Improvements in Apparatus for Dyeing Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1899
Co nolete Specification Left, 21st June, 1900-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Dyeing Fibrous Materials.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I. Mech. E., of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Liverpool, and London in the Counties of Lancaster
and Middlesex, respectively, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows; and that it has been communicated to me from
abroad by Henri L'Huillier, of 37, Rue des Boulets, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer:-
The object of the invention is an improved arrangement for dyeing in aniline
black, by oxidation, of cops or bobbins, and for the dyeing in colours of all
kinds of fibres, whether as thread arranged on cops or bobbins, on perforated
tubes or in bundles placed in heaps between perforated plates. The advantage
of this new method consists in the possibility of soaking or impregnating the
matter to be dyed with a first liquid, then to dry with air, rinse, oxidize, or
produce reactions with subsequent liquids, soap and dry, the several operations
and even the whole of them being possible without disturbing the material to
be dyed.
The simple apparatus consists of a vat in which there is a double bottom
pierced with holes for receiving the cops or bobbins. A solid plate presses upon
the tops of the bobbins so as to hold the said bobbins firmly down on the per-
forated plate. A washer of india-rubber secures the tightness of the joint be-
tween the bobbin and the perforated plate. Pipes are fixed at the side of the
vat for drawing off the liquids. On the lid of the vat there is a pressure gauge
for indicating the amount of pressure or of vacuum inside, whether it contains
compressed air or steam. There is likewise on the lid a tap for the admission or
escape of air, and a tube for communicating with the vacuum-chamber. The
lid which closes the vat is movable and is fitted so as to close air-tight. From
the bottom of the vat there lead four pipes, which by means of valves or cocks
put the vat in connection, as may be required, first with a reservoir of com-
pressed air warmed as may be desired to a determinate temperature in tubes,
the said reservoir being kept supplied by a force-pump, second with a vacuum-
chamber connected to a suction-pump, third with a pump for making the liquids
circulate.
The compound apparatus which is a variation from the simple apparatus,
comprises, in addition to the entire arrangement of pipes and connection referred
to above, a first double bottom perforated and made to receive the bobbins or
cops, but this double bottom has in addition four pipes, which give communica-
tion with the upper compartment; the bobbins are held firm at their upper
ends by a solid plate, which allows the pipes to pass through it.
A third plate,
having the form of the bottom of the vat rests upon the four pipes, and a fourth
plate perforated carries a second series of bobbins or cops, which are placed in
the upper compartment of the vat and held firm at their upper ends by a solid
plate. The lid of the vat is movable and is made to fit tight, the apparatus acts
in the way which has been described for the simple apparatus. In order to ensure

page_text: the right position of the double bottoms and of the plates, they are provided
with grooves which slide upon ribs attached to the inner sides of the vat. The
perforated plate which is placed at the bottom of the vat rests on a ledge with
channels or grooves with a packing of india-rubber to make a tight joint.
The spindle which receives the thread is hollow and perforated with holes
throughout its height. The end of this spindle fits into the holes of the per-
forated plate. In order to fit it in the perforated plate, this spindle has a collar
at its lower end, and a washer of india-rubber is inserted between the collar, and
the upper surface of the plate so as to form a tight joint, under the pressure
of the plate which rests on the top of the spindles.
In preparing for the process of dyeing, the lower perforated plate, is first
charged with cops, about 25 kilogrammes for each plate. Then the plate is
put into position, which fixes the cops, and if the vat is a "simple" one, it
remains only to fix down the lid, with the indicating or other apparatus upon
it if the vat is double, after having put in the solid plate which allows the pipe
to pass through it, the next plate is put in position which rests upon these pipes,
then a second perforated plate is placed upon it for the reception of a second series
of cops, which are kept in position by a solid plate, and finally the lid is put on.
