Improvements in Centrifugal Apparatus for Continuously Washing, Dyeing, Drying, Impregnating, and otherwise Treating Various Materials and Fabrics.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1889.
· Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Apparatus for Continuously Washing,
Dyeing, Drying, Impregnating, and otherwise Treating Various
Materials and Fabrics.
I, ADOLF WALDBAUR, of Stuttgart, Wurttemberg, Germany, Doctor of Philosophy,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal apparatus for continuously
washing, dyeing, drying, and impregnating and otherwise treating various materials
and fabrics. For the purpose of advantageously conducting away the liquors used
in this apparatus (dyes for example) the revolving drum or basket is fitted with the
hereinafter described improvements and has a lid capable of being lowered within it.
The basket which receives the material to be treated is provided with an outer
casing. This casing is wider than the basket and is inverted over the same; it is
fixed, has a tight joint made at the upper part and is stayed by stay-bolts placed at
about its middle and projecting inward, so that it participates in the rotation of the
basket.
"
The outer casing, which is longer than the basket, dips by its lower edge into
the evacuation or outlet channel of. the framing of the centrifugal apparatus; the
passage of the liquids in said channel may be stopped and regulated by suitable
means. The evacuation of the liquids received in the outer casing is caused either
by making the same flaring towards the lower end, or by fitting the inner side thereof
with ribs or guides, or with furrows which arc helicoidal and force the liquid
Instead of
downwards allowing it gently to flow into the evacuation channel.
the aforesaid ribs or furrows other suitable means for conducting the liquid may be
provided.
The impregnating liquids are led through the lid into the centre of the basket
and are conducted thence by suitable means to the material to be treated. In order
to make a tight joint for the feed pipe, the following arrangement is adopted.
Upon the lid at the mouth of the feed pipe, there is a round receiver. It consists
in a circular receiver and a similarly shaped packing channel, placed above it. On
the feed pipe is provided a disc having sufficient play in the packing-channel (with
reference to the vibrations of the basket or drum). The receiver is filled with a
liquid which, when the basket rotates, rises into the packing-channel and, surround-
ing the periphery of the disc, makes a tight joint.
In order to cause the lid, which closes the basket, to press automatically upon the
material, a lever arrangement is provided, as follows: The inner side of the basket
is provided with a suitable number of lugs, into which pressure levers are inserted
after the lid is let down. The construction of these levers is preferably such, that
one end, turned towards the centre before rotation begins, is provided with a
weight (a ball or the like) whilst the other end forms an eccentric. The levers are
capable of rotation in lugs and are easily inserted therein and connected therewith.
When the drum rotates these levers turn in a vertical direction, as, by reason of
the centrifugal power, the weight tends to move outward and thus their eccentrics
force the lid downwards. Instead of mounting the levers at right angles to the
basket, they may be placed parallel with the periphery thereof.
To produce and preserve. a free space within the basket, serving also to admit of
the inflow of the re-agents required for treating the material, and to cause its
suitable division, a device is provided in the centre of the drum, consisting in a
perforated cylinder, on the inner side of which upwardly leading or rising ribs or
grooves of spiral form are provided.
The liquid is thrown upon the bottom of the drum and thence forthwith propelled

page_text: by centrifugal force against the sides of the perforated cylinder, directed upwards by
the ribs or grooves when rotation is rapid, spread over the several small perforations
and by these conducted to the material outside the cylinder.
The distribution device may however consist in discs with radial channels having
an aperture at the centre which is of such width that a portion of the current of liquid.
which is admitted, is retained, received by the channels and is by centrifugal force
led to the material.
To prevent interference with the compression of the spreading device, in the case
that this is not elastic, the lid is fitted with a dome which permits the necessary
free play. This is also obtained by providing a depression in the bottom of the drum.
As it is desirable for some materials to use the centrifugal apparatus in vacuo, or
under steam pressure, the bottom of the apparatus, or the evacuation channel, is
fitted with a packing hoop or ring, upon or in which the correspondingly turned
bottom of the basket runs tight at its lower part. The shaft or spindle thereof may
be raised or lowered by suitable means, say by making the step of the same vertically
adjustable by a screw, an angle lever, or the like. In a raised position the drum
rotates freely; if however it is lowered then a hermetical joint is formed at the
lower part as already set forth.
The spindle of the drum may be made hermetically tight by pressing a suitable
plate upwards or downwards towards the guide box of the spindle, or this may serve
to increase the tightness.
The outlet of the centrifugal apparatus can be hermetically closed by a stopcock
whilst the mouth of the channel may be hermetically closed by a suitable tight lid.
