ROVEMENTS IN SINGEING, TREATING. OR FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cooke, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim,
Ireland, Gas Singer, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SINGEING,
TREATING. OR FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 16th November 1858, and dated the 26th July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Cooke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th July 1858.
I, JAMES COOKE, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Gas Singer,do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SINGEING
TREATING, OR FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS," to be as follows that is to say:-
This Invention relates to certain mechanical arrangements and means
whereby textile fabrics may be most effectively singed or finished on one or
both sides. Under one form of the machinery used, the fabric to be singed or
treated according to this Invention is passed from a horizontal beam round
suitable guide rollers, and thence over or in contact with a fixed brush or
scrubber which raises the loose fibres, and renders the surface better suited for
being singed; and from this point it passes over a row of gas flames, by which
the piece is singed upon its upper surface, a stream of heated air being passed
upon the row of gas flame at the point of contact with the fabric.
quitting this point the fabric passes inside angle iron and thence over a trough
containing cold water, which together with the row of gas flame is covered by
an exhausting chamber connected with an exhausting fan. The piece then
passes beneath a brush roller or scrubber and over or through a second.
017
After

page_text: singeing arrangement of a kind similar to that just described, and it then
traverses between a pair of nipping rollers, which act as dampers in putting out
any sparks left on the surface; the fabric finally passes round a guide roller,
and is then beamed upon a roller in a finished condition. The beam on which
the unsinged piece is wound is fitted with a frictional spring brake arrange-
ment for the purpose of giving the necessary tension to the piece, and as the
piece leaves this beam to pass into the machine it goes round a running roller
which has inclined angular grooves upon it for the purpose of clearing out the
piece evenly. The pipes for the rows of gas flame are set upon arms on
centres so that the flames can be accurately adjusted clear of the fabric, and
then turned over to come in singeing contact with it.
In another arrangement the unsinged fabric is passed from the holding
beam upwards, and over spreading and guide rollers, then down at the centre
of the machine and round beneath a guide roller and beneath a brush roller or
scrubber, thence through or over a gas singeing apparatus similar to that
already described. This singes one surface, and the piece is then passed round
beneath the cold water trough,and thence through or over the second singeing
arrangement, where the other surface of the piece is singed, the piece then
passes off as before described. The piece is wholly drawn through the machine
by roller and pulley gearing, and the rate of revolution of the last or drawing
roller or beam is regulated to suit the varying quantities of the beamed or
rolled up singed fabric by a roller which bears upon the fabric as it is beamed.
As the piece winds on, this roller ascends and adjusts a double cone pulley
arrangement to keep the speed of the traverse of the fabric always the same.
The gas used in producing the singeing flames is heated by the waste steam
of the driving engine or by other means so as to secure a bright, clear, and
cheap flame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Cooke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th January 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
COOKE, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Gas Singer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Cooke, Her special license that I, the said James Cooke,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Cook, my executors, administrators, or 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
SINGEING, TREATING, OR FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Cooke; by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the saine 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 1, the said James Cooke, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to certain mechanical arrangements and means
whereby textile fabrics may be most effectively singed or finished on one or
both sides. Under one form of the machinery used, the fabric to be singed
or treated according to this Invention is passed from a horizontal beam round
suitable guide rollers, and thence over or in contact with a fixed brush or
scrubber, which raises the loose fibres, and renders the surface better snited
for being singed; and from this point it passes over a row of gas flames, by
which the piece is singed upon its upper surface, a stream of heated air being
passed upon the row of gas flame at the point of contact with the fabric.
After quitting this point, the fabric passes inside angle iron, and thence over
a trough containing cold water, which, together with the row of gas flame, is
covered by an exhausting chamber connected with an exhausting fan. The
piece then passes beneath a brush roller or scrubber, and over or through a
second singeing arrangement of a kind similar to that just described, and it
then traverses between a pair of nipping rollers, which act as dampers in
putting out any sparks left on the surface; the fabric finally passes round a
guide roller, and is then beamed upon a roller in a finished condition. The
beam on which the unsinged piece is wound is fitted with a frictional spring
brake arrangement for the purpose of giving the necessary tension to the
piece; and as the piece leaves this bean to pass into the machine it goes

page_text: round a running roller which has inclined angular grooves upon it for the
purpose of clearing out the piece evenly. The pipes for the rows of gas
flame are set upon arins on centres, so that the flaines can be accurately
adjusted clear of the fabric, and then turned over to come in singeing contact
with it.
In another arrangement the unsinged fabric is passed from the holding
beam upwards, and over spreading and guide rollers, then down at the centre
of the machine, and round beneath a guide roiler, and beneath a brush roller
or scrubber, thence through or over a gas singeing apparatus, similar to that
already described; this singes one surface, and the piece is then passed
round beneath the cold water trough, and thence through or over the second
singeing arrangement, where the other surface of the piece is singed; thepiece
then passes off as before described. The piece is wholly drawn through the
machine by roller and pulley gearing, and the rate of revolution of the last
or drawing roller or beam is regulated to suit the varying quantity of the
beamed or rolled up singed fabric by a roller which bears upon the fabric as
it is beamed. As the piece winds on, this roller ascends and adjusts a double
cone pulley arrangement to keep the speed of the traverse of the fabric
always the same. The gas used in producing the singeing flames is heated
by the waste steam of the driving engine, or by other means, so as to secure
bright, clear, and cheap flame.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I shail
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheets of Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of
showing certain modifications under which my improvements may be judi-
ciously carried out in practice.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is a sectional elevation
of one modification of my improved machinery or apparatus as arranged for
singeing or "gassing" textile fabrics in the woven or manufactured state.
Figure 2, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is a corresponding vertical section
of another modification of machinery or apparatus for effecting the singeing
or finishing operation of textile fabrics.
'
Figure 3, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is a partially sectional elevation of
an apparatus for mixing or combining heated air and gas previous to its
passing to the singeing burners..
Figure 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, is a front view of the singeing
machine, corresponding to Figure 2 on Sheet 1; Figure 2 is an end elevation
corresponding to the left-hand side or end view of Figure 1 on the same
Sheet.

