IMPROVE- MENTS IN DRYING, TREATING, AND PREPARING YARNS OR THREAD
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Birkmyre, of Port Glasgow, in the County
of Renfrew, North Britain, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DRYING, TREATING, AND PREPARING YARNS OR THREAD."
Sealed the 15th November 1859, and dated the 16th June :1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Birkmyre at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th June 1859.
I, WILLIAM BIRKMYRE, of Port Glasgow, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING, TREATING, AND PREPARING YARNS OR THREAD," to
be as follows, that is to say:
This Invention relates essentially to the drying of yarn either in the process
of winding or warping it, or in the process of putting it upon pirns, as pre-
paratory to the ultimate weaving process. In treating flax or linen yarns in
this way, instead of drying the material as a separate process, after it has been
boiled or bleached preparatory to winding and other processes, as at present
pursued, the yarns are taken direct from the boiling house or from the bleach-
field, or from the "steep," or "plashing," or spinning frame, in a wet or damp
state and dried in the actual process of winding, warping, or putting on to
pirns. This drying may be accomplished in various ways, but it is pre-
ferred to pass the yarns over or in contact with steam cans or cylinders
as they are wound, warped, or put on to pirns. Prior to effecting this drying
operation it is preferred, in some cases, to brush the yarns by means of rotatory
brushes or other suitable mechanical means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Birkmyre in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BIRKMYRE, of Port Glasgow, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Birkmyre, Her special license that I, the said William Birk-
myre, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Birkmyre, my executors, administrators, or 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 DRYING, TREATING, AND PREPARING YARNS OR THREADS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Birkmyre, 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 William Birkmyre, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates essentially to the drying of yarn either in the
process of winding or warping it, or in the process of putting it upon pirns, as
preparatory to the ultimate weaving process. In treating flax or linen yarns
in this way, instead of drying the material as a separate process after it has
been boiled or bleached, preparatory to winding and other processes as at
present pursued, the yarns are taken direct from the boiling house or from the

page_text: bleach field, or from the "steep," or "plashing," or spinning frame, in a wet
or damp state, and dried in the actual process of winding, warping, or putting
on to pirns. This drying may be accomplished in various ways, but it is
preferred to pass the yarns over or in contact with steam cans or cylinders, as
they are wound, warped, or put on to pirns. Prior to effecting this drying
operation, it is preferred, in some cases, to brush the yarns by means of rotatory
brushes or other suitable mechanical means..
The Invention is applicable more especially in the manufacture of flax
and linen goods, but it is also suitable for use in the treatment of other
materials.
And in order that my said Invention of "Improvements in Drying, Treating,
and Preparing Yarns, or Threads," may be properly understood, I shall now
proceed to describe certain processes or modifications under which my im-
provements may be judiciously carried out in practice :-
The yarns or threads, after having been spun in the usual manner, are
removed from the spinning frame in the wet state, and without waiting for the
usual drying process, they are at once taken to the proper machine to be either
wound on bobbins, warped, or put on to pirns. In either case the drying of
the yarns or threads is effected during or simultaneously with the winding or
warping operations. One mode of doing this consists in causing the yarns or
threads to pass over heated cylinders or steam cans, in their passage to the
winding or warping machine.
The drying machine used for the purpose, under one modification, consists
of a rectangular cast-iron frame, the side standards of which are made with
duplex longitudinal rails, on which are arranged the bearings for carrying
two rows or series of steam cans or cylinders. These steam cans are formed
of tin, and they are fitted at one end with a hollow journal, which communi
cates, with a steam pipe carried longitudinally along the framing of the machine;
each can is also fitted at one end with a vacuum valve. The two tiers of
cylinders are arranged parallel to each other, those of the upper row being
placed between the two contiguous cylinders. The several cylinders are con-
nected by means of spur gearing, so as to rotate in concert, or one series may,
if required, be caused to traverse faster than the other. This drying machine
is arranged in convenient proximity to the warping or winding machine, so
that the yarns or threads in passing over the drying cylinders or steam cans
become properly dried before they reach the winding bobbins or pirns. In
those cases, where the yarns or threads are bleached or otherwise treated
before being wound, they are, after undergoing the preparatory process or pro-
cesses taken direct from the boiling house, and they are at once passed through

page_text: "
the drying machine prior to being wound. Or, if the yarns or threads have
been submitted to the " steep or "plashing" processes, they may be removed
therefrom, and so dried by means of the drying machine during, the winding or
warping operations. Where the quality of the yarn or thread is such as to render
a preparatory brushing or smoothing operation either necessary or advantageous,
I effect this polishing or smoothing prior to passing the yarns or threads over
the drying cylinders. In this modification of the apparatus the smoothing is
effected by means of one or more rotatory brush or. brushes arranged at the
end of the drying machine, and over or between which the yarns or threads
are passed prior to being carried between the drying cans or cylinders. In
undergoing this preliminary brushing operation, the pliant fibres of the damp
yarns or threads are thereby laid perfectly close and smooth, and thus the
appearance of the finished yarn or thread is greatly improved.
•
With these modifications the manufacture of fibrous materials, more especially
flax and linen, is greatly facilitated in point of time, .and is, in other respects,
rendered more efficient..
•
...
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of the machinery or appa-
ratus for drying, treating, and preparing yarn or thread in the wet state, as
herein-before described.
1
Second, the system or mode of treating or drying yarn or thread, prior to
its being wound on bobbins or pirns, warped, or otherwise treated, wherein
it is subjected to the action of a drying machine, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of one or more brush rollers arranged in
conjunction with the drying machine, for the purpose of smoothing and
polishing the yarn or thread, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Birkmyre, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
)
WILLIAM BIKKMYKE.
(L.S.)