.
Each apparatus is fitted with a steam pipe at the point where the liquid flows
into it to give more pressure if required. The fibres before bleaching must be well
cleaned either by boiling or washing. The boiling or washing liquid is, say, in
cistern No. 1.
The tap to apparatus No. 1 is then opened, and allows the liquid to flow through
as long as required; when finished, let clear water run through till clean. When
this is attained open corresponding tap of cistern No. 2, in which is a solution of
potass permang, to apparatus No. L. The solution is caused to pass through the
fibres for about half an hour, the time depending upon the fibres to be bleached.

page_text: When that is done clear water is again run through; now open corresponding
tap of cistern No. III. (in which is a solution of soda-bisulphite, and oxalic-acid)
to apparatus No. 1, and repeat the process, as described, until the fibre is white
throughout. The time depends upon the strength of the solution, say from about
25 to 40 minutes. When the fibres are white open the corresponding tap of cistern
No. III. (in which is clear water mixed with sulphuric-acid until slightly sour) to
apparatus No. I.
This liquid should flow through for about 30 minutes.
After this run clear water through until the fibre is thoroughly rinsed out. Any
other acid of the same nature as those above stated may be used instead of the
above mentioned.
Fibres that are easy to bleach, cotton, for instance, will be finished at once; with
other fibres like jute, flax, etc., the process has to be repeated if not white
enough.
The above apparatus is also fit for disinfecting wool before sorting by sprinkling
some salicylic acid over the wool and blowing steam through.
Or a good washing liquid can be used, in which case no salicylic acid is
required.
The dust contained in some foreign wool is very dangerous to the health of the
workmen as it poisons the blood.
The apparatuses are also fit for washing wool and yarn and boiling silk and
other fibres.
I have thus described the use and arrangement of one apparatus, all three may
however be worked at the same time without hindrance to each other.
More or fewer cisterns with apparatus may be fixed as required.
My patent liquid soap I find the best adapted for cleaning the fibres, as one
hour's boiling with it does as much as 12 hours boiling in lime and does no damage
to the fibres; and I consider my Invention a success against chlorate of lime, it
keeps the goods strong, and does not rot them as does the former process of bleaching
with chlorate of lime.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the MODUCED
the said Jonathan Scharr in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th April
1880.
JONATHAN SCHARR, of Bradford, in the County of York, Soap Manufacturer.
"IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING, WASHING, CLEANING,
BOILING, DYEING, AND DISINFECTING."
My improved arrangements of apparatus have for object the effecting of a great
saving in soap or other bleaching, washing, or dyeing materials, also time and
labour in the process of boiling or preparing for bleaching and in bleaching and
dyeing.
In addition to the saving of time the arrangement is such that the handling of
the fibres from first to last is obviated, and in consequence there is no liability
to spoil. This is especially advantageous in the treatment of yarn and in slupping
dyeing.
And my said apparatus substantially consists in the following particulars :-
This apparatus preferably is fitted with two or more cisterns, say four, numbered
respectively I., II., III., IV. Connected with these cisterns are three apparatus
communicating with vessels I call steopers, so fitted that the flow of the liquid from
each cistern can be effected in any of the three apparatus separately. A false
bottom is fitted to the steepers which is made for this purpose. Fibres to bo
boiled, washed, dyed, or bleached are filled in. The liquid from one of the cisterns
flows into the apparatus and to steepers below the false bottom, passes through the
fibres, and runs through an overflow into a receptacle, to which is connected a
steam injector or pump for the purpose of throwing the liquid up again into any
of the cisterns where it may be required. Each apparatus is fitted with a steam
and cold water pipe at the point where the liquid flows into it to give more
pressure if required. The fibres before bleaching must be well cleaned either by.
boiling or washing. The boiling or washing liquid is, say, in cistern No. 1. The
tap to apparatus No. 1 is then opened, and allows the liquid to flow
through as long as required; when finished, let clear water run through till
clean. When this is attained open corresponding tap of cistern No. 2, in
which is a solution of potass permang, to apparatus No. 1. The solution is
caused to pass through the fibres for about half an hour, the time depending upon
the fibres to be bleached. When that is done clear water is again run through.
Now open corresponding tap of cistern No. 3 (in which is a solution of soda,
bisulphite, and oxalic acid) to apparatus No. 1, and repeat the process as described
until the fibre is white throughout. The time depends upon the strength of the
solution, say from about 25 to 40 minutes. When the fibres are white open the corre-
sponding tap of cistern No. 3 (in which is clear water mixed with sulphuric acid
until slightly sour) to apparatus No. 1.
This liquid should flow through for about 30 minutes; after this run clear water
through until the fibre is thoroughly rinsed out. Any other acid of the same
nature as those above stated may be used instead of the above mentioned. Fibres
With other
that are easy to bleach, cotton, for instance, will be finished at once.
fibres like jute, flax, etc., the process has to be repeated if not white enough. The
above apparatus is also fit for disinfecting wool before sorting by sprinkling some
salicylic acid over the wool and blowing steam through; or a good washing liquid
can be used, in which case no salicylic acid is required. The dust contained in
some foreign wool is very dangerous to the health of the workmen as it poisons
the blood. The apparatus are also fit for washing wool and yarn and boiling silk
and other fibres. "I have thus described the use and arrangement of one apparatus;

