IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS, YARNS, AND FIBROUS MATERIALS T PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Patterson, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim,
Ireland, Linen Bleacher, and Duncan Stewart, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PROCESS OF TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS, YARNS, AND FIBROUS MATERIALS
T
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Patterson and Duncan
Stewart at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February
1881.
JOHN PATTERSON, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Linen Bleacher,
and DUNCAN STEWART, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS,
YARNS, AND FIBROUS MATERIALS WITH FLUIDS, GASES, OR VAPOURS, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
"
In the process of bleaching, printing, dyeing, steaming, soaping, raising, and
otherwise treating it has heretofore been the practice to immerse the fabrics, yarns,
or other material in the fluids, vapours, or gases; under these circumstances, as
there is an equal pressure acting simultaneously on both sides of the materials, the
liquids, vapours, or gases mutually oppose themselves to their active passage
through and through the materials treated, and in order to insure the requisite
action on the tissues of the same the process not only has to be prolonged but is
also irregular and hazardous in its results. The object of our Invention is to
remedy these defects, which we do by applying the fluids, vapours, or gases first
on one side of the materials treated and then reversing the action by applying
them to the opposite side, and this continuous process we carry out by means of the
apparatus hereinafter described.
Upon a suitable foundation is erected a tank, vessel, or chamber, in which
revolve hollow perforated supports, cylinders, or frames covered with porous
material, or a series of discs carried upon hollow perforated axles which pass
through suitable bushings in the side or sides of the tank, and terminate in or are

page_text: connected with an eduction pipe or pipes, which, according to one form of our
Invention discharge into tank or tanks placed at a lower level, the ends of the
pipes being always covered by the liquid therein contained. From said lower tank
rise the induction pipes, provided with openings at their base (in order that the
liquid may always rise to the same height in said pipe as in the tank), and perforated
or open at the top in order that the liquid may pass back into the main tank. To
effect this the main steam supply pipe is provided with branch pipes, which are
supplied with suitable stop cocks, and terminate within the bell shaped base of
the induction pipes in steam jets or nozzles. When steam is admitted through
said jet or jets it forces the liquid above it in the induction pipe up into the main
tank, at the same time heating it and drawing in and up a further supply through
the openings at the base of the pipe. The action of gravitation causes the liquid
in the main tank to pass through the hollow perforated cylinders and axles and
pass down the eduction pipes to the said lower tank, and thus a constant circulation
and heating of the liquid is obtained. One side of the main tank is preferably
made or built up of plates, so that a single plate and cylinder may be removed if
desired, while at the other side are placed the driving or gear wheels. When
using heated liquids, vapours, or gases the entire tank is preferably covered, in
order to retain its liquid contents in as heated a state as possible. The fabrics,
yarns, or other materials to be treated are fed in over a roller, then down and under
a second roller, around the perforated cylinders where its sides are alternately
subjected to the action of the liquid bath, the material being eventually delivered
between a pair of terminal rollers and over a guide roller, after which it may be
plaited down or rolled on a batching roller. The terminal rollers may be "squeezers"
by means of which the moisture carried up by the material may be largely
expressed.
When the lower tank is placed at a sufficient distance below the level of the
main tank, the action of gravitation is quite sufficient to draw the liquid through
the materials ordinarily treated as well as through the perforated cylinders (the
pressure being 43 lbs. per square inch for each 100 feet of fall), and as the liquid
penetrates first from one side and then from the other the material becomes
thoroughly impregnated therewith. We have found that when treating materials
such as linens the cylinder may be advantageously made of copper, and perforated
with about 64 holes to the square inch, or according to the texture of the fabrics
treated. To prevent the liquid passing through that portion of the cylinder not
covered by the material being treated we employ small valve rods carrying
ordinary rubber, leather, metal, vulcanite, or other flap valves, the material
chosen being such as will not injuriously affect or be affected by the liquid
contents of the tank. When employing heated liquids, vapours, or gases the
temperature in the main tank or chamber will gradually be lowered by
radiation, and the heat thus lost may be conveniently replaced by means of
a steam pipe or coil carried into the said tank or chamber. When liquids are
employed they become gradually weaker or diluted in excess by combining
with and condensing the steam supplied through jet or jets in the induction pipe
or pipes, and this loss may be conveniently made up by the addition in the second
tank of the requisite substances. When treating prints (calicoes) it is sometimes
advisable that the liquid should only be applied from the printed side, in which
case the tendency will be to permanently fix the print in the fibres of the material.
