IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND, APPARATUS FOR SINGEING FABRICS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Percival Cross, of Halliwell, near Bolton, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF AND, APPARATUS FOR SINGEING FABRICS."
the 21st December 1876, and dated the 1st November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Percival Cross at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1876.
JAMES PERCIVAL CROSS, of Halliwell, near Bolton, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SINGEING FABRICS."
This Invention relates to a method of and apparatus for singeing woven fabrics at
the selvages only. Hitherto such fabrics have been singed over the entire surface,
or when desired to be singed at the selvages, only this has been very imperfectly
performed by hand by means of gas jets and a flexible tube.
The apparatus may be arranged so as to work either horizontally or vertically.
In either case the cloth or fabric passes over and under straightening bars, thence
between two sets of gas burners fitted into horizontal tubes placed on each side of
the cloth at the selvages only, and then between a pair of drawing rollers which
pull the piece of cloth or fabric through the apparatus at the speed desired.
In the horizontal arrangement the gas jets are placed above and below the cloth,
whilst in the vertical arrangement the cloth is caused to pass over a roller above,
then vertically through a fire-box placed at each selvage, and thence under a second
roller beneath to the drawing rollers.
Outside each fire-box are two gas pipes, one on each side of the cloth, fitted with
jets inclined inwards towards the selvage, and thus the cloth becomes singed at both
sides along the selvages only.
In either case the stop rod of the machine (which is used for putting the driving
strap on to the fast or loose pulley so as to set the drawing rollers in motion or stop
them) is connected to levers furnished with hooks which, when the rollers are stopped,
pull the selvages out of the fire-boxes at each side, and thus prevent the burning of
the cloth. When the rollers are set in motion again the stop rod releases the edges
of the cloth, when they again pass into the fire-boxes and the operation proceeds as
before.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Percival Cross in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st May
1877.
JAMES PERCIVAL CROSS, of Halliwell, near Bolton, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SINGEING FABRICS."
This Invention retates to a method of and apparatus for singeing woven fabrics
at the selvedges only. Hitherto such fabrics have been singed over the entire surface,
or when desired to be singed at the selvedges only this has been very imperfectly
performed by hand by means of gas jets and a flexible tube.
The apparatus may be arranged so as to work either horizontally or vertically.
In either case the cloth or fabric passes over and under straightening bars, thence
between two sets of gas burners fitted into horizontal tubes placed on each side
of the cloth at the selvedges only, and then between a pair of drawing rollers which
pull the piece of cloth or fabric through the apparatus at the speed desired.
In the horizontal arrangement the gas jets are placed above and below the cloth,
whilst in the vertical arrangement the cloth is caused to pass over a roller above,
then vertically through a fire-box placed at each selvedge, and thence under a second
roller beneath to the drawing rollers.
Inside each fire-box are two gas pipes, one on each side of the cloth, fitted with
jets inclined outwards towards the selvedge, and thus the cloth becomes singed at
both sides along the selvedges only.
In either case the stop rod of the machine (which is used for putting the driving
strap on to the fast or loose pulley so as to set the drawing rollers in motion or stop
them) is connected to levers furnished with hooks which when the rollers are
stopped pull the selvedges out of the fire-boxes at each side, and thus prevent the
burning of the cloth. When the rollers are set in motion again the stop rod releases
the edges of the cloth, when they again pass into the fire-boxes, and the operation
proceeds as before.
In some cases arrange the machine in such a way that the cloth passes twice
through the fire-boxes before passing to the drawing rollers.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect; and in order that the saine may be clearly understood
I have hereunto annexed two Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the follow-
ing explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawings is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a vertical section;
and Fig. 3, a back view of my improved singeing apparatus, constructed to work
vertically, and so arranged that the selvedges of the cloth pass twice through the fire-
boxes before passing to the drawing rollers.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are similar views of so much of the machine as is necessary to
illustrate the horizontal arrangement of the apparatus with the cloth passing only
once through the machine.
a, a, is the framework of the machine; b, b, are the fixed straightening bars; in
Figs. 1 & 2 two additional bars c, c, are shown which are made adjustable to give
more or less tension. d, d, (Figs. 1, 2, 3,) are guide rollers; e, e, are the fire-boxes
containing the gas burners; and, f, f, are the drawing rollers for pulling the piece
through the machine.
"
It will be evident that the construction of the fire-box and the arrangement of
the gas burners inside the same may be varied to a considerable extent, and that
instead of employing coal gas other kinds of inflammable gas, spirit, or hydrocarbon,
or other suitable oils may be used for the purpose of producing the flames necessary
for singeing the edges of the fabric without in any way affecting the essential
features of my Invention.
The construction of the fire-box shown as applied to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and suitable

page_text: for the vertical arrangement of the apparatus when the cloth passes twice through
the machine is shown in detail (enlarged) at Fig. 7, exterior view of the fire-box;
Fig. 8, side view of the gas burner and midfeather with the side of the box removed;
and Fig. 9, transverse section of the same.
The fire-box e, e, is made in two pieces bolted or rivetted together with a mid-
feather or division plate g, g, in the centre to keep the edges of the piece apart so
that the flame can penetrate between them. Outside the fire-box e, e, is a gas
pipe h, h, provided with "bats-wing" or other suitable burners i, i, passing into the
fire-box opposite to the edges of the cloth, and it will be evident that as the edges
of the cloth pass through these flames in both descending and ascending (see Fig. 2)
both sides of the same will be effectually singed.
In some cases I also use two additional gas pipes h¹, h¹, (see Fig. 9) with other
burners i, i, placed inclining outwards towards the selvedge, so that their flames
impinge against the surface of the cloth at an angle.
.
In other cases I arrange the gas pipes inside the fire-boxes as shown at Figs. 4, 5,
and 6, and in enlarged detail at Figs. 10 and 11.
On referring to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that upon the stop rod k, k, of the
machine is fixed a lever 1, to the upper end of which is connected a bar m, m, having
a double slotted head n, n. Through those slots pass pins o, o, fixed in two
levers p, p, the outer ends of which are connected to sliding bars q, q. These
bars q, q, are provided with hooks or fingers &, 8, passing just outside the selvedges of
the cloth on each side of the fire-bars.
Whenever the stop rod lever t, t, is pushed over in the direction of the arrow
(Fig. 3) to stop the machine, the bar m, m, moving in the same direction acts upon
the levers p, p, causing them to draw all the sliding bars q, q, inwards, which by
means of the hooks or fingers 8, 8, will catch hold of both selvedges of the cloth and
draw them out of the fire-boxes, so as to prevent the cloth from being burnt. On
the contrary, whenever the stop rod lever t, t, is pulled in the opposite direction,
the reverse action takes place, the selvages are released and pass into the fire-boxes,
and the operation proceeds as before.
It will be understood that this same or a similar arrangement will be applied to
the apparatus shown at Figs. 4, 5, and 6.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,―
The method herein-before described of singeing the selvedges only of woven fabrics
by causing them to pass through or in contact with flames from gas burners (or
other suitable flames) arranged along both sides of the fabric as it is drawn through
the machine.
And, Secondly. I claim the arrangement of apparatus for effecting the said object,
as herein-before described and illustrated by the annexed Drawing, or any mere
modification or imitation thereof, constructed and operating in substantially, the
same or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Percival Cross, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand sight hundard and