Improvements in and connected with Machinery for Dyeing and Scouring Yarn.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1893-Accepted, 15th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Machinery for Dyeing and
Scouring Yarn.
I, JOHN MOUNTGOMERY COLLINS, of 45 Bartholomew Street, Bridgeton,
Glasgow, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to machinery for dyeing and scouring yarn, and it has for
its object to make a simple, cheap and effective machine for this purpose.
In carrying out my invention, I use any suitable form of vessel for containing the
dyeing or scouring liquor. At each end of the vessel, is fitted a framing, which
supports a horizontal shaft, extending the full length of the vessel. On the shaft,
are two, or other number of chain wheels, or their equivalent. The frames have
each two vertical slots, in which work the ends of two horizontal shafts. Fitted to,
or in connection with each of these horizontal shafts, are three, or other number of
yarn-carrying rollers. A toothed wheel is fitted on each horizontal shaft, which
gears with a pinion, fitted on one end of each central roller. These pinions on the
central rollers also gear with pinions fitted on the other rollers. Chains are
attached to each set of rollers, or to the horizontal shafts above them. These
chains pass over the chain wheels, so that the rollers and their gearing are
suspended from said wheels. Each set of rollers and gearing are so suspended as to
balance one another.
The overhead shaft and chain wheels are caused to partially turn backward and
forward so as to alternately raise and lower the rollers on which the hanks of yarn
are threaded into and out of the dye containing vessel, by means of a crank and
system of levers acted upon by a cam, which is preferably of heart shape. The
cam shaft is revolved preferably by means of worm gearing from a cross shaft at the
one end of the dye-vat or vessel. The cross shaft is or may be revolved by power
or by hand.
As the rollers of each set with their suspended hanks of yarn rise out of the vat
they are caused to turn round partially or wholly by means of a cogwheel which
gears with a rack fitted on the end of the framing. This cogwheel actuates the
pinion wheels on the ends of the rollers. To enable the direction of rotation of the
rollers to be changed there is or may be fitted in connection with the cogwheel two
ratchet wheels and two pawls or their equivalent. The pawls are mounted on a stud
which projects through a slot in the cogwheel. The stud can be shifted about in
the slot so as to change the action of the pawls. To keep the stud in its various
positions a spring is used which has preferably a wave-shaped end with a cut or
recess in the crest of the wave. When the stud is placed in the crest the pawls are
thrown out of gear and the rollers are not revolved. When the stud is placed to
the one side or other of the crest the rollers are caused to turn in one or other
direction. There is a cog wheel with its gearing for each set of rollers.
Under a modification the rollers may be actuated by means of a pawl which
is fitted on the end of a small spring lever, and which, at such time, is caused to
catch in the teeth of the toothed wheel which, as before stated, is fitted on the end
of each horizontal shaft. The spring lever, when the series of rollers and their
gearing rise, is pressed down so as to cause the pawl to catch in the teeth of the
wheel and partially turn it by means of a small stud or equivalent fitted on the
frame. The turning of the toothed wheel turns the pinions of the rollers and also
the yarn. Two studs, or equivalent, one at each side of the slots in the frame may
be fitted in connection with each set of rollers and so that by altering the lever and
pawl from one side to the other the revolution of the rollers can be reversed.

page_text: An alarm device can be fitted on the dye vat to call the attention of the attendant
should the yarn become tangled. This device consists of two vertical rods with a
cross rod between and this cross rod is hinged at each end. The rods are so
arranged that should one of the hanks of yarn become tangled it will pull up the
cross rod and therefore force up one or other of the vertical rods and cause an alarm
bell to be sounded.
When it is desired to change the dye in the vat the yarn can be taken out of the
dye liquor by means of an endless rope which actuates a wheel or pulley carried on
the end of a longitudinal overhead shaft. This shaft has worms on it, one at each
end, of the frame, which engage with pinions on two cross shafts. These cross
shafts have each two barrels from which chains, having hooks on them, are
suspended. To lift the yarn the hooks are first caught on the bars for stretching
the banks or the rollers and then the endless rope is pulled so as to draw up the
chains and lift the yarn out of the vat.
