Improvements in Dyeing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
Improvements in Dyeing Machines.
I, LEONARD WELDON, of Amsterdam, in the County of Montgomery, in the
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention is an improved organization of that class of dyeing machines in
which a drum or cage has its interior divided into compartments for the reception
of the articles or material to be dyed, and is arranged with its axis horizontally in
such a position in the dye-vat as to cause the material under treatment to be
alternately dipped into the dye-liquor and carried out of the same.
My present invention is designed more particularly for dyeing raw stock, wool
or cotton, and the object of the invention is to guard against the rolling and
matting of the stock during the process of dyeing the same, and to dye the stock
evenly throughout.
And to that end the invention consists in novel devices applied to the interior
of the rotary drum or cage for the purpose of intercepting and gradually releasing
the stock in its movement to different portions of the compartment in the cage
during the rotation of the cage as hereinafter more fully described and specifically
set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a dyeing machine embodying my invention,
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on line y, y, Fig. 3,
Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 2, 2, in Fig. 2,
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a modification of my invention, and
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line x, x, in Fig. 4.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the vat or tank containing the dye-liquor. C denotes a horizontal
shaft which is journalled in suitable bearings secured to the end-walls of the vat.
On the said shaft is rigidly mounted the drum or cage B constructed partly or
wholly of open-work so as to allow the dye liquor to pass freely through it. To
one end of the cage is fastened a spur-wheel D which meshes with a pinion D'
rigidly secured to a shaft which extends lengthwise of the vat and is journalled in
bearings secured to the ends of the vat. To this shaft is also secured a worm-
wheel H which engages a worm H' mounted in bearings on the exterior of the vat.
On the worm are mounted the fast and loose pulleys II' which are connected by a
driving belt to the pulley of the motor, not shown.
By throwing the belt onto the fast pulley rotary motion is imparted to the
cage B said motion being in the direction indicated by arrows in the drawings.
The interior of the cage is divided into two or more compartments by radial
partitions P which are also constructed of open-work to allow the dye-liquor to
pass through them. I preferably construct said partitions of perforated sheets of
copper secured to longitudinal bars attached to the heads of the cage or otherwise
properly sustained in position.
Each of the compartments is provided with a suitable gate c through which to
introduce the raw stock or other article to be dyed. Said gates may be either
hinged to the case or otherwise adapted to be opened and closed.
Lengthwise of each compartment extends a rib d which projects from the axis
of the cage partway toward the periphery thereof so as to form thereat a throat for

page_text: the passage of the material under treatment from one side of the compartment to
the opposite side thereof during the revolution of the cage.
RR represent horns which are fastened to the ribs d d and project from the
outer edges thereof partway toward the periphery of the cage.
To the periphery of the interior of the cage are pivoted a series of hooks e e
arranged in rows parallel with and directly opposite the ribs d d.
These hooks are provided with stops or shoulders e back of their pivots to
brace the hooks so as to prevent them from swinging rearward from an approxi-
mately radial position. Said hooks being allowed to swing freely in the opposite
direction and thus move in an arc of about 90 degrees.
represents a steam-pipe which is connected to a suitable steam generator not
shown, and is extended into the vat, preferably at or near the base thereof and
arranged in any suitable manner to boil or heat the dye liquor to the required
temperature.
In the operation of the machine the revolving cage B carries its two com-
partments alternately into and out of the dye-liquor and thus alternately dips the
stock or material under treatment into the liquor and lifts it out of the same and
while in the latter position the dye liquor drains partly from the stock and returns
to the vat and exposes the stock to the air.
It is obvious that as each compartment is carried out of the dye-liquor the stock
is carried toward that side of the compartment which leaves the dye-liquor last,
and the stock is retained there by the rib d until the latter is turned beyond a
vertical line passing through the axis of the cage. By that time the hooks have
assumed a radial position and are held there by the shoulders or stops e¹.
As the partition P and rib & become further inclined by the rotation of the cage
the stock slides to the rib and thence over the horns R R, which latter with the
aid of the hooks e e allow the stock to gradually or gently pass to the opposite side
of the compartment and at the same time opening up the stock and throwing it into
such positions as to allow the dye-liquor to effectually permeate the same.
For the treatment of some kinds of stock or garments the ribs dd alone will effect
the desired purpose, but in the majority of cases the horns R R are essential, and
by the employment of the hooks e e the efficiency of the machine is materially
enhanced. The form of the hooks and the means for sustaining them in their
operative positions is susceptible of modifications and I therefore do not wish to be
limited in that respect.
One of the modifications is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.of the drawing, in which
the hooks e are of the form of claws fixed at their outer ends to a longitudinal
bar g which is pivoted to the outer ends of the braces h h pivoted at or near the
centers of their lengths to the heads of the cage. The hooks or claws e pass
through sheaths or guides i fixed in the periphery of the cage and have their free
ends protruding inside of the cage. To the ends of the vat are secured two
stationary cams and j', one of which is above the axis of the cage and the other
below said axis and both concentric thereto. The upper cam j is at such a distance
from the axis of the cage as to cause the inner end of the brace to ride thereon.
The brace being forced into said position by the weight of the material under
treatment pressing on the hooks e e which forces the latter outward.
The engagement of the brace with the cam ; prevents the hooks e from with-
drawing from the cage and sustains said hooks in an approximately radial position
inside of the cage or in a position similar to that of the hooks shown in the upper
part of Fig. 2 of the drawing.
As the hooks or claws e enter the vat A the outer end of the brace h comes in
contact with the top of the lower cam j¹ and is thereby tilted so as to cause the
hooks e to be drawn nearly out of the cage and thus guard to a great extent against
the catching of stock on the ends of the hooks during the movement of the stock
through the dye-liquor.
As the hooks emerge from the vat the upper cam j restores the teeth to their
inward projecting positions,

page_text: With the described machine raw-stock can be treated more carefully during
the dyeing process than by hand, and in quantities limited only by the size of
the cage or drum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination with the vat, the rotary cage made wholly or partly of
openwork divided into longitudinal compartments, and longitudinal ribs in the
compartments extending from the axis of the cage toward the periphery thereof
and forming at the latter throats for the passage of the material in process of being
dyed as set forth.
2. In combination with the vat, the rotary cage made wholly or partly of
openwork divided into longitudinal compartments, longitudinal ribs in the com-
partments extending from the axis of the cage toward the periphery thereof, and
horns projecting from the ribs partway toward the periphery of the cage, as
set forth.
3. In combination with the vat, the rotary cage made wholly or partly of
openwork divided into longitudinal compartments, longitudinal ribs in the com-
partments extending from the axis of the cage toward the periphery thereof, horns
projecting from the ribs partway toward the periphery of the cage, and hooks
projecting inward from the periphery of the cage, as set forth.
4. In combination with the vat, the rotary cage made wholly or partly of
openwork divided into longitudinal compartments, horns projecting from the
central portion of the cage partway toward the periphery thereof, hooks pivotally
supported at the peripheral portion of the cage, and braces sustaining the hooks in
their inward projecting position above the vat as set forth.
5. In combination with the vat and the rotary cage made wholly or partly of
openwork divided into longitudinal compartments, the hooks e pivoted to the
interior of the cage and provided with shoulders e' substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Doted this 8th dox of Narambar 1899
LEONARD WELDON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.