Improvements in Scouring Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 27th Dec., 1890
CUM LEID DI DUIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ALEXANDER SMITH AND SONS CARPET COMPANY
(Incorporated), of Yonkers, in the State of New York, United States of America,
Carpet Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Scouring Machines.
I PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of scouring machines in which
the yarn or other material to be scoured is passed through a series of scouring vats,
and a rinsing vat, at the rear end of the machine, and after its passage through each
vat, is compressed between a pair of pressing rolls provided at the end of each vat,
in its passage between which rolls it is deprived of the greater proportion of the
liquid which it takes up during its passage through the vat, and is delivered in that
condition to the next vat of the series. In the apparatus of this character heretofore
most commonly employed, there has been provided for each vat a pair of revolving
belts or aprons, one above the other, immersed in the scouring or rinsing liquid,
between which the yarn is moved through the scouring and rinsing liquid, and from
which it is taken by pressing rollers at the end of the vat and delivered thence
automatically to the aprons or belts in the next of the series of vats, the yarn being
passed in this manner from one scouring vat to another, and then to the rinsing vat
containing clean water, and thence delivered to a pair of rolls, and by them to the
outside of the machine, or directly to a drying apparatus.
The machines of this class heretofore devised are objectionable, in that they are
incapable of rapid operation, the delivery of the yarn from the aprons or belts to the
rolls, and from the rolls to the aprons or belts, necessitating the running of the
machine at a low rate of speed, thereby limiting, to a considerable degree, the amount
of work which can be performed in a given time by the machine.
The use of the travelling belts or aprons, as a means for conveying the yarn
through the scouring liquid, is also objectionable, in that the yarn is not evenly
scoured or saturated with the scouring liquid, that portion of the yarn lying upon
the lower apron or belt being malted and held against the surface of the same by
the weight of the yarn above it, and the weight of the upper belt or apron, and
thus receiving less of the scouring liquid than the other and more exposed portions
of the yarn. The yarn, as it passed through the machine, also required adjustment
and re-arrangement frequently upon the belts or aprons, attendants being stationed,
for this purpose, at each of the vats.
The improvements of the present invention have for their object the provision of a
machine which shall overcome these and other objections which have existed to the
use of these machines, and one in which the employment of but one or two attendants,
one at each end of the machine, will be necessary, the yarn requiring no re-
arrangement or adjustment during any part of its passage through the inachine; and
to these ends the invention consists briefly in a scouring machine in which are
employed a series of scouring vats and a rinsing vat of substantially the usual con-
struction, through all of which vats passes a conveying mechanism provided with a
series of yarn carriers extending transversely of the machine, and each capable of
carrying a number of skeins of yarn, these yarn carriers being also preferably of
such construction as to permit of their ready removal, when desired, from the
conveying mechanism, and so connected to the conveying mechanism as to be adapted
to pass with the yarn which they carry between the pressing surfaces or rolls

page_text: provided at the end of each vat, without injury to themselves or said pressing
surfaces or rolls, or to the yarn, as hereinafter described. The provision of a single
conveying mechanism, preferably endless, entering the vats of the entire series, and
carriers of the kind referred to, renders unnecessary the detachment of the yarn
from the conveying mechanism as it emerges from each vat, and renders the machine
capable of rapid operation, increasing its capacity for performing work to a consider-
able extent over that of machines of this character heretofore used. With the
construction of yarn carriers referred to, also, all portions of the yarn are equally
exposed, and a more even saturation of the yarn with the scouring liquid is secured,
and consequently a more perfect and uniform cleansing of the same, and the
employment of attendants for the purpose of arranging and adjusting the yarn
during its passage through the machine, is dispensed with.
