Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887.
We, CHARLES MEADOWCROFT and PETER DENANHOUER, both of Falls of Schuylkill
Philadelphia, U.S.A. Carpet Weavers, 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:-
Our invention relates to an apparatus for dyeing skeins of silk, wool, or any similar
product, and has for its object to produce a machine of simple construction wherein
the number of revolutions of the carrying-frame is readily governed, and wherein
when the set number of revolutions has been reached the said carrying-frame will be
automatically elevated from within the vat. Our object is also to produce a frame for
carrying the skeins readily adjustable to any size of said skein, and wherein the same
will not become tangled in process of dipping, each skein being entirely separated
from the others.
The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as
will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of our apparatus, and Fig. 2 a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3
is a central longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 4 a transverse vertical section, of
the same. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the adjusting device of the reel.
The vat 1 is provided centrally at the ends upon the inside with U-shaped
standards 2, which standards extend from a point above the floor of the vat vertically
upward above the upper edges thereof. One arm of each standard 2 is grooved
longitudinally upon the outer side to receive a rack, 3, adapted to slide therein, which
rack is made integral with or connected to the journal-boxes 4. The said boxes,
placed between the vertical arms of the standards 2, are provided with outwardly-
projecting lugs or wings 5 upon their inner faces, adapted by the engagement of
said lugs with the standards to steady their vertical movement between the same.
The standards 2 are braced near the top through engaging horizontal arms integral
with plates 6, secured to the top edge of the vat back of the standards.

page_text: A frame, 70, preferably constructed of two longitudinal rods, 7, connected by two
flat end pieces, 71, the said end pieces being provided at one end with slot & and at
the other end with a similar slot, 9, together with outwardly-projecting lugs 10,
having inwardly-curved ends, is adapted for suspension within the vat between the
standards by means of a shaft, 11, which, extending through the ends of the frame,
is journalled in the sliding boxes 4. The said shaft 11 is secured rigidly to the frame.
Between the longitudinal fixed shaft 11 and one extremity of the end of the
frame near said shaft a second light longitudinal shaft, 12, is journalled in the end
pieces, one end of which shaft 12 is projected through the end piece of the frame
and flattened, to receive, when necessary, an ordinary crank or key. Upon the said
shaft 12, outside of and bearing slightly against the aforesaid end piece of the frame,
a wheel, 13, is keyed adapted for engagement with a pawl, 14, pivoted to the frame
above it. Toothed wheels 15 are also keyed upon the rotary shaft 12 at each end
near the inner faces of the said slotted end pieces of the frame 70, for a purpose
hereinafter set forth.
Into the slots 8 and 9 of the end pieces of the frame 70 longitudinal bars 16
and 17 are entered, having secured thereto in any suitable manner
a series of
parallel arms, 18, arranged transversely the length of said longitudinal bars
equidistant apart, and provided upon their outer surfaces with consecutively-
arranged pins 19, having their ends bent over in the same plane in the direction of
their longitudinal carrying-bars 16 and 17. The said longitudinal carrying-bars 10
and 17 are provided at each end, upon the same side of each bar, with racks 20, the
racks of the bar 16 being attached upon the side opposite to those of the bar 17, and
the said racks are held in engagement with the toothed wheels 15 upon the rotary
shaft 12 by the side projections, 10, of the frame, which projections constitute guides
for the said racks. Thus, by means of a crank engaging the square projecting end
of the rotary shaft 12, Figs. 3 and 5, the distance between the opposite series of
transverse arms 18, having the attached hooks 19, can be regulated to suit the length
of skein to be carried thereby; and when the said arms are properly distanced they
are securely held in the desired position by the engagement of the pawl 14 with
the ratchet-wheels 13 upon the rotary shaft 12.
One end of the fixed shaft 11 of the frame 70 projects beyond the journal-box 4,
and is provided with a small gear-wheel, 22 which meshes with another gear-wheel 23
beneath it, of equal size, keyed upon the shaft 24, Fig. 3. This shaft is entered
through the vat in suitable hearings at the end thereof, the outer end of said shaft 24
being journalled in a bracket, 25, attached to the casing of the vat. A worn-wheel, 26,
is keyed upon the short longitudinal shaft 24, near its bearing in the bracket 25,
adapted to mesh with a worm, 27, keyed upon a transverse shaft, 28, which finds a
bearing at one end in a vertical standard, 29, integral with the side of the said
bracket 25. The other end of said shaft 28 is journalfed in one arm of a bracket, 30,
attached to the front of the vat at the end thereof. At this point the shaft 28 is
provided with a worm, 31, attached thereto, together with a hand-wheel, 32. By
turning this hand-wheel through the medium of the shafts 24 and 28 and the gearing
connected with said shafts, as above described, the frame 70 is revolved in the
journal-boxes 4 within the vat, and the skeins of wool, silk, or other material carried
by said frame dipped in the dyeing-fluid. Through bracket 30, and journalled
therein, a short lower longitudinal shaft, 33, is projected to extend out at the end of
the box and carry a worm-wheel, 34, adapted to mesh with the worm 31 of the
transverse shaft 28. The other end of the said lower short shaft, 33, suitably
supported in a bracket attached to the front side of the vat, is furnished with a large
worm, 35, keyed thereto. The said worm 35 is adapted to mesh with a toothed
clock, 36, held to revolve upon a horizontal shaft, 37, secured to the side of the vat 1
near the top edge. The said clock is provided with a series of equidistant apertures
concentric with and a given distance from its periphery. The said apertures, which
may be numbered consecutively from 1 to 20, or more, upon the face of the clock, are
adapted to receive a pin, 38, (shown in Fig. 1) the object of which will be hereinafter
set forth.

