IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING HANKS
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Matthew Henry Larmuth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1877.
MATTHEW HENRY LARMUTH, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING HANKS."
My Invention relates to the drying of hanks of yarn or thread after bleaching,
dyeing, and other processes, and has for its principal object to expedite the drying
process.
Previously to my said Invention the wet hanks have been hung upon bars which
have been carried into a drying stove and suspended therein. In lieu of this method
I carry the hanks through the stove by means of travelling chains, my intention
being that the drying process shall be completed to the required extent during the
passage of the hanks through the stove. I prefer to impart a revolving motion to the
bars upon which the banks are hung during the progress of the hanks through the
stove.
In the arrangement which I now consider to be suitable I mount two endless
chains upon driving and carrier wheels, and I provide the said chains with wheels
which are fitted to revolve in the links of the chains and to run upon suitable rails
or bars. The bars which sustain the banks are mounted in the last-named wheels
in such a manner as that when the said wheels revolve by travelling upon the rails
the said bars are also caused to rotate.
To keep the hanks distended I consider that it will be necessary to pass a
second bar or rod through the hanks, such rod resting within the lower bend of the
hanks.
The method of connecting the ends of the bank bars with the said wheels may
be varied. The wheels on one chain may be formed with round axial openings, and
the wheels on the other chain with square openings, the ends of the said bars being
correspondingly formed, or the openings in both sets of wheels may be round and
the bars be driven by projections on the wheels bearing against projections on the
bars, but I do not confine myself to either of these arrangements. The said bars
may be of wood or other material, and may be solid or hollow, or be built up in
sections, and may be of a round, square, polygonal, star shape, or other section.
The chain I consider suitable is formed of flat links bored to receive the turned
bosses of the said wheels, and connected together by means of pins, upon which the
driving wheels act.

page_text: When in operation the bars filled with hanks may be placed in position and be
carried by the travelling chains to the delivery end of the stove, where they may be
removed from the stove. If it be required that the hanks shall return to the inlet
end of the stove, they may be removed at the other end and be placed on return
chains, or on the returning portions of the chains. The bars might remain on the
chains, and be brought back to the inlet, but this would necessitate the bars being
spaced wider apart than I now consider to be advisable.
If not considered necessary the bars holding the hanks may not be caused to
revolve, or they may be driven by circumferential contact with the peripheries of
travelling wheels mounted in the chains, or may be provided with wheels or
end collars, which may roll upon rails as the said bars are carried or moved along
by the chains.