To accomplish this desirable result it may also be arranged that the liquid in the
main tank may be drawn off until it only covers the bottom set of hollow cylinders,
the upper set in this case merely acting as rollers over which the material passes in
order to constantly present the same side or surface to the action of the liquids.
When passing the fabrics or materials through a soaping or other bath we have
found it advantageous under certain circumstances to employ a form of apparatus
in which the fabrics are alternately treated by the liquids while upon the cylinders
in the tank or chamber, and by vapours or gases, or a combination of vapours or
gases and liquids while passing over a series of overhead cylinders, the vapours

page_text: or gases being sucked or impelled through the cylinders and their connected pipes
in the manner before described, the soaping or other liquid being caused to stream
by any convenient means upon the surface of the materials as it emerges from the
liquor in the tank or chamber, while octagonal or angular rollers by their rotation
upon the overhead cylinders beat or rub the fabric during treatment.
A pump or
a steam ejector may be used by which the liquid is drawn from the eduction pipes
and delivered back into the main tank or chamber, and this arrangement we
consider desirable when the requisite drop or fall for the liquids cannot be con-
veniently obtained.
When treating the materials with gases or vapours the main tank may be made
tight, and said gases or vapours may be forced therein under pressure, but we
prefer to substitute therefor a vacuum pump or fan, which shall suck or draw the
gases or vapours through the cylinders and axles, and deliver it back into the tank
or chamber. The vacuum pumps or fans now known can be applied for this
purpose. In all this process or system the fabrics may be run over the cylinders
with or without chains or clips attached to their selvedges, but these endless chains
or clips may be used either with or without the perforated cylinders, these chains
acting independently for each process, or carrying from one to another and forming
a series of processes or systems of treating fabrics or yarns.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Patterson and Duncan Stewart in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th August 1881.
38
JOHN PATTERSON, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Linen Bleacher, and
DUNCAN STEWART, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF TREATING TEXTILE FABRICS, YARNS, AND
FIBROUS MATERIALS WITH FLUIDS, GASES, OR VAPOURS, AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THRREFOR
"
In the process of bleaching, printing, dyeing, steaming, soaping, raising, and
otherwise treating it has heretofore been the practice to immerse the fabrics, yarns, 1
or other material in the fluids, vapours, or gases. Under these circumstances, as
there is an equal pressure acting simultaneously on both sides of the materials, the
liquids, vapours, or gases mutually oppose themselves to their active passage
through and through the materials treated, and in order to ensure the requisite
action on the tissues of the same the process not only has to be prolonged, but is 1
also irregular and hazardous in its results. The object of our Invention is to
remedy these defects, which we do by applying the fluids, vapours, or gases first on
one side of the materials treated, and then reversing the action by applying them
to the opposite side, and this continuous process we carry out by means of the
apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, 2
in which similar letters of reference refer to corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 represents a side sectional elevation.
Fig. 2 represents the left end elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 represents the right end elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 represents the modification of the apparatus, and also shows or indicates 2
the manner in which clip chains may be employed with advantage.
