An Improved Method of and Means for Drying Fabrics, Yarns and Threads, and Fibres.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Drying Fabrics, Yarns and
Threads, and Fibres.
I, HUGH MCPHAIL, of The Towers, Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of and means for drying fabrics,
yarns and threads, and fibres by which the drying operation can be conducted
with perfect safety and with great expedition and without impairing the quality
of the goods. On the contrary the appearance of the goods dried by this method
will be improved by reason of the nap or fibres as the case may be on the surface
of the goods being raised instead of being flattened as is the case when the drying
is effected by contact with a hot surface.
According to my invention the drying is effected by superheated steam in direct
contact with the goods. Preferably the steam is passed through the goods to im-
prove their appearance and to hasten the process but an efficient drying is obtained
by direct contact without passage of the steam through the goods.
For the purposes of my invention I employ a drying chamber in which the goods
to be dried are placed, and I pass superheated steam into the said chamber and
preferably draw the same off continuously through a suitable outlet by means of
an exhaust pump or fan. The goods are arranged in the path of the current of
steam or are traversed so that the steam is caused to pass through them. The
degree of superheat employed is regulated according to the character of the goods
under treatment. When the boiler and superheater are a considerable distance
from the drying apparatus it is advantageous to further superheat the steam or
regulate the degree of superheat by a superheater close to the drying chamber.
Such superheater may be heated by means of gas, oil, coal, coke, or similar heating
agents. Saturated or exhaust steam is sometimes superheated for the purposes of
my invention. Any suitable form of superheater may be employed. Although
I prefer to employ an exhaust pump or fan for drawing or exhausting the steam
through or from the drying chamber I do not confine myself to the use of a fan or
pump as the same may sometimes be dispensed with.
I sometimes cause the steam to adopt a circuitous route in its passage through
the drying chamber but that is not always necessary or advisable. The drying
chamber is suitably protected by a non-conductive covering to prevent loss of heat
by radiation..
When each new charge of goods is introduced into the drying chamber a slight
amount of condensation of steam takes place thereon but when the temperature
rises sufficiently the condensed steam is rapidly evaporated again along with the

page_text: moisture originally contained in the goods. A reducing valve is used when neces-
sary or desirable to reduce the pressure of the superheated steam.
Dated this 5th day of May 1897.
An Improved Method of and Means for Drying Fabrics, Yarns and
Threads, and Fibres.
I, HUGH MCPHAIL, of The Towers, Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer,
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 an improved method of drying fabrics, yarns, threads,
and fibres by which the drying operation can be conducted with great expedition
and not only without impairing the quality of the fabrics or materials but on the
contrary improving their appearance by reason of the nap or fibres (as the case
may be) on the surface of the materials, being raised instead of being Hattened as
is the case when the drying is effected by contact with a hot hard surface.
According to my invention the drying is effected by the employment of super-
heated steam which is brought into actual or direct contact with the materials to be
dried, the said materials being contained in a suitably constructed chamber from
which the superheated steam can be continuously withdrawn as it takes up the
moisture from the materials. Preferably the steam is passed completely through
the materials to improve their appearance and to hasten the process, but an efficient
drying may be obtained without the passage of the steam through the materials.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, suitably constructed
drying chambers for use with my invention. I wish it to be understood however
that I do not confine myself to drying chambers of the kind illustrated, as these
chambers may be variously constructed according to the class of materials to be
dried or other requirements, without departing from the nature of my invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, and
Figure 2 an end view of a drying chamber specially intended for materials in
the form of yarn thread or fibre.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views of a drying chamber specially intended for
drying woven or piece" goods.
66
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, A is the body portion of the
chamber provided with openings A A through which the materials to be dried
enter and leave the said chamber. B, B arc pipes located within the chamber
and arranged completely around the sides and above the bottom thereof, the said
pipes forming a continuous system or coil for steam to circulate in, to assist in
maintaining the temperature within the said chamber and thereby expediting the
process. Instead of this system of pipes I may employ an ordinary steam jacket
for the chamber.
CC are other pipes which are arranged transversely within the said chamber,
and through which the superheated steam for drying the materials is admitted to
the chamber, the said tubes being for this purpose provided with perforations for
the (superheated steam to pass into the chamber and come directly into contact

