Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for the Dyeing, Bleaching and Treatment of Cotton and other Textile Materials.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1900-Accepted, 14th July, 1900
Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for the Dyeing,
Bleaching and Treatment of Cotton and other Textile Materials.
We, JOSEPH LINDLEY, of the Britannia Mill, Mirfield, in the County of York,
Engineer, and ELIJAH ASHWORTH, of the Moss Brook Works, Collyhurst,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our said invention has reference to improvements in the method of and
apparatus for the dyeing and other treatment of cotton and other textile
materials. The apparatus to which our improvements have been applied is
described and illustrated in Specification No. 10678 of 1891 to which we refer
the reader.
In such apparatus a wheel is employed divided into a number of compart-
ments closed by hinged perforated lids, and provided with a perforated hollow
shaft revolving in bearings formed in standards. The cotton or material to be
dyed was placed in the compartments and the wheel was slowly revolved by
gearing the lower portion being immersed in dye or other liquor contained in
avat or cistern which liquor was pumped from the cistern through the hollow
perforated shaft and through the material in the compartment of the wheel.
The cistern and wheel were open to the atmosphere but we find in practice
that a more effective working of the apparatus results if the cistern and wheel
are encased so as to retain the steam arising from the heated dye liquor. We
therefore provide a suitable casing to enclose the cistern and wheel the casing
having also hinged doors or covers to obtain access to the compartments of the
wheel. Moreover in addition to the perforations in the covers of the compart-
ments we may in some cases perforate the sides of the wheel for some distance
from the periphery towards the centre providing more air and liquor circulating
passages as the wheel revolves.
In the apparatus shown in the drawings of the said specification a centrifugal
pump is employed to pump the dye and other liquor from the cistern through
the material being treated. In practice it is found that particles of fibre are
drawn into the pump which thereby becomes choked or clogged, the working
of the apparatus being seriously interfered with before these accumulations of
fibre within the pump can be removed. To remedy this defect we provide a
suitable interceptor between the pump and the cistern. The interceptor consists
of a suitable casing in communication with the pump and cistern the way being
governed by a valve. The liquor in its passage through the interceptor is con-
ducted through a grid or strainer upon which is deposited the particles of fibre
To readily
or other solid matter such particles being retained by the grid.
cleanse the grid or strainer from an accumulation of fibre or other solid matter
door is provided to the interceptor through which the grid may be removed.
Supports or ways are formed in the interceptor within which the grid slides
and which serve to retain the grid in position. The supply of liquor having

page_text: been cut off by the valve the door of the interceptor may be opened and the
grid withdrawn at intervals to be cleansed and replaced, when the working of
the apparatus may be resumed.
Further by removing the door of the interceptor and opening the valve we
have a clear way to introduce a rake or any suitable tool into the trough in the
cistern to remove any solid matter which may have settled there.
We
We have also devised improved means for obtaining a fluid tight stuffing
box for the gudgeon formed on the hollow perforated shaft of the wheel.
now introduce the dye liquor through the bottom of the stuffing box carried by
the end standard. The gudgeon of the hollow shaft is mounted to revolve
partly upon a lining of brass or other anti-friction metal carried by the stuffing
box and partly upon a gland, packing being placed between the gland and the
lining. The gland is prevented from turning in the stuffing box by means of
a snug or projection sliding within a recess in the stuffing box.
A cover is placed upon the end of the stuffing box through which cover pass
screws which bear against the back of the gland. By operating the screws the
gland is slid within the stuffing box to compress the packing and make the
stuffing box fluid tight. Lock nuts are employed to prevent the screws becoming
slackened.
This improved stuffing box is designed to throw the weight of the revolving
cage on to a suitable bearing instead of on the gland as formerly. In the prior
machine the gland was packed from the inside, a difficult operation.
Moreover a certain amount of danger existed in setting up the gland during
the working of the machine to stop leakage and to stop the machine would
have produced unevenness of shade in the material.
Our improved gland can be safely packed from the outside without stoppage.
In addition by removing the cover and gland a rake or scraper can be intro-
duced into the perforated hollow shaft to remove any solid particles which may
have found their way therein.
