Apparatus for Hanging Webs in Folds in Chambers for Steaming, Drying, Seasoning, and such like purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Hanging Webs in Folds in Chambers for Steaming,
Drying, Seasoning, and such like purposes.
We, WILLIAM MATHER, of Salford Iron Works, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, and JOHN CHRISTIE, of the Firm of John Orr Ewing & Co., Alexandria
Works, Alexandria, Dumbartonshire, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus whereby continuous webs of fabric are hung
in folds or loops in chambers, in order to be steamed, dried, seasoned, or otherwise
treated.
For this purpose, a number of spars, preferably of wood, are arranged to travel
parallel to each other along bearers supporting their ends which are preferably
provided with antifriction rollers, each of these spars carrying a fold of the web a
loop of which hangs down freely between each pair of the spars, the pair being
kept a little apart by projecting cheeks at each end. In order to hang the web in
such folds and loops, mechanism of the following description is employed. All the
spars are strung on a pair of ropes, preferably wire ropes, passing through holes
near the ends of the spars, these ropes being longer by several feet than the length
occupied by the spars when they lie all as closely together as their projecting cheeks
will permit. Each spar is in turn advanced into the chamber being carried forward
several feet by a tooth on a travelling chain or by a screw or a reciprocating rod,
thus leaving between it and the next spar in order, a space into which a loop of the
web is delivered from suitable rollers so as to hang down as a wide loop. When
the next spar is similarly advanced, this loop is narrowed, and a succeeding wide
loop is formed and then narrowed, the advance of each spar pushing onwards by
the width of a narrowed loop all the spars in front of it and by the pull of the
ropes drawing onwards all the spars behind it. For removing the web from the
chamber, the movements of the mechanism are reversed, the web being drawn by
suitable rollers as loop after loop is widened out by retreat of the successive spars.
When the spars are thus moved from the chamber they might be accommodated in
a space at the end of the chamber, but, as this space would necessarily be as long
as the chamber itself or nearly so, it is preferred to gather the spars on the
circumferences of two parallel wheels on which the ends of the spars become hooked
as they are successively pushed out of the chamber, the flexible ropes by which the
spars are connected allowing them to become rolled on the wheels. In cases where
the spars, instead of being thus rolled on the wheels are gathered in a straight line,
rods may be substituted for the ropes which connect them.
Dated this 28th day of September 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Hanging Webs in Folds in Chambers for Steaming,
Drying, Seasoning, and such like purposes.
We, WILLIAM MATHER, of Salford Iron Works, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, and JOHN CHRISTIE, of the Firm of John Orr Ewing & Co., Alexandria
Works, Alexandria, Dumbartonshire, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
LD017

page_text: this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to apparatus whereby continuous webs of fabric are hung
in folds or loops in chambers, in order to be steamed, dried, seasoned, or otherwise
treated, as we shall describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus. Figs. 3
and 4 shewing details to an enlarged scale.
A number of spars A preferably of wood with metal ends A' forming rounded
teeth and preferably having rollers A² mounted in them, are arranged to travel
parallel to each other along bearers or rails B supporting their ends. Each of the
spars A carries a fold of the web, a loop C of which hangs down freely between each
pair of the spars, A, the pair being kept a little apart by projecting cheeks at each
end. In order to hang the web in such folds and loops, mechanism of the following
description is employed. All the spars are strung on a pair of ropes D preferably
wire ropes, passing through holes in the end fittings A¹, these ropes being longer
by several feet than the length occupied by the spars when they lie all as closely
together as their projecting cheeks will permit. Each spar is in turn advanced into
the chamber, being carried forward several feet by a worm E arranged at each
side, in the threads of which the ends A' of each spar engage as it is drawn within
reach of the thread by the advance of the preceding spar. There is thus left
between each spar and the next spar in order, as indicated between a and a¹, Fig. 1,
a space into which a loop of the web is delivered from suitable rollers F above so
that it hangs down as a wide loop C¹. When the next spar is similarly advanced,
this loop C is narrowed, and a succeeding wide loop is formed like C¹ and then
narrowed, the advance of each spar pushing onwards by the width of a narrowed
loop Call the spars in front of it, and, by the pull of the ropes, drawing onwards
all the spars behind it. For removing the web from the chamber, the movements
of the mechanism are reversed, the web being drawn by the rollers F as loop after
loop is widened out by retreat of the successive spars. The rollers F are driven
by straps from a shaft G which is connected by bevil and speed reducing gear H
to the worms E. When the spars are all moved from the chamber, they might be
accommodated in a space at the end of the chamber, but as this space would
necessarily be as long as the chamber itself or nearly so, it is preferred to gather
the spars on the circumferences of two parallel wheels K K within flanges of which
hooks L projecting from the ends of the spars become engaged as the spars are
successively pushed out of the chamber the ends of the spars then travelling along
inclined guides M and N. The flexible ropes by which the spars are connected
allow them to become rolled on the wheels K. In cases where the spars, instead
of being thus rolled on the wheels, are gathered in a straight line, rods may be
substituted for the ropes which connect them, and the inclined guides M N would
be dispensed with. Obviously for the worms E E endless chains might be
substituted, presenting at intervals projecting teeth to catch the successive spars
and advance them as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for hanging webs in folds in a chamber, consisting of a number of
parallel spars crossing the chamber connected together and made to travel along
the chamber, each spar being advanced in turn up to and to take the place of the
preceding spar, after a fold of the web delivered from above is hung down between
the two successive spars, substantially as described.
2. For advancing the successive spars, a pair of worms or their equivalents,
connected by suitably speeded gear to the rollers by which the successive folds of
web are delivered, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. For accommodating the spars when they are withdrawn from the chamber, a
pair of flanged wheels in combination with hooks on the spars and inclined side
guides for the ends of the spars, substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of June 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.