IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA- RATUS FOR DRYING FABRICS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Prosper Pimont. Manufacturer, of 55 Imperial
Street, at Rouen. France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR DRYING FABRICS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 28th June 1861, and dated 4th January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Prosper Pimont at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
January 1861.
, PROSPER PIMONT. Manufacturer. 55. Imperial Street, at Rouen, France,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
APPARATUS FOR DRYING FABRICS AND OTHER ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the arrangements of apparatus herein-after
described. by means of which the fabrics or other articles intended to be dried
are more readily and continuously operated upon by the heat and air supplied
to the apparatus, and more uninterrupiedly removed therefrom, than by means
of the apparatus, hitherto in use for the purpose.
The apparatus consists of an enclosed or partially enclosed chamber divided
into compartments, in each of which are fixed pairs of rails at different
elevations for the purpose of bearing carriages on which are placed frames
containing the fabrics or articles to be dried. such rails extending out of the
chamber to a distance convenient for the attendant to draw out the carriages

page_text: These frames have a
The compartments are
as required, in order to place upon them the frames containing the articles to
be dried, and to remove the frames when the articles are dried. The rails are
inclined so as to give the carriage a tendency to pass into its compartment of
the chamber with the frame or tier of frames placed upon it. The arrange
ment of the rails may be varied so as to afford increased facilities for working
the carriages to-and-fro and changing the frames
bottom of openwork, or formed by a perforated plate.
permanently closed at the back and ends, but are closed when required in
front by means of covered hurdles or flaps swinging on pivots fixed to the
frame of the chamber. The number of compartments may be increased, and
such as are not required to be used at any particular time may be shut off.
The heat is applied by means of a main pipe with branches leading to cach
compartment (or it may be otherwise applied), and the air may be either
simply admitted or forced in at any required pressure. Pipes or outlets for
the damp and foul air are provided at the back of the chamber or elsewhere.
In order that the apparatus may be applicable to drying wool in handfuls
or in skeins, sashes are or may be substituted for the frames, such sashes
having on them a series of upright stems with cross wires for carrying the
handfuls of wool; and for skeins a cross piece has a series of upright stems,
through the top of each of which a small rod or wire is passed on which the
skeins are suspended. Or the sash has a series of upright stems on it. cach
having a notch at the top, in two of which notches is inserted a small rod or
wire containing skeins previously placed thereon.
Also as a modification of the arrangement above described, instead of the
before-named rails and carriages introduce into the different compartments
frames, constructed in the form of drawers, to be slidden in and out of the
compartment. The bottom of these drawers is formed of openwork of such
material and in such a manner as to adapt them for drying various articles.
A serpentine pipe or set of pipes is applied to the lower part of the compart-
ment, and also at or near the centre thereof, by which heat is conveyed to the
compartment. The mode of conveying or applying the heat may be varied,
and in some cases the heat may be dispensed with. At the upper part of the
chamber is a chimney to regulate the draft and carry off noxious vapours, and
there are also outlets conveniently situated for the escape of the water formed
by condensation. The air is admitted through passages at the lower part of
the apparatus, or it may be forced in when required at such part thereof as
may be preferred.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Prosper Pimoni in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
2nd July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. I. PROSPER
PIMONT, Manufacturer. 55. Imperial Streci, at Rouen, France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Vicioria, by Her Letters
Patent, hearing date the Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Prosper Pimont. Her special license that I. the said Prosper Pimont,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Prosper Pimoni, my executors, administrators, and assigns. should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING FABRICS AND OTHER ARTICLES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Prosper Pimont, 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 per-
formed, 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 Prosper Pimont, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):--
My Invention of Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Fabrics and
other Articles," consists in the arrangements of apparatus, herein-after described.
by means of which the fabrics or other articles iniended to be dried are more
readily and continuously operated upon by the heat and air supplied to the
apparaius, and more uninterruptedly removed therefrom, than by means of the
apparatus hitherto in use for the purpose.
The apparatus consists of an enclosed or partially enclosed chamber divided
into compartments, in each of which are fixed pairs of rails at different
elevations for the purpose of bearing carriages on which are placed frames
containing the fabrics or articles to be dried, such rails extending out of the

