AN IMPROVED MODE OR IMPROVED MEANS OF COLORING OR ORNAMENTING FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES, AND OF PREPARING PRINTING SURFACES
Year: 1867

page_text: Sealed the 14th February 1868, and dated the 19th August 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Clinton Edgembe
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th August 1867.
1. CLINTON EDGCUMBE BROOMAN, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166. Fleet Street, in the City of London. Patent Agents. do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OR
IMPROVED MEANS OF COLORING OR ORNAMENTING FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES, AND
OF PREPARING PRINTING SURFACES," to he as follows:-
This Invention mainly consists in applying upon fabrics or other surfaces
to be colored or ornamented a liquid in a state of mist or very fine spray,
such liquid containing coloring matters or substances which will color or
örmament the fabric or surface. The liquid is caused by compression or suction
f issue with force by very fine capillary orifices, and the reduction of the liquid
in the site of mist or fine spray is effected by the striking of the liquid jets
against an obstacle: this obstacle may be a solid body, a current of air-gas; or
steam, or another jet of liquid.

page_text: Many forms of apparatus may be adapted for carrying out this Invention,
and I proceed to describe several which will answer well.
When the liquid jets are caused to strike against a solid obstacle it may be
a half cylinder or trough in length equal to the breadth of the fabric to be
treated. In the centre of the trough is a tube pierced at its two sides with
capillary orifices. The liquid is contained in a reservoir from which it is forced
through the orifices by a punip or pumps; the liquid jets striking forcibly
against the trough are reduced to the state of mist or fine spray, this comes
against the lower side of the fabric, which is caused to travel above the trough.
As the liquid will contain coloring matters the surface of the fabric will thereby
be colored. Any of the liquid which is not reduced to mist is collected in a
pipe and may be returned to the reservoir. The fabric after passing the
trough may be dried by hot plates or fans. Instead of the trough a screen of
fine wire cloth or a perforated plate may be employed, the tube having in
this case orifices on one side only, the liquid passes through the screen and
comes in the state of mist upon the fabric which is caused to travel horizontally
or vertically on the other side.
In another arrangement a current of steam is brought into contact with the
liquid jet so as to reduce it to fine spray, or a strong current of air from a blowing
apparatus may be employed, the orifice by which the liquid issues being concentric
with the current of air or otherwise. Sometimes I reduce the liquid to mist or fine
spray by bringing two jets of the liquid into contact with each other on issuing
through their respective orifices; this may be effected by having the orifices
arranged in pairs at such an angle as in a gas burner that the jets will meet
each other, or it may be otherwise effected. Or the reduction of the jets may
be produced by the simple resistance of atmospheric air. For this purpose very
fine holes are pierced in a plate or tube of thin metal, the liquid is forced
through these holes by strong pressure, and not being guided becomes divided
or spread by the resistance of the air. Or the reduction may be effected by cen-
trifugal force, a tube pierced with holes having a rapid rotary motion imparted
to it so that the liquid is thrown out with great force in a fine state of
division; it may then be caused to pass through a metallic cloth, but the
resistance of the air will generally suffice to produce a fine mist.
The effects produced by this Invention may be varied exceedingly according
to the nature of the liquids employed, their properties, their greater or less
state of fluidity and viscosity. The pressure will also be varied according to
the fluidity of the liquid; for very viscous liquids, such as gummy solutions
and varnishes, the pressure at the exit orifices may exceed 50 atmospheres.
Among the liquids which may be employed I may mention aqueous, alcoholic,

