Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Wool and other Textile Materials.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by the Firm of M. T. STEVENS & SONS, of North
Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Wool and other Textile
Materials.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 an improved apparatus for drying wool and other textile
materials or fabrics, such as yarn, cotton, silk, cloth, and the like.
The object is to provide a more compact, durable, efficient, and quickly operatable
apparatus of this character than those in cominon use at present, and to these ends
the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and relative arrange-
ment of parts which I shall now proceed to describe and claim, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which-
Figure 1 represents a top plan view, with parts broken away, of a wool-drying
apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 represents a section on line 3—3, Fig. 1.
Figure 4 represents a section on line 4-4, Fig. 1.
Figure 5 represents a section on line 5-5, Fig. 3.
Figure 6 represents a view similar to Figure 2, looking from the other side.
Figure 7 represents a section on line 7-7, Fig. 3.
Figure 8 represents a section on line 8-8, Fig. 1.
Figure 9 represents a section on line 9-9, Fig. 5.
Figure 10 represents a portion, in front elevation, of the spiked apron employed in
the apparatus.
Figure 11 represents an end view of the same, and
Figures 12 and 13 represent detail views of portions of the same, on a larger scale.
The same reference characters indicate the saine parts in all the figures.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a casing in which is mounted a rotary
perforated annular table, upon which the material to be dried is placed. This table
is continuously rotated, and the material is fed from a receiver thereto, and is carried
around by the table through substantially a complete rotation of the latter, at the
end of which the material is ejected from the table by means of a blast of air from a
fan blower. During this revolution, the material is subjected to contact with currents
of air, preferably of successively increasing temperature, which carry off the
moisture, and if desired, the disintegrated vegetable impurities which may be
present.
Referring to the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of my invention selected
for the purpose of setting forth its essential features, the letter a designates a
cylindrical casing, in the centre of which is stepped a shaft b adapted to be rotated
by suitable gearing, and carrying near its lower end a spider b¹, Figs. 3 and 5 to the
[Price a77

page_text: rim of which are secured radiating perforated plates forming together a perforated
table or carrier b². These plates are adapted to norinally spring up at their outer
ends, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 9. An angle-flange a¹ is bolted to
the inside of the casing, under the edge of the table 62, so as to support the same
against an over-load of material, the flange under such conditions constituting a
track for the outer edge of the table. The tendency of the perforated plates to
spring upward at their outer ends enables the table to rotate with less frictional
resistance than would be involved if the outer ends of the plate normally rested on
the flange or track a¹. A cylindrical shell c Figures 3 and 4 forms an inner casing
or wall for the closed space above the table 68, and said space is roofed over by a cover a²
extending to the edges of the outside casing.
When the material to be dried is loose wool, or other material in a loose condition;
it is first received on an endless travelling carrier d (Figure 4), and is fed forward
thereby against a travelling spiked apron e, by means of which it is carried upwardly
and then dropped through an opening a³ (Figure 4) onto the table b², assisted by
suction of the fan k. The apron e is mounted on a lower roller et near one end of the
carrier d, and an upper roller e³, the said rollers being power-driven and acting to
drive the apron continuously in one direction. The apron, as shown in Figures 10 to 13,
is composed of a number of cross-slats el el fixed to a canvas or other flexible backing e
and each provided with slanted spikes e³. On the carrying face of the apron these
spikes slant upwardly as shown, and by reference to Figure 10 it will be seen that
the spikes are more closely placed on the right-hand portion of the apron, or that
corresponding to the outer edge of the perforated table, than on the left-hand
portion, or that corresponding to the inner edge of said table, the density of the
spikes increasing uniformly across the face of the apron. This construction is
adopted for the purpose of distributing the wool in an even layer on the table b², for
since the outer portions of said table travel at a faster rate than the inner portions,
more wool must be deposited upon said outer portions, to keep an even distribution,
and by reason of the larger number of spikes on the outer portion of the apron e,
more wool will be picked up and deposited by this portion than by the inner portion.
The space below the table 62 is provided with a conical floor or deflector f, and is
divided by vertical partitions g 91 92 93 (Figure 7) into four compartments or
sections h 1 2 3. The space above the table is divided by partitions g* and g³
(Figure 4) into a large segmental compartment i covering sections 1, 2, and 3, and a
narrow discharge-passage h¹ over the section h. The passage h¹, which is located
between the ends of the segmental compartment i, is open at its outer end through
the casing a, as shown in Figure 2, and is roofed over by a hinged flap or cover h²,
below which, at the back of the compartment, is the discharge end 2 (Figure 4) of a
pipe extending from a fan blower j (Figures 1 and 3).
