A New or Improved Machine for "Blowing" or Steaming, Boiling, Cooling, Scouring, and Dyeing Woven Fabrics.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Machine for "Blowing" or Steaming, Boiling,
Cooling, Scouring, and Dyeing Woven Fabrics.
I, ARTHUR TRAVIS CLAY, of Rastrick, in the County of York, Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to a new construction of machine to be employed for
setting or finishing woven fabrics, such processes being technically called blowing or
steaming, boiling, cooling, and scouring; the apparatus is also applicable for dyeing
woven fabrics.
In constructing apparatus for performing the above purposes,. I employ a box or
chest capable of being made airtight. At one end of the said box is a stud or centre,
working in a stuffing box, and at the opposite end thereof is the orifice of a hollow
shaft, also working in a stuffing box. A hollow perforated roller or cylinder is
employed upon which is rolled the fabric to be operated upon.
One end of said perforated cylinder is closed and made with a recess for the
reception of the stud or centre previously mentioned, whilst the hollow centre of the
opposite end of the said perforated cylinder is inserted into the orifice of the hollow
shaft, after which the centre is screwed up to support the cylinder and an airtight
joint is thus made.
Rotary motion is given to the hollow shaft and cylinder which is connected to a
pump or exhaust fan or other like apparatus for the purpose of forming a vacuum in
the box, the air therein being drawn through the fabric and perforated cylinder and
out through the hollow shaft. When a vacuum has been so formed steam is intro-
duced into the box which is speedily drawn through the cloth and together with any
condensed water is exhausted through the perforated cylinder by the air pump, by
which means the fabric is blown.
In addition to admitting steam into the chest after the vacuum is formed I may
introduce hot or cold liquid for cleaning, scouring or other purposes. The liquid
ejected may be collected in a suitable receptacle and re-admitted into the box or chest
until the fabric is cleaned, afterwards cold water may be introduced for the purpose of
cooling and setting the fabric.
Fabrics treated in a similar manner may be dyed by introducing dye liquor into the
box or chest.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1889
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents..
- COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Machine for "Blowing" or Steaming, Boiling,
Cooling, Scouring,' and Dyeing Woven Fabrics.
I, ARTHUR TRAVIS CLAY, of Rastrick, in the County of York, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention has reference to a new construction of machine to be employed for
setting or finishing woven fabrics, such processes being technically called blowing or
steaming, boiling, cooling, and scouring; the apparatus is also applicable for dyeing
woven fabrics.
Such being the nature and object of my invention, I will now proceed to describe

page_text: the same more fully, and for that purpose make reference to the accompanying sheet
of drawings illustrative thereof, wherein Fig. 1 is front elevation of a machine or
apparatus constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is cross-section of the
machine taken through the line a- of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of
the machine, which comprises a box or chest A provided with a lid or cover B capable of
opening upon hinges, and for the purpose of opening or raising the said lid, which
is necessarily somewhat heavy, I employ a horizontal shaft C supported in brackets D
projecting from the said lid. On each end of the said horizontal baft C is a pulley E
around which passes a chain F suitably connected to the bracket G. On the hori-
zontal shaft is fixed a worm wheel H in gear with a worm I, so that when the
handle J is operated the horizontal shaft is made to revolve, in doing which the
chain F is wrapped or wound around the pulleys E, whereby the lid C is raised. A
counterbalance weight K is employed for the purpose of keeping the lid in a state of
equilibrium. As it is necessary for the box or chest to be steam or air-tight, the
lid B is hermetically sealed to the lower part of the chest by the screws and nuts L.
The cloth or fabric to be treated is wound upon a perforated cylinder M ; the journal N
of the said cylinder is made hollow and is inserted into the tubular revolving shaft O.
The opposite end of the said perforated cylinder is closed, and provided with a cup_
for receiving the centre Q, which is made to move endwise to and from the cup by
the hand wheel R after the manner of the spindle in a slide lathe. Each end of the
box or chest is provided with stuffing boxes S, which permits of the parts revolving
whilst remaining steam-tight. The hollow revolving shaft O causes the perforated
cylinder and the fabric thereon also to revolve, the said hollow shaft receiving its
rotary motion by means of a worm wheel T thereon, gearing with a worm U driven
by the driving pulleys V.
P
The modus operandi is as follows:-The hollow shaft O is placed in communication
with a pump or exhaust fan or other form of apparatus for causing a vacuum in the
said box or chest, the result being that the air is drawn through the fabric, and
through the perforated cylinder, passing away through the hollow shaft. When a
vacuum has been thus formed, steam is introduced into the box through perforated
pipes W, which steam, or any condensation arising therefrom, is drawn through the
fabric by the exhausting fan or pump. The pressure of the steam within the chest is
indicated on the steam gauge X. The perforated cylinder continues to revolve
during the steaming action, and the length of time the steaming is continued will
depend upon the class of goods under operation, and the discretion and judgment of
the operator. Y represents a valve for emptying the chest or box. Provision may
be made for collecting the ejected liquid in any suitable form of receptacle, so that it
may be re-used.
By a suitable arrangement of valves attached to the pump or fan, steam can be
forced through the fabric in the reverse manner to that described, whereby both the
inner and outer surfaces of the rolled fabric will be equally acted upon. Liquids may
also be applied to the fabric in the same manner, and by connecting the valve Y to
the pump or fan a complete circulation of the dye or other liquor is obtained.
This form of apparatus may be used for operating upon fabrics in a variety of
ways, as in addition to admitting steam into the chest after the vacuum has been
formed, hot or cold water or other liquid may be introduced for cleaning scouring, or
otherwise treating the fabric. The apparatus may also be used for dyeing cloth
wound upon the perforated cylinder, as it will be easily seen, that by introducing dye
liquor instead of steam or water, the fabric can be dyed. Although I prefer to
employ an air-tight steam chest, I may use an open vessel.
Having now described my invention and shewn how the same may be put into
practical operation, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the
details of construction herein shewn and described, as they may be modified without
departing from my invention, but what I claim is :-
Firstly. For blowing, steaming, scouring, and dyeing woven fabrics, the use of
a perforated revolving cylinder working in an air-tight steam chest in communication

page_text: with a pump or exhaust fan for purposes as described and illustrated in the
drawings.
Secondly. For treating fabrics for purposes herein described, the use of a steam
chest, in combination with a perforated revolving cylinder made with a hollow
journal at one end, capable of being held in position by the centre Q, all as
described.
Dated this 30th day of August 1800
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax and Huddersfield, Agents for Applicant.