Patent GB-532132-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the treatment of material such as leather with liquid
IPC: A43D11/14
Filed: 1939-07-18
Abstract: 532,132. Treating materials with liquids. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. (United Shoe Machinery Corporation). July 18, 1939, No. 20809. Addition to 472,315. [Class 15 (i)] [Also in Group VII] The apparatus described in the parent Specification is modified, to enable less than atmospheric pressure to be used in the treating receptacle, to provide an automatic machine cycle in which the work may be subjected first to less than and then to more than atmospheric pressure, the total time for the cycle being adjustable, the ratio of the duration of time of a stage of sub-atmospheric pressure to duration of a stage of super-atmospheric pressure-being also adjustable. Also, more than one of these alternations may be performed in an automatic cycle. A guard is provided for the operator's hands. The work treating receptacle 20 is provided with a closure 21 secured to the rod of a piston 26. A motor driven pump 83 is supplied with water from a reservoir 88, and delivers to a valve chamber 90 having two valve rods 99 carrying valves 96, 97, 98 arranged to control the flow of water at high pressure to various parts of the apparatus. A valve 111 allows quick rising but ensures slow descent of the closure 21. A cylinder 107 houses a piston 113 which actuates a guard for the operator's hands. the guard rising in front of the top of the receptacle before the closure descends. Pressure regulating valves 117, 174, respectively, byepass the pump and relieve pressure in the treating receptacle 20. The valve rods 99 and closing means for a motor starting switch are carried by a handle 240, which is depressed to start the machine. A weight 48 normally supported by a bracket from the closure, is carried by a piston in a cylinder byepassed by a pipe 53 having a small opening controlled by a needle valve 54 regulation of which adjusts the time occupied . by the complete cycle. The weight is linked to a lever 180 adjustably linked to a gear segment meshing with a pinion connected to control mechanism for valves 106, 153. The point at which the lever 180 is connected to the segment determines the number of high and low pressure alternations in the cycle. When the weight 48 is released, it contacts an adjustable collar 49 and depresses the piston 260 until a collar 47 releases a latch 43, when the handle 240 is released to the control of its spring, the valves are reversed and the motor stopped. The closure is normally retained in its uppermost position by a friction grip, Fig. 15, comprising a member 34 pivoted at 36, urged clockwise by a spring 38 and provided with friction surfaces-37 engaging a member 35 secured to the closure. A link 39 pivoted to the handle 240 unlocks the device when the starting handle is depressed. A similar friction lock retains the weight 48 in its uppermost position, Fig. 10, the weight being secured to a member 59 gripped by blocks 60 when an arm 61 carrying the blocks is horizontal. The arm is supported from a lever 65 pivoted at its centre and urged to either extreme of tilt by a spring secured to one end of the lever and to one end of a lever 71 actuated by a float 75 when the treating receptacle has been filled with water, excess passing up a pipe 78. A link 176 is actuated by the closure to restore the levers to normal position at the end of the cycle. A valve 105 is actuated by one of the locking racks as the closure is locked, these racks being described in the parent Specification. In operation, the cage secured to the closure described in the parent Specification being charged with sole blanks to be treated, the handle is depressed and locked by the latch. The pump is thus started and the valves are depressed, the piston 113 is raised, carrying the guard to operative position, the closure is lowered and locked, the treatment chamber 20 fills with water, raises the float 75 to tilt the member 71 and release the weight, which drops to the collar 49, opening the valve 153 and closing the valve 106. Sub-atmospheric pressure is produced in the chamber by the suction device 155 until the segment again reverses the valves 153, 106 . Pressure is then built up in the chamber under the control of the pressure regulating valve. When the weight 48 trips the latch, the handle 240 valves and all parts return to starting position. Washers 80, 81 below the float prevent leak while sub-atmospheric or super-atmospheric pressures are operative. A second switch is actuated by the closure 21 to maintain the pump in action after release of the latch 43, so that the pump may continue working to return the parts to starting position.