Patent GB-190808821-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Textile Material as well as for Mixing Chemical Materials and the like with Liquids.
Inventor: DIEDERICHS ROBERT
Filed: 1908-04-22
Granted: 1909-04-22
Abstract: 8821. Diederichs, R. April 22. Bleaching ; dyeing; washing.-Apparatus for bleaching, dyeing, washing, or otherwise treating textile materials with liquids &c., comprises a double receptacle of which the lower bottom is upwardly coned, the upper one, which is perforated, fitting loosely on to the other. One or more passages, connecting the space between the coned bottoms with the interior of the receptacle, allow the circulation of liquid through material in the receptacle under the action of a suction bell, which is raised and lowered alternately within the receptacle. The inner vessel b and outer one a of the receptacle a, b are supported inside a third outermost vessel A by annular rings d, a<3> resting on its upper edge, and by a support g at the middle of the double bottom j, f, suitable pins i, h keeping the inner and outer vessels b, a concentric. In operation, the material to be treated is put into the receptacle a, b, if of a fibrous nature, upon a narrow-mesh wire-gauze lying on the perforated bottom f. The bath is then prepared thus : water under pressure is run into the outer vessel a through a pipe k until it has filled the receptacle a, b to the level of an overflow pipe l which is then closed by its three-way cock m, the water supply being stopped ; steam is then admitted to the space between the outer vessel a and the outermost A through a pipe n until the liquid boils, condensation water running off through another pipe p. The bell q is then lowered into position, and an apparatus is started which oscillates the bell between its extreme positions, one when its lower edge is above the liquid and the other when it comprises the material against the perforated bottom f. The top of the bell q has openings covered by a felt, asbestos, or other flap. As the bell descends in the liquid, the flap is raised by air escaping from the bell and by the passage of part of the liquid, while another part of the liquid is forced out of the material treated through the perforated bottom f, the annular space or passage c, and through rows of holes e in the sides of the inner vessel b over the bell. When the bell q is raised again, the flap closes the openings, the liquid flows in the reverse direction to that last described, and the materials are raised and loosened by the rarefaction aud current produced. Solutions of chemicals, dyes, &c. can be added by means of a side hopper u connected through the three-way cock m to the overflow l. The inlet and overflow may be independent, however. A thermometer may be arranged with its bulb in the outer space. The bell q is raised and lowered by the action of a rotating eccentric connected through a connecting- rod and bell-crank lever to a vertical sleeve, through which the rod q<1> of the bell q passes, and to which the rod is connected by a removable block or pin. The mechanism may be arranged to give a rapid rise and slow descent to the bell q, or otherwise. When the pin is removed, the bell q can be raised for examination of the work, without stopping the machine, by the use of a cord running over pulleys and attached to the top of the rod q<1>. Either no actuation, or an irregular actuation, of the bell q can obviously be arranged. The receptacle a, b may be open at the top, lightly closed, or, where necessary, tightly closed by a cover a<1> provided with a stuffing-box for the rod q<1>, and with an air or steam valve a<2>. For rinsing, the water-supply pipe k and the overflow pipe l are opened. Emptying is effected through a discharge pipe y. More than one apparatus or series of apparatus may be worked from the same driving-shaft, the same or different materials being treated in one or more ways. A series of apparatus may be connected by pipes and the liquid in all made uniform. In this case, the mixture of the treating-materials can be first done in one compartment. In washing and bleaching, an inner vessel b can be filled with the material for treatment and placed in the outer vessel a of one apparatus. While the material is being softened and washed, a second vessel b is charged and is then substituted for the first, while the latter is run on overhead rails to the first soap bath in a second compartment. In the same way, the next steps are, in succession, warm rinsing, a second soaping, bleaching, and rinsing. The inner vessel b is then put in a tilting-device and emptied into a carriage, which conveys the material to a centrifugal machine. The inner vessel is then charged with fresh material. Other modes of emptying may be used, for example, when treating hanks.