Improvements in Jute and Hemp Softening Machines
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Jute and Hemp Softening Machines:
I, JOHN CHEYNE, of Paterson, in the County of Passaic, State of New Jersey,
United States of America, Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN JUTE AND HEMP SOFTENING MACHINES and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to machines for softening jute and hemp.
Usually jute and hemp are taken from the bale and put through the machine, being
subjected to jets of oil from an oiling apparatus in its passage. through the machine to
dissolve the gum, and thus soften the fiber. Then, when taken from the machine, the
fiber is laid in bulk, where it lies for several days, and is moistened with a mixture of
hot water and oil from a tank, borax being sometimes added in order to further dissolve
the gum and render the fiber soft and fit for further use.
This mode of softening jute and hemp is objectionable for the reason that the oil
and water in the tank will not mix owing to a want of affinity-the oil rising to the
surface when the water cools, thus giving poor results in the softening of the fiber,
after the long delay necessary to complete the operation.
The object of my present invention is to provide means for softening jute and hemp,
which shall possess the advantages of the former mode of softening jute or hemp, but
which shall be free from its objectionable features.
With this end in view, my invention consists in a water box having pipes, etc.,
which I arrange on the machine, and which will be hereinafter fully described and
pointed out in the claims.
On the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents the said machine adapted with
my improvements. Fig. 2 represents my improvements in sectional elevation, and
Fig. 3 represents another sectional elevation thereof through y-y, Fig. 2.
A, represents a jute and hemp softening machine of ordinary build, having the
usual supporting frame A, driving shaft d, apron b, rollers c, and oil chamber g.
The machine, which is constructed as usual, need not be further described herein.
In a suitable position on the machine A. I fix by bolts or otherwise a box B, into
which box, I arrange a water supply pipe and steam pipe E having a valve E³.

page_text: The water supply pipe C is provided with a valve D and a float D', which latter is
connected with the valve and is adapted to close the valve when the box has received
a supply of water through the pipe C into the same, and to open the valve for a
further supply when the supply of water is insufficient in the box for practical
purposes. L represents an overflow or exhaust outlet.
The steam pipe E enters the box at the top of the same, as does the pipe C, passes
down to the bottom of the box, and is provided with a branch pipe E' having
perforations E, and is adapted to heat the water in the box by jets of live steam that
issue through the said perforations E and to boil the same.
In the bottom of the water box BI fix a pipe F', which pipe depends and which has
arranged on the top of the same, in the box, an enlarged perforated part F, while
below the box the said pipe F' has a valve G and hand wheel G, which latter is
adapted to open and close the valve in the operation of softening the fiber.
Below the valve G on the pipe F¹ is a branch pipe H and distributing pipes H'
which latter are adapted to distribute the boiling water and steam that passes down
through the perforated top part F into the pipe F¹ to be distributed in the operation
of softening the fiber in the manner hereinafter stated.
The machine is supposod to be in motion.
The jute or hemp a passes on the apron b to and between the rollers c, where the
fiber undergoes handlings incident to the shape of the rollers c, between which it
passes and is meshed and is subjected to jets of oil at g' from the oil receptacle g, and
while passing on between the rollers, after having been oiled as stated, the fiber is
further subjected to jets of boiling water and steam from the pipe F through the
pipes H H¹, and perforations K of the latter, the valve G having been previously
opened by turning the wheel G¹.
The fiber having been subjected to jets of oil from the oil receptacle g, and to jets of
boiling water and steam from the perforations K, the said jets of boiling water and
steam tend to force a union of the water and oil, and which, in connection with the
further action of the rollers thereupon, fully dissolves the gum, and causes the fiber to
leave the machine softened and ready for immediate further use.
By my invention the heaps of fiber, tank, barrels, and other cumbersome things,
with the delay of the pre-existing mode of softening jute and hemp, are entirely
dispensed with, and better results of softening the fiber are secured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-:
In a jute and hemp softening machine, the combination with the oil receptacle y,
rollers shaft d, and apron b, of the box B, the pipe provided with valve D and
float D', the pipe E, having a valve E³, the pipe E¹ having perforations E3, the pipe F³,
enlargement F, valve G and wheel G₁ thereon, pipe H, pipes H' having perforations K,
and overflow or exhaust L, all arranged to operate substantially as described and
shown.
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