page_text: Through an upper longitudinal arm in the side bracket, 30, a second short side
shaft, 39, is journalled, and on the end projecting from said arm at the corner of the
vat a worm-wheel, 40, is keyed, which meshes with the worm 31 of the transverse
shaft at the top. The inner end of said shaft 39 is provided with a pinion, 41, keyed
to slide thereon and bear against a coil or spiral spring, 42, intervening between the
end of the said arm and the face of said pinion. A slotted plate, 43, is made to bear
against the opposite face of the pinion 41, which plate is attached to the end of a
sliding horizontal bar, 44, held suspended in front of the clock 36, and nearly in line
with the lower edge thereof, by suitable horizontal standards secured to the front side
of the vat, preferably upon each side of said clock. A vertical upwardly-projecting
pin, 45, is provided, with the sliding bar 44 so located thereon as that when the said
bar is in its normal position the said pin will register centrally the clock-face at the
lower portion thereof.
At the upper corner of the vat, above the central end bracket, 30, another
bracket, 46, is secured, provided with an arm extending outwardly at an angle thereto
and an upwardly-extending vertical arm, the said outwardly-projecting arm being
located at or near the corner edge, and the vertical armı next to and inside the said
outwardly-projecting arm of the bracket. A similar bracket, 47, is provided at the
opposite end of the vat upon the same side, both brackets being secured in any suitable
manner.
An outer longitudinal shaft, 48, adapted to extend from end to end of the vat, is
journalled in the outwardly-projecting arms of the brackets 46 and 47, and fitted with
bevel gears 49 and 50, keyed thercon near each end, together with a large toothed
wheel, 51, (which also acts as a balance,) keyed thereto near the bevel-gear 49. The
said shaft 48 is further provided, with a crank-arm, 52, at the opposite end.
At each end of the vat above the top edge tranverse shafts 53 and 54 are journalled
at one end in the vertical arms of the said brackets 46 and 47, and at the other end
bearings are found in standards 55 and 56, secured to the top edge of the vat near
the centre thereof. The said transverse shafts 53 and 54 are provided with bevel-gear 57
and 58 at their outer ends, adapted to mesh with the similar gears, 49 50, upon
the shaft 48, and the said upper transverse shafts, 53 and 54, are provided at their
inner ends with spur-wheels 59 and 60, adapted to engage the vertical racks 3 of the
U-shaped standards 2.
The upper side and end gearing is purposed to raise or lower the frame within the
vat, and can be worked independently by means of its crank 52. It is, however, to
be used in conjunction with and operated by the lower end transverse shaft, 28, the
engagement being made at the proper time through the clock 30. The distance
between each aperture in the clock represents one complete turn of the frame. If
the nature of the material to be dyed requires to be dipped fifteen times, that number
of apertures are counted from the one opposite the vertical pin 45 of the sliding bar 44
around the clock from right to left, and the horizontal pin 38, inserted in the fifteenth
aperture. When the frame has been rotated fifteen times by the crank upon the
shaft, 28, the horizontal pin in the clock engages the vertical pin 45 of the sliding
rod 44 causing the said rod, by means of its slotted plate 43, to engage the pinion 41
with the large toothed wheel 51 on the shaft 48, which communicating motion to the
upper transverse shafts, 53 and 54, they in turn, through the spur-wheels keyed upon
them, cause the sliding racks 3 and boxes 4, carrying the frame 70, to be elevated
vertically, the rotary motion of the frame thereon ceasing. When the frame has been
elevated above the line of the box, the vertical motion is stopped and the frame
conveyed to another vat for washing, by means hereinafter described.
Standards 61 and 62 are secured to the ends of the box, purposed to support
transverse tracks 63 above the vat, which tracks may communicate to another cleaning
vat near by, and upon these tracks sheaves 64, carrying pendent hooks 65 are
adapted to travel, said sheaves being united by a straight or bent rod, 66, of the proper
gage, which rod acts as a brace for the sheaves and a means for guiding them. The
hooks 64 are placed under the ends of the main shaft of the frame, and by the use of

page_text: the connected sheaves traveling upon the said track the frame is readily, quickly, and
easily removed.
The banks of silk, wool, or material to be dyed, are carried under the hooks and
over the parallel transverse bars of the frame, as shewn in Fig. 1. and 4. the frame
being readily adjusted to any length of hank, as herein before described.
The main shaft 28 and the outer longitudinal shaft 48 may be fitted with proper
pulleys and operated by power, if desired.
