IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STEAMING AND SETTING TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Eli Sudlow, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR STEAMING AND SETTING TEXTILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 24th April 1877, and dated the 18th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Eli Sudlow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th November 1876.
WILLIAM ELI SUDLOW, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STEAMING AND SETTING TEXTILE
FABRICS:"
My Invention relates to steaming and setting textile fabrics in a more efficient
manner than heretofore, whereby a great saving is effected and better work
produced. For this purpose I fit on a suitable framework a bed plate, by preference
circular, having in the centre a steam pipe made to project a sufficient length from
the bed plate; this steam pipe receives steam from the boiler. The circular bed
plate is formed with a recess in which is fitted an india-rubber ring, and sufficient
space is left between the india-rubber ring and the outside rim of the circular plate
to receive the bottom of a circular cylindrical cover herein-after described. The bed
plate is formed with lugs, in which are fitted guide rods made of a sufficient
length to allow of the lifting of the cylindrical cover when placing or removing the
fabrics. The tops of these guide rods are fitted in bosses formed on an entablature;
lugs are cast on the bosses, in which are fitted grooved pullies, and over which pass
chains which are fixed to the cylindrical cover. Balance weights are fitted to the
chains, enabling the lifting and lowering of the cylindrical cover with ease. On
the cylindrical cover are formed or fitted lugs through which pass the guide rods
guiding the cover in its up-and-down course. On the top of the cylindrical cover is
formed or fixed a pipe forining a guide socket in which works a rod or metal tube
which is fitted in a cross stay. The rod or metal tube has a lifting and lowering
motion, and-is for the purpose of dropping in a perforated cylinder, over which the
fabrics are wound to keep the fabrics in position during the operation of steaming
and setting.
The fabrics after having been beamed or wound on the perforated cylinder are
taken to the apparatus, the lower end of the perforated cylinder is placed over the
гр.... 27

page_text: steam pipe projecting from the cylinder bed plate, and a joint is made by means of
a packing ring; the cylindrical cover is then lowered, and the iron rod or metal
tube enters the top end of the perforated cylinder. The base of the cylinder enters
the space between the india-rubber ring and outside rim of the bed plate, forming
a tight joint; steam is then admitted in the steam pipe and forced through the
fabrics. A vacuum is kept round the fabrics and the steam pressure is applied in
the centre, which is effected by means of a surface condenser and exhaust and
water pump.
2
In the circular bed 'plate is fitted a pipe leading to the surface condenser. The
condenser is for the purpose of condensing the steam and enabling the pump to
pump water instead of steam. To the surface condenser is fitted a pipe leading to
the air and water pumps. The pump exhausts the air from under the cylindrical
cover, producing a vacuum, which forces the steam through the fabrics and pumps
out the condensed steam. By these means I steam and set textile fabrics in a more
efficient manner than heretofore, producing better work with a great saving of time
and labour.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Eli Sudlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
May 1877.
WILLIAM ELI SUDLOW, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STEAMING AND SETTING TEXTILE
FABRICS."
The said Invention relates to steaming and setting textile fabrics in a more
efficient manner than heretofore, whereby a great saving is effected and better work
produced. For this purpose I fit on a suitable framework a bed plate, by preference
circular, having a steam pipe fitted in the centre and made to project a sufficient
length from the bed plate; this steam pipe receives steam from the boiler. The
circular bed plate is formed with a recess in which is fitted an india-rubber ring, on
which presses the bottom end of the cylindrical cover herein-after described. The
bed plate is formed with lugs, in which are fitted guide rods made of a sufficient
length to allow of the lifting of the cylindrical cover when placing or removing the
fabrics. The tops of these guide rods are fitted in bosses formed on an entablature;
brackets are fitted on the entablature, in which are fitted grooved pullies, over
which pass chains which are fixed to the cylindrical cover. Balance weights are
fitted to the chains, allowing of the lifting and lowering of the cylindrical cover
with ease.
On the cylindrical cover are formed or fitted lugs through which pass
the guide rods guiding the cover in its up-and-down course. On the top of the
cylindrical cover is formed or fixed a pipe forming a guide socket in which works a
rod or metal tube which is fitted in a stay. The rod or metal tube has a lifting
and lowering motion, and is for the purpose of dropping in a perforated cylinder,
over which the fabrics are wound to keep them in position during the operation of
steaming and setting.
The fabrics after having been beamed or wound on the perforated cylinder are
taken to the apparatus, the lower end of the perforated cylinder is placed over the
steam pipe projecting from the circular bed plate, and a joint is made by means of
a packing ring; the cylindrical cover is then lowered, and the iron rod or metal
tube enters the top end of the perforated cylinder. The bottom end of the cylinder
presses on the india-rubber ring, forming a tight joint; steam is then admitted in
the steam pipe and forced through the fabrics. A vacuum is kept round the fabrics
and the steam pressure is applied in the centre, and is effected by means of a surface
condenser and exhaust and water pump.
In the circular bed'plate is fitted a pipe leading to the surface condenser. The
condenser is for the purpose of condensing the steam and allowing the pump to

