Patent GB-190210426-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Incandescent Gas Mantles and to Apparatus therefor.
Inventor: ROBIN JOSEPH THEODORE
Filed: 1902-05-06
Granted: 1902-07-03
Abstract: 10,426. Robin, J. T. May 6. Incaradescent gas lamps.-Relates to a process and machine for treating stocking-shaped pieces of fabric impregnated with substances, such as rare earthy salts, to produce incandescent gas mantles. Each impregnated mantle may be held stretched by an annular weight attached to its lower edge, so as to cause regular contraction while being burnt and facilitate the entry of the shaping and hardening devices. The impregnated mantles are attached, by an attendant stationed on a platform X, to adjustable hooked suspension devices D on carrier bars C extending between two chains b passing over sprocket-wheels b<1> mounted on a frame A. Each carrier bar consists of two rods enclosed by two counterbalanced tubes in one of which their ends meet, an intermediate short tube c' serving as a roller to travel on a track A'. Each suspension device consists of a base having a swinging hook, the end of which is adapted to confine the loop of the mantle between the two prongs of the forked portion. The treating- devices are carried by tables E, E<1>, .... E<6>. The table E is preferably stationary and has a single shelf e carrying oppositely-arranged burners e', which produce a flame similar to a blowpipe flame and burn out the fabric in the mantles. The table E<1> has two shelves e, e<1> and carries shaping-burners e<3> similar to bunsen burners except that the flame is under pressure. The tables E<2>, E<3>, and E<4> are of similar construction and carry similar burners e<4> for hardening the structures. The table E<5> is shown with a single shelf e carrying tanks containing a stiffening-solution in which the hardened structures are dipped. The mantles are finally trimmed by mechanism on the table E<6>. The tables E<1> .... E<6> are preferably movable vertically, a rod e<5> being attached to each end of each table, working in guides e<6> and connected by a link e<7> with a crank e<8> or an ecccentric on a shaft e<9>. Counterbalances e'‹ may be connected to the tables to assist in their movement. The travelling support is preferably moved intermittently, through chain and sprocket-wheel gearing, by a pair of endless belts or chains F driven continuously and carrying cross-bars to engage projections on chains F<4>, F<5>, F<6> communicating motion to the travelling support and the shafts e<9>. Air and gas are supplied through mains G, H, one of them being under pressure, and branches g, h, with flexible parts g<1>, h' extend along the tables, while secondary branches lead to pilot jets. The air and gas supplies are preferably cut off automatically by the action of hooks or other projections g<9> h<9> on the weighted operating-levers of valves g<5>, h<5>, the opening of which is limited by rests g<8>, h<8>. Additional valves y are provided. Each burner e<3> is supported directly on the air branch and consists of a mixing-cylinder with a burner cap and is centered by a ring carrying four adjusting-screws. The burners e' are supported by the gas branches g. The tables carry centering-devices I adapted to engage projections i<1> on the carrier bars. The tanks k on the table E<5> are supplied with stiffening-solution from a main reservoir, through a secondary reservoir connected by a flexible pipe with a pipe having branches k<4> opening into the top of the tanks k. When the table E<5> is in its lowest position, the level of the liquid in the tanks k is the same as that in the secondary reservoir, which has a float valve. The trimming- mechanism carried by the table E<6> consists of a number of mandrels L, with each of which a disc knife co-acts, each knife being carried by a lever, one end of which is acted on by a spring to bring the knife into action and by a cam on a bar operated by a hand-lever to put the knife out of action. An operating-cord, which is turned a few times round each mandrel, has a weight at one end and a finger piece at the other end.