IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR STRETCHING L AND DRYING FABRICS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Tulpin, of the City of Manchester, Engi-
neer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR STRETCHING
L
AND DRYING FABRICS."-A communication from abroad by Alexandre
Fortuné Tulpin, of Rouen, in the Empire of France, Engineer.
Scaled the 17th December 1868, and dated the 26th June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Tulpin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th'
June 1868.
I, ALFRED TULPIN, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, do hereby declare
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR STRETCHING
AND DRYING FABRICS," a communication to me from abroad by Alexandre
Fortuné Tulpin, of Rouen, in the Empire of France, Engineer, to be as
follows:
This Invention relates to cylindrical machines for stretching and drying
fabrics, and it consists in making the circumference of the drying cylinder
of twelve or any other convenient number of hollow segments containing
the steam for drying; to this cylinder is fixed a circle of angle brackets
for the needle points, to which one selvage of the fabric is secured, and
a second circle of moveable angle brackets for the needle points, to which
the other selvage is secured; this second circle of angle brackets is fixed
to a broad band of sheet metal fitting on the drying cylinder, and to it
are jointed the outer ends of twelve or other convenient number of levers,
the inner ends which are jointed to a bush sliding on the axle of the

page_text: drying cylinder; the sliding bush is moved to and fro on the axle by a worm
and worm wheel or other convenient mechanism. The axle of the worm is
connected to the driving axle of two endless chains with needle points, by
which the fabric is delivered to the drying cylinder.
In order to stretch and dry two pieces at the same time, the width of
the drying cylinder must be increased, and two circles of angle brackets
are fixed near the centre of the drying cylinder, and two sets of levers and
endless chains are employed for delivering and stretching the fabrics. The
steam is supplied to the hollow segments by a set of pipes connected to
the hollow axle of the drying cylinder, and a second set of pipes, fur-
nished with self-acting valves to prevent the water of condensation returning
into the hollow segments, conveys the waste steam and water to the other
end of the hollow axle.
A steam chest is placed under the endless chains, and the selvages of the
fabric are pressed on to the needle points of the chains by rollers covered with
card fillets; the rollers of the endless chains have breaks to regulate the
elongation of the fabric on leaving the endless chains; the selvages of this
fabric are pressed on to the needle points of the angle brackets of the drying
cylinder by two small rotary brushes mounted on levers. Each circle of angle
brackets has two rows of needle points, one close to the surface of the drying
cylinder on which the fabric is held when the fabric should touch the drying
cylinder, and the other when the fabric is to be held above the surface of the
drying cylinder. The fabric is acted upon by a brush or brushes when on the
cylinder, and fans are also applied in suitable positions to produce currents
of air.
The interior of the hollow segments is covered with felt or other non-con-
ducting material to prevent the loss of heat; the whole drying apparatus may
be enclosed within a casing to keep the heat in and to protect the operator.
When the fabric is taken off the drying cylinder, it is acted upon by a
current of hot air in passing to the roller on which it is lapped. The
drying cylinder and the endless chains are driven by steam or other power,
or the drying cylinder alone may be driven by power, and the endless chain's
by the tension of the fabric; the distance between the endless chains can be
varied at pleasure, so that the fabric may easily be secured to the needle
points on entering and gradually widened before it is delivered to the drying
cylinder; this is accomplished by a screw or other equivalent.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Tulpin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
TULPIN, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Tulpin, Her special license that I, the said Alfred Tulpin,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alfred Tulpin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR STRETCHING AND DRYING FABRICS," a communication to me from
abroad by Alexandre Fortuné Tulpin, of Rouen, in the Empire of France,
Engineer, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Tulpip,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed, in the Great Seal Patent Office. within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Tulpin, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The nature of this Invention consists, first, in the construction of a hollow
cylinder divided into any number of parts, instead of being in one continuous
circle as they have hitherto been made, also constructing the cylinder of
narrow hollow, segments containing only a small quantity of steam, the sides
of which are firmly united by means of iron stays, thus combining great
strength with lightness, and enabling the cylinder to stand a considerable
pressure of steam, which is very desirable, and is not the case in drying
cylinders of the present construction, unless sheet iron of great thickness is