The present invention has for its object, also, the provision of mechanism for
automatically feeding alkali to the vats, by which the water in the vat is more
thoroughly impregnated with the alkali than heretofore, this mechanism consisting,
briefly, of a box or dish located above the water line of the vat from which the alkali
is fed by gravity to the vat at a point beneath its water line, and preferably near its
bottom. Provision is also made, in the present case, for the distribution of the
alkali through the vat as it enters the same, the means provided for this purpose
consisting of a perforated pipe, to which steam, water, or air under pressure is
applied from any suitable source, said perforated pipe being so located with reference
to the open end of the alkali-supplying pipe, that the steam issuing through its
perforations passing upward through the water, drives before it the alkali, as it enters
the water, and distributes it throughout the vat.
The invention consists also in certain other improvements, and certain details of
construction and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully described
in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the improvements of the present
invention, but one scouring vat, and the rinsing vat, being shown, however, the others
of the series being omitted.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, upon an enlarged scale, of one end of the machine, viz.,
the rinsing end, illustrating particularly the mechanism for operating the conveying
mechanism and pressing rolls.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the scouring vats, illustrating the pressing
rolls, the alkali-supplying mechanism, and syphoning apparatus, by which latter the
liquid is, when desired, changed from the rear vats to those toward the front of the
machine.
Fig. 5 is a similar view of the rinsing vat and pressing rolls,-one side of the vat
being removed for the purpose of showing the outward path travelled by the yarn-
conveying mechanism through the vat.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation, illustrating the pressing rolls and fenders or guides
for guiding the yarn, at the ends of the yarn carriers, into the pressing rolls.
Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a portion of the conveying mechanism and one of the
yarn carriers.
Fig. 8 is a side clevation, in section, and Fig. 9 is a plan view, of one of the yarn
carriers and a portion of its conveying mechanism.
Fig. 10 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 5,
illustrating one of a series of guides for retaining the conveying mechanism in its
path of travel.
Fig. 11 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 11-11 of Fig. 4, illustrating
the alkali-supplying and distributing mechanisms.
Referring to said drawings, it is to be understood that the machine therein
illustrated is provided with a series of scouring vats A, and a rinsing vat B at the
rear, said vats being arranged in line one in front of another. Each vat is supplied
with water from a supply pipe C through branch pipes c, leading therefrom into the
vat, the pipe C connecting with a service main or water tank in the usual manner.

page_text: The pipes C and c are provided with cocks b for controlling the supply of water
to the vats, and the rinsing vat is provided with a suitable overflow, as i.
Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 3, and 5, the conveying mechanism of the
present invention will be described. As shown therein, this conveying mechanism
consists of a pair of endless sprocket chains G G¹, one upon each side of the
machine, and located a short distance inside the walls of the vats, and passing around
sprocket wheels 2 at each end of the machine. As best shown in Fig. 1, each of
these chains G G₁ is supported, in its outward or lower path of travel, upon a series
of sprocket wheels 3, and in its return or upper path of travel, upon a second series
of sprocket wheels 4. In addition to the sprocket wheels 2, 3, 4, there is provided
for each chain, at the rear end of the machine, a sprocket wheel 5, upon opposite
ends of a shaft 22, extending across the machine, through which motion is communi-
cated to the chains from a suitable source of power, as hereinafter described. The
chains G G, are guided in their outward or lower path of travel in guides 8,
extending horizontally between the vats, and downwardly into the same, and secured
by cleats 27 to the inner walls of the vats. The downward movement of the chains
into the vats, and horizontally therein for a short distance, is secured by a pair of
sprocket wheels 6, located in each vat at a point near the bottom thereof, and
engaging the upper side of the chain, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Means are provided
also for preventing the disengagement of the chains from their sprocket wheels 3
and 6,-consisting of a series of brackets 7 and plates 29, secured to the inner sides
of the guides at suitable intervals in the outward path of travel of the chain,
preferably arranged as shown in the drawings, that is, near the sprockets 3 and 6,
upon the sides thereof from which the chain approaches; this latter arrangement of
the brackets 7 and plates 29 ensuring the proper presentation of the chain to the
sprocket wheels. The hooked ends of the brackets are, as shown in Fig. 10, of a
size just sufficient to permit the passage through them of the links of the chain.
