IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OP BOWKING
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adam Guild, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS
OP BOWKING."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Adam Guild at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 12th May 1855, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, ADAM GUILD, of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of my Invention for "IuPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF BOWKING," and
in what manner the samo is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
Preparatory to the bleaching of cotton, linen, or other similar materials, the
process of bowking is employed to scour and cleanse the same from dirt and
other impure matter; this is usually effected by simply boiling them in a solu-
tion of lime or alkali. By my improvements, I propose to facilitate this
operation, and save time and expense, and at the same time gain increased
efficiency. I have ascertained that if the materials are subjected to the action
of the scouring solution in a closed vessel at a very high temperature, the

page_text: bowking or cleansing of the materials will be more speedily and thoroughly
effected, and without injury or deterioration to the texture of the fabrics. In
carrying out this principle I have discovered that the arrangement of the
bowking vessels and other necessary apparatus, herein-after described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, will be productive of the greatest
advantages, namely
Fig. 1 is a plan of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 an elevation of the same.
A, A, are two bowking vessels or kiers in which the goods are deposited,
constructed of wrought-iron plates or other materials of sufficient strength to
resist the maximum pressure. On the top of each of the vessels there is a
man-way for the introduction and removal of the goods to be bowked, and on
this man-way a lid is fitted with screws or other mechanical appliances to
fasten it down air-tight. The lid is also furnished with a tap B, B, for the
emission of air from the apparatus. C are perforated platforms or grids inside
the vessels or kiers on which the goods rest. D is a tubular boiler, having
internal flues, by means of which the solution of lime or alkali is elevated to
the requisite heat. The tubular principle is adopted as presenting the greatest
extent of heating surface. E, E, and F, F, are pipes, connecting the boiler
with the two kiers. G, G, are stop-cocks, by closing which one of the vessels
or kiers only may be used at a time. H, H, are thermometers, shewing the
heat of the liquid in the boiler and in the kiers. I, I, are glass gauges, to shew
the height of the liquor in the kier. K is a double safety valve with lever
and weight to regulate the pressure. This may be loaded to a pressure
of one hundred pounds on the square inch. L is a pipe in connection with
a force pump or reservoir for water. M is a pipe by which the solution is
passed into the boiler. N, N, are taps to draw off the liquid and empty the
bowking vessels. The goods, fabrics, or materials are first deposited in
the bowking vessels or kiers until the same be nearly full, and the lime or
alkali solution poured into the boiler by the pipe M or the force pump.
The man-way lid is then screwed down, and heat is applied to the boiler until
the requisite degree of pressure has been attained. The air taps B must be
opened at first for a little time to allow the escape of the air from the kiers.
The effect of this heat and pressure is to cause the solution to ascend up
the pipe E and flow into the two vessels, and traverse the fabrics so thoroughly
that the object of the process is speedily accomplished. As soon as the ther-
mometers attached to the apparatus denote the elevation of the solution to the
desired degree of heat, the fire or other heat may be at once removed from the
boiler, and the apparatus allowed to cool, when, on the scouring solution being

page_text: drawn off, the goods will be found to be perfectly cleansed and ready for bleach-
ing. The temperature to which we recommend the solation to be raised is from
810 to 320, equivalent to a pressure of ninety pounds on the square inch.
I do not limit myself to the precise mechanical details above illustrated, but
I have endeavoured to exhibit such an arrangement as will, to the best of my
knowledge, simplify and facilitate the process of bowking, by enabling a higher
degree of temperature to be successfully applied in the bowking kiers, resulting
in economy of fuel, drugs, labour, and time.
I claim the arrangement of the vessels or kiers, air taps, pipes, and other
apparatus set forth, for applying the scouring solution at high pressure in the
process of bowking.
ADAM GUILD. (L.S.)