CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SINGEING TEXTILE GOODS OR FABRICS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Kenworthy Dutton, of Stretford, in the
County of Lancaster, Mechanical Draughtsman, for the Invention of
Sealed the 19th April 1861, and dated the 24th October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Kenworthy
Dutton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
on the 24th October 1860.
I, EDWARD KENWORTHY DUTTON, of Stretford, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SINGEING
TEXTILE GOODS OR FABRICS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a certain description of apparatus called or known
as "gasing machines" and consists, first, in a novel arrangement or com-
bination of apparatus whereby I am enabled to singe two different surfaces
of fabric or two different portions of the same surface at the same time with
one flame, by passing the fabric partly around one of two rollers, cylinders, or
bars which are placed near together, the fabric being carried over conducting
rollers, and passed partly around the other roller in such a manner as to
present the two portions of the surface in opposition to each other, the flame
being directed to pass between them, the products of combustion being drawn
into an exhaust pipe as usual. By reversing the fabric in its passage
from the first roller to the second the opposite sides may be singed at once
with one flame, or two separate pieces of fabric may be singed at the same time.
Secondly, in preventing or lessening the current of air passing between the.

page_text: surface of the fabric and the flame, by using two lines of gas burners
with a space between for the admission of air, and closing the space between
each burner and the nearest roller with a hinged flap, one edge of which rests
on or in close proximity to the fabric, so that the current of air is drawn by the
exhauster between the two lines of flame or into the centre of the combined
flames, instead of passing between the flame and the surface of the fabric.
Thirdly, in passing the fabric over a flat or curved surface or partly around
a bar or roller having an exhaust pipe on each side the two mouths of the
exhaust pipes being at or about opposite points of the circumference of the
bar or roller, a flame of gas being directed to a point between the mouths on
that part of the circumference of the roller over which the fabric passes, so
that the flame will divide and pass over the surface of the fabric on the roller
or flat surface in opposite directions, being drawn by the currents of air enter-
ing into the mouths of the exhaust pipes, the currents of air passing with or on
the surface of the fabric entering the mouths of the exhausters from an
opposite direction to that in which the flame passes, by which means the surface
of the fabric on which the flame operates is kept very nearly free from air, so
that the flame comes into closer contact with the fabric. The flame may
be directed through an opening in a shield placed over the roller and forming
a curved passage between the surface of the fabric on the roller and the
interior surface of the shield, or it may be passed between the rollers in the
arrangement referred to in the first part of my Invention, the two arrange-
ments being used in combination.
Fourthly, in leading the fabric through the machine in contradistinction to
drawing it through from one end which I accomplish by driving the conducting
rollers over which the fabric passes or a number of them at the proper surface
speed and in the right direction to lead or conduct the fabric through the
machine by suitable geering in connection with the driving power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Kenworthy Dutton in the Great Seal Patent Office 3
on the 24th April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
KENWORTHY DUTTON, of Stretford, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
.Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign

page_text: did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Kenworthy Dutton, Her special license that I, the said Edward
Kenworthy Dutton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Edward Kenworthy Dutton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SINGEING
TEXTILE GOODS OR FABRICS," upon the condition, amongst others, that. I, the
said Edward Kenworthy Dutton, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Kenworthy Dutton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said. Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (and accompanying Drawings) that is to say:-
My Invention relates to a certain description of apparatus called or known
as "gasing" machines, and consists, first, in a novel arrangement or com-
bination of apparatus whereby I am enabled to singe two different surfaces of
fabric or two different portions of the same surface at the same time with one.
flame, by passing the fabric partly around one of two rollers, cylinders, or bars
which are placed near together, the fabric being carried over conducting rollers,
and passes partly around the other rollers in such a manner as to present
the two portions of the surface in opposition to each other, the flame
being directed to pass between them; the products of combustion being
drawn into an exhaust pipe as usual. By reversing the fabric in its passage
from the first roller to the second the opposite sides may be singed at once with,
one flame, or two separate pieces of fabric may be singed at the same time.
Secondly, in preventing or lessening the current of air passing between the
surface of the fabric and the flame, by using two lines of gas burners with a
space between for the admission of air, and closing the space between each
burner and the nearest roller with a hinged flap, one edge of which rests on
or in close proximity to the fabric so that the current of air is drawn by the
exhauster between the two lines of flame or into the centre of the combined'
flames instead of passing between the flame and the surface of the fabric.

