IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE COLOURING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF YARN
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE COLOURING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF YARN." A communication from abroad by Henry
Wheaton Vaughan, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.
L
Sealed the 19th December 1879, and dated the 22nd October 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
COLOURING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF YARN." A com-
munication from abroad by Henry Wheaton Vaughan, of Providence, Rhode
Island, United States of America.
This Invention comprises an improved process, which consists,-
First. In charging infusorial earth or some other suitable vehicle with coloring
matter (as, for example, with the aniline colors derivable from hydrocarbon oils) in
the manner hereinafter explained.
Secondly. In applying such color-charged vehicle in a dry state to cotton, wool,
or other fibrous material when this fibrous material has been sorted from the bales,
and is ready to go to the first or earlier sets of machinery which is to be employed
for the manufacture of the same into yarns.
Thirdly. In causing the fibrous material so supplied with the coloring agent in
the form above specified to be subjected to the ordinary machinery, such for
example as pickers, breakers, carders, combers, lappers, roving machines, drawing
frames, doublers, twisters, and spinning frames employed in the manufacture of
cotton, wool, or other vegetable or animal fibre into yarns.
The result obtained from this process is, that the color-charged vehicle becomes
mechanically incorporated with the fibre of the cotton or wool, is evenly and
uniformly distributed in any desired variety or shade of color, is adherent thereto
throughout the processes of manufacture, and the manufactured product has a
delicacy of expression of color which, to the same extent for all the different shades

page_text: of tints, is not attainable by the process of dyeing. Moreover, the cost of manu-
facture of colored yarn is greatly reduced, both from the circumstance that the
expense of a dye-house is avoided, and also because a stock of dyed yarns is not
required to be kept on hand, and only such quantities of yarn of any given color
need be manufactured as the immediate demand therefor requires. Moreover, the
ordinary per centage of shrinkage as the result of dyeing is saved.
To fully explain how this Invention may be practically conducted, I will take for
illustration 100 pounds of cotton that has been taken from the bale, and is ready to
be put to the first or any of the series of pickers or first carding machines. It is
desired to manufacture this quantity of material into yarn, and have the same
colored with, for example, a medium shade of magenta. I take, say, six (6) pounds
of powdered infusorial earth; I consider this substance the best vehicle for my
purpose, because it is found in large quantities, is inexpensive, is readily reducible
to an impalpable powder, and being composed of the silicious remains of low forms
of animal life, its molecules when viewed under highly magnifying lenses show
sharp angles and indentations which fit this material to combine mechanically with
fibrous matter. To this infusorial earth I add, say, 400 grains of aniline color
dissolved in water or alcohol, and thoroughly mix the same with the earth, whereby
the whole mass receives a uniform color. The colored powder is then dried. In
this condition, however, it would not be suitable to apply to the fibrous matter.
Accordingly, to render it tenacious when mixed with the cotton, I add to each
pound of the mass, say, two (2) ounces of paraffine or other non-saponifiable oil
dissolved with benzine or other solvent, my purpose being to moisten the whole
mass of colored powder to such an extent that it will readily adhere to cotton fibre
when applied to it, as the result of the presence of the oil.
In addition to the value of the oil as an adhesive agent, it gives brightness to
the colored powder, and being a non-saponifiable oil, the color will not wash out of
the
yarn when manufactured.
The mass treated as above described is again dried, the volatile constituents of
the oil then evaporate, leaving an oleaginous residuum enveloping each molecule of
the powder. If necessary, the mass is then thoroughly pulverized. It is now
ready to be applied to the cotton, and this application is effected by distributing
it among the supposed 100 pounds of cotton, selected, by dusting it as evenly and
uniformly as convenient over the cotton or in a general way mixing it therewith.
The fibrous material so treated is next put through all of the operations involved
in manufacturing it into spun yarn in the same manner as it would be treated if
my process for imparting a color to it had not been employed. The mechanical
treatment which the fibrous material receives in the course of its manufacture into
yarn causes the color-charged powder to become thoroughly incorporated with the
fibre and uniformly distributed, and the result is a product which is equal in
appearance to the best dyed yarns, while colors and shades can be obtained with a
certainty that cannot be assured from the ordinary process of dyeing.
Incidentally this improved process renders the yarn softer and more supple or
pliant than dyed yarns, so that it can be worked to much greater advantage by
machinery which is to be used to convert the yarns into knitted or woven fabrics.
This result is supposed to be due mainly to the oil which is mixed with the color.
The proportions which I have given need not be strictly followed. The same
are stated as proper to be employed, but the nature of the process involves of
necessity a wide range for the exercise of judgment, skill, and experience as to the
best proportions of the vehicle, the coloring agent, and the oil to each other and to
the fibrous material for producing the best effects in obtaining different varieties or
shades of color.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. The process substantially as hereinbefore described of imparting color to]
manufactured fibrous material,

page_text: Second. Yarn colored during the manufacturing processes by mechanically in-
corporating with the fibrous material of such yarn during working a dry powder
consisting of infusorial earth or other suitable vehicle charged with color and with
an oleaginous constituent, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
IM PORT LATE