page_text: employed, which increases the weight and price. My Invention also consists
in constructing these drying cylinders of continuous circles stayed in the
manner above mentioned.
Secondly, in the application to the surface of this cylinder of two circles of
angle brackets, one of which is stationary and the other adjustable laterally
with a slight friction, made of sheet iron, brass, or cast iron; to which needle
points are fixed for holding the selvages of the fabric to be dried. In the
construction of the said needle points placed at two different heights, of which
the lower is very narrow, to avoid the inconvenience of the projection above
the surface of the cylinder which would have raised the fabric above the
surface of the cylinder, and would retard the process of drying, the said
needles are.soldered to the. thin part of, the angle bracket to increase their
strength.
Thirdly, in the application to the cylinder of a simple movement acting
instantaneously and simultaneously on the whole circumference of the moveable
angle bracket for the needle points, to vary at pleasure the distance from the
fixed angle bracket in order to maintain the fabric to be dried well stretched
whatever may be its width. This result is obtained by means of a socket or:
sliding bush fitting on a fixed key on the axle of the cylinder; to this sliding
bush are connected the shorter arms of twelve or other convenient number of
levers. The other or longer ends of these levers are connected to the move-
able angle bracket; the fulcra of these levers are fixed to the arms of the
segments. The sliding bush is moved on the axle at pleasure by means of a
right and left handed screw taking into a starting lever, also a wheel and a
worm fixed to a long shaft furnished with a hand wheel. This shaft is con-
nected to the regulating screw of the moveable guiding chain placed at the
feeding side of the cylinder by means of a pinion and bevel wheel, as indi-
cated in Figure 8. It is evident that to increase the distance between the two
angle brackets the right and left handed screw must be turned round so as to
push the sliding bush to which the levers are connected towards the cylinder,
and when the distance between the angle brackets is to be reduced the action
must be reversed, thus at the same time reducing the distance between the
guide chains so as to bring the needle points of the said chains opposite those
of the cylinder. My Invention also consists in applying a sliding bush to each
side of the cylinder, in order to be able to stretch and dry two pieces at the
same time, and in fixing the collar which supports the fixed angle brackets in
the middle of the cylinder..
Fourthly, in the distribution of steam to each segment of the drying
cylinder, and also in the discharge of the water of condensation by pipes; the

page_text: whole being connected by metallic joints; these latter pipes terminate at one
side of the axle by valves which are closed during one-half revolution of the
cylinder, thus preventing the water of condensation descending from the upper
to the lower segments.
Fifthly, in the application to the front of the drying cylinder of an inclined
stretching apparatus with endless chains of any suitable length in order to
prepare or stretch the fabric to the required width, and deliver it continuously
to the needle points on the cylinder, where they are dried without contracting
in width. To facilitate the stretching of the fabric according to its nature, a
steam chest of the length of the stretching apparatus is applied, so that the
fabric can come in contact with it or not. This stretching apparatus is
adjusted so as to be made to approach or recede from the drying cylinder at
pleasure by means of a screw acting on a stay in the form of a cross, which
unites the two sides supporting the endless chains, as shown in Figure 3.
Sixthly, in the application of two small brushes covered with bristles s, s¹, see
Figures 1 and 3, the object of which is to release the fabric from the endless
chains, and secure it to the drying cylinder, which brushes are mounted on
two small levers secured to a moveable shaft; these levers can be moved
laterally on the said shaft to follow the movement of the needles. These
brushes are held during the working of the machine in the position shewn in
Figure 1 by means of a ratchet wheel on one end of the shaft and by a retaining
catch.
Seventhly, in the application of a circular brush T, Figure 1, mounted on two
small levers connected to a moveable shaft; this brush is fixed in the required
position by means of a handle t, fixed to the end of the shaft above mentioned,
which handle has at its lower end a projection which takes into one of the
holes in the segment forming part of T¹.
Eighthly, in the application to the stretching apparatus with endless
chains of a roller covered with card fillet, provided with a break ; the object
of this roller, on which only the back of the fabric touches, is to retard i:s
progress in order to stretch it. The roller by which the fabric is delivered
after being dried may also be covered with card fillet when the pressure of a
top roller is to be avoided.
Ninthly, in the application of a driving apparatus provided with a fast and
loose pulley and strap to the shaft with the driving catchies of the endless
chains, in order to regulate the speed of the said chains according to that of
the cylinder; by this means the action of the said driving apparatus can be
arrested by passing the strap on to the loose pulley, thus moving the endless
chains by the drag of the fabric, thereby augmenting its adherence to the
+