The loose wool is deposited on the table 62 at one side of the partition 95 (see
Figure 4), and is carried around by the table in the direction of the arrow x (Figure 5)
to the partition g*, at the lower edge of which is a hinged flap g Figures 3 and 4. The
wool passes by this flap, into the discharge-passage h¹, and is blown therefrom by the
blast of air from the pipe ¹, onto the floor of the room, or into a suitable receptacle.
The table is revolved at a relatively slow rate, and during its revolution the wool
thereon is subjected to the drying action of currents of heated air.
The three sections or compartments 123 are provided with openings a³ at a
(Figure 7) in the casing a, and outside of these openings are located power-driven
fans kkk, provided with belt-pulleys kk, and enclosed in air-boxes or
conduits m m¹ m². The first fan k is rotated so as to create a downward draft
through the table, to give the wool a preliminary drying, the moisture-laden air being
discharged through a suitable outlet m³ Figure 4 provided below the conduit m. The
conduits m¹ and m² are extended up and over the top of the casing, and each is
provided with a coil or nest of steam or hot-water piping n n Figure 1, the
temperature of which may be regulated by valves n² n³ in the supply-pipes. The said
conduits communicate with the compartment i by means of openings (Figure 3), i
(Figure 8) in the top of the casing, the openings being provided with metallic screens

page_text: or gratings, as shown. In the tops of the conduits m¹ m² are openings m m³ similarly
screened and provided with flaps or covers m³ m².
The fans ki and 2 are rotated so as to cause an upward draught of air through
the table, which air is heated by contact with the steam-pipes, to a greater or less
degree, as desired, by regulating the valves n² n³, and is drawn again into the
conduits m¹ m², to be again forced through the table. The temperature of the air
may be varied by opening or closing the covers m m. When said covers are
opened, cold air is admitted into the circulation from the outside, and when they are
closed, the air circulates through the table and the steam-pipes again and again,
without being cooled by outside air, so that the temperature of the air may thus be
raised substantially to that of the pipes.
When it is desired to supply dry wool, without carbonizing vegetable matter
therein, the air is passed through the table over sections 2 and 3 at a relatively low
temperature, the covers m m being preferably opened more or less according to the
prevailing conditions.
When it is desired to carbonize the burrs and other vegetable matter in the wool
(the said matter having been previously disintegrated by acid), the moisture is
removed from the wool while it is passing through the section 2, by drawing air at a
relatively low temperature through said section. At the same time, air at a much
higher temperature is drawn through the section 3, the cover of the air-inlet of the
conduit m² being closed, so that the wool passing over the section 3 is subjected to a
higher temperature. The speed of the table is reduced during this operation, by a
suitable variable-speed driving mechanism employed for that purpose. The wool is
therefore subjected, after being dried, to the action of air-currents at a relatively
high temperature, sufficient to complete the carbonizing process and render the
foreign matter so brittle that it can be readily separated from the wool.
Suitable doors, covers, or the like, are arranged in convenient locations, in order to
give access to the interior of the apparatus.
It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the particular details of con-
struction described above. The steam piping may be arranged at any convenient
place or places, not necessarily in proximity to the apparatus, although the arrange-
ment shown is desirable, because heat is economized thereby. It is further optional
to vary the number of heating and drying compartments.
When the apparatus is used for drying woven fabrics that would be injured by the
spiked apron, some other feeding device should be employed, or the material may be
placed upon the table by hand. It may also be removed by hand or by some suitable
mechanism, in case it is too heavy to be blown out by the air-blast.
It will be seen that the casing a is subdivided below the perforated table into a
plurality of lower air-chambers or sections, and has a single upper air-chamber above
the table, the plurality of lower air-chambers and the accompanying air-boxes and
fans enabling different degrees of heat to be applied to the material at different
points, as above described. It is obvious, however, that my invention may be
embodied in a structure having but one lower air-chamber, in case it is not desirable
to make the air-currents hotter at one point than at another.
It is also obvious that the single chamber may be below the table and the plurality
of chambers above it, the direction of movement of the heated air through the table
being reversed.
