Improvements in and connected with Travelling Aprons for Drying, Scouring, and like Apparatus for Textile Materials.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Travelling Aprons for Drying,
Scouring, and like Apparatus for Textile Materials.
I, JOHN HEWETSON LORIMER, of 201 E. Chelten Avenue, Germantown, in
the County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
Heretofore in textile machinery, such as machines for drying, scouring, or
treating textile materials either in the raw or improved condition as when in yarns,
it has been customary to employ endless aprons of more or less open construction
which will convey the material and permit air, gases, or liquids to penetrate or
permeate the textile material while in the custody of said aprons and during its
travel through the apparatus. As these aprons are required to pass about rollers
or wheels of comparatively small diameter, there has been considerable difficulty
in the construction thereof owing to the tendency of the aprons to become broken,
or when this is avoided to have either too great a density or to be too weak in
structure for practical use.
My invention comprehends certain improvements in aprons adapted to various
classes of machinery for operating textiles which overcome all of the objections
which have heretofore existed in the various constructions of aprons which have
been heretofore used in the market upon textile machinery.
In carrying out my invention I provide two sprocket chains or flexible parts
separated at a considerable distance from each other, and united at intervals by
transverse rods or bars, and between the said rods or bai; and intermediate of the
sprocket chains or their equivalent I arrange woven or interlaced wire frames which
are preferably of iron galvanized on account of economy and the less liability to be
acted upon by acids or reagents which may be used in the process of treating the
textiles while in the custody of the aprons. The woven wire frames substantially
fill the space between the chains and two adjacent transverse rods or bars, and are
loosely connected to the said bars or rods by loops or links so that they are
practically sustained thereby and yet form flexible joints so as to permit the readý
passage of the aprons about the guide wheels or rollers.
In practice it is customary to employ two sprocket wheels upon a transverse
shaft. The sprocket wheels corresponding in position to the two sprocket chains,
the space between the said sprocket wheels being open so as to permit the ready
passage of the frames of the aprons which in effect form polygonal sides when
passing about the said sprocket wheels. The looseness in play between the
connections of the frames and the transverse rods of the conveyor or apron permit
the frames to accommodate themselves to each other and to the said rods and
sprocket chains.
My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a drying machine showing the employment of
the endless aprons or conveyors and their guide wheels and pulleys;
Fig. 2 is a plain view of my improved apron ;
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of one side of the apron and a portion of the wall
of the drying chamber showing the method supporting the apron intermediate of
the wheels; and
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a scouring machine showing the employment of
wo of these aprons.

page_text: A is the drying chamber and may be formed in any suitable shape. B and C are
two endless aprons or conveyors and are guided about the wheels or cylinders E
within the chamber A, and wheels or cylinders D and G and F without the
chamber A.
It is evident that the aprons come together adjacent to the rollers G and D
where they hold the textile material between them and take it within the
chamber A. After the material has been conveyed back and forth through the
chamber A it is discharged from the aprons adjacent to the wheels F and D on
the left hand side. During the conveyance of the material through the chamber A,
air or gas is drawn through the opening I and through the various aprons and
materials held thereby and discharged by the fans H.
The aprons B and C are constructed as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and consist
of sprocket chains J, J, connected at intervals by transverse rods or bars K
preferably connected to the sprocket chains by lugs j upon some of the links of the
sprocket chains. Interposed between the sprocket chains J, J, and adjacent bars
or rods K, K, are frames L of woven or interlaced wire having the ends and the
length of the apron finished by the selvedges in the weaving and having the free
ends of the wires adjacent to the chains doubled under so as to make smooth edges.
In this manner very light frames L may be employed and yet the frames will be
exceedingly strong and durable, and by arranging the frames in the manner
described they may be linked by flexible links or connections M. to the rods K and
thereby held to the rods in the line of their greatest strength and thus overcome
any tendency of the frames being pulled to pieces. As the sprocket chains J pass
over the wheels E the aprons of the two parts B and C will remain in contact, and
there will be sufficient play to prevent them jamming or straining the woven wire
work. The chains between the wheels E, E, may rest upon angle iron guides N
secured to the side walls of the chamber A, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 3.
These angle irons also act as intermediate guides, and insure the air circulating
through frames L. In using frames of this kind but very little obstruction is
interposed to the free passage of the air and yet the material to be treated is
positively and firmly held by a most durable support.
Another type of machine in which this class of apron will be used is what is
known as the washing or scouring machine, and is clearly shown in Fig. 4. In this
case the vessel A', contains the endless aprons B and C guided about suitable,
rollers or sprocket wheels E. The textile material after being conveyed through
the washing and scouring liquor contained in the vessel or tank A' is delivered to
the same squeeze rolls S.
°
The two types of machines illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 will give the general idea
of the use of my improved aprons, for in all machines of this class it is desirable to
make the aprons open or porous, of great durability, and of such construction that
they shall not be liable to injure the materials.
dest
I do not limit myself to the minor details of construction as my invention
comprehends the use of woven wire frames hinged or linked to a suitable conveyor.
structure adapted to pass about wheels, and therefore the details, may be more, or
less modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be perforined, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The conveying apron for textile machinery substantially as herein described and
shown.
DL:
ليوم
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JOHN HEWETSON LORIMER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
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