page_text: cylinder, consequently making it dry quicker,, and at the same time
stretching it.
Tenthly, in the application of a greater or lesser number of currents of air
at the back of the cylinder to expedite the drying, and also of a driving
apparatus with friction plates and pulleys to vary the speed of the drying
cylinder.
.
Eleventhly, in the application of a covering of felt or other suitable material
protected by wooden casing to the interior of the drying cylinder to prevent
the condensation of the steam when drying continuously by contact.
Twelfthly, in the application of a casing surrounding the drying cylinder,
of wood or other non-conducting substance, in order to utilize the radiating
heat, also to avoid the contact of the surrounding air and the condensation of
steam which would result from it, and, above all, to shelter the workmen
from the high temperature arising from the heat lost in the absence of this
precaution.
Thirteenthly, in the application of pipes heated by steam direct from the
boiler to the interior of the enclosure, where the fabric is delivered to the
cylinder, also above and below the cylinder, for increasing the temperature
when drying by radiation.
Fourteenthly, in the application of a heated chamber furnished with rollers,
over which the fabric passes on leaving the drying cylinder; this heated
chamber is furnished with a chimney for increasing the circulation of the air.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cylinder; Figure 2 is an elevation in
section of the cylinder and its casing; Figure 3 is a plan of the cylinder and
a section of the casing. In the plan the casing is broken away in several
places, to allow the parts of the cylinder to be seen, the construction of this
casing is sufficiently shewn in Figures 1 and 2. The fabric to be stretched
and dried is shewn in red lines.
A, A2, A3, and A³, are the cast-iron frames supporting the cylinder; B, B,
Bs, and B³, are the cast-iron frames supporting all the stretching apparatus in
front of the cylinder; C, C³, is the hollow cast-iron shaft in two compartments,
divided in the middle by the flange 6, on which are fixed all the parts of the
drying cylinder; it serves at the same time as a pipe for admitting and dis-
.charging the steam. Steam is admitted at C, and is introduced into the seg-
ments D by means of the pipes E, secured by metal joints e, e³, to the shaft
C, C¹, and to the segments D; after which it is discharged by the pipes E¹,
secured by the metal joints, e, to the shaft C, C, and the segments D. c, c',

page_text: stuffing boxes for connecting the shaft with the supply pipe and discharge
pipe; D, the twelve segmental plates heated by steam, forming the outside of the
cylinder; they are sufficiently strong to permit the use of steam up to thirty
pounds pressure, and more by increasing the thickness of the plates. E, the
pipes for admitting the steam into the segments D; E', pipes for discharging
the steam from the segments D. All these metallic joints are alike, except
those marked e³, which differ from the others internally, each of them having a
small spring valve, the object of which is to prevent the water which descends
from the upper pipes from entering into the lower ones, and consequently
forcing it to escape by the end c¹ of the shaft. F, F, cast-iron naves fixed on
the shaft C, C', to each of which are fixed twelve cast-iron spokes fand f'; f³ and
f³ are segments uniting the spokes fand f¹. G, wheel with six hundred teeth, in
twelve pieces, united together and fixed on the spokes f¹; g, pinion with ten teeth,
fixed on the driving shaft g', and gearing into the wheel G. The driving shaft
g¹ can be driven by steam or other power, and a variable speed may be given
by friction apparatus or by other means. H, moveable cross piece furnished
with twelve brackets h, to which are connected the levers I, moved by the cross
piece H. They serve to regulate, according to the width of the fabric, the
distance between the needle points on the outside of the cylinder, and also to
keep the fabric stretched. i, supports for the levers I; J, forked lever taking
into the groove of the cross piece H, and moving it to and fro; ", and ", guides
for the forked lever; j, double-threaded screw for drawing back the fork J ; j³,
wheel with fifty teeth fixed on the screwj; k, endless screw moving the wheel j¹;
k, shaft on which is fixed the endless screw k; k, l, supports of the shaft ;
, fly wheel for driving the shaft and screw k; L, circle of angle brackets in
twelve pieces united together, to which the fixed needle points are fixed. This
circle is fixed at one edge of the drying cylinder. L', circle of angle brackets
like L, only larger, and moveable in order to move on the surface of the seg-
ments, so as to increase or decrease the, distance between the needle points
according to the width of the fabric. The position of the circle L'is regulated
by the levers I, to which it is connected by the brackets L'; 1, needle points
fixed on the fixed circle L. There are two rows of needles, the lower one,
number 1, is used for the fabric when it is to be dried by contact with
the segments, and the higher one, number 2, serves for fabrics which are
to be dried by radiation. I, needle points fixed on the moveable' circle L.;
they are arranged as above described and for the same purpose. M, M', M³,
fans revolving three hundred or four hundred times per minute; the
number of fans can be increased at pleasure according to the fabric to be
dried; m, m', standards for the fans M, M¹; m², m³, supports of the fan M*;