page_text: with the materials to be dried. The number and arrangement of these tubes will
depend upon the nature of the materials to be treated. In Figure 1 they are
arranged to extend between continuous travelling bands D composed of some
material having an open texture. These bands pass around drums or rollers D¹
and serve to conduct the materials to be dried through the drying chamber. The
said drums or rollers D' may be made hollow and perforated and if desired the
superheated steam may be supplied thereto and escape through the said perforations
into the drying chamber. The conveyors are arranged one above the other and
are adapted to travel in opposite directions with respect to each other, so that the
materials that are being dried will be caused to travel first in one direction and then
in the opposite direction as they fall from a higher to a lower conveyor and to
thereby perform a circuitous course through the drying chamber. At the inlet
and outlet openings A' A³, other drums 13 are provided outside the chamber and
immediately above the rollers D³ so that the material to be dried can be drawn into
the apparatus from the platform D³ and after being dried can be delivered on to
the platform D. Or the delivery rollers outside the chamber A can be dispensed
with and the materials be delivered into a convenient place within the said chamber
from which they can be periodically withdrawn through a suitable opening.
At the upper portion of the said chamber is an opening A³ through which the
superheated steam after it has acted upon the materials to be dried and has
abstracted the moisture therefrom can be continuously withdrawn by suction.
temperature of the superheated steam employed will naturally depend upon the
nature and condition of the materials to be treated.
T'he
It will be found advantageous to arrange the steam superheater contiguous to
the drying chamber.
I do not confine myself to the use of a special steam generator for supplying
the steam to the superheater, and in some instances I may employ exhaust steam
from any form of engine or apparatus to which steam is supplied. Although I
prefer to draw or exhaust the superheated steam through or from the drying
chamber by suction, I may in some cases dispense altogether with suction for such
purpose.
If desired the various superheated steam supply pipes C may be provided with
cocks or valves for enabling one or more of them or one or more series of them to
be thrown out of action.
I sometimes cause the superheated steam to perform a circuitous course as it
passes through the drying chamber but this is not always necessary and sometimes
not even advisable. The drying chamber is preferably coated with some heated
non-conducting material to prevent loss of heat by radiation.
It will of course be evident that as the materials to be dried enter or are intro-
duced into the drying chamber a slight amount of condensation of the steam will
take place on such materials until the temperature of the materials attains a
The drying
degree at which they will throw off the moisture by evaporation.
chamber may be provided with a reducing valve when necessary or desirable to
reduce the pressure of the superheated steam admitted to the chamber.
In Figures 3 and 4 the materials to be dried are what are known as piece goods
which are wound upon beams or rollers as they come from the loom. In drying
such materials the beam D³, together with the fabric with which it is wound, is
inserted bodily into the drying chamber where said beam is mounted upon suit-
able supports to permit of its freely revolving. The fabric is led from the said
beam in a serpentine course through the said chamber by being passed around the
The beams D³ 1° and rollers D₁
rollers D', and is rewound upon the beam Dr.
In this case I have
may be revolved by any suitable mechanical contrivance.
shown the drying chamber provided with a long door A to permit of the beams
being readily inserted into or removed from the chamber, such door being adapted
to be opened by releasing suitable locking contrivances A. The superheated steam
supply pipes Care in this instance shown in such a position that the fabric will

page_text: pass between two rows of them, the perforations in the said tubes being directed
towards the fabric so as to act directly on the surfaces thereof. Although I have
only shown four pipes O, it will be readily understood that this number may be
increased if desired.
It will also be found advantageous to arrange superheated steam supply pipes C,
near the bottom of the chamber.
In order to facilitate the passage of the materials to be treated into and from the
drying chamber, I sometimes provide a truck or carriage which may be adapted to
run upon rails extending into the drying chamber, such truck or carriage being
constructed with a number of super-imposed shelves composed of perforated wood
or metal, lattice-work, or other open fabric. Wire gauze may be employed for
the purpose or the said shelves may be composed of strong cord network. Upon
these shelves the materials to be treated are placed. The drying chamber is pro-
vided with an opening through which the said truck can be run into and out of the
chamber, and is also furnished with suitable means for closing such opening. The
superheated steam supply pipes would in this instance be preferably arranged near
the bottom of the drying chamber.
Another form of apparatus suitable for my purpose when treating such material
as yarn thread and fibre is that of the kind referred to and illustrated in the
Specification forming part of my application for Patent No. 11,449 of 1897 filed
simultaneously herewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. A method of drying fabrics or materials such as yarns, threads, and fibres by
subjecting them to the direct action of superheated steam substantially as
described.
2. Apparatus for carrying into effect my aforesaid method of drying, comprising
a chamber wherein the materials to be dried are placed or through which they are
caused to travel, a superheater for superheating the steam to the required degree,
and an exhaust pump or fan for withdrawing the steam after it has abstracted the
moisture from the materials, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of February 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.