Improvements in Apparatus for Mercerising Cotton in the Form of Hanks.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Mercerising Cotton in the Form of
Hanks.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad
by the Firm of Joh. Kleinewefers Söhne, of the Engine Works, Crefeld, Prussia,)
to be as follows:-
In the Specification to Patent No. 7093 of 1897 was described the mercerising
of cotton yarn in the form of hanks by forcing both the mercerising lye as also
the rinsing liquid by centrifugal force through the hanks of cotton yarn wound
closely round the outside of a centrifugal frame. With this mode of operating
the yarn practically retains its original length, but it sometimes happens that
heavy yarns become slightly extended in length while very light yarns sometimes
shrink slightly.
Also the slight natural curl possessed by cotton fibre is not removed by the
said centrifugal mercerising process and this is not always of advantage to the
silky lustre of the mercerised fibre.
Furthermore, during the rotation of the apparatus, the cotton yarn always has a
tendency, owing to the centrifugal action, to fly off from the frame, and by this
action the force with which the liquid particles tend to penetrate through the
layer of yarn becomes weakened, as a portion of the ris viva only operates in
forcing the loose yarn hanks away from the frame, and the angle at which the
liquid acts on the yarn becomes less favourable.
The present improvements have for their object to obviate the above described
defects, and they consist in causing the yarn to be tightly strained by the centri-
fugal force during the mercerising process.
If the yarn is strained tight during the centrifugal mercerising process, afl
shrinking or shortening of the fibre is prevented; on the contrary, there results
in all cases lengthening of the yarn, which consequently effects an increase of
the product.
Also, the natural curl of the fibre is thereby removed, it has a smoother appear-
ance, and as the forcing of the liquid through the strained hanks is effected
without the above described losses of useful effect, the desired result is produced
by means of a less speed of rotation, and consequently a less expenditure of
power.
The above described method of effecting the mercerising by centrifugal force
while the yarn is maintained in a mechanically tightly strained condition, can
be effected by a variety of appliances to the centrifugal apparatus; thus according
to one arrangement the frame formed of cylindrically arranged bars described
in the Specification No. 7093 of 1897 can be arranged with the bars moveable so
that by the centrifugal action the frame will be enlarged by an outward motion

page_text: of the bars, and thereby the loosely wound cotton hanks will become correspond-
ingly strained.
Or, according to another arrangement, the cage-like frame may be made non-
expanding or rigid and may have appliances combined therewith which are
automatically forced outward by the centrifugal action and in serving as expand-
ing points of support for the yarn coiled round the cage will effect the expansion
and straining thereof, the degree of such straining being determined by the
centrifugal force acting upon the expanding appliances, which force can be easily
calculated.
The first described arrangement, in which the cage-like frame is itself made
with variable periphery, would be carried out by arranging the bars forming the
frame to slide with their ends in grooves or guides formed on the end plates of
the centrifugal apparatus so that on being acted upon by the centrifugal force
the bars would slide outward and thus increase the diameter of the frame. The
said guiding devices may be variously arranged in any suitable manner and need
not be farther described. Such an arrangement would however be difficult to
carry out with the construction of the centrifugal apparatus which is employed
by preference for the mercerising process, and in which the cage bars project
from a single end plate, their other ends being free and unsupported, for facili-
tating the placing thereon and the removal therefrom of the cotton hanks,
because on being acted upon by centrifugal force, such bars would tend to tilt
outward at the free ends and thus become jammed in their guides at the other
ends.
With this construction of frame therefore, it is preferred to employ the second
described arrangement where the cage-like frame proper is rigidly fixed, and
moveable appliances are combined therewith which automatically move outward
under the action of centrifugal force and effect the straining of the cotton hanks
as described.
