Improved Apparatus and Plant for Scouring, Bleaching, Dyeing, Impregnating, Digesting, Drying, Carbonizing, and otherwise Treating Cotton, Wool, Silk, Jute, Rhea, China Grass, and other Fibrous Materials in a Raw, Manufactured, or Partly Manufactured State.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus and Plant for Scouring, Bleaching, Dyeing,
Impregnating, Digesting, Drying, Carbonizing, and otherwise
Treating Cotton, Wool, Silk, Jute, Rhea, China Grass, and
other Fibrous Materials in a Raw, Manufactured, or Partly
Manufactured State.
I, WALTER HEPWORTH-COLLINS of Bradford Buildings, Bolton, Lancashire
Analytical Chemist and Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
:-
My invention relates to improvements in machinery for scouring, bleaching,
dyeing, impregnating, digesting, drying, carbonizing and otherwise treating cotton,
wool, silk, jute, rhea, China grass, and other, fibrous materials in the raw, manu-
factured, or partly manufactured state, and is directed to the treatment as above
whether the same be in the raw condition or in cops, tops, sliver, coil, roving,
bobbin, hank, or woven state.
The essential feature of my invention is the forcing of the liquid or gaseous
matter employed in the above processes to and fro through the fibrous materials
(which are retained stationary) by means of a piston in direct contact with such
liquid or gaseous matter or where such contact is to be avoided, by compressed
air. Any of the well known mechanical means for compressing air may be applied
to my apparatus, and hydraulic, electrical, or other suitable motors be
employed in connection therewith.
may
(A.) 1. My apparatus cousists of a cylinder of any suitable metal carefully bored
to receive a piston.
2. A piston provided with rings so as to ensure a perfect sliding contact with
the sides of the cylinder.
3. A piston-rod passing through the bottom cover of the cylinder which is fitted
with the usual gland and stuffing-box to receive such piston-rod.
4. A metal ring, rim, or flange cast to, forged upon, or otherwise affixed to the
upper end of the cylinder into which it projects.
5. Any known apparatus (coil steam-jacket or otherwise) may be used for
heating the liquid contained in the cylinder.
(B.) 6. A chamber open at its lower extremity constructed of stout boiler-plate
or other suitable material and securely bolted (and a perfect watertight joint
formed) to the top of the projecting ring or flange mentioned in Paragraph 4, and
such chamber is of a cubical capacity greater than the cylinder mentioned in
Paragraph 1.
7. A movable lid fitted to the upper extremity of such chamber on which it
forms when closed a perfect watertight joint.
(C.) 8. A movable chamber (hereafter called the kier) of boiler plate or other
suitable material with plain watertight sides fitting loosely within the chamber
described in Paragraph 6, and resting upon the projecting ring described in
Paragraph 4. A perfect watertight junction must be formed by the kier (resting
by its own weight, or by pressure obtained from screw attachments operating on
the sides of the kier or chamber) and the ring either by suitable packing, by the
ring being grooved to receive the suitably formed ends of the kier, or by the
formation of perfectly true surfaces on the ring and the ends of the kier.

page_text: 9. The kier must be provided with a perforated bottom.
10. Inside the kier slides a perforated cover provided with long flanges to
maintain it in a perfectly horizontal position.
11. To the top of the kier is attached by any suitable means a movable bar
provided with adjustable screws by means of which pressure can be brought to
bear on the sliding lid mentioned in Paragraph 10.
(D.) 12. The usual and necessary valves, guages, and pipes are attached.
13. The cylinder and chamber are connected by an outside pipe which contains
an adjustable back-pressure valve.
14. The apparatus as above described is used in the manner following that is to
say the material to be treated is closely packed in the kier (which for the purpose
may be removed from the chamber). The sliding cover is slipped on to the top of
the material; the loose bar containing the screws is then attached to the kier or to
the sides of the chamber and the sliding cover is- pressed home. by means of the
adjustable screws.