The dye may be run into the vat during operation by fitting a dye receptacle
similar to a grease cock on the steam pipe and when desired opening the dye
receptacle and allowing the dye to be sprayed, along with the steam, into the vat.
The frame may be mounted on wheels and be traversed backward and forward
alongside the vat or vats by means of an endless band or other equivalent
mechanism. A travelling frame would be useful where there are a number of vats,
(as in indigo dyeing) into which the yarn is successively dipped.
The cam can be a grooved cam instead of a heart shaped cam if so desired.
By making the machine with two sets of suspended balanced rollers expense is
reduced, less power is required to drive the machine, the yarn is dipped oftener, and
the machine does not require to be made so strong or so heavy as at present. The
action is also continuous, for when the yarn on one side is being raised out of the
vat the yarn at the other side is being dipped.
The driving gear can be altered without departing from the principle of the
invention.
Dated this 1st day of June 1892.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
Glasgow and London, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Machinery for Dyeing and
Scouring Yarn.
I, JOHN MOUNTGOMERY COLLINS, of 45 Bartholomew Street, Bridgeton,
Glasgow, 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 :-
This invention relates to machinery for dyeing and scouring yarn, and it has for
its object to make a simple, cheap, and effective machine for this purpose.
In carrying out my invention, I use any suitable form of vessel for containing
the dyeing or scouring liquor. At each end of the vessel, is fitted a framing, which
supports a horizontal shaft, extending the full length of the vessel. On the shaft
are two or other number of chain wheels or their equivalent. The frames have,
each, two vertical slots, in which work the ends of two horizontal shafts. Fitted
to, or in connection with, each of these horizontal shafts, are three or other number
of yarn-carrying rollers. A toothed wheel is fitted, on or in connection with each
horizontal shaft, which gears with a pinion, fitted on one_end of each central
roller. These pinions on the central rollers also gear with pinions fitted on the
other rollers. Chains are attached to each set of rollers, or to the horizontal shafts
above them. These chains pass over the chain wheels, so that the rollers and their
gearing are suspended from said wheels. Each set of rollers and gearing are so
suspended as to balance one another.

page_text: The overhead shaft and chain wheels are caused to partially turn backward and
forward, so as to alternately raise and lower the rollers, on which the hanks of yarn
are threaded, into and out of the dye containing vessel, by means of a crank and
system of levers acted upon by a cam, which is, preferably, of heart shape. The
cam shaft is revolved, preferably, by means of worm gearing from a cross shaft at
the one end of the dye-vat or vessel. The cross shaft is or may be revolved by
power or by hand.
As the rollers of each set, with their suspended hanks of yarn, rise out of the
vat they are caused to turn round, partially or wholly, by means of a cog wheel
which gears with a rack fitted on the end of the framing. This cog wheel actuates
the pinion wheels on the ends of the rollers. To enable the direction of rotation of
the rollers to be changed there is or may be fitted in connection with the cog wheel
two ratchet wheels and two pawls or their equivalent. The pawls are mounted on
a stud which projects through a slot in the cog wheel. The stud can be shifted
about in the slot so as to change the action of the pawls. To keep the stud in its
various positions a spring is used which has, preferably, a wave-shaped end with a
cut or recess in the crest of the wave. When the stud is placed in the crest the
pawls are thrown out of gear and the rollers are not revolved. When the stud is
placed to the one side or other of the crest the rollers are caused to turn in one or
other direction. There is a cog wheel with its gearing for each set of rollers.
When it is desired to change the dye in the vat the yarn can be taken out of the
dye liquor by means of an endless rope which actuates a wheel or pulley carried on
the end of a longitudinal overhead shaft. This shaft has worms on it, one at each
end, which engage with pinions on two cross shafts. These cross shafts have, each,
two barrels from which chains, having hooks on them, are suspended. To lift the
yarn the hooks are or may be first caught on the bars for stretching the hanks, or
on to the rollers, and then the endless rope is pulled so as to turn the pulley and
draw up the chains thereby lifting the yarn out of the vat.
