Patent GB-346528-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to the wet treatment of fabrics particularly for the cleaning and bleaching thereof
IPC: D06B5/00
Filed: 1930-02-25
Abstract: In the cleaning, bleaching, &c. of fabrics, the fabrics are immersed in liquid under atmospheric pressure and waves or vibrations are imparted to the liquid by an energizing system which carries out more than two oscillations a second.  In a container 2, Fig. 1, for washing lye, a false bottom or diaphragm 3 is oscillated rapidly by electromagnets 4, excited by an alternating or an interrupted direct electric current, which operate against the action of a spring 9 adapted to thrust the bottom away from the magnets with a velocity less than that at which it is attracted and thus <PICT:0346528/IV/1> <PICT:0346528/IV/2> <PICT:0346528/IV/3> <PICT:0346528/IV/4> set up eddy currents in addition to the oscillations.  The agitator may be portable and consist of an insertion device comprising a magnet chamber and diaphragm, the oscillations of which draw the washing lye into or expel it from a chamber beneath the diaphragm, through orifices in the side walls of the chamber. Instead of separate magnets, a soft iron core, secured to the diaphragm, may pass into a solenoid and be oscillated thereby.  In another form, the cores of the magnets extend through the diaphragm and form tongues which are attracted to or repelled from each other when the current is applied, a cage preventing contact between the tongues and the articles of washing.  Specification 317,427, [Class 15 (i), Dyeing &c. Apparatus for], is referred to.  The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) states that more than one pair of vibrating tongues may be used, the pairs being arranged to form a square or polygon. Fig. 6 (Cancelled) shows an insertion body comprising a short length of tube 31 closed at its ends by diaphragms 3 carrying armatures 36, the diaphragms being oscillated by magnets 33, 34 disposed in the tube and kept from contact with the armatures by springs or other buffer devices.  If a tubular cross piece is used, four diaphragms may be mounted on it.  Fig. 11 (Cancelled) shows a device for producing the oscillations mechanically.  A pipe b supplies water to a chamber a, the arched bottom of which is formed with apertures d communicating with the chamber and a central aperture for a pipe n, the outer surface of the bottom being covered by a diaphragm e.  A spring m applies adjustable pressure to the diaphragm so that the water flows to the pipe n in a series of impulses.  The pipe n leads to a length of elastic hose o coiled around the pipe b and the impulses cause the convolutions of the hose to oscillate and so energize liquid in a containing vessel. The oscillations may be produced by electrolytic action.  The anode 22, Fig. 9 (Cancelled) of a Wehnelt switch dips into the liquid in the container 2 and the vessel serves as the cathode, a cage 23 preventing the articles from contacting with the anode. Electrolysis takes place in a series of explosions which produce the oscillation of the liquid. Alternatively, the cage may be connected to a second terminal and form the cathode, the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen within the cage, which is of fine mesh, itself exploding from time to time.  The bleaching action may be intensified by ozonizing the oxygen produced. To this end, the positive lead is wound around an iron core 26 and inductively coupled to a high tension coil 28 adapted, when oxygen is evolved, to send a high frequency discharge across the cage 23 and the anode 22, the ends of the coil being connected the one to the anode 22 and the other, preferably through a condenser 29, to the cage 23.  This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.