15. The treating liquid is then admitted into the cylinder where it may be heated
or not as required. The motive power of the piston rod is put in operation and
the upward stroke of the piston will drive the liquid up, through the material
under treatment in the kier, into the chamber which it will nearly fill as may be
required.
The air is thus displaced from the chamber, the lid of which is then securely
fastened down. The piston is then put into regular operation, and the downward
stroke will create a vacuum with the result that the treating liquid will pass down
through the material into the cylinder again, where it may be raised to and
maintained at boiling point or at such temperature as may be required.
This operation can be continued regularly or irregularly as long as may be
found necessary.
16. The above apparatus has been described as constructed in a vertical position,
but it is equally suitable when horizontal or inverted, or the cylinder and chamber
placed side by side, or at a distance from each other and provided with pipe
connections; and if necessary the cylinder, chamber and projecting ring may be in
the shape of a single or more castings.
17. In certain operations it may be necessary or desirable to work the apparatus
without the lid, mentioned in Paragraph 7, being fastened down, and the apparatus
can be so worked without any modification.
18. Further in order to protect any portions of the apparatus exposed to the
action of corrosive or injurious liquids such portions may be lined with any of the
well known substances metallic or otherwise suitable for the purpose.
On
19. One or more kiers may be used at once, or instead it may be found advisable
to employ an open metallic or other suitable framework rigidly attached to the
upper portion of the cylinder, or fastened to the projecting ring referred to.
to this framework cotton-cloth, wool, silk and other piece goods may be placed.
In treating these and other materials they are closely packed (or "plaited down")
upon such open framework, and are held in position by a perforated cover similar
to that described in Paragraph 10, sliding closely inside the chamber; which cover
in its turu is held in position by an arrangement of adjustable screws passing
through a bar the end or ends of which may be provided with an adjustable screw
arrangement which will operate on the sides of the chamber and thus maintain the
bar in any required rigid position for the time being.
Dated this Fifth day of November 1895.

page_text: Improved Apparatus and Plant for Scouring, Bleaching, Dyeing,
Impregnating, Digesting, Drying, Carbonizing, and otherwise
Treating Cotton, Wool, Silk, Jute, Rhea, China Grass, and
other Fibrous Materials in a Raw, Manufactured, or Partly
Manufactured State.
I, WALTER HEPWORTH-COLLINS of Bradford Buidings, Bolton, Lancashire,
Analytical Chemist and Civil 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, that is to say :-
My invention relates to improvements in machinery for scouring bleaching
dyeing impregnating digesting drying carbonizing and otherwise treating
cotton, wool, silk, jute, rhea, China grass and other fibrous materials in
the raw, manufactured, or partly manufactured state and is directed to the
treatment as above whether such materials be in the raw condition or in cops, tops,
sliver, coil, roving, bobbin, hank or woven state.
The essential feature of my invention is the forcing of the liquid or gaseous
matter employed in the above processes through the fibrous materials (which are
retained stationary) by means of a piston in direct contact with such liquid or
gascous matter or where such contact is to be avoided, by compressed air. Any
of the well known mechanical means for compressing air may be applied to my
apparatus, and hydraulic electrical or other suitable motive power may be
employed in connection therewith.
My apparatus consists of the following parts the letters and figures having
reference to the drawings appended hereto.
In Fig. 1, which is a sectional elevation of my apparatus
A is a cylinder of cast iron or steel or any other suitable metal accurately
bored to receive the piston marked E.
E is the piston provided with rings so as to ensure a perfect sliding contact with
the sides of the cylinder A, and to which piston E is attached the piston rod
passing through the bottom cover of the cylinder which is fitted with the usual
glaud and stuffing box to receive such piston rod as shown in the figure..
O is a metal ring, rim or flange cast to, forged upon or otherwise affixed to the
upper end of the cylinder into or over which it projects.