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 combination, with a vat having attached thereto U-shaped standards, of a
frame journaled in said standards, provided with oppositely-faced parallel arıs having
hooks consecutively arranged upon their outer faces, and means for revolving said
frame, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. The combination, with a vat having attached thereto U shaped standards, of a
slotted frame having adjustable longitudinal bars, said bars provided with a series
of transverse oppositely-faced parallel arms having books consecutively arranged
upon their outer faces, together with means for revolving said frame, substantially
as shown and described, and for the purpose herein set forth.
3. The combination, with a vat having attached thereto U-shaped standards, of a
slotted frame provided with adjustablo longitudinal bars carrying a series of transverse
oppositely-faced arms fitted upon their outer faces with consecutively-arranged hooks
and racks attached to said longitudinal bars, a shaft journalled in said frame, provided
with toothed wheels adapted to engage said racks, and a rachet wheel adapted to engage
a pawl pivoted to the frame, together with means for rotating said frame, substantially
as shown and described, and for the purpose herein set forth.
4. The combination, with a vat provided with vertical U-shaped standards and
journal-boxes having integral vertical racks adapted to slide in said standards, of a
slotted frame journalled in said boxes, provided with adjustable longitudinal bars
carrying a series of transverse oppositely-faced arms fitted upon their outer faces with
consecutively-arranged hooks and racks attached to said longitudinal bars, a shaft
journaled in said frame fitted with toothed wheels adapted to engage said rack, and a
ratchet wheel adapted to engage a pawl pivoted to said frame, together with means
for raising and lowering the frame within the said standards, substantially as shown
and described, and for the purpose herein set forth.
5. In an apparatus for dyeing skeins, a frame adapted to be journaled in the vat,
provided with slots 8 and 9 in the ends thereof, adjustable longitudinal bars 16
and 17, having oppositely-faced horizontal arms 18, fitted with consecutively-
arranged inwardly bent hooks 19 and vertical racks 20, together with a shaft, 12.
journaled in said frame, fitted with toothed wheels 15, adapted to engage said racks,
and a ratchet-wheel, 13 adapted to engage a pawl 14. pivoted to the side of said
frame, substantialy as shown and described, whereby the carrying-bars are made
adjustable to different lengths of skeins, as set forth.
6. The combination, with a vat provided with vertical U shaped standards 2. fitted
with sliding boxes 4. having integral racks 3. and upper brace-plates, 6. for said
standards, of the adjustable yarn-carrying frame 70, journaled in said boxes, together
with means for elevating said frame substantially as described, whereby said frame
when elevated can be removed from the vat, as set forth.
7. The combination, with a vat provided with vertical U shaped standards 2. fitted
with sliding boxes 4. having integral racks 3. and upper brace plates 6. for said
standards, upper standards 61. and 62. tracks 63 travelling sheaves 64. having
attached hooks 65. and brace rods 66, of the adjustable yarn carrying frame 70,
journaled in said boxes, together with means for elevating said frame, substantially as
described, whereby said frame when elevated is removed from vat, as set forth.
8. The combination, with a yarn-carrying frame, 70, journaled in shaped
standards attached to the innerside of a vat and provided with a gear wheel, 22, at
one end of the shaft 11 of said frame, of the short longitudinal shaft 24, provided at

page_text: its outer end with a worm-wheel, 26, and at its inner end with a gear wheel, 23,
together with the shaft 28, journaled at right angles to said shaft 24, provided with a
worm, 27, at the rear end thereof, and also with a hand wheel, 32, at its forward end,
as shown and described, whereby a rotary motion can be imparted to said frame, as
set forth.
9. The combination, with a yarn-carrying frame, 70, journaled in boxes, 4, having
integral racks 3. adapted to slide in U shaped standards 2 attached to the inner side
of a vat, of the outer and upper longitudinal shaft 48. having keyed thereon at each
end a bevel-gear, 49 and 50. and a large toothed wheel, 51. the said shaft being also
provided with a crank-arm, 52. together with the upper transverse shafts 53 and 54.
each provided with a spur wheel, 59 and 60, at their inner ends, adapted to engage
the said racks 3, and bevel-gear 51. and 58 at their outer ends, purposed to mesh with
the said bevel-gear 49 and 50. substantially as shown and described, whereby the said
frame is raised and lowered within said standards, as set forth.
10. The combination, with a yarn-carrying frame arranged for rotation in a vat and
provided with vertical racks 3 at its ends, of an apertured dial, 36, revolved from the
operating shaft of the reel, a longitudinal shaft, 48, paralel with said reel, carrying a
gear, 51. and gearing with transverse shafts 53 and 54, carrying spur-wheels engaging
the racks 3, a shaft, 39, parallel with the said shaft 48, engaging the driving-shaft 28
of the reel, and carrying a loosely-mounted pinion, 41, adapted to engage the gear-
wheel 51 on shaft. 48, a rod, 44, passing in front of the dial and bearing at one end on
the pinion 41 on the shaft 39, and provided opposite the dial with a pin, 45, and an
adjustable pin, 38, in the dial, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
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