Improvements in and appertaining to Machines for Dyeing or Treating Wool and like Fibres.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Machines for Dyeing or
Treating Wool and like Fibres.
We, STARKEY BROTHERS, LIMITED, of Spring Dale Mills, Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Woollen Manufacturers, and FREDERICK HINCHLIFFE, of the
same place, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the ordinary machines or dye vessels at present
employed in the dyeing of raw or loose unmanufactured wool or like fibres, and
our improvements therein consist, in the first place, of a new method of and
means for treating the fibres or subjecting them to the action of the liquor or
liquid for dyeing, mordanting, or washing off purposes and, in the second place,
of means for discharging loose wool or fibres or raising same out of the dye
vessel for discharge upon completion of the dyeing, mordanting, or washing off
processes or any of them, such discharging apparatus being applicable to the
ordinary loose wool dyeing machines or vats whether our improved method of
treating the fibres be applied thereto or not.
In carrying out the first part of our invention we apply to opposing sides of
the rectangular or other angularly shaped dye vessel or vat employed, two
pipes or equivalent channels or conduits which, on those sides facing the interior
of the vessel, are perforated or provided with small holes arranged at suitable
distances apart longitudinally and radially. The two ends or remaining sides
of the dye vessel or cistern are suitably chambered, or provided with chambers
which are partitioned off from the interior of the vessel by perforated plates.
The vessel is also provided near the bottom with a false perforated bottom or
plate for the wool or fibres to rest upon. Pipes are coupled to the bottom
of the dye vessel and to the two side chambers, and valves are employed in con-
junction with said pipes, and auxiliary or coupling pipes, for controlling,
shutting off or altering the course of the liquids to or from any of said parts
of the cistern or vessel, as may be required and as afterwards explained. When
the dye vessel has been charged with the supply of dye liquor, the outlet
or outlets at the bottom of the vessel is or are opened and the dye liquor passes
through same into the piping and is forced by pump or the like into the per-
forated pines at the top of the dye vessel from whence it issues at various
angles through the perforations in a series of streams or jets directed by the
positions of the perforations from the sides to the centre or beyond the centre
of the tank or vessel and falling back into same in sprays which thus command
the whole area of said vessel. The wool, when first thrown into said dye vessel,
falls through the sprays of dye liquor and is therefore saturated before immersion
in the body of liquor in said vessel, and the movement of such body of liquid
being constantly in a downward direction, it passes through and penetrates
every portion of the fibres immersed therein, and dyes them an even and level

page_text: colour or shade throughout, the fibres being kept in a loose or open condition
under the treatment and thus fully exposed to the action of the liquor.
By taking the liquor from the chambers at the ends of the dye vessel, and
forcing it into the space underneath the false, bottom and also into the per-
forated pipes at the upper sides of the vessel, a series of jets or streams of liquor
will rise upwards through the body of the dye liquor in the vessel from the
whole surface of the perforated' false bottom in addition to the sprays of liquor
issuing from the perforated pipes and falling down into the dye vessel. Or the
order may be again changed by taking the liquor from the bottom of the tank,
and forcing it into the two end chambers and into the perforated pipes, so
that streams or jets of liquor will issue from the perforated partitions at the
ends of the dye vessel and from the perforated pipes, at the top of said vessel.
The treatment may be otherwise varied by different combinations of sprays
or jets of liquor forced into the dye vessel after the manner described, or by
using any of the sprays separately. For, circular vats, a circular perforated
pipe is applied to the top of the vat, and two or more chambers facing each
other or one common centre, and partitioned off from the vat by perforated
plates, may or may not be employed as desired.
In treating
wool or like fibres in the manner above set forth, a much
larger quantity of fibre can be dealt with in the same time than is possible
under the present method of treatment, while, in addition to the better results
obtained in dyeing, the fibre comes out softer and in a loose or unmatted con-
dition..