page_text: Referring to the arrangement shown in Figure 1,on Sheet 1 of my Draw-
ings, the framing of the machine consists of a pair of cast-iron end standards A,
which are connected to each other by horizontal tie bars of malleable iron;
each of the end standards A has extending outwards in front of the machine
a bracket,the upwardly turned ends of which serve as bearings to receive the
spindle of the beam or drum B,upon which the several pieces or lengths of
fabric to be singed are wound. A series of these beams or drums B is pro-
vided, upon which the fabrics to be treated are wound, so that as fast as one
beam is exhausted it is taken out of the machine and replaced by a full one.
Prior to winding the unfinished goods upon the beams or drums B,the surfaces
of the fabrics are subjected to the action of cards and brushes, in order to
raise the loose filaments, that they may more readily be removed by the action
of the flame when passing through the gassing machine. The machine used
for this purpose consists of a rectangular framing of iron or wood, in which is
fitted stationary and rotatory cards and brushes, two sets of these being
arranged in the machine, so as to operate upon both sides of the cloth or
fabric as it passes through the machine to be wound upon the beam; the
fabrics are passed between guide rollers, thence over the first cardand brushing
roller, the combined action of which raises the loose filaments and rough
particles upon the face of the fabric, so that they may be more readily and
effectually acted upon by the singeing flame to which they are subsequently
subjected.
The other side of the fabric is acted upon in like manner by the secondary
card and brushing roller, from whence the fabric passes on to the beam at the
further extremity of the machine. In filling these beams with the fabrics to
be singed, a piece of calico or ordinary cloth is first wound upon the beam;
to the extremity of this piece of cloth, technically termed a "leader," the end
of the first piece of musiin or other fabric to be singed, is sewn slightly. A
predetermined number of pieces of fabric are then attached in succession, end
to end, and, lastly, a second "leader." These leaders are of sufficient
length to extend through the various convolutions which the fabric takes in
passing through the singeing machine, and pass once or twice round the
winding beams, so that the singeing operation takes effect upon the fabrics
from end to end of the series of pieces. As the cloth beams are successively
filled, after the fabrics have undergone the carding and brushing operations,
they are removed from the machine in readiness for the singeing or finishing
process.
The singeing apparatus shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is
arranged for operating upon one or both sides of the fabric, according to the

page_text: nature of the goods those fabrics which have a right and a wrong side
require to be singed only upon the face, whilst those fabrics which have both
their sides alike require to be singed upon both surfaces.
The course or passage of the fabrics in both these modes of singeing is
indicated by a blue line for the single singeing, and by a red line for the
double singeing operation. The cloth beam B is furnished at one end with a
frictional spring brake to regulate the tension of the cloth or fabric as it
passes through the machine.
One extremity of this spring brake is fast to
the shootstandard C, which is cast on the projecting bracket ofthe standard A.
The arrangement of this spring brake is shown in Figure 2,on Sheet 2 of my
Drawings, and its action will be more particularly referred to in describing
the second modification of my present Invention. From the beam B the
fabric passes beneath an angularly grooved smoothing roller D,thegrooves of
which diverge outwards from the centre of the roller, and serve to extend and
take out any creases in the fabric as it passes onward. A front view of a
smoothing roller corresponding to the roller D is shown in Figure 1, on
Sheet 2 of my Drawings. The fabric E to be singed upon one side passes
upwards below the tension roller F, which is a simple bar of smooth metal,
the journals of which are carried in lugs cast on the end standards A. Just
above the tension roller F is fitted a stationary brush G, which is there fitted
to act upon the face of the fabric, and cause the filiments to stand outwards
in the best position for being removed by the action of the gas flame. The
arrangement of the gas burners consists of a horizontal supply pipe H, which
extends across the machine; into this pipe are screwed a series of taps, into
the upper open ends of which are screwed a corresponding number of tubular
burners I. These burners are made of a T-shaped figure, the horizontal
tube at the upper part being closed at each end, and a row of fine perforations
is made along the upper part of the emission of the gas. The pipe H is
ground at one end and fitted into a boss, so as to work gas-tight; these bosses
are carried in lugs, or other convenient attachment, fast to the endstandards A..
The pipe for the supply of the gas to the burners is tapped into one of the
end bosses of the pipe E, and the passage of the gas is controlled by a cock
fitted in the supply pipe. The horizontal pipe H is furnished at one end with
a handle, by means of which the burners I may be placed in a vertical or
angular position, so that the burners may be moved aside and out of the way
while the "leader" is being carried through the machine preparatory to com-
mencing the singeing process. At the part of the machine where the gas
Hame is brought in contact with the goods, the fabric passes over the surface
of an angular bar of metal J, which is made of a trough-like form, so as to

page_text: adinit of a stream of water passing along it to keep the metal cool. The
water is conveyed to the trough by means of a pipe K, the passage of which is
controlled by a tap; the other end of the trough is provided with a pipe in like
manner to carry off the waste water. In commencing the singeing operation,
the burners I are lighted and the tube E turned upon its axis, so as to incline
the burners as shown in the Drawing, and thus cause the flame to play against
the surface of the bar J. In order to increase the heating power of the gas
flame,and thus cause it to remove the filaments with greater rapidity and effect,
a stream of heated air is made to impinge upon the flame along the whole length
of the burners. The air in its passage to the gas flame passes through pipes
arranged in the flue of a boiler furnace, or in a furnace built for the purpose,
from whence the pipe is conveyed to the horizontal tubular distributor L.
This air distributor consists at the upper part of a tubular channel, the lower
portion of which is drawn out laterally, so as to form a long narrow slit or
aperture for the emission of the heated air. The air distributor L is arranged
parallel to the burners I, and just above them, so as not to interfere with the
movements of the series to and fro. Upon the stream of heated air being
allowed to flow through the distributor Lupon the gas flame, it converts the
blue coloured flame into a luminous stream of intensely heated light. The
effect of this sharp cutting flame upon the fabrics under operation is to burni
off all the filaments and rough ends upon the fabric, leaving its surface clean
and bright, the warp and weft presenting the appearance of wires, and totally
unlike the loosely aggregated threads of an unfinished piece of goods. The
heated air is urged through the distributor L in a powerful stream by means
of a fan blower arranged between theheating apparatus and the air distributor.
The vapour and carbon arising from the combustion of the gas passes off into
the horizontal channel or cowl M, which is fitted immediately' over the
singeing bar J. The cowl M is connected by means of the vertical tubes N
with the larger horizontal pipe 0, which is in communication with the
vertical pipes P; there are two of these pipes, one at each end of the pipe O,
and they open into an over-head metal chamber, from which the air is
exhausted by means of a fan blower driven by means of steam power or
manual labour. The effect of this arrangement is that the current of flame
is drawn upwards over the surface of the singeing bar J, and it completely
removes every particle of roughness on the surface of the fabric; this action
takes place more particularly as it passes over the upper edge of the bar J.
The fabric being kept tightly strained over the bar its close contact with the
metal prevents the slightest injury to the yarn itself, however fine the fabric
may be. The fabric after passing over the singeing bar J is subjected to the