In order to enable cops to be exposed also to the full effect of steam in this apparatus
rings, or portions of rings, are inserted into the apparatus, which at the inner side
are provided with elastic wire bundles, or the like, against which the cops, of suitable
thickness and length, may be placed and are thus held fast.
These improvements are not only claimed for centrifugal machines the drum of
which is stepped as aforesaid, and which receives its turning action by a pulley fixed
on the lower end, but also for such apparatuses as have a suspended drum and a
perforated or non-perforated axle, which rises out of the drum and bears the driving
pulley on its upper end.
Dated this Eighteenth day of February 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Apparatus for Continuously Washing,
Dyeing, Drying, Impregnating, and otherwise Treating Various
Materials and Fabrics.
I, ADOLF WALDBAUR, of Stuttgart, Wurttemberg, Germany, Doctor of Philosophy,
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 relates to improvements in centrifugal apparatus for continuously
washing, dyeing, drying, and impregnating and otherwise treating various materials
and fabrics. For the purpose of advantageously conducting away the liquors used
in this apparatus (dyes for example) the revolving drum or basket is fitted with the
hereinafter described improvements and has a lid capable of being lowered within it.
The Drawings show vertical sections of my centrifugal apparatus.
The basket T which receives the material to be treated is provided with an outer
casing T. This casing is wider than the basket and is inverted over the same; it
is fixed, has a tight joint made at the upper part and is stayed by stay-bolts T¹
placed at about its middle and projecting inward, so that it participates in the
rotation of the basket.
The outer casing which is longer than the basket, dips by its lower edge into the

page_text: evacuation or. outlet channel of the framing of the centrifugal apparatus and may
extend to the bottom of said channel making a joint therewith; the passage of the
liquids in said channel may be stopped and regulated by suitable means. The
evacuation of the liquids received in the outer casing is caused either by making, the
same flaring towards the lower end (as at Figure, 1), or by fitting "the inner side
thereof with ribs or guides (as at Figure 2) or with furrows n' (see Figure 1) which
are helicoidal and force the liquid downwards allowing it gently to flow into the
evacuation channel. Instead of the aforesaid ribs or furrows other suitable means for
conducting the liquid may be provided.
The impregnating liquids are led through the lid into the centre of the basket and
are conducted thence by suitable means to the material to be treated. In order to
make a tight joint for the feed pipe Z at E, the following arrangement is adopted.
Upon the lid D, at the mouth. of the feed pipe there is a round receiver R, the
sectional shape of which is seen in the Drawings. It consists in a circular receiver R',
and a similarly shaped packing channel R, placed above it. On the feed pipe Z is pro-
vided a disc $ having sufficient play in the packing channel R (with reference to the
vibrations of the basket or drum). The receiver R' is filled with a liquid which,
when the basket rotates rises into the packing channel R2, and, surrounding the
periphery of the disc S, makes a tight joint.
In order to cause the lid, which closes the basket, to press automatically upon
the material, a lever arrangement is provided as follows. The inner side of the
basket is provided with a suitable number of lugs, into which pressure levers P Paie
inserted after the lid D is let down. The construction of these levers is preferably
such, that one end turned towards the centre before rotation begins, is provided
with a weight (a ball or the like) whilst the other end forms an excentric P¹. The
levers are capable of rotation in the lugs. L and are easily inserted therein and
connected therewith.
When the drum rotates these levers turn in a vertical direction, as, by reason of
the centrifugal power, the weight-tends to move outward and thus their excentrics
force the lid downwards. Instead of mounting the levers at right angles to the
basket, they may be placed parallel with the periphery thereof.
To produce and preserve a free space within the basket, serving also to admit of
the inflow of the reagents required for treating the material, and to cause its
suitable division, a device is provided in the centre of the drum, consisting in a
perforated cylinder K on the inner side of which upwardly leading or rising ribs or
grooves of spiral form are provided.
The liquid is thrown upon the bottom of the drum and thence forthwith propelled
by centrifugal force against the sides of the cylinder K, directed upwards by the
ribs or grooves when rotation is rapid, spread over the several perforations and by
these conducted to the material outside the cylinder.
The distribution device may however consist in discs S' with radial channels (see
Figure 4) having an aperture at the centre which is of such width that a portion
of the current of liquid which is admitted, is retained, received by the channels and is
by centrifugal force led to the material.
To prevent interference with the compression of the spreading device K in the case
that this is not elastic the lid is fitted with a dome D° (Fig. 1) which permits the
necessary free play. This is also obtained by providing a depression V in the bottom
of the drum.
