Improvements in Apparatus for washing, Dyeing, Drying, or similarly Treating Wool, Cotton, and other Textile or Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application; 22nd June, 1886
Complete Left, 17th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Feb., 1887.
Improvements in Apparatus for washing, Dyeing, Drying, or similarly
Treating Wool, Cotton, and other Textile or Fibrous Materials.
I, THÉODORE HAUSCHEL of Reims in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Under this invention the washing, dyeing, drying or similar treatment of wool,.
cotton or other textile fibrous materials is effected by the use of an organised arrange-
ment of apparatus comprising a series of tanks or vats for holding colouring liquors
of the same or different shades or for carrying dyewoods or dyestuffs or other matter
with which water or other liquid circulating through them may be charged and dyeing
chambers provided with perforated pipes or tubes around which the fibrous material
to be treated is wound or placed, a pumping apparatus and pipe connections provided
with valves being interposed between the liqour tanks and the dyeing chambers as also
a reservoir and suitable conduits for leading the contents of any one or more of the
liquor tanks to the pumping apparatus the whole being so disposed that the dyeing or
other operations may be carried on continuously without loss of colouring liquor and
provision being made by the employment of the liquor tanks dyeing chambers and
pipe conections in duplicate or in several sets for the preparation of the materials in
one or more of the chambers while the dyeing, washing, or other operation proceeds
in the other or others.
Around a well or tank, over which a pump is erected, are fitted a series of liqour
tanks or vats having outlets provided with valves through which the contents of each
tank may be separately discharged into the well, these tanks or vats being designed
to hold the different liqours employed and being at a higher level than the well or
reservoir before referred to.
A second pair or series of tanks (preferably of larger size) directly connected to the
suction branches of the pumping apparatus is also employed and connected to receive
the discharge from a corresponding number of chambers serving to hold the fibrous
material during the operation of washing, dyeing, or other treatment to which it is
subjected this set of tanks being used as reservoirs to receive the liquor circulated by
means of the pump through them and the dyeing chambers to which the discharge
branches of the pump are connected while said tanks also serve upon occasion as
reservoirs wherein the exhausted colouring properties of the liqour may be recuperated
by taking up colour matter from dyewoods or dye stuffs or other substances suitable
for the treatment of the fibrous materials and contained in .baskets or open frames
suspended in the tanks.
The connection between the discharge pipes from the pump and each chamber or
vat containing the fibrous material is made by a series of branches passing up through

page_text: the bottom of the vat, each branch terminating in a perforated pipe which is connected
by a bayonet joint to the branch and is carried up to the top of the chamber. Each
pipe is provided with an adjustable internal plunger which, by closing off the part of
the pipe above it, serves to determine the level of discharge of the liquor through the
perforations. The plunger is preferably in the form of a hollow cone having attached
to it a ring or disc of felt or similar material and it is carried by a screwed rod or
spindle extending upwards through the end of the pipe and passing through a bracket
provided with a screw nut by means of which the position of the plunger in the pipe
is regulated.
The dyeing chambers or vats have each separate pipe connections provided
with valves by which the discharge of the dye liquor or other liquor may be
led into any one of the first mentioned set of liquor tanks or into the circulating
tank or tanks, a branch being also connected to a pipe for supplying water when
desired to the dyeing chambers or to the liquor tanks, and another branch to a hot air
pipe for use when the drying of the fibrous material or carbonising of the vegetable
burrs or other matters in it is the operation carried on in the chambers above referred
to as the dyeing chambers.
In applying the apparatus in dyeing or similar operations the fibrous material in the
form of combings, Sliver, rovings or the like is wound upon the perforated tubes to
form a series of hobbins which are covered and separated by means of a felt or similar
substance the pipes being removed for the winding operation; or when dealing with
raw fibrous material the fibre is packed in layers around the perforated tubes and
suitably enclosed. The position of the plungers within the perforated pipes is regn-
lated by the screws so that the level of discharge of the dye liquor is under the surface
of the fibre and the pipes are then fitted upon the branches in the bottom of the vats.
A lid or cover having orifice formed in it to permit of its passing over the upper end
of the perforated pipes is then placed over the material and serves to press it together.