page_text: action of a rotatory brush Q, which sweeps off any particles of consumed fibre
that may be resting upon the face of the fabric. From the brush Q the
fabric is carried under the brush X, then over the second singeing bar J, and
next between the two rollers Y, which are covered with cloth to extinguish
any sparks, thence under the guide roller % to the winding-on beam R. As
arranged in the accompanying Drawings, the machine is more speciallyadapted
for singeing both sides of the fabrics. The course or passage of the goods
when subjected to the double singeing operation is indicated by the red line S.
The fabric passes under the smoothing roller E and upwards over the tension
roller T. About midway between the rollers T and E a metal guard U is
fixed across the machine between the standards A; this guard is for the
purpose of preventing the fabric from being injured by the gas flame when
the pipe H is turned about on its axis. From the roller T the fabric passes
over the exhaust chamber O to the tension roller V, thence downwards and
under the roller W, where it is first ope rated upon by the brush Q, from this
it passes round the singeing bar J and beneath a second rotatory brush X.
At this part of the machine a secondaryarrangement of the singeing apparatus
is fitted parallel with the first. This portion of the machine is in all respects
similar to that herein-before described, and its different parts are indicated by
corresponding letters of reference.
The course which the fabric has been taken through the machine is such
that its second face is brought in contact with the brush X,after leaving the
first singeing bar, and it is this face also that is subjected to the action of the
flame when passing over the second or back singeing bar. From the last
singeing apparatus, the fabric is carried downwards between the two rotatory
brushes Y, which effectually takes away any particles of dust or charred
matters that may remain upon the surfaces of the fabrics. From the brushes
Y the goods pass beneath the tension and smoothing roller to the winding-
on beam R. which completes the process.
In this modification of my improvements I have not described or shown any
mode of communicating motion to the several parts of the machine from the
prime mover, because the arrangement I prefer to use is delineated in Figures
1 and 2, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, and is herein-after described.
Instead of using gas and heated air in the manner herein-before described,
I prefer in some cases to heat both the gas and the air, and to pass a current
of each into a mixing vessel or chamber arranged between the heating appa-
ratus and the supply pipe or pipes of the gassing machine.
Figure 3, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is a partially vertical section of one
modification of the mixing chamber; this Figure is drawn to a much larger

page_text: scale than Figures 1 and 2 on the same Sheet. The mixing chamber consists of
an iron cylinder a, which is made with two inlet pipes b and c, the passages of
which are controlled by the cocks d and e.. The pipes b and c respectively
convey the heated gas and air to the interior of the cylinder a,within which is
arranged the vertical spindle f. This spindle carries two fan wheels g having
inclined radial vanes; the upper extremity of the spindlef projects out beyond
the upper part of the cylinder, and it carries a small pulley h, which is driven
by means of an endless band that is actuated from some convenient part of
the driving gear. The separate streams of heated gas and air as they emerge
from the pipes b and c arc thoroughly commingled by the rotatory motion of
the fan wheels g. The combined stream of gas and air is conveyed through
the outlet pipe i to the burners. To prevent any risk of explosion of the
combined gas and air, the upper ends of the vertical tubes of the burners are
plugged with wire gauze needles, or corrugated metal, so that the
gas flame
cannot pass down the vertical tubes, and the admission of dust or other
particles is prevented; the wire gauze guards may be made moveable, so as
to be readily cleaned. The combined stream of heated air and gas is burned
under a pressure, which is varied according to the nature of the work under
operation, some fabrics requiring a greater intensity of flame and heat'than
others.
The second modification of my improved gassing machine is shown in
sectional elevation in Figure 2, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, and in front and
end elevation in Figures 1 and 2 of Sheet 2. The end standards A are
similar to those shown in the first modification, so also is the arrange-
ment of the beam B, on which the fabrics to be singed are wound: The
spindle of this beam rests in the forked or duplex ends of the sustaining
bracket, and the tension upon the fabric as it is unwound is regulated
by the frictional spring break D, one end of which is centred upon a
stud fitted to the upper extremity of the standard C. To the front end
of the spring brake D is attached one end of the helical spring E, the
other end of this spring is fastened to the pin F, which passes through the
bracket of the standard A. The pin F has a screw thread cut on its lower
end, and by means of the nut or hand wheel G the brake D may be caused
to press with more or less force upon a metal collar fitted on the end of the
beam B. The course of the fabric through the machine while undergoing
the operation of single singeing is indicated by the blue line H. The fabric
passes under the smoothing roller I, and upwards past the tension roller J,
and over the singeing roller K, where it is subjected to the action of the first
series of burners' L. Each of the singeing rollers K as arranged in this

page_text: modification have two series of burners L fitted one upon each side of the
roller and parallel thereto. The gas burners L and their supply pipes
are arranged in manner precisely similar to those shown in Figure 1 on
Sheet 1 of my Drawings, so that they may be turned away from or brought
close up to the singeing rollers, as herein-before described. From the first
singeing roller K the fabric H is carried past the first central burners L, and
downwards, where it is brought in contact with the rotatory brush M; from
thence it passes under the tension roller N, and backwards to the roller O.
From this roller the fabric passes upwards past the revolving brush P to the
second singeing roller K, where it may or may not be again subjected to the
action of the second series of gas burners L. The fabric is carried downwards
from the second singeing roller to a second tension roller J, which extinguishes
any sparks from the surface, thence below the roller Q, and between the
rotatory brushes R, which are more particularly required when both sides of
the fabric have been singed, and away to the winding beam S. The course of
the fabric in the double singeing operation is indicated by the red line T, and
from what has been herein-before stated, may be readily traced from the beam
B onwards to the winding-on beam S. The flames from the gas burners are
prevented from injuring the fabrics by the guards U, the front one of which
protects the fabric in its upward course, whilst those in the centre shield it
from the flame in its downward passage. In this modification of the gassing
machine the air distributors V form a part of the cowl or chimney through
which the unconsumed products of combustion are drawn by the action of the
fan wheel. The air distributors V are supplied with a current of heated air
by means of a coil of pipe, which is heated either by the waste steam from a
steam engine, or by arranging the pipe in the flue of the furnace, or any other
convenient means of heating the same. The steam of heated air as it flows
from the mouths or longitudinal openings at the lower part of the distributors
V, impinges upon the flames of the burning gas, and causes the flames to
encircle or nearly so the singeing rollers K, at the same time the temperature
of the flame is greatly augmented. The unconsumed gas and products of
combustion pass upwards through the longitudinal channels or openings
made in the lower part of the chambers W, which communicate by means
of a series of short vertical tubes with the parallel horizontal chambers X.
These chambers ✗ are connected by means of the pipes Y with the ex-
hausting chambers Z, from which the air is drawn by means of a fanner
arranged in the casing a. The two vertical pipes Y are each fur-
nished with a throttle valve and an external index, so that the valve may
be set so as to increase or diminish the velocity of the draft according to

