Patent GB-190501547-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in, and connected with, Continuous Open Fabric Steaming Apparatus.
Inventor: WOOD JOHN
Filed: 1905-01-26
Granted: 1906-01-25
Abstract: 1547. Wood, J. Jan. 26. Bleaching; dyeing; washing.- Relates to a continuous open steaming, apparatus for treating textile fabrics in open form. The steaming-chamber A, Fig. 1, preferably consists of girderwork A', plates A<2>, and cast-iron or other sections. The fabric F may enter and leave the apparatus at the top as usual, but preferably does so at the bottom, as shown, entering over steam-heated rollers and stays m, n, and passing out over steam-heated or other rollers or supports m to, for instance, an ordinary plaiting- down appliance. The fabric F is fed to a festooning-appliance G by nip rollers e, e', the former being mounted on movable bearings e<2> so that it can be drawn back to allow withdrawal of a portion of the fabric F when desired. This movement is effected from the floor level B by means of a lever e<6>, a chain e<5>, bell-crank levers e<4>, and connecting- rods e<3>, springs or weights returning the roller e The festooning-device G is pivoted on trunnions g<1> supported in bearings g<2>. The fabric F is held on one of the bars a of a moving chain b and the last-formed festoon is supported by the bar g<4>, which may be provided with rings h at intervals to prevent any slipping. These rings h have tails h<1> under a rod h<2> so that they cannot revolve. Other means may be provided to prevent slipping. By the time the fabric, which is guided between the bars g<4>, g<5> by plates g<6>, g<7>, has formed the fresh festoon of the required length, the chains b have advanced sufficiently for the bar g<4> to trip the rod a, under the influence of weights g<3>, and swing against the next rod a, the formation of a festoon beiog then repeated. Loose rings i are arranged at intervals upon the bar g<5> to ease the passage of the fabric. A cranked lever g<20> and a chain g<11> passing to the exterior of the chamber may be used for moving the festooning-device G out of action. The travelling chains b, for traversing the fabric through the chamber in festoons hung upon the rods or tubes a, are carried upon and driven by sprocket-wheels c, and are also carried by flanged guide or other wheels e<1> which may be adjustable so as to take up any slack. The upper stretches of the chains b travel in channel iron or other guides d, supported by brackets d' secured to the walls of the chamber, and are so guided horizontally. The rods a are suitably secured to blocks b<2>, which are bored out to receive their ends and alternate with links b to form the chain. In order that that portion of the fabric which rests on the rods a may be sufficiently steamed, the rods are allowed from time to time to turn the bloks b<2>. To effect this, the ends of the rods a are provided with star-wheels t, Fig. 6, which slide upon a series of supports u which are adjustable upon bearers v. The supports u carry at intervals pins w which, when they encounter the wheels t, give the rods a quarter-turn. The sprocket-wheel shaft c<2> is driven by a worm k<2> on a shaft k rotated through worm-gearing j<1>, k<1> by a transverse shaft j. The nip-rollers e, e<1> may also be driven from the shaft j by means of chains. In a water-pit o, in the base of the apparatus, steam is produced by means of closed steam-pipes p, and also, if desired, by perforated steam-pipes. Or steam may be liberated in the pit or otherwise produced. The steam, after pervading the chamber A, enters the aperture3 q<1> of down-take pipes, arranged against the inner face of the chamber walls, and passes out through pipes towards the base of the chamber A to up take pipes r on the outside. Hollow columns q<2> at each corner may also be used. These have inlets q<2x> and communicate with the pipes r by connexions q<3>. Various dampers are provided, those q<5>, q<6> respectively controlling the down-take pipes and the connexions q<3> being now open. When it is desired to have the steaming-chamber as free of air as possible. the action of the pit o may be supplemented by discharging steam through perforated pipes s at the top of the chamber. This pipe may consist of an inner and outer pipes s', s<2>, having perforations s<3>, Fig. 9, condensed water being thus trapped and drained off through a drainage pipe (not shown). In another method of working, steam is liberated only from the pipes s, the dampers q<5>, q<6> are closed, and other dampers q<7>, q<8> are opened, these controlling respectively pipes q<4> and the direct access of the pipes r to the base of the chamber. The steam has in this case to sink to the bottom of the chamber before it can escape directly through the up-take pipes r or through the pipes q<4> which open into the base of the chamber and the pipes q<3> leading to the same pipes r. The apparatus is provided with suitable manholes and doors, and the top of the chamber may be kept hot by steam-piping disposed in enclosed cavities or in compartments formed in the roof sections.