This arrangement also admits of a variety of constructions; by way of example
I will describe two constructions with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Fig. 1 shews a vertical cross section through one arrangement of the centrifugal
apparatus, the driving gear being omitted; Fig. 2 shews a plan of the same, the
centrifugal frame being arranged in a vertical position. Fig. 3 shews a longi-
tudinal section through a horizontally arranged twin centrifugal machine, such
as is employed by preference by my correspondents. The driving gear is arranged
on the middle part of the shaft (broken away in the drawing) between the two
apparatus each apparatus is shewn with a different construction of appliance for
effecting the straining of the cotton hanks. Fig. 4 shews an end view of the
construction at the right hand of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 shews an end view of the
construction at the left hand end.
The construction shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 is only intended to serve for generally
illustrating the nature of the invention. B is the base plate of the centrifugal
apparatus A, and C is its shaft, D is supply pipe for the liquid introduced through
the top of the enclosing casing E. F are the cage bars round which the hanks
of cotton yarn are laid. These bars are not rigidly fixed to the base plate B,
being arranged to slide radially in guiding slots G therein.
When at rest the bars occupy the position shewn in dotted lines at Fig. 2.
When the cage is rotated the bars F are forced by centrifugal action to slide
outward in their guides G, thus enlarging the circumference of the cage so that
the hanks of yarn, which, were previously loosely placed over the bars, are
tightly strained by these as long as the apparatus is in motion.
In Fig. 3 two horizontally arranged centrifugal apparatus are coupled together
on a driving shaft C, on which are fixed the base plates B, and fluid supply
pipes 1 enter the cages at the free ends. At the periphery of the centrifugal
apparatus, that is to say to the separate bars, when these form such periphery,
are attached appliances of any suitable form which can swing outwards when

page_text: subjected to centrifugal action, and whose 'free outer ends are thereby applied
with a corresponding pressure to the inner surfaces of the hanks of yarn, pressing
these outwards and increasing the diameter of the centrifugal apparatus.
In the construction of such appliances shewn at the right hand of Fig. 3 and
in Fig. 4 there are pivotted to the two ends of some or all of the bars F of the
cage, small lever arms f which carry rotatable rollers H, over which is laid the
varn. In place of the rollers H flat bars or the like might be used. It might
be of advantage, for example, to impart a rotary motion to the said rollers H by
any suitable means, from the central axis of the apparatus, and thereby to
impart a corresponding additional rotary travelling motion to the banks of yarn
relatively to the cage, thus causing those parts which bear against the rollers to
continually travel away therefrom, and insuring that all parts of the yarn are
uniformly acted upon by the liquid.
The manner of connecting the said pivotted devices or wings to the frame er
cage may also be variously modified; they only require to be so arranged that
the levers and rollers or equivalent parts H can swing outward freely so as to
press against the inner surface of the yarn.
Thus for example the bearings of the lever arms f carrying the rollers H might
be connected to the frame in a similar manner to that described in the arrangement
at Figs. and 2, namely, they might be carried in slotted guides so that tho
bearings of the levers would also slide outward under centrifugal action.
In the arrangement shewn at the left hand of Fig. 3, and at Fig. 5, there is
combined with the rigid frame A of the apparatus a second articulated frame or
a perforated elastic covering I, the length of which is equal to the circumference.
of the frame or nearly so. The one end of this covering or articulated frame is
preferably attached to the rigid frame, as at i and upon it are laid loosely the
hanks of yarn.
The covering I being of such clastic or articulated construction that when
subjected to centrifugal action on the rotation of the frame its free end can
readily fly off from the rigid frame as indicated at Fig. 5 it will be seen that the
peripheral surface of the frame will thereby be increased so as to mechanically
strain the yarn to an extent corresponding to such increase.
The expanding covering may be of metal or any other suitable material.
T
1
י
1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Mercerising Cotton in the Form of
Hanks,
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad
by the Firm of Joh. Kleinewefers Söhne, of the Engine Works, Crefeld, Prussia,)
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:.
_
In the Specification to Patent No. 7093 of 1897 was described the mercerising
of cotton yarn in the form of hanks by forcing both the mercerising lye as also
the rinsing liquid by centrifugal force through the hanks of cotton yarn wound
closely round the outside of a centrifugal frame. With this mode of operating

page_text: the yarn practically retains its original length, but it sometimes happens that
heavy yarns become slightly extended in length while very light yarns sometimes
shrink slightly.
