IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING CERTAIN FIBRES, AND MORE ESPECIALLY THE FIBRE DERIVED FROM THE BAOBAB TREE OR ADANSONIA DIGITATA, TO RENDER THEM FIT FOR SPINNING AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, of Essex Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TREATING CERTAIN FIBRES, AND MORE ESPECIALLY THE FIBRE DERIVED FROM
THE BAOBAB TREE OR ADANSONIA DIGITATA, TO RENDER THEM FIT FOR
SPINNING AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR."
Sealed the 13th August 1872, and dated the 16th February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gardner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th February 1872.
I, HENRY GARDNER, of Essex Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING CERTAIN FIBRES, AND MORE ESPECIALLY THE FIBRE
DERIVED FROM THE BAOBAB TREE OR ADANSONIA DIGITATA, TO RENDER THEM FIT FOR
SPINNING AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR," to be as
follows: :-

page_text: example, as flax, esparto grass, and more especially the fibre derived
from the baobab tree or Adansonia digitata, in the following manner :—
In the first place I steep the fibres for about two hours in a solution of
caustic alkali, made by adding twenty pounds of the alkali to one
hundred gallons of hot water, which will suffice for one hundredweight
of the fibre. I then drain the fibre and put it into a solution of chloride
of lime of about the same strength as the alkali, viz., twenty per cent.
of the chloride is added to one hundred gallons of hot water. The fibre
is steeped in this solution for six hours, and then washed in cold
water and placed in a bath of weak solution of sulphuric acid of the
strength of about fifteen per cent. The fibre is steeped herein for about
ten minutes, and then washed in cold water and dried gradually. It
may then be heckled and combed as flax, or worked like cotton.
My Invention consists secondly of improved machinery, which I
employ in the process of preparing the said fibres to render them fit for
spinning and other useful purposes. The features of novelty in this
machine consist of a toothed cylinder with a pair of heavy grooved
rollers or fixed rollers. The inside of the cover of the cylinder is
partially lined with card filleting or teeth.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY 2
GARDNER, of Essex Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty- 3
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Henry Gardner, Her special licence that I,

page_text: the said Henry Gardner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Henry Gardner, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING CERTAIN
FIBRES, AND MORE ESPECIALLY THE FIBRE DERIVED FROM THE BAOBAB TREE OR
ADANSONIA DIGITATA, TO RENDER THEM FIT FOR SPINNING AND OTHER USEFUL
PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR,' upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Gardner, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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
"
the said Henry Gardner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Henry Gardner, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING CERTAIN
FIBRES, AND MORE ESPECIALLY THE FIBRE DERIVED FROM THE BAOBAB TREE OR
ADANSONIA DIGITATA, TO RENDER THEM FIT FOR SPINNING AND OTHER USEFUL
PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Gardner, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 I, the said Henry Gardner, do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 consists firstly of treating certain fibres, such for
example, as flax, esparto grass, and more especially the fibre derived
from the baobab tree or Adansonia digitata, in the following manner :—
In the first place I steep the fibres for about two hours in a solution of
caustic alkali made by adding twenty pounds of the alkali to 100 gallons
of hot water, which will suffice for one hundredweight of the fibre. I then
draw the fibre and put it into a solution of chloride of lime of about
the same strength as the alkali, viz., 20 per cent. of the chloride is
added to 100 gallons of hot water. The fibre is steeped in this solution
for 6 hours and then washed in cold water and placed in a bath of weak
solution of sulphuric acid of the strength of about 15 per cent., the
fibre is steeped herein for about 10 minutes, then washed in cold
water and dried gradually. It may then be heckled and combed as flax,
or worked like cotton.
My Invention consists secondly of improved machinery, which I

page_text: spinning, and other useful purposes. The feature of novelty in this
machine consists of a toothed cylinder with a pair of heavy grooved
rollers or fixed rollers. The inside of the cover of the cylinder is
partially lined with card filleting or teeth. Sometimes I employ a
machine made according to the Specification of a Patent granted to me 5
in February 1870, No. 337.
spinning, and other useful purposes. The feature of novelty in this
machine consists of a toothed cylinder with a pair of heavy grooved
rollers or fixed rollers. The inside of the cover of the cylinder is
partially lined with card filleting or teeth. Sometimes I employ a
machine made according to the Specification of a Patent granted to me
in February 1870, No. 337.
I will now proceed to describe the machinery I employ for treating
fibres, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings
which forms part of this Specification.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, and Figure 2 a plan of my
improved machine. Similar letters of reference are employed in each
Figure to denote corresponding parts.
The drum A studded with blunt teeth of conical form is caused by
suitable gearing B, B, to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow.
Immediately beneath the axis of the drum, though by preference not in
the same straight line with it is arranged the stationary knife or comb C
so disposed as to be capable of being removed at the side of the machine
when sharpening or cleaning is required. The distance between the
teeth can readily be regulated by lowering or raising the drum A by
means of the adjustable sliding bearings D, D. The fibre being placed
on the feed table E first passes between the rolls F, F, (driven in manner
shown by gearing G, G, & H, H,) which by suitable adjustments at
the bearings may be made to exert any required pressure upon the fibre
during its passage between them. It is then drawn between the re-
volving teeth on drum A and the fixed teeth on the comb C, where it is
opened and combed in one operation, and being carried forward is
removed from the drum A by the revolving toothed roll I and delivered
upon the table K.
Should the machine from any cause become choked
it may be at once freed by raising the drum (by turning the hand wheels
on the bearings D, D,) and if necessary then removing the fixed knife or
comb C.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and how the
same is to be performed, I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly. The mode of treating certain fibres, and more especially the
fibre derived from the baobab trec or Adansonia digitata, in the manner

page_text: And, secondly, I claim the revolving toothed drum and fixed knife or
comb, used in conjunction with and forming part of the machine.
described, for the purpose and in the manner herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof I, the said Henry Gardner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
HENRY GARDNER. (L.s.)
Patent Agent,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane.