Improvements in the Art of Electric Dyeing and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Art of Electric Dyeing and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, GEORGE DEXTER BURTON, of 7, Water Street, in the City of Boston, in the
County of Suffolk, in the State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of 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 is applicable to the dyeing of wool, cotton, silk, and other fibrous
substances, either in the form of raw materials or manufactured products. It
is useful in the dyeing of hats, textile and felt fabrics, furs, and other analogous
articles, also including leather, and it comprises the intermixing of a dyeable
fibrous substance, with a dye liquor and passing an electric current of forty or
more volts through that part of the dye liquor with which said fibrous substance
is intermingled, whereby the fibres thereof are forced apart and thoroughly ex-
posed to the action of the dye liquor in the dyeing operation, said liquor being
free from dissolving metal during the treatment.
The objects of the invention are to provide a convenient apparatus for electric
dyeing which will not absorb the electric current nor the dye liquor, and which
can be easily cleaned, so that the dye liquor may be changed without the color of
one bath affecting another, and which will absorb and retain heat, so as to assist
in maintaining a proper temperature of the dye liquor after it has been heated
to the required degree.
A further object of this invention is to effect the electric dyeing without con-
taminating the dye liquor by dissolved metals during the operation, thereby
avoiding injury to the color and the material being dyed.
In the practice of electric dyeing in which copper or other metallic electrodes
are employed metal is dissolved from the anode and deposited on the cathode,
passing in solution through the dye liquor. This dissolved metal is beneficial to
some dye liquors, but injurious to others. Moreover, the metallic anode is con-
sumed and requires to be renewed from time to time.
In this process there is no dissolution of metal from the anode into the dye
liquor, such as occurs in the use of a metallic anode, and there is no deposit on
the cathode, such as occurs in the use of a metal cathode for this purpose, and
consequent injury to the coloring-matier is avoided, and an excellent heat is
obtained.
In carrying out this invention any suitable dye liquor may be employed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. represents a perspective view of the apparatus used for carrying out
this process.
Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of a metallic vat for constituting a part
of an apparatus for this purpose and adapted to serve as one electrode.
Fig. 3 represents a vat adapted to constitute a part of an apparatus for this
purpose provided with non-conducting screens for shielding the object to be dyed

page_text: from contact with the electrodes, and with mechanical means for passing cloth
through the bath.
Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal vertical section of this dyeing apparatus
adapted for passing a dyeable fabric twice through the electrolyzed dye liquor.
Fig. 5 represents a vertical longitudinal section of an apparatus for dyeing and
shrinking and is adapted to pass the fabric once through the liquor.
Fig. 6 represents an end elevation of a pair of submerged rolls.
The same reference-numerals indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Any suitable dye-vat, as 1, constitutes a part of this apparatus. This vat may
be constructed of wood, earthenware or other non-conductive material and may be
provided or not with a common or suitable mechanical means for immersion the
object to be dyed in the dye liquor. It is preferably constructed of a body of
earthenware 2 which is a non-conductor of electricity, and is provided on its
interior with a lining 3 composed of porcelain, which is also a non-conductor of
electricity and a non-absorber of the dye-liquor. When constructed in this form,
the tank retains heat for a long time, and when the dye liquor is heated to the
desired temperature the tank composed of this material serves to prevent loss of
heat and assists in maintaining the temperature desired.
Electrodes 4 and 5 are disposed apart from each other in the dye-vat. The
anode 4 is composed of carbon or a carbon composition, such as or similar to that
used for carbon pencils for electric lights or carbon commutator-brushes for
dynamos. The cathode 5 is composed of lead or other suitable conductive
material. For an ordinary dye-vat, of say four feet long, eighteen inches wide
and twenty inches deep these carbon electrodes will be about twelve inches square,
more or less and one inch thick, more or less, and the lead electrodes will be
fourteen inches square, more or less, and one-eight of an inch thick, more or less.
A conductor 6 connects the electrodes 4 which constitutes the anode, with the
dynamo, electric service-wire or other suitable source of electricity and a con-
ductor connects the electrode 5, which constitutes the cathode, with the negative
pole of said electric source or a negative service-wire.
A set of non-conductive rolls 8 and 9 are disposed in the tank for guiding the
ribbon or fabric to be dyed. These rolls are preferably composed of porcelain,
as that material is not affected either by the electric current, the dye liquor, or
the heat of the liquor.
A set of guide rolls 10 is disposed at one end of the tank and a set of guide
rolls 11 at the other end thereof, and winding-reels 12 and 13 are disposed near
the opposite ends of the tank.
The material to be dyed may be alternately passed through the tank from one
reel to the other and back again.
In Fig. 4 an extra set of porcelain rolls 14 and 15 are disposed in the tank,
and a supplementary pair of guide-rolls 17 and IS are disposed above the tank in
a plane midway between the pair of rolls 8 and 9 and the pair of rolls 14 and 15.
The reels are provided with cranks 19 and 20 by which they may be rotated.
A dye liquor 21, of any suitable composition or character, is disposed in the
tank and the electrodes are in contact with said liquor.
A rheostat 22 is preferably inserted in the circuit on either side of the tank.
In Fig. 2 the vat 1 is constructed of metal preferably copper, and the wire 23
connects it directly with one pole of the electric source, whereby it serves as one
of the electrodes. It is provided with a plate 24 connected by wire 25 with the
other pole of the electric source.
In Fig. 3 I have shown screens 26 and 27 of non-conducting material, which
are preferably disposed in the tank in front of the electrodes to prevent contact
therewith of the object being dyed. This vat is also provided with a pair of
rolls 10 for feeding a web of fabric to be dyed to the bath and with a pair of
delivery-rolls 11 for discharging the fabric.
In dyeing in those cases where heat is necessary the dye liquor may be heated
to the required temperature either by the electric current or by any known means

page_text: of heating, as a steam pipe 28 and after the liquor is heated to the dyeing point
the object to be dyed is inserted therein, and the bath is subjected to an electric
current during the dyeing operation. The dye liquor when heated by an electric
current is equally as efficient at a lower temperature as at a high temperature
when heated by steam, and it is therefore less irksome upon the workmen, who
are not obliged to stand over hot steam. One workman can attend to two or
more vats, and the dyeing process is completed in much less time than by the
old method.
The electric current is of such a strength as to cause the fibers of the material
in the dye liquor to separate, whereby they are exposed thoroughly to the action
of said liquor, so that the dyeing operation is effected very rapidly. The current
may also be such as to maintain the dye liquor at the proper temperature during
the dyeing operation.
The electrodes being constructed of carbon, they neither dissolve metal into
the dye liquor nor receive deposits therefrom, and the coloring-matter is not
injuriously affected, as is the case with some colors where metallic electrodes are
employed and dissolution thereof occurs.
In carrying out this process I use a dye liquor of any suitable character as, for
instance a solution composed of sodium chloride, sulphuric acid and water, the
proportions of which may be three pounds of sodium chloride and twelve ounces
of sulphuric acid to thirty gallons of water, to which solutions is added any desired
coloring-matter. These proportions may be varied. The specific gravity of the
liquor should be about 1010 degrees to 1025 degrees. In the use of this process
the material to be dyed is dipped into the dye liquor in the tank 1, and a current
of considerable amperage and voltage is passed from the electrode 4 through the
liquor to the electrode 5. This current tends to cause the separation of the fibers,
so that the dye liquor has a free circulation among them to a degree that greatly
enhances the rapidity of the action of the dye on the material being dyed.
Furthermore, by this opening or separation of the fibers a dye liquor of a less
caustic or acid nature can be used, and this is believed to be the cause of the im-
proved feeling and appearance of hats dyed in this way, a low grade of stock
feeling and appearing equal to a much higher and costlier grade than was done
by the old way. The material to be dyed may be dipped into the vat or passed
over rolls, or plunged into the bath in any manner. The current may be regu-
lated as desired by the rheostat 22 or by varying the distance between the
electrodes in the bath. I have used a direct current of five hundred volts and
sixty amperes on a bath having bulk of about two barrels and the action of this
current raises the temperature of the bath to 210 degrees Fahrenheit, the proper
dyeing temperature for the dye liquor above specified, in a few minutes. For a
tank six feet long, three feet wide, and one foot deep, I provide means for supply-
ing a current of two hundred and twenty volts and one hundred amperes. I
have also used a current of six volts and two hundred amperes with good results
for some work.
By the rheostat the temperature of the bath may be regulated to suit the re-
quirements of the bath and of different dye liquors.