page_text: the nature of the work. The motion of the fanner causes the heated air and
products of combustion to be drawn with great rapidity through the various
tubes, from whence in one modification of my Invention they are discharged
through a pipe connected with the fan wheel casing and carried outside the
building; but I prefer to convey this current of heated air and unconsumed
gas by means of pipes connected with the casing a back again to the burners
L, causing it to pass through the air distributors V, and in this manner dis-
pensing with the current of heated air obtained from the furnace or cther
source of heat. The manner in which I prefer to carry out this part of my
Invention is to fit into the pipe which couveys awaythe products of combustion
a throttle valve, so that the passage therethrough may be entirely closed if
required. Between the valve and the fan a pipe branches off laterally, which
is carried backwards along the side of the machine; this pipe communicates by
means of a cock or valve with the main gas pipe. From the air pipe four
vertical tubes descend, which convey the combined stream of heated air and
gas to the air distributors, from whence it impinges upon the flame. The tap
or valve fitted between the air pipe and the gas main affords the operator, the
means of admitting any desired quantity of gas to mix with the descending
current of air. On the other hand, if the quantity of heated air is more than
is required for the due combustion of the gas, a portion may be allowed to
escape by partially opening the throttle valve in the pipe connected with the
fanner. By means of this arrangement the consumption of gas is greatly
economised, whilst the heating of the air is effected easily and without cost.
The arrangement of the gas pipes for conveying the gas to the four series of
burners L is shown in Figure 1 and 2, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings. The
horizontal pipe b conveys the gas from the main, and it is this pipe which is
put in connection with the heated air in the arrangement just described.
The pipe b is carried downwards by the side of the machine, and has here
fitted to it a tap c, by which the gas can be wholly turned off. Below
this tap is a four-way union piece, to the lateral passages of which are
connected two taps d, the pipes from which convey the gas to the front and
back series of burners. The lower passage of the four-way union pipe
diverges into two angle pipes in which are fitted the taps e, to these are
screwed the pipes which convey the gas to the two central burners. As thus
arranged the gas may be readily shut off from the whole or any one of the
burners, or be instantly regulated with the utmost nicety as required. The
two central burners Lare turned upon their axes by means of the handles f,
which are fast to the pipes carrying the burners. As the operator moves
these handles to and fro, the burners may be brought into contact with the

page_text: fabric or moved aside 'therefrom.
The two burners at the front and back
of the machine are operated by means of the handles g and h; these
are fast to horizontal spindles i and j, which extend across the machine,
and are each connected to the moveable pipes of the burners by a lever
and links which cause the pipes to turn partially round when the handles g
and are moved to and fro. In this way the operator has complete
control over the whole of the gas apparatus while standing at one side of
the machine. Motion is imparted to the moving parts of the grassing
machine from a steam engine or other prime mover, au endless band
from which gives motion to the cone pulley ; the endless band on this
pulley drives the cone pulley m. The band on the cone pulley m gives
motion to the fast and loose pulley o; the stud of which carries a pinion p that
imparts motion to the wheel on the spindle of the winding roller S. As the
winding roller increases in diameter with the fabric being wound 'up on it, it is
necessary to cause the band to move along the cone pulleys, so as to alter the
taking-up speed. This is done by incans of the roller "'g' which rests ipon the
fabric on the beam $; this roller is carried in the forked end of the rod g
which traverses in a vertical direction in eyes fitted in the pendent bracket t.
To the upper end of the rods a band is fastened, which is carried under the
pulley u, and is made fast to the sinaller circumference of the differential
pulley v. To the larger periphery of this pulley a bund w is attache.l; the
other end of this band is connected to the rod a, which carries the fork y. As
the roller rises with the increasing diameter of the beam S, the pulley vis
drawn round so as to unwind the band w, and thus moves the fork y and the
band, thus causing the take-up motion to travel at a uniform speed, and
equalising the progress of the fabrics through the machine. The spindle of
the cone pulley carries 3 pulley z, the belt 1 of which drives the small pulley
on the spindle of the fan, on the end of which spindle is a pulley 3. The
endless belt 4 on the pulley 3 gives motion to the small pulley 5 on the
stretching or smoothing roller I. The pulley 5 also carries a hand 6; which
drives the pulley on the first rotatory brush M, and another pulley on this
spindle carries a belt 7, which drives the pulley S on the second brush P.
Lastly, the spindle of the pulley S carries a secondary pulley and belt 9,
which gives motion to the pulley 10 on the spindle of one of the lewer
rotatory brushes R, motion being given to the upper brush by pinions fast to
their spindles. In this manner the fabric is drawn through the machine at a
uniform speed, being singed upon one or both sides during its progress, and is
thereby finished in a manner far superior to the ordinary' gassing or shearing
machines hitherto employed for the purpose.

page_text: With minor modifications the machinery herein-before described may be
readily adapted and applied to the singeing of lace, yarns, and other fabrics
composed of textile materials.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for singeing, treating, or fiuishing textile fabrics, as herein-before described
and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of treating or finishing textile fabrics by means
of singeing or gassing apparatus, arranged as herein-before described, orany
mere modification thereof.
Third, the system or mode of using and applying a current of heated air in
the operation of gassing or singeing textile fabrics, so as to cause the same to
impinge upon or become mixed with the gas as it issues from the burners, as
herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of using heated gas or air either separate or
combined, in the operation of gassing or singeing textile fabrics, as herein-
before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of arranging the gas burners of gassing
machinery, in which they are made to move upon centres, as herein-before
described.
Sixth, the system or mode of returning the heated air and unconsumed
products of combustion again to the burners of gassing or singeing machinery,
as herein-before described, or any mere modification thereof.
Seventh, the use and application of round or polygonal singeing rollers for
passing the goods or fabrics over during the gassing or singeing operation, as
herein-before described.
Eighth, the system or mode of arranging the tension or guide rollers in the
machine, so that either one or both sides of the fabric may be gassed or
singed as required,as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Ninth, the use and application of smoothing rollers for taking the creases