page_text: chamber to a distance convenient for the attendant to draw out the carriages
as required, in order to place upon them the frames containing the articles fo
he dried, and to remove the frames when the articles are dried. The rails are
inclined so as to give the carriage a tendency to pass into its compartment of
the chamber with the frame or tier of frames placed upon ii.
The arrange-
ment of the rails may be varied so as to afford increased facilities for working
the carriages to-and-fro and changing the frames: these frames have a bottom
of openwork, or formed of a perforated plate. The compartments are per-
manently closed at the back and ends, but are closed when required in front
by means of covered hurdles or flaps swinging on pivots fixed to the frame of
the chamber. The number of compariments may he increased, and such as
are not required in be used at any particular time may be shut off. The heat.
is applied by means of a main pipe with branches leading to cach compartment
(or it may be otherwise applied), and the air may be either simply admitted
or forced in at any required pressure. Pipes or outlets for the damp and foul
air are provided at the back of the chamber or elsewhere.
In order that the apparatus may be applicable in drying wool in handfuls
or in skeins, sashes are or may be substituted for the frames, such sashes
having on them a series of upright stems with cross wires for carrying the
handfuls of wool: and for skeins a cross piece has a series of upright stems,
through the top of each of which a small rod or wire is passed on which the
skeins are suspended; or, the sash has a series of upright stems on it, each
having a notch at the top, in iwo of which notches is inscried a small rod or
wire containing skeins previously placed thereon.
Also as a modification of the arrangement above described. instead of the
before-named rails and carriages I introduce into the different compartments
frames, constructed in the form of drawers, to be slidden in and out of the
compartment. The bottom of these drawers is formed of openwork of such
material and in such a manner as to adapt them for drying various articles. A
serpentine pipe or set of pipes is applied to the lower part of the compartment,
and also at or near the centre thereof, by which heat is conveyed in the con-
partment. The mode of conveying or applying the heat may be varied, and in
some cases the heat may he dispensed with. At the upper part of the chamber
is a chimney to regulate the draft and carry off noxious vapours, and there are
also outlets conveniently situated for the escape of the water formed by
condensation. The air is admitted through passages at the lower part of the
apparatus, or it may be forced in when required at such part thereof as may
be preferred.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to

page_text: The corners of the
lowest frame. The
hurdles or flaps K.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, Fig. 2 is a transverse section, and Fig. 3 a horizontal
section of the apparatus. A. A. are the uprights or standards arched at the
top, in which are formed grooves for receiving boards D, which close the ends
of the chamber, also those at E which close the back, and those at C which
close the arch at the top. The standards A are tied by cross pieces B, on
which are fixed rails F. forming a railway, the length of projection of which
in front is at least equal to the width of the apparatus. On the rails F the
carriage. H. composed of iron or other material. is capable of sliding on the
rollers G. fixed to its lower part, as shown. On the carriage is deposited a
frame 1. forming a kind of basket with a bottom of openwork, or formed of
a perforated plate. This frame is for receiving the material intended to be
dried. In Fig. are shewn several frames I, placed on a single carriage II;
but in order to preserve these frames in their places there is a cavity in cachi
of their corners at the upper, side in which the feet J are inserted. the length
of which feet determines the vertical depth of the frames.
carriage have also cavities for receiving the feel of the
compartments of the chamber are closed in front by
covered with felt. resting on pivois fixed in the standards A, which admit of
their being moved as required for the purpose of introducing the frames.
These hurdles or flaps have holes M in them for the rails I to pass through;
there are also panels of wood L fixed, as required, by means of buttons N.
The heat is conveyed into the apparats by the main pipe 0, furnished with a
number of branches P. corresponding with the number of the compartments
of the chamber into which they lead through the panels L.
A valve Q may
be applied to each branch P for the purpose of intercepting or regulating at
will the admission of heat into the compartments. T, T, are outlets with or
without valves at the back of the chamber for carrying off damp or foul air.
The heat may be driven into the pipe O by a fan conveniently placed for the
purpose. All the outer surfaces of the structure and of the panels I will be
covered with a plasier, so as to prevent the escape of heat; or they may be
covered with a preparation of felt in single or multiplied layers for the same
purpose, I prefer the latter mode of covering for the flaps K. If the heated
air be produced by means of steam or vapour, the conduits as well as the.
apparatus, whether of wood or metal, may be covered either with plaster or