:
Qand Q are steam coils for heating the liquid or gaseous matter contained in
the cylinder A but a steam jacket or apparatus for introducing steam direct
may be used for such heating. Or further, a steam coil may be carried on the
piston E, the supply pipe to which coil could be carried through a hollow piston
rod, or through a separate movable pipe attachment provided for the purpose and
passing through the bottom cover of the cylinder which would be provided with
the usual stuffing box to receive such movable pipe.
B is a chamber open at its lower extremity constructed of iron or steel
plate, gun metal, prepared wood or other suitable material and securely bolted
(and a perfect water tight joint formed) to the top of the projecting ring or
Hange O. The chamber B must be of a cubical capacity greater than the
cylinder A.
F is a movable lid fitted to the upper extremity of the chamber B, on which it
forms when closed a perfect water tight joint.
C is a movable chamber (hereafter called the kier) of boiler plate or other
suitable material with plain water tight sides and fitting freely within the
chamber B and resting upon the projecting ring O.
A perfect water tight junction must be formed by the kier (resting by its own

page_text: weight or by pressure obtained from screw attachments operating on the sides of
the kier or chamber) and the projecting ring, either by suitable packing, by the
projecting ring being grooved to receive the suitably formed ends of the kier
or by the formation of perfectly true surfaces on the projecting rim and the ends
of the kier.
P is the perforated bottom with which the kier must be provided.
D is the perforated cover with long flanges to maintain it in a horizontal
position within the kier.
R is an outlet valve in the bottom cover of the cylinder A for the purpose of
drawing off or discharging (or regulating the quantity of) the liquid or gaseous
matter contained therein.
S is an inlet with a valve which may be provided near to the top of the
chamber B for the purpose of introducing liquid or gaseous matter into such
chamber.
G is a removable adjustable bar provided with adjustable screws H and H¹ by
means of which pressure may be brought to bear on the sliding cover D.
The adjustable bar G is maintained in position above the cover D by the
adjustable screw I which operates on the side of the chamber B. But adjustable
screws may be provided at each end of G or any of the ordinary mechanical
means for holding G in position may be employed.
One or more such bars as G may be employed.
J and Jare adjustable screws attached to the sides of the chamber and
· operating through projections provided at or upon the upper rim of the kier for
the purpose of holding the kier in position and pressing it upon the flange O by
nuts playing upon such screws J and J¹.
L is a separate outside pipe which contains adjustable valves V aud W and by
means of which connection. may be made between the cylinder and chamber or
between the top and bottom of the cylinder. Into this pipe one or more glass
tubular gauges such as K may be affixed.
Tis a tube connecting the bottom of the chamber B with the pipe L for
removing any surplus liquid or gaseous matter.
U is a small outlet pipe provided with a stop cock.
Other than these referred to above the usual and necessary safety valves,
pressure gauges and pipe connections are attached.
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 3 and Figure 4 show in detail the screw attachment at the end of the
adjustable bar. (Figure 1; G) operating on the sides of the chamber
(Figure 1B) and also the screw attachment for pressing the perforated cover
upon the material to be treated.
In Figures 3 and 4.
A is the adjustable bar; B is a screw operating on the perforated cover
Figure 1; D;
C is a screw operating on a sliding projection D which is shaped to meet the
sides of the chamber and is maintained in position by E and E¹;
Figs. 5 and 6 show in detail the perforated cover and the arrangement for further
pressing the kier down upon the flange (Fig. 1; 0).
In Figures 5 and 6
F is the chamber (Fig. 1; D);
D is a screw permanently fixed to the side of the chamber F by means of C;
E is the projection from the rim of the kier provided with a hole to receive the
screw D;
F is the chamber (Fig. 1; B);
Gis the kier (Fig. 1; C).
Figs. 7 and 8 show in detail the bottom of the kier and the rim or flange
(Fig. 1; 0).
