US1186300A - Souring agent for laundrying and cleaning and process of using the same. - Google Patents

Description

252. COMPOSITIONS.

UNITED STATES PATENT onFIoE.

WALTER F. ELWOOD, OF GBEENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOURING AGENT FOR LAUNDRYING AND CLEANING AND PROCESS OF USING THE SAME.

1,186,300. Specification of Letters Patent.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER F. ELwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greensburg, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Souring Agents for Laundrying and Cleaning and Processes of Using the Same, of which the following is a specification. V

My invention relates to an improvement in the art of cleansing fabrics, laundrying, etc., and consists of an improved process of making and using a souring and clearing agent.

Heretofore, and at the present time, it has been desirable to produce a suitable compound or material which would successfully answer and provide for the souring requirements of laundrying and other cleaning operations, and one of the most common materials used has been oxalic acid- Such acid, however, being a satisfied free acid, has a very destructive effect on the fabrics and mechanical devices utilized in laundry operations, while being at the same time uncertain in its alfinities toward other necessary elements. Oxalic acid has been so used to remove objectionable stains, such as grease stains resulting from perspiration, rust, fruit stains, ordinary grease, and all other organic stains, it being desirable at the same time to leave the fabrics, being washed, in such a condition as to freely take and hold the bluing, when bluing processes are utilized, and to properly clarify the fabrics. However, detrimental results from the use of oxalic acid as a souring agent manifest themselves in that the bath becomes very easily overcharged, resulting in the failure of the operator to successfully rid or cleanse the fabrics of the excess of harmful acid, thus forming insoluble oxalates, which in turn tend to load the fabrics and cause a charring of combined fats on the fabrics. This in turn has a tendency to produce harsh and yellow fabrics.

The correct theory of successful souring lies in the fact that after the garments or fabrics have passed the washing process proper all remaining organic matters, odors and stains should be eliminated by the sour Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed December 7, 1915. Serial No. 65,525.

ing process. Also, the action on the fabrics must be such that when they are passed through the bluing process, the results of such operation must be apparent and eflicient, in that the bluing must be uniformly and properly set, regardless of the composition of the bluing.

It is a well-known fact that the largest proportion of commonly used blues requires a uniform souring action, as, for instance, tri-phenyl para-rosanilin and tri-phenyl rosanilin blues respectively. Also, it will be noted that in the hydroxyls of such blues, they exhibit a slight acid reaction, and will necessitate the furthering of such original action for their proper setting. In my improved souring agent, which is known as Trioxidol, I use for the above mentioned purpose, and for producing the desired souring results, a sulfite and sulfate acid reacting salt, either in the pure state,

or compounded with such elements as may be necessary to both stabilize and hold, in a de-hydrated condition, such sulfites and sulfates.

The acid sulfites and sulfates (i. e., bi-sulfites and bi-sulfates which I use, are acid sodium sulfite or sulfate, or acid potassium sulfite or sulfate, either in pure or commercial dry form, as follows: Acid sodium sulfite, NaHSO or bi-sulfite; acid sodium sulfate, NaHSO,, or bi-sulfate; acid potassium sulfite, KI'ISO or bi-sulfite; acid potassium sulfate, KHSO or bi-sulfate. These salts are stabilized by a suitable de-hydrating process, at which time an addition is made of hydrogen magnesium silicate,

I-I Mg (SiO,) and a silicon oxid, SiO and.

ing bath during a further time of about eight minutes, after which the contents should be given a hot and cold rinse.

The proportions of the material as given above may be somewhat varied, depending upon the condition of the fabrics to be washed, the character of the water being used, or other local conditions, and I do not desire to be limited to the exact proportions designated.

The advantages of the invention arise from the harmless character of the chemicals used and the avoidance of any destructive action on the fabrics, while greatly facilitating and improving the usual methods now employed.

Trioxidol bein of a bisulfate or bisulfite base destroys all objectionable alkali and fatty odors and clears the fabrics more thoroughly and efliciently than oxalic acid and does not incite harshness. It is highly conducive to uniform and satisfactory bluing and greatly reduces the quantity of blue necessary for the bluing process. It results in a more uniform color than can be produced with oxalic acid, and successfully and effectually removes all rust or foreign matter or perspiration stains commonly occurring in collars, cufls, etc., resulting from greasy excretions from the pores.

What I claim is:

1. A souring agent consisting of a sulfate acid reacting salt and a stabilizing agent.

2. A souring agent consisting of a sulfate acid reacting salt and sodium silicate.

3. The improvement in the art of cleansing fabrics, consisting in bringing such fabrics having iron stains, grease, and various other objectionable stains thereon .into contact with a solution of water soluble oxygen compound of sulfur having an acid reaction.

4. The improvement in the art of cleansing fabrics consisting in the bringing of such fabrics, having iron stains, grease, berry stains and various other objectionable stains of mineral and organic base thereon, into contact with a solution of a water soluble compound, such compound embracing a sulfate acid reacting salt with a stabilizing agent.

In. testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER F. ELWOOD. Witnesses:

W. A. HECKMAN, O. M. CLARKE.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. I