Figs. 5 to 8 represent details of clip chains which may be employed. Upon a
suitable foundation is erected the requisite tank, vessel, or chamber, in which
revolve hollow perforated supports, cylinders, or frames covered with porous
material A carried upon hollow perforated axles B, which pass through suitable 3
bushings in the end or ends of the tank, and terminate in or are connected with
an eduction pipe or pipes b, b, which according to one form of our Invention
discharge into tank or tanks D, the ends of the pipes being always covered by the
liquid therein contained. C, C, represent the induction pipes open at the points d, d,
in order that the liquid may always rise to the same height in pipe C as in tank D, 3
and perforated or open at the top in order that the liquid may pass back into the
main tank. E represents the main steam supply pipe provided with branch pipes e,
which are provided with suitable stop cocks and terminate in jets or nozzles e¹.
When steam is admitted through jet e¹ it forces the liquid above it in pipe C up
into the main tank, at the same time heating it and drawing in and up a further
supply through the openings d, d. The action of gravitation causes the liquid in
the main tank to pass through the hollow perforated cylinders and axles and pass
down the pipes b to the tank D, and thus a constant circulation and heating of the
liquid is obtained. One end of the main tank is preferably made or built up of
plates, so that a single plate and cylinder may be removed if desired, while at the
other end are placed the driving or gear wheels, as shown. When using heated
liquids, vapors, or gases, the entire tank is preferably covered in order to retain its
liquid contents in as heated a state as possible. The fabrics, yarns, or other
materials to be treated are fed in over roller f, then down and under roller g around
perforated cylinders A, A, A, where its sides are alternately subjected to the action
of the liquid bath, the material being eventually delivered between rollers g¹, g¹,
and over roller G, after which it may be plaited down or rolled on a batching
roller. Rollers g', g', may be "squeezers" by means of which the moisture carried

page_text: We
up by the material may be largely expressed. When the tank D is placed at a
sufficient distance below the level of the main tank the action of gravitation is
quite sufficient to draw the liquid through the materials ordinarily treated as well
as through the perforated cylinder (the pressure being 432 lbs. per square inch for
each hundred feet of fall), and as the liquid penetrates first from one side and then
from the other, the material becomes thoroughly impregnated therewith.
have found that when treating materials such as linens, the cylinder may be
advantageously made of copper and perforated with about 64 holes to the square
inch, or according to the texture of the fabrics treated. To prevent the liquid
passing through that portion of the cylinder not covered by the material being
treated we employ small valve rods h carrying ordinary rubber, leather, metal,
vulcanite, or other flap valves, the material chosen being such as will not injuriously
affect or be affected by the liquid contents of the tank, or instead of the rubber
valves a travelling or stationary apron may be employed, said apron being mounted
on suitable rollers which with the apron may be driven by their contact with the
hollow cylinders. When employing heated liquids, vapours, or gases, the temperature
in the main tank or chamber will gradually be lowered by radiation, and the heat
thus lost may be conveniently replaced by means of a steam pipe. or coil carried
into the said tank or chamber. When liquids are employed they become gradually
weaker or diluted in excess by combining with and condensing the steam supplied
through jet e', and this loss may conveniently be made up by the addition in the
tank D of the requisite substances. When treating prints (calicoes) it is sometimes
advisable that the liquid should only be applied from the printed side, in which
case the tendency will be to permanently fix the print in the fibres of the material.
