Improvements in Impregnating, Washing, and Dyeing Yarn in Hanks or Skeins, and in the Means or Apparatus employed therein.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Impregnating, Washing, and Dyeing Yarn in Hanks
or Skeins, and in the Means or Apparatus employed therein.
I GEORG ALBERT GREEVEN of Crefeld in the German Empire, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
In order to impregnate, wash or dye yarn in skeins, by methods hitherto generally
known it was necessary to spread the skeins over a number of poles or rods
sufficiently long to be placed across the vessel containing the liquid to the action
of which the yarn was to be submitted. Only the lower halves of the skeins were
thus immersed in the liquid, and they had to be shifted, either by hand or machinery,
so as to bring every part of them successively in contact with the liquid, the
remaining portion being in each case exposed to the air. This caused the dyeing
operation to occupy much longer time than when the yarn is fed in the shape of
one endless band, and necessitated great dexterity on the part of the operative.
The novel process herein described consists in so moving the impregnating, washing
or dyeing liquid as to make the skeins themselves come in contact, alternately, with
the liquid and the air, while avoiding any displacement or entanglement of the
skeins.
In order to obtain this result, the skeins are stretched more or less tightly within a
reservoir, whereupon the liquid is admitted through an aperture provided at the lower
end of the reservoir, so that, as its level rises, the skeins are gradually moistened. As
soon as the skeins are wholly immersed in the liquid, the influx is cut off; the liquid
previously let in is allowed to act upon the skeins for a sufficient space of time, and is
then let off, so that its level sinks and the skeins are gradually exposed to the contact
of the air. The liquid is thus alternately let in and let out, as many times over as may
be desirable; and it is clear that owing to an action of the liquid and of the air,
regulated in this manner, the yarn is
very uniformly dyed, impregnated and washed,
without ever getting out of order or being in the least damaged. The amount of
labour, moreover, required by such treatment is exceedingly small, and the arrange-
ment of the mechanical parts most simple. The motion of the liquid may be
brought about by a variety of means such as pumps, rarefied or compressed air,
steam et cetera.
Dated the 6th day of June 1889
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Impregnating, Washing, and Dyeing Yarn in Hanks
or Skeins, and in the Means or Apparatus employed therein.
I, GEORG ALBERT GREEVEN of Crefeld in the German Empire, Civil 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:
In order to impregnate, wash or dye yarn in skeins, by methods hitherto generally
known, it was necessary to spread the skeins over a number of poles or rods
sufficiently long to be placed across the vessel containing the liquid to the action
of which the yarn was to be submitted, only the lower halves of the skeins were
thus immersed in the liquid, and they had to be shifted, either by hand or machinery,
so as to bring every part of them successively in contact with the liquid, the

page_text: remaining portion being in each case exposed to the air. This caused the dyeing
operation to occupy much longer time than when the yarn is fed in the shape of
one endless band, and necessitated great dexterity on the part of the operative.
The novel process herein described consists in so moving the impregnating,
washing or dyeing liquid as to inke the skeins themselves come in contact,
alternately, with the liquid and the air, while avoiding any displacement or entangle-
ment of the skeins..
In order to obtain this result, the skeins are stretched more or less tightly within
a reservoir; whereupon the liquid is admitted through an aperture provided at the
lower end of the reservoir, so that, as its level rises, the skeins are gradually
moistened.
As soon as the skeins are wholly immersed in the liquid, the influx is cut off;
the liquid previously let in is allowed to act upon the skeins for a sufficient space
of time, and is then let off, so that its level sinks and the skeins are gradually
exposed to the contact of the air. The liquid is thus alternately let in and let out,
as many times over as may be desirable; and it is clear that owing to an action of
the liquid and of the air, regulated in this manner, the yarn is very uniformly dyed,
impregnated and washed without ever getting out of order or being in the least
damaged. The amount of labour, moreover, required by such treatment is exceedingly
small, and the arrangement of the mechanical parts most simple. The motion of
the liquid may be brought about by a variety of means such as pumps, rarefied or
compressed air, steam &c. Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a
longitudinal section of an apparatus adapted for carrying out my improved process,
the motion of the liquid being caused by rarefied air. Fig. 2 is a cross section of
the same.
The reservoir A, wherein skeins a are loosely hung, each upon two rods b, is
connected with another reservoir, B, arranged on a higher level, by pipe c issuing
from the bottom part of A. Reservoir B is of a sufficient capacity to contain the
whole or at least the greater part of the liquid necessary for the washing, dyeing or
impregnation of a batch of yarn. Rods bare inserted into slots i in the ledges d and
secured to the inside of the longitudinal walls of reservoir A. Ledges g and f,
fastened, if necessary, by bolts h, serve to retain rods 6 in their places. Reservoir B is
connected with a pneumatic pump or a reservoir containing rarefied air, by means of
a conduit pipe k provided with a suitable cut-off. Before the operation begins, it is
filled with the liquid used for impregnating, washing or dyeing the yarn. Owing to
the rarefaction of air that takes place in reservoir B, the liquid cannot escape.
Nevertheless a cut off device may, as an additional measure of precaution, be provided
within pipe c.
When the proper amount of yarn in skeins is placed within reservoir A, air cock L
on reservoir B is opened, while the cock of conduit k has been, previously, partly or
entirely turned off. As a consequence, the liquid flows through pipe e from B into A,
rises in the latter and, in so doing, uniformly moistens skeins a. As soon as they are
on all sides surrounded or covered by the liquid, the influx of the latter is stopped,
and that which is in the reservoir is allowed to act upon the skeins as long as necessary.
The air is then rarefied within reservoir B so as to draw or suck the liquid from
reservoir A; and the level of the liquid in the latter consequently falls by degrees,
until the reservoir is empty. Reservoir A. is now again allowed to fill, and thus
alternate filling and emptying of it is repeated as many times as desired. As the
skeins a are held by rods b, they cannot follow the motion of the liquid, and that
portion of them, which is tied round the rods, rises somewhat and is thus soaked with
the liquid as well as all the remaining parts. If reservoir B be arranged below A, the
liquid must be made to rise up to A by means of a pump or by steam or air
pressure.
It will be understood that the skeins may if necessary be arranged within reservoir A
in a different position from that here indicated, provided any displacement or entangle-
ment of the same is effectually obviated.

page_text: 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 I
claim is:
1. A process for or method of washing, impregnating or dyeing yarn in skeins,
wherein the skeins, more or less tightly stretched within a reservoir, are exposed
alternately to the action of the liquid, and to that of the air, while the liquid is
alternately let in through the bottom part of the reservoir, and ejected therefrom,
substantially as described.
2. Means or apparatus for carrying out the process described in the preceding
claim, consisting of a reservoir (A) wherein the skeins (a) are stretched by means of
two rods (6); and of another reservoir (B) connected with the lower end of the
reservoir (A) by a pipe (c); the capacity of which reservoir (B) is sufficient to hold
the quantity of liquid it is intended to let into reservoir (A) for purposes of dyeing,
washing or impregnating yarn; the liquid being conveyed from one reservoir to the
other by means of pumps or by air or steam pressure, substantially as described.
Dated the 7th day of February 1890.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.