Improvements in Apparatus for Steaming Textile Fabrics, also applicable for Drying Fabrics.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Steaming Textile Fabrics, also
applicable for Drying Fabrics.
I, THOMAS ILLINGWORTH, of 18, Mill Street, Bradford, in the County of
York, Merchant, 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 improvements in apparatus for steaming textile fabrics
either preliminary to drying or after they have been pressed or at any other stage,
and its object is to perform this operation more effectively and economically than
hitherto. The invention also relates to improvements in drying textile fabrics for
which purpose the same apparatus is applicable, and its object, when so used, is to
impart to fabrics, particularly heavy worsted and woollen cloths, a fuller more
"clothy" and less harsh handle than can be obtained by existing methods.
For these purposes I employ a vertical cylindrical chamber preferably completely
surrounded by a steam jacket and fitted with an internally sliding door, which is
also steam jacketed. Independent means are provided for admitting steam to the
jackets for the purpose of heating the interior of the chamber, and also independent
means for admitting steam to the interior of the chamber when the apparatus is
used for steaming fabrics. The steam jacket thus serves the twofold purpose of
producing a dry heat within the chamber and preventing condensation of, and, if
desirable, superheating subsequently admitted steam. Means are also provided
for more or less exhausting air or vapour from the chamber.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1, represents an elevation of a steaming chamber constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Figure 2, represents a plan view of the same.
Figure 3, represents a vertical section showing the interior of the chamber.
Figure 4, represents a sectional plan of the same.
Figure 5, represents an elevation of the chamber particularly illustrating the
construction of an improved form of crane for lifting the rolls of fabrics in and out
of the chamber.
Figure 6, represents a plan view of the same with the chamber partly in section
so as to show the crane in full.
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 represent views of details hereinafter referred to.
The chamber A is surrounded by double walls A and A³, preferably made of
best inild steel boiler plates to withstand any desirable pressure, suitably stayed
together and having a steam space A between them to which steam may be admitted
by means of the inlet A' and be allowed to escape therefrom by the outlet 'A'.
A steam inlet pipe A is provided to supply the interior of the chamber and a steam
outlet AB is also fitted. The inlet pipe A is preferably fitted in the axial tubular
stay N, which is connected to the steam jacket space above and below the chamber.
This stay besides strengthening the shell facilitates heating the chamber. The

page_text: iulet A' is fitted with a valve N' the valve spindle N* of which is carried through
a stuffing box N* fixed in the double walls of the chamber so that the said valve
may be opened, closed or regulated outside the chamber.
The advantage of feeding the chamber with steam from the top of the tubular
stay is that it insures the steam being unsaturated or perfectly dry, for before steam
is admitted to the said chamber the temperature, by means of steam under suitable
pressure within the jackets and the tubular stay, is raised above the requisite
temperature of subsequently admitted steam, and before this internal temperature
can be attained the walls of the chamber (the outer wall being covered with some
suitable boiler-covering or non-conducting material) must have approximated to the
temperature of the steam within the jackets and tubular stay and all condensation
must almost altogether have ceased and any water previously condensed have been
drained off, preferably through a suitably connected steam trap. And the perfectly
dry condition of steam admitted within the chamber is maintained by keeping the
pressure in the jackets and the tubular stay somewhat greater than that in the
interior. To this end the chamber and steam jacket are each fitted with safety
valves of any ordinary form and that of the chamber is set to blow off at a suitably
lower pressure than that of the jacket; or the pressure may be reduced by the
outlet valve A being occasionally opened or kept constantly slightly open.
Instead of fitting the valve N inside the chamber a pipe may be brought from
the tubular stay outside the chamber, and an external valve fitted in said pipe.
The outlets and inlets are each provided with suitable valves, and a pressure gauge
may also be fitted both to the chamber and to the steam jacket. As it is of the
greatest importance the temperature of the steam jacket and tubular stay, also the
interior chamber, should be accurately known-the former, as will be seen, being
used as the means of heating the interior-a thermometer S is fitted to externally
indicate the heat of the steam chest and a thermometer T to indicate the heat of
the chamber. The tube T¹ of the thermometer T is bent at right angles so that
the bulb T2 projects several inches into the chamber whilst the scale 13 is outside,
consequently in sight. A packing box T is preferably formed through the steam
chest for the bent part of the thermometer tube and it is packed therein. The
packing box T is screwed through the walls A' and A' of the chamber and a
nut 1 is put on each end to make the joint perfect. The bent part of the tube T
of the thermometer is set in the metallic casing T' by means of any suitable cement
or packing confined at the ends by the screw caps and to. The metallic casing
has a collar T formed upon it and a screw thread is cut at the inner end upon which
the nut T is fixed. Asbestos or other suitable packing is introduced into the
packing box T around the casing To between the collar T7 and the shoulder T on
the inner end of the box, and the nut T is tightened to make the joint. The
elbow t is fixed on the outer end of T around the bend of the tube and the scale
piece T is mounted upon it. A perforated protector, not shown in the drawing, is
placed around the bulb T' to preserve it from injury.
