Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Fibrous Materials with Dye or other Liquors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 27th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Fibrous Materials with
Dye or other Liquors.
I, ROBERT SHAW, of Droylsden Road, Newton Heath, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Cashier, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to
be as follows:-
This invention is designed primarily for dyeing cops of yarn though it may be
applied to the treating of the yarn with scouring bleaching or other liquors, and
also may be adapted for treating fibrous materials in other forms such as when
wound on bobbins, beams or into tops or the like.
In carrying out the invention I construct a carrier or holder for the material
and above that I place a vacuum chamber, liquor receiver or suction pipe in
connection with an air or other pump.
The holder is connected with the vacuum chamber or suction pipe by means of a
pipe extending therefrom preferably at the bottom.
For cops the holder consists of one or more tables placed around the connecting
pipe or branching out therefrom. Each table is made with a dish or suction
chamber over which is placed a perforated plate which carries the cops or to which
the cop skewers are affixed. The dish or suction chamber is attached or connected
to the vacuum chamber by an opening or branch pipe leading thereinto which if
desired may be fitted with a stop valve or cock. The perforated plate is fitted onto
rubber or other packing on the top of the suction chamber and is secured by wing-
nuts, clamps or similar device so as to secure an air or water tight joint. The
skewers upon which the cops are placed are perforated in the usual way and are
fitted into the holes in the perforated table plate. The holes in the table plate are
preferably packed with rubber or other packing to form a cushion or tight joint
and the skewers are secured by a bayonet joint screw or similar device or by a
plate on the top by which they can be held down. The pipe to which the suction
chambers are connected is fitted with a valve by which liquor can be drawn into
or withdrawn from the vacuum chamber or liquor receiver without passing through
the material under treatment.
The vacuum chamber or liquor receiver is supported by a stand or framing of
any convenient form and is connected with a suitable pump or ejector by means of
which a vacuum can be created therein or liquor drawn up through the suction
chambers at the bottom.
The dye vats are mounted upon wheels and are movable and beneath the vacuum
chamber and holders a platform which can be raised by hydraulic rack screw or
other mechanism from below or by a crane or winch or similar raising mechanism
above but at present I prefer a hydraulic platform.
The movable vats are filled with the dye or other liquor which has first been
well strained and are run onto the platform which is then raised until the holders
are immersed in the liquor contained therein. The vats are heated by steam and a
flexible connecting pipe is provided which can easily be coupled or uncoupled.
For warps or cloth the material is wound upon perforated beams and instead of
the suction chamber above described a suction holder is provided whereby the
beams can be supported at both ends and the liquor drawn through them. The
holder is made to support two beams so that when the cloth on one beam has been
thoroughly saturated the cloth may be wound upon the other beam and again
treated in the liquor in order to give a uniform or even dye to the material. The
beams are detachable from the holder or connecting pipe by any suitable arrange-
ment by which they can be easily lifted into and out of position.

page_text: For yarn on bobbins perforated bobbins will be employed and these will be
fitted on skewers similar to that above described and for wool in tops or for loose
fibres cages or other suitable holders will be constructed by which they will be held
in connection with the suction and vacuum chambers so that the liquor can be
drawn through them.
In the vacuum chamber a float may be placed connected mechanically or
electrically with a reversing or throttle valve whereby when the liquor in the
vacuum chamber has reached a given height the pump may be stopped or the
direction of flow of the liquor automatically reversed. The chamber is also fitted
with a gauge glass and pressure gauge.
At present I prefer to raise and lower the movable vats but if desired instead of
or in addition to raising the vats the holder may be made with a telescopic or
other joint whereby it could be lowered into or raised from the vats.
When in operation the vats will be charged with the required dye or liquor
prepared in the dye house to the proper strength and then run onto the lifting
platform. The vat is raised until the holder and material are immersed in the
liquor and the pump then set in motion. The liquor is then drawn through the
material up into the vacuum chamber the action of the pump is then reversed and
the liquor forced back again. These operations are repeated as often as required.
When it is desired to force the liquor through the material in one direction only
the valve at the foot of the chamber can be opened at each reverse movement.
Air and steam can also be forced through the material in the same way when
required the steam being supplied by a pipe into the vacuum chamber. When the
material has to be treated with different liquors or liquors of different strengths
one vat can be removed and be replaced by another. While one batch of material
is being treated the skewers can be filled with another batch and be fitted into
position on other plates and so be ready to take the place of the first lot when
finished.
I consider that this apparatus will be found very serviceable and expeditious for
dyeing both fast and loose colours especially where two or more liquors have to be
employed as with one handling of the material the different vats can be used and
removed.
