An Improved Method of and Means for Singeing Fabrics.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original 'Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 29th day of April 1898.
Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 16th Oct., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by SOCIETE DE LA MANUFACTURE D'INDIENNES
"EMILE ZUNDEL," of Moscow, in the Empire of Russia.]
An Improved Method of and Means for Singeing Fabrics.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The downy or fluffy layer which covers fabrics of all kinds is generally removed
therefrom by means of machines in which the stuff is caused to pass over gas
flames which burn off the said fluffy fibres. The constructional arrangement
generally adopted is as follows:-
The fabric or stuff to be treated is passed over rollers, which are placed in
proximity with the flames from two burners or from a row of inclined gas
burners. The products of combustion are discharged through a chimney by
the aid of natural or artificial draught.
In this manner the downy or fluffy particles, observable upon the surface of
fabrics, are more or less completely singed; but there always remains a number of
these fluffy fibres in the interstices of the fabric, sufficient to cause mordants and
colouring matters to become unevenly fixed in the fabric.
Moreover the metal rollers, upon which the fabric rests dissipate much of the
heat, the result being that the flame is not well utilized.
Certain inventors have remedied this defect by adopting a constructional
arrangement based on the principle of the blow-pipe: the air arrives under
pressure and produces a forced flame at the mouth of a special burner. The
temperature of the flame is much higher than that of ordinary flames and the
utilization of the heat is thus rendered more efficient, but the singeing is not
always done thoroughly.
Apart from the method of singeing on red' hot metal surfaces all devices used for
singeing by flame are based on the above principle.
The process which forms the subject of this invention is based on the new
principle hereinafter referred to.
The flame is sucked through the fabric or fibres to be singed; it penetrates
the interstices and rapidly burns not only the fluff which covers the surface of the
fabric but also that surrounding its fibres. At the same time an excellent utilization
of the heat produced by the flame is obtained, owing to the fact that the flame
zones of highest temperature are in contact with the fabric.

page_text: The apparatus consists of a sheet or cast metal pipe provided with two slots
located opposite one to the other. The metal pipe is horizontal and one of the
slots is at the bottom thereof, whilst the other slot is at the top.
The fabric
passes beneath the pipe in such a manner as to be exended over the lower slot;
in this position it is brought into contact with the flame which arises from the
mouth of the sheet flame or slit burner arranged beneath the pipe.
The upper slot opens into a tube or box which is placed in communication with
a fan or other exhausting device..
Into each of the two extremities of the pipe a hollow cylinder, preferably of
bronze, is inserted, the position of which is variable by means of screws. The
lower bevel surfaces of these cylinders..are adapted: to, the selvages of the fabric,
so as to, produce, a complete closing of the lower slot. The opening of this slot,
otherwise called its 'amplitude, may also be regulated by means of two cheeks
removable from the walls of the slotted pipe.
When the fabric is put in place, the exhauster is toperated, the machine is set
in action and the sheet flame burner lighted. The height of the flame is so
adjusted that only its upper part, which is the hottest, touches the imaterial to be
singed. The partial vacuum existing in the exhaust tube or box causes the
flame to be drawn up through the fabric, thus the burning of the fluff is so
quickly done that the speed at which the fabric travels can be increased much
more than was possible with the ordinary machines heretofore used. The amount
of gas consumed is greatly reduced owing to the fact that the points of contact
of the flame and the fabric are insulated from any metal parts. Moreover less
heat is lost through the exhaust tube thai through ordinary chimney flues,
owing to the fact that the fabric is interposed between the flame and the. discharge
opening for the products of combustion. When using forced or blow pipe flames
which emit far more heat, extensive. heating of the tube, across, which the fabric
travels can be prevented by constructing it with hollow walls in which cold water,
is caused, to circulate..
Dated this 29th day of December 1896.
200
31
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
An Improved Method of and Means for Singeing Fabrics.