page_text: all three may however be worked at the same time without hindrance to each
other. More or fewer cisterns with apparatus may be fixed as required. My
patent liquid soap I find the best adapted for cleaning the fibres, as one hour's
boiling with it does as much as 12 hours boiling in lime and does no damage to
the fibres; and I consider my Invention a success against chlorate of lime, it keeps
the goods strong, and does not rot them as does the former process of bleaching
with chlorate of lime. In order that my said Invention may be more readily under-
stood I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows one form of my arrangements; Fig. 2 half plan,
and Fig. 3 section of false bottom; Fig. 4, modified form of arrangements. At an
elevation above the floor line I place two or more cisterns (1, 2, 3, 4), according to
convenience and the nature of the processes it is desired to perform. These cisterns
are respectively numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. Connected with the above by means of
piping and valves are two or three vessels call steepers, marked A, B, and C
respectively. The piping marked A', B, C, is so arranged that the flow of the
contents from each cistern can be passed through any one of the steepers, and its
contents, wool, yarn, jute, China grass, cotton, flax, or silk. The fibre is filled in
the steepers and secured by lids or grids as is thought desirable, when by opening
the valves V, V, V, the liquor is brought down to a position between the bottom
of the steeper and a perforated false bottom of such form and construction as to
ensure the even flow of the liquor through every portion of the contents of the
steeper. This false bottom is shewn in section and plan on Drawing and marked F.
The valves V are only shewn in connection with cistern No. 1, but will of course be
applied to each of the cisterns. The liquor rises through the steepers and passes
away by means of an overflow O into a trough T which leads to a cistern, from
which by means of pumps or injectors P, P, it is returned to any of the cisterns at
will. To each cistern and steeper a steam pipe S is connected to regulate tempc-
rature and pressure as the process requires. I will now describe the modus
operandi of one process, that of bleaching; but I wish it to be understood that my
arrangements effect great economy in all the processes already mentioned, and
further, that I am enabled to effectually disinfect foreign wools before sorting.
And I would here again refer to the fact that the dust of some of these wools
contains matter highly dangerous to the health and even the lives of workmen who
sort the same before they are subjected to any process whatever, and in consequence
deaths have been frequent from blood poisoning. The process of bleaching is as
follows: The fibre is filled into the steeper A and secured by grid or cover, the
cisterns 1, 2, 3, and 4 having been filled with the requisite liquor for steeping,
cleaning, or preparing the fibre, and afterwards for the operation of bleaching. When
'steeper A. is filled, steam if required is passed through in order to soften the foreign
matter (that which is desired to be got rid of). The liquor, greasy soap, or other
wash material from No. 1 cistern is passed through at boiling point assisted
by the steam jet, say for about 1/, an hour, the liquor is passed through, having
been used two or three times before, is allowed to run away into the drain.
Through the same steeper the liquor from No. 2 cistern is then run for about the
same time, at the discretion of the operator, and is afterwards lifted by means of a
pump or injector into No. 1, to be used again after being freshened up a little.
Through the same steeper the liquor from No. 3 cistern is passed, and afterwards
lifted into No. 2. No. 4 cistern contains water of any required temperature. This
is also passed through steeper A. The contents of this steeper are now clean and
properly prepared for bleaching, dyeing, or any other process, and the water is lifted
into No. 3 cistern. Whilst the fibre is being thus treated in No. 1 steeper that in
Nos. 2 and 3 can be treated at one and the same time if desired. In the process
of dyeing the same modus operandi is observed, the dye liquor being in the
cisterns.
The wool is now prepared for bleaching, the cisterns are filled with bleaching
liquor and treated as required. No liquor is allowed to waste, being used over and

page_text: over again by means of the facilities for lifting back into the cistern after passing
through the steeper. When all the virtue is extracted, or in case of using water
only, which has become too dirty, the operator allows the dirty water or spent
liquors to run away into the drains.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the said Invention of "Improved Apparatus
and Arrangements for Bleaching, Washing, Cleaning, Boiling, Dyeing, and Dis-
infecting," substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described and illustrated by
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jonathan Scharr, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
5 Witness,
WILLIAM LOBLEY,
162, Manningham Lane,
Bradford,
Yorkshire.
JONATHAN SCHARR. (L.S.)