We have further devised some improvements in the process as follows. In
the preliminary moistening or washing of the cotton with hot water, instead
of heating the water within the cistern we heat it in a separate vessel and dis-
charge it into the cistern at the required temperature. The hot water is then
pumped through the material as before to thoroughly wet it.
The material is then dyed in the usual manner.
In washing" the material after dyeing the water has been introduced into
the trough or cistern and after being pumped through the material has escaped
through an outflow in the trough.
This we have found in practice is unsatisfactory and wasteful.
We therefore introduce the water direct to the pump which forces it forward
through the material into the cistern from which it can be allowed to escape
or where there is a scarcity of water the outlet in the cistern can be closed until
the cistern is full. The feed of water can then be shut off and the water in the
cistern can be pumped through the material several times before being run off
thereby effecting a considerable saving in water.
The pump can also be used to pump the dye liquor and any other liquors
which may be used in the various processes for which the machine is applicable
into cisterns or tanks so that it can be made up to its proper strength and used
again thereby saving liquor, the pump also returning the liquor to the machine
again as required.
By completely encasing the apparatus as described and using a suitable
exhausting fan the apparatus might be used to dye indigo blue.
Dated this 13th day of Lulu 1900

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for the Dyeing,
Bleaching and Treatment of Cotton and other Textile Materials.
We, JOSEPH LINDLEY, of the Britannia Mill, Mirfield, in the County of York,
Engineer, and ELIJAH ASHWORTH, of the Moss Brook Works, Collyhurst,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, 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 and
accompanying drawings:-
Our said invention has reference to improvements in the method of and
apparatus for the dyeing, bleaching, and other treatment of cotton and other textile
materials. The apparatus to which our improvements have been applied is
described and illustrated in Specification No. 10678 of 1891 to which we refer
the reader.
In such apparatus a wheel is employed divided into a number of compart-
ments closed by hinged perforated lids and provided with a perforated hollow
shaft revolving in bearings formed in standards. The cotton or material to be
dyed was placed in the compartments and the wheel was slowly revolved by
gearing the lower portion being immersed in dye or other liquor contained in
a vat or cistern which liquor was pumped from the cistern through the hollow
perforated shaft and through the material in the compartment of the wheel.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 shows in front elevation such an
apparatus for the dyeing of cotton and other textile materials to which
improvements have been applied.
Fig. 2 is a portion of the apparatus in elevation and partly in section.
Fig. 3 is an end view also partly in section.
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.
our
In the drawings the cistern is marked a and revolving in bearings therein
is a hollow shaft with ducts or perforations 6' the shaft carrying as usual the
pervious cage or wheel c. The cage is divided into compartments by means
of removable grids & supported in grooves or ways formed in the sides of
the cage c
Formerly the cistern a and wheel were open to the atmosphere but we find
in practice that a more effective working of the apparatus results if the cistern
and wheel are encased so as to retain the steam arising from the heated dye
liquor. We therefore provide a suitable canopy or casing 2 to enclose the
cistern and wheel & the casing having also hinged doors or covers e to obtain
access to the compartments of the wheel c.
The lids of the various compartments are formed from grids f curved to the
required shape resting upon cross bars y carried by brackets on the sides of
the cage or wheel c.
To secure the lids f of the compartments in position the ends of neighbouring
lids are covered by narrow strips of metal g² the strips g² being clamped by
means of wing nuts and bolts g the bolts gt also bearing upon and securing
the removable grids which divide the wheel into compartments.
In the apparatus shown in the drawings of the said Specification No. 10678
of 1891 a centrifugal pump is employed to pump the dye and other liquor from
the cistern through the material being treated. In practice it is found that
particles of fibre are drawn into the pump which thereby becomes choked or
clogged, the working of the apparatus being seriously interfered with before
these accumulations of fibre within the pump can be removed. To remedy this
defect we provide a suitable interceptor between the pump and the cistern a.

page_text: upon
fibre
or
h
The interceptor consists of a suitable casing in communication with the pump
and cistern a the way being governed by a valve j. The liquor in its passage
through the interceptor passes through a grid or strainer (see Fig. 5)
which is deposited the particles or
such particles being retained by the grid the
sing through the pipe to the hollow shaft b.
or strainer from an accumulation of fibre or other solid matter a door is
provided to the interceptor through which the grid
To
other solid matter
liquor afterwards pas-
readily cleanse the grid
may be removed.
