Improvements in Machinery for Dyeing, Scouring, and Drying Hanks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Dyeing, Scouring, and Drying Hanks.
We, EZRA SYKES and DAVID SYKES, trading as John Sykes and Sons, of
Turnbridge Ironworks, Huddersfield, in the County of York, Ironfounders and
Machine Makers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In constructing a machine for dyeing, scouring, and drying hanks, according to
our invention, we make use of a vessel in which is made to rotate a pair of discs,
mounted and fixed upon a horizontal shaft, such discs carrying inner and outer
horizontal crossbars arranged in pairs, upon which are placed the hanks to be
treated. Our invention consists in combining, with the above named mechanism,
means to be employed for giving to the outer or inner crossbars a slow but con-
tinuous revolving motion, so as to be continuously changing the position of the
hanks whilst they are being carried around and through the dye liquor by the
revolving discs, whereby the fibre is more evenly dyed. The mechanism we employ
for imparting a slow revolving motion to the outer or inner crossbars consists in
placing a large toothed spur wheel loosely on the main shaft carrying the discs, and
on one end of the outer or inner crossbar is fixed a pinion wheel in gear with the
teeth of the loose spur wheel, which latter spur wheel is driven by a pinion wheel
through the medium of a strap or other suitable method, by which means the loose
spur wheel is made to revolve, causing the pinion wheel on the axle of the outer
crossbar to be slowly revolved, consequently causing the hank to travel; the speed
of the said wheels can be varied at will by rearranging them or by the use of cone
pulleys and driving straps.
The second part of our invention consists in means to be employed for slackening
the hank during the time it is in the dye liquor, as it is considered that the yarn
receives the dye liquor better when not in a state of tension. To accomplish this
object the plate or other device which receives and carries the inner crossbar is
placed on a rod or spoke radiating from the centre of the revolving discs, the said
plates being provided with rods passing through a stay or ring, the arrangement
being such that when the hanks and crossbars are out of the dye liquor, the plate
carrying the inner crossbar falls by gravitation towards the centre of the revolving
disc, at which point the hanks will be distended, but when the crossbars have been
carried down and past the centre of the discs, the inner crossbar will occupy a
position above the outer crossbar, at which point the plate carrying the inner cross-
bar will fall by gravitation from the centre of the disc, causing the hanks to be
loose or slackened, adjusting nuts being employed to prevent the plates falling too
far. By this means the hanks pass through the dye liquor in a loose and unstretched
condition.
Thirdly. In hank dyeing machines having revolving discs and crossbars, as above
described, it is found that in consequence of the hanks being made to revolve
through the dye liquor in one continuous direction, the loose fibres projecting from
the yarn are all laid in one direction, which is not desirable; in addition to which
the hanks become felted thereby. To avoid these defects we employ self acting
mechanism for reversing the motion of the revolving discs, which we accomplish
by the use of bevel wheels, one of which is loose and the other fixed, or other well
known mechanical devices may be employed for reversing the motion of the said
discs, by which means the loose fibres are not laid in one direction, as is the case
when the hanks are being continuously carried through the dye liquor in one
direction; the reversing motion of the discs will also unfurl or unfelt the hanks
which may have become entangled.
By combining and arranging a machine as above described, having revolving

page_text: discs and means for imparting slow but continuous revolving motion to the banks,
together with means for automatically slackening the tension of the hanks whilst
passing through the dye liquor, and also with a motion for reversing the rotary
motion of the discs, we construct a complete, effective, and automatic machine for
dyeing hanks of yarn.
The same form and arrangement of machine as above described may be used for
Scouring and drying hanks of yarn, the only addition required when drying being
the use of a fan for blowing or exhausting hot or cold air through the machine.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1890.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Dyeing, Scouring, and Drying Hanks.
We, EZRA SYKES and DAVID SYKES, trading as John Sykes and Sons, of
Turnbridge Ironworks, Huddersfield, in the County of York, Ironfounders and
Machine Makers, 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 :-
In constructing a machine for dyeing, scouring, and drying hanks, according to
our invention, we make use of a vessel in which is made to rotate a pair of dises
mounted and fixed upon a horizontal shaft, such discs carrying inner and outer
horizontal crossbars arranged in pairs, upon which are placed the hanks to be treated.
Our invention consists in combining, with the above named mechanism, means to be
employed for giving to the outer or inner crossbars a slow but continuous revolving
motion so as to be continuously changing the position of the hanks whilst they are
being carried around and through the dye liquor by the revolving discs, whereby
the fibre is more evenly dyed. The mechanism we employ for imparting a slow
revolving motion to the outer or inner crossbars consists in placing a large toothed
spur wheel loosely on the main shaft carrying the discs, and on one end of the outer
or inner crossbar is fixed a pinion wheel in gear with the teeth of the loose spur
wheel, causing the pinion wheels on the axles of the outer crossbars to be slowly
revolved, consequently causing the hank to travel; the speed of the said wheels can
be varied at will by rearranging them or by the use of cone pulleys and driving
straps.