T
13
=
7

page_text: E is a bolt for permanently bolting the cylinder D and the chamber F
together;
H is a notch provided in the projecting rim of the perforated bottom A to
permit the kier passing the rigid projection C in Figures 5 and 6.
Figures 9 and 10 show the apparatus arranged for treating cops or similar
compact forms of fibrous materials.
In Figures 9 and 10:
A is the chamber (Fig. 1; B).
B is a stage perforated to receive a number of vertical tubes F, the end of each
of which passes through and is attached to B by means of a wing nut H or other
suitable quick coupling.
I is a tap affixed to the upper extremity of each vertical tube :-
C is a perforated injection tube or skewer for carrying the cop attached to the
tubes F.
D and D are screw bars provided with fixed handles or wheels at their upper
extremities and screws at their lower extremities which pass through holes in B
and operate in the flange J (Fig. 1; 0) thereby binding B to J with a water
tight joint;
E is the lid (Fig. 1; F). C is the cylinder (Fig. 1; A).
As a modification
the bars D and D₁ may be permanently attached to the plate B which will be
pressed upon the projecting flange J so as to form a water tight joint by means of
pressure upon the bars D and D' from an adjustable bar similar to that described
at Fig. 1; G.
Or the plate B may be attached to the projecting flange J and a water tight
joint formed by means of a bolt passing through both. Or further such a
perforated plate as B may form the bottom of a removable kier.
Figure 11 shows in detail the attachment of one of the vertical tubes F to B.
The apparatus as above described in Figure 1 is the typical form of my
invention and is used in the manner following that is to say:
1. The material to be treated is closely packed in the kier (Fig. 1; C) which
for the purpose may be removed from the chamber Fig. 1; B).
2. The sliding cover (Fig. 1; D) is placed on to the top of the material;
The loose adjustable bar (Fig. 1; G) carrying the adjustable screws (Fig. 1 H
and H) is then fixed in position by means of the screw (Fig. 1; 1) to the sides of
the chamber and the sliding cover is pressed down by means of the adjustable
screws-
4. The kier is held in position and pressed tightly upon or against the rim or
flange (Fig. 1; 0)) by means of the screws (Fig. 1; J and J¹). As before
mentioned the kier and the flange must form a water tight joint.
5. The treating liquid is then admitted into the cylinder (Fig. 1; A) above
the piston (Fig. 1; E) where it may be heated or not as required by means of
the heating coil (Fig. 1; Q) or the cylinder being steam jacketed.
6. The motive power of the piston rod is then put in operation and the upward
stroke of the piston will drive the liquid up through the perforated bottom
Fig. 1; P of the kier and through the material under treatment in the kier and
into the chamber :-
8. The lid (Fig. 1; F) is then placed upon the chamber. The air in the
chamber, kier and material under treatment having been displaced by the liquid
forced up on the upward stroke of the piston or the air valve with which the lid
will be ordinarily provided (which valve is not shewn in the drawings) may be
left open during the first upward stroke of the piston after the liquid has been
introduced into the cylinder and in this case the lid may be secured on to the
chamber directly the kier with the material to be treated is in position.
9. The piston is then put into regular operation and the downward stroke will

page_text: create a vacuum with the result that the treating liquid will be sucked down
through the material into the cylinder again where it may be raised to and
maintained at boiling point or at such temperature as may be required by the
heating apparatus referred to herein:
10. The operations of the piston can be continued regularly or irregularly as
Jong as may be necessary.
11. The pipe (Fig 1; L) during the operation herein before described may be
filled with the treating liquid and the character of such treating liquid will be
exhibited during the operation in the glass gauges (Fig. 1 K).
The apparatus as above described in its typical form is subject to various
modifications:
Fig. 1 besides showing the simplest or typical form shows also one of these
modifications in the additional pipes M and N with their valves and additional
heating coil Q¹
Referring to Fig. 1
M is a pipe connecting the top of the chamber B with the bottom of the
cylinder A, and is provided with an adjustable valve X at its upper extremity
and with another adjustable valve opening in the downward direction Z.