The yarn carrier of the present invention consists of a long narrow strap or band m,
of canvas hose preferably, the ends of which are provided with rings n adapted to
be engaged and held by hooks o, formed upon, or integral with, a number of the
links of each chain G G. When in position upon the chains, the carriers extend
transversely across the machine from chain to chain, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 8,
and 9. The connection between the yarn carriers and the chains is such, as will be
observed, as to permit their ready engagement and disengagement.
To permit the passage of the hooks o on the chains & G₁, the brackets 7 are, as
shown in Fig. 10, provided with openings 9 in their lower ends.
The construction of the pressing surfaces with which the machine is provided, will
now be described. These pressing surfaces consist, in the present case, of a pair of
rolls J, located, as shown in the drawings, at the end of each vat. One roll (J, as
shown) of each pair is mounted on a shaft 10 journaled in uprights in the end of the
vat, and provided at one end with a worm wheel 11, meshing with a worm 12 on a
power shaft 13, connected by a pulley 14 and belt (not shown) with any suitable
source of power. The shaft 10 also carries a double gear wheel 15, with alternately
arranged teeth, meshing with a similar gear wheel 16 on the end of the shaft 17 of
the roller I. A yielding pressure between the rolls is produced by the provision of a
buffer 18 in the journals of the roller I, which journals are capable of a slight
vertical movement in their bearings (as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6). The shaft 10 of the
roller J carries a third gear wheel 19, by which motion is communicated, through
an intermediate 20, to a gear wheel 21, mounted on the shaft 22 before referred to,
which carries at its ends the sprocket wheels 5, around which the chains G G¹ pass
at the rear end of the machine, as before described, and through which movement
is imparted to the chains in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2.
The operation of the machine, as thus far described, is as follows:-The yarn
carriers m being supplied with the proper quantity of yarn, each being capable of
receiving a number of skeins loosely hung therein, as shown in Fig. 7, and the
carriers being connected to the chains G G¹, as heretofore described, by the operator
at the front end of the machine, on movement being imparted to the shaft 12 in the

page_text: direction indicated in Fig. 2, the rolls I and J will be revolved, and the chains G G¹
moved in the direction indicated by the arrows in said Figure, guided in their
outward or lower path of movement in the guides 8, and in their return movement
on the sprocket wheels 4. As each yarn carrier upon the chains G G₁ leaves the
front of the machine, it is carried along to the edge of the first of the series of
scouring vats A, and then downward through the scouring liquid contained therein
(the chains G G and the yarn carrier being guided in this downward movement by
the sprocket wheel 6 before described), and then upward and to the next vat of the
series. As the carrier issues from each of the vats, however, it is passed with its
yarn between the revolving pressing rolls 1, J, which compress the yarn, and drive
from it the greater portion of the scouring liquid with which it has been saturated
in its passage through the liquid. From the rolls I J the yarn carrier and its yarn
pass to the next vat, where the operation just described is repeated, and so on
throughout the entire series, until the rinsing vat B is reached, where it is passed
through a body of clean water, and as it emerges therefrom, it again passed
between another pair of pressing rolls I, J, at the rear end of the machine. As the
carrier issues from these last pressing rolls, it is detached from the chains, or the
yarn only removed therefrom, the yarn carrier in that case being returned empty
upon the chains to the front end of the machine.
It will be noted that with carriers thus constructed, the yarn is so carried through
the vats, that all parts of the yarn are exposed equally to the scouring liquid, and
consequently thoroughly and evenly scoured.
With carriers of this construction, also, it is possible to use one conveying
mechanism fo: the whole series of vats, instead of a conveying mechanism for each
vat, as in the prior machines, the carriers being adapted to pass between the
pressing rolls with their yarn, without injury to themselves or to the
yarn.
As the carriers descend into and ascend from the vat, the yarn which they carry
will have a tendency to float upon the surface of the liquid. To prevent this, each
of the vats is provided with a rod or roller 28 at each end, spanning the vat, and
located in such position as to keep the yarn in the rear of the carriers submerged
until the yarn has taken out of the liquid by the carriers. The pressure of the
rolls I, J is, as before stated, a yielding one, so as to adapt the rolls for the passage
hetween them of yarns of varying thicknesses, or in varying quantities.
"
Means are provided, at each pair of pressing rolls, for guiding the yarn into the
bite of the rolls, and for keeping the yarn at the end of the yarn carriers out of
contact with the journals of the rolls. These consist of a pair of fenders or guides 23,
extending outward radially from the frame 8 toward the centre of the machine. As
the yarn carriers approach the rolls IJ, the fenders push the yarn at their ends
inward on the carriers toward the centre, and thus ensure the passage of all the yarn
carried thereby between the rolls, and prevent any portion of the same coming in
contact with the journals of the rolls.
With
When the yarn is being passed between the pressing rolls, it has been found that
the yarn carriers, after they issue from the rolls, are subjected to a certain amount of
train, due to the backward pull of the rolls upon the yarn, which is not removed
until the whole of the yarn is released from the rolls. To avoid this, we so proportion
the driving gears of the conveying mechanism, and the pressing rolls, that the latter
are driven at a speed somewhat in excess of that of the conveying mechanism.
the speed of rotation of the pressing rolls thus increased over the speed of movement
of the chains, the yarn, as it reaches each pair of rolls, is passed through them at a
speed also correspondly in excess of the movement of its carrier. It follows from
this, that when the carrier itself has passed through the rolls, the yarn will be suspended
loosely between it and the rolls in the form of a loop, and this will continue until the
whole of the yarn has passed from the rolls.
In addition to the branch pipes for supplying the vats with water, we provide
means whereby, as the yarn passes into and out of the rinsing vat, it is saturated with
clean water. The means employed for this purpose, in the present case, consist of a
pipe leading from the supply pipe C, and divided at its lower end to form branches p,

page_text: which enter opposite ends of a horizontal pipe t, extending across, and supported in
the top edge of the vat (see Fig. 3). The pipe t carries a covered trough L, through
the front edge of which the water issues in a sheet. The rinsing vat is preferably
provided with a trough at each end, located above the water line of the vat, and in
such position that this water, as it issues therefrom, will be poured directly onto the
yarn, just before and after its passage through the vat.
Each of the vats, beginning with the rinsing vat, is provided with a syphoning
apparatus of substantially the usual form, by which the liquid is constantly
changed from those in the rear, where the liquid is cleanest, to those in front, being
discharged from the first vat of the series, when desired. This syphoning apparatus
consists of an inclined pipe E, connected at its rear end to the bottom, or near the
bottom, of one vat, and at its upper end to the upper edge of the next vat in front.
A partial vacuum is created in this pipe, so as to draw the water from the rear vat,
and deposit it in the forward vat, by the passage through said pipe of steam under
pressure from a branch-pipe h, connected at one end to the lower end of the pipe E,
and at its other end to a steam supply pipe F.
The alkali supplying mechanism of the present invention consists of an elevated
dish or box D for each scouring vat, from which the alkali is fed to the vat by
gravity, in a liquid or powdered state, by a pipe d, connected to the bottom of said
dish or box, and entering the vat at a point beneath its water line, and preferably at
or near its bottom. In addition to this, means are provided for distributing the
alkali, as it emerges from the pipe d, throughout the vat, consisting (as shown in
Figs. 1 and 11) of a pipe e located beneath the pipe d, and provided with a number of
openings 9 (preferably in its uppermost surface). This pipe e connects by a branch
pipe with the steam supply pipe F. As steam under pressure is supplied to the
pipe e, it issues therefrom in jets through its openings g, and rising in the water in
the vat, drives before it, and distributes throughout the vat, the alkali discharged by
the pipe d into the vat. This is a feature of considerable importance, as by the use of the
mechanism described, all the alkali is fully utilised; it is prevented from collecting in
lumps or cakes, and being thus rendered useless and wasted, and a good sud is formed
for scouring purposes, warmed by the heat of the steam entering the vat. The
mechanism described for supplying the alkali also is of importance. In these machines,
the alkali has heretofore been supplied to each vat at its top by hand, and then
distributed throughout the water therein by stirring. This method of supplying and
distributing the alkali is objectionable, not only because of the labor necessarily
entailed in its practice, but for the reason that the aikali is never thoroughly dissolved
and distributed by mere stirring,-some of it collecting in lumps or cakes on the surface
of the liquid and upon the yarn as it passes through the liquid. In the present
machine, however, the alkali being introduced into the bottom of the vat, and then
driven upward by the steam it is thoroughly softened, and distributed evenly throughout
the water in the vat, the heat of the steam aiding the softening and distribution of the
soap very materially. It is to be understood, however, that equivalent means for
driving the soap through the water in the vat, such as water or air under pressure,
may be employed.
2
Many modifications may be made in the construction of the machine and its several
parts. For example, the yarn carriers, instead of being used with conveying
mechanisin passing through a series of vats, may be used with a conveying mechanism
passing through but one vat, or they may be used with a conveying mechanism
passing through a series of vats in a machine in which no pressing surfaces are
employed, or in which the pressing surfaces differ from those of the present machine.
Again, the conveying mechanism, instead of consisting of sprocket chains, as herein
shown and described, may consist of a belt or cable, or other similar device, or it may,
instead of being endless, consist of a chain, belt or cable wound upon drums at each
end of the machine.
Such changes or modifications are not to be considered a departure from the present
invention; neither is the use of the machine, or parts thereof, for purposes other than
that described, to be considered such a departure,

page_text: It is also to be understood, that the conveying mechanism and pressing rolls may be
driven by mechanism other than that shown and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me,
I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of vats, of
conveying mechanism passing through said series of vats; yarn carriers carried by
conveying mechanism; pressing surfaces between which said carriers pass, and
means for driving said conveying mechanism, substantially as described.
2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of vats, of
conveying mechanism passing through said series of vats, yarn carriers detachably
connected to said conveying mechanism, pressing surfaces between which said carriers
pass, and means for driving said conveying mechanism, substantially as described.
3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of vats, of an
endless conveying mechanism passing through said series of vats, yarn carriers carried
by said conveying mechanism, pressing rolls between which said carriers pass, and
means for driving said conveying mechanism and pressing rolls, substantially as described.
4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of vats, of an
endless conveying mechanism passing through said series of vats, yarn carriers
detachably connected to said conveying mechanism; pressing rolls between which said
carriers pass, and means for driving said conveying mechanism and pressing rolls,
substantially as described.
5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of vats, of an
endless conveying mechanism passing through said series of vats, yarn carriers carried
by said conveying mechanism, pressing rolls between which said carriers pass, and
means for driving said conveying mechanism and pressing rolls, the latter at a speed in
excess of the conveying mechanism, substantially as described.
6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a vat and pressing
surfaces, of a conveying mechanism passing through said vat, and a yarn carrier
carried by said conveying mechanism, and passing between said surfaces, substantially
as described.
7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of vats, of a
conveying mechanism passing through said series of vats, yarn carriers carried
by said conveying mechanism, pressing surfaces between which said carriers pass,
means for guiding the yarn at the ends of said carriers into said pressing surfaces, and
means for driving said conveying mechanism, substantially as described.
8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of vats, of a
conveying mechanism passing through said series of vats, yarn carriers carried by said
conveying mechanism, pressing rolls between which said carriers pass, means for
guiding the yarn at the ends of said carriers into said pressing rolls, and means for
driving said conveying mechanism and pressing rolls, substantially as described.
9. The combination with a series of vats, of a pair of sprocket chains, yarn carriers
suspended between said chains, means for driving said chains, and a series of sprocket
wheels (as 3, 4) for supporting said chains, substantially as described.
10. The combination with a series of vats, of a pair of sprocket chains, yarn
carriers suspended between said chains, means for driving said chains, a series of
sprocket wheels (as 3,4) for supporting said chains, and means for guiding said chains
in their path of travel through the vats, substantially as described.