When the winding operation is completed and the chambers closed the dye liquor
which has meanwhile been prepared in the liquor vats is run out of the vat containing
liquor of the required colour or tint into the well from which it is pumped through
the perforated pipes and through the material contained in one of the dyeing chambers,
the dyeing operation being carried on in one chamber while in the other or others of
the series the winding or packing of the fibrous material is proceeded with. The
cocks or valves on the pipe connections are manipulated accordingly and the liquor
passing through the dyeing vat discharges into one of the circulation tanks.
After the well is emptied a cock on the suction pipe is closed and the circulation
tank connected to the suction pipe of the pump so that the liquor is circulated by the
pump through the dyeing vat and the tank below it the colouring power of the liquor
being recuperated if need be as the fibre takes up the colour by the immersion in the
tank of suitable material in the manner hereinbefore mentioned. By the time the
fibre in one vat has been sufficiently acted on, the fibre is packed in the next vat for
the dyeing operation and thereupon the cocks in the pipe connections are so
manipulated that the pump discharges the liquor from the first circulation tank to the
second dyeing vat whence the liquor after filtering through the fibre in it falls into the
second circulation tank and after a further manipulation of the cocks the liquor is by
the action of the pump circulated through the second dyeing vat and tank while the
first set is shut off.
After continuing the treatment of the fibre for the requisite length of time the
liquor is or may be discharged into the liquor tank from which it was taken by opening
the valve in the discharge pipe leading thereto from the dyeing vat and closing that
between said vat and the circulation tank below and fresh freatment with liquor from
another tank may be proceeded with.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing, Dyeing, Drying, or similarly
Treating Wool, Cotton, and other Textile or Fibrous Materials.
I, THEODORE HAUSCHEL of Reims in the Republic of France, Engineer, 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 :-
Under this invention the washing, dyeing, drying or similar treatment of wool,
cotton or other textile fibrous materials is effected by the use of an organised arrange-
ment of apparatus comprising a series of tanks or vats for holding colouring liquors of
the same or different shades or for carrying dye-woods or dye-stuffs or other matters
with which water or other liquid circulating through them may be charged and drying
chambers provided with perforated pipes or tubes around which the fibrous material fo
be treated is wound or placed, a pumping apparatus and pipe connections provided
with valves being interposed between the liquor tanks and the dyeing chambers as also
a reservoir and suitable conduits for leading the contents of any one or more of the
liquor tanks to the pumping apparatus the whole being so disposed that the dyeing or
other operations may be carried on continuously without loss of colouring liquor, and
provision being made by the employment of the liquor tanks and dyeing chambers and
pipe connections in duplicate or in several sets for the preparation of the materials in
one or more of the chambers while the dyeing, washing or other operation proceeds in
the other or others.
In the accompanying drawings figure 1 is a vertical section showing the general
arrangement of the apparatus constituting my invention, figures 2 and 3, show in
detail one of the perforated tubes which carry the fibrous material and devices for
holding down the material on the tubes. Figure 4 is a vertical section showing in
detail the means of securing raw fibrous material for treatment, and figure 5, is a plan
showing the cover of the apparatus represented in figure 4.
Around a well or reservoir F, over which a pump B, is erected are fitted a series of
liquor tanks or vais A, A, having outlets provided with valves through which the
contents of each tank may be separately discharged into a conduit N, N, and thence
to the well I, these tanks or vats A, A, being designed to hold the different liquors
employed and being at a higher level than the well or reservoir before referred to.
A second pair or series of fanks C, C (preferably of larger size) directly connected
to the suction branches of the pumping apparatus by pipes D, provided with
cocks E, E, is also employed and connected to receive the discharge from a corre-
sponding number of chambers G, G¹, serving to hold the fibrous material during the
operation of washing, dyeing or other treatment to which it is subjected, this set of
tanks C, C, being used as reservoirs to receive the liquor circulated by means of the
pump B, through them and the drying chambers G, G, to which the discharge
branches of the pump are connected, while said tanks C, C', also serve upon occasion
as reservoirs wherein the exhausted colouring properties of the liquor may be re-
cuperated by taking up colour matter from dye woods or dye stuffs or other substances

page_text: suitable for the treatment of the fibrous materials and contained in baskets or open
frames suspended in said tanks.
