IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAMING FABRICS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hawthorn, of Newtown, in the Parish of Disley,
in the County of Chester, Engineer and Iron Founder, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAMING FABRICS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
Sealed the 11th October 1878, and dated the 17th April 1878.
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hawthorn at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1878.
4
JOHN HAWTHORN, of Newtown, in the Parish of Disley, in the County of Chester,
Engineer and Iron Founder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAMING FABRICS AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My Invention consists in so constructing the chambers in which the process of
steaming is performed continuously, that the printed or dyed fabrics under operation
may be subjected to the action of steam under pressure, whereby the process is
performed more rapidly and more effectually than heretofore.
In steaming apparatus of the ordinary construction, when the steaming is performed
continuously; steam under pressure cannot be employed, owing to the fabric in
entering and leaving the steaming chamber having to pass through an aperture that
cannot be made steam-tight.
Now my Invention consists in causing the fabric in entering and leaving the
steaming chamber to pass through a vessel containing mercury, which forms a steam-
tight, lute. The vessel containing the mercury must be enamelled inside, and of the
shape of a syphon; and as the pressure of steam in the steaming chamber increases
the mercury rises in the outer arm of the syphon. When the fabric in entering the
chamber has passed through the mercury lute, it is acted upon by a revolving or
other agitator, or brush, to strike off any particles of mercury that might adhere,
and a similar agitator is applied to act on the fabric when it has left the
chamber.
The steam is carried through three or other convenient number of elliptical pipes
at the top of the steaming chamber, and is brought down to a perforated pipe or

page_text: pipes at the lower part of the steaming chamber, the exterior of which can be heated
by hot air passing through flues, if required. By this means fabrics can be acted
upon by steam under pressure while continuously entering and leaving the steaming
chamber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Hawthorn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
October 1878.
· JOHN HAWTHORN, of Newtown, in the Parish of Disley, in the County of Chester,
Engineer and Iron Founder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAMING FABRICS AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My Invention consists in so constructing the chambers in which the process of
steaming is performed continuously that the printed or dyed fabrics under operation
may be subjected to the action of steam under pressure, whereby the process is per-
formed more rapidly and more effectually than heretofore.
In steaming apparatus of the ordinary construction, when the steaming is performed
continuously, steam under pressure cannot be employed, owing to the fabric in
entering and leaving the steaming chamber having to, pass through an aperture
that cannot be made sufficiently steam-tight to maintain a regular pressure.
Now my Invention consists in causing the fabric in entering and leaving the
apparatus, to pass through a vessel containing mercury, which forms a steam-tight
lute. The vessel containing the mercury must be enamelled inside, and of the
shape of a syphon; and as the pressure of steam in the steaming chamber increases,
the mercury rises in the outer arm of the syphon. When the fabric, entering the
chamber, has passed through the mercury lute, it is acted upon by a revolving
or other agitator, or brush, to strike off any particles of mercury that might
adhere, and a similar agitator is applied to act on tlie fabric, after it has left the
chamber.
The steam is carried through three or other convenient number of elliptical or
other shaped pipes, at the top of the steaming chamber, and is brought down to a
perforated pipe or pipes at the lower part of the steaming chamber, the exterior of
which can be heated by hot air passing through flues, if required. By this means
fabrics can be acted upon by steam under pressure, while continuously entering and
leaving the steaming chamber.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, and Fig. 2 an end view of a steaming
chamber, to which my improvements are applied.
a is the outer casing of the chamber, which I prefer to make cylindrical, but it
may be of any other shape, providing the strength be equal to the pressure, of the
steam employed. Within the chamber a are an upper and lower series of rollers b
and C, around which the fabrics to be steamed are carried, as usual. In front of the

page_text: steaming chamber is fixed the syphon-shaped vessel d, containing mercury, the
inside of which is enamelled; above the vessel d are the outer hopper e and inner
hopper f; the former contains the agitator or revolving brush e', and the latter the
agitator or brush f', the axle of which passes through a stuffing box in the outer
casing a; both the agitators or brushes are turned rapidly round by straps and
pulleys, as shewn in Fig. 2, or in any other convenient manner.
The printed or dyed fabric to be steamed is brought over the guide roller g, and
descends through the mercury in the vessel d, under the guide roller h, and in
ascending to the guide roller the fabric is acted upon by the agitator f¹, which
strikes off any particles of mercury that might adhere to the fabric, which then
passes over the rollers b, and under the rollers c, until it arrives at the end of the
chamber a, from which it is brought back over the supporting rollers j, under the
guide roller k, over the guide roller 1, and descends into the mercury in the vessel d;
and after passing under the roller m, over the roller n, and under the roller o, it is
carried upwards to the roller p. The agitator e¹ acts on the fabric as it passes
between the rollers o and p, to strike off any particles of mercury that might
adhere to it.
The steam is or may be carried through elliptical or other shaped pipes placed
near the top of the steaming chamber, and it is distributed in the chamber through
a perforated pipe placed near the bottom. Steam of about 4 to 6 lbs. per square
inch is found to give good results, but I do not limit myself to that pressure.
It is evident that the mercury in the syphon-shaped vessel d will be depressed in
the inner arm of the syphon, and rise in the outer arm in proportion to the pressure
in the chamber.
In order to maintain a high temperature in the steaming chamber, exterior flues,
heated by hot air or otherwise, may be carried under or around the chamber;
and in some cases I propose to use an endless blanket passing over carrier rollers
and through the lute.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described a convenient way.
of carrying the same into operation, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend
to limit myself to the details given, as they may be varied or modified; but what
I claim is, causing the fabric when entering and leaving the steaming chamber to
pass through a mercury lute, for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hawthorn, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight.
JOHN HAWTHORN. (L.S.)