Also the slight natural curl possessed by cotton fibre is not removed by the
said centrifugal mercerising process and this is not always of advantage to the
silky lustre of the mercerised fibre.
Furthermore during the rotation of the apparatus the cotton yarn always has a
tendency owing to the centrifugal action, to fly off from the frame, and by this
action the force with which the liquid particles tend to penetrate through the
layer of yarn becomes weakened, as a portion of the vis viva only operates in
forcing the loose yarn hanks away from the frame, and the angle at which the
liquid acts on the yarn becomes less favourable.
The present improvements have for their object to obviate the above described
defects, and they consist in causing the yarn to be tightly strained by the centri-
fugal force during the mercerising process.
If the yarn is strained tight during the centrifugal mercerising process, all
shrinking or shortening of the fibre is prevented; on the contrary, there results
in all cases lengthening of the yarn, which consequently effects an increase of
the product.
Also, the natural curl of the fibre is thereby removed it has a smoother appear-
ance, and as the forcing of the liquid through the strained hanks is effected
without the above described losses of useful effect, the desired result is produced
by means of a less speed of rotation, and consequently a less expenditure of
power.
The above described method of effecting the mercerising by centrifugal force
while the yarn is maintained in a mechanically tightly strained condition, can
be effected by a variety of appliances to the centrifugal apparatus; thus according
to one arrangement the frame formed of cylindrically arranged bars described
in the Specification No. 7093 of 1897 can be arranged with the bars moveable so
that by the centrifugal action the frame will be enlarged by an outward motion
of the bars and thereby the loosely wound cotton hanks will become correspond-
ingly strained.
Or, according to another arrangement the cage-like frame may be made nou-
expanding or rigid and may have appliances combined therewith which are
automatically forced outward by the centrifugal action and in serving as expand-
ing points of support for the yarn coiled round the cage will effect the expansion
and straining thereof, the degree of such straining being determined by the
centrifugal force acting upon the expanding appliances, which force can be easily
calculated.
The first described arrangement, in which the cage-like frame is itself made
with variable periphery would be carried out by arranging the bars forming the
frame to slide with their ends in grooves or guides formed on the end plates of
the centrifugal apparatus so that on being acted upon by the centrifugal force
the bars would slide outward and thus increase the diameter of the frame. The
said guiding devices may be variously arranged in any suitable manner and need
not be farther described. Such an arrangement would however be difficult to
carry out with the construction of the centrifugal apparatus which is employed
by preference for the mercerising process, and in which the cage bars project
from a single end plate, their other ends being free and unsupported, for facili-
tating the placing thereon and the removal therefrom of the cotton hanks,
because on being acted upon by centrifugal force, such bars would tend to tilt
outward at the free ends and thus become jammed in their guides at the other
ends.
With this construction of frame therefore, it is preferred to employ the second
described arrangement where the cage-like frame proper is rigidly fixed, and
moveable appliances are combined therewith which automatically move outward

page_text: under the action of centrifugal force and effect the straining of the cotton hanks
as described.
This arrangement also admits of a variety of constructions; by way of example
I will describe two constructions with reference to the drawing accompanying my
Provisional Specification.
Fig. 1 shew's a vertical cross-section through one arrangement of the centrifugal
apparatus, the driving gear being omitted; Fig. 2 shews a plan of the same, the
centrifugal frame being arranged in a vertical position. Fig. 3 shews a longi-
tudinal section through a horizontally arranged twin centrifugal machine, such
as is employed by preference by my correspondents. The driving gear is arranged
on the middle part of the shaft (broken away in the drawing) between the two
apparatus each apparatus is shewn with a different construction of appliance for
effecting the straining of the cotton hanks. Fig. 4 shews an end view of the
construction at the right hand of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 shews an end view of the
construction at the left hand end.