N is a pipe connecting the bottom and top of the cylinder and fitted with
an adjustable valve Z opening in the upward direction and also with two
adjustable valves at each extremity one of which is shown at Y.
'
Q' is a heating apparatus similar to Q herein before described.
In using this modification after the material to be treated is placed in the kier
and the latter placed in position in the chamber the adjustable valve X is closed
and the piston E is then placed at the top of its stroke.
The treating liquid is then introduced into the cylinder below the piston and
may be heated by the heating apparatus Q. Upon the downward stroke of the
piston the treating liquid flows through N into the cylinder above the piston the
valve in N is then closed by suitable gearing and the upward stroke of the piston
then forces the treating liquid through the perforated bottom of the kier and
through the material into the chamber B which it nearly fills and thereby
displaces the air.
The lid F is then secured to the top of the chamber if not already in position
owing to being provided with an air outlet valve as hereinbefore mentioned.
The valve X is then opened and the treating liquid rushes down M into the
cylinder where the previous operations can be continued as required.
The valves in M and N may be geared to the motive power actuating the piston
and thus be worked automatically.
This modification is to provide for the treating liquid passing through the
material in one direction only, and also admits of the liquid being twice heated in
its passage.
It is obvious that by the manipulation of the valves already
described as being in M and N so that the pipe M shall remain open while the
pipe N remains closed the treating liquid may be made to pass to and fro through
the material under treatment as in the typical form of the apparatus as herein-
before described.
In the foregoing description of the working of the apparatus the lid has been
referred to as secured on to the chamber. In certain operations it may be
necessary or desirable to work the apparatus without the lid and this can be done
without any modifications.
The above apparatus both in its typical and in the modified form hereinbefore
dealt with have been described as constructed in a vertical position, but it may by
the employment of ordinary mechanical contrivances and without any material
alteration of the parts be effectually used in a horizontal or inclined position, and
if required with slight structural alterations (of an ordinary mechanical character
directed to keep the kier with its weight of material to be treated in its position
within the chamber) it may be constructed in an inverted position.
Further, the cylinder and chamber may be placed side by side or at a distance

page_text: from each other, suitable pipe connections of the character ordinarily used in
hydraulic work being provided to supply such connections between the two.
A further modification of the apparatus is to employ an open metallic, vulcanite,.
wood or other suitable framework rigidly attached to the upper portion of the
cylinder or fastened to the projecting ring or flange (Fig. 1; 0). On to this
framework raw materials, cotton cloth, wool, silk, linen and other piece goods may
be placed.
"
In treating these and other materials of a similar nature they are closely packed
or "plaited down up on such open framework and are held in position by a.
perforated cover similar to the movable cover (Fig. 1; D) but sliding closely
inside the chamber B which cover in its turn is held in position by an arrangement
of adjustable screws passing through a bar similar to the bar Figure 1; G.
The apparatus may be further modified by employing instead of the framework
described in the last two preceding paragraphs a plate attached permanently or
temporarily by ordinary mechanical means to the rim or flange Fig. 1; O). Such
plate containing a number of holes turned or otherwise prepared to receive a
corresponding number of smaller kiers similar in construction to Fig. 1 C, the
sliding covers of which small kiers are maintained in position and the material
under treatment pressed down by means of small bars (similar to Fig. 1; G
bereinbefore described) operating on the rims of the kiers, and the kiers themselves.
are pressed into the holes previously described turned and prepared to receive them
so as to form perfect water tight joints, by means of bars similar to the bar
Fig. 1 G hereinbefore described.
The object of this modification is to provide for the employment of a number
of smaller kiers which may be of any convenient shape instead of one large
one and so to enable different materials to be operated upon at one and the same
time.
Should a less number of kiers than the number of perforations provided in the-
plate be used the perforations not occupied by kiers must be closed by a plate-
provided with any suitable fastening so as to ensure a watertight joint. The same
purpose may be effected by using a small kier with a plain bottom.
