Improvements in Mercerising Cotton Yarns and in Apparatus therefor...
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1899.
Complete Sponifination I aft 2nd Fab 1000
c
T
DL100.
Date of Application, 5th May, 1899.
.
c
T
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb, 1000 Accepted, 3rd Mar,
4000
2
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mercerising Cotton Yarns and in Apparatus
therefor...
I, ARCHIBALD RUSSELL MILLER, of the Firm of, T. P. Miller and Company, Dye
Works, Cambuslang, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Dyers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said invention has for its object to obtain improved results in mercerising
cotton yarns, and it comprises apparatus. by means of which. the yarns, in the
hank form, are subjected to the mercerising action, to slackening and stretching
actions, and to washing or neutralising actions.
In carrying out the invention the yarns are carried through the apparatus by
a pair of strong endless chains, which are guided and driven by sprocket wheels,
and which are provided with socket holders to receive transverse bars upon
which the yarn hanks are placed. The distance between the transverse bars of
a pair is such, when the chains are straight, as to distend the set of hanks upon
them so as to be moderately tight in their natural condition.
"
A vat or vessel the lower part of which is by transverse partitions divided into
separate compartments, is supplied with the mercerising liquid in the first' com-
partment, and with washing or other liquids in following compartments. There
are an upper and a lower row of transverse shafts having sprocket wheels on them,
the lower ones being in the lower part of the vat so as to guide the hanks down
through the liquids. At the entering end the chains pass over a pair of upper
sprocket wheels, thence down to and under a pair of lower sprocket wheels; and
alternately up to and over upper wheels and down to and under lower wheels
to the leaving end of the vat, where they pass up to and over a final pair of upper
sprocket wheels and thence down to wheels which guide them under the vat back
to the entering end. The shafts of the 'upper sprocket wheels at the entering
and" leaving ends are both driven uniformly, so that the chains cannot leave
the entering wheels more quickly than they are taken up by the leaving wheels,
and so that the chains may be quite tight throughout the machine. The inter-
mediate upper sprocket wheels or some of them may also be driven. The driving
is preferably effected by means of worms and worm wheels. As the chains carry
the hanks round the sprocket wheels the distance between the two rods carrying
a set of hanks is lessened being then the chord of the arc to which the chains
approximately apply themselves; and the yarns can then contract by the action
of the mercerising agent. On proceeding, however, through the straight parts
of the courses the chains again lengthen the distance between the hank rods, and
stretch the yarns back to their original length..
'The yarns, are, in the manner described, subjected to a succession of alternate
slackening and tightening actions, which are in practice. found to have a very
beneficial effect in imparting to the yarn a superior lustre and also extra strength,
without breakages or other imperfections.
In the last or more of the washing compartments of the vat water may be
sprayed upon the yarn as it enters or leaves the compartment. Instead of wash-

page_text: ing with water only the removal of the mercerising agent may be facilitated or
completed by employing sulphate of ammonia or other suitable chemical in the
washing operation.
The hark bars are by preference fitted to enter their socket holders from the
inner sides of the chains; and at the positions where the bank bars are placed
and removed the chains are guided so as to move more apart to facilitate the
placing and removing of the bars.
Improvements in Mercerising Cotton Yarns and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, ARCHIBALD RUSSELL MILLER, of the Firm of T. P. Miller and Company, Dye
Works, Cambuslang, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Dyers, 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, that is to say:-
My said invention has for its object to obtain improved results in mercerising
cotton yarns, and it comprises apparatus by means of which the yarns, in the
hank form, are subjected to the mercerising action, to slackening and stretching
actions, and to washing or neutralising actions.
In carrying out the invention the yarns are carried through the apparatus by
a pair of strong endless chains, which are guided and driven by sprocket wheels,
and which are provided with socket holders to receive transverse bars upon
which the yarn hanks are placed. The distance between the transverse bars of
a pair is such, when the chains are straight, as to distend the set of hanks upon
them so as to be moderately tight in their natural condition.
A vat or vessel which is by. transverse partitions divided into separate com-
partments, is supplied with the mercerising liquid in the first compartment, and
with washing or other liquids in one or more following compartments. There
are an upper and a lower row of transverse shafts having sprocket wheels on
them, the lower ones being in the lower part of the vat so as to guide the hanks
down through the liquids. As the chains carry the hanks round the sprocket
heels, the distance between the two rods carrying a set of hanks is lessened
being then the chord of the arc to which the chains approximately apply them-
selves; and the yarns can then contract by the action of the mercerising agent.
On proceeding however through the straight parts of the courses the chains again
lengthen the distance between the hank rods, and stretch the yarns back to their
original length.
The yarns are, in the manner described, subjected to a succession of alternate
slackening and tightening actions, which are in practice found to have a very
beneficial effect in imparting to the yarn a superior lustre and also extra strength.
In the last or more of the washing compartments water may be sprayed upon
the yarns. Instead of washing with water only, the removal or neutralisation
of the mercerising agent may be facilitated or completed by employing sulphate
of ammonium or chloride of ammonium or other suitable chemical in the wash-
ing operation.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood-I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory draw-
ings to be hereinafter referred to in describing my improved apparatus.