page_text: and ethereal solutions of coloring matters or of other organic substances such as
collodion and albumen, also varnishes. solutions of gum and amidon, saline
and acid solutions, and in fact all liquids generally employed for coloring or
ornamenting fabrics. When a solution of coloring matter is employed. and
it has been caused to fall in a state of colored mist upon the fabric, the hot
boxes rapidly evaporate the mist so that a deposit having a remarkable effect
is left on the fabric. Sometimes I submit the same fabric several times to
ilis, treatment, changing the color each time. Being able to reduce to mist
saline or acid solutions, the Invention may be extended to the use not only
of coloring matters, but to every substance which will give place to color or
modify the color of fabrics: thus I can deposit in the state of fine spray
mordants, dischargeants, and resistants. For cotton goods, for example, I
obtain all the colors which can result from a precipitation by chemical
reaction. I produce upon the fabric double decompositions by blowing in
the first place a saline solution, then after allowing it to dry I deposit secondly
a mist of another saline solution which will produce the precipitate: the
precipitation will be formed of itself upon the fabric. By slackening the
speed of the fabric and allowing a very abundant, mist to fall I produce a
uniform dye or coloring. then by using either hot solutions or colors which
are fixed by steam 1 produce on silk or wool a plain dye or coloring, but with a
different appearance to that obtained by dyeing by immersion. 1 can likewise
produce on woollen and other goods reserved parts which it has hitherto been
difficult to obtain. I apply or print reserved parts with gummy or other like
solutions then allow the coloring liquid to come upon the fabric in a state
of mist, and as it dries quickly it has not time to soften or affect the reserve
which may afterwards he removed by washing.
What have herein-before stated with regard to cotion and other fabrics
also applies to unwoven threads and warps. When applied to velvets and the
like they are colored only on the upper surface and changing effects are produced.
The Invention likewise applies to paper, leather, hides, and other surfaces,
Another part of this Invention consists in the application of the same
principle of the reduction of liquids to mist or spray in the engraving or
preparation of printing surfaces, that is to say, that instead of bringing the
mist directly, upon the fabric, paper, or other surface to be ornamented I
bring it upon blocks, rollers, or other surfaces, which I afterwards use for
printing the fabrics or other surfaces to be ornamented.
Suppose it is
required to prepare or engrave a copper roller I cause it to turn-in-front of
Fan-apparatus for reducing-the-liquid,-which-in-this-case-may-be-a-varnish.
This varnish falls in the state of mist on the roller and is allowed to dry; the
=

page_text: roller is then submitted to the action of an acid; the varnished parts are not
affected while those noi covered with varnish form hollows. To produce the
opposite effect. I apply upon the roller a mist of a gummy matter containing
chalk then after this has dried I cover the roller with a layer of varnish; on
submitting it to an acid all the parts where the varnish is not directly applied
on the metal are attacked. The same result may be obtained by injecting
upon the roller a mist or fine spray of dilute acid slightly thickened by a
mucilage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Paient, filed
by the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, CLINTON
EDGCUMBE BROOMAN, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman. and Company, of
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman. Her special licence that I, the said
Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "AN IMPROVED MODE OR IMPROVED MEANS OF COLORING OR
ORNAMENTING FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES, AND OF PREPARING PRINTING SUR-
FACES," (communicated to me from abroad by Charles Depoully. of Paris.
France.) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Clinton
Edgcumbe Brooman, 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 Clinton Edgcumbe Broonian, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being bad to the Drawings hereunio
annexed, that is to say:
This Invention mainly consists in applying upon fabrics and other surfaces
to be colored or ornamented a liquid in a state of fine mist or very fine spray.
that is to say, in the state of extreme reduction or of pulverization, such liquid
containing coloring matters or substances which will color or ornament the
fabric or surface. The liquid is caused by compression or suction to issue
with force by very fine capillary orifices, and the reduction of the liquid to the
state of fine mist or very fine spray is effected by the striking of the liquid'
jets against an obstacle: this obstacle may be a solid body, a current of air,
gas, or steam, or another jet of liquid.
Many forms of apparatus may be adopted for carrying out this Invention.
and I proceed to describe several which will answer well.
When the liquid jets are caused to strike against a solid obstacle, it may be
a half cylinder or trough as represented at A in the transverse section.
Figure 1. the trough A is in length equal to the breadth of the fabric to be
treated. In the centre of the trough A is a tube B pierced at its two sides
with capillary orifices c, e: the liquid is contained in a reservoir D of spherical.
cylindrical, or other convenient form. and capable of resisting a strong
pressure. E is a pump for compressing the air on the surface of the liquid so
as to force the latter through the orifices c. c. A pipe G leads the liquid into
the tube B. So much of the liquid as is not pulverized or reduced to fine
mist escapes by the onilet Hand is returned to the reservoir D. The piece
The
of fabric P unwinds from the roller R and passes above the trough A.
liquid pulverized or reduced to fine mist by striking forcibly against the
If the liquid contains
trough comes against the lower side of the fabric.
coloring matters the surface of the fabric will therefore be colored.
fabric may then be dried by passing over steam plates or hot air fans.
The
Figure 2 represents in plan the trough A, the tube B. and the orifices c. c.
in each side of the tube. The trough A may be replaced by an inclined plate
or by any other suitable solid obstacle. The liquid instead of siriking against
a plain surface which drives back the jets may pass through a screen of
The
metallic cloth, or a perforated plate as represented at A. Figure 3.
tube B in this case is pierced with holes on one side only opposite the fabric P
which passes vertically or horizontally before the apparatus.
In Figure 3 the fabric passes in a nearly vertical position: it is unwound
In this Figure the
from the roller R-in-the-direction shewn by the arrow.
reservoir D. Figure 1. is replaced by two pumps D D which suck the