page_text: prepared feli for the purpose of keeping in the heat: but if the heat be pro-
aluced by means of a fire, the conduits, the structure, and the different flaps
and panels should be of metal, and then plasier alone should he employed.
I also intend to perform the process of drying by means of scis of metallic
tubes, in which the heat would circulate ai ihe bottom of the apparains, and
thence rise to the upper part thereof; but in this case the inbes (which would
he inside the apparatus) would not be covered with either plaster or feli.
•
The apparatus represented in the Drawing is divided into three com-
partments constituting one chamber: each compariment encloses three tiers
of frames. Instead of three pairs of rails, as shewn, one only may be used
near the bottom of each compartment, on which a single carriage carrying as
many frames as convenient might run. In this case the uprights A might be
tied together by the top, also the rails might be supported at their front end by
feet. The length of the apparatus, and consequently the number of com-
pariments, will depend on the situation or the extent of work required to
be done.
In the apparatus shewn, as well as in that modified as above
mentioned, it would be possible to use only such compartments as were
desired by shutting them off by means of moveable partitions inserted between
these compartments. The projections given to the rails F is intended to allow
the attendant to draw out the carriages in order to place the frames on them
previously, or to take away the frames after the drying. Other means of
moving the carriages mighi be substituted for the rails. Instead of placing
the rails transversely in the chamber of the apparatus they may be placed
longitudinally in this case holes would be made in the end panels for the
rails to pass through. Several carriages might be combined together and
detached at will, like the waggons on a railway: they could be loaded with
one or several frames placed or piled on them, on which frames the damp
wool would have been previously laid. In thus leaving one end of the
apparatus the carriages would be drawn by some mechanical force applied to
them, or would be made to run on an incline to the other end thereof, where
they are unloaded, the wool on the frames having been dried, by passing
through the whole length of the apparatus. After having been successively
detached they are taken back to the starting point to be loaded again
with other frames containing damp wool, thus continuing the work without
interruption.
Again, for a further advantage of speedy operation, instead of a single pair
of rails by doubling the width of the drying place a second pair might he
used, so as to have the means of working backwards and forwards; thus the
carriages emptied of the dried wool may be made to receive other frames con-

page_text: taining damp wool previously laid in the frames, and be again placed on the
second pair of rails, on which they will run, so as again to reach the end of
the apparatus from which they started. By this means the carriages might
be continuously worked on one pair of rails, carrying the damp wool to be
dried, and on the other carrying the dried wool. Instead of taking the
carriages back again, it may be more convenient to use turntables similar to
those used on railways.
The heat is produced in the chamber by introducing heated air through an
external pipe. The same effect may be produced by means of tubes heated
by steam, and placed inside the chamber. but as much as possible in pairs. in
order to avoid the expansion which occurs in a greater degree when the sicam
escapes at the same side as that at which it enters. The drying may be
accelerated by the application of a ventilator when the rails are used either in
a transverse or a longitudinal direction. By leaving spaces between the two
pairs of rails, and also between the rails and the panels on both sides of the
interior of the chamber, props might be used for drying cloths in the piece or
other fabrics required.
In order to apply my system to ordinary drying apparatus warmed by steam,
hot air, or by a fire direct, it would be sullicient to arrange partitions at the
two ends in such a manner as to admit of working in the way herein-before
described, but in that case it would be desirable to furnish the interior with
coatings of plaster to prevent the escape of heat.
Instead of outlets such as those at 1. for the escape of foul heated air, outlets
may be placed in the arched top of the chamber by giving them the form of
inverted cones, or a single outlet sufficiently large might be inserted in the
chamber at a little distance from the top, such ontlet being widened at its
upper part in order to give a freer passage to the damp heated air.
Figs. 4. 5. and 6, represent the mode of rendering the apparatus applicable
to drying wool in handfuls or skeins by means of sashes i. arranged as shewn.
In Fig. 1. . . are a series of upright stems carrying cross wires h. h. on which
the wool is placed in handfuls. In Fig. 5. is a cross piece fixed at its two
ends into the sash. In this cross piece are inserted upright stems I, which
support the cross wires on which the skeins of wool are suspended. In
Fig. 6 the sash is shewn as having a series of upright stems n, each having a
notch at the top in which are placed the small rods or wires m, previously filled
with skeins. These sashes as severally arranged and filled are intended
to be placed on the carriages II, and worked in the same manner as the
frames [.
Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, represent a modification of the apparatus by which