The construction 'shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 is only intended to serve for generally
illustrating the nature of the invention. B is the base plate of the centrifugal
apparatus A, and C is its shaft, I) is supply pipe for the liquid introduced through
the top of the enclosing casing E. I are the cage bars round which the hanks
of cotton yarn are laid. These bars are not rigidly fixed to the base plate 1,
being arranged to slide radially in guiding slots & therein.
When at rest the bars occupy the position shewn in dotted lines at Fig. 2.
When the cage is rotated the bars Fare forced by centrifugal action to slide
outward in their guides G, thus enlarging the circumference of the cage so that
the hanks of yarn, which, were previously loosely placed over the bars, are
tightly strained by these as long as the apparatus is in motion.
"In Fig. 3 two horizontally arranged centrifugal apparatus are coupled together
ou a driving shaft c', on which are fixed the base plates B', and fluid supply
pipes I enter the cages at the free ends. At the periphery of the centrifugal
apparatus, that is to say to the separate bars, when these form such periphery,
are attached appliances of any suitable form which can swing outwards when
subjected to centrifugal action, and whose free outer ends are thereby applied
with a corresponding pressure to the inner surfaces of the hanks of yarn, pressing
these outwards and increasing the diameter of the centrifugal apparatus.
In the construction of such appliances shewn at the right hand of Fig. 3 and
in Fig. 4 there are pivotted to the two ends of some or all of the bars of the
cage, small lever arms f which carry rotatable rollers H, over which is laid the
yarn. In place of the rollers H flat bars or the like might be used. It might
be of advantage, for example, to impart a rotary motion to the said rollers H by
any suitable known means, from the central axis of the apparatus, and thereby to
impart a corresponding additional rotary travelling motion to the hanks of yarn
relatively to the cage, thus causing those parts which bear against the rollers to
continually travel away therefrom, and insuring that all parts of the yarn are
uniformly acted upon by the liquid.
The manner of connecting the said pivotted devices or wings to the frame or
cage may also be variously modified; they only require to be so arranged that
the levers and rollers or equivalent parts H can swing outward freely so as to
press against the inner surface of the yarn.
Thus for example the bearings of the lever arms f carrying the rollers H might
be connected to the frame in a similar manner to that described in the arrangement
at Figs. 1 and 2, namely, they might be carried in slotted guides so that the
bearings of the levers would also slide outward under centrifugal action.
In the arrangement shewn at the left hand of Fig. 3 and at Fig. 5, there is
combined with the rigid frame A' of the apparatus, which consists of a largely
perforated sheet metal cylinder, a perforated elastic covering I, the length of which
is equal to the circumference of the frame or nearly so. The one end of this

page_text: covering is preferably attached to the rigid frame, as at i and upon it are laid
loosely the hanks of yarn.
The covering I being of such elastic or articulated construction that when
subjected to centrifugal action on the rotation of the frame its free end can
readily fly off from the rigid frame as indicated at Fig. 5 it will be seen that the
peripheral surface of the frame will thereby be increased so as to mechanically
strain the yarn to an extent corresponding to such increase.
The expanding covering may be of metal or any other suitable material.
+
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In the process of mercerising cotton in the form of hanks described in the
Specification to Patent No. 7093 of 1897, subjecting the hanks during their
treatment with the mercerising fluid to a mechanical straining action produced
by centrifugal force operating on devices that are made to press upon the hanks
in an outward direction substantially as described.
2. For carrying out the method of straining the hanks by centrifugal action
referred to in the first claim, the use of centrifugal apparatus wherein either
the parts of the centrifugal frame are themselves arranged to move in an outward
direction under centrifugal action or wherein a rigid centrifugal frame has
mounted thereon moveable parts that move outward under centrifugal action, or
wherein an elastic covering is attached at one point to the rigid centrifugal frame,
so as to expand outwards under centrifugal action, the said moveable parts being
in either case caused in expanding to press outward against the hanks and thereby
to subject them to strain substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 27th day of April 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.