In order that our invention may be better understood, we will now make
reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrative thereof, wherein
Fig. 1 is end view of our improved machine partly in section and
Fig. 2 is front view of the same parts.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details hereinafter referred to.
A represents the scouring or dyeing vessel, on which is mounted a cross
shaft B on which is fixed a pair of spider wheels or discs C, placed at each
end of the said vessel, such discs comprising an outer rim a and an inner
rim b, connected together by spokes or arms G, as more clearly shewn in
Fig. 4. The outer rim a is provided with brackets d for receiving the axle
of the outer crossbar D, the inner crossbar being shewn at E, and they are
arranged in pairs, as shewn in the drawings, for receiving and carrying the
hanks F, so that on rotary motion being imparted to the spider wheels or discs C
the hanks are passed through the scouring or dyeing liquor, as will be well under-
stood. In order to cause the hanks to travel during the time they are being carried
around by the dises, we impart to the outer crossbar Da slow and continuous rotary
motion which we obtain in the following manner, namely, we mount loosely on the
main shaft Ba large spur wheel G, deriving its motion when the machine is at work
from the pinion wheel H, which in turn receives its rotary motion by the train of
gearing from the driving shaft J. One end of the axle of each outer crossbar D,

page_text: 9.
(see detail Fig. 5) is made with a stud e and also with an inclined flange f, and in
order to make the bar secure, the end thereof is inserted into a box g made with
slots to receive the stud on the axle e, by which it is turned over or around; the
spring i fixed to the bracket d prevents the end of the crossbar from getting out of
its place; such spring, however, readily yields when the axle e is being forced into
the box Each box is made with stud or short shaft j on which is fastened a
pinion wheel L placed into gear with the teeth on the large loose wheel G, and as
all the crossbars D and E are connected to the spider wheels or discs C, and are
carried around by the said discs, it follows that the pinions L on the end of each
outer crossbar D will roll over the large wheel G and be rotated thereby causing
the banks to travel as desired; but it is obvious that if the large wheel G were
stationary, the pinion wheels I which are in gear with it, and which are being
carried around by the discs, (in consequence of the difference between their size
and that of the disc) they would of necessity overrun or be caused to revolve too
quickly; but to prevent this, the large spur wheel G, which is loose on its shaft, is
driven by the pinion H in the same direction as the discs, and at such a speed as
will prevent the too rapid rotation of the pinions on the outer crossbars.
The second part of our invention consists in means to be employed for slackening
the hank during the time it is in the dye liquor, as it is considered that the yarn
receives the dye liquor better when not in a state of tension. To accomplish this
object the perforated plate or other device which receives and carries the inner
crossbar is placed on a rod or spoke radiating from the centre of the revolving
discs, the said plates being provided with rods passing through a stay or rim, the
arrangement being such that when the hanks and crossbars are out of the liquor,
the plate carrying the inner crossbar falls by gravitation towards the centre of the
revolving disc, at which point, the hanks will be distended, but when the crossbars
have been carried down and past the centre of the discs, the inner crossbar will
occupy a position above the outer crossbar, at which point the plate carrying the
inner crossbar will fall by gravitation from the centre of the disc, causing the hanks
to be loose or slackened, adjusting nuts being employed to prevent the plates
falling too far.
This part of our invention is shewn in Figs. 1 and 4, where C is the spider wheel
or disc and M is our improved device for permitting the hanks to be slackened
during one portion of each revolution of the discs. The apparatus for effecting this
purpose consists of two perforated plates M and M' tied together by two cross
pieces made to surround one of the spokes c of the discs. The perforated
plates M, M, are kept in position and prevented from turning around by two
rods passing through holes made in the rim b, adjustable nuts m being screwed
onto one of the said rods so as to prevent the perforated plates M dropping entirely
out of their position during one portion of the dises' revolution. It will therefore
be seen that when the hanks are at the upper portion of the discs, the plates M, M',
will have lowered in such a way as to distend the hanks; but when the said plates
are at the lower portion of the discs, that they will fall in the opposite direction
and slacken the hanks. By the employment of these moving perforated plates,
which receive and carry the inner crossbars E the hanks pass through the scouring
or dyeing liquor in a loose and unstretched condition.