In carrying out the process a vacuum is first produced in the vat by means of
the air-pump which draws out the air, then communication is opened between
the dye-vat and the first bath (or liquid) which mounts up and penetrates the
cops and the impregnation is allowed to go on until complete, then on opening
the air-cock the liquid descends back to the tank where it has been originally
prepared, this operation being repeated four or five times, the matter to be dyed
arranged upon the spindles will be thoroughly soaked with the liquid dye. One
may proceed in a different manner as follows:-After having caused the liquid
to mount up the first time by the suction caused by the vacuum in the rat,
the centrifugal pump is put in action, which communicates on the one hand with
the tank containing the liquid dye and on the other with the bottom of the vat,
and thus forces the liquid into the pipes at the bottom, and to pass through the
cops from the inside to the outside and empties through the orifices at the sides,
into the dye-tank whence it is again circulated by the pump.
If it is desired to pass through any other kind of solution in order to obtain
any particular colour, the process is carried on in the same manner. For the
process of oxidation an air-compressor is put in action which forces through the
pipes at the bottom, air--warmed as required to a uniform temperature, in tubes
traversing a chamber for this purpose. The lid of the dye-vat may be removed
to ascertain how far the oxidation has proceeded, and the air may escape freely.
The arrangement of the apparatus also allows the oxidation to be effected by
vacuum, the warm air being drawn to the outside from the inside through the
cops. The drying of the yarns either in cops or on bobbins is effected by an
exactly similar method of procedure. In the particular case of dyeing aniline
black by oxidation, the order in the series of operations should be as follows:-
-
1st produce the vacuum, 2nd impregnate with the aniline bath, 3rd dry the
material to be dyed by allowing air to enter through the tube on the lid, and by
setting the suction pump to work, or else, which would be still better, by blow-
ing in compressed air through the pipes at the sides, 4th oxidize by causing air,
warmed to a temperature of 60° or 70° Centigrade, to pass through the cops
from the air reservoir gradually raising it to 80° Centigrade, 6th rinse, as in dye-
ing, and chrome, 7th soap with a mild bath of soap if the process is judged neces-
sary in certain cases, 8th dry, as in oxidizing.
The arrangement above described may be equally well applied to any kind of
dyeing, as for example, dyeing with a compound of aniline and diamine, air-
drying, passing through a bath of nitrite and acid for denitrating, and then
rinsing, lastly passing through the developing bath followed by rinsing and
drying.
Instead of having the material arranged as thread in cops or long bobbins

page_text: which makes the perforated spindles advantageous, the material may be placed
on large flat bobbins of diameter equal to several times the height, then the
spindle would be of less effect in producing the penetration, and instead of
directing the liquids and gases in the bobbin from the centre to the outside, it
is much better to direct them parallel to the axis, the bobbins having been placed
in little boxes with closed sides and of which the first plate might form the
bottom which should be pierced with holes only in the places corresponding to
the position of the bobbins, of which also the top would be formed by the second
plate perforated in the same way as the first plate.
If material in bundles is to be treated, it might be placed in heaps between
the plates, which in this case would be both perforated.
Dated this 25th day of September 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Apparatus for Dyeing Fibrous Materials.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I.Mech.E., of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
of 6, Bank Street, Manchester, Liverpool, and London, in the Counties of Lan-
caster and Middlesex, respectively, Patent Agents, (a communication to me by
Henri L'Huillier, of 37, Rue des Boulets, Paris, in the Republic of France,,
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:-
The object of the invention is an improved arrangement for dyeing in aniline
black, by oxidation, of cops or bobbins and for the dyeing in colours of all kinds of
fibres whether as yarn arranged on cops or hobbins, on perforated tubes or in
bundles placed in heaps between perforated plates. The advantage of this new
method consists in the possibility of shaking or impregnating the material to be
dyed with a first liquid, then to dry with air, rinse, oxidise or produce reactions
with subsequent liquids, soap and dry,--the several operations and even the
whole of them being possible without disturbing the material to be dyed.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings:--
Fig. is a vertical section of dye-vat showing the arrangement of pipes and
connections for putting the vat in communication with the requisite pumps and
cisterns as may be desired.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line A, B, C, D of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of apparatus for dyeing with several plates.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line E F of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section enlarged scale of a perforated spindle.