page_text: liquid contained in a reservoir D', and force it by pipes G, G. into a
reservoir K containing a layer of air intended to give continuity to the jets on
issuing from the tube B.
His a pipe to collect the liquid which is not
pulverized or reduced to fine mist and return it to the reservoir D'.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 4 the pulverization or reduction of
the liquid is effeted by a current of steam which divides the liquid jet at the
point. c. The liquid contained in the reservoir D escapes by the pipe G
which is terminated by a fine or capillary orifice. E' is a steam generator:
the steam escapes by the pipe A. The fabric is unwound from the roller R in
the direction indicated by the arrows. H is a pipe for collecting and returning
the unpulverized liquid.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 5 the pulverization or reduction of the
liquid is effected by a current. of air which divides the liquid jet at the point e.
The air current comes by the pipe A which communicates with a blowing
apparatus. In this Figure the tube G for the liquid is placed concentrically
in the air current, but the liquid jet may be caused to strike the air current at.
any desired angle. In all the Figures M, M, represent plates or boxes
heated by steam to dry the fabric after it has received the mist or pulverized
liquid. To effect the pulverization or the production of mist by two jets of
liquid meeting or striking each other the apparatus shewn in Figure 4 may be
employed. It is sufficient to make the tube A dip in the reservoir E', and to
exert therein a pressure on the surface of the liquid, which escaping at the
point strikes against the jet from the tube G. The meeting or striking
together of the two liquids may also be effected by the apparatus shown in
Figure by substituting for the tube B a series of orifices, each having two
capillary or fine holes at such an angle as in some gas burners that the jets
issuing therefrom will meet each other.
The pulverization or reduction of the liquid to fine spray may also be
effected by the arrangements represented in Figures 6 and 7. The liquid is
contained in a boiler D: the tube G dips in the liquid. The boiler may be
heated directly or indirectly in such manner as to produce the required
pressure which will force the liquid through the tubé exactly as takes place in
emptying a steam boiler. The liquid arriving at the orifice C at a high
temperature, and being no longer kept in a liquid state by the internal
pressure, the pulverization or reduction to a fine mist is produced by its
passage in the state of vapour in contact with the open air by virtue of
diminution of pressure; the small particles remaining liquid will be projected
on all sides. I can in this case increase the fineness of the pulverization by
diminishing the projection by the shock against a solid surface, or by the

page_text: passage through screens A, A2, A3, of metallic cloth, as shown in Figure 6;
the liquid is therefore in ibis case reduced or pulverized twice, which is also
effected in the arrangement shown in Figure 7 by a jet of air (which may be
The current of
cold or superheated) mixing with the liquid at the orifice c.
air may be internal, or external, or both; it may also be at angle with the
A mode in which the
liquid jet as in the arrangements before described.
pulverization or reduction of the liquid to a fine mist is effected by the
resistance of atmospheric air which forms the obstacle opposed to the issue of
the liquid consists in piercing fine capillary holes with a very fine pin in a
plate or tube of very thin metal, and forcing the liquid through these holes
by pressure. The liquid on issuing from the holes not being guided spreads,
and the external air offering resistance produces the pulverization or reduction.
The apparatus shewn in Figure 1 may be employed in this case, the perforated
tube taking the place of the tube B and the trough A being dispensed with.
In another mode centrifugal force is employed. A tube pierced with holes
has rapid rotary motion imparted to it, whereby the liquid is projected with
great force in a state of division; it is then made to pass through a cylinder
of metallic cloth, whereby still greater division or pulverization is obtained..
The effects produced by this Invention may be varied exceedingly according
to the nature of the liquids employed, their properties, their greater or less
state of fluidity and viscosity. The pressure will also be varied according to
the fluidity of the liquid for very viscous liquids, such as gummy solutions
and varnishes, the pressure at the exit orifices may exceed 50 atmospheres.
Among the liquids which may be employed I may mention aqueous, alcoholic,
and ethereal solutions of coloring matters, or of other organic substances, such
as collodion and albumen, also varnishes, solutions of gun and starch, saline
and acid solutions, and in fact all liquids generally employed for coloring or
ornamenting fabrics. When a solution of coloring matter is employed, and it
has been caused to fall in a state of colored mist upon a fabric; the hot boxes
rapidly evaporate the mist, so that a deposit having a remarkable effect is left
upon the fabric. Sometimes I submit the same fabric several times to this
treatment, changing the color each time..
Being able to reduce to fine mist saline or acid solutions the Invention may
be extended to the use not only of coloring matters but to every substance
which will give place to color or modify the color of fabrics; thus I can
deposit in the state of fine spray or mist mordants. dischargeants, and
resistants. For cotton geods, for example, I obtain all the colors which can
result from a precipitation by chemical reaction; produce upon the fabric
double decompositions by blowing in the first place a saline solution, then