In certain cases it may be desirable to provide valves opening inwardly or
outwardly or in both directions in the sides of the kiers. This can be done by
ordinary mechanical contrivances such as ❝ mushroom valves with guards to
prevent choking by the material under treatment.
"
The apparatus in its typical form or in any of the modifications herein before.
described may be arranged in series of two, three or more machines. At Figure 12
is shown the front elevation of an arrangement of three machines in combination.
In Figure 13 is shown the side clevation, and in Figure 14 is shown the plan of
one of the machines in this arrangement.
In these Figures 12 and 13:-
A are the cylinders corresponding to Figure 1; A:-
B are the chambers corresponding to Figure 1; B:-
C any ordinary mechanism (in the fig. a worm and wheel motion is shown) for
transmitting the motive power to the pistons.
Dare tanks for the reception of the treating liquid.
E are pumps for elevating or circulating the liquid from the tanks D to storage.
tanks or cisterns (not shown in the figure) in connection with the piping F:-
G is the working platform or floorline.
A further modification of the apparatus is to connect two or more chambers..
similar to Fig. 1; B with a single large tank which would represent the cylinder
Fig. 1; A for the reception of the treating liquid. In this case the piston
operating on the contents of such tank will be constituted by a column of
compressed air.
In the treatment of cops another modification of the apparatus may be
employed:
Fig. 15 shows an elevation and Fig. 16 a plan of this modification.

page_text: ordinary mechanical character to form a water-tight joint between the upper outer
extremities of the sides of the box and the sides of the chamber.
Ordinary valves and pipe-connections are provided to allow of proper circulation
and removal of the treating liquid or gaseous matter. Or the chamber (Figure 1; B)
may be provided with a jacket closed at its upper extremity but opening at its lower
extremity into the cylinder (Figure 1; A) and a blank plate being fixed with a
water-tight joint upon (or cast to) the bottom extremity of such jacket or casing.
In this event the prepared open ends of the removable tubes carrying the injection
spindles as herein before described are attached by means of water-tight quick-
coupling connections to perforations provided in the sides of such jacket. Ordinary
valves and pipe connections are provided to allow of proper manipulation of the
treating liquid or gaseous matter.
If necessary in the construction of any forms of my apparatus the cylinder,
chamber and projecting rim or flange between the two may be constructed in the
shape of one or more castings.
Moreover in cases where the apparatus is exposed to the action of corrosive
liquids or gases the portions so exposed may be coated with any of the well known
protective substances metallic or otherwise suitable for the particular case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An apparatus as herein substantially described for scouring, bleaching,
dyeing, impregnating, digesting, drying, carbonizing and otherwise treating cotton,
wool, silk, jute, rhea, China grass and other fibrous materials in a raw, manu-
factured or partly manufactured state, wherein the material to be treated is
maintained stationary while the treating liquid or gases are forced to and fro
through the material under treatment.
2. A modification as herein substantially described of the apparatus referred to
in Paragraph 1 of the claim by which the treating liquid can be forced through
the material to be treated in one direction only.
3. The modifications as herein substantially described of the apparatus referred
to in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the claim for the treatment of cops or similar
compact forms of fibrous materials namely by the employment of vertical or
horizontal tubes or the combination of these or the boxes as herein substantially
described.
4. The modification as herein substantially described of the apparatus referred
to in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the claim for the purpose of introducing a number of
kiers independently of each other into the chamber at one and the same time.
5. The modification as herein substantially described of the apparatus referred
to in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the claim for the purpose of packing or "plaiting" the
material to be treated in the chamber without the employment of any kier.
6. The combination of two, three or more of any of the apparatus referred to in
the claim arranged in series.
7. The combination of two, three or more chambers with one tank as herein
substantially described.
Dated this Seventh day of May 1896.
WALTER HEPWORTH-COLLINS, A.M.I.C.E.