A
The simple apparatus represented in Fig. 1 consists of a vat in which there is
a double bottom 1, pierced with holes for receiving the cops or bobbins.
solid plate 2, presses upon the tops of the cops or bobbins so as to hold the said
cops or hobbins firmly down on the perforated plate 1. A washer of india-
rubber 22, (shown in Fig. 5) secures, a tight joint between the bobbin and the
perforated plate 1. Pipes 7 are fixed at the side of the vat for drawing off the
liquor. On the lid of the vat there is a pressure gauge 4 for indicating the
degree of pressure or of vacuum inside whether it contains compressed air or
steam. There is likewise on the lid a tap 5 for the admission or escape of air and

page_text: The lid 6 which closes
From the bottom of the
a tube 23 for communicating with the vacuum chamber.
the vat is movable and is fitted so as to close air-tight.
vat four pipes 8 project which by valves or cocks, 9; 10 and 11 put the vat in
connection as may be required, first with a reservoir 12 of compressed air warmed
as may be desired to a determinate temperature in tubes, the said reservoir being i
kept supplied by a force-pump, second with a vacuum chamber 13 connected
to a suction-pump and third with a pump 14 for making the liquor circulate.
The compound apparatus (Fig. 3) which is a variation from the simple
apparatus comprises in addition to the entire arrangement of pipes and con-
nections referred to above, a first double bottom 1 perforated and made to re-
ceive the bobbins or cops, but this double bottom has in addition four pipes 15
which communicate with the upper compartment: the bobbins are held firm at
their upper ends by a solid plate 2 which allows the pipes 15 to pass through it.
A third plate 16 having the form of the bottom of the vat rests upon the four
pipes 15 and a fourth plate la perforated carries a second series of bobbins or
cops which are placed in the upper compartment of the vat and held firm at
their upper ends by a solid plate 2. The lid 6 of the vat is movable and is made
to fit tight; the apparatus acts in the way which has been described for the
simple apparatus. As seen from Fig. 4 in order to ensure the right position of
the double bottoms and of the plates they are provided with grooves 17 which
slide upon ribs 18 attached to the inner sides of the vat. The perforated plate 1
which is placed at the bottom of the vat rests on a ledge 19 with channels or
grooves with a packing of india rubber to make a tight joint.
As may be seen from Fig. 5 the spindle 20 which receives the yarn is hollow
and perforated with holes throughout its height. The end of this spindle fits
into the holes of the perforated plate 1. In order to fix it in the perforated plate,
this spindle has a collar 21 at its lower end, and a washer of india-rubber 22 is
inserted between the collar 21 and the upper surface of the plate 1 so as to form
a tight joint under the pressure of the plate 2 which rests on the tops of the
spindles.
In preparing for the process of dyeing, the lower perforated plate 1 is first
charged with cops, about 25 kilogrammes for each plate. Then the plate 2 is
put in position which fixes the cops and if the vat is a simple" one it remains
only to fix down the lid, with the indicating or other apparatus upon it; if
the vat is double after having put in the solid plate which allows the pipes 15
to pass through it, the next plate 16 is put in position which rests upon these
pipes, then a second perforated plate is placed upon it for the reception of a
second series of cops which are kept in position by a solid plate 2ª and finally
the lid is put on.
In carrying out the process a vacuum is first produced in the vat by means
of the air-pump which draws out the air by the tube 23 then communication is
opened between the dye-vat and the first dye-liquor which rises up and penetrates
the cops and the impregnation is allowed to go on until complete, then on open-
ing the air-cock 5, the liquor returns to the tank where it has been originally
prepared this operation being repeated four or five times, the material to be
dyed arranged upon the spindles will be thoroughly saturated with the liquid
dye. One may proceed in a different manner as follows:-after having caused
the liquor to rise the first time by the suction caused by the vacuum in the vat
the centrifugal pump 14 is put in action which communicates on the one hand
with the tank containing the liquid dye and on the other with the bottom of the
vat, and thus forces the liquor into the pipes 8 at the bottom and to pass through
the cops from the inside to the outside and empties through the orifices 7 at
the sides into the dye-tank whence it is again circulated by the pump.
If it is desired to pass through any other kind of solution in order to obtain
any particular colour, the process is carried out in the same manner.