page_text: These three
N, N', stays attached to the frames B, B1, B2, B3, supporting the endless
chains; they fit in grooves on the frame so as to increase or diminish the
distance from the cylinder; n, stay fixed to the frames B, to which is fixed
the support g; n', another stay, also fixed to the frames B. There are two
grooves in it for the guide chains P, P¹, to slide in; they are supported at
one end and fixed by a bolt; on this stay is also fixed the support of the
return screw o; 0, cross piece uniting the two stays N, N¹.
pieces thus united are moved by the screw o, tapped into the centre of the
cross piece. 0¹, support of the said screw, fixed on the stay n'; o³, fly wheel
for driving the return screw, and fixed above it; P, guide for the right-hand
chain carrying the needle points jointed to P¹. This joint has only the
necessary variation for making the needle points of the chain coincide with
these of the fixed circle L. P¹, guide for the left-hand chain, carrying also
the needles jointed to P2, on a bolt connected to a fork Q. This point is
made to advance or recede by turning the screw 9', and the position of the
stay is determined according to the width of the fabric. The joint of these
guides is at p¹ and p², so that when the fabric enters the opposite end of the
machine the width is within the needle points, or of the width before the
fabric was stretched; the fabric is thus stretched in passing over the cylinder
to the required extent. This difference is obtained partly by the stays P, P¹,
fixed by the bolts d, d³, on the cross pieces n, n¹. p, bracket attached to the
stay N to adjust the variation of the guide chain P; p, p, brackets connected
to the guides of the chains P, P¹, in which are the nuts for the regulating
screws for tightening the chain; Q, fork acted upon by the screw q³, fixed to
the boss p for moving the guide chain p', .which follows the movement of
the said fork; the ratchet R of the chain is moved by the finger of the
said fork ;-Q, shaft on which are the ratchets R, R¹, of the chains with
needle points; q, guide of the fork Q, supported at one end by the support q²,
and at the other by the stay N¹; q', screw for the fork Q, to the end of which
is fixed the wheel R³, driven by the pinion R³ on the shaft k; by this means s
the circle L' is made to approach or recede from the guide chain P. The
pinion R³ is connected to the shaft by a set screw, and by loosening this
screw the circle L' and the guide chain P¹ can be adjusted independently of
each other. R, R', ratchets for driving the chains with needle points; they
are moveable lengthwise on the shaft Q', being connected thereto by a key and
groove; S, shaft supported by the stays N, N³, for the moveable brushes 8, 8¹,
made of bristles set in leather. They are supported by forked levers sliding
on a fixed key on the shaft S, so as to follow the movement of the chains;
their position is determined by the ratchet ². These brushes serve at the

page_text: same time to liberate the fabric from the chains, and to press it on the
needles of the cylinder. 83, 3, brushes placed in front at the place where
the fabric is supplied to the chains to force it on to the needles; T, circular
brush for laying the nap on the fabrics; T', standard of the shaft T%, to which
the levers t, carrying the said brush are fixed; the brush can be withdrawn
from the cylinder at will. The brush T can be made to approach or recede
from the fabric by securing the lever t¹ in any of the holes in the standard T¹.
U, roller for releasing the fabric from the drying cylinder; v³, roller on
which the fabric is wound, bearing on the roller v', which is driven by the
3 roller ; X, cross rail between the stays N, N¹; y, y', pulleys for giving
motion to the chains with needle points; y³, pulley for driving the winding-on
roller v.
A, circular casing, which is brought as close as possible to to the
cylinder; A¹, door on one side of the casing; B, chimney for the escape of
the damp air; B¹, moveable damper to regulate the draft of the chimney B;
C, wooden box placed where the fabric leaves the cylinder, which is in com-
munication with the interior of the casing A by the channel C¹; D, D', are
rollers over which the fabric is conveyed."
The mode of operation is as follows:-The red line and the arrow at
the entrance of the machine indicate where the selvages of the fabric
are secured to the needle points of the endless chains; this is effected by
two attendants, one at each side of the machine; the selvages pass under
the brushes & and s³, which press them on to the needle points; the fabric
is carried forward by the chains towards the drying cylinder; when it arrives
there the drying cylinder is stopped, the end of the fabric is taken off
the needles of the chains and put on the needles of the cylinder (this is only
necessary on commencing operations, as the succeeding pieces follow each
other); as soon as the fabric is connected to the cylinder the little brushes s, s¹,
which had been lowered, are brought into the position shewn in the Drawing;
the cylinder is then set to work; the speed of the chains corresponds with
the speed of the cylinder, it is therefore evident that as the chains bring
forward the fabric the cylinder carries it forward. As soon as the end of the
first piece has been carried round the cylinder and has arrived a little below
the roller U, the cylinder is stopped; the end of the piece is then released by
hand and connected to a cord which is taken forward to the winding-on
roller ; the cylinder is then again put in motion, until the fabric is
brought forward and wound on the roller v³, as above described. Instead
of winding the fabric on to a roller, it may be plaited down or otherwise
disposed of.
Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, and described the manner

page_text: of performing the same, I declare that I claim the various improvements
in stretching and drying fabrics, as described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Tulpin, have hereto set my
band and seal, this Eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
ALFRED TULPIN. (L.S.)