The cam can be a grooved cam instead of a heart shaped cam if so desired.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have
hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end of the machine and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the
other end.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are detail views.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate similar or like parts.
The machine consists of a dye vat or vessel a, on the ends of which are fitted
two vertical frames b, c. The frames support, in bearings, a horizontal shaft d,
which extends the full length of the machine and has on it two sprocket or chain
wheels d' d. Passed over the chain wheels are two chains e, e', which are connected
to two bars f; one at each side of the machine. The bars fare fitted in carriers g, g'
which slide in slots h, h, h', h' in the vertical frames b, c. The carriers g are made
with bearings in them through which pass spindles i having sockets on their inner
ends. Fitted in these sockets, of which there are, preferably, three in each
carrier g, one on each spindle i, are the left hand ends of the yarn carrying rollers j,
the opposite ends of which are rested in wave shaped flanges or ridges cast on the
carriers 9 at the right hand side of the machine. Fitted on each set of spindles i
are pinion wheels which gear with one another. The central pinion of each set
also gears with a cog wheel k' which is loose on the stud k³ fitted in each carrier g.
Two ratchet wheels 1, 1 (see also Figs. 5 and 9) are keyed on to the top of each
wheel kl.
These ratchet wheels have their teeth cut in reverse directions.
wheel m (see also Figs. 4 and 9) is fitted loosely on the outer end of each stud
and these cog wheels gear with vertical racks m¹ carried in brackets m³ on the
frame b.
A cog
Mounted on a stud fitted at the back of each wheel m is a double pawl n (see
front and side views; Figs: 7 and 8), the one arm n' of which catches in the ratchet

page_text: teeth of the ratchet wheel I, whilst the other arm n² catches in the teeth of the
other ratchet wheel l'. A stud n³, (see Figs. 67 & 8) on the pawl n passes through
a slot n in the wheel m and is capable of being moved backwards and forwards
therein so as to change the action of the pawls. To keep the stud n³ in its various
positions a spring o is used. This spring is pinned to the front of the wheel m and
is bent, as shown at Fig. 4, so that its end, which has a wave-shaped head o' with a
cut or recess o² in the crest of the wave, bears against the stud n³. When the
stud n is placed in the recess o² (as shown at Fig. 6) the pawls are thrown out of
gear, whereas, if the stud is moved along the inclined plane at one side or other of
the head, one or other of the arms n', n2, of the pawl, is thrown into gear with one
or other of the ratchet wheels 1, l'.
The overhead shaft d and chain wheels d', are caused to partially turn back-
wards and forwards so as to, alternately, raise and lower the carriers g, g' with their
gearing and the yarn carrying rollers j, into and out of the dye vat or vessel a, by
means of a crank p, which is connected by a lever p' to one end of a second
lever p which is fulcrumed, at its other end, p³, in a bracket p* fitted on the right
hand end of the dye vat a. The lever has on it a stud p³ (see Fig. 10) which is
provided with a small friction roller. The roller on the stud runs in the groove g¹
of the heart shaped cam g, which is carried on a short shaft r. The cam shaft r has
also on it a toothed wheel which gears with and is turned by a worm wheel r²
keyed on a shafts which is carried in bearings s¹, s². The shaft & is revolved by
means of band pulleys t. t¹ is a bearing bracket for the outer end of the shaft r.
t is the bearing for the inner end.
u are stays. y y represent hauks of yarn.
To lift the yarn out of the vat at any time, the cross shafts v, v are provided.
These shafts are carried in bearings in each frame b, c and are capable of being
revolved by means of a long overhead shaft w, which has worms wo¹ at each end.
These worms gear with pinions w³ on the shafts v, v¹. Fitted on the shaft w is a
grooved pulley won which is fitted an endless rope w¹. xare drums or barrels
fitted on the cross shafts v, v and fitted to these drums, are four chains ¹ two at
each end of the machine. These chains are provided with hooks at their lower
extremities, which, when it is desired to lift the yarn out of the vat, are caught on
to the bars f, and, then, by pulling the rope to and turning the wheel w³, the drums
are caused to revolve and wind up the chains, so raising the bars fand the four
carriers g g with their yarn carrying rollers up out of the vat. When it is uot
desired to raise the yarn up out of the vat the chains a¹ are slung, as shown, on to
the stays u.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
The revolutions of the shaft s, operate the cog wheel r¹ and cam q, and this cam,
as it revolves, gives an oscillating motion to the levers p, p, and crank p, as a
consequence the chain wheels d¹, d, from which are suspended the two sets of
poles, with their banks of yarn, are partially revolved backwards and forwards.
