Improvements in and Connected with Vats or Apparatus for Dyeing, Washing, Bleaching, Scouring, or Mordanting Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Vats or Apparatus for Dyeing,
Washing, Bleaching, Scouring, or Mordanting Fibrous Materials.
T, FRANK ALEXANDER BLAIR, of the firm of Kemp, Blair, and Company,
Galashiels, in the County of Roxburgh, North Britain, Chemist, do hereby declare
the nature of this Invention to be as follows, that is to say-
My said Invention has for its object the dyeing of fibrous materials and the treating
of such materials otherwise with liquids, in an improved manner, the action being
rendered uniform and free from violent agitation so as not to objectionably affect the
condition of the materials.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a vat or vessel of a rectangular or other
convenient form; and at a small distance above the bottom there is placed in it a
partition which is horizontal except that a central circular part is in the form of a
cone, the centre of which is a little higher than the circumference. At the centre of
the cone there is fixed a vertical pipe which is fitted with an upper telescopic pipe
closed at its top but having a hooded or other spreading device or perforations round
it at or near the top.the telescopic arrangement allowing of the openings or perforations
being placed at a higher or lower level as may be found desirable in different cases.
The cone is not perforated but the horizontal partition is perforated between the cone
and the sides of the vessel. There are two steam pipes beneath the horizontal
partition and come and one of these is perforated at the part of it which is under the
cone, whilst the other one terminates in a jet nozzle directed up the central vertical
pipe. These two steam pipes are provided with separate stopcocks.
The wool or other fibrous material to be operated on is placed in the vessel around
the central pipe; or the fibrous materials may be placed in a cage of which the
partition cone and central pipe may form part and which can be lowered into and
raised, out of the vessel. Thus the dyeing or other liquid can be prepared and
thoroughly mixed and a complete charge of fibrous materials can be lowered into it
at once, and the cage with the materials can be raised out of the liquid at any time to
allow more dye stuff to be mixed with the liquid or for any other purpose.
The central steam jet may be used alone to cause the liquid to pass up the central
pipe and out through the perforations at the top, whence it percolates down through
the fibrous materials. Or when it is wished to bring the liquid to the boil rapidly
both the jet pipe and the perforated steam pipe may be opened to admit steam, and
afterwards either of the pipes may be closed.
The vessel may be heated by means of a steam jacket or directly by an external fire,
in which cases the perforated steam pipe may be dispensed with the central steam jet
pipe being however retained.
Dated this Wiftoonth lov of Tohmiamı 1980.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Vats or Apparatus for Dyeing,
Washing, Bleaching, Scouring, or Mordanting Fibrous Materials.
I. FRANK ALEXANDER BLAIR, of the firm of Kemp, Blair, and Company, of
Galashiels, in the County, of Roxburgh, North Britain, Chemist, 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 the dyeing of fibrous materials, and the

page_text: treating of such materials otherwise with liquids, in an improved manner, the action
being rendered uniform and free from violent agitation so as not to objectionably
affect the condition of the materials.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a vat or vessel of a rectangular or other
convenient form; and át a small distance above the bottom there is placed in it a
partition which is horizontal except that a central circular part is in the form of a
cone, the centre of which is higher than the circumference. At the centre of the
cone there is fixed a vertical pipe which is fitted with an upper telescopic pipe closed
at its top but having a hooded or other spreading device, or perforations round it at
or near the top, the telescopic arrangement allowing of the openings or perforations
being placed at a higher or lower level, as may be found desirable in different cases.
The cone is not perforated but the horizontal partition is perforated between the cone
and the sides of the vessel; and I prefer to place a perforated cone over the centre
cone to allow of the percolation of liquid down from materials which would otherwise
be in contact with the unperforated cone. There are two steam pipes beneath the
horizontal partition and cone; and one of these is provided with horizontal perforated
branches, whilst the other one terminates in a jet nozzle directed up the central
vertical pipe.
The wool or other fibrous material to be operated on is placed in the vessel around
the central pipe; or the fibrous materials may be placed in a cage, of which the
partition, cone, and central pipe may form part, which can be lowered into and raised
out of the vessel. With this arrangement the dyeing or other liquid can be prepared
and thoroughly mixed, and a complete charge of fibrous materials can be lowered into
it at once and the cage with the materials can be raised out of the liquid at any
time to allow more dye stuff to be mixed with the liquid or for any other purpose.
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 drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing three modifications of my improved apparatus.
Figures, 1, and 2, on sheet, 1, of the drawings are a plan and a vertical section of
one modification of the apparatus and figures, 3, and 4, on sheet 2, are vertical sections
of two other modifications. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used
to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
is
In the modification shown in figures, 1, and 2, the vat or dyeing, vessel. 5, is a
circular tub of wood, and has fixed inside of it at some distance above the bottom
brackets, 6, for supporting a cage to contain the fibrous materials to be operated on.
The cage bottom cousists of a perforated annular part. 7. fixed to a central conical
part, 8, which is made with a vertical pipe, 9. having an upper telescopic part or
pipe. 10. screwed into it and capable of adjustment up or down by screwing. The
upper part of the pipe, 10, is made with perforations and a cap. 11. is screwed
into it and is provided with eye bolts, 12, for connecting a hoisting chain by
means of which the cage can be lowered into or raised out of the vat, 5. The cage
carried by the central cone, 8, the perforated bottom. 7, being supported by angle-iron
ribs, 13, fixed to the inside of the cone which may be of cast iron or other suitable
metal. The shell. 14, of the cage is sheet iron strengthened by iron ribs. 15, and fixed
at its bottom to the perforated diaphragm, 7. Two steam pipes, 16, 17, enter the
bottom of the vat, 5, one of them being provided with horizontal branches. 18, which
are perforated but which, preferably, do not extend laterally beyond the cone in order
that free steam may not blow up through the perforated diaphragm, 7. The other
steam pipe. 17. terminates in a jet nozzle, 19, directed up the centre of the vertical
pipes, 9, 10. The steam pipes, 16, 17, are provided with separate stopcocks and either
can be opened separately or they may both be opened at once.
Ample space is
provided beneath the cage or its perforated bottom. 7, and the bottom of the vat. 5.
to allow of dyewoods being placed in bags round about and through which the liquid
can circulate. A perforated cone, 20, is by preference placed over the cone, S. to
prevent the fibrous materials from resting on the latter and to allow the liquid to pass
freely downwards from that part of the materials as well as from other parts.
The central steam jet may be used alone to cause the liquid to pass up the central

