Improvements in Machines for Steaming, Ageing, or Drying Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Steaming, Ageing, or Drying
Textile Fabrics.
1, JOHN PLATT, of the firm of Mather and Platt, of Salford Iron Works,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
My invention relates particularly to machines for continuously steaming, ageing
or drying textile fabrics, and my object is first to economise hanging space for the
cloth and to ensure, the cloth falling easily between the supporting rods and
further to prevent the cloth falling on to the bottom of the machine and getting
damaged thereby.
In machines of the ordinary construction with a revolving cloth rack the
supporting rods are attached at their inner ends to the revolving portion of the
machine, the inner ends remaining at a fixed distance one from another.
According to my improvements I connect the outer end of each rod to a ring
placed horizontally and revolving by preference intermittently in such a manner
that each rod is. free to swivel to a limited extent. By applying suitable means the
inner end of a rod or rods can be moved forward or backward so as to leave as
much or more space between the rods at the inner ends as there is at the outer ends
thereby at one or more places forming a slot or parallel opening between the rods
through which the cloth delivered by the feed rollers or wince can pass freely
into the machine.
I propose to hang a tray from the revolving ring and under the cloth in order to
carry it should any of the folds hang down too far.
My improvements may also be applied to longitudinal machines.
Dated this 5th day of February 1891.
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Steaming, Ageing, or Drying
Textile Fabrics.
I, JOHN PLATT, of the firm of Mather and Platt, of Salford Iron Works,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
My invention relates particularly to machines for continuously steaming, ageing
or drying textile fabrics, and my object is first to economise hanging space for the
cloth and to ensure the cloth falling easily between the supporting rods and
further to prevent the cloth falling on to the bottom of the machine and getting
damaged thereby.
In machines of the ordinary construction with a revolving cloth rack the
supporting rods are attached at their inner ends to the revolving portion of the
machine the inner ends remaining at a fixed distance one from another.
According to my improvements I connect the outer end of each rod to a
ring placed horizontally and revolving by preference intermittently in such a
manner that each rod is free to swivel to a limited extent. By applying suitable
means the inner end of a rod or rods can be moved forward or backward so as to
leave as much or more space between the rods, at the inner ends as there is at the
[Price 11/1

page_text: outer ends thereby at one or more places forming a slot or parallel opening between
the rods through which the cloth delivered by the feed rollers or wince can pass
freely into the machine.
propose to hang a tray from the rods or revolving ring and under the cloth in
order to carry it should any of the folds hang down too far.
My improvements may also be applied to longitudinal machines.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the accompanying four sheets of drawings reference being had
to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is an elevation, Fig. 2 a sectional elevation and Fig. 3 a plan of my
improved machine for steaming, ageing or drying textile fabrics..
Fig. 4 is a detail view of the supporting rods arranged according to my
improvements.
Fig. 5 is a detail view of part of the revolving frame and its supports and
Fig. 6 is a detail of the worm drum for driving the frame.
any other
The machine shown in the drawings is octagonal in form but may be of
convenient shape. The frame or walls a are bolted to eight pillars which are
fastened together at the top by metal beams c.
In the centre of the machine is a strong pillar & having on its top a circular plate
or head piece e and to this are bolted brackets which assist in carrying the steam
chests which are mainly supported by the beams c. The head piece e also
supports the inner ends of the brass or other rods which carry the cloth, the
outer ends of the said rods being carried by a circular frame j which is supported
horizontally and vertically by means of small bowls k carried by the pillars b
(see Fig. 5).
On the outside of the frame j project worm teeth which swivel on pivots m and
into these teeth are fitted the outer ends of the rods h so that each rod h
and tooth has a certain amount of play which allows the rods to open when
required.
The frame is driven by a worm drum n placed near the point where the cloth
enters the machine. This drum has say five (or other suitable number) short worm
threads o on its circumference and being driven as hereinafter described it engages
intermittently the teeth Z and thereby intermittently drives the frame j.
At the point p where the cloth enters the machine the rods are opened to their
full extent by means of the worm threads o engaging a pair of the teeth and on
opposite sides as shown in the detail view Fig. 6, thus forming a parallel opening as
shown in Fig. 4 through which the cloth delivered by the feed or entering rollers
can enter freely into the machine.
The entering rollers are preferably made of brass and may or may not be heated
by steam they are driven by gears from the same shafts which drives by a
worm and worm wheel n' the worm drum n and the cloth is delivered close to
the entering space between a pair of small steam heated eccentric rollers t.
The machine near the bottom is provided with a revolving tray suspended by
wires e from the rods and frame j. This tray enables the wood lagged floor
usually employed in a continuous steaming machine to be dispensed with, and also has
this further advantage that it carries the cloth round and so prevents any possibility
of injury to the same by dragging and rubbing.
The machine has heating pipes w, a perforated steam pipe a, a door y is arranged
on the ground floor and windows z are placed in suitable positions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
claim is :-
:―
In a machine for steaming, ageing or drying textile fabrics-
1. Mounting the supporting rods or rails in such a manner that each rod can be
moved in order to form at the proper place and time a parallel opening through
which the cloth can pass freely into the machine.

page_text: 2. The combination with the intermittently revolving frame j, of the swivel
supporting rods mounted and operated substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
3. The combination with the revolving frame and supporting rods or rails, of the
tray u substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
4. The general combination and arrangement of parts embodying my improve-
ments substantially as herein specified.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1891.
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.