Improvements in the Method of and Means for Removing Grease and Fatty Matters from Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Removing Grease
and Fatty Matters from Textile Fabrics.
I, THOMAS JAMES HUTCHINSON, F.I.C., of Arcade Chambers, Manchester in
the County of Lancaster, Consulting and Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention relates to the method of and means for removing grease and fatty
matters from textile fabrics.
In proceeding according to these improvements, I pass the fabric under and over
a series of rollers arranged in two horizontal planes, through gasolene benzolene
benzol or other suitable volatile solvent contained within a closed chamber or
chambers.
After passing through the solvent, the fabric is run between a pair of squeezing
rolls whence it is taken to a series of drying cylinders also contained within a closed
chamber connected with a condensing apparatus.
The fabric having been dried, may be rolled calendered or otherwise prepared
for use.
The apparatus which I prefer to employ consists of one or more chambers
containing the rollers over and under which the fabric is passed through the solvent
employed. If there are more than one of these chambers, I prefer to supply the
solvent to that chamber from which the fabric issues, from which chamber the
solvent flows through suitable pipes or openings to the next chamber and finally
flows out of that chamber into which the fabric first enters. A pair of squeezing
rollers is arranged at the cloth exit end of each chamber to press out of the
fabric as much as is practicable of the solvent. Beyond the chamber or chambers
containing the solvent there is another chamber in which a series of drying
cylinders is arranged and over which the fabric is caused to pass. Outside the
drying chamber there is a winding roller upon which the fabric is finally wound.
The solvent is continuously purified from the grease and fatty matters and
circulated by suitable distilling and condensing apparatus which preferably consists
of a steam heated still or retort, a collector, condensers, a receiving tank, and
connecting tubes.
The solvent from the chamber or chambers in which the fabric is treated, flows
into the still or retort where it is evaporated, leaving the grease or fatty matters
behind. The solvent vapour ascends from the still through a pipe which is jacketed
or surrounded by or which contains the steam supply pipe so as to prevent
condensation of the vapour prematurely, and passes to a condenser from which
it flows to a tank. This tank is provided with a free opening to prevent pressure
accumulating therein and this outlet is connected with an inverted condenser to
prevent the escape of any
of the vapour of the solvent.
The drying chamber is connected by a hood and conducting pipes to a condenser
in which the vapour of the solvent driven from the fabric in drying, is condensed,
and from which the condensed solvent flows to the tank.
From the tank, the solvent condensed from the vapours from the still and from
the drying chamber flows through a suitable pipe to the chamber or chambers in
which the fabric is passed through the solvent, entering at about the point at which
the fabric issues from the chamber to the drying chamber.
Dated this 1st day of July A.D. 1890.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Removing Grease
and Fatty Matters from Textile Fabrics.
I, THOMAS JAMES HUTCHINSON F.I.C. of Arcade Chambers Manchester in
the County of Lancaster, Consulting and Analytical Chemist, 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 the method of and means for removing grease and fatty
matters from textile fabrics.
In proceeding according to these improvements I pass the fabric under and over a
series of rollers preferably arranged in two horizontal planes, through gasolene,
benzolene, benzol, or other suitable volatile solvent contained within a closed
chamber or chambers.
After passing through the solvent, the fabric is run between a pair of squeezing
rollers whence it is taken to a series of drying cylinders also contained within a
closed chamber, this chamber being connected with a condensing apparatus, so that
the vapours of the solvent driven off by the drying cylinders may be condensed
collected and used again.
The solvent with which the fabric has been treated is run into a still or retort,
and the distilled vapours therefrom are condensed and returned to the closed
chamber or tank in which the fabric is treated.
By this means the solvent is used repeatedly and risk of fire is eliminated or
greatly reduced.
The fabric having been passed over the drying cylinders and having thus been
dried, may be rolled, calendered, or be otherwise finished or prepared for subsequent
sale and use.
I will more particularly describe my said invention with reference to the accom-
panying drawing, which represents diagrammatically a longitudinal vertical section
of the apparatus constructed and utilised according to these improvements.
A is a closed tank or chamber which is preferably divided by transverse vertical
partitions B into two or more compartments or cisterns which must be fluid tight.
Two sets of guiding rollers CC are mounted within the tank one set being
preferably near the bottom and the other set near the top or at about the level of
the fluid as shewn. At that end of the tank from which the fabric will issue there
is a pair of squeezing rollers D, and, when the tank is divided into two or more
compartments, there is one of these pairs of squeezing rollers above each of the
vertical partitions B. The solvent employed, is fed continuously (whilst the
apparatus is in operation) at that end of the tank from which the fabric issues, and
it escapes therefrom at the opposite end through a suitable pipe which will be
hereinafter referred to. When the tank is subdivided, or when more than one tank
is used, the solvent is arranged to flow from the first compartment or tank to the
second, from the second to the third, and so on, so that the fabric first passes
through the more saturated part of the solvent and finally leaves where the solvent
is cleanest or freest from impurities derived from the cloth. It is preferred to
effect the passage of the solvent from compartment to compartment by means of
tubes E which communicate through the vertical partitions B and convey the solvent
from the upper part of the first compartment to the lower part of the following
compartment.