page_text: Thirdly, in passing the fabric over a flat or curved surface or partly around
a bar or roller having an exhaust pipe on each side, the two mouths of the
exhaust pipes being at or about opposite points of the circumference of the
bar or 'roller, a flame of gas being directed to a point between the mouths
on that part of the circumference of the roller over which the fabric passes,
so that the flame' will 'divide and pass over the surface of the fabric on the
roller or flat surface in' opposite directions; being drawn by the currents of
air entering into the mouths of the exhausters from an opposite direction
to that in which the flame passes, by which means the surface of the fabric
on which the flame operates is kept very nearly free from air so that the
flame comes into closer contact with the fabric. The flame may be directed
through an opening in à shield placed over the roller and forming a curved
passage between the surface of the fabric on the roller and the interior surface
of the shield, or it may be passed between the rollers in the arrangement
referred to in the first part of my Invention, the two arrangements being used
in combination..
....
Fourthly, in lending the fabric through the machine, in contradistinction
to driving it through from one end,' which I accomplish by driving the con-
ducting rollers over which the fabric passes; or a number of them at the proper
surface speed and in the right direction to lead or conduct the fabric through
the machine; by suitable gearing in connection with the driving power.
In order that the 'Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of
about three inches to the foot, and having similar letters of reference marked'
upon corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Referring to the Drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional view shewing the arrange-
ment of the rollers for singeing two surfaces at the same time according
to the first part of my Invention; Fig. 2 shews the arrangement referred to
as the second part of my Invention, wherein hinged flaps are employed' to cut
off the current of air. Fig. 3 shews an arrangement according to the third
part of my Invention wherein the fabric is passed over a flat surface. Fig. 4
shewing the application of the same system to the surface of rollers and also
the mode in which the rollers are driven in order to conduct the fabric through
the machine, illustrating the fourth part of my Invention, and Fig. 5 represents
a modification of the arrangement shewn in Fig. 4 wherein a roller of.com-
paratively large diameter is used furnished with two rows of gas burners.
In Fig. 1 a, a, are two rollers or cylinders and 6 the gas burner, which may
be of the ordinary construction, the fabric c represented by a réd line in all

page_text: the Drawings, passes. partly around one of the rollers a, a, and is then conducted
by the rollers d, d, to the other roller a, the flame from the gas burner which
may be directed either upwards or downwards passing between the two
surfaces of the fabric on the rollers a, a, the distance between which is só
adjusted as that the flame shall. singe the two surfaces presented to it, the
products of combustion being drawn into the pipe or case e, a draft being main-
tained in such case in the usual manner. In Fig. 2 a double row of burners
is used, the current of air drawn by the exhaust pipe e passing. between them
being cut off or diverted in a great measure from passing between the fabric
and the flame by the hinged flaps f, the ends of which may be furnished with
rollers if preferred and rest lightly on the surface of the fabric, or are supported
so as to allow the fabric to pass under without touching, excepting when an
increased thickness of fabric occurs, on which they yield to the pressure,
allowing the thicker portion of the fabric to pass, by which arrangement
the current of air has a tendency to keep the flame close to the surface of
the fabric. In Fig. 3 the fabric is passed over the plate or table g, the flame
from the burner 6 impinging on its surface and passing along it in opposite
directions into the draft pipes e, e, the currents of air represented by the arrows
being prevented from passing between the surface of the fabric and the flame,
as is clearly shewn in the Drawing, two or more rows of burners being used
if required. In Fig. 4 the action of the flame is the same as in Fig. 3 but
the fabric is shewn passing over or under rollers a, a, having the mouths of
exhaust pipes or cases e on. opposite sides thereof, the flame from the burners
b, b, passing through an opening between the curved shields or plates h, h, which
in these examples are made double with a space between for the passage of
the draft, the course of which is shewn by the arrows by which means the
shield is kept comparatively cool. The cases e, e, e, communicate with pipes i, i,
i, uniting in a pipe, k, which passes under the machine, a current of air being
drawn through it by a fan or other means, as is well known. The burners slide
on rods 1, 1, being suspended from each end by chains attached to pullies and
quadrants m, n, and are raised and lowered by means of handles o and supplied:
with gas, or gas and air, if both are used, by the pipes p, p, and the swivels q, q.
The fabric is conducted through the machine by the rollers a, a, and d, d, d, d,
which are geared together by the spur wheels s, s, s, or by means of a "pitch
chain" or .chains. In Fig. 5 two flames are applied to the fabric passing
around the roller a, the action of the flame and the motion of the currents
of air being similar to the last described arrangement; and it is obvious that
the number of burners acting in conjunction with one roller may be increased

page_text: by arranging a greater number of "exhausters" around the circumference of
the roller. In the arrangements shewn in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 the currents of
air travelling with, the fabric are drawn into the exhaust pipe on one side
before the fabric reaches the flame, the sparks being arrested and drawn into
the mouth of the exhaust pipe on the opposite side.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in con-
clusion that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein represented,
nor to the particular arrangement of the machine represented in Fig. 5, but
I claim,
First, singeing two different surfaces of fabric, or two different parts of the
same surface with one flame.
Secondly, the employment of a double line of flame, in conjunction with the
hinged flaps, for the purpose herein-before described.
Thirdly, the arrangements and combinations shewn in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 or
any modification thereof in which the flame is caused to impinge on the fabric,
and to divide and pass in opposite directions without being drawn through
the fabric, by the employment of two mouths in communication with a suitable
draft, none of the currents of air entering which are drawn between the flame
and the fabric.
And, fourthly, conducting the fabric through the machine in contra-
distinction to leading it through, by putting the rollers or a number of the
rollers over which the fabric passes in communication with the driving power
so as to cause them to revolve in the right direction and at the proper speed
to lead the fabric through the machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Kenworthy Dutton have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one,
EDWARD KENWORTHY DUTTON (L.s.)