Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Use in Bleaching, and Washing Woven Goods in the Piece.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Use in Bleaching,
and Washing Woven Goods in the Piece.
We WILLIE HADFIELD, of Furness Vale, in the County of Chester, Colourist,
JOSEPH JOHNSON SUMNER, of the same place, Mechanic, and HENRY HADFIELD,
also of the same place, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows
Our said invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
bleaching and washing woven goods in the piece.
In the form which our improved apparatus would assume in the continuous
bleaching of cloth in rope or open form and in combination for example with a
caustic or soda ash boil process, we arrange a washing vat or cistern in juxta-
position to the kier, the said cistern containing the usual guide rollers above and
below to lead the cloth direct from the kier to and fro through the washing liquid.
On emerging from the washing cistern the cloth is passed between squeezing
bowls and thence into the "chemiking" vat where it again passes up and down
over guide rollers through the "chemiking" liquid to another set of squeezing
bowls whence it passes into a chamber within which heat is applied to the fabric
in such a manner as to liberate the chlorine.
In the arrangement which we at present consider to be the most suitable and
practicable the caid chlorine liberating means consists of a steam chamber furnished
with a chimney and kept full of steam by a series of pipes led into the chamber. In
passing through the chamber the fabric is led up and down over top and bottom
guide rollers and is thoroughly steamed so as to liberate the chlorine. The surplus
steam and the vapours so extracted from the cloth escape from the chamber
through the chimney.
The liberation of the chlorine leaves in the cloth a certain proportion of
insoluble lime. We might under one phase of our improvements render the
insoluble lime soluble by passing the cloth through a separate "souring" or acid
bath as hereinafter set forth before leading it into the final washing cistern, but
we prefer to complete the bleaching action in the steam or heating chamber by
the following means. We provide in the steaming or heating chamber a suitable
heated vapouriser which might consist of an earthenware plate or tanks heated by
steam or other means, and we arrange for the introduction of a small quantity of
acetic acid which is dropped upon the said heated plate or tank so as to become
vapourised. The acetic acid vapours mingle with the steam and while assisting
to remove the chlorine from the cloth, also render the residual lime in the cloth
soluble instead of insoluble.
To further complete the bleaching action of the chlorine and acetic vapours
upon the cloth, we now pass the cloth into a second and separate steaming chamber
where it is subjected to the action of steam alone. The cloth is then led to the
final washing cistern and thence through squeezing rollers to be dried.
If

page_text: necessary we might interpose a weak "souring" bath between the said second
steaming chamber and the final washing cistern.
The requisite heat might be applied to the fabric otherwise than by steaming,
for example we might admit or force hot air into the chamber or chambers or lead
the fabric between or over heating boxes or over steam or other heated rollers.
In cases where acetic acid is not used in the steam or other heated chamber as
herein before described, the cloth after leaving the chamber passes over a roller or
it might be between squeezing bowls and then enters a washing cistern through
which it traverses over top and bottom guide rollers and on emerging and passing
between squeezing bowls enters the "souring" or acid vat. After traversing the
"souring" vat over and under guide rollers as before and being again subjected
to squeezing bowls, the cloth enters the final washing cistern where it is thoroughly
rinsed and then passed through squeezing bowls to be dried or otherwise treated.
Under the hereinbefore set forth continuous processes the cloth does not require
to be handled after leaving the kiers and the bleaching process is both expedited
and cheapened.
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Use in Bleaching
aud Washing Woven Goods in the Piece.
We WILLIE HADFIELD, of Furness Vale, in the County of Chester, Colourist,
JOSEPH JOHNSON SUMNER, of the same place, Mechanic, and HENRY HADFIELD,
also of the same place, Manager, 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 and accompanying drawings.
Our said invention relates to improvements in the method of, and apparatus
for, bleaching and washing woven goods in the piece, and refers particularly to a
method and apparatus whereby we are enabled to continuously effect the bleaching
of the goods after the ley boil in the kiers, without handling them.
And in order that our invention may be fully understood we have annexed
hereto a sheet of explanatory drawings to which we will now refer.
In the said drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a sectional side elevation of our improved apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same and
Fig. 3 a side view of one of the parts.
In the form which our improved apparatus would assume in the continuous
bleaching of cloth in rope or open form, and in combination for example with a
caustic or soda ash boil process, we arrange a washing vat or cistern A, it might
be, in juxta-position to the kier. In the accompanying drawing the goods under
treatment are represented in the open form but it will be understood that goods
may also be treated in the rope formation.
After the ordinary ley boil in the kier the goods are conducted over the guide

