IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE TREATMENT, CLEANSING, OR FINISHING OF TEXTILE FARRICS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Fulton, of Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Bleacher, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT, CLEANSING, OR FINISHING OF TEXTILE
FARRICS."
Sealed the 5th August 1853, and dated the 10th February 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Fulton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th February 1853.
I, WILLIAM FULTON, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT, CLEANSING, OR FINISHING OF TEXTILE
FABRICS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more essentially to the treatment of woven
goods by what is known as the "sulphuring" process for bleaching or
finishing. Instead of depositing the fabrics in a sulphuring chamber, the
sulphur is applied without the introduction of the goods therein at all.
The fabric to be treated is on a beam at one end of the chamber, and it
is carried from this beam over suitable guides, and passed over the sides
and.top of the chamber in contact with an endless web of some thick
material as hair cloth or felt. This thick web is constantly traversed
through the chamber over suitable guides, and so gets saturated with

page_text: the sulphurous vapour. The chamber has two narrow slits in it, one on
each side near the bottom, and the thick web passes up out of the
chamber by one aperture, and thence proceeding along outside over a
reel it again enters the chamber by the other passage. Hence there is
always a length of the fabric exposed outside the chamber, and the
goods to be treated being traversed along and in contact with this satu-
rated portion, and covered over by a layer of another endless web to
keep in the fumes, the goods become well sulphurised in their transit.
As the endless thick web passes it constantly sucks or draws out a
supply. of the sulphurous fumes, and applies the same to the passing
goods. This contrivance is applicable both to yarn and cloth, and is also
suitable for steaming or damping goods, as required in the various pro-
cesses of the manufacturer and printer. In cases where the old system
of sulphuring is adapted by suspending the goods in the sulphur chamber,
either on pins or rolls, it is proposed to hang or arrange the goods on
a separate frame outside the chamber, such frame being run in and out
as may be necessary on a railway, two frames being in use, so that one
may be filling whilst the other is in the sulphur chamber, and the frames
are so contrived with a solid side that they will fill up the side of the
chamber when placed therein; or if the goods are on rolls, they may be
drawn directly off from the interior of the chamber through a slit, and
wound upon a beam in readiness for the next process of treatment.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Fulton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th August 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM FULTON, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Bleacher, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Létters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hnndred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and:

page_text: grant unto me, the said William Fulton, Her special license that I,
the said William Fulton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Fulton, my executors, administrators,
or 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, CLEANSING,
OR FINISHING OF TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Fulton, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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 William Fulton; 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, reference being had to: the accompanying.
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:
My said Invention relates more essentially to the treatment of woven
goods by what is known as the "sulphuring" process for bleaching or
finishing. Instead of depositing the fabrics in a sulphuring, chamber,,
the sulphur is applied without the introduction of the goods therein at:
all. The fabric to be treated is on a beam at one end of the chamber,.
and it is carried from this beam over suitable guides, and passed over:
the sides and top of the chamber in contact with an endless web of
some thick material as hair cloth or felt. This thick web. is con-
stantly traversed through the chamber over suitable guides; and so gets
saturated with the sulphurous vapour. The chamber has two narrow.
slits in it, one on each side near the bottom, and the thick web passes
up out of the chamber by one aperture, and thence proceeding along.
outside over a reel it again enters the chamber by the other passage."
.

page_text: Hence there is always a length of the fabric exposed outside the
chamber, and the goods to be treated being traversed along and in
contact with this saturated portion, and covered over by a layer of
another endless web to keep in the fumes, the goods become well
sulphurised in their transit. As the endless thick web passes it con-
stantly sucks or draws out a supply of the sulphurous fumes, and
applies the same to the passing goods. This contrivance is applicable
both to yarn and cloth, and is also suitable for steaming or damping
goods, as required in the various processes of the manufacturer and
printer. In cases where the old system of sulphuring is adopted by
suspending the goods in the sulphur chamber, either on pins or rolls.
it is proposed to hang or arrange the goods on a separate frame out-
side the chamber, such frame being run in and out as may be necessary
on a railway, two frames being in use, so that one may be filling
whilst the other is in the sulphur chamber, and the frames are so
contrived with a solid side that they will fill up the side of the
chamber when placed therein; or if the goods are on rolls, they may
be drawn directly off from the interior of the chamber through a slit,
and wound upon a beam in readiness for the next process of treatment.
Various modifications of these general systems of treatment are available
for the purposes described, and I shall herein-after refer to some of these
more circumstantially.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1, of my Drawings is a front external elevation
of one arrangement of my improved sulphuring apparatus; Figure 2,
is a plan; and Figure 3, is a transverse vertical section of the same
corresponding. The outer framing of the machine consists of the pair
of vertical standards A, bolted down to the base or foundation, and
having journals B, at their upper ends, to carry the horizontal shaft C,
on which is keyed the large open armed drum D. This drum is a plain
wooden cylinder, open at each end, and so set as to dip or enter a short
distance into a rectangular open topped chamber or case E, the two
ends of which are curved on their upper edges to suit the contour of the
drum, and the close fitting of the latter over the case is further adjusted
by moveable strips F, on the two sides, these strips being capable of

