IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING FILAMENTS, FIBRES, AND PULP FROM FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND MANILLA
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Bevan, of Birkenhead, in the County of
Chester, Watch Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OBTAINING FILAMENTS, FIBRES, AND PULP FROM FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND
MANILLA."
Sealed the 9th January 1874, and dated the 15th October 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Bevan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th October 1873.
I, EDWARD BEVAN, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Watch
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING FILAMENTS, FIBRES, AND PULP FROM FLAX,
HEMP, JUTE, AND MANILLA," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to more effectually and economically
separate the fibres of flax, hemp, jute, and manilla from each other
after the outer silicious cuticles or coatings have been removed by
ordinary methods, and to render such fibres more suitable for

page_text: ordinary uses and bleaching. For these purposes I proceed in manner
following: Instead of placing the flax, hemp, jute, or manilla, whether
such materials are in lengths or in the form of so called waste, in a
liquid bath as heretofore has been the practice, I place them in or
subject them to the action of steam, vapour, or gas at pressure in a
closed vessel.
In practice I find that when the plants named are placed in or
amongst steam at fifty pounds pressure to the square inch for about two
hours, their fibres are easily separated from each other. The closed
vessel may either be stationary or revolving. With higher pressures of
steam, vapour, or gas less time will be sufficient. After being subjected
to the action of steam for the time named the material is ready for
treatment, for spinning and other uses, and also for being bleached and
made into fine pulp for the manufacture of paper.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Bevan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
BEVAN, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Watch Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in
the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Bevan, Her special
Licence, that I, the said Edward Bevan, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Bevan, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thercafter 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 OBTAINING FILAMENTS, FIBRES, AND PULP FROM FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND
MANILLA," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward

page_text: Bevan, 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 Edward Bevan, 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, that is to say :—
The object of my Invention is to more effectually and economically
separate the fibres of flax, hemp, jute, and manilla from each other
after the outer silicious cuticles or coatings have been removed by
ordinary methods, and to render such fibres more suitable for
ordinary uses and bleaching. For these purposes I proceed in manner
following:-Instead of placing the flax, hemp, jute, or manilla, whether
such materials are in lengths or in the form of so called waste in a
liquid bath as heretofore has been the practice, I place them in or
subject them to the action of steam, vapour, or gas at pressure in a
closed vessel.
In practice I find that when the plants named are placed in or
amongst steam at fifty pounds pressure to the square inch for about two
hours, their fibres are easily separated from each other. The closed
vessel may either be stationary or revolving. With higher pressures of
steam, vapour, or gas less time will be sufficient. After being subjected
to the action of steam for the time named the material is ready for
treatment, for spinning and other uses, and also for being bleached and
made into fine pulp for the manufacture of paper.
In carrying my Invention into practice I prefer to use steam, that is
to say, the vapour of water at about forty-five pounds pressure to the
square inch, and to subject the flax, hemp, jute, and manilla in any of
the available conditions to the action of the steam for about two hours
in a vessel to which such steam is admitted from a generator. A drain
pipe to carry away any water of condensation may be provided.
It will be obvious that the water from which the steam is generated
may be placed in the same vessel as that in which the fibres are to be

page_text: treated, but in this case care must be taken to place the fibres so that
steam only shall act upon them.
When higher pressures than forty-five pounds per square inch are
used the time during which the fibres are to be acted upon must be
reduced, a quarter of an hour's treatment with a pressure of one hundred 5
pounds per square inch would suffice. On the other hand steam of ten
pounds pressure would require six hours treatment.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and
particularized the same in such manner that others will be enabled to
carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not 1
limit myself to pressure, steam, vapour, or gas, nor to the kind of boiler
or vessel; what I do claim is, placing flax, hemp, jute, and manilla, or
any of them, in or subjecting them or either of them to the action of
steam, vapour, or gas in a closed vessel for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Bevan, have hereunto set 1
my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
In the presence of
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
EDWP. BEVAN. (L.S.)