IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR BLEACHING, WASHING, CHILORING, SCOURING, SOAPING, DUNGING, AND DYEING WOVEN FABRICS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JAMES FARMER of Salford in the County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR BLEACHING, WASHING, CHILORING, SCOURING,
SOAPING, DUNGING, AND DYEING WOVEN FABRICS" 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 the peculiar construction and combination of apparatus
intended to perform the above operation in a quicker and more effective manner
than formerly by drawing the liquor through the fibros of the cloth by a mechanical
process.
In this improved machine the cloth is supported by hollow metallic cylinders or
rollers perforated with holes all over their surface the whole width of the cloth and
corrugated to allow the liquor to pass freely through as much of the cloth as
possible. Inside the hollow cylinders or rollers (which are closed at one end) a
certain vacuum is produced at the other end to force the liquor to penetrate the
cloth, which we find preferable to forcing the liquor outwards through the cloth by
pressure from the inside of the said hollow cylinders or rollers, which outward
pressure has the tendency to displace the weft by forcing the cloth away from the
surface of the said cylinders or rollers.
The open ends of the said cylinders or rollers are so arranged that as much of
their internal area is open to the action of the pump with as few obstructions as
possible preferably two of the said cylinders or rollers arc mounted in one cistern
or vat and are connected with the necessary pump which we find most convenient
to be made on the centrifugal principle. The liquor which is drawn through the
cloth into the inside of the said cylinders or rollers by the said centrifugal pump is
discharged back into the cistern or vat by a specially constructed discharge pipe
(bereinafter described) placed preferably at the top of the machine, which discharge
pipe is so devised that the liquor which is impelled with great force into it by the
pump is diverted so as to pour straight down into the said cistern or vat thus

page_text: preventing any eddies which could cause the cloth to wander from its right course.
The cloth is supported to and from the said rollers or cylinders by perforated flat
plates in such a manner that the force of the liquor from the discharge pipe cannot
"bag" or displace the threads of the cloth and has at the same time an additional
tendency to further penetrate the fibres of the said cloth. The said flat plates are
so arranged that they can readily be removed and the discharge pipe is hinged so
that it can be turned up out of the way when the cistern or vat requires cleansing
out.
The construction of our improved apparatus will be readily understood on
reference to the annexed Drawings and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation (shown partly in section) of an apparatus constructed
according to our Invention and showing four cisterns or vats a, a each containing
two perforated cylinders b, b but I wish it to be understood that we do not intend
to limit ourselves to this number as a larger or a smaller number of cisterns may
be combined in one machine according to the requirements of the case, or more or
less than two rollers in each cistern or vat.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same shown also partly in section.
In addition to the two perforated cylinders b, b each cistern or vat is fitted with
a horizontal perforated plate c, c two inclined perforated plates c¹, c¹ and four
guide rollers d, d, d, d. Two guide rollers d, à are provided to each perforated
cylinder to cause the cloth to envelope nearly the whole circumference of the
cylinder; and the space between these guide rollers d, d is closed by a third roller
b, b to prevent suction through that part of the perforated cylinder b, b which is
uncovered. The rollers d, d are mounted in arms 61, 6 which are connected to
the side of the vat by a joint which is sufficiently stiff to hold the rollers in placo
during the ordinary work, but in the event of the cloth becoming lapped on the
cylinder, the joint will give way and thus prevent a break down.
The cylinders we prefer to groove and perforate in the manner illustrated (full
size) at Figs. 3 and 4, each perforation c, e being combined with a countersunk
elongated groove f, f that being the form which we have found most suitable to
support the cloth firmly and at the same time to afford a means of rapid suction of
the liquor through the cloth but we do not confine ourselves to this particular plan
as the perforations may be combined with longitudinal or circumferential grooves
or countersunk in a circular form round each perforation. The plate c rests upon
angle iron supports and the plates c¹ and c¹¹ are supported in grooves in diagonal
guides g, g fixed to the side of the vat so that they can be readily removed when
required. Each perforated cylinder b, b is closed at one end b¹ (see section of same
on Fig. 2) and open at the other end where it is connected by a duct or passage
h, h with a centrifugal or other suction pump i, i which draws the liquor from the
vat through the cloth and through the perforations into the interior of the cylinder
b, b, and then forces it into the discharge or distributing pipe le, k through which it
is discharged again into the vat. This pipe k, ke we make of the form shown at
Figs. 5. G. and 7. having in its lower side a row of elongated openings 1, 1 on each
of which is a cheek m, m and between each two openings a lip n, n so as to cause
the liquor to pour straight down into the cistern or vat. The pipe is also hinged
at o, o so that it can be turned up out of the way at any time when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
we claim is
two or more
First. In a cistern or vat used for bleaching, washing chloring, scouring, soaping,
dunging and dyeing woven fabrics, the combination of one
countersunk and perforated suction cylinders, with two three or more movable
countersunk and perforated plates for supporting the cloth substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein before set forth.
Secondly. We claim the particular combination of countersunk grooves and
perforations for suction cylinders or plates illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the
Drawings.

page_text: Thirdly. The combination with the said countersunk, and perforated suction
cylinders, of a suction pump and a discharge or distributing pipe, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
Fourtbly. We claim the particular construction of the said discharge pipe with
its cheeks and lips substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 5
and 6. and
Fifthly. We claim the general construction and arrangement of the whole
apparatus as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2; and herein before described with reference
to such Figs.