page_text: being set up at pleasure to close in upon the drum surface. It is this
casing E, which forms the receptacle for the sulphurous vapour acting
upon the goods, the solid sulphur, in its usual condition, being placed
in the pan G, in an underground chamber, and when ignited the gaseous
matter passes off through the channel H, into the casing E. The
whole of the mechanism for subjecting the goods to the sulphurous
action is actuated by an underground horizontal shaft I, which drives
the short vertical shaft J, through the pair of bevil wheels K. This
shaft, which is carried in upper and lower bearings L, has upon its
upper end a plain frictional disc M, upon the horizontal driving surface
of which a small edge surface frictional wheel N, is made to rest.
This wheel N, is loose on a long key on the shaft O, so as to be
capable of traverse along the shaft, whilst it always turus with the
shaft. One end of the shaft O, runs in a bearing P, in the top of a
bracket standard Q; the other end of the shaft is carried in a bearing
R, set in a separate lever S, which is held at one end in a stud
centre T, in the top of the opposite standard U. The lever S, is
weighted at one end so as to cause the wheel N, to bear well down on
the face M, beneath it, and the wheel N, is capable of total disengage-
ment from its driver by turning the cam Y. This cam is set beneath the
lever S, and and is fast on the stud of a short lever W, a rod X, from
which passes upwards, and is conveyed by intermediate links to a handle
conveniently placed at the feeding side of the machine, so that the
attendants can stop the progress of the apparatus at pleasure. A small
hand wheel Y, is also fitted up for regulating the rate of movement;
this hand wheel is on the outer end of a horizontal screw spindle Z,
carried in end bearings in the two standards Q, U. The boss a, of a
short clutch lever is formed as a nut, and the screw Z, passes through
the nut, so that ou turning the wheel Y, in either direction the nut
lever, which is forked at its opposite end b, to embrace a ring groove
piece on the wheel N, is made to traverse back or forward, and so carry
the wheel N, nearer to or further from the centre of the disc M. In
this way the rate of traverse of the goods can be regulated to the
greatest nicety. The inner end of the shaft O, carries a spur pinion c,
in gear with a spur wheel d. on the overhanging end of the shaft of

page_text: the long roller or beam e, running at one end in a bearing in the
standard q, and at the other in a bracket f, of the main frame piece A.
This roller e, actuates the main drum D, by means of the crossed strap g.
The fabric to be sulphured is wound upon the beam. or roller h
the spindle of which revolves in bearings in short brackets i, adjust-
able in a slotted plate j, to suit various widths. From this beam the
fabric passes, as indicated by the arrows, under the small guide roller k,
and thence it turns upwards and passes over the top of and in contact
with the periphery of the drum D, which is covered with a layer of
some thick porous fabric. After thus passing over the drum D, the
piece descends beneath an opposite guide roller 1, and thence round
the under side of the beam e, and is finally wound upon the upper roller m.
This latter roller is carried at each end in the free ends of a pair of
levers.n.. working on the spindle o, as a centre. These levers being con-
nected together to work with various widths of goods by the adjustable
slotted bars p. By this arrangement, as the wound up fabric itself bears
upon the surface of the beam e, the goods are always drawn forward
by the roller e, at a uniform rate. As the machine works, each incre-
ment of the fabric to be sulphured meets a fresh portion of the surface
of the drum D, as the latter turns round, and as in so turning it con-
tinually takes up a portion of the sulphurous vapour from within the
casing beneath, the vapour so taken up is well applied to the whole
piece, and the desired sulphuring action is attained in great perfection.
The drum D, may either work in an exposed state, with nothing over
the. fabric being sulphured, or a light cover q, may be used, this cover
being conveniently made in two halves, each capable of turning on a
centre 2, and joining.at the summit s.
Figure 4, on Sheet I. of my Drawings is a transverse vertical section
of another modification of the same machine. In this arrangement the
sulphur casing A, is constructed on the same general plan as that
already described, and it has a plain drum B, disposed above it in a
similar way. Over the drum is passed an endless band of some thick.
porous fabric C, which descends at each side into the casing A, and
therein passes round three guide rollers D. As the drum B, revolves
when in action, it carries the fabric C,, along with it, and this fabric