page_text: out of the fabrics to be gassed or singed; also the application of rotatory
brushes or cards arranged in such machinery, as herein-before described.
Tenth, the system or mode of regulating the tension upon the fabrics as
they pass through gassing or singeing machinery, by means of frictional brake
apparatus, as herein-before described.
Eleventh, the system or mode of regulating the speed of the fabrics as they
pass through the gassing or singeing machine, by means of the mechanical
arrangement, which equalises the motion of the winding-on beam, as herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Cooke, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cooke, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim,
Ireland, Gas Singer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SINGEING,
TREATING, OR FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 16th November 1858, and dated the 26th July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Cooke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th July 1858.
I, JAMES COOKE, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Gas Singer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SINGEING,
TREATING, OR FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to certain mechanical arrangements and means
whereby textile fabrics may be most effectively singed or finished on one or
both sides. Under one form of the machinery used, the fabric to be singed or
treated according to this Invention is passed from a horizontal beam round
suitable guide rollers, and thence over or in contact with a fixed brush or
scrubber which raises the loose fibres, and renders the surface better suited for
being singed; and from this point it passes over a row of gas flames, by which
the piece is singed upon its upper surface, a stream of heated air being passed
upon the row of gas flame at the point of contact with the fabric. After
quitting this point the fabric passes inside angle iron and thence over a trough
containing cold water, which together with the row of gas flame is covered by
an exhausting chamber connected with an exhausting fan. The piece then
passes beneath a brush roller or scrubber and over or through a second

page_text: singeing arrangement of a kind similar to that just described, and it then
traverses between a pair of nipping rollers, which act as dampers in putting out
any sparks left on the surface; the fabric finally passes round a guide roller,
and is then beamed upon a roller in a finished condition. The beam on which
the unsinged piece is wound is fitted with a frictional spring brake arrange-
ment for the purpose of giving the necessary tension to the piece, and as the
piece leaves this beam to pass into the machine it goes round a running roller
which has inclined angular grooves upon it for the purpose of clearing out the
piece evenly. The pipes for the rows of gas flame are set upon arms on
centres so that the flames can be accurately adjusted clear of the fabric, and
then turned over to come in singeing contact with it.
In another arrangement the unsinged fabric is passed from the holding
beam upwards, and over spreading and guide rollers, then down at the centre
of the machine and round beneath a guide roller and beneath a brush roller or
scrubber, thence through or over a gas singeing apparatus similar to that
already described. This singes one surface, and the piece is then passed round
beneath the cold water trough, and thence through or over the second singeing
arrangement, where the other surface of the piece is singed, the piece then
passes off as before described. The piece is wholly drawn through the machine
by roller and pulley gearing, and the rate of revolution of the last or drawing
roller or beam is regulated to suit the varying quantities of the beamed or
rolled up singed fabric by a roller which bears upon the fabric as it is beamed.
As the piece winds on, this roller ascends and adjusts a double cone pulley
arrangement to keep the speed of the traverse of the fabric always the same.
The gas used in producing the singeing flames is heated by the waste steam
of the driving engine or by other means so as to secure a bright, clear, and
cheap flame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Cooke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th January 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
COOKE, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Gas Singer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS er most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing late the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Cooke, Her special license that I, the said James Cooke,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Cook, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and 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
SINGEING, TREATING, OR FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Cooke, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 James Cooke, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Inventiou, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention relates to certain mechanical arrangements and means
whereby textile fabrics may be most effectively singed or finished on one or
both sides. Under one form of the machinery used, the fabric to be singed
or treated according to this Invention is passed from a horizontal beam round
suitable guide rollers, and thence over or in contact with a fixed brush or
scrubber, which raises the loose fibres, and renders the surface better suited
for being singed; and from this point it passes over a row of gas flames, by
which the piece is singed upon its upper surface, a stream of heated air being
passed upon the row of gas flame at the point of contact with the fabric.
After quitting this point, the fabric passes inside angle iron, and thence over
a trough containing cold water, which, together with the row of gas flame, is
covered by an exhausting chamber connected with an exhausting fan. The
piece then passes beneath a brush roller or scrubber, and over or through a
econd singeing arrangement of a kind similar to that just described, and it
hen traverses between a pair of nipping rollers, which act as dampers in
putting out any sparks left on the surface; the fabric finally passes round a
uide roller, and is then beamed upon a roller in a finished condition. The
eam on which the unsinged piece is wound is fitted with a frictional spring
rake arrangement for the purpose of giving the necessary tension to the
piece; and as the piece leaves this beam to pass into the machine it goes

page_text: round a running roller which has inclined angular grooves upon it for the
purpose of clearing out the piece evenly. The pipes for the rows of gas
flame are set upon arms on centres, so that the flames can be accurately
adjusted clear of the fabric, and then turned over to come in singeing contact
with it.
In another arrangement the unsinged fabric is passed from the holding
beam upwards, and over spreading and guide rollers, then down at the centre
of the machine, and round beneath a guide roller, and beneath a brush roller
or scrubber, thence through or over a gas singeing apparatus, similar to that
already described; this singes one surface, and the piece is then passed
round beneath the cold water trough, and thence through or over the second
singeing arrangement, where the other surface of the piece is singed; the piece
then passes off as before described. The piece is wholly drawn through the
machine by roller and pulley gearing, and the rate of revolution of the last
or drawing roller or beam is regulated to suit the varying quantity of the
beamed or rolled up singed fabric by a roller which bears upon the fabric as
it is beamed. As the piece winds on, this roller ascends and adjusts a double
cone pulley arrangement to keep the speed of the traverse of the fabric
always the same. The gas used in producing the singeing flames is heated
by the waste steam of the driving engine, or by other means, so as to secure
a bright, clear, and cheap flame.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheets of Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of
showing certain modifications under which my improvements may be judi-
ciously carried out in practice.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is a sectional elevation
of one modification of my improved machinery or apparatus as arranged for
singeing or "gassing" textile fabrics in the woven or manufactured state.
Figure 2, ou Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is a corresponding vertical section
of another modification of machinery or apparatus for effecting the singeing
or finishing operation of textile fabrics.
Figure 3, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is a partially sectional elevation of
an apparatus for mixing or combining heated air and gas previous to its
passing to the singeing burners.
Figure 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, is a front view of the singeing
machine, corresponding to Figure 2 ou Sheet 1; Figure 2 is an end elevation
corresponding to the left-hand side or end view of Figure 1 on the same
Slicet.