1.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE,, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:
The downy or 'fluffy layer which covers fabrics of all kinds is generally removed
therefrom by means of machines in which the stuff is caused, to pass over gas
flames which burn off the said fluffy fibres. The. constructional arrangement,
generally adopted, is as follows:-
The fabric, or stuff to be treated is passed over rollers, which are, placed in
proximity with "the flames from two burners or from a row of inclined gas
burners. The products of combustion are discharged through a chimney, by
the aid of natural or artificial draught.
In this manner the downy or fluffy particles, observable upon the surface of

page_text: fabrics, are more or less completely singed'; but there always remains a number of
these fluffy fibres' in the interstices of the fabric, sufficient to cause mordants and
colouring matters to become unevenly fixed in the fabric.
1
Moreover the metal rollers, upon which the fabric rests, dissipate much of the
heat, the result being that the flame is not well utilized.
Certain inventors have remedied this defect by adopting a constructional
arrangement, based on the principle of the blow-pipe: the air arrives under
pressure and produces a forced flame at the mouth of a special burner. The
temperature of the flame is much higher than that of ordinary flames and the
utilization of the heat is thus rendered more efficient, but the singeing is not
always done thoroughly.
The process which forms the subject of this invention is based on the principle
hereinafter referred to.
The flame is sucked through the fabric or fibres to be singed; it penetrates
the interstices and rapidly burns not only the fluff which covers the surface of the
fabric but also that surrounding its fibres. At the same time an excellent utilization
of the heat produced by the flame is obtained, owing to the fact that the flame
zones of highest temperature, are in contact with the fabric.
To carry this process of singeing into practice I employ an apparatus such as
that represented by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is an inverted plan of the apparatus whilst
Figure 2 is an elevation thereof, and
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2.
The
The apparatus consists of a sheet or cast metal pipe E, provided with two
slots ZG located opposite one another. The metal pipe E is horizontal and the
slot Z is at the bottom thereof, whilst the other slot G is at the top.
fabric TT passes beneath the pipe E in such a manner as to be extended over
the lower slot Z; in this position it is brought into contact with the flame which
arises from the mouth of a sheet-flame or slit-burner H, arranged beneath the
pipe, E.
The upper slot G opens into a tube or box K which is placed in communication.
with a fan or other exhausting device.
Into each of the two extremities of the pipe E is inserted a hollow cylinder, L
and M respectively, preferably of bronze, the position of which is variable by
means of screws. The lower bovel surfaces of these cylinders f f are adapted
to the selvages ab of the fabric, so as to produce a complete closing of the lower
slot Z. The opening of this slot may also be regulated by means of two cheeks ee
removable from the walls of the slotted pipe E.
When the fabric is put in place, the exhauster is operated, the machine is set
in action and the sheet-flame burner lighted. The height of the flame is so
adjusted that only its upper part, which is the hottest, touches the material to be
singed. The partial vacuum existing in the exhaust tube or box K causes the
flame to be drawn up through the fabric, thus the burning of the fluff is so
quickly done that the speed at which the fabric travels can be increased much
more than was possible with the ordinary machines heretofore used. The amount
of gas consumed is greatly reduced owing to the fuct that the points of contact
of the flame and the fabric are insulated from any metal parts. Moreover less
heat is lost through the exhaust tube K than through ordinary chimney flues,
owing to the fact that the fabric is interposed between the flame and the discharge
opening for the products of combustion. When using forced or blow pipe flames
which emit far more heat, excessive heating of the pipe or tube across which the
fabric travels is prevented by constructing it with hollow walls, in which cold
water is caused to circulate.
I may also construct the exhaust tube with a double wall so as to allow of the
production of a circulation of water, for the purpose of cooling this portion of the
annaratus.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A method of singeing fabrics consisting in drawing the flame through the
tissues or fibres by suction while preventing excessive heating of the apparatus
substantially as set forth.
2. A singeing apparatus consisting of a pipe which is situated above the flame
and in which a partial vacuum is produced, such pipe being provided with a slot
or opening the dimensions of which may be so regulated that the slot or opening
is covered by the tissue or textile fabric passing beneath, substantially as herein-
before described.
Dated this 10th day of September 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.