374 



BLEACHING 



over about three-fourths of tho bottom of the kier ; it is perforated with holes all 

 around its outer ridge, at d d, which rests upon tho bottom of tho kier ; all the rest 

 of the plate being solid. This plato is fastened in tho centre to an iron block, e, 

 which stands upon the bottom of tho kior in the centre, over the outlet hole. The 

 block e is pigeonholed at tho bottom, so as to allow the liquor to pass from the kier. 

 A socket is left in the upper part of the block c, to admit tho insertion of the dis- 

 tributor/. This distributor is made of dimensions corresponding to tho size of the 

 kier ; it is solid for some distance from the bottom, and above that is hollow and 

 perforated as full as possible with holes until within a few inches of the top of the 

 kier, where it is connected with the tap g (an ordinary two-way tap, which admits 

 either steam or liquor, or shuts off both) by an inlot pipe, which dips for some dis- 

 tance inside tho distributor, o o is the pipe connecting the top of the kier A with 

 the bottom of kier u, and p p is the pipe which connects the top of kier B with 

 the bottom of kier A ; q q are steam-pipes from the main pipe r ; m is the man- 

 way, through which the goods are introduced and removed; n the pipe and tap, 

 through which the working liquor enters tho kier ; s s are gauges, by which it is 

 seen when the liquor has passed from one kier and has entered the other ; k k are 

 draw-off taps connected with the pipes o and $, by which the kiers can be emptied 

 of spent liquor, water, &c. 



117 



118 



Fig. 118 is a modification of fig. 117. The various parts of the kiers correspond 

 with the description of fig. 117 ; the principle and mode of working are precisely the 

 same tho only difference is, that kier B is reduced in size to about one-third that of 

 kier A ; it is not charged with goods and is only intended to receive the liquor when 

 forced through tho goods in kier A. The liquor is boiled in kier n by a modified dis- 

 tributor ; and this is repeated until the goods in kier A are sufficiently worked. 



This modification is only recommended where small quantities are done, and tho 

 kiers required would be too small for working in conveniently. 



The distributors give a circulation of liquor and steam from the centre of the 

 kiers to the goods all around, while by the action of the umbrella-plate the liquor is 

 prevented escaping until all tho goods are thoroughly saturated with it every time the 

 liquor is forced through them ; they also greatly accelerate the circulation of tho 

 liquor through the goods, and there is no necessity for anything being laid upon tho 

 goods to keep them in their place. The kiors may be crammed full of goods, and 

 either high or low pressure steam may be used in working them. 



Tho process adopted for bleaching is as follows : it is the shortest and simplest in use. 



1. After singeing, tho water-box or trough of the washing-machine is half filled 

 with milk of lime of considerable consistence, and tho goods are run through it, 

 being carried forward by the winders and deposited in the kiers, a boy being in 

 each kier, who lays the goods in regular folds until tho kior is filled. 



2. When the- kiers are filled, the manholes are closed. High-pressure steam is 

 then admitted at the top ; this presses down the goods and removes tho lime-water, 

 which is drawn off at the bottom ; at the same time the air is also removed from tho 

 goods and replaced by steam. When this is driven off and nothing but steam issues 

 from the tap at tho bottom, 40 Ibs. lime, which have been previously mixed with 600 

 gallons of boiling water, are introduced into the first kier in a boiling state. High- 