page_text: Figures, 1, and 2, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings are a plan and a side elevation
of the apparatus; and Figure, 3, on Sheet, 2, is a transverse vertical section.
Figures, 4, and 5, are enlarged views as at right angles to each other, showing
one of the lower pairs of sprocket wheels with portions of the chains and other
parts; and Figures, 6, and 7, are more-enlarged views of a portion of one of the
chains. In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to
mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The apparatus comprises a vat or vessel, A, which is conveniently of a rect-
angular form and made of wood lined with lead, and is divided by transverse
partitions, indicated by dotted lines in Figure, 2, into three compartments, A 1,
A2, A3. Above the vat, A, there is a framing, 1, supported on pillars, B 1, and
carrying bearings for five transverse shafts, C, on each of which there is fixed a
pair of sprocket wheels, D, some of the shafts, U, having also fixed on them
worm wheels, C1, having in gear with them worms, C2, on a longitudinal
shaft, C3, provided with a pulley, C4, for a driving belt, and with an engaging
and disengaging clutch, 5. Within the vat, A, there are four transverse
shafts, C6, carried in bearings fixed to the sides of the vat, and having on them
sprocket wheels, D1, placed below the spaces between the upper sprocket
wheels, D. And beyond the ends of the vat, A, there are other sprocket wheels D2,
13, on suitably carried shafts, C7, C8. Two endless chains, E, preferably of
the construction shown in Figures, 6, and 7, are made to pass in gear with the
several sprocket wheels, proceeding from the wheels, D2, at what is the right-
nand end in Figure, 2, up to and over an upper pair of wheels, D, at that end.
thence down to and round a lower pair of wheels, 11, and over upper and under
lower wheels, and finally over upper wheels, 1), at the left-hand end. From the
left-hand end the chains proceed downwards to and round the outside wheels, 1) 3,
and thence under the vat to the right-hand or entering end.
Some of the links of the chains, E, have formed on them sockets, E 1, to receive
the ends of rods, G; and banks, H, of the cotton yarns to be treated are placed
on each pair of such rods, as indicated in Figures, 4, and 5. At the entering
end of the apparatus the guiding sprocket wheels, D2, are placed as much wider
apart than the wheels, D, D 1, as to allow of the rods, G, being easily placed with
their ends in sockets, E1, of the chains, E; and guides J, are arranged between
the wheels, D2, and the upper sprocket wheels, D, at the entering end of the
apparatus, to cause the chains, E, to approach each other sufficiently to engage
properly with the wheels, D), and to hold the rods, G, securely. At the left-hand
or leaving end the chains, E, move further apart to allow of the removal of the
rods, G.
The rods, G, consist, preferably, of steel tubes; and the chains, E, are so
proportioned to suit the yarns to be treated as that the distance between the two
rods of a pair is suitable for holding the yarns, H, moderately tight when in their
natural condition, and when the portions of the chains, E, between the rods are
straight. The chains, E, are made of sufficient strength as when straight to keep
the rods, G, of a pair the proper distance apart; and the chains are moved by
means of the gearing herein before described, so as to allow of no slackness in the
parts of the chains engaging with the upper and lower sprocket wheels, D,
and 11. Whilst, however, the hanks, H, are tightly distended by the chains, E,
at the straight parts of their courses, slackening occurs as the hanks are carried
round the sprocket wheels, as shown in Figure, 4, which represents one of the
lower sprocket wheels, 11, situated in the compartment, A1, in which the
mercerising liquid is placed. When the portions of the chains, E, holding a pair
of hank rods, & are passing round the sprocket wheels, they approximate to the
form of an arc, whilst the distance then between the rods is equal to only the
chord of such arc. The slackening of the hanks when passing round the lower
sprocket wheels, D1, in the compartment, A1, allows the mercerising liquid to
act on and contract the yarns; but on passing onwards the rods are moved to their
full distance apart at the straight parts of the courses of the chains, and then

page_text: stretch the yarns back to their original condition. This action imparts lustre
and strength to the yarns; and the beneficial effects are increased by the slacken-
ing and tightening actions being repeated as the yarns are carried through the
apparatus.
Two of the lower sprocket wheels, DT, are placed in the mercerising compart-
ment, A1, of the vat, and the yarns are by means of them and the intermediate
upper sprocket wheels, D, dipped twice into the mercerising liquid. The other
sprocket wheels, D, and D 1, are arranged for dipping the yarns once into each of
the other compartments, A2, A3, which are supplied with water from a main
and branch pipes, K, K1, for giving the yarns a first and second washing. And
in addition jets of water are sprayed upon the yarns from pipes, L, supplied from
a tank, M, by means of an injector or pump, N, and branch pipes; L1
Having now particularly.described and ascertained the nature of,.my.said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
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1. In the process of mercerising cotton yarns, the subjecting of the yarns to
a succession of alternate slackening and tightening actions whilst passing through
the apparatus, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
2. In mercerising apparatus the combination of endless chains; with transverse
rods arranged to carry hanks of the yarns in distended form, and with sprocket
wheels arranged to lead the chains and the yarns carried by them through mer-
cerising and washing liquids, the parts being arranged and operating substantially
as herein before described.
3. Subjecting the yarns to a succession of alternate slackening and tightening
actions by placing the yarns on hank rods which the chains hold at one distance
apart at the straight parts of the chains' courses and at a shorter "distance when
passing round the sprocket wheels, substantially in the manner and for the pur-
poses herein before described.
Dated this First day of February 1900.
L...
EDMUND HUNT; ·
Applicant's Agent.