page_text: roller a and stenting bars al al to a hot wash in the washing vat A as indicated
by the arrows. The vat or cistern A is provided with top and bottom guido
rollers b above and below which the fabric is led.
The cistern A is divided into two compartments by a partition b¹ in such a
manner that two different levels of water are maintained in the cistern. Spurt
pipes deliver water into the compartment A' of the cistern A which then over-
flows into the compartment A. An opening & is provided within the side of the
compartment A2 so as to maintain a constant level of liquid within as indicated.
in the drawings. Steam pipes e, e are provided to heat the contents of the
cistern A. Revolving beaters or dashers c c are also mounted in the sides of the
cistern to agitate the water and direct the same upon the surface of the fabric.
It will be noted that as the clean water is delivered to the compartment A' only,
the incoming fabric will first meet the dirtier water in the compartment A³ pro-
ceeding from thence into the cleaner water in the compartment A' of the cistern.
The material under treatment is led from the cistern A between Squeezing
bowls B, the moisture expressed from the fabric being returned to the
compartment A' by the inclined plate or board . Leaving the squeezine bowls 15
the fabric is subjected to a second hot wash in a cistern C. The cistern C is
similar in construction to the cistern A, being provided with top and bottom"
guiding rollers d, a central nartition, spurt pipes beaters and steam
pipes . We may if desired employ only one washing cistern divided into any
convenient number of compartments by partitions, and having therein. decreasing
water levels, although we prefer the arrangement shown in the drawings.
From the second hot wash in the cistern C the goods are again passed between
squeezing bowls D, the expressed liquid being returned by the inclined plate or
bard e to the cistern C. The material then passes into a "chemiking" vat E
which is also provided with top and bottom guide rollers f. After treatment in
the "chemiking" liquid the material is conducted again between squeezing
bowls F and F from whence it passes into a closed chamber G having a removable
top or cover g within which heat is applied to the fabric to liberate the chlorine.
The bottom of the chamber G is provided with perforated steam pipes as shown
niore clearly in plan view Fig. 2 from which steam enters into and heats the
chamber and acts on the passing fabric. In passing through the chamber G the
febric is again led over and under top and bottom guide rollers g' and is thoroughly
steamed to liberate the chlorine.
The liberation of the chlorine leaves in the cloth a certain proportion of
insoluble lime which we render soluble in the following manner. The steaming
or heating chamber G is providinyl with a heated vapouriser H shown more clearly
in the separate view Fig. 3. The vapourizer consists of a metallic, earthenware or
other tank or trough h along the bottom of which is arranged a steam or other
heated pipe . Steam is admitted to the pipe A and controlled by a suitable
valve . The pipe h is also in, connection with a steam trap (not shown) to
remove the waters of condensation from the pipe. Upon the top of the steam
chamber G we mount two vessels I containing acetic acid and provided with stop
A small quantity of the acetic acid is directed into the funnels of two
bent tubes the lower projecting parts of which are perforated so as to dis-
charge the acid upon the heated pipe ' disposed along the bottom of the trough h.
The acetic acid is thus vapourised by contact with the heated nipe A¹ and the
vapours mingle with the steam and while assisting to remove the chlorine from the
cloth, also render the residual lime in the cloth soluble.
To further complete the bleaching action of the chlorine and acetic vapours
upon the cloth, we now pass the cloth into a second steaming chamber J where it
e subjected to the action of steam alone. The second steaming chamber is also
provided with top and bottom guide rollers k and steam pipes . As indicated in
the drawing the chambers G and J are provided with slotted wooden bottoms or
trestles g. A canopy m and chimney m collect and reniove the vapours from the

page_text: steaming chambers as indicated by arrows. The cloth is then led from the steam--
ing chamber J to the final washing cisterns KL where the material is subjected
to a final wash of cold water and is conducted through squeezing rollers to the
usual drying cylinders to be dried.
The washing cisterns KL are constructed in a manner similar to the washing
cisterns A C and therefore do not need to be described in detail.
If necessary we might interpose a weak "souring" bath between the second
steaming chamber J and the final washing cisterns K L.
The requisite heat might be applied to the fabric otherwise than by steaming,
for example we might admit or force hot air into the chambers GJ or lead the
fabric between or over heating boxes or over steam or other heated rollers.
The various squeezing bowls might be driven by suitable bevel gearing as
indicated in the plan view Fig. 2.
As a modification, instead of vapourising the acetic acid in the steam chamber G
by means of the vapouriser h as described we might pass the fabric through a
separate bath of acetic acid preliminary to its treatment within the steam chamber
or chambers. In this case a trough M shown in dotted lines in the drawing and
containing acetic acid is mounted or disposed between the "chemiking" vat and
the, steam chamber G. The fabric is led from the squeezing bowls F into the
trough M and below the roller n and from thence after immersion in the acetic
acid it is passed between the squeezing bowls F and conducted to the steaming
chambers G, J. where it is subjected to the action of steam alone by which the acid
in the cloth is vapourised and finally washed in the cistern KL as already
described.
. Under the hereinbefore described continuous process the cloth does not require
to be handled after leaving the kiers and the bleaching pro ess is both expedited
and cheapened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is.
1. The improved method or process of bleaching and washing woven goods in
the piece, in which the goods, after the ley boil in the kier, are first subjected to a
wash or washes, passed through a "chemiking" hath, and then subjected to the
action of steam and acetic acid vapour in a suitable chamber from whence they
pass to a chamber where they are subjected to the action of steam alone and are
finally washed, with or without treatment in a weak "souring" bath after leaving
the steaming chamber and preliminary to the final washing, substantially as
described.
2. The modified method or process of bleaching and wash..ig woven goods in
the piece, in which the goods after the lev boil in the kier are passed through a
wash or washes, then through a "chemiking". bath, and afterwards through a
separate bath of acetic acid from which they are conducted to steaming chamber
or chambers where they are subjected to the action of sterin or other heated
vapour by which the acid in the cloth is vapourised and are finally washed with or
without treatment in a weak "souring" bath before the final washing substanti-
ally as described.
3. The general arrangement construction and combination of parts comprising
the improved apparatus for the continuous bleaching and washing of woven goods
in the piece either in the open or rope form substantially as described and
illustrated.
4. In apparatus for use in the continuous bleaching and washing of woven
goods in the piece the combined acid vapourising and steaming chamber such as G
in conjunction with an additional steaming chamber such as J arranged and acting
ir the manner and for the purposes substantially as described and illustrated.
5. In apparatus of the indicated nature the combination of a steaming chamber

page_text: or chambers with the separate bath of acetic acid for the purposes and sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
Dotad this 22nd dor of October 1897
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents.