mprovements in the Construction of Frames Used in the Drawing and Spinning of Flax for the Purposes of Ventilation and With- drawing Dust.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
mprovements in the Construction of Frames Used in the Drawing
and Spinning of Flax for the Purposes of Ventilation and With-
drawing Dust.
We, JOSHUA VALENTINE EVES, of Forth River Mill, Falls Road, Belfast,
n the County of Antrim, Ireland, Mill Manager, and MALCOM MACGREGOR
GREEVES, of Forth River Mill, aforesaid, Mill Manager, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed with the object of preventing the escape into the
spinning or other room of dust or steam from the machines and thus preventing
the air becoming vitiated or contaminated thereby and at the same time assisting
in the ventilation of the room by drawing a current of air away through the
machines.
It consists essentially in enclosing the most of the frame or a part of it adjacent
to any rising dust or steam with a practically air tight casing or cover and in
applying thereto a fan or other suction appliance whereby a current of air is
constantly passing through the frame to draw off dust or steam.
In carrying out the invention as applied to a drawing frame we enclose the lower
part of the frame below the drawing rollers and gill boxes with a practically air
tight framing or casing and in the floor under the frame or in other suitable way
connect it with an air duct the air pressure in which is reduced by an exhaust fan
or other suction apparatus. A steady current of air will thus be caused to pass
down into the frame between the drawing roller and through gill boxes or other
open parts or interstices of the machine. All dust made or caused to rise from the
flax slivers as they pass through is drawn down by the air current and either
deposited on the floor or carried off by the air trunk.
As applied to a spinning frame the space between the water troughs may be
enlarged and enclosed so as to be air tight with a narrow aperture provided along
the top edge under the creel board. This enclosed space is connected to an air
pipe or trunk and the suction therethrough will draw into it any steam rising from
Instead of or in addition to enclosing the space between
the water trough covers.
the water troughs we may erect around the creels an air tight casing with an
aperture or slit along the creel boards. The front of such casing is provided with
0 sliding doors or panels or with doors or panels hinged to open easily so that the
operative may easily open or move them to renew the bobbins as they run empty.
Or the lower side of the frame may be enclosed below the trough such enclosure
being connected with the space between the troughs in either case the enclosure
is connected with the exhaust air trunk or duct.
35
By this invention we not only prevent the escape or rise of dust or steam into
the room but at the same time we withdraw along therewith some of the vitiated
air from the room thus assisting the ventilation and fresh air may be forced into
the room or allowed to enter through suitable apertures to replace what is drawn
off in the manner described.
1002
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Frames Used in the Drawing
and Spinning of Flax for the Purposes of Ventilation and With-
drawing Dust.
We, JOSHUA VALENTINE EVES, of Forth River Mill, Falls Road, Belfast,
in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Mill Manager, and MALCOM MACGREGOR
GREEVES, of Forth River Mill, aforesaid, Mill Manager, 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 intended for application in flax spinning mills, where great
difficulty has hitherto been experienced in keeping the preparing rooms clear of
dust, and the spinning rooms of steam, which are liberated or given off from the
machines when working.
It is designed to prevent the escape into the atmosphere of the preparing or
spinning rooms of dust or steam from the machines, thus preventing the air
becoming vitiated or contaminated thereby and at the same time to assist in the
ventilation of the room by drawing a current of air away through the machines.
Hitherto it has been customary to ventilate these rooms by exhausting or drawing
off the air at some distance from the machines after the dust or steam has escaped
into it.
This invention consists essentially in constructing the preparing and spinning
frames with the parts in which the dust is generated or from which the steam
issues or a chamber adjacent thereto enclosed with an approximately air-tight
casing to which is applied a fan or other exhaust or suction appliance whereby a
current of air is constantly passing through or over the working parts of the
machine, thus preventing the dust or steam rising into the room by depositing or
carrying such off where generated.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which as examples several arrangements of applying it to drawing and spinning
frames are illustrated.
Fig. 1. Transverse sectional elevation of drawing frame.
Fig. 2. Transverse sectional elevation of spinning frame.
Fig. 3. Front elevation of part of spinning frame showing connection with
exhaust air trunk.
Fig. 4. Longitudinal section of same.
Fig. 5. Perspective view of same.
Fig. 6. Front elevation of part of spinning frame showing separate air trunks
for each machine.
Fig. 7. Longitudinal section of same.
Fig. 8. Transverse section of spinning frame showing a modified arrangement.
Fig. 9. Transverse section of another modification.
