Year: 1887

page_text: I GEORGE TOLSON of Dewsbury, Yorkshire, Carbonizer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved machine for drying fabrics and fibres
which have become damp or wet by any process of previous manufacture or other
causes. The machine we employ for drying may consist of a stationary, rotary, or
oscillating chamber having a central hollow perforated cannon shaft or trunnion.
The materials to be dried are placed within the chamber and agitated therein by
the movement of the said chamber, or if the chamber be stationary, we may employ
rotary forks to agitate the said fabrics. Hot air generated under the chamber or at
any other suitable place is forced by fan into the central hollow trunnion and through
the perforations therein, where it intermingles with the fabrics whereby they become
thoroughly and quickly dry. Suitable dampers or valves are employed to shut off
or regulate the supply of hot or cold air to the chamber. Rotary motion may be
given to the chamber or forks by any form of gearing, but if the motion is oscillatory,
it may be given by mangle wheel or other reversible motions.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.

page_text: I, GEORGE TOLSON, of Dewsbury, Yorkshire, Carbonizer, 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 a new or improved machine for drying fabrics and fibres
which have become damp or wet by any process of previous manufacture or other
causes. The machine I employ for drying may consist of a stationary, rotary, or
oscillating chamber having a central hollow perforated cannon shaft or trunnion. The
materials to be dried are placed within the chamber and agitated therein by the
movement of the said chamber, or if the chamber be stationary I may employ rotafy
forks to agitate the said fabrics.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I herein make reference
to the accompanying sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 is cross section (taken through line c,-d in Fig. 2) of a machine constructed
according to my invention, and Fig. 2 is front elevation thereof taken through
line a. A is the hollow cannon shaft or trunnion supported in bearings B at each
side of the stationary or fixed chamber C, such hollow shaft (by preference)
terminating just within the inner rotary or oscillatory chamber D. A pipe E in
connection with the coke, coal, or gas stove F enters into the hollow shaft A for the
purpose of conducting the hot air generated in the stove F, into the chamber D), a
fan G being placed within the pipe to draw the hot air from the stove and force it
through the pipe and hollow shaft into the said chamber. A damper H is also
employed in connection with the said pipe E so that the admission of hot air to the
chamber may be cut off, and a supply of cold air admitted, or to regulate the supply
of hot and cold air to the chamber, the said damper being regulated by hand lever e
held in any position by the quadrant f.
The chamber D is preferably made with eight sides so that the materials may be
more effectually distributed and agitated; each side being covered with wire gauze or
netting of any suitable mesh bolted or otherwise secured to the metal stays 7, to
enable the hot air as it passes through the materials to easily escape from the said
chamber. One of the sides of the chamber forms a door to allow the materials to
be placed into or taken from the machine. i are forks or rakes placed at short
distances apart and extending across the machine for agitating the materials.
When filling the machine with fabrics or fibres, the doors in the outer chamber C
and the door h in the inner chamber are opened and the said inaterials thrown in, the
quantity to be dried at one operation being determined by the size of the machine,
and after the door in both chambers has been closed rotary motion is given to the
chamber D by any known form of gearing usually employed for rotating carbonizing
machines, or if it is desired to impart oscillatory motion to the said chamber, mangle
wheel or other known reversible motions may be employed.

page_text: Hot air is now exhausted from the stove F and placed into the chamber D, where
it intermingles with the materials therein and quickly dries them.
I have shown a fan I on the top of the outer chamber, which if required can be used
to exhaust the hot air from the chambers, but I find that for many classes of material,
the employment of a fan for the purpose named causes the hot air to be drawn
through the interstices or openings in or between the materials and thereby leave
some portion thereof undried, consequently such undried portion or portions of the
materials will "mill" or felt and cause considerable loss. I find it better in all cases
to employ an ordinary ventilator instead of the fan I and employ a second pipe con-
necting the stove F with the hollow shaft at the opposite side of the machine, such
pipe having a fan therein and damper arranged as described in reference to the pipe E.
By this means, hot air is forced into the chamber D at both ends thereof, and passing
through and intermingling with the materials is finally forced out through the
ventilator by the pressure of hot air being admitted. If it is required that the
chamber shall be stationary a perforated hollow shaft is employed extending across
the machine and having a number of forks or rakes mounted thereon so that as the
said shafts and forks are caused to rotate or oscillato within the stationary chamber,
the fabrics or fibres therein are agitated, or instead of a rotary chamber and forks, or
stationary chamber and rotary forks, I may employ a rotary or oscillatory chamber
divided into compartments (see Fig. 3) each having a door thereto to allow the
materials to be placed into the said compartments. The chamber is mounted upon a
hollow perforated shaft as described in the last mentioned modification of chamber,
and supplied with hot air as before described and shewn.
By exhausting hot air from a slow combustion or gas stove and forcing it direct
into the chamber D as described fabrics or fibres placed therein are thoroughly and
quickly dried.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be carried into effect, 1 declaro that what I
claim is :-
Firstly. The construction of a machine for drying fabrics or fibres consisting of a
stationary rotary or oscillatory chamber having a central hollow perforated shaft for
the introduction of hot or cold air in manner substantially as described.
Secondly. In combination with a machine for drying fabrics or fibres such as is
herein described, of a number of oscillatory or rotary forks or rakes for agitating the
said fabrics or fibres.
Dated this 24th day of January 1888.