Dated this 28th day of May 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Fibrous Materials with
Dye or other Liquors.
I, ROBERT SHAW, of Highfield Road, Seedley, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Cashier, late of Droylsden Road, Newton Heath, Manchester, aforesaid,
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:-
This invention is designed primarily for the dyeing of yarn in cops or other form
such as when wound on bobbins or beams but it may be applied to the treating of
the fibrous material with scouring bleaching or other liquors.
It consists essentially of a suction or vacuum chamber or receiver provided with
an ejector or pump at one end and at the other a carrier or holder for the material
with an inlet and outlet connected therewith; of movable dyevats; and of a
movable platform or other device for raising and lowering the dyevats into and out
of connection with the holder.

page_text: Fig. 2. Sectional elevation.
Fig. 3. Side elevation of ejector and steam valve.
Fig. 3. Plan.
Fig. 4. Front elevation of cop carrier drawn to enlarged scale.
Fig. 5. Sectional elevation of same on line - Fig. 6.
Fi
ig.
6. Plan of same.
Fig. 7. Plan of plate which receives the cop spindles or skewers.
Fig. 8. Transverse section of same on line y-y.
Fig. 9. Elevation of perforated cop spindle or skewer.
Fig. 10. Enlarged section of part of cop plate showing details for fitting in the
skewer.
Fig. 11. Plan of same.
Fig. 12. Elevation of apparatus as applied to dyeing warp yarns on the beam.
Fig. 13. Plan of same.
Fig. 14. Sectional elevation of steam valve for supplying steam to the ejector.
Fig. 15. Front elevation of same with cover removed.
Fig. 16. Plan of same.
The holder or carrier A for the cops or other material is connected to and
supported by a vacuum chamber or receiver B placed above it by a pipe C the
vacuum chamber or receiver being in connection with an ejector D or with a
suction or other pump whereby a partial vacuum may be obtained within it.
For dyeing or treating cops the holder is constructed with one or more tables or
plates E mounted upon a dish or suction chamber F radiating or branching ont
from the bottom of the connecting pipe C.
The apparatus is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 6. with four heads or
carriers which are similar in construction so that it will be necessary to describe
one only in detail.
Each head or carrier is constructed with a dished suction chamber F which opens
into or communicates with the pipe C connecting with the vacuum chamber B.
Over the suction chamber F is placed the perforated plate E into the perforations e
of which the perforated skewers H which carry the cops are affixed.
The perforated plate E is fitted on to a packing or seating fof rubber or other
material on the top of the suction chamber F to secure an air or water tight joint
and is held down by a bolt or screw passing through the central hole e' or by clamps
or wing nuts at the edges. The holes or perforations e in the perforated plate E
are each packed with a washer G of rubber or other material to ensure a water
The rubber
tight joint between the plate E and the perforated cop skewer H.
washers are preferably of the form shown with a central hole which fits tightly
round the end of the skewer H. The washer G is held in position by a small ring y
which is fitted upon the top of it. The skewer H is hollow and perforated in the
usual way to receive the cop the lower end fitting into the washer G which forms a
cushion. The shoulder h rests upon the top of the washer G and the skewers are
pressed down and held in position during the operation of dyeing by the plate I
which rests on top, or the skewers may be held in position by other means.
The connecting pipe C is closed at the bottom by a blank flange c or it may be
fitted with a valve whereby the contents of the vacuum chamber B may be run off.
The vacuum chamber or liquor receiver B is preferably cylindrical as shown but
may be of any suitable form supported on a beam K or on a stand or framing of
any suitable construction.
The top of the vacuum chamber B is connected with an ejector D by a passage
or pipe D or with a pump or other apparatus whereby a vacuum or partial vacuum
can be formed therein.
I prefer to use two ejectors D as shown affixed to the top of the chamber with
a steam admission valve L connected thereto by which the steam admission to the
ejectors can be controlled and regulated. The valve L is actuated or controlled

page_text: by a float N on the connecting pipe C and a lever O by which the movement of
the float N is transmitted by the connecting rod o to the valve L.
The form of steam admission valve L which I prefer to use for actuating the
ejector D is shown in detail in Figs. 14 to 16. In the steam chamber is fitted
the sliding valve L which is moved to and fro over the ports by the connecting
rod o' which is attached to the hand lever O' by this lever the valve is moved to
open either of the ports or drawn down sufficiently far to open both at one
time. The port connects with one of the ejectors D and the port with the
other so that by the valve L either or both of the ejectors may be opened or closed
as desired. The steam is conveyed from the valve to the ejectors by the pipes d
and the exhaust escapes through the pipes d' and in the exhaust pipe d' is placed
the stop valve L. The steam blowing through the ejector or ejectors D exhausts
or draws the air out of the chamber B through the opening or pipe D¹. The
raising of the connecting rod o closes the stop valve L' in the exhaust pipe d¹ so
that the steam is blown through into the chamber B instead of exhausting it. By
this arrangement when the carrier or holder A is immersed in dye liquor by
exhausting the chamber B the liquor can be drawn up into it through the holder or
carrier A and when the action is reversed the liquor so drawn in can be forced
out again.