The connection between the discharge pipes from the pump and each chamber or
vat G or G¹ containing the fibrous material is made by a series of branches D', D¹,
passing up through the bottom of the vats each branch D, terminating in a pipe H,
having in it conical perforations and which is connected by a bayonet joint, (shown at
figure 2), to the branch and is carried up to the top of the chamber G or G. Each
pipe H, which is split longitudinally and bound by rings J, is provided with an
adjustable internal plunger, which by closing off the part of the pipe above it, serves
to determine the level of discharge of the liquor through the perforations and prevents
escape through the uncovered conical perforations when the pipes H, are not entirely
covered by the fibrous material. The plunger is preferably in the form of a hollow
metallic cone c having attached to it a ring or disc d of felt or similar material, the said
plunger being secured between a collar and a screw nut e on the end of a screwed,
rod or spindle I, extending upwards through the end of the pipe H, and passing
through an articulated frame or bracket a provided with a screw nut by means of
which the position of the plunger in the pipe is regulated, the frame a being jointed to
a cover plate S, by means of which the fibrous material surrounding the pipe H, is
pressed or held down. The dyeing chambers or vats G, G³, have each separate pipe
connections provided with valves by which the discharge of the dye liquor or other
liquor may be led into any one of the first mentioned set of liquor tanks A, A, or into
the circulating tank or tanks C, C¹, the pipes K, K¹, discharging into the tanks C, O,
and the pipes L, L, M, M, into the tanks A, A. An overflow pipe V, VI, is also
provided to each dyeing vat G, G¹, and is connected to the pipes K, K', discharging
into the tanks C, C. A branch is or may be connected to a pipe 0, for supplying
water when desired to the dyeing chambers or to the liquor tanks, and another branch
may be connected to a hot air pipe for use when the drying of the fibrous material or
carbonising of the vegetable burrs or other matters in it is the operation carried on in
the chambers G, Gabove referred to as the dyeing chambers. A steam pipe commec-
tion may also be provided for applying heat to the tanks A, A', 0,0
In applying the apparatus in dyeing or similar operations the fibrous material in the
form of combings, sliver, rovings or the like is wound upon the perforated tubes H; to
form a bobbin or a series of bobbins which is or are covered and separated by means of
felt or similar substance; the pipe being removed for the winding operation; or when
dealing with raw fibrous material the fibre is packed in layers around the perforated
tubes. The external surfaces of the bobbins are left free or open instead of being in
the usual way enclosed in a perforated metallic casing which is apt to damage the
fibrous material during the dyeing operation, but a suitable envelope of textile material
may be employed in dyeing or treating raw material which cannot be wound in the
form of bobbins. The position of the plungers within the perforated pipes H, is
regulated by the screws 1, so that the level of discharge of the dye liquor is under the
surface of the fibre and the pipes H, are then fitted upon the branches 1 in the
bottom of the vats G, G. The lid or cover S, having orifices formed in it to permit
of its passing over the upper ends of the perforated pipes H, is then placed over the
material and serves to press it together. When the winding operation is completed
and the chambers G. G₁, closed the dye liquor which has meanwhile been prepared in
the liquor vats A, A¹, is run out of the vat containing the liquor of the required colour
or tint, through the conduit N or N₁, into the well F, from which it is pumped through
the perforated pipes H, and through the material contained in one of the drying
chambers G or G, the dyeing operation being carried on in one chamber, while in
connection with the other or others of the series the winding or packing of the fibrous
material is proceeded with. The circulation of the dye liquor may be effected from
the tubes H, towards the exterior of the bobbins or in the opposite direction or
alternately in both directions the cocks or valves on the pipe connection being manipu-
lated accordingly. By this method of directing the liquor through the bobbins
alternately from the interior and exterior, uniformity of colour throughout the
thickness of the bobbin is attained. In colouring the fibrous material by passing the

page_text: liquor through it from the interior towards the exterior one series of the bobbins
around the tubes H, is subjected to the colouring operation while the other series is
being wound.
