IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING, AGEING, AND STEAMING WOVEN FABRICS AND YARNS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Duncan Stewart, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR DRYING, AGEING, AND STEAMING WOVEN FABRICS AND YARNS."
Sealed the 10th September 1878, and dated the 23rd March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Duncan Stewart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd March 1878.
DUNCAN STEWART, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING, AGEING, AND STEAMING WOVEN
FABRICS AND YARNS."
This Invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction and
operation of apparatus used for drying, ageing, and steaming woven fabrics and
yarns.
In one modification of the improved apparatus a series of arms are attached by
one end of each to an endless chain or rope stretched upon and guided by sprocket
wheels or pulleys in such a way that one part of the course is horizontal or nearly
so. The arnis are hinged near their points of attachment to the chain or rope, so as
to hang down when not supported, but at the horizontal part of the course they are
held up in a horizontal position by a guide rail, upon which they rest, by means of
wheels or pulleys or levers on them.
The fabrics or yarns to be dried, aged, or steamed, are hung in loops upon the
parts of the arms which overhang beyond the guide rail; and a continuous or
intermittent motion being given to the endless chain or rope, the fabrics or yarus
are moved gradually through the chamber.
The overhanging parts of the arms are by preference made of a square or
prisinatic form, and are made to turn so as to vary the positions of the fabrics or
yarns on them, in addition to their having the progressive movement; such turning
motion being given by the friction of the wheels of the arms on the guide rail, or in
any other convenient way.
The fabrics or yarns are supplied to the arms at one end of the chamber, and on

page_text: each arm reaching the other end, it turns down and returns in a hanging position.
Woven fabrics may be entered continuously or intermittently, either between a pair
of nipping rollers of the ordinary cylindrical form, or as is preferred, between rollers
of a section having convex and concave curves, the convexities of one working into
the concavities of the other.
In a second modification of the apparatus, the fabrics or yarns are carried from
one end of the chamber to the other along one side of it, and then return along the
other side, the arms being kept horizontal by the guide rail which is continued for
that purpose through the whole course, the two longitudinal side portions being
connected by semicircular parts at the ends.
In a third modification, the carrying arms radiate from a central disc or wheel on
a vertical slinft, and the guide rail is circular. The chamber is also circular in plan,
and the fabric is entered vertically through an opening in the cover and between
rollers, and being carried round nearly the entire circle is withdrawn vertically
through an opening a little behind the entering opening.
In any one of the modifications, and particularly when used for drying woven
fabrics or yarns, a further improvement may be applied, which consists in giving
the fabrics or yarns a swinging movement, by causing the carrying arms to move
forwards and backwards alternately, the forward movement being always a little
the greater, so as to give the necessary progressive motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Duncan Stewart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
September 1878.
DUNCAN STEWART, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING, AGEING, AND STEAMING WOVEN 2
FABRICS AND YARNS."
My said Invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction
and operation of apparatus used for drying, ageing, and steaming woven fabrics and
yarns.
My Invention comprises three arrangements, in each of which the fabrics or 3
yarns to be dried, aged, or steamed, are hung in loops upon arms or rods which are
connected to and moved by an endless chain or a horizontal wheel, so as to carry
the fabrics or yarns through a chamber in which they are subjected to heated air
for being dried, or to steam for being aged or steamed.
In one modification, the arms or rods are jointed to an endless chain, and are 3
guided so as to be horizontal at the part of their course where they have to carry
forward the fabrics or yarns, whilst they hang downwards through the return part
of their course.
In a second modification, the fabrics or yarns are carried from one end of the
chamber to the other along one side of it, and then return along the other side, the 4

page_text: arms or rods being kept horizontal by a guide rail which is continued through the
whole course, the two longitudinal side portions being connected by semicircular
parts at the ends.
In a third modification, the arms or rods radiate from a central disc or wheel on
a vertical shaft, and the guide rail is circular. The chamber is also circular, and the
fabric is entered vertically through an opening in the cover and between rollers,
and being carried round in loops, nearly the entire circle is withdrawn vertically
through an opening a little behind the entering opening.