The dye rats S are movable being mounted on wheels. They are fitted with a
steam coils the outer ends of which are connected to steam and exhaust pipes by
flexible pipes which can be connected and disconnected as required.
Beneath the vacuum chamber B and holders A. is placed a movable platform T
which can be raised and lowered to lift the dye vat S up to immerse the carrier or
holder A therein. The platform T may be raised by an hydraulic cylinder and
ram, or by a screw, or a rack, or other mechanism placed below or by a crane or
winch or other similar raising mechanism placed above but at present I prefer
hydraulic mechanism as shown, the platform T being carried by a ram t working in
the cylinder t¹.
For dyeing or treating warp yarns or cloth the yarn or cloth is wound on to a
hollow perforated beam A' as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 and the ends of the beam
are connected to the connecting pipe C of the vacuum chamber B by the branch
pipes Cthe beam being secured thereto by the nuts c¹.
For yarn on bobbins perforated bobbins will be employed and these will be fitted
on skewers similar to that above described and for wool in tops or for loose
fibres cages or other suitable holders will be constructed by which they will be
held in connection with the suction and vacuum chambers so that the liquor can be
drawn through them.
When in operation the vats S will be charged with the required dye or liquor,
prepared in the dye house to the proper strength and consistency and then run onto
the lifting platform T. The vat $ is raised until the holder A and material thereon
are immersed in the liquor, the float N then rises to the top and opens the stop
valve L' in the exhaust pipe d to allow free action of the ejectors D. The valve L
is then moved by the hand lever O' to admit steam to one or both of the ejectors as
required. The steam then enters the ejector D through the pipe d and creates a
vacuum in the chamber B. The liquor is thus drawn through the material on the
holder A and rises in the chamber B and the operation is continued until the vat is
emptied. The float N then falls and closes the stop valve L'. The steam now enters
the vacuum chamber through the ejector D and aperture or pipe D' and the liquor
is forced back from the chamber B through the holder and material into the vat
again. These operations may be repeated as often as required. This arrangement
makes the working of the machine automatic. An indicator can also be attached
to register the number of immersions given and if desired to warn the attendant
by means of a bell or signal that the required number has been completed; this
will prove useful in dyeing fast colours. A gauge glass is applied to show the
height of the liquor in the vacuum-chamber.
When it is desired to force the liquor through the material in one direction only

page_text: a valve at the foot of the chamber B or pipe C can be opened at each reverse
movement. Air and steam can also be forced through the material in the same way
when required the steam being supplied by a pipe into the vacuum chamber.
When the material has to be treated with different liquors or liquors of different
strengths one vat can be removed and be replaced by another. While one batch
of material is being treated the skewers can be filled with another batch and be
fitted into position on other plates and so be ready to take the place of the first lot
when finished.
I consider that this apparatus will be found very serviceable and expeditious for
dyeing both fast and loose colours especially where two or more liquors have to be
employed as with one handling of the material the different vats can be used and
removed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In an apparatus for treating fibrous materials with dye or other liquors the
combination with a suction chamber or receiver into which the liquor is drawn of a
fixed holder or carrier for the material attached to and depending from the lower
end by a connecting pipe one or more ejectors D placed on the top by which the
liquor is drawn into or expelled from the receiver and a movable dye vat which is
raised to and from the holder by a movable platform or other lift substantially as
described.
2. In apparatus for treating fibrous material with dye or other liquor the com-
bination with a suction chamber or receiver into which the liquor is drawn of a
fixed holder depending therefrom consisting of two or more heads each provided
with a perforated table or plate E to hold the cops a suction chamber F through
which the liquor flows and a connecting pipe C which supports the holder substan-
tially as described.
3. The apparatus for dyeing warp yarns or cloth consisting of the suction
chamber or receiver B the perforated beam A' the connecting pipe C the branch
pipes C¹ the connecting nuts c¹ and the movable dye vat S substantially as described
and shown.
4. An apparatus for treating fibrous materials with dye or other liquors having
the several parts constructed and arranged in combination substantially as described
and shown
1
1
1000
Dated this 27th day of March 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.