'
In carrying out the second part of our invention, we employ a lattice or like
sheet or sheets consisting of laths or cross bars connected together by links,
or of netting or the like. One end of the lattice sheet is secured to one side
of the vessel, and the opposite end or ends is or are secured by straps or other
flexible connections to a shaft, drum or pullies, supported at a suitable height
above the dye vessel or vat and either centrally or to one side thereof. The
lattice sheet or netting normally fits or rests closely against the bottom and
sides of the vessel so that it takes up little room and is adapted to receive and
hold the whole of the wool or fibre with which the machine is charged. When
desiring to discharge the fibre, the shaft drum or pullies is or are turned or
rotated in one direction by suitable gearing or by hand, wheel, or lever, whereby
the sheet or netting is wound up from one side in such a manner as to raise
the whole of the fibre to one side of the vessel and clear of the liquid therein,
in which position it may be allowed to remain until the liquid therein has
drained off. The fibre may be taken by hand out of the wound up sheet or
net or said sheet may be wound up further so as to discharge the fibre over
the side of the vessel and onto the floor or into a receptacle placed to receive it.
By this means no labour is required to lift the fibre out of the dye vessel and
its discharge therefrom is effected in a fraction of the time it takes at present.
The aforesaid discharging apparatus may be applied to any ordinary machine
or dye vessel, for dyeing or treating wool or like fibres in a loose or unmanu-
factured state, for which it is adapted.
Suitable catches or holding devices are employed to hold the free end of the
lattice sheet when in its normal position.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1899.

page_text: CONE DEI DI MUIFICATION..
Improvements in and appertaining to Machines for Dyeing or.
Treating Wool and like Fibres..
We, STARKEY BROTHERS, LIMITED, of Spring Dale Mills, Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Woollen Manufacturers, and FREDERICK HINCHLIFFE, of the
same place, Engineer, 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 the ordinary machines or dye vessels at present
employed in the dyeing of raw or loose unmanufactured wool or like fibres, and
our improvements therein consist, in the first place, of a new method of and
means for treating the fibres or subjecting them to the action of the liquor or
liquid for dyeing, mordanting, or washing off purposes and, in the second place,
of means for discharging loose wool or, fibres or raising same out of, the dye
vessel for discharge upon completion of the dyeing, mordanting, or washing off
processes or any of them, such discharging apparatus being applicable to the
ordinary loose wool dyeing machines or vats whether our improved method of
treating the fibres be applied or not.
In carrying out the first part of our invention we apply to opposing sides of
the rectangular or other angularly shaped dye vessel or vat employed,
pipes or equivalent channels or, conduits which, on those sides facing the interior
of the vessel, are perforated or provided with small holes arranged at suitable
distances apart longitudinally and radially. The two ends or remaining sides
of the dye vessel or cistern are provided with chambers which are partitioned
off from the interior of the vessel by perforated plates. The vessel is also pro-
vided with a false perforated bottom or plate for the wool or fibres to rest on.
Pines are coupled to the bottom of the dye vessel and to the two side chambers
and valves are employed in conjunction with said pipes and auxiliary or coupling
pipes for controlling shutting off or altering the course of the liquids to or from
any of said parts of the cistern or vessel, as may be required and as afterwards
explained.
When the dye vessel has been charged with the supply of dye liquor, the outlet
or outlets at the bottom of the vessel is or are opened and the dye liquor. passes
through same into the piping and is forced by pumps or the like into the per-
forated pipes at the top of the dye vessel whence it issues at various angles
through the perforations in a series of streams or jets directed by the positions
of the perforations from the sides to the centre or bevond the centre of the tank
or vessel and falling back into same in sprays which thus command the whole
area thereof.
The wool, when thrown into the dye vessel, first falls through the sprays of
dye liquor and is therefore saturated before immersion in the body of liquor
in said vessel, and the movement of such body of liquid being constantly in a
downward direction, it passes through and penetrates every portion of the fibres
immersed therein and dyes them an even and level colour or shade throughout,
the fibres being kept in a loose or open condition under the treatment and thus
fully exposed to the action of the liquor.