As the sets of poles are so suspended by the chains e, el passing over the
wheels d', d, that they balance each other, if follows, that, at each partial turn of
the wheels d', d2 in one direction the yarn at the one side of the machine will be
lowered or dipped into the dye liquor, whilst the yarn at the other side will be
raised up out of or partially out of the dye liquor; when the wheels partially turn
in the opposite direction, the dipping action is reversed.
1
It will be seen, that, with this machine the action is continuous, the yarn at one
side being dipped whilst that at the other is being lifted up and vice versa.
As the carriers g
and g¹ are raised and lowered the .cog wheels m, run up and
down the racks m², and, as a consequence, are revolved. The revolutions of the
wheels m, cause, according as the pin n³, is placed to one side or other of the nick
or recess o² in the head o¹ of the spring o, one or other of the arms of the pawl n
to gear with and revolve one or other of the ratchets 1, 1. The revolutions of the
ratchets cause the cog wheel k¹ to revolve and through it, also, the train of pinions k.
The revolutionary motion of the pinions is communicated by the spindles i and

page_text: sockets to the poles; on which the yarn is hung. When the arm n' on the pawl n
is made to gear with the ratchet the pinions k and poles jare made to revolve in
one direction, whilst, when the arm n' is made to gear with the ratchet the pinions.
and poles are revolved in the opposite direction.
To lift the poles out of the machine or to reverse them, all that is required to be
done is to lift them up out of the wave ridges at their right hand ends and then.
withdraw their other ends from the sockets i¹.
It is sometimes desirable to revolve the poles, for a short period, very quickly..
This can be done by moving the pin n³ into the recess o' so as to throw the arms of
the pawl n out of gear, when this has been done a handle (see dotted lines
Fig. 1) is fitted ou one of the spindles i and the train of pinions quickly revolved
by hand.
The vat a may be divided longitudinally into two compartments by a partition,.
and, in this case, one compartment may contain a different dyeing liquor from the
other, so that the yarn at one side may be dyed a different colour or shade from.
that at the other.
The complete machine and vat a may be mounted on wheels if so desired, for
convenience in moving it from one part of the dye house to another, or, if so desired,.
the frames alone may be suitably connected together and be fitted on a platform
mounted on wheels. In this case the machine could be traversed backward and
forward alongside the dye vat or vats by means of an endless band or other well
known and equivalent mechanism. A travelling frame would be useful where
there are a number of vats, (as in indigo dyeing) into which the yarn is successively
dipped.
By making the machine with two sets of suspended balanced rollers the cost of
construction is reduced, less power is required to drive the machine, the yarn is
dipped oftener, and the machine does not require to be made so strong or so heavy
as at present. The action is also continuous, for, when the yarn on one side
is being raised out of the liquor in the vat the yarn at the other side is being
dipped.
The mechanism can be altered in its details of construction without departing
from the principle of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A dyeing or scouring machine having suspended and balanced yarn carrying
rollers, which are arranged and operated, substantially in the manner herein before
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. In yarn dyeing and scouring machines, the combination with two side frames,.
of an overhead shaft having pulleys thereon and chains or equivalent passing over
said pulleys, from which are suspended two sets of yarn carrying rollers one set
being fitted at each side of the machine, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the drawings annexed.
3. The mechanism for turning the rollers, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown at Figs. 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. and 9 of the drawings annexed.
4. The spring o, having a wave-shaped head o¹ with central recess o, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown on the drawings annexed and for the purpose.
set forth.
5. The general arrangement or combination of parts of the yarn dyeing or
scouring machine, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the
drawings annexed.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
Glasgow and London, Agent.