AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF DESTROYING THE VEGETABLE MATTER OR 'BURL' CONTAINED IN DYED ANIMAL FABRICS OR MATERIALS, SUCH AS WOOL, SILK, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Browne, of the Firm of Browne and Company,
Patent Agents, of 5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF DESTROYING THE
VEGETABLE MATTER OR 'BURL' CONTAINED IN DYED ANIMAL FABRICS OR
MATERIALS, SUCH AS WOOL, SILK, AND THE LIKE." A communication from
abroad by Charles Thomas Agathon Leclercq, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Browne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st March 1878.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, Patent Agents, of
5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED
PROCESS OF DESTROYING THE VEGETABLE MATTER OR BURL' CONTAINEDIN DYED
ANIMAL FABRICS OR MATERIALS, SUCH AS WOOL, SILK, AND THE LIKE." (A com-
munication from abroad by Charles Thomas Agathon Leclercq, of Paris, France.)
According to the process of M. Trezon in using diluted acids for the purpose of
destroying the vegetable matter or "burl" contained in dyed fabrics, there is a
liability of acting too energetically upon such fabrics or materials, besides which
they require other operations of a costly nature, such as wringing, drying, and
the like.
Now this Invention consists in destroying the vegetable matter or "burl" by
using acids in a state of vapour mixed with air instead of acid diluted with water
as heretofore.
In order to carry out this process it is only necessary to evaporate the acid to
be employed in a separate apparatus, and convey it to a chamber where it is
mingled with the desired quantity of air or any other neutral gas which moderates
Dine A71

page_text: its action; thus the gas may be introduced through the fabric or material to be
"burled" and kept in contact therewith for a sufficient length of time to effect the
"burling."
In using acid vapour the "burl" is less effected than when an acidulated liquid
is used, so that it is indispensable to reduce it to dust when it has lost its coherency
or become carbonized. In order to effect this the fabric or material is passed through
(as soon as the burling is completed and still hot) a crushing machine composed of
cylinders or beaters, or any suitable apparatus which will crush or reduce the
burl" (so that it falls out of the material in dust) may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Browne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
September 1878.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, Patent Agents, of
"AN IMPROVED
5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex.
PROCESS OF DESTROYING THE VEGETABLE MATTER OR 'BURL' CONTAINED IN DYED
ANIMAL FABRICS OR MATERIALS, SUCH AS WOOL, SILK, AND THE LIKE." (A com-
munication from abroad by Charles Thomas Agathon Leclercq, of Paris, France.)
According to the process of Trezon in using diluted acids for the purpose of
destroying the vegetable matter or "burl" contained in dyed fabrics, there is a
liability of acting too energetically upon such fabrics or materials, besides which
they require other operations of a costly nature, such as wringing, drying, and
the like.
Now this Invention consists in destroying the vegetable matter or "burl" by
using acids in a state of vapour mixed with air instead of acid diluted with water
as heretofore.
In order to carry out this process it is only necessary to evaporate the acid to be
employed in a separate apparatus and convey it to a chamber, where it is mingled
with the desired quantity of air or any other neutral gas, which moderates its
action; thus the gas may be introduced through the fabric or material to be
burled" and kept in contact therewith for a sufficient length of time to effect the
"burling."
"
In using acid vapour the "burl" is less effected than when an acidulated liquid
is used, so that it is indespensable to reduce it to dust when it has lost its coherency
or become carbonized. In order to effect this the fabric or material is passed through
(as soon as the burling is completed and still hot) a crushing machine composed of
cylinders, beaters, or any suitable apparatus which will crush or reduce the "burl"
(so that it falls out of the material in dust) may be employed.
And having thus described the nature of this Invention I declare that I claim,-
First. The improvements on Trezon's system, substantially as herein described.
Second. The employment of crushing or grinding apparatus for reducing to

page_text: powder the "burl" contained in the material or fabric after the acid vapour treat-
ment, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Browne, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ALEX. BROWNE. (L.S.)