The fabric which is indicated by dotted lines F, preferably enters the tank over
a roller G, is passed over and under the guiding rollers CC in the first compartment,
between the squeezing rollers D, then under and over the guiding rollers in the
second compartment, through the second squeezing rollers, under and over the
guiding rollers, in the last compartment, and through the last set of squeezing
rollers whence it passes out of the closed tank into the closed chamber H, over the
roller I.

page_text: It will be understood that successive lengths of cloth are connected together by
sewing or otherwise and that to the last length, a "tail cloth" is connected as in
ordinary cloth finishing processes. This tail cloth is left in the apparatus when at
rest, and on re-starting, the fabric or a leading cloth, is connected to the ends of the
tail cloth.
The closed chamber H is vapour tight, is preferably lagged to retain the heat,
and is surmounted with the hood and outlet J. Inside this chamber there is
arranged a series of drying cylinders K. arranged to be heated by steam or other-
wise as is customary with other similar drying cylinders, and to be rotated by any
suitable means. The cloth issuing from the tank over the roller I is led under the
roller I and thence around the drying cylinders from which it passes over the
rollers L L' out of the chamber.
The hood J communicates through its outlet with the chamber M in which coils
or lengths of pipe N are fixed in such a manner that water may be circulated
through the pipes without escaping into the chamber. Cold water is arranged to
be led continuously through these pipes, entering by the inlet O and escaping by
the outlet P. The vapours coming from the chamber H enter the closed chamber
or condenser M where they are condensed, and thence they flow through the outlet
pipe Q to a closed receiver R, in the lower part of which is an opening communi-
cating through the pipe S with the tank A. It will thus be seen that the solvent
which remains in the fabric after leaving the tank is vaporised in the drying
chamber and that the vapours are at once condensed in M and returned continuously
through the receiver R to the tank to be used over again.
An inverted condenser T may be arranged above the level of the receiver R
so that any vapour remaining uncondensed by the condenser M (and also by the
condenser Z), will be condensed therein and flow back into the receiver through the
pipe U.
The flow of the solvent from the tank A escapes through the pipe V communi-
cating with the retort W which is heated preferably by means of the steam pipes X.
The vapours from the solvent escape from the retort through the vertical pipe Y
by which they are led to the condenser Z whence the condensed solvent flows
through a continuation of the pipe to the receiver R and thence continuously
through the pipe S to the tank A. It will thus be seen that the condensed vapours
from the solvent taken from the tank by the fabric, and from the retort into which the
solvent flows after having been used, enter the common receiver R and flow thence
continuously to the tank for further use, and that the same solvent is used over and
over again.
It is preferred that the steam for heating the retort and effecting the distillation
of the solvent shall enter the heating pipes X through the steam pipe X' arranged
in the centre of the retort outflow pipe Y, as by this means the solvent vapour
is prevented from condensing before reaching the condenser Z, and therefore, from
flowing back into the retort. The reverse arrangement may however be used, that
is to say the steam pipe may surround the retort outlet pipe.
At the bottom of the retort there is an opening W₁ in which a valve or cock is
fitted, and through which the grease and other matters may be withdrawn.
Steam may be supplied to the retort from the main pipe a through a branch
governed by the valve b.
The flow of cold water for the inverted condenser T and for the condenser Z may
enter the inverted condenser through the inlet pipe c; out through the piped by
which it flows into the condenser Z whence it escapes through the outlet e.
The fabric is supplied to the apparatus from the roller and after being treated,
is wound on the roller g at the opposite end.
Instead of the two separate condensers M and Z a single condenser communicating
with the retort and with the hood J respectively, may be used, but I prefer the
arrangement herein before described.
It will be understood that the drawing appended hereto is diagrammatic rather
than a correct representation of the construction and arrangement of the apparatus

page_text: I prefer to employ, and it will be further understood that the details and their
relative positions and proportions may be considerably varied without departing
from my invention.
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 continuous process for removing grease and fatty matters from textile
fabrics, which consists in passing the fabric through a suitable volatile solvent
contained in a closed vessel whence the used solvent runs to a still or retort, its
distillate being condensed and returned to the closed vessel; the solvent remaining
in the cloth after treatment being expelled by heat, condensed, and also returned to
the closed vessel; substantially as herein before described with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
2. An apparatus for removing grease and fatty matters from textile fabrics,
constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 2nd day of April A.D. 1891
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.