By taking the liquor from the chambers at the ends of the dye vessel and
forcing it into the space underneath the false bottom and also into the per-
forated pipes at the upper sides of the vessel a series of jets or streams of liquor
will rise upwards through the body of the dye liquor in the vessel from the
whole surface of the perforated false bottom in addition to the sprays of liquor-
issuing from the perforated pipes and falling down into the vessel.

page_text: For circular vats, a circular perforated pipe is applied to the top of the vat,
and two or more chambers facing each other or one common centre, and partitioned
off from the vat by perforated plates, may or may not be employed as desired.
In carrying out the second part of our invention we employ a lattice or like
sheet or sheets consisting of laths or cross bars connected together by links,
or of 'netting or the like. One end of the lattice sheet is secured to one side
of the vessel and the opposite end or ends is or are secured by straps or other
flexible connections to a shaft, drum or pullies, supported at a suitable height
above the dye vessel or vat and either centrally or to one side thereof. The
lattice sheet or netting normally fits or rests closely against the bottom and
sides of the vessel so that it takes up little room and is adapted to receive and
hold the whole of the wool or fibre with which the machine is charged. When
desiring to discharge the fibre, the shaft drum or pullies is or are turned or
rotated in one direction by suitable gearing or by hand wheel or lever, whereby
the sheet or netting is wound up from one side in such a manner as to raise
the whole of the fibre to one side of the vessel and clear of the liquid therein
in which position it may be allowed to remain until the liquid has drained
off. The fibre may then be taken by hand out of the wound up sheet or
net or said sheet wound up further so as to discharge the fibre over
the side of the vessel and on to the floor into a receptacle placed to receive it.
By this means no labour is required to lift, the fibre out of the dye vessel and
its discharge therefrom is effected in a fraction of the time it takes at present.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:---
Fig. 1 is transverse section, and
Fig. 2 longitudinal section of an ordinary rectangular dye vat or vessel shewing
the application of the first part of our invention.
Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional elevations of a rectangular and circular
dye vat or vessel respectively, shewing the application of the second part of
our invention.
Fig. 5 is elevation of a fragment of the lattice sheet shewn in Fig. 3.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the dye vat or vessel a is provided at each end
(see Fig. 2) and also at the bottom, with chambers or spaces b, b, and c respectively
partitioned off from the interior of the vat or vessel by perforated plates b', b',
and c, the latter of which forms a false bottom for the wool or other fibres to
rest upon. The perforations in the plates 61, 61, and c¹, are of suitable gauge or
fineness to restrain the fibres from being drawn through them into the chambers.
To support the perforated plates at any desired position or positions intermediate
of their length or width, or to secure the plates at any intermediate points, or in
position in sections, ribs or narrow pieces of wood may be secured to the ends
and bottom of the vessel a as at a¹, and screws driven through the plates into
same, such ribs or bars of wood having holes bored therethrough to afford
uninterrupted communication with all parts of the respective chambers.
Near the top of the vessel a contiguous to each longitudinal side and extending
from end to end of same are pipes, channels, or conduits d, d, closed or sealed
up at one end and coupled at their opposite ends to a common supply pipe e,
or to separate supply pipes.
The pipes d, d, on the sides facing the interior of the vessel a are provided
with a number of small openings or perforations spaced at suitable distances apart
longitudinally and radially and suitably arranged radially of the pipes to direct
streams of liquid from a position close to the respective sides of the vessel,
to a position preferably a little distance beyond the centre thereof, as illustrated
at Fig. 1.
A pipe f coupled to branch pipes f, f, open to each end chamber b, and a
pipe open to the bottom chamber c, lead to any suitable or ordinary construc-
tion of pump, while leading from said pump are the pipe e for supplying the
perforated pipes d, d, and pipe h, couplied to pipe g at a point between the inlets
or outlets to or from the bottom of the vessel a and the valve g¹. Each

page_text: pipe f, g, e, and h has its respective valve f¹, g¹, e, and h¹, for controlling
and shutting off the passage of liquids through said pipes.