To accomplish this desirable result the liquid in the main tank may be drawn off
until it only covers the bottom set of hollow cylinders, the upper set in this case
merely acting as rollers over which the material passes in order to constantly
present the same side or surface to the action of the liquid. When passing the
fabrics or materials through a soaping or other bath we have found it advantageous
under certain circumstances to employ the form of apparatus shown in Figure 4, in
which the fabrics are alternately treated by the liquids while upon the cylinders in
the tank or chamber, and by vapours or gases, or a combination of vapours or gases
and liquids, while passing over the overhead cylinders, the vapours or gases being
sucked or impelled through cylinders A¹ and pipe F¹ in the manner before described,
the soaping or other liquid being ejected through pipes h¹ upon the opposite
surface of the materials to that to which they were exposed when in the main tank
or chamber, while the rollers I by their rotation beat or rub the fabric during
treatment. A pump G¹ is shown (although a steam ejector may be used) by which
the liquid is drawn from pipe F, and delivered back into the main tank or chamber,
and this arrangement we consider desirable when the requisite drop or fall for the
liquids cannot be conveniently obtained, although the main tank may be made
liquid tight, and of sufficient size to carry within it the roll of material to be
treated and the roll upon which it is to be wound after such treatment, the liquid
in this case being supplied from an overhead cistern or tank, to which it is pumped
in the ordinary manner, or being pumped under pressure into the main tank direct,
but this plan we do not deem so convenient or practicable. When treating the
materials with gases or vapours the main tank may also be made tight, and said
gases or vapours may be forced therein under pressure, but we prefer to substitute
therefore a vacuum pump or fan which shall suck or draw the gases or vapours
through the cylinders and axles, and deliver it back into the tank or chamber.
The vacuum pumps or fans now known can readily be applied for this purpose.
When treating upon the cylinders thin or tender fabrics, especially if of great
width, they are liable at times to be doubled under or over in such a way as to be
unequally treated, and when this is likely to be the case we have found it advan-
tageous to use clip chains which travel at the same speed as the cylinders, and
which hold the selvedges of the fabric and keep it distended at an equal width, and
permit the entire surface to be evenly treated. The manner in which said clip

page_text: chains may be employed in conjunction with our apparatus is indicated in Figure 4
of the Drawings, in which J, J, J, represents the endless chain or belt with its
connected clips. One of the most advantageous forms of these known to us are
shown in the detail views, Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, Fig. 5 being a front elevation, Fig. 6
a plan, and Figs. 7 and 8 transverse sections of Fig. 5, the former showing the
clips as closed and gripping the selvedge of the fabric, and the latter showing the
clips as open to release it. The form of clip chain is fully illustrated and described
in the Specification of Duncan Stewart, numbered 192, and dated 15 January 1874,
but we do not confine ourselves to this particular form, as other equivalent clips
may be used. These clips chains may act independently for each process, or carry
from one to another, and thus form a continuous series of processes or systems of
treating fabrics or yarns.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, what we claim and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The improved process of treating textile fabrics, yarns, and fibrous
materials with fluids, vapours, or gases herein-before described, which consists in
passing said materials over hollow perforated cylinders, frames, or supports through
which the fluids, vapours, or gases are sucked or are impelled, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The improvement in apparatus for treating textile fabrics, yarns, and
fibrous materials with fluids, vapours, or gases hereinbefore set forth, said apparatus
consisting essentially of the combination with the main tank or chamber of hollow
perforated cylinders, frames, or supports, around which the material to be treated
is passed, and through which the fluids, vapours, or gases are sucked or impelled,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
Third. The improvement in apparatus for treating textile fabrics, yarns, and
fibrous materials with fluids, vapours, or gases, or a combination of the same, said
apparatus consisting of the combination of one or more hollow perforated cylinders
upon which the materials are treated by liquids with one or more hollow perforated
cylinders upon which the materials are treated by vapours or gases, or a combination
of vapours or gases and liquids, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The improvement in apparatus for treating textile fabrics, yarns, and
fibrous materials, consisting of the combination with the tank or chamber, the
hollow cylinder, and the eduction pipe, of a pump ejector or other equivalent, acting
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The improvement in apparatus for treating textile fabrics, yarns, and
fibrous materials with fluids, vapours, or gases, which consists of the combination
with the hollow cylinders of clip chains or their equivalents, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Duncan Stewart, on my own behalf and on
behalf of the said John Patterson, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
on this the Thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord 1881.
Witness,
JAMES BARR, Witness,
Engineer, London Road Iron Works,
Glasgow.
ALEXR. MUIRHEAD, Witness,
Clerk at London Road Iron Works,
Glasgow.
DUNCAN STEWART. (L.S.)