AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRYING FILAMENTOUS MATERIALS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRYING FILAMENTOUS MATERIALS." A com-
munication from abroad by César Corron, of St. Etienne (Loire), France,
Dyer.
Sealed the 9th August 1878, and dated the 11th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th February 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRYING FILA-
MENTOUS MATERIALS.' [A communication from abroad by César Corron, of St.
Etienne (Loire), France, Dyer.]
This Invention relates to an improved machine for drying in straight threads all
kinds of filamentous materials in skeins or hanks after the said materials have
undergone the various operations of boiling, dyeing, mordanting, washing, clearing
or brightening, and other operations to which they are subjected, and the said
machine is constructed to utilize centrifugal force for this purpose.
Hitherto it has been the custom with dyers to wring or twist the skeins and
place them in an ordinary drying apparatus, or to leave them on their sticks,
supporting the latter against partitions placed on the sides of the basket of a
drying apparatus of large diameter. When collected the skeins or hanks are found
to be in a state of disorder, and adhering with the sticks to the said partitions.
There are many disadvantages and inconveniences arising from the methods
hitherto in use, amongst which may be named-Bursting by reason of centrifugal
force; the skeins coming from the operation in a tangled condition; irregularities
in the drying; inconvenience in putting the materials in the apparatus; and
irregularities in the dyeing effects.

page_text: A machine for drying in straight threads constructed according to this Invention
comprises a circular plate of metal mounted upon a vertical shaft with which it
revolves. The said metal plate is divided into a certain number of sectors (five, for
example), which are limited by radial ribs forming separate compartments. In
these compartments are placed the sticks upon which the skeins or hanks are
suspended, and the said sticks are held by projections provided on the said circular
metal plate.
I arrange the skeins or hanks radially, and to avoid the breaking of the sticks
holding the skeins by the effect of centrifugal force I provide in the middle of the
sector a vertical metal bar, against which all the skeins rest.
Motion is given to the shaft carrying the said plate by means of a friction cone,
which is operated by any suitable means from the factory or otherwise.
The said plate should be caused to revolve very rapidly in order that the centri-
fugal force may stretch the fibres of the materials composing the skein or hank. 1
provide a brake on the shaft of the said circular plate, which brake serves to stop
the movement quickly when desired.
I place the whole of the above-described apparatus within a tub or vat made
either of wood or metal, which arrests the liquid contained in the skeins or hanks.
Upon this tub or vat I place a wooden cover, one-half of which is made to open on
a hinge so as to allow of putting in and taking out the skeins or hanks.
The said vertical shaft is supported in a bearing which is lubricated by means of
a small pipe leading from an oil receptacle placed outside the vat.
I may cause currents of warm air to enter my said improved machine, which
currents will have the effect of drying very quickly the threads, which are arranged
parallel to each other and well stretched.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th August 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRYING FILA-
MENTOUS MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by César Corron, of St.
Etienne (Loire), France, Dyer.
This Invention relates to a novel machine for drying in a straight or untwisted
condition, by the aid of centrifugal force, all kinds of thread or filamentous
materials in skeins or hanks after the said materials have undergone the various
operations of boiling, dyeing, mordanting, washing, clearing or brightening, and
other like operations.
Hitherto it has been the custom with dyers to wring or twist the skeins and
place them in an ordinary drying apparatus, or to leave them on their rods or
sticks, supporting the latter against partitions placed on the sides of the basket of
a drying apparatus of large diameter. When collected the skeins or hanks are
found to be in a very disordered state, and adhering with the sticks to the said
partitions.
The disadvantages of this method of proceeding are numerous, and comprise :-
The danger of explosion by centrifugal force; the entangled condition of the skeins
that have been subjected to the above operation; irregularities in the drying;
inconvenience in putting the materials on the apparatus; and irregularities in the
dyeing effects. But by my Invention I obviate these difficulties, as will be under-
stood by the following description.
In the accompanying Drawing I have illustrated a machine for drying threads in
a straight or untwisted state constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the said machine; Figure 2 is a horizontal
section of a portion of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts in both Figures.
The said machine comprises a circular plate or disc a of metal mounted upon a
vertical shaft b with which it revolves. The said metal plate or disc a is divided
into a number of parts or sections (five, for example) by radial ribs e forming
separate spaces or compartments, as clearly shewn in Figure 2. In these compart-
ments are placed the rods or sticks d upon which the skeins or hanks e are
suspended, and the said rods or sticks are held by projections ƒ provided on the said
plate a.
I arrange the skeins or hanks radially, as shewn in the Drawing, and to avoid
the breaking of the rods or sticks holding the skeins by the effect of centrifugal
force I provide in the middle of each of the said spaces a vertical metal bar, as
shewn at g, against which all of the said rods rest.
Motion is given to the shaft b carrying the said plate a by means of frictional
cones or wheels h, h', the latter being mounted on a horizontal shaft i which is
driven by any suitable means.
The said plate a should be caused to revolve very rapidly in order that the
centrifugal force may stretch the fibres of the materials composing the skeins or
hanks. I provide a brake, as shewn at j, on the shaft b, which brake serves to stop
the machine quickly when desired.
I place the whole of the above-described apparatus within a tub or vat A made
either of wood or metal, and which catches the liquid thrown centrifugally from
the skeins or hanks. Upon this tub or vat I place a wooden cover, one-half of
which is made to open on a hinge to permit the ready introduction and removal of
the skeins or hanks.
The said vertical shaft 6 is supported in a bearing k which may be lubricated by
means of a small pipe leading from an oil receptacle placed outside of the vat A.

page_text: In some instances I introduce currents of warm air into the said machine to
accelerate the drying of the threads, which, being placed parallel to each other and
well stretched, will be very rapidly dried.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A machine in and by which the action of centrifugal force is utilized for
the drying of filamentous materials in the manner above specified.
Second. The machine illustrated in the accompanying Drawing consisting of the
parts shewn and described, or substantially similar parts, and operating as and for
the purposes above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.