When the dye vessel has been charged with its supply of dye or other liquor or
liquid, according to the particular process in view, and assuming that such
liquor is to be withdrawn from the bottom of the vessel and re-supplied thereto
through the perforated pipes or conduits d, d, only, we close the valves f¹ and ¹
and open valves g', and a whereupon by the action of the pump, the liquor is
withdrawn from the bottom of the vessel a through the pipe y and forced
through pipe e into the perforated pipes d, d, through the perforations. on the
opposing sides of which it issues at various angles in a series of streams or jets
directed, by the position of the perforations, from the sides to the centre or
beyond the centre of the vessel a and falling down into same in sprays which
command the whole area of the said vessel. The wool or fibres on being thrown
into the dye vessel must pass through the aforesaid sprays of dye liquor and
is or are therefore saturated before immersion in the body of liquor in the vessel,
and the movement of such body of liquor being constantly in a downward direc-
tion, it passes through and penetrates every portion of the fibres immersed therein
and dyes them an even and level colour or shade throughout, the fibres being kept
in a loose or open condition under the treatment and thus fully exposed to the
action of the liquor or liquid.
Instead of the liquor or liquid being drawn off at the bottom of the vessel,
it may be drawn from the centre, that is to say, from the ends of same by
opening suction valve f¹ and closing the suction valve g¹ the former method of
circulating the liquor or liquid being, however, preferred.
In order to vary the operation by setting up opposing streams or jets of liquor
or liquid, the valves h¹, f, and e¹ may be opened to the extents required, and
the valve closed, the liquor thus being drawn by the
pump from the
dye vessel by way of the end chambers 6, b, branch pipes f², f, and pipe f,
and forced, one half through pipe into the perforated pipes d, d, and the
remaining half through pipe h into the chamber e at the bottom of the vessel
whereby a series of jets or streams of liquor will rise upwards through the body
of the liquor in the vessel from the whole surface of the perforated false bottom c
in addition to the sprays of liquor issuing from the perforated pipes d, d, and
falling down into the dye vessel.
The treatment might be further varied, but we consider the alternative systems
of circulation before set forth sufficiently effective for all ordinary purposes and
giving the best results.
The perforated pipes could be arranged on more than two sides of the dye
vessel with one or more side or end chambers and, in the case of circular dye
vessels, we prefer to employ a circular pipe applied to the top of the vessel
with the inner side of the pipe perforated to direct the sprays toward or beyond
the centre of said vessel, one two or more chambers being provided at the side
of the vessel.
The supply pipes and valves controlling same may be arranged. in any suitable
manner to suit location and surroundings, and not necessarily as shewn.
In treating wool or like fibres in the manner above set forth a much larger
quantity of fibre can be dealt with in the same time than under the ordinary
method of treatment, while, in addition to the better results obtained in dyeing,
the fibre comes out softer and in a loose, lofty or unmatted condition.
Referring now to Figs. 3, and 4 and 5, illustrating the application of the second
part of our invention to vessels used in the dyeing, mordanting, or washing off
processes, letter k represents a lattice or like sheet or sheets, or it may be wire
or other woven netting or reticulated fabric or material, secured at one end,
as at k¹, to the side of the vessel a and at the opposite end to straps or flexible
connections attached to shaft or drum m (Fig. 3) supported in bearings in side
pedestals (not shewn) at a suitable height above the dye vessel and either
centrally or to one side thereof; or, in the case of a circular vessel, as at Fig. 5,

page_text: in which netting or a suitable reticulated fabric or openwork material is pre-
ferably employed and made singly or in sections to fit around the sides and
bottom of the interior of the vessel a, the centre of said netting or fabric is
attached to a strap or flexible connection or connections secured to the periphery
of a shaft or drum m arranged and supported similarly to that shewn at Fig. 3.
The lattice sheet or netting when fully paid out fits or rests closely against the
bottom and sides of the vessel so that it takes up little room and is adapted
to receive and hold the whole of the wool or other fibres charged into the vessel.
In rectangular vessels, as at Fig. 3, the lattice sheet is made wide enough,
longitudinally to fit as closely as possible to the ends of the vessel, as shewn at
Fig. 5, so that the fibre cannot get between the sides of the sheet and the ends
of the vessel, and the laths or cross bars of the lattice sheet are also arranged
to fit closely together, or they may slightly overlap each other, to restrain the
wool or fibre from getting between them.
In said vessels also, the free end of the lattice sheet (or its substitute) which
is connected to the shaft or drum m, is provided with additional cross bars or
laths set at short distances apart and adapted as the said sheet is unwound from
the drum m and falls into position against the sides and bottom of the vessel
to pass over and slide down suitable inclined fingers or slides n secured to the
side of the vessel a the engagement of said additional cross bars with the slides
ensuring the end of the lattice sheet proper being held close against the side
of the vessel as shewn; or suitable catches might be employed for the purpose.
The opposite end of the lattice sheet secured to the vessel a, as at k¹, is pre-
ferably passed behind the perforated pipe d (if employed) on its respective
side, such pipe being loosely coupled to the supply or branch supply pipe to permit
of its being turned up out of the way when discharging the fibre from the vessel a.
To discharge a load of fibre from the vessel a the shaft, drum or pullies m is or
are rotated in one direction by a driven worm gearing with a worm wheel p
on said shaft, or by hand wheel or lever or other means, whereby the sheet or
netting is wound up from one side of the rectangular vessel or from the centre
of a circular vessel thus raising the whole of the fibre to the side of the vessel
and clear of the liquor or liquid therein in which position it may be allowed
to remain until the liquid in the fibre has drained off, the fibre then being taken
by hand out of the wound up sheet or net, or said sheet may be wound up
still further, as indicated by the broken line Fig. 3 so that the fibre will fall
over the side of the vessel on to the floor or into a receptacle placed to receive
it.
By the above means no labour is required to lift the fibres out of the dye
vessel while their discharge is effected in a fraction of the time it takes under
existing methods.
The aforesaid discharging apparatus may be applied to any ordinary machine
or dye vessel for which it is adapted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
(1) The application to and use in conjunction with vats or vessels for dyeing,
mordanting, washing off, or similarly treating wool or other loose fibres, of
pipes or conduits secured at or near the top of the vessel and having the sides
which face the interior of said vessel perforated longitudinally and radially to
deliver liquor or liquid, withdrawn from the vessel and forced into said pipes
or conduits, at various angles in a series of streams, jets or sprays, from the
sides to or beyond the centre of the vessel substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
(2) In dye or similar vats or vessels for treating wool or other loose fibres the
combination of pipes or conduits such as d, d, situate at the sides and at or
near the top of the vessel and suitably perforated on opposing sides to deliver

page_text: sprays, jets or streams or liquor or liquid over the whole area of the vessel, one
or more end or side chambers such as b, b, and a bottom chamber such as c
all partitioned off from the interior of the vessel a by perforated plates or parti-
tions, and means for withdrawing the liquor or liquid from the bottom or centre
of the vessel and forcing it into the perforated pipes d, d, or partly into said
pipes and partly into the bottom chamber c, all substantially as set forth and
for purposes described.
(3) In vats or vessels for dyeing, mordanting, washing off, or otherwise
similarly treating wool or other loose fibres, the fibre discharging apparatus com-
prising a lattice sheet or netting or equivalent reticulated or openwork fabric or
material secured at one end to the vessel and adapted to fit inside same close to
the bottom and sides thereof and connected at its opposite or loose end or centre
by flexible connections to a shaft drum or pulleys adapted when revolved to
take up said sheet or netting and raise the wool or fibres clear of the liquor
level and discharge same over the side of the vessel substantially as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1900.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Huddersfield,
Agents for Applicants.