In dyeing in those cases where heat is necessary the dye liquor may be heated
to the required temperature either by the electric current or by any known means
of heating, and after the liquor is heated to the dyeing point the object to be
dyed is inserted therein and the bath is subjected to an electric current during
the dyeing operation. This electric current agitates the liquid and causes the
dyeing matter to penetrate the substance of the article being dyed. The current
may also be such as to maintain the dye liquor at the proper temperature during
the dyeing operation.
In the dyeing of some colors, such as brown or black, it is necessary to heat the
dye liquor, and this is done before the submerging of the fabric, preferably by
the passage of the electric current through the liquor, and when so heated the
walls of the tank, when constructed as herein shown, assist in maintaining the

page_text: proper temperature. The heating of the dye liquor may be done more quickly
by the use of electrodes, both composed of lead, and then one of said electrodes
may be withdrawn and a carbon electrode substituted. A current of sixty
amperes and two hundred and twenty volts will heat a dye liquor of twenty
gallons to the boiling-point in about ten minutes. The fabric is wound from one
reel to the other reel, and passes between the guide-rolls above the dye liquor
and between the rolls submerged therein. The current agitates the fabric and the
liquor, and the fabric is quickly penetrated by the dye liquor.
The colors may be put into the water at a boiling heat and then the current
passed through, the water having been first heated by steam or by electricity.
The invention is applicable to the dyeing of wool, cotton, silk, and other
fibrous substances either in the form of raw material or manufactured products.
It is useful in the dyeing of hats textile and felt fabrics, furs and other analogous
articles, leather, buttons of ivory, horn, and bone, and other porous substances.
This process is very useful in dyeing felt or fur hats of any pattern. The hat
treated by this electric-bath process has a lively snap when indented, and a fine
finish is imparted thereto. A greater number of hats or other fibrous substances
to be dyed can be put in the tank or vat at the same time than was heretofore
customary.
Chamois-skin and undressed leather are quickly dyed throughout their sub-
stance by these means.
For the dyeing of leather a high voltage and low amperage current is used.
The amperage is made comparatively low, so as not to produce too high a heat
in the liquor, for leather, and a large voltage is required to cause the dye liquor
to penetrate through the fibers of the leather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a dyeing apparatus, the combination of a dye-vat, a dye liquor therein,
two electrodes disposed in contact with said liquor and connected with opposite
electric poles, the positive electrode being composed of carbon and the negative
of lead.
2. In a dyeing apparatus, the combination of a dye-vat, a dye liquor therein,
electrodes disposed in contact with said dye liquor, and connected with opposite
electric poles, the anode being composed of carbon and the cathode of lead and a
non-conducting roll disposed in said dye liquor and adapted to serve as a guide
for the fabric being dyed.
3. In a dyeing apparatus, the combination of a dye-vat, a dye liquor therein,
electrodes disposed in contact with said dye liquor, and connected with opposite
electric poles, the anode being composed of carbon and the cathode of lead, and a
non-conducting roll composed of porcelain disposed in said dye liquor and adapted
to serve as a guide for the fabric being dved.
4. In an apparatus for electric dyeing, the combination of a dye-vat composed
of non-absorbing non-conductive material, a dye liquor therein, and two electrodes
disposed in contact with said liquor and connected with opposite electric poles the
anode being composed of carbon and the cathode of lead.
5. In a dyeing apparatus the combination of a vat or receptacle of non-con-
ducting material, two electrodes composed of copper disposed in said receptacle,
a dye liquor also disposed in said receptacle, and conductors connecting said
electrodes with opposite electric poles.
6. The art of electric dyeing, which consists in subjecting a dyeable object
simultaneously to the action of a dye liquor, and an electric current of forty or
more volts passed through said liquor, said current exposing the fibers of the
dyeable object to the action of the dye liquor and said liquor being free from
dissolving metal during the dyeing operation.
7. The art of electric dyeing, which consists in intermingling a dyeable fibrous

page_text: substance with a dye liquor and passing an electric current of forty or more
volts through that part of the dye liquor with which said fibrous substance is
intermingled, whereby the fibers thereof are forced apart and thoroughly exposed
to the action of the dye liquor, substantially as set forth.
8. The art of electric dyeing, which consists in intermingling a dyeable fibrous
substance with a dye liquor, and passing an electric current of forty or more
volts and of sufficient volume to maintain the liquor considerably above the
normal temperature, through that part of the dye liquor with which said fibrous
substance is intermingled substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of August 1898 at Boston, Mass., U.S.A.