As it is desirable for some materials to use the centrifugal apparatus in vacuo, or
under steam pressure, the bottom of the apparatus, or the evacuation channel, is fitted
with a packing hoop or ring J, upon or in which the correspondingly turned
bottom of the basket runs tight at its lowest part. The shaft or spindle thereof
may be raised or lowered by suitable means, say by making the step of the same
vertically adjustable by a screw a, an angle lever b, or the like, as shown in the
Drawings in dotted lines at Fig. III. In the position shown Figure III the drum
rotates freely. If however it is lowered then hermetical joint is formed at the
lower part as already set forth.

page_text: The spindle of the drum may be made hermetically tight by pressing a suitable
plate Pupwards or downwards towards the guide box: J of the spindle, or this may
serve to increase the tightness.
1.
"י : : זז
The outlet of the centrifugal apparatus can be hermetically closed by a stop cock S²
whilst the mouth of the channel may be hermetically closed by a suitable tight
lid U
36 316, 20
$1
In order to enable cops to be exposed also to the full effect of steam in this
apparatus, rings, or portion of rings, are inserted into the apparatus, which at the
inner side are provided with elastic wire-bundles, or the like, against which the
cops, of suitable thickness and length, may be placed and are thus held fast.
Figure V shows a horizontal section of the drum into which cops are placed.
Figure VI is a detail view with section through one cop and an elevation of
another. Upon the ring, flange or the like 1 is provided a cone 2 to which is
attached a wire loop3 upon which the cop is fitted so that the inner hollow part of the
same remains unobstructed the end of the cop joining the wire loop and the cone 2.
Instead of the wire loop a perforated sleeve of suitable form or the like may be
used so that the cop is held fast without obstruction of its interior. The wire loops,
or the sleeves or other holders are radially attached to rings or hoops (or to sections
of the same) corresponding to the diameter of the drum and this facilitates attachment
and removal. When the cops have been introduced into the drum leaving a sufficient
space between the inner side of the latter and the ring hoop or flange carrying the
cops, then the dye or other liquid can freely circulate and the cops can be
impregnated and the excess liquid thrown off without requiring the goods in the
drum to be touched.
The arrangements above described are, as will readily be understood,applicable not
only to centrifugal apparatus the spindle whereof runs in a bottom bearing and is
driven from below as shown in the drawings but also to apparatus in which the drum
is suspended, horizontally or vertically and having a spindle (hollow or solid)
projecting above and receiving power from a pulley mounted at the top.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
In a centrifugal apparatus for bleaching, washing, dyeing, drying, impregnating,
and otherwise treating various materials and fabrics, the following improvements...
1. In order conveniently to conduct away dye liquors, or the like, passing through
the centrifugal apparatus, a casing T. placed over the basket or drum and connected
and rotating therewith which casing is-
a) made flaring towards the lower end, and is fitted inside with guiding ribs or
grooves, n', or with analogous means for the evacuation or outflow of the
liquids or ingredients; and-
b) or the jacket may extend downwards so far that when the liquid is in the
evacuation channel it will dip therein forming a hydraulic seal, or it may
extend to the bottom of said channel making a joint therewith.
2. For the purpose of dispensing with stuffing boxes or other similar unreliable
devices, and for the purpose of making the feed pipe Z completely tight with the
drum-lid without appreciable friction, a packing by means of a disc S freely supported
in a vessel in which the moving liquid produces the packing.
3. The use of a lid D, closing the basket or drum by automatic pressure imparted
thereto by pressure pieces or levers P inserted into the basket or drum; the pressure
upon the lid being produced by the tendency of the lever weights to follow the
centrifugal force.
4. The use of a dividing or spreading device acting by centrifugal force either.
a) Consisting in a perforated cylinder so provided on the inside with rising ribs
or grooves, n, that when quick rotation takes place the liquids admitted into
the drum are driven upwards, conducted over the perforations and outward to
the material to be treated,

page_text: Or
b) Consisting in discs S¹ with radial ribs and concentric apertures, the ribs
conducting the portion of the liquid which falls upon the disc outward; there
being in this case a dome D° on the lid so as to provide the necessary space;
or a depression V, in the drum for the same purpose.
5. The arrangement that the drum may be used in vacuo or steam pressure by
providing for either raising or lowering the drum, in which event it may, in the first
case, freely rotate as a centrifugal apparatus, being, in the latter case lowered to bear
upon the framing, and may be thus hermetically closed towards the bottom, and in
other directions by a lid and cocks or valves.
For increasing this effect, the further arrangement for making the spindle tight by
pressing a suitable plate P³ upward, or downward towards the guide box or bearing of
the spindle.
6. The use of rings, or parts of rings, with elastic wire bundles, balls, or the like, for
receiving and retaining cops in the basket, so as to enable them to receive also the
full effect of steam under pressure.