This thermometer is practically not directly affected by the temperature of the
steam in the jacket and gives an accurate indication of the internal temperature of
the chamber.
The thermometer S is fixed in a similar way but as it is imperative for the
bulb S to lie in the steam jacket A', or space between the walls A' and A', the
packing box T is dispensed with and the collar T' is made sufficiently large to be
secured to the outer wall A³ by the studs St. Figures 7 and 8 represent sections
on a larger scale of the walls of the chamber illustrating the thermometers T and S
and the method of mounting them. 275 degrees Fahrenheit is about the maximum
temperature to which most fibres and especially animal fibres may with safety be
subjected, hence the importance of ascertaining and regulating the temperature
and suiting it to the various classes of fibres and fabrics to be treated.
The door B is preferably hung inside, by the links B', to the runners B³ mounted
on the concentric bar B secured to the sides of the chamber. By this arrangement
the door may be bodily slided to the position shown by the broken lines Figure 6

page_text: so as to leave the doorway B³ fully open. When the door is closed it is clamped
tightly in position, so as to form a steam tight joint with the door frame A by
means of the clamping frame C suspended outside the chamber by the links C² to
the runners C' mounted on the concentric bar C. Like the door the clamping
5 frame may be brought in front of the door-way or slided to the position shown by
Figure 6. The door is provided with a number of bolts Be hinged to its outer face
so arranged that when disengaged from the clamp C they may be swung aside as
shown by Figure 1. After the door is closed the clamp is brought in front (as
shown in Figure 1) and the bolts are turned into the U shaped slots C in the
0 clamp, then the nuts B7 on said bolts are tightened up to bring the door against
the door frame A'.
A
The door B is jacketed or of double plating, leaving a steam cavity B' which is
supplied by means of the pipe C7 connected to the jacket or a separate supply pipe,
it is thus heated to the same temperature as the walls of the chamber. The
cavity B is also provided with a steam outlet C³ connected to the jacket or to an
independent steami trap. The tubes C and C are provided with any ordinary
form of union or coupling adapting them to be connected or disconnected.
groove is formed inside around the door frame and asbestos or other suitable
packing is placed in it, and the door B is provided with a raised bead & all around
it adapted to fit into said groove and by bearing on said packing forms a steam-
tight joint. Figure 9 represents a section of a portion of the door and frame
showing this groove, packing and bead on a larger scale.
By arranging the door to slide inside the chamber it may be opened and closed
in a small space, and when closed the internal pressure tends to make a steam-
tight joint, and this construction is particularly adapted to safely withstand great
pressure, which, considering the necessarily large area of the door, is of considerable
importance. The clamping frame is sufficiently strong to securely hold the door
in its position and maintain an airtight joint when a partial vacuum is created
within the chamber.
The turn table D mounted on antifriction rollers D2 pivoted to the annular bed
plate D on the floor of the chamber is employed. This table is provided with a
number of seats D³ each adapted to receive a flanged roller Fnpon which the
fabrics to be treated are preferably rolled. The seats D³ are cach provided with
two hinged claws D₁ and D' adapted to be turned down before the roller Fis
placed thereon to the position shown by D in Figure 10, which represents a
diametrical section of one of the seats with a portion of the roller mounted thereon.
In order to secure the roller on the seat after it is mounted thereon the claws are
turned up to the position shown by Do so as to engage the flange F' of the roller,
and they are then secured in that position by the pins or cotters D' passed through
the lugs d on the seat.
For obvious reasons it is desirable that the size of the door-way should not be
Jarger than is necessary to allow the rolls of fabric to be readily passed in and out
therefore employ the improved form of crane shown in Figures 5 and 6 which
enables the rollers F to be lifted completely in and out of the chamber but does
not obstruct the door-way and when not in use is entirely out of the way.
characteristic feature of the crane is that the jib is bent horizontally more or less
The
to a right angle. The upright H of the crane is pivoted in the brackets H²,
H2 projecting from the top and side of the chamber and the chain drum H³ is
mounted on a stud H projecting at right angles from the said upright. The
chain H passes from this drum over a pulley H at the top of the upright and is
guided forward to the usual pulley H by means of the pulley /mounted
approximately at the apex of the angle formed by the bend of the jib. The.
broken lines Figure 6 represent the crane swung out of the chamber.
In practice a roll of fabrics is mounted on each of the seats D³ each seat being
brought into position, by turning the table, to receive the roll directly from the
The table may be turned by means of a lever (represented by the broken
ines G Figure 4) inserted in one of the horizontal sockets G formed in the table.
crane.

page_text: When the whole of the rolls are in position the door is closed in the manner before
described and the air is pumped out of, or otherwise exhausted from, the chamber
through the outlet J. A vacuum gauge of any ordinary construction may be fitted
to externally indicate the degree of vacuum created. Steam at a suitable pressure
is then, or may have previously been, admitted to the steam jacket and the tubular
stay, for the purpose of heating the chamber and its contents as before described.
As soon as the interior chamber and its contents have attained a temperature-as
recorded on the thermometer T-approximating to the known temperature of the
steam to be subsequently admitted, which temperature is ascertained by the
readings of thermometer S fitted to the steam jacket, such steam is then turned
into the chamber; the exhaust passage J and the other outlets having of course
been previously closed.
By maintaining the steam within the chamber in an unsaturated dry condition
the risk of making colors run (technically known as "bleeding") and certain
other injurious effects on the fabrics are obviated. The maximum diffusive and
transpiratory properties and velocity of the steam (for the temperature at which it
is used) are fully utilized, it rapidly transpires and diffuses through the fabrics,
although tightly rolled on the perforated rollers or cylinders, permeating the whole
mass and the steaming is uniformly effected throughout.
The process whether of steaming or drying is facilitated by using hollow
perforated rollers or cylinders open preferably at both ends. Two or more pieces
of fabric inay be wrapped on each roller or cylinder.
Exhausting air from the chamber prior to the admission of steam facilitates the
steaming process and by evacuating the air confined within the interstices and the
laps of the fabrics on the rollers the injurious tendency to what is known as
watering" is considerably lessened.
66
When the steaming process is completed, the inlet A' is closed and the outlet A³
is opened and the chamber evacuated of the contained steam. Steam is also shut
off from the jackets and tubular stay by closing the inlet A'; and the outlet A
may be opened to let off the steam within the jackets and internal tube. To
expedite the cooling of the chamber and to more or less exhaust the gaseous
contents within the chamber, and within the interstices of the fabrics, and hence
check liability of condensation, the vacuum pump may be put into operation, all
other outlets or inlets being of course previously closed.
When cool enough to
handle the rolls of fabrics are lifted out of the chamber by the crane as described
and allowed to remain on the rolls until thoroughly cold.
When the apparatus is employed for drying fabrics they are tightly rolled on
perforated cylinders or rollers as before described and placed within the chamber
and the door is closed. Steam is admitted to the jackets and the internal tubular
stay, to beat the chamber to the desired temperature and the air pump is put into
and kept in operation to exhaust the vapour given off by the fabrics exposed to the
heat radiated from the sides of the chamber and the central tube. I find fabrics
thus dried, whilst under more or less compression upon the rollers, are more
perfectly set with less shrinkage, and their "handle is fuller and not so harsh,
whilst vegetable dyes in particular are more firmly "fixed" and fastened than
when fabrics are dried by ordinary methods.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I am
aware that steam heated steaming chambers have been used prior to the date of
this Application and I do not broadly claim a steam heated chamber but what I
. claim is :
1. A vertical cylindrical steaming chamber for treating textile fabrics surrounded
by a steam jacket embracing the ends of the chamber and having a hollow internally
sliding door, capable of being steam beated and adapted to be clamped in position
when closed, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A vertical cylindrical steaming chamber for treating textile fabrics surrounded

page_text: by a steam jacket embracing the ends of the chamber and having a steam beated
door and an internal tubular stay, substantially as herein shown and described.
3. A jacketed cylindrical steaming chamber having an internal jacketed door
arranged to be clamped in position and capable of being slided aside close to the
vertical wall of the chamber, substantially as herein shown and described.
4. A vertical cylindrical steaming chamber for treating textile fabrics, provided
with a rotatable table adapted to receive two or more vertical rolls of fabrics,
substantially as herein shown and described.
5. The combination with a steam jacketed chamber for treating textile fabrics,
of a crane having the extreme half or end of the jib bent approximately at right
angles to the remainder of the jib, substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose specified.
6. A steam jacketed chamber for steaming textile fabrics having a thermometer
fitted thereto with the bulb lying inside the chamber and the scale outside the
chamber and also a thermometer fitted to the steam jacket having the bulb in the
jacket and the scale outside the chamber, substantially as herein shown and
described and illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings.
7. A steaming chamber for steaming textile fabrics surrounded by a steam jacket
having means for feeding the said chamber with dry steam from the interior of the
jacket or connection thereto, and also means for keeping the steam within the
chamber at a sufficiently lower pressure than that in the jacket, substantially as
herein shown and described, and for the purpose specified.
8. Apparatus for drying rolls of textile fabrics consisting of a vertical cylindrical
steam heated drying chamber capable of being hermetically closed, provided with
a turntable to receive said rolls and an air pump or other means for more or less
exhausting the vaporous contents of the chamber during the drying operation,
substantially as herein shown and described.
9. Drying textile fabrics, whilst more or less tightly rolled, within a closed and
heated chamber, from which the air, and vaporous contents, is, or are, partly
exhausted, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 16th day of October 1894.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.