page_text: . frames in the form of sliding drawers are substituted for the carriages and
rails above described. These drawers a, are capable of sliding on ledges b. the
bottom of the drawer is formed of openwork or of a perforated plate, whereby
it is adapted for drying various kinds of animal, vegetable, and mineral matters,
textile or fibrous grain, fruit, or other articles, the bottom of the drawer being
adapted to the kind of article to be dried. Each drawer is furnished with a
knob for pulling them out or pushing them into the compartments; d is a
serpentine pipe fixed in the lower part of the apparatus, and e, is another
similar pipe in the middle thereof for the purpose of distributing the heat
equally throughout the same. Each drawer may if required be divided into
compartments by partitions, full or open, fixed or moveable, which would allow
of various kinds of articles (which it was desirable to keep separate) being
dried at once. The apparatus arranged with its drawers may be advan-
tageously employed for the desiccation, aeration, and preservation of grain
without the necessity of adding artificial heat, since a current of air will be
produced naturally by the draft of the chimney f. and moreover since this
current might be increased by a blower. When the apparatus is warmed by
a serpentine pipe, or set of pipes, a provision must be made for removing the
water produced by condensation. Instead of a current of heated air entering
from without, the process of desiccation might be worked by the heat from steam,
or from a fire direct, by means of sets of small tubes or serpentine pipes. Also
each of the pipes or sets of pipes d and e, might have a distinct source from
which the heat was derived. In case it should be required the heat may be
increased by increasing the number of pipes and distributing them in sets
among the tiers of frames, drawers, or sashes.
In this arrangement the pipes, especially for steam, ought to have a slight
inclination, each pipe or set of pipes forming as it were the round of a ladder
so that the water produced by condensation may readily escape and be prevented
from accumulating in the pipes. This water will be discharged at the end of
the apparatus by an incline causing it to enter a syphon pipe, the bend of which
will discharge the water at a level a little below that of the last tube of the
apparatus; but the water produced by condensation may be otherwise got rid
vf.
The bottom of the frames of the drawers may be made of galvanized
iron and have meshes or openings of considerable size; but if in some kinds of
wool, portions were to fall through them they would be received on the frame
underneath. But it would be desirable to keep the meshes of the lowest
frame closer in order to prevent the loss of the material.
The draught may be caused by a simple tube opening from the arched top
of the apparatus into the air and regulated by valves. One or more ventilators

page_text: may be placed either at the top or at the bottom of the apparatus to increase
the draft if required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to he performed. I hereby declare that what I claim as of my
Invention is, the general arrangement of apparatus for drying fabrics and
other articles, herein-before described whereby a rapid current of air, heaied or
otherwise, may be applied to the desiccation of the articles contained in the
apparatus, and the operation may be carried on without interruption as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof. I. the said Prosper Pimont have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
PROSPER PINONT. (L.S.)