The supply of liquor having been cut off by the valve j, the door of the
interceptor may be opened and the grid withdrawn at intervals to be cleansed
and replaced, when the working of the apparatus may be resumed.
Further by removing the door of the interceptor and opening the valve j
we have a clear way to introduce a rake or any suitable tool into the trough
in the cistern to remove any solid matter which may have settled there as will
be more apparent from an inspection of Fig. 8.
We have also devised improved means for obtaining a fluid tight stuffing box
We now
for the gudgeon formed on the hollow perforated shaft of the wheel.
introduce the dye liquor through the side of the stuffing box 1, (see Figs. B
and 4). The gudgeon m of the hollow shaft is mounted to revolve partly upon
a lining m of cast iron carried by the stuffing box, and partly upon a gland ni,
packing being placed between the gland and the lining.
The gland is prevented from turning in the stuffing box / by means of
snugs or projections n' sliding within recesses in the stuffing box 7.
A cover o is placed upon the end of the stuffing box through which cover
pass screws 2 which bear against the back of the gland n. By operating the
screws the gland is slid within the stuffing box to compress the packing
and make the stuffing box fluid tight. Lock nuts are employed to prevent
the screws becoming slackened.
This improved stuffing box is designed to throw the weight of the revolving
wheel or cage c on to a suitable bearing instead of on the gland as formerly.
In the prior machine the gland was packed from the inside, which was a difficult
operation. Moreover a certain amount of danger existed in setting up the gland
during the working of the machine to stop leakage and to stop the machine would
have produced unevenness of shade in the material.
Our improved gland can be safely packed from the outside without stoppage.
In addition by removing the cover and gland a rake or scraper can be intro-
duced into the perforated hollow shaft to remove any solid particles which may
have found their way therein.
By completely encasing the apparatus as described it might be used to dye
indigo blue as the pressure of steam prevents the admission of air
We have further devised some improvements in the process as follows. In
the preliminary moistening or washing of the cotton with hot water, instead
of heating the water within the cistern we heat it in a separate vessel and dis-
charge it into the cisterna at the required temperature. The hot water is then
pumped through the material as before to thoroughly wet it.
The material is then dyed in the usual manner.
In " washing "the material after dyeing the water hitherto has been intro-
duced into the trough or cistern at a low level and being of lighter specific
gravity than the impure washing water in the cistern has risen to the top of
the liquid level in the cistern and has escaped through the outflow in the trough,
without being pumped through the material.
This we have found in practice is unsatisfactory and wasteful.
We now therefore introduce the water directly from the source of supply to
the pump which forces it forward through the material into the cistern from which
it can be allowed to escape or, where there is a scarcity of water the outlet in
the cistern can be closed until the cistern is full. The feed of water can then
be shut off and the water in the cistern can be pumped through the material

page_text: several times before being run off thereby effecting a considerable saving in
water.
The pump can also be used to pump the dye liquor and any other liquors
which may be used in the various processes for which the machine is applicable
into cisterns or tanks so that it can be made up to its proper strength and used
again thereby saving liquor, the pump also returning the liquor to the machine
again as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is:-
1) In apparatus of the indicated nature for the dyeing and treatment of cotton
and other fibrous materials a canopy provided with hinged doors for completely
encasing the cistern and cage of the apparatus for the purposes and substantially
as described and shown.
2) In apparatus of the indicated nature an interceptor consisting of a casing
provided with a grid or strainer, placed between the pump and cistern and in
communication therewith, the way being governed by a valve for the purposes
and substantially as described and illustrated.
3) The improved stuffing box for the gudgeon of the hollow perforated shaft
arranged in the manner and substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 3
and 4 of the drawings.
4) In washing the material after dyeing, introducing the washing water
directly from the source of supply to the pump to force it forward through the
material and from thence into the cistern from which it may be allowed to
escape or be used over again substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of May 1900.
For the Applicants,
E. K. DUTTON & Co..
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, and
3, Yorkshire Street, Rochdale.