page_text: being made to traverse a considerable distance in the interior of the
casing, it necessarily becomes well saturated with sulphurous vapour,
and thus carries up a good supply to meet the fabric E, to be sulphured.
The fabric E, is wound upon the beam F, prior to being sulphured, and
it is then passed off round the guide roller G, at which point it meets.
the saturated cloth C, as the latter descends from the case. Adjustable
strips of wood H, are here also fitted on each side of the casing, so as to
be set close up to the sulphuring fabric C, and prevent the escape of
vapour. The arrows indicate the direction of motion. The piece to be
sulphured passes along and in close contact with the band C, and whilst
the latter again descends into the casing on the opposite side, the sul-
phured piece passes away finished beneath the opposite guide roller I,
thence round the beam J, 'and is finally wound upon the roller K, as in
the former instance.
!
Figure 1, on Sheet 2, of my Drawings is. a vertical longitudinal
section of a sulphuring apparatus as fitted up according to the second
general head of my Invention; Figure 2, is a plan or horizontal section
of the same corresponding; Figure 3, is a transverse section of part of
the sulphuring house shewing the two chamber doors in elevation; and
Figure 4, is a corresponding view, looking the reverse way, and showing
the "batching" or winding off apparatus for the removal of the goods.
The house A, is a rectangular building of the ordinary class. One end
of the house may or may not be divided longitudinally into two sections
by the partition B, this end being separated from the rest of the interior
by a cross division frame C. Two parallel sets of carrying rails -D, are
laid down. on the floor; and on these rails two open wooden frames-arc
placed, these frames being capable of running from end to end of the
rails on carrying wheels E. I have represented one of these frames F,
as drawn partly out of the sulphuring end of the building, the other
frame G. being in the exact position taken up during the sulphuring
process. The frames are mere open rectangular erections, fitted-up
with a series of horizontal pins, bars, or rollers H, on their upper sides,
but each frame has a solid end piece I, forming a door when the frame
is run in for the sulphuring operation. In proceeding to sulphur goods
in this way the attendant draws out one frame as F, and proceeds to

page_text: suspend or hang the fabric to be sulphured upon the bars or rollers H,
so as to form a series of festoons, as delineated in Figure 1, drawing
the untreated piece from the carrying beam J, on the frame end as he
requires it. From this beam the fabric is passed upwards over the
guide roller K, in the frame, and it is thence festooned over the carry-
ing bars, and the opposite end is passed over the other guide roller L,
whence it descends round a lower guide M, and finally passes out
through an adjustable door or slit N, to the "batching" or winding off
apparatus O, which is similar to that already described in reference to
Sheet 1, of my Drawings. When the frame is properly filled, the
operator runs it forward by the handle P, until the solid end I, comes
up to the division C, and shuts up the sulphuring end of the house into
a close chamber, as represented by the frame G, which is so run in.
The section of the building now containing the filled frame is supplied
with sulphurous gas by the receptacles Q, or in any convenient mode,
and the goods are allowed to remain in the vapour until they are duly
acted upon, when the attendant removes them by turning the handle R.
This draws the finished length of piece off the carrying bars of the
frame, and the latter is then again drawn back to be refilled as before.
By using two frames one may always be in operation whilst the other is
being filled.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be maile
therefrom without deviating from the principles or mainfeat ures of my
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,
.
First, the general arrangement and construction of apparatus for the
treatment of textile fabrics by the sulphuring process, as herein-before
described.
Second, the system or mode of "sulphuring" textile fabrics by drawing
out a layer or coating of the sulphurous matter or gas from the gas

page_text: generator or receptacle, and applying such layer or coating to the passing
fabrics.
Third, the application and use of a revolving drum or sulphuring
surface for the withdrawal of sulphurous vapour from the receptacle
thereof, and the application of such vapour to the goods to be treated.
Fourth, the application and use of a drum or cylinder working or
revolving partly within and partly outside the sulphurous gas receptacle
for the withdrawal of the gas therefrom.
Fifth, the application and use of a traversing feed web or porous
fabric for passing through or over the gas generator or holder, and then
travelling in contact with the goods to be sulphured.
Sixth, the system or mode of regulating and adjusting the rate of
working of the sulphuring apparatus by the use of variable disc wheels,
as herein-before described.
Seventh, the system or mode of sulphuring textile fabrics by the use
of a combination of two or more carrying frames, alternately running
into sulphuring chambers, so that one may be refilling whilst the other
is submitting the goods to the actual sulphuring process.
Eighth, the system or mode of constructing the carrying frames with
solid or door ends, so that when run into their sections of the sulphuring
chamber they may close up such sections.
Ninth, the system or mode of sulphuring goods, wherein the goods
are passed to the proper extent over the carrying frame, which is then
run into the sulphuring chamber; the goods when sulphured being
drawn off the frame at the opposite end, and the frame run back for a
fresh supply.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Fulton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
WM FULTON. (L.S.)