In any of the modifications, and particularly when used for drying woven fabrics
or yarns, a further improvement may be applied, which consists in giving the
fabrics or yarns a swinging movement, by causing the carrying arms to move
forwards and backwards alternately, the forward movement being always a little
the greater, so as to give the necessary progressive motion.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append four Sheets of explanatory Drawings
to be herein-after referred to, and representing examples of my improved apparatus.
In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet of the accompanying Drawings are respectively a
transverse vertical section, and a sectional side elevation of the first modification of
my improved apparatus as arranged for steaming woven fabrics.
It is an important advantage of my improved apparatus, that steam of several
pounds pressure per square inch above that of the atmosphere may be employed in
it; and with this view the chamber 1 is constructed of boiler plates, combined with
angle-iron connecting and strengthening pieces, and in this modification is in plan
of an oblong form with straight sides with, by preference, semicircular ends, whilst
the sides are vertical and the top and bottom flat.
It is convenient to erect the chamber at the basement of a building, and so that
its upper part projects a few feet above an upper floor 2. Along one side of the
upper part of the chamber there is stretched an endless chain 3, carried by sprocket
wheels 4, which are mounted on strong horizontal spindles or studs 5, fixed to the
sides of the chamber at each end.
One of the sprocket wheels 4 is formed in the same piece with or has attached to
it a bevil wheel, with which there gears a pinion 6 on a vertical shaft 7, and this
shaft 7 passes out through a stuffing box in the roof 8 of the chamber, and is
driven by worm gearing 9 from a first-motion shaft 10, so as to impart to the
endless chain 3 a slow progressive motion. The endless chain 3 has jointed to its
component links rods 11, which have pulleys 12 fitted loosely on their outer ends,
and those rods which are at the upper part of the course through which the chain
carries them are supported horizontally across the chamber, in consequence of their
pulleys 12 resting and running on a guide rail 13 fixed to the side of the chamber.
The end of the chamber, shown in section in Figure 2, is that whereat the fabric
is drawn off the rods 11 and out of the chamber, and there the rods are kept
horizontal whilst passing round the sprocket wheel + by a fixed guide plate 14, but
they fall successively into a vertical position as each commences its horizontal.
return towards the other end of the chamber. At the entering end of the chamber
an inclined guide rail causes the rods 11 to be gradually turned up again into the
horizontal position, in which they are supported by the outer guide rail 13 when
travelling forward.
The details for entering and withdrawing the fabric and other parts are the same
in all the modifications, and are herein-after described.
The second modification is shown on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 3 being a sectional plan; Figure 4, a transverse vertical section; and
Figure 5, a sectional side elevation. In this modification the endless chain 3 is
placed horizontally, being supported on guides formed on the sides of a central
longitudinal frame piece 15, which is carried by pillars 16. At each end the
endless chaiu 3 passes round on a ring or wheel 17 fitted to turn on a hollow

page_text: centre 18 fixed on a pillar 16, and each ring 17 is formed with internal teeth, and
is turned by means of a pinion 6 on a vertical shaft 7 passing up through a
stuffing box in the roof 8, and driven by external worn wheel gearing. The
rods 11 are fixed (without hinge joints) to the links of the endless chain 3, and
they are supported and guided horizontally by means of pulleys 12, which are
loose on their outer ends, and run on a guide rail 13 fixed to the sides of the
chamber 1. The fabric is entered and withdrawn at the same end of the chamber,
and is carried along one side, then round at the end, and finally back along the
other side.
The third modification is shown in sectional elevation in Figure 6 on Sheet 3 of
the accompanying Drawings, and in sectional plan in Figure 7 on Sheet 4. In
this case the fabric is carried through an annular cylindrical space formed between
the outer shell 1 of a cylindrical chamber, and an inner cylindrical shell 19, which
last is closed by a top plate 20 supported by pillars 21. In a footstep bearing on
the inner top plate 20 there is supported a short vertical shaft 22, which has fixed
on it a horizontal wheel 23 formed with a rim or flange 24, to which are bolted or
fixed in radiating positions the rods 11 for carrying the loops of fabric. The
wheel rim 24 is additionally supported by rollers 25 running on the inner top
plate 20, and the outer ends of the rods 11 are supported as in the other modi-
fications by pulleys 12 loose on them and running on a guide rail 13 fixed to the
cylindrical shell of the chamber 1. The vertical shaft 22 of the wheel 23 passes
out through a stuffing box in the roof 8, and is driven by worm wheel gearing 9
from a first-motion shaft 10.