page_text: pro-
Referring to the arrangement shown in Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of 1 my
Draw-
ings, the framing of the machine consists of a pair of cast-iron end standards A,
which are connected to each other by horizontal tie bars of malleable iron;
each of the end standards A has extending outwards in front of the machine
a bracket, the upwardly turned ends of which serve as bearings to receive the
spindle of the beam or drum B, upon which the several pieces or lengths of
fabric to be singed are wound. A series of these beams or drums B is
vided, upon which the fabrics to be treated are wound, so that as fast as one
beam is exhausted it is taken out of the machine and replaced by a full one.
Prior to winding the unfinished goods upon the beams or drums B, the surfaces
of the fabrics are subjected to the action of cards and brushes, in order to
raise the loose filaments, that they may more readily be removed by the action
of the flame when passing through the gassing machine. The machine used
for this purpose consists of a rectangular framing of iron or wood, in which is
fitted stationary and rotatory cards and brushes, two sets of these being
arranged in the machine, so as to operate upon both sides of the cloth or
fabric as it passes through the machine to be wound upon the beam; the
fabrics are passed between guide rollers, thence over the first card and brushing
roller, the combined action of which raises the loose filanients and rough
particles upon the face of the fabric, so that they may be more readily and
effectually acted upon by the singeing flame to which they are subsequently
subjected.
The other side of the fabric is acted upon in like manner by the secondary
card and brushing roller, from whence the fabric passes on to the beam at the
further extremity of the machine. In filling these beams with the fabrics to
be singed, a piece of calico or ordinary cloth is first wound upon the beam;
to the extremity of this piece of cloth, technically termed a "leader," the end
of the first piece of muslin or other fabric to be singed,. is sewn slightly. A
predetermined number of pieces of fabric are then attached in succession, end
to end, and, lastly, a second "leader." These "leaders are of sufficient
ength to extend through the various convolutions which the fabric takes in
passing through the singeing machine, and pass once or twice round the
winding beams, so that the singeing operation takes effect upon the fabrics
rom end to end of the series of picces. As the cloth beams are successively
illed, after the fabrics have undergone the carding and brushing operations,
hey are removed from the machine in readiness for the singeing or finishing
rocess.
ני
The singeing apparatus shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is
rranged for operating upon one or both sides of the fabric, according to tho

page_text: nature of the goods; those fabrics which have a right and a wrong side
require to be singed only upon the face, whilst those fabrics which have both
their sides alike require to be singed upon both surfaces.
The course or passage of the fabrics in both these modes of singeing is
indicated by a blue line for the single singeing, and by a red line for the
double singeing operation. The cloth beam B is furnished at one end with a
frictional spring brake to regulate the tension of the cloth or fabric as it
passes through the machine. One extremity of this spring brako is fast to
the shoot standard C, which is cast on the projecting bracket of the standard A.
The arrangement of this spring brake is shown in Figure 2, on Sheet 2 of my
Drawings, and. its action will be more particularly referred to in describing
the second modification of my present Invention. From the beam B the
fabric passes beneath an angularly grooved smoothing roller D, the grooves of
which diverge outwards from the centre of the roller, and serve to extend and
take out any creases in the fabric as it passes onward. A front view of a
smoothing roller corresponding to the roller D is shown in Figure 1, on
Sheet 2 of my Drawings. The fabric E to be singed upon one side passes
upwards below the tension roller F, which is a simple bar of smooth metal,
the journals of which are carried in lugs cast on the end standards A. Just
above the tension roller F is fitted a stationary brush G, which is there fitted
to act upon the face of the fabric, and cause the filiments to stand outwards
in the best position for being removed by the action of the gas flame. The
arrangement of the gas burners consists of a horizontal supply pipe H, which
extends across the machine; into this pipe are screwed a series of taps, into
the upper open ends of which are screwed a corresponding number of tubular
burners J. These burners are made of a T-shaped figure, the horizontal
tube at the upper part being closed at each end, and a row of fine perforations
is made along the upper part for the emission of the gas. The pipe H is
ground at one end and fitted into a boss, so as to work gas-tight; these bosses
are carried in lugs, or other convenient attachment, fast to the end standards A.
The pipe for the supply of the gas to the burners is tapped into one of the
end bosses of the pipe II, and the passage of the gas is controlled by a cock
fitted in the supply pipe. The horizontal pipe E is furnished at one end with
a handle, by means of which the burners I may be placed in a vertical or
angular position, so that the burners may be moved aside and out of the way
while the "leader" is being carried through the machine preparatory to com-
mencing the singcing process. At the part of the machine where the gas
flaine is brought in contact with the goods, the fabric passes over the surface
of an angular bar of metal J, which is made of a trough-like form, so as to

page_text: admit of a stream of water passing along it to keep the metal cool. The
water is conveyed to the trough by means of a pipe K, the passage of which is
controlled by a tap; the other end of the trough is provided with a pipe in like
manner to carry off the waste water. In commencing the singeing operation,
the burners I are lighted and the tube H turned upon its axis, so as to incline
the burners as shown in the Drawing, and thus cause the flame to play against
the surface of the bar J. In order to increase the heating power of the gas
flame, and thus cause it to remove the filaments with greater rapidity and effect,
a stream of heated air is made to impinge upon the flame along the whole length
of the burners. The air in its passage to the gas flame passes through pipes
arranged in the flue of a boiler furnace, or in a furnace built for the purpose,
from whence the pipe is conveyed to the horizontal tubular distributor L.
This air distributor consists at the upper part of a tubular channel, the lower
portion of which is drawn out laterally, so as to form a long narrow slit or
aperture for the emission of the heated air. The air distributor L is arranged
parallel to the burners I, and just above them, so as not to interfere with the
movements of the series to and fro. Upon the stream of heated air being
allowed to flow through the distributor L upon the gas flame, it converts the
blue coloured flame into a luminous stream of intensely heated light. The
effect of this sharp cutting flame upon the fabrics under operation is to burn
off all the filaments and rough ends upon the fabric, leaving its surface clean
and bright, the warp and weft presenting the appearance of wires, and totally
unlike the loosely aggregated threads of an unfinished piece of goods. The
heated air is urged through the distributor L in a powerful stream by means
of a fan blower arranged between the heating apparatus and the air distributor.
The
vapour and carbon arising from the combustion of the gas passes off into
the horizontal channel or cowl M, which is fitted immediately over the
singeing bar J. The cowl M is connected by means of the vertical tubes N
with the larger horizontal pipe 0, which is in communication with the
vertical pipes P; there are two of these pipes, one at each end of the pipe O,
and they open into an over-head metal chamber, from which the air is
exhausted by means of a fan blower driven by means of steam power or
manual labour. The effect of this arrangement is that the current of flanie
s drawn upwards over the surface of the singeing bar J, and it completely
emoves every particle of roughness on the surface of the fabric; this action
akes place more particularly as it passes over the upper edge of the bar J..
The fabric being kept tightly strained over the bar its close contact with tho
netal prevents the slightest injury to the yarn itself, however fine the fabric
may be. The fabric after passing over the singeing bar J is subjected to the