When the tubes H, within the chamber G, on the right hand side of
the pump in figure 1, are covered and the material thercon is undergoing the colouring
process, and the other series of tubes are being prepared the cocks E, E², E, and the
valve K, of the pipe K', are opened and the cocks E, E³, and valve of the conduit L,
as also the cocks W, W, X' and K, are closed. The pump B, then draws the liquor
from the lower end of the well F, and forces it through the tubes H, and through the.
fibrous material thereon whence it passes into the chamber G, filling it to the level of
the top of the pipe V, through which it overflows into the tank C. The cock E, is
then closed and the outlet valve in the bottom of the tank C, being closed the liquor is
drawn by the suction of the pump B, through the cock E, and pipe D, and the
circulation is continued until the requisite degree of colouring has been imparted to
the fibrous material.
During this operation the pipes H, in the chamber G, have been covered with bobbins
and replaced in the chamber G. The cock E, is then closed, and E and E¹ are
opened and the cock K" in the tube K' is closed, then the liquor contained in the
tank C, is directed through the bobbins in the chamber G. When the tank C¹, is
emptied, the cock E is closed, and the circulation of the liquor is effected through the
pipes D D to the bobbins in the chamber G, and through the tank C, on the left in
the manner described as effected through the apparatus on the right side of the pump.
In order to empty the chambers G and G, the cocks K', K, are opened.
When the colouring matter in the liquor has been largely absorbed by the continued
cirenlation through the fibrous material fresh liquor may be prepared in the tanks C, C³,
which serve for the direct preparation of the colour when such is obtained from dye-
wood. In that case vessels filled with dye wood and suitably perforated or formed to
permit of the passage through them of the liquor are suspended in the tanks C, C¹, in
such wise that the liquor circulating through the tanks pass through the vessels and
take up the colouring matter, in proportion as the fibrous material absorbs it.
When a change of colour or tint is to be made the dye liquor in use is collected in
one of the tanks A, by closing the cock of the tube K, and opening that in the
conduits Land M, corresponding to the tank A, into which the liquor is to be
discharged. The fresh dye liquor is then directed from the tanks A or A', containing
it to the well F, and the dyeing operation is carried on in the manner above described.
When raw materials which cannot be wound in the form of bobbins are to be treated
instead of putting the tubes H, in connection with each tube D, as indicated in figure 1,
the apparatus shown in figures 4 and 5 is employed. This apparatus consists of a
round box Q, on which is placed a platform or table P, and a movable cover S, through
which any convenient number of tubes H, provided with plungers as before described are
passed. The raw material is packed around the tubes H, in layers within a metallic
cylinder which is separable and is removed after the formation of a cylindrical pack of
the material over the base or table P. The cover plate S, is then fitted in place and
secured by catches and the apparatus is fitted within the chamber G or G¹, and con-
nected to the circulating pipe D¹. The dyeing operation is then conducted in the
manner herein before set forth.
When the circulation of the dyeing liquor is to be effected from the exterior to the
interior of the bobbins or packs of fibrous material in the chamber G₁ the following is
the mode of operation
The cock E, or E2, while the colour is run into the well F or tank C, is open, the
cock X, is opened, and the cocks E', U₁, and Ware closed at the commencement of
the operation. When the pump has discharged sufficient liquor by the tube X, to
nearly fill the chamber G, the cock E or E2, which was in the first instance open is
closed, then the cocks Ú¹ and Ware opened and the liquor passes through the
chamber G, the pipe DI and cock U₁ and tube W₁, is drawn by the pump through the
vertical pipe D, and again discharged by the pipe X, into the chamber G. The like
cycle of operations takes place in treating the material in the chamber G, the pipe X,
being turned to direct the dye liquor therein.

page_text: 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. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
apparatus, for washing, dyeing, drying or similarly treating wool, cotton and other
textile or fibrous material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
annexed drawings.
2. In apparatus of the kind set forth the chambers G, G¹, connected by pipes D'
to the pump B and provided with the perforated tubes H, connected to said pipes
substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In apparatus of the kind set forth the combination of the perforated tubes H, and
regulating plungers I, constructed and operated, substantially as described with
reference to the annexed drawings.
4. The arrangement and combination of apparatus herein described with reference to
figures and 5, of the annexed drawings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The arrangement in combination with the pump B, and dyeing chambers G, G',
of pipe connections, and cocks or valves so disposed that by suitable manipulation of
the cocks the circulation of dye liquor may be carried through either of the dyeing
vats and from the interior to the exterior of the fibrous materials therein or vice versa
substantially as described with reference to the drawings annexed.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street; Glasgow,
Agent.