Referring to Fig. 1 the invention is shown as applied to a drawing frame; we
enclose all the lower part of the frame beneath the drawing rollers A and the gill
boxes B with a close casing or framing C. This framing may be composed of
plates, boards or panels c of sheet metal, wood or the like secured to or caused to
rest against the existing frame ends D, or the frame ends D may be made of any
suitable design to carry such casing or panels. In the front of the machine the
lower plate or panel c may be fixed or stationary and the upper one made to slide,
and at the back of the machine the lower plate may be also fixed and the upper
one hinged thereto at c', or it may be made to slide or otherwise movable so that it
can be easily removed as may be required. In the floor E or in other suitable
position connected with the enclosed space of the frame we provide an air duct F
the air pressure in which is reduced by an exhaust fan G or other apparatus.

page_text: A steady current of air from the room will thus be caused to pass down into the
rame from above between the drawing rollers A and through the gill boxes B or
other open portions or interstices of the machine. As the air current thus sets
down towards and through the machine all dust made or caused to separate from
he flax slivers will have no tendency to rise into the atmosphere of the room but
will be drawn down by the air current and either be deposited on the floor or parts
of the machine or carried off through the air trunk F. Thus by taking away the
dust where it is made and in the direction of its natural downward tendency we
do away with the necessity for large quantities of air being passed in currents
The air of preparing rooms
across the room to carry out the dust in their course.
having to be beated in winter, and moistened at all times for the proper working of
the flax, a great saving is effected by having to deal with only the small quantity of
air we require under our method.
narrow
Referring to Figs. 2 to 9 the invention is shown as applied to a spinning
frame; we provide a space or air duct H between the water troughs J which
is enclosed on all sides so as to be air-tight with the exception of a
aperture in front running the length of the frame under the creel board
through which a current of air can be induced by a fan or other appliance.
At present we prefer to carry the air duct H up behind the back of the creels
so as to provide & greater area to equalize the suction and in addition to this
we form a second air duct K placed above the air duct H through which fresh
air can pass to take the place of that drawn off through the exhaust air duct H.
The air duct H in each frame is connected by a trunk H₁ with a main air duct L
provided with a fan G by means of which a constant exhaust is maintained so that
any steam issuing from the trough J through the slit j by which the rove enters is
drawn into the duct H through the aperture h.
.Instead of one main air duct L as in Figs. 3 and 4 each frame may have an inde-
pendent trunk H₁ passing to the outside of the building and each fitted with a
fan Gas shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The fresh air duct K may either connect direct
with the outer air in each case or may connect with a main inlet duct by a trunk K'
as in Fig. 5, and in either case a fau may be applied to force fresh air into the
inlet box K.
In Fig. 8 a modification is shown in which the exhaust air duct H is situated
wholly between the troughs J and in this case other means for the inlet of fresh
air may be employed.
In Fig. 9 a further modification is shown in which instead of or in addition to
enclosing the space between the water troughs we may erect around the creels an
air tight casing H" with an aperture or slit along the creel boards. The front of
such casing may be provided with sliding doors or panels or with doors or
panels hinged to open easily so that the operative may easily open or move them to
renew the bobbins as they run empty.
In another form the lower side of the frame may be enclosed below the troughs
such enclosure being connected with the space between the troughs, in either case
the enclosure is connected with the exhaust air trunk or duct.
to prevent a
The covers M of the troughs J are provided with dippers m
current of air over the surface of the water therein which would have a tendency
to reduce the temperature. They also act as a water seal to prevent escape of
vapour.
By this arrangement we stop the escape of steam into the spinning room and
0 obtain an atmosphere drier and of lower temperature, obviating that excessively
oppressive condition due to an atmosphere charged with vapour to the point of
saturation so common in winter in all wet spinning rooms.
When the inlet box K is used the cool fresh air will be admitted equally along
the whole length of the frame and with an upward direction which causes it to
5 mix with the warmer upper stratum of air. Dangerous and unpleasant draughts
from the windows are thus avoided, the rollers and material under operation are
not chilled by blasts of cold air and the result is that very much more fresh air and

page_text: a consequent lower temperature can be obtained, and with no prejudicial effect on
the spinning of the yarn, than is possible with window openings.
The air entering through the inlet ducts Ķ may be heated if desirable by steam
pipes or other suitable means or the outgoing vapour in the exhaust box may be
made to part with its heat to the incoming fresh air by being carried over or around
surfaces with which the latter is in contact.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A drawing frame for drawing flax fibres constructed with a framing or casing
enclosing it below the operative parts and an exhaust air duct connected with the
enclosed space whereby an inward and downward current of air is maintained
through the frame to prevent the rise of and to carry down the particles of dust
given off from the fibre, substantially as described.
:
2. A spinning frame for spinning flax fibres constructed with an air space or duct
between the water troughs or behind or around the creel provided with an inlet
slot or aperture and connected with an exhaust air duct-with or without an inlet
air duct whereby any steam rising from the trough is drawn off without mixing
with the atmosphere of the room substantially as described.
3. In a spinning frame for flax fibres the combination with the creels, water
troughs, and other ordinary parts of the frame of the exhaust air duct H, the inlet
air duct K, and the exhaust fan G substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 12th day of September 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.