page_text: action of a rotatory brush Q, which sweeps off any particles of consumed fibre
that may be resting upon the face of the fabric. From the brush Q the
fabric is carried under the brush X, then over the second singeing bar J, and
next between the two rollers Y, which are covered with cloth to extinguish
any sparks, thence under the guide roller Z to the winding-on beam R. As
arranged in the accompanying Drawings, the machine is more specially adapted
for singeing both sides of the fabrics. The course or passage of the goods
when subjected to the double singeing operation is indicated by the red line S.
The fabric passes under the smoothing roller E and upwards over the tension
roller T. About midway between the rollers T and E a metal guard U is
fixed across the machine between the standards A; this guard is for the
purpose of preventing the fabric from being injured by the gas flame when
the pipe H is turned about on its axis. From the roller T the fabric passes
over the exhaust chamber O to the tension roller V, thence downwards and
under the roller W, where it is first operated upon by the brush Q, from this
it passes round the singeing bar J and beneath a second rotatory brush X.
At this part of the machine a secondary arrangement of the singeing apparatus
is fitted parallel with the first. This portion of the machine is in all respects
similar to that herein-before described, and its different parts are indicated by
corresponding letters of reference.
The course which the fabric has been taken through the machine is such
that its second face is brought in contact with the brush X, after leaving the
first singeing bar, and it is this face also that is subjected to the action of the
flaine when passing over the second or back singeing bar. From the last
singeing apparatus, the fabric is carried downwards between the two rotatory
brushes Y, which effectually takes away any particles of dust or charred
matters that may remain upon the surfaces of the fabrics. From the brushes,
Y the goods pass beneath the tension and smoothing roller Z to the winding-
on beam R, which completes the process.
In this modification of my improvements I have not described or shown any
mode of communicating motion to the several parts of the machine from the
prime mover, because the arrangement I prefer to use is delineated in Figures
1 and 2, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, and is herein-after described.
Instead of using gas and heated air in the manner hercin-before described,
I prefer in some cases to heat both the gas and the air, and to pass a current
of each into a mixing vessel or chamber arranged between the heating appa-
ratus and the supply pipe or pipes of the gassing machine.
Figure 3, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is a partially vertical section of one
modification of the mixing chamber; this Figure is drawn to a much larger

page_text: scale than Figures 1 and 2 on the same Sheet. The mixing chamber consists of
an iron cylinder a, which is made with two inlet pipes b and c, the passages of
which are controlled by the cocks daud c. The pipes and c respectively
convey the heated gas and air to the interior of the cylinder a, within which is
arranged the vertical spindle f. This spindle carries two fan wheels g having
inclined radial vanes; the upper extremity of the spindle f projects out beyond
the upper part of the cylinder, and it carries a small pulley h, which is driven
by means of an endless band that is actuated from some convenient part of
the driving gear. The separate streams of heated gas and air as they emerge
from the pipes b and c are thoroughly commingled by the rotatory motion of
the fan wheels g. The combined stream of gas and air is conveyed through
the outlet pipe i to the burners. To prevent any risk of explosion of the
combined gas and air, the upper ends of the vertical tubes of the burners are
plugged with wire gauze needles, or corrugated metal, so that the gas flame
cannot pass down the vertical tubes, and the admission of dust or other
particles is prevented; the wire gauze guards may be made nioveable, so as
to be readily cleaned. The combined stream of heated air and gas is burned
under a pressure, which is varied according to the nature of the work under
operation, some fabrics requiring a greater intensity of flame and heat than
others.
The second modification of my improved gassing machine is shown in
sectional elevation in Figure 2, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, and in front and
end elevation in Figures 1 and 2 of Sheet 2. The end standards A are
similar to those shown in the first modification, so also is the arrange-
ment of the beam B, on which the fabrics to be singed are wound. The
spindle of this beam rests in the forked or duplex ends of the sustaining
bracket, and the tension upon the fabric as it is unwound is regulated
by the frictional spring break D, one end of which is centred upon a
stud fitted to the upper extremity of the standard C. To the front end
of the spring brake D is attached one end of the helical spring E, the
other end of this spring is fastened to the pin F, which passes through the
bracket of the standard A. The pin F has a screw thread cut on its lower
end, and by means of the nut or hand wheel G the brake D may be caused
to press with inore or less force upon a metal collar fitted on the end of the
beam B. The course of the fabric through the machine while undergoing
the operation of single singcing is indicated by the blue line II. The fabric
passes under the smoothing roller I, and upwards past the tension roller J,
and over the singeing roller K, where it is subjected to the action of the first
series of burners L. Each of the singeing rollers K as arranged in this

page_text: inodification have two series of burners L fitted one upon each side of the
roller and parallel thereto. The gas burners L and their supply pipes
are arranged in manner precisely similar to those shown in Figure 1 on
Sheet 1 of my Drawings, so that they may be turned away from or brought
close up to the singeing rollers, as herein-before described. From the first
singcing roller K the fabric II is carried past the first central burners L, and
downwards, where it is brought in contact with the rotatory brush M; from
thence it passes under the tension roller N, and backwards to the roller O.
From this roller the fabric passes upwards past the revolving brush P to the
second singeiug roller K, where it may or may not be again subjected to the
action of the second series of gas burners L. The fabric is carried downwards
from the second singeing roller to a second tension roller J, which extinguishes
any sparks upon the surface, thence below the roller Q, and between the
rotatory brushes R, which are more particularly required when both sides of
the fabric have been singed, and away to the winding beam S. The course of
the fabric in the double singeing operation is indicated by the red line T, and
from what has been herein-before stated, may be readily traced from the beam
B onwards to the winding-on bean S. The flames from the gas burners are
prevented from injuring the fabrics by the guards U, the front one of which
protects the fabric in its upward course, whilst those in the centre shield.it
from the flame in its downward passage. In this modification of the gassing
machine the air distributors V form a part of the cowl or chimney through
which the unconsumed products of combustion are drawn by the action of the
fan wheel. The air distributors V are supplied with a current of heated air
by means of a coil of pipe, which is heated either by the waste steam from a
steam engine, or by arranging the pipe in the flue of the furnace, or any other
conveneint means of heating the same. The steam of heated air as it flows
from the mouths or longitudinal openings at the lower part of the distributors
V, impinges upon the flames of the burning gas, and causes the flames to
encircle or nearly so the singeing rollers K, at the same time the temperature
of the flame is greatly augmented. The unconsumed gas and products of
combustion pass upwards through the longitudinal channels or openings
made in the lower part of the chambers W, which communicate by means
of a series of short vertical tubes with the parallel horizontal chambers X.
These chambers X are connected by means of the pipes Y with the ex-
hausting chambers Z, from which the air is drawn by means of a fanner
arranged in the casing a. The two vertical pipes Y are each fur-
nished with a throttle valve and an external index, so that the valve may
be set so as to increase or diminish the velocity of the draft according to