For the process of oxidation an air compressor 12 is put in action which forces
air through the pipes 8 at the bottom heated as required to a uniform tempera-

page_text: ture, in tubes traversing a chamber for this purpose. The lid of the dye-vat
may be removed to ascertain how far the oxidation has proceeded, and the air
may escape freely. The arrangement of the apparatus also allows the oxidation
to be effected by vacuum, the warm air being drawn to the outside from the
inside through the cops.
The drying of the yarns either in cops or on bobbins is effected by an exactly
similar method of procedure.
In the particular case of dyeing aniline black by oxidation the order in the
series of operations should be as follows:-
1 produce the vacuum.
2 impregnate with the aniline dye.
3 dry the material to be dyed by allowing air to enter through the tube 5 on
the lid and by setting the suction pump to work, or else which would be still
better by blowing in compressed air through the pipes, 7 at the sides.
4 oxidise by causing air warmed to a temperature of 60° or 70° Centigrade
to pass through the cops from the air reservoir 12 gradually raising it to 80°
Centigrade.
5 rinse as in dyeing, and chrome.
6 soap with a mild bath of soap if the process is judged necessary in certain
cases.
7 dry as in oxidizing.
The arrangement above described may be equally well applied to any kind of
dyeing, as for example, dyeing with a compound of aniline and diamine, air-
drying, passing through a bath of nitrite and acid for denitrating and then rins-
ing, lastly passing through the developing bath followed by rinsing, and drying.
Instead of having the material arranged in yarn in cops or long bobbins which
makes the perforated spindles advantageous, the material may be placed on large
flat bobbins of diameter equal to several times the height, then the spindle would
be of less effect in producing the penetration, and instead of directing the
liquors and gases through the bobbin from the centre to the outside it is much
better to direct them parallel to the axis the bobbins having been placed in little
boxes with closed sides and of which the plate 1 might form the bottom and
which should be perforated with holes only in the places corresponding to the
position of the bobbins, of which also the top would be formed by the second
plate 2 perforated in the same way as the first plate 1. This arrangement is not
shown on the drawings.
If material in bundles or loose is to be treated it might be placed in heaps
between the plates which in this case would be both perforated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Apparatus specially applicable to dyeing in which all the operations can
take place without changing or moving the material to be treated and charac-
terised by a vat in which the cops or bobbins are maintained between two plates,
the said cops being adapted to an appropriate joint on a perforated plate 1 in
such a manner that liquid or air is obliged to pass through the material to be
dyed in combination with pipes connecting the said vat as required with a cir-
culating pump 14, water tanks, and baths of dye, a vacuum machine (pump) a
pressure machine, substantially as described and shown.
2. A vat in which the materials to be dyed are arranged in compartments, one
above the other disposed as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, characterised by the
arrangement of perforated base 1 of the first compartment resting on circular
ledge 19 with a tight packing and carrying. pipes 15 are adapted to form a
tight joint with the base of the second compartment which works under con-
ditions analagous to that of the first, (several compartments can thus be placed
one above the other in the same way) the vat carrying ribs 18 which engage with

page_text: the grooves 17 formed in the circumference of the several plates so as to facilitate
their being placed in the vat substantially as described and shown.
3. In the apparatus as described in Claim 1 the method for dyeing in aniline
black by oxidation consisting in the following series of operations which are
carried out without changing the position of the materials (1) form a vacuum,
(2) impregnate with the aniline bath, (3) dry the material by passing air
through the tube 5 and by working the vacuum pump by means of the reser-
voir 13 and the pipes 8, or, which would be better by compressed air if a com-
munication is made between the reservoir 12 and the tube 7, (4) oxidise by,
passing air through the cops from the reservoir 12 heated to from 60° C. to 70° C.
and gradually rising to 80° C., (5) rinse similarly to the dyeing operation and
chrome, (6) soap with a light bath of soap if the operation judged necessary
in certain cases, (7) dry similarly to the oxidising operation.
4. Apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown,
with reference to either of the figures of the drawings.
Dated this 19th day of June 1900.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool & London, Patent Agents.