page_text: after allowing it to dry I deposit, secondly, a misi of another saline solution
which will produce the precipitate; the precipitation will be formed of itself
upon the fabric. By slackening the speed of the fabric and allowing a very
abundant mist to fall I produce a uniform dye or coloring; then by using
cither hot solutions or colors which are fixed by steam I produce on silk or
wool a plain and even dye or coloring, but with a different appearance to that
obtained by dyeing by immersion. I can likewise produce on woollen or
other goods reserved parts which it has hitherto been difficult to obtain. I
apply or print reserved parts with gummy or other like solutions: I then
allow the coloring liquid to come upon the fabric in a state of fine mist, and
as it dries quickly it has not time to soften or affect the reserve, which may
afterwards be removed by washing.
What I have herein-before stated with regard to cotton and other fabrics
also applies to unwoven threads and warps. When applied to velvets and the
like they are colored only on the upper surface, and changing or scintillating
effects are produced.
Another application of this Invention consists in the employment of
thickenings and substances for dressing fabrics. When a solution of these
substances is projected on the fabric in the state of fine mist I obtain not only
the strengthening of the fabric, as with other modes of dressing, but also a
change of appearance, because the material deposited will remain on the
surface of the stuff or of the paper in a very thin layer; the appearance may
be compared to the down which covers some hard fruits which have not been
touched, and to the velvety appearance of some flowers. These dressings may
be colored or not, opaque, or transparent, and the effect produced on the
fabric is quite new.
'
The Invention likewise applies to paper, leather, hides, and other surfaces;
for paper hangings quite new effects are obtained.
Another part of this Invention consists in the application of the same
principle of reduction of liquids to fine mist or spray to the engraving or
preparation of printing surfaces, that is to say, that instead of bringing the
mist directly upon the fabric, paper, or other surface to be ornamented, 1
bring it upon blocks, rollers, metallic plates, or other surfaces, which I
afterwards use for printing fabrics or other surfaces to be ornamented.
Suppose it is required to prepare or engrave a copper roller, cause it to
turn in front of an apparatus for reducing the liquid, which in this case, may
be a varnish. This varnish falls in the state of mist on the roller, and is
allowed to dry; the roller is then submitted to the action of an acid; the
Varnished parts are not affected while those not covered form hollows. To

page_text: produce the opposite effect I apply upon the roller a mist of gummy matter
containing chalk, then after this has dried I cover the roller with a layer of
varnish; on submitting it to an acid all the parts where the varnish is not
directly applied on the meial are attacked. The same result may be attained
by injecting upon the roller a mist or fine spray of dilute acid slightly
thickened by a mucilage.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I am aware that it is not
new to project colors and liquids in a divided state upon fabrics, as this has
before been done by impregnating a brush with the colors and projecting the
colors upon the fabric by pressing the fibres of the brush by a suitable
appliance. thereby producing effects known as spotted or granite effects;
similar effects to these have also been obtained by means of a sieve and by
other means, but very different effects are produced by the extreme state of
division or pulverization to which the liquids are reduced according to this
Invention: what I claim is.-
First. The mode or means of coloring or ornamenting fabrics or other
surfaces by causing jets of liquid to strike against an obstacle, so that they are
reduced to the state of fine mist or very fine spray, that is to say, to the state of
extreme division or of pulverization, and by bringing the liquid when so
reduced or divided upon the fabric or surface. such liquid containing coloring
maiter or a substance or substances which will color or ornament. the fabric or
surface, or give place to color, or modify the color, or effect the subsequent
coloring or treatinent of the fabric or surface, all substantially as herein-before
described.
Second. Preparing printing surfaces or surfaces for printing from, sub-
stantially in the manner herein-before described.
Ia witness whereof, I, the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman. have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of February. One
ihousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
C. E. BROOMAN. (L.S.)