In each of the modifications the roof 8 of the chamber is made with a casing 26,
into which stean is admitted by pipes fitted at any convenient parts to prevent
any drops of liquid due to condensation from falling on the fabrics.
The pipes or passages for the ingress of hot air when the apparatus is used for
drying purposes, and pipes for the introduction of steam when the apparatus is
used for ageing or steaming, are not shown in the Drawings, but may be placed in
whatever positions are considered to be best in each case.
Figure 8, on Sheet 4 of the accompanying Drawings, is an enlarged vertical
section of details connected with the entering of woven fabrics into the chamber.
In a casting 27 fixed upon the roof 8, and formed with hollow parts 28 for the
admission of steam to keep it at a proper temperature, there are mounted a pair of
rollers 29, down between which the fabric is passed, and which are driven by
suitable gearing from the first-motion shaft 10.
In order to prevent the escape of steam as much as possible, when steam of
higher pressure than that of the atmosphere is used, the rollers 29 are pressed
together either by means of weighted levers 30 acting on their bearing blocks, as
indicated in Figures 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, or by means of springs adjusted by screws 31, as
indicated in Figure 8. The ends of the rollers 29 are also made as close a fit as
possible to the inside faces of the ends of the casting 27, and metal strips 32 are
fitted beneath the rollers in grooves, in which springs are applied to press them up
against the rollers.
A similar arrangement of rollers 29 with provision for preventing the escape of
much steam is applied at the outlet for the woven fabric; but at the inlet there are
in addition parts for insuring the proper placing of loops of the fabric on the
rods 11. Beneath the inlet opening there is carried in brackets 32 a shaft 33,
having on it two or more legs 34, the ends of which bear on the fabric on a rod 11
when a loop is completed, and prevent the weight of that loop from drawing more
fabric over the rod. As the rods 11 move forward the legs 34 are turned, until
they escape over the top of the rod and fall back to bear upon the next one. The
shaft 33 has also fixed on it arms 35, which carry a rod 36 and move it forward
as the legs 34 move forward, and this rod 36 being so moved prevents the fabric
from falling at the back of any rod before it ought to do. The arms 35 arc made
with horns 37, which by turning up against the roof act as stops to the backward
movement of the legs 34.

page_text: Figures 9 to 15 are enlarged views of the rods 11 and endless chains 3. In
Figures 9 to 12 the rods 11 are shown of the kind to be kept horizontal and are
fixed to the chain links, and in Figures 13 to 15 a mode of hinge jointing the
rods 11 to the chain links is shown, as required, in the first modification of my
improved apparatus. The rods 11 are shown round, but they may be made of a
square or prismatic form and be arranged to turn by the action of their pulleys 12
on the guide rail 13, the pulleys being in that case fixed on them so as to vary the
positions of the fabrics or yarns on them.
When employing my improved apparatus for drying, ageing, or steaming yarns,
the yarns in the hank form are to be hung on the rods 11 by hand, suitable doors
to give access for this purpose being provided in the ends or sides of the chamber.
In the case of yarns the working of the apparatus may not be continuous, as it is
with woven fabrics, the introduction of heated air or steam having to be discon-
tinued whilst entering and removing the yarns.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The arrangements of rods for carrying woven fabrics or yarns through
apparatus for drying, ageing, or steaming then, in which the rods are attached at
one end of each to an endless chain, their outer ends being supported and guided by
a fixed rail, substantially as herein-before described.
2. The arrangement of rods for carrying woven fabrics or yarns through
apparatus for drying, ageing, or steaming them, in which the rods are fixed in radi-
ating positions to the rim of a horizontal wheel, their outer ends being supported
and guided by a fixed guide rail, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Duncan Stewart, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
DUNCAN STEWART. (L.S.)