Improvements in Kiers or Vessels for Bleaching Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr.. 1895-Accepted, 8th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Kiers or Vessels for Bleaching Textile Fabrics.
I, BERNARD WALSH, of Hightown, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improvement in the kiers or vessels in which
cotton cloth or similar textile fabrics are treated during the process of bleaching
with the object of rendering such applicable in bleaching by the caustic soda
process instead of the more usual process in which caustic lime and carbonate of
soda are employed.
It consists essentially in the combination with the kier in which the cloth is
placed of a second or auxiliary chamber forming a reservoir for the liquor in which
it is heated and boiled and from which it is circulated through the kier by a
centrifugal or other pump and suitable arrangement of connecting or circulating
pipes.
In carrying out the invention I,construct a kier of ordinary shape or construction
to receive the cloth or fabric provided with an inlet at one end and an outlet pipe
at the other end.
Alongside the kier I place an auxiliary chamber or vessel in which is placed a
steam heating coil. This chamber forms a reservoir for the bleaching liquor in
which it is heated to the desired temperature. In addition to the steam pipe for
heating the contents of the vessel this chamber is connected by two pipes with the
kier one to the inlet at one end and the other to the outlet at the other end. To
one of these pipes is connected a circulating pump of rotary or other type so that
the liquor after being heated in this chamber can be circulated through the kier
and maintained at the desired temperature without the necessity for any pipes or
coils in the kier itself.
The auxiliary chamber or reservoir is also connected by means of a suitable tap
or valve with a mixing cistern for caustic soda or other bleaching material.
One end of the kier is also connected to a drain pipe and the other to an
overflow pipe and the pump is also connected to a cold water supply so that by
shutting the taps connecting with the auxiliary chamber or reservoir cold water
can be pumped through the cloth and out at the overflow into the drain pipe. By
this means the material can be thoroughly washed after being treated with the
bleaching liquor without removal from the kier.
The kier and chamber are fitted with the ordinary valves and gauges to indicate
the quantity of liquor and the pressure.
The advantages I consider I obtain over other kiers are:-
(a) Greater cheapness of working in saving in chemicals, steam, labour, and
water; and
(b) A greater production with a thorough bleach with no tender cloth.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1894.

page_text: Fig. 3. Plan.
The kier A is of ordinary shape or construction to receive the cloth or fabric to
be treated and provided with an inlet. pipe B. and an outlet pipe C. A second
kier A¹ is shown connected to the pipes B and C so that one can be continually in
operation whilst the other is being emptied and recharged with a fresh batch of
material. A third or any additional number of kiers may be similarly connected
together.
Alongside the kier A I place an auxiliary chamber or vessel D connected thereto
by the pipes B and C. This chamber forms a reservoir for the bleaching liquor
in which the bleaching agent is mixed to the required strength or density and
heated to the desired temperature. The chamber D is provided with a steam
pipe e and a steam coil e leading from the steam supply pipe E the steam pipe e is
perforated to introduce live steam into the vessel, to mix with the bleaching agent
and the steam heating coil el maintains the liquid at the desired temperature, after
it has been mixed to the desired strength without reducing the strength by the
introduction into it of further steam or water.
The inlet and outlet pipes which connect the kier A with the chamber D are
preferably arranged the inlet pipe B at the bottom and the outlet pipe C at the
top and in one of these preferably in the inlet pipe B is placed a circulating
pump F of rotary or other type so that the liquor after being heated in the
chamber D can be circulated through the kier and maintained at the desired
temperature without the necessity for any pipes or coils in the kier itself.
Although I at present prefer to circulate the bleaching liquid through the kier A
by entering at the bottom through the pipe B and passing out to the mixing
chamber D through the pipe C at the top it is to be understood that the liquor
The kier A is during the
may be pumped or circulated in either direction.
operation always full of the liquor and therefore there can be no drying or blown
cloth.
The auxiliary chamber or reservoir D is connected by means of a pipe d provided
with a suitable tap or valve with a mixing cistern for caustic soda or other bleaching
material, and it is also fitted with the ordinary appliances of safety valves pressure
gauge water gauge and the like.
The pipes B and C are provided with shut off taps or valves b and c so that
the connection between the kier A and the chamber D can at any time be closed

page_text: and the kier is also preferably provided with two additional valves b¹ and c¹
whereby it can be completely isolated without closing the circuit in the pipes which
can then be opened to the kier A¹ or elsewhere. To the pipe B at the bottom of
the kier (or otherwise to the lower end of the kier) is connected a discharge or
drain pipe G by which any liquid in the kier or in the chamber D can be run off
when desired. And to the pipe C at the top of the kier (or otherwise to the
upper end of the kier) is connected an over-flow pipe H which at its lower end is
also connected with the drain pipe G. The pump is by the pipe J connected
with a fresh water supply. Thus by shutting the valves b and c connecting with
the auxiliary chamber or reservoir D and opening the valve j in the water supply
pipe J and the valve of the over-flow pipe H fresh water can be pumped up
through the cloth in the kier to rinse it passing out at the top and through the
over-flow pipe H to the drain pipe G. By this means the material can be
thoroughly washed after being treated with the bleaching liquor without removal
from the kier. The kier may be drained of liquor by opening the valve g of the
drain pipe G.
The kier A¹ can be worked in precisely the same manner as the kier A the
valves b¹ c¹ and h being closed and the corresponding valves connected to it being
opened as required.
I consider by this arrangement I gain considerable advantages in working both
in economy of labour and materials and better results in the work produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In vessels or apparatus for bleaching textile fabrics the combination with a
kier in which the cloth or fabric is placed of a second or auxiliary chamber
connected thereto by inlet and outlet pipes in which the bleaching liquor is heated
and maintained at the desired temperature by a steam pipe or coil without any
steam pipes in the kier and from which it is circulated through the kier by a pump
substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for bleaching textile fabrics having the several parts constructed
and arranged in combination substantially as described and shown.
1:1 1005
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.