IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WOOL, HAIR, FEATHERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ANIMAL MATTERS, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SIZE AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS THEREFROM
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Smith, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
WOOL, HAIR, FEATHERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ANIMAL MATTERS, IN ORDER TO
OBTAIN SIZE AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS THEREFROM."-Partly a com-
munication from abroad by David Melville, of Christiania, in the
Kingdom of Norway.
Sealed the 11th September 1874, and dated the 16th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th April 1874.
I, ALFRED SMITH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do
3 hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF WOOL, HAIR, FEATHERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ANIMAL MATTERS, IN
" to be as
ORDER TO OBTAIN SIZE AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS THEREFROM,'
follows:
-
The said Invention has for its object more particularly to utilise
woolen or hair waste, waste feathers, old carpets, and other mixed
fabrics containing wool or hair and other similar matters or materials.
When carrying the said Invention into effect, such matters or
materials as aforesaid are placed within high-pressure kiers or boiling

page_text: vessels capable of withstanding a comparatively high internal steam
pressure, and are therein subjected to the combined action of water
heat and pressure until the animal matters are reduced into an aqueous
solution, which may then be "run off" into suitable settling tanks or
receivers.
When artificially coloured animal matters of the description herein-
before indicated are treated as aforesaid, the aqueous solution will
contain the colouring matter, which may be recovered from the said
solution by filtration or precipitation, or by other suitable means.
Valuable dying matters, such, for example, as indigo, cochineal, and
madder may thus be recovered. Any oil or grease which may be con-
tained in or held by the matters treated as aforesaid will collect on
the surface of the said-aqueous solution, and may be removed and
utilised. The remaining solution is suitable to be employed as a size or
as a substitute for gelatine or gum, and may also be found to be useful
for other purposes, and to render the said solution more fit for certain
uses it may be purified or decolourised, and may in some or in all cases
be evaporated to a dry substance, which can be dissolved in water when
required. The said solution may also be employed as a manure.
When mixed fabrics or materials containing vegetable material, such,
for example, as cotton, flax, hemp, or jute, are treated as aforesaid, the
animal matter dissolves as aforesaid, and the vegetable matter remains
undissolved, and may be utilised as a paper material, or be otherwise
utilised.
bo
The vessel in which the solution of the said matters is effected may
heated by means of heat externally applied, as, for example, by means of
an oil bath, or by means of internal steam coils or pipes, or by means of
steam admitted into the said vessel and permitted to act directly upon
the materials therein. In the last case the condensation of the steam
within the said vessel may furnish the water which is to aid in effecting a
a solution of the said materials. It is preferred to provide the, said.
vessel with a false bottom, which is formed to act as a strainer, and in
case the direct action of steam is employed steam may be admitted
below the said false bottom. When a solution is effected or during the
operation the solution can be drawn off from the lower part of the 3
vessel, the said false bottom retaining any matter or material not
dissolved.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
SMITH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Smith, Her special licence
that I, the said Alfred Smith, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Smith, 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
THE TREATMENT OF WOOL, HAIR, FEATHERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ANIMAL MATTERS,
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SIZE AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS THEREFROM," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Smith, 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 Alfred Smith, 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, that is to say:―
My Invention has for its object more particularly to utilize woolen or
hair waste, waste feathers, old carpets, and other mixed fabrics containing
wool or hair and other similar matter or materials.
When carrying the said Invention into effect, such matters or
materials as aforesaid are placed within high-pressure kiers or boiling

page_text: vessels capable of withstanding a comparatively high internal steam
pressure, and are therein subjected to the combined action of water
heat and pressure until the animal matters are reduced into an aqueous
solution, which may then be "run off" into. suitable settling tanks or
receivers.
When artificially coloured animal matters of the description herein-
before indicated are treated as aforesaid, the aqueous solution will
contain the colouring matter, which may be recovered from the said
solution by filtration or precipitation, or by other suitable means.
Valuable dying matters, such, for example, as indigo, cochineal, and
madder may thus be recovered. Any oil or grease which may be con-
tained in or be held by the matters treated as aforesaid will collect on
the surface of the said aqueous solution, and may be removed and
útilised. The remaining solution is suitable to be employed as a size or
as a substitute for gelatine or gum, and may also be found to be useful
for other purposes, and to render the said solution more fit for certain
uses it may be purified or decolourised, and may in some or in all cases
be evaporated to a dry substance, which can be dissolved in water when
required. The said solution may also be employed as a manure, or may
be used as a food, or as a constituent in preparations of food.
-
When mixed fabrics or materials containing vegetable material, such,
for example, as cotton, flax, hemp, or jute, are treated as aforesaid, the
animal matter dissolves as aforesaid, and the vegetable matter remains
undissolved, and may be utilised as a paper material, or be otherwise
utilised.
The vessel in which the solution of the said matters is effected may be
heated by means of heat externally applied, as, for example, by means of
an oil bath, or by means of internal steam coils or pipes, or by means of
steam admitted into the said vessel, and permitted to act directly upon
the materials therein. In the last case the condensation of the steam
within the said vessel may furnish the water which is to aid in effecting
a solution of the said materials. It is preferred to provide the said
vessel with a false bottom, which is formed to act as a strainer, and in
case the direct action of steam is employed steam may be admitted
below the said false bottom. An ordinary high-pressure kier fitted with
à strainer may be employed to effect the solution of the said matters by
the aid of steam. The said matters having been placed within the kier

page_text: and the door or man-hole lid having been secured in a steam-tight
manner, high-pressure steam must be admitted to the interior of the
kier. A pressure of steam must be maintained within the kier until the
animal matters are reduced to a solution. The time required will
depend to a great extent upon the pressure of the steam employed, and
upon the description of matter being operated upon. When acting upon
woolen matters with a pressure of steam of about ninety pounds per
square inch, the solution is usually effected in about six hours. When
a solution is effected or during the operation the solution may be with-
drawn from the lower part of the kier. When a solution of the animal
matters has been effected, any vegetable matters or other matters
remaining upon the strainer may be removed and a fresh charge may be
placed within the kier.
Having now fully described and indicated the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same may be carried into effect,
I would remark in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the uses
to which the said solution may be applied, but that I claim the method
of reducing to an aqueous solution such animal matters as herein-before
indicated, substantially in the manner and by the means herein-before
set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Signed and sealed by the said
Alfred Smith, in the presence
of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
3, Princess Street,
Albert Square,
Manchester.
ALFRED SMITH. (L.S.)