11. The combination with a series of vats, of a pair of sprocket chains, yarn carriers
suspended between said chains, means for driving said chains, a series of sprocket
wheels (as 3, 4) for supporting said chains, and sprocket wheels 6 for guiding said
chains into and through the vats, substantially as described.
12. The combination with a series of vats, of a pair of sprocket chains, yarn carriers
suspended between said chains, means for driving said chains, a series of sprocket
wheels (as 3, 4) for supporting said chains, and means for preventing the lateral
movement of the chains, substantially as described.

page_text: 13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of travelling
sprocket chains, having at intervals, links provided with hooks (as o), of a series of
yarn carriers having rings (as n) for engagement with said hooks, substantially as
described.
14. The combination with a conveying mechanism, of a series of yarn carriers,
each composed of a strip m of yielding material, and provided with means for attach-
ment to said conveying mechanism, substantially as described.
15. The combination with a conveying mechanism, of a series of yarn carriers and
pressing surfaces, between which said carriers pass, each of said carriers being com-
posed of a strip m of yielding material, and provided with means for attachment to
said conveying mechanism, substantially as described.
16. The combination with the sprocket chains G G³, of a series of yarn carriers
suspended between said chains, and pressing surfaces between which said carriers pass,
substantially as described.
17. The combination with the vats A B, of the endless chains G G¹, suitably
supported in the machine, and provided with hooks o at intervals in their length,
means for guiding said chains into and through each vat, pressing rolls I, J between
said plates, yarn carriers m adapted to pass through said rolls, and provided at their
ends with rings (as n) for engagement with the hooks o, and means for driving said
chains and rolls, substantially as described.
18. The combination with the sprocket chains G G₁, of the brackets 7, mounted in
the frame 8, and embracing said chains, and provided with openings for the passage
of the hooked links in said chains, substantially as described.
19. The combination with the sprocket chains G G₁, of the plate 29, arranged at
intervals in the path of travel of said chains, to hold the same in engagement with
their sprocket wheels, substantially as described.
20. The combination with a scouring vat, of an alkali receptacle, connections
between said receptacle and vat, whereby the alkali is introduced into the vat at a
point beneath the surface of the liquid therein; a perforated pipe for distributing the
alkali throughout the vat, and connections between the said pipe and a source of fluid
supply under pressure, substantially as described.
21. The combination with a scouring vat of an elevated alkali receptacle (as D),
connections between said receptacle and vat whereby the alkali is conveyed by gravity
to said vat at a point beneath the surface of the liquid therein, the perforated pipe e
located beneath the point at which the alkali enters the vat and provided with con-
nections with a suitable source of steam supply, substantially as described.
22. The combination with a scouring vat, of an elevated alkali receptacle, a feed
pipe connected at its upper end to said receptacle, and at the lower end opening into
the vat at a point below the surface of the liquid therein, whereby the alkali is fed by
gravity to the vat below the surface of the liquid, and a steam pipe beneath the
open end of the feed pipe, whereby the alkali is distributed throughout the vat as
it enters the same, substantially as described.
23. The combination with a series of vats and the sprocket chains G G₁, of the
guides 8 extending along the path to be travelled by said chains, and having inclined
portions entering said vats, and brackets 7 at suitable intervals for retaining the
chains in said guides, substantially as described.
24. In a scouring machine, the combination with pressing surfaces, of one or more
yarn carriers passing between said surfaces, and fenders or guides 23, substantially as
described.
25. In a vat, the combination with the chains G G¹ and yarn carriers passing
through said vat, of the troughs L, connected to a source of water supply,
located in position in said vat, to saturate the yarn prior to and after its passage
through the liquid, substantially as described.
26. In a scouring machine, the combination with a vat and pressing surfaces
between which the material to be scoured passes from the vat, of a trough or troughs
arranged above the water line of the vat, and connections between said trough or

page_text: troughs and a source of water supply for saturating the material as it passes between
the pressing surfaces, substantially as described.
+
Dated this 25th day of Navambon 1800.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.