page_text: pipes, 9, 10, and out through the perforations at the top whence it percolates down
through the fibrous materials. Or when it is wished to bring the liquid to the boil
rapidly, both the jet pipe, 17, and the pipe, 16, with the perforated branches, 18, may
be opened to admit steam, and afterwards either of the pipes may be closed.
The vat or vessel, 5, when of metal, may be heated by means of a steam jacket, or
directly by an external fire, in which cases the perforated steam pipes. 18, may be
dispensed with, the central steam jet pipe. 17, 19, being, however retained.
In the modification shown in figure, 3. the vat or vessel, 5. is of an oblong form, in
plan, with either rectangular or rounded ends; and in a vat of such form I prefer to
employ two cones, S. with their telescopic pipes, 9, 10, and other accessories as
shown.
In the modification shown in figure, 4, the perforated horizontal diaphragm, 7. with
the cone, S, vertical pipes, 9, 10, and steam pipes, 16, 17, 18, 19, are fitted to an
ordinary castiron wool boiler of goblet form.
My improved apparatus may be used in various ways to suit the particular
requirements of different cases, I will however describe a mode of using it for dyeing
alizarin blue which I have found to be satisfactory and economical. "I employ two
vats of the kind shown in figures, 1, and 2, with three cages each having the
perforated bottom, 7, cone, 8, and vertical pipes, 9, 10. One cage into which the
clean wool has been placed is by means of a crane placed in the vat containing the
usual mordant, dissolved in boiling water and filled up therewith to a suitable height.
The valve of the steam pipe, 16, is opened and the steam ejected out through the cross
pipes, 18. into the liquor and the liquor rises in the pipe. 10, above the level of the
liquor in the rat, and it sprays itself through the perforations at the top out into the
surface of the liquor in vat whilst it is being replaced by other liquor from below
which is drawn down through the wool and then through the perforated partition, 7,
and so the circulation of the liquor is complete. This action is continued until the
wool is thoroughly mordanted. The cage is then hoisted out of the vat and the
liquor allowed to drain out through the perforated partition, the vat is then charged
with fresh mordant in the same liquor and another cage with clean wool is placed in
the vat and the operation proceeded with as before.
The mordanted wool contained in the first cage which has drained is now thoroughly
rinsed with clean water which is spread from a pipe upon it and goes down through
the wool carrying the mordant liquor with it through the perforated partitions, 7.20.
When the wool is thoroughly rinsed the cage is placed in the other vat, in which the
dye stuff has already been placed along with the water. As alizarin blue requires to
be dyed commencing with cold liquor and gradually raising the temperature to
hoiling, the valve on the pipe, 17, is opened alone, and the steam issuing with some
force from the jet pipe, 19. causes the water to flow up through the pipes. 9. 10, and
out at the perforations at top spreading itself over the whole surface of the liquor in
the vat: whilst that which is sprayed on the top is replaced from below and the
liquor is again drawn down through the wool in a regular and uniform manner at the
same time becoming gradually heated by the steam issuing from the jet until the
liquor reaches the boiling point when the valve on the pipe, 17, is shut and the valve
on the pipe. 16, is opened. The circulation of the liquor through the wool is kept up
until the coloring matter is thoroughly exhausted from the liquor and fixed on the
wool.
The cage is finally hoisted out and replaced by another one with wool which has
already been mordanted and rinsed. This system of working is carried on until the
whole quantity of wool has been dyed so that the system is practically continuous.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In apparatus for dyeing, washing, bleaching, scouring or mordanting fibrous
materials, the improved combination of parts to be employed in a vat or vessel, and
consisting of a horizontal perforated diaphragm, one or more, cones, each provided

page_text: with an extensible vertical pipe. a steam jet pipe directed up each vertical pipe
and perforated steam pipes, or other means for supplying heat, these parts being
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described.
2. The combination of parts, forming a cage capable of being lowered into and
raised out of a vat or vessel and comprising a central vertical pipe, a cone at the
bottom of the pipe, a perforated horizontal diaphragm fixed to the cone, and a
surrounding shell fixed to the diaphragm, these parts being arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this Seventeenth day of September 1889.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.