Improvements in or relating to the Mercerization of Cotton or other Fibrous Materials or similar Substances and Machinery therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 20th Mar.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Mercerization of Cotton or other
Fibrous Materials or similar Substances and Machinery therefor.
WILLIAM EDWARD AYKROYD, Dyer and Finisher, Ashwell, Manningham, Brad-
ford, Yorks, WILLIAM HENRY AYKROYD, Dyer and Finisher, West View,
Manningham, Bradford, Yorks, and HENRY EDWARD AYKROYD, Dyer and Finisher,
Thornfield, Duckworth Lane, Manningham, Bradford, Yorks, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This machine is designed for the imparting of a silky lustre & touch to yarn
or fibrous substances whilst being stretched under pressure.
Its essential features consist of any convenient number of pairs of squeeezing
rollers at top of machine, with a similar number of single rollers running,
parrallel to said squeezing rollers, at bottom of machine.
The required pressure for stretching the yarn or fibrous material is obtained
by the use of four or more screws fixed vertically, in pairs, said screws being
actuated by worm wheels, worms, shaft, & hand or power driven wheels, or other
similar devices.
The squeezing rollers are engaged or disengaged in like manner to the stretch-
ing rollers. Namely by the use of four or more screws actuated by worm
wheels, worms, shaft & hand or power driven wheel or similar device.
The bottom rollers in top set of squeezing rollers to be revolved by the use
of two worm shafts with separate worms and worm wheels, the whole to be
revolved by power belt driven, or otherwise.
The whole machine to be fixed in an open cistern wherein the mercerizing
agent, or agents, strong caustic, or acid, or any other mercerizing agent may
be placed or displaced at will by the use of rotatory or pump or pumps, ejectors
or similar device, accompanied by the use of taps, valves, or sluices and suitable
connections.
The liquid mercerizing agent or agents to be agitated by air (by preference)
blown in in a continuous or intermittent stream, or any mechanical device suit-
able for the purpose, such for instance as revolving fans within the liquid. or
inverted cones, etc.
Dated this 13th day of December 1897.
Improvements in or relating to the Mercerization of Cotton or other
Fibrous Materials or similar Substances and Machinery therefor.
We, WILLIAM EDWARD AYKROYD, Ashwell, Manningham, Bradford, Yorks,
Dyer and Finisher, WILLIAM HENRY AYKROYD, West View, Manningham,
071

page_text: Bradford, Yorks, Dyer and Finisher, and HENRY EDWARD AYKROYD, Thornfield,
Duckworth Lane, Manningham, Bradford, Yorks, Dyer and Finisher, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
This machine is designed for the imparting of a silky lustre and touch to
yard or fibrous substances whilst being stretched under pressure.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a general elevation (two sheets) of the entire machine, with reser-
voir tanks for the mercerizing liquid above, certain portions of which are
partially cut away in order to more clearly show those parts at the back;
Figure 2 is an end elevation of same;
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the machine at x in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a plan of the entire machine with the supply tanks cut away;
Figure 5 is a more detailed sectional view through a pair of the rolls shown
in Figure 3 utilized for immersing the fibrous material in the mercerizing liquor.
Figure 6 is a more detailed view of sundry other parts shown in Figure 3.
The essential features of the invention consist of any convenient number of
pairs of squeezing rollers D and E at top of machine, with a similar number of
single rollers B and C running parallel to said squeezing rollers, at bottom of
machine.
The required pressure for stretching the yarn or fibrous material is obtained
by the use of four or more screws, fixed vertically, in pairs, said screws being
áctuated by worm wheels, worms, shaft and hand or power driven wheels, or
other similar devices.
The squeezing rollers are engaged or disengaged in like manner to the stretch-
ing rollers, namely, by the use of four or more screws actuated by worm wheels,
worms, shaft and hand or power driven wheel or similar device.
The bottom rollers B in top set of squeezing rollers to be revolved by the use
of two worm shafts with separate worms and worm-wheels, the whole to, be
revolved by power belt driven or otherwise. The whole machine to be fixed
in an open cistern wherein the mercerizing agent or agents, strong caustic, or
acid, or any other mercerizing agent may be placed or displaced at will by the
use of rotatory or pump or pumps, ejectors or similar device, accompanied by
the use of taps, valves or sluices and suitable connections. The liquid merceriz-
ing agent or agents to be agitated by air by preference blown in in a continuous
or intermittent stream, or any mechanical device suitable for the purpose, such
for instance as revolving fans within the liquid or inverted cones, etcetera.
To go more into detail, A is a girder fixed in and borne by the main-frame A¹
and accurately machined out to carry a greater or less number of strong steel
rollers covered with specially prepared acid-proof sheaths, such as ebonite, india-
rubber, phosphor-bronze, or other acid resisting substance. B B are said
specially covered rollers journalled for rotation in said fixed girder A. B¹ B¹are
worm wheels keyed on alternately to either side of the centre of the steel rollers B
and are driven by worms B2 keyed to the two parallel shafts B³, which run
throughout the length of the machine. One of these shafts is driven from a
pair of fast and loose pulleys B+, the other shaft being driven by means of inter-
mediate gearing B between the two shafts.
By this means the two shafts together with their respective worm-gearing.
are run in opposite directions an equal thrust being thus imparted to each end of
the frame instead of one end of the frame bearing the entire thrust of both
shafts.
CC is a similar series of rollers operated by the friction of the material pass-
ing round them and carried in a movable girder C₁ working in guides C2 at
either end and raised or lowered by means of four screws lettered C³ two at either

page_text: nd of the girder. These screws have worm-wheels C keyed on to their upper
ends which engage with two worms C³ one at each end of a central shaft C
riven by gearing and pulleys marked respectively C and C. The pulleys C8
nay be reversed in their motion whenever needful by means of the double
lutch C and in this way the raising or lowering of the girder C, with its accom-
anying rollers effected. The desired tension on the material running upon the
wo series of rollers B B and C C is thus determined to a fine degree.
Another series of rolls of larger diameter marked D and E are provided for
giving a certain amount of "nip" or squeezing action to the material as it passes
throw back super-
over the top series of rollers B B, & serving to press out
Huous liquor whereby the material under treatment is alternately saturated with
These are carried upon two girders D¹
& freed from the mercerising liquor.
and E, placed in the upper part of the machine, which have a vertical motion
in guides attached at each end to the main frame of the machine. Motion is
imparted to these two girders independently by two sets of screws D2 and E2
respectively. These screws are worked similarly to those operating the bottom
girder by means of worm-wheels and worms marked respectively D³, D E³, E+
and two shafts 15 E5 having motion from the reversible pulleys D6 E operated
by double clutches D' E7.
On the top of each of the pressure rollers D D and E E carried by girders D¹
& E will be seen a spring S placed between the vertically movable bearing
blocks S¹ in which the rollers run, and the girder E.
These springs provide and give a resilience or elasticity to the pressure placed
upon the material as it passes through the machine and act as a preventive
against undue pressure being put upon such material.
It will thus be seen that there are four entirely independent systems of motion
in the machine described, namely the bottom movable girder with its operative
screws and worm-gearing, the main central girder fixed rigidly to the frame and
carrying rollers driven also by worm gearing, and the two upper girders with
their respective screws and worm-gearing for lowering or elevating the rolls
carried thereon to or from the rollers carrying the material.
F is an open tank lined throughout with copper in order to resist the action of
the liquor in which the whole machine is rigidly fixed, the ends of said tank
forming the supports for the central fixed girder A. Two wings or extensions F1
of the tank are provided at either side, extending upwards for half the height,
these are to allow of the more readily placing of the material upon the rollers at
the bottom.
In this tank is the mercerizing liquor which is run in from two or more reser-
voir tanks G G, placed above the machine and connected thereto by supply
pipes H H.
A waste pipe H2 carries away the liquor when the mercerizing operation is
complete; this pipe is connected on to a centrifugal or other pump L whereby
the liquor running to waste may be pumped up into the reservoir tanks.
A suitable multiple-way valve V being provided so that the liquor can be
5 directed at will into one or other of the reservoir tanks through pipes H³, H¹.
By this means the reservoir tanks may be arranged to contain different liquors
such as strong acid and strong caustic etcetera and the used liquor can be returned
to its own respective reservoir tank.
M is fan or other suitable blower, for supplying air under pressure through
0 pipe M to the perforated tube M2 laid along or near the bottom of the liquor
tank F, the compressed air being forced out through the perforations into the
surrounding liquor.
The object of this is to provide an efficient agitator and at the same time
to afford a means for the thorough oxidisation of the mercerizing liquor, T is
55 a two way valve tap placed in the waste pipe for purposes explained hereinafter
Figure 5 is a view of one complete set of rollers B and C for carrying the
material during its mercerization, showing the upper and lower girders A
and C¹, respectively and the worm wheel B¹, to one side of the centre, working

page_text: on to its worm B2 which is keyed on the shaft B³. The rollers are carried in
bushes of soft metal, shown clearly in the case of the lower set Cat C¹º.
Figure 6 is a separate view of the screws for raising and lowering the bottom
series of rollers C and their method of operation. The screws C³, are stepped
at their bottom end in conical "footstep" bearings P P in the main frame A¹.
They have right and left handed threads cut upon them in order that when
revolving in opposite directions may yet act in combination to raise or lower
the girder C. To their upper ends are keyed the two worm-wheels C operated
by the one worm C on the shaft C. This will cause the worm-wheels to turn
in opposite directions which is compensated for by the right and left handed
threads of screws C³ referred to above.
The method of operating the machine is as follows:-
The hanks of yarn cotton etcetera, are placed over the top rollers B by hand
and then slipped under the bottom ones C and the machine started by switching
the belt from loose pulley to fast pulley at B. The liquor is next run in until
sufficient to cover the lower series of rollers C. At this point the material
undergoes considerable shrinkage, causing such tension between the two sets of
rollers as to necessitate their being constructed of great strength. If necessary
the double clutch C is operated to adjust the tension upon the material by rais-
ing or lowering the girder C₁ in the manner previously explained.
The clutches D and E may also be operated, lowering the "nip" rolls D D
and EE to give any desired squeezing action to the material.
As soon as the liquor has been run in the fan or blower M is started, setting up
the agitation and oxidisation of the liquor through the perforated pipe M².
The process then continues until the mercerization of the material is com-
pleted. At this point the two-way valve-tap mentioned above, is opened to the
waste-pipe H and centrifugal pump L causing the liquor to be pumped back
again into its reservoir tank. As soon as the tank is empty the valve-tap T is
again closed and the clean water run into the tank; after the material has been
passed through the water for a short time the rinsing water is run to waste
through the valve-tap T being turned to waste. The rinsing is repeated with
more clean water and the whole process is then complete, and the material may
be removed from the machine.
Whilst the above is a description in general of our machine we do not in any
way limit ourselves to the precise details set forth but the construction may be
varied somewhat without departing from the spirit of the invention, thus the
nip rolls might be found desirable to be applied to the bottom series of rollers
either alone or in conjunction with those applied to the upper series of rollers.
They may also be arranged so that the "nip" or pressure may be applied separ-
ately to each roller or collectively to the entire series at once.
Again in place of the screw and worm-gearing for lowering and raising the
(three) various movable girders hydraulic rams might be used if found more
advantageous, or a system of screws and toggle joints.
"
Also the " nip or pressure might be applied by one large roll between each
two of the rollers carrying the material, instead of by a separate roll above each
of the small rollers.
The agitation may also be effected if needful by fans or inverted cones rotated
in the liquor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The improvement in or relating to the mercerization of cotton or other
fibrous materials or similar substances, which consists in mounting the material
on slowly rotating stretching rollers, one set of which are submerged within a
tank containing the mercerizing liquor, whilst the other set is raised above the
tank and each set capable of adjustment as regards their distance apart, whereby

page_text: the material is by means of these rotary rollers slowly passed through the mer-
cerizing liquor in the tank, and at the same time stretched to its original dimen-
sions either to recover or prevent undue shrinkage, in combination with a series
of adjustable pressure rollers so arranged as to impart to the material saturated
with the mercerizing liquor the requisite squeezing action.
2. In a machine such as that described the combination of a series of parallel
horizontal rollers for carrying the material, a series of pressure rolls applied
above (or below) the carrying rollers and means for adjustment of said pressure
rollers consisting of screws operated by worm gearing whereby the pressure may
be finely adjusted, substantially as described.
3. In a mercerizing machine means for regulating and obtaining the necessary
tension on the material to be mercerized either to recover or prevent shrinkage,
consisting of screws operated by worm gear whereby one series of rollers are
moved nearer to or further away from the other series of rollers, substantially as
described.
4. In a mercerizing machine comprising series of rollers or rolls fixed in a
tank containing the mercerizing liquor, means for agitating and oxidising the
liquor consisting of a perforated tube laid along the bottom inside said tank
and supplied during operation with air under pressure from a fan or other
blower, whereby the liquor is kept in constant motion as well as in contact with
air in a finely divided state, effecting the continuous and thorough agitation
and oxidisation of the liquor substantially as described.
5. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts, forming the
improved apparatus for the mercerization of cotton or other fibrous materials or
similar substances, substantially as set forth.
1
of Ontation 1808
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.