Thirdly. In hank dyeing machines having revolving discs and crossbars, as
herein before described, it is found that in consequence of the hanks being made to
revolve through the dye liquor in one continuous direction, the loose fibres
projecting from the yarn are all laid in one direction, which is not desirable; in
addition to which the hanks become felted. To avoid these defects we employ
self acting mechanism for reversing the motion of the revolving discs, which we
accomplish by the use of bevel wheels, one of which is loose and the other fixed, or
other well known mechanical devices may be employed for reversing the motion
of the said discs, by which means the loose fibres are not laid in one direction, as is
the case when the hanks are being continuously carried through the dye liquor in

page_text: one direction; the reversing motion of the discs will also unfurl or unfelt the hanks
which may have become entangled.
This part of our invention is shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, the former of which is front
view of the apparatus and the latter end view. Jis the main driving shaft of the
machine, on which is a fixed driving pulley N, a loose pulley N₁, and a fixed bevel
pinion wheel N2, having a sleeve or long boss on which is fastened a driving
pulley N; there is also fixed upon the main driving shaft N another bevel pinion
wheel N, so that when the strap is on the fast pulley N, the bevel wheel O is made
to revolve in one direction; but when the strap is transferred, as hereinafter
explained, onto the pulley N³, the bevel wheel N causes the large bevel wheel O to
revolve in the opposite direction so as to reverse the motion of the discs and
consequently the hanks carried thereby, such change of motion being also imparted
to the separate travelling movement of the hanks.
It will be seen from the drawings that in whichever direction the bevel wheel O
is made to revolve, such motion will be communicated, by means of spur wheels O¹
and O2, or O³ and O', to the shaft P, worm P, and worm wheel K and consequently
to the discs which are driven thereby.
The apparatus we employ for causing the machine to reverse self actingly consists
of a toothed wheel P2, placed loosely on shaft P, but driven by spur wheel P³
connected to the shaft P driven by wheel and worm keyed on the shaft B and
shewn in dotted lines behind worm wheel K. The toothed wheel P has two
studs nn, which as the said wheel P2 revolves causes one or other of the studs
thereon to come into contact with the lever R whereby it is made to oscillate on
the shaft P. The strap fork S is attached to the sliding bar St behind which is a
second bar R2, one end being bent down as indicated at Fig. 2, but the opposite end
of the said bar terminates in a 4, which is secured to a bracket S2, which bracket
also embraces sliding rod S¹, which thereby supports the bar R2 and allows
independent movement thereof. When the lever R is oscillated by one of the
studs (assisted by the balance weight R) the bar R2 will be moved endwise in
one direction or the other, bringing the bracket S into contact with one or other
of the parts or fixed to the rod S¹ whereby such rod is also moved endwise in
the same direction and transfers the driving strap from one driving pulley to the
other for the purpose of reversing the rotary motion of the machine.
It
From the above description, it will be found that the driving strap will be shifted
continuously from one driving pulley to the other driving pulley in consequence of
the studs n acting alternately upon the lever R, but in order to keep the driving
belt on the loose pulley N¹ so that the machine may rest, we hinge to the pedestal T
a hooked finger or bar o (see Fig. 3) the hook of which is dropped onto a pin or
stud projecting from the bar S₁ by which means the strap is kept on the loose
pulley until the machine is again required to be set in motion. In order to change
the speed at which the machine rotates, the spur wheels O' and 0³ are placed
loosely on the driven shaft U, but the clutch V is fastened to the said shaft and
capable of sliding on a key or feather, so that when it is necessary to change the
speed of the machine, the attendant operates the rod W and lever X, on the top of
which is a clutch fork surrounding the clutch V, whereby the said clutch is put
into gear with one or other of the wheels O¹ and O³, and as they are of different
sizes, it follows that the speed of the machine is changed.
By combining and arranging a machine as above described, having revolving
discs and means for imparting slow but continuous revolving motion to the hanks,
together with the means for automatically slackening the tension of the hanks
whilst passing through the dye liquor, and also with a motion for reversing the
rotary motion of the discs, we construct a complete, effective, and automatic
machine for dyeing hanks of yarn.
The same form and arrangement of machine as above described may be used for
scouring and drying hanks of yarn, the only difference required when drying being
the use of a fan for blowing or exhausting hot or cold air through the machine.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
:-
Firstly. In machines for scouring, dyeing, and drying hanks of yarn, where
revolving discs are employed, and crossbars or rollers for carrying the hanks, the
use of toothed wheels (on the said crossbars) in gear with a larger toothed wheel
whereby the banks are caused to travel continuously whilst being carried around
by the discs in manner substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
Secondly. In machines for scouring and dyeing hanks of yarn where revolving
discs are employed and crossbars for carrying the hanks, the use of moveable plates
(for receiving the ends of the crossbars) and parts connected therewith for allowing
the hanks to slacken when out of the liquor in manner substantially as shewn and
described herein.
Thirdly. In machines for dyeing and drying hanks of yarn where revolving discs
are employed, the apparatus substantially as herein shewn and described or any
mechanical equivalent for reversing the rotary motion of the said discs.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1801
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield and Halifax, Agents.