IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PRESSING OF WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Luke Smethurst, Presser, Samuel Shaw and Thomas Shaw,
Manufacturers, all of Holywell Green, near Halifax, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS USED IN THE PRESSING OF WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS."
Sealed the 22nd August 1876, and dated the 29th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Luke Smethurst, Samuel
Shaw, and Thomas Shaw at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
29th February 1876.
LUKE SMETHURST, Presser, SAMUEL SHAW and THOMAS SILAW, Manufacturers,
all of Holywell Green, near Halifax, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PRESSING OF WOVEN
OR FELTED FABRICS."
This Invention relates to such machines as are adapted and used to press the
fabrics in lengths, having an intermittent action or motion for such purpose, and
wherewith hollow plates are employed for the reception of steam or other heating
or warming medium, and cold water for cooling the same, and and when required,
and the improvements consist,
Firstly. In the application and use of any woven or felted fabric or other suitably
prepared soft or elastic material in sheets as a covering to the said plates, or as a
padding or wadding betwixt the plates and the paper boards or papers, which are
also used in such machines.
Secondly. In so constructing and arranging such machines as to be self-acting in
charging each hollow plate with steam or heating medium and cold water alter-
nately, and then cutting off the same, the movements being so arranged as to be
capable of regulation as to time. This is effected by suitably formed cams, levers,
valves, or change gearing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Luke Smethurst, Samuel Shaw, and Thomas Shaw, in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 29th August 1876.
LUKE SMETHURST, Presser, SAMUEL SHAW and THOMAS SHAW, Manufacturers, all
of Holywell Green, near Halifax, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PRESSING OF WOVEN OR
FELTED FABRICS."
This Invention relates to such machines as are adapted and used to press the
fabrics in lengths, having an intermittent action or motion for such purpose, and
wherewith hollow plates are 'employed for the reception of steam or other heating
or warming medium, and cold water for cooling the same, as and when required,
and the improvements consist,
Firstly. In the application and use of any woven or felted fabric, or other suitably
prepared soft or elastic material in sheets, as a covering to the said plates, or as a
padding or wadding betwixt the plates and the paper boards or papers, which are
also used in such machines. This wadding we wrap one or more times round the
plate and secure it at the edges by strips of metal with screws passing through the
wadding or felt into the plate. In this manner a soft and pliable bed is produced,
which we find to be highly advantageous. The felt serves to prevent the peice
becoming hard to the hand, and equalizes the process of pressing.
Secondly. In so constructing and arranging such machines as to be self acting, in
charging cach hollow plate with steam or heating medium and cold water alternately,
and then cutting off the same, the movements being so arranged so as to be capable of
regulation as to time. This is effected by suitably arranged cams, levers, valves, or
change gearing.
In order to secure the full benefit of this method of pressing, we prefer to use the
arrangement of apparatus shewn in Sheets 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
The two Drawings represent a side elevation of our machine, a full view of which
will be obtained by placing the right hand margin of Sheet 1 in contact with the
left hand margin of Sheet 2. In Sheet 1, A represents the ashlar upon which is
placed the foundation plate B of the press, C is the cylinder, D the piston, E the
bottom and F the top, which do not require special description, the construction
being well known. The pieces to be pressed are arranged upon sliding shelves G,
which are constructed sufficiently wide to receive either one broad or two narrow
pieces. From these shelves the pieces pass singly through a reed H, and from
thence through other two reeds J and K, five pieces in thickness passing through
each of the spaces in these last reeds. A short distance intervenes between the
reeds J and K in order that the attendant may see that each successive length is
in proper condition before entering the plates. The pieces thence pass through the
press, five pieces over each plate, a sheet of press paper being placed between each
piece. The pieces are pressed in lengths, as is well understood, and on leaving the
The lowest
press are drawn through the reed L and through the pair of rollers M.
five pieces are then allowed to fall down, and may be cuttled separately by usual
apparatus, the remainder passing on to the next pair of rollers I, when another
five pieces are allowed to fall and be cuttled, and so on until the last five have
passed through the last pair of rollers M. Steam and cold water are then adınitted
to the press plates alternately, as follows:-Each plate is made hollow and divided
internally by a diaphram N, (see details, Figs. 3 and 4). Each end of the plate is
provided with an inlet pipe P, and an outlet pipe Q. Internal partitions, or mid-
feathers are provided to ensure a complete circulation of both steam and water. On
cach side of the machine is a valve R. These valves are connected together by a
pipe S, and are both supplied with water through the pipe T. After passing through
the valves the water enters the short vertical pipes U, and passes by the india-
rubber connecting pipes V (see Figs. 3 and 4) into the plates passing out through
other india-rubber pipes into the vertical discharge pipe W. When it is desired to
admit steam the water valves are shut, and the steam valves X, similarly arranged,

page_text: admit steam to the cross pipes Y, the steam thence passing into and through the
plates in the same manner as that previously described for the water. The vertical
pipe W is closed at a, to prevent steam passing directly through it without passing
through the plates. The alternate opening and closing of the pipes is effected by
the rotation of the toothed wheel b, which gears with two pinions c and d on the
spindles of the valves R and X. This toothed wheel has its rotation communicated
by the ratchet wheel and catches e and f, the catches being fixed to plates g, to
which a crank arm or lever is fixed, which is raised and lowered by a cam i.
When this cam is at its lowest point, which is the circumference j, cold water is
being admitted, but as soon as the crank commences to ascend the incline j¹, the
cold water is shut off and steam admitted. In practice we admit steam as soon as
the piston commences its descent, and continue until the piston has reached its
highest point in the next ascent, when cold water is turned on and is allowed to
flow until the plates are cooled. The rollers M to M are worked by shaft and
bevil gear, k, l, and the cam is worked by worm and wheel from a shaft
similar to on the opposite side of the machine. The shafts m and are coupled
together by belt or other means, the shaft having a fast and loose pulley arranged
so that the belt may be changed from the fast to the loose pulley as necessary,
either by attendant or mechanical means. It will be evident, upon consideration,
that this change is necessary, as the rollers must be stationary during that part of
the process during which the pieces are under pressing.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and shewn by Drawings how
the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practice, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise construction or arrange-
ment of machinery herein shewn, as the same may be varied without departing
from the main features, but what we claim as our Invention and consider to be new
is,―
Firstly. The application of a woven or felted fabric or other material as a
padding or wadding betwixt the press plates and papers as herein described.
Secondly. The arrangement of apparatus for effecting the charging and dis-
charging of the hollow plates, as well as the general arrangement and disposition
of machinery, substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Luke Smethurst and Samuel Shaw, for and on
behalf of ourselves and the said Thomas Shaw, have hereunto set our hands
and seals, this Twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
A. B. CROSSLEY,
Clerk to Wm. Tasker,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.
LUKE SMETHURST. (L.S.)
SAMUEL SHAW. (L.S.)

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