The wool or other material to be dried may be supplied to the table at any suitable
point, and not necessarily through the opening a³. The casing may be provided
with an opening at any other desired location for this purpose, and such opening may
be covered by a suitable door.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination with a body or frame and a chamber therein of general circular
form, of a circular endless conveyer constantly travelling in the chamber, faus for

page_text: circulating and forcing air downwardly through the conveyer, and means for heating
the air during each complete circuit.
2. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a horizontal rotary
foraminous annular table, means for rotating it, a casing having two air-chambers,
one located above and the other below the table, the upper chamber being segmental
and having ends extending across the table at one side of its axis, and forming a
discharge passage or outlet above and extending across the table, means for forcing
air from one chamber to another through the table, and means for feeding the
material to be dried into one end of the segmental chamber, the other end of said
chamber having provision for permitting the exit of the dried material from the
chamber into the discharge-passage.
3. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a
horizontal rotary
foraminous annular table, means for rotating it, a casing having two air-chambers,
one located above and the other below the table, the upper chamber being segmental
and having ends extending across the table at one side of its axis and forming a
discharge-passage or outlet above and extending across the table, means for forcing
air from one chamber to another through the table, means for feeding the material
to be dried into one end of the segmental chamber, the other end of said chamber
having provision for permitting the exit of the dried material from the chamber into
the discharge-passage, and means for forcing the dried material across the table
through said passage.
4. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising an annular rotary foraminous
table, means for rotating it, an annular casing having two air-chambers, one located
above and the other below said table, means for forcing air from one chamber to
another through said table, an air-box or conduit communicating with both chambers
and extending across one edge of the table, means for forcing air through .said
conduit, the chambers, and the table, an air-heater located in said conduit, the
conduit having an air-inlet adjacent to said heater, and a movable valve or cover
adapted to open or close said inlet and thereby regulate the temperature of the
circulated air.
5. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a horizontal rotary
foraminous table, means for rotating it, a casing having a plurality of air-chambers
at one side of the table, and a single air-chamber at the opposite side of the table, a
plurality of conduits connecting the chambers at one side of the table independently
with the single chamber, air-heaters in said conduits, air-forcing devices to maintain
currents of heated air through said conduits, chambers, and table, and means for
independently regulating the temperature of the said currents.
6. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a horizontal rotary
foraninous table, ineans for rotating it, a casing enclosing said table and having
an enclosed upper air-chamber above the table and a discharge-passage or outlet
between the ends of said upper chamber, ineans for maintaining a circulation of air
through said chamber and table, and a blower arranged to discharge a blast of air
through said discharge-passage.
7. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a horizontal rotary
foraminous table, means for rotating it, a casing enclosing said table and having
an enclosed upper air-chamber above the table and a discharge-passage or outlet
between the ends of said upper chamber, means for maintaining a circulation of air
through said chamber and table, and a feeding device arranged to deposit material to
be dried on the table at one end of said chamber.
8. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a circular casing having a
circular track or flange on its inner surface, a vertical shaft within said casing, a
spider affixed to said shaft, a series of perforated plates affixed at their inner ends to
said spider and radiating therefrom to form an annular perforated table the outer
edge of which is above sail track, and means for forcing air through the table, said
plates being elastic and adapted to normally spring upwardly from said track at their
outer ends.

page_text: 9. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a casing, a horizontal
foraminous table in said casing, means for rotating the table, means for forcing air
through the table, and a feeding device having provisions for depositing the material
to be dried in greater quantity upon the outer than upon the inner portion of the
table.
10. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a casing, a rotary perforated
table therein, mean for depositing the material upon said table to be dried, and a
blower for ejecting the material after it has been dried.
11. Au apparatus of the character specified, comprising a rotary perforated table,
and a travelling spiked apron for delivering the material to said table, the apron being
arranged transversely of the table and having spikes on its carrying face for taking
up the material, the said spikes being arranged in increasing density toward the
outer edge of the table, so as to take up and deliver more material at the outer
portions of said table than at the inner portions thereof.
12. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a casing, a horizontal rotary
perforated table or carrier, means for depositing the material upon said table, means
for causing a heated current or currents of air to pass through the table and
the material thereon, and means for ejecting the material from the table and the
casing.
Duted this and day of Aust 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.