THE GENESEE FAEMEK. 



" In this the steeping is effected by repeated immersions in a tank of heated water, arrangements 

 being made by which the temperature is never aHowed to exceed a certain degree — a ])oint of great 

 importance, both as regards the abstraction of tlie azotized extractive matter, and also the quality 

 of fibre produced. It is well known that albuminous solutions, containing even a veiy small pro- 

 portion of albumen (1 in 1000), coagulate at a temperature of lOS^, and then become insoluble; 

 and it is always considered that fibre is more or less injured if exposed beyond a certain high 

 temperature. These two important points have been taken advantage of in Buchanan's process ; 

 the temperature of the steep liquor is kept within a certain range of temperature, and the operation, 

 bolh as regards time and produce, 

 more satisfactorily performed. 

 The process is quite automatic, 

 thus saving labor and the risks 

 consequent upon carelessness; 

 and tlie mechanical arrangements 

 by which it is effected, are very 

 simple and inexpensive. The 

 accompa>^ying diagram will, I 

 hope, make the process clearly 

 understood. The flax sti'aw is 

 placed in an open vessel (No. 3) 

 termed the steeping vat, liaving 

 a false bottom (/) ; a boiler (No. 

 1) generates the steam required ; 

 and between these two is placed 

 a suitable vessel (No. 2), the eon- 

 denser, of about the same capaci- 

 ty as No. 3, and communicating 

 with that by the hot water pipe 

 {b), and with the boiler by the 

 steampipe (a). This center ves- 

 sel or condensing chamber is 

 filled with water from the cistern 

 (No. 5), and steam is then blown 

 in from tlie boiler. When the 

 latent heat of the steam is ab- 

 sorbed, and condensation no 

 longer takes place, the hot water 

 is driven over into the steeping 

 vat, and completely immerses its 

 contents. The overflow pipe (c) 

 then conveys a portion into the 

 bucket (No. 4), which, over-pow- 

 ering the balance weights (^^7), 

 descends, drawing the chain (ee), 

 which, being attached to the pul- 

 * lies {ff) fixed on the cocks of 

 the steam pipe (a), and of the 

 condensing pipe (A), reverses 

 their action by cutting off the 

 steam and turning on a charge 

 of cold water into the condenser. 

 The steam in No. 2 is then rap- 

 idly condensed, and the liquor 

 drawn back from the steep vat 

 into which it had previously 

 been forced. This completes the 

 operation of immersion, which 

 recommences immediately : for 

 as soon as the overflow bucket ... j- <. 



(No. 4) has reached a certain point in its descent, it strikes against a pin, having a screw adjust- 

 ment, which causes the valve {d) at the bottom to open and discharge its contents into the discharge 

 pipe (No. 6.) The bucket, then relieved of its load, resumes it ongmal position, the balance 

 wei^dits iatf) act on the pullies {ff), which again reverse the cocks, cutting off the cold water 

 sparge, and turning on the steam to No. 2. This is repeated as often as may be required. 



m^^ 



scale which are now in progress in Scotland for carrying out the patent. LThe patent lor the 



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