page_text: pump water instead of steam. To the surface condenser is fitted a pipe leading to
the air and water pump. The pump exhausts the air from under the cylindrical
cover, producing a vacuum, which forces the steam through the fabrics and pumps
out the condensed steam. By these means I steam and set textile fabrics in a more
efficient manner than heretofore, producing better work with a great saving of time
and labour.
But in order that my improvements may be better understood I will proceed to
more particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in
which,―
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents part in elevation and part in sectional elevation an
upright steaming and setting apparatus; Figure 2, Sheet 2, plan of the same.
Figure 3, Sheet 1, represents a side elevation of a horizontal steaming and setting
apparatus, and Figure 4, Sheet 1, section through the line A, B.
Figure 5, Sheet 2, represents a longitudinal section of a surface condenser.
Similar letters of reference are used to represent similar parts.
A, bed plate, having fitted in the centre a steam pipe B which receives steam
from the boiler; in the bed plate is formed a recess Ĉ in which is fitted an india-
rubber ring D, on which presses the lower end of a perforated tube or cylinder E,
on which are beamed or wound the fabrics F. The bed plate is made with a recess G,
in which is fitted an india-rubber ring H, on which presses the bottom end of a
cylindrical cover I forming the joint. The bed plate A is made with two lugs J, in
which are fitted the bottom ends of guide rods K, which are made a sufficient length
to allow the lifting of the cover I when placing or removing the fabric; the tops of
the guide rods K. are fitted in bosses L formed on an entablature M which is fixed
on wall brackets N. On the under side of the entablature are fixed brackets O, in
which are fitted grooved pullies P, over which pass chains Q; the bottom ends of
the chains are fixed to the top of the cover I, and the other ends are attached to a
a weight R to lift and lower the cover I with ease. On the bottom end of the
cover I are fitted lugs S through which pass the guide rods K guiding the cover in
its up-and-down course. On the top of the cover I is fitted a pipe T forming a
guide socket, and which works through a boss U formed on the entablature. In the
pipe T works a rod V, the bottom end W of which is made larger in diameter and
fitted in a stay X. The rod V has a lifting and lowering motion, and is for the
purpose of dropping in the perforated tube or cylinder E, keeping the fabrics in
position during the operation of steaming and setting.
The fabrics after having been beamed or wound on the perforated tube or
cylinder E are taken to the apparatus, the lower end of the perforated tube is
placed over the steam pipe B and on the india-rubber ring D forming, the joint;
the cover I is then lowered and the end W of the rod V enters the top of the
perforated tube E, the bottom end of the cover I presses on the india-rubber ring H
forming the joint; steam is then admitted by opening the valve Y, and forced
through the fabrics by the steam pressure, and by means of a vacuum kept round
the fabrics, the steam pressure being applied in the centre, which pressure is effected
by the employment of a condenser, by preference a surface condenser Z, and by a
rotatory or other suitable pump A¹, which pumps out the water and air. In the
bed plate A is fitted a pipe B¹ connected to a valve C, to which is fitted a pipe D'
leading to the surface condenser Z; to the bottom of the condenser is fitted pipe E¹
fitted to a valve box F' which is connected to the rotatory pump A¹; the condenser
condenses the steam passed through the fabrics and the pump pumps out the
condensed water and exhausts the air from under the cover I, producing a vacuum,
forcing the steam through the fabrics. On the steam pipe B and exhaust pipe B¹
are fitted nozzles G and H. The nozzle G¹ is opened to admit air when steaming
and setting-colored fabrics to oxide, the-same also to admit water which mixes with
the steam coming through the steam pipe B, producing a spray which enters the
perforated tube or cylinder E, and which is forced through the fabrics. The
nozzle H is opened to admit air under the cover I when the cover is required to be
lifted. The surface condenser, Figure 5, Sheet 2, is constructe with a loose box I'

page_text: fitted inside the casing J. The ends of the pipes through which passes the water
are fitted at one end in a fixed plate K' and the other end in the moveable box 1',
which allows for expansion and contraction. Cold water is admitted and pumped
out of the condenser by the circulating pump L.
The rotatory pump A¹ and surface condenser Z are employed for the horizontal
apparatus for steaming and setting fabrics, Figure 3, Sheet 1; the exhaust pipe B¹
is connected to a valve C, which is connected by pipes to the under side of the
cover I. Steam is admitted from the boiler through the steam pipe and valve Y;
the joints of the cover I and perforated cylinder E are made tight in a similar
manner to that herein-before described. The fabrics F are beamed or wound on
the cylinder E and placed in the apparatus. The end of the cover I is made with a
stuffing box M¹, through which passes the rod N', which is made to draw in and
out by means of the handle O¹ working the screw P¹. The rod fixes the perforated
tube or cylinder E in position and keeps the fabrics from moving when operated on.
The apparatus is mounted on standards Q1, and the cover is made to draw in and
out (for placing or removing the fabrics) by means of rollers R¹ fitted in brackets S¹
fixed on the top of the cover I; the rollers travel over a plate T fitted on the tops
of the standards Q'. The operation of steaming and setting the fabrics is similar
to the operation, herein-before described, for the upright apparatus.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be or may be performed or carried into practice, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein shewn and
described, as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character
of the Invention, but what I claim is, the general arrangement, construction, and
employment of apparatus for steaming and setting textile fabrics, substantially as
berein-before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Eli Sudlow, have hereto set my
hand and scal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
WALTER JAMES TURNER, Č.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
WILLIAM ELI SUDLOW. (L.S.)