page_text: the nature of the work. The motion of the fanner causes the heated air and
products of combustion to be drawn with great rapidity through the various
tubes, from whence in one modification of my Invention they are discharged
through a pipe connected with the fan wheel casing and carried outside the
building; but I prefer to convey this current of heated air and unconsumed
gas by means of pipes connected with the casing a back again to the burners
L, causing it to pass through the air distributors V, and in this manner, dis-
pensing with the current of heated air obtained from the furnace or other
source of heat. The manner in which I prefer to carry out this part of my
Invention is to fit into the pipe which conveys away the products of combustion.
a throttle valve, so that the passage therethrough may be entirely closed if
required. Between the valve and the fan a pipe branches off laterally, which
is carried backwards along the side of the machine; this pipe communicates by
means of a cock or valve with the main gas pipe. From the air pipe four
vertical tubes descend, which convey the combined stream of heated air and.
gas to the air distributors, from whence it impinges upon the flame. The tap
or valve fitted between the air pipe and the gas main affords the operator the
means of admitting any desired quantity of gas to mix with the descending
current of air. On the other hand, if the quantity of heated air is more than
is required for the due combustion of the gas, a portion may be allowed to
escape by partially opening the throttle valve in the pipe connected with the
fanner. By means of this arrangement the consumption of gas is greatly
economised, whilst the heating of the air is effected easily and without cost.
The arrangement of the gas pipes for conveying the gas to the four series of
burners L is shown in Figure 1 and 2, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings. The
horizontal pipe b conveys the gas from the main, and it is this pipe which is
put in connection with the heated air in the arrangement just described.
The pipe is carried downwards by the side of the machine, and has here
fitted to it a tap c, by which the gas can be wholly turned off. Below
this tap is a four-way union piece, to the lateral passages of which are
connected two taps d, the pipes from which convey the gas to the front and
back series of burners. The lower passage of the four-way union pipe
diverges into two angle pipes in which are fitted the taps e, to these are
screwed the pipes which convey the gas to the two central burners. As thus
arranged the gas may be readily shut off from the whole or any one of the
burners, or be instantly regulated with the utmost nicety as required. The
two central burners L are turned upon their axes by means of the handles f,
which are fast to the pipes carrying the burners. As the operator moves
these handles to and fro, the burners may be brought into contact with the

page_text: fabric or moved aside therefrom.
g
The two burners at the front and back
of the machine are operated by means of the handles g and h; these
are fast to horizontal spindles i and j, which extend across the machine,
and are each connected to the moveable pipes of the burners by a lever
and links which cause the pipes to turn partially round when the handles,
and arc moved to and fro. In this way the operator has complete
control over the whole of the gas apparatus while standing at one side of
the machine. Motion is imparted to the moving parts of the gassing
machine from a steam engine or other prime mover, an endless band
from which gives motion to the cone pulley ; the endless band Z on this
pulley drives the cone pulley m. The band n on the cone pulley m gives
motion to the fast and loose pulley o, the stud of which carries a pinion p that
imparts motion to the wheel q on the spindle of the winding roller S. As the
winding roller increases in diameter with the fabric being wound upon it, it is
necessary to cause the band 7 to move along the cone pulleys, so as to alter the
taking-up speed. This is done by means of the roller r, which rests upon the
fabric on the beam S; this roller is carried in the forked end of the rods,
which traverses in a vertical direction in eyes fitted in the pendent bracket t.
To the upper end of the rods a band is fastened, which is carried under the
pulley, and is made fast to the smaller circumference of the differential
pulley v. To the larger periphery of this pulley a band w is attached; the
other end of this band is connected to the rod a, which carries the fork Y. As
the roller rises with the increasing diameter of the beam S, the pulley v is
drawn round so as to unwind the band w, and thus moves the fork y and the
band Z, thus causing the take-up motion to travel at a uniform speed, and
equalising the progress of the fabrics through the machine. The spindle of
the cone pulley carries a pulley, the belt 1 of which drives the small pulley
2 on the spindle of the fan, on the end of which spindle is a pulley 3. The
endless belt on the pulley 3 gives motion to the
stretching or smoothing roller I. The pulley 5 also
drives the pulley on the first rotatory brush M, and
spindle carries a belt 7, which drives the pulley S on the second brush P.
Lastly, the spindle of the pulley 8 carries a secondary pulley and belt 9,
which gives motion to the pulley 10 on the spindle of one of the lower
rotatory brushes R, motion being given to the upper brush by pinions fast to
their spindles. In this manner the fabric is drawn through the machine at a
uniform speed, being singed upon one or both sides during its progress, and is
thereby finished in a manner far superior to the ordinary gassing or shearing
machines hitherto employed for the purpose.
small pulley 5 ou the
carries a hand 6, which
another pulley on this

page_text: With minor modifications the machinery herein-before described may be
readily adapted and applied to the singeing of lace, yarns, and other fabrics
composed of textile materials.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the hercin-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for singeing, treating, or finishing textile fabrics, as herein-before described
and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of treating or finishing textile fabrics by means
of singeing or gassing apparatus, arranged as herein-before described, or any
mere modification thereof.
Third, the system or mode of using and applying a current of heated air in
the operation of gassing or singeing textile fabrics, so as to cause the same to
impinge upon or become mixed with the gas as it issues from the burners, as
herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of using heated gas or air either separate or
combined, in the operation of gassing or singcing textile fabrics, as hercin-
before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of arranging the gas burners of gassing
machinery, in which they are made to move upon centres, as herein-before
described.
Sixth, the system or mode of returning the heated air and unconsumed
products of combustion again to the burners of gassing or singeing machinery,
as herein-before described, or any mere modification thereof.
Seventh, the use and application of round or polygonal singeing rollers for
passing the goods or fabrics over during the gassing or singeing operation, as
herein-before described.
Eighth, the system or mode of arranging the tension or guide rollers in the
machine, so that either one or both sides of the fabric may be gassed or
singed as required, as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Ninth, the use and application of smoothing rollers for taking the creases

page_text: out of the fabrics to be gassed or singed; also the application of rotatory
brushes or cards arranged in such machinery, as herein-before described.
Tenth, the system or mode of regulating the tension upon the fabrics as
they pass through gassing or singeing machinery, by means of frictional brake
apparatus, as herein-before described.
Eleventh, the system or mode of regulating the speed of the fabrics as they
pass through the gassing or singeing machine, by means of the mechanical
arrangement, which equalises the motion of the winding-on beam, as herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Cooke, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.