Improvements in Apparatus for Dyeing or otherwise Treating with Liquids Textile Materials in a more or less Manufactured Condition.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left. 26th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Dyeing or otherwise Treating with
Liquids Textile Materials in a more or less Manufactured
Condition.
1, FRANK ALEXANDER BLAIR, of the Firm of Kemp Blair and Company,
Dyers, of Gala Dye Works, Galashiels, in the County of Selkirk, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to obtain improved and more regular or
uniform results when dyeing or otherwise treating textile materials with liquids, the
improved apparatus being advantageously applicable to
"and other textile
tops
materials in a more or less manufactured condition.
My improved apparatus is of the kind in which the dyeing or other liquid is made
to circulate or flow through the textile materials, but I have the materials disposed
so that as the dye or other constituent of the liquid is gradually absorbed by the
materials the thicknesses or cross-sectional areas of the materials successively passed
through by the liquid diminish approximately in proportion to the diminishing
strength of the liquid.
According to one modification the textile material, in the state of sliver, for
example, is wound into the form of a slightly coned roll; and the roll is put into a
conical box which it fills, between two perforated diaphragms. The liquid finds its
way by a central inlet into a space separated from the interior of the box by the
larger perforated diaphragm, and, being very equally distributed by the diaphragm
proceeds through the textile materials towards and out at the smaller end of the
box. Supposing the area of the smaller end is half that at the larger end, it
follows that twice as much liquid will pass through the materials which are at the
smaller end, as passes through the materials at the larger end, so that if the liquid
becomes reduced about one half in strength such reduction will be compensated for
by the increased quantity passing through the materials at the smaller end.
Conical, pyramidal, or wedge-shaped boxes of different proportions can be used for
different cases.
Or instead of a conical box a cylindrical or other box may be used
having centrally placed in it a cone or equivalent of suitable proportion, and the
materials being placed in a loose or any suitable form between the cone and the
sides of the box.
Generally, a number of the boxes will be combined in each vat and may be
arranged in various ways. In one convenient and compact arrangement I have
sixteen boxes, with their axes vertical, arranged in four sets of four each, the
bottom inlet pipes of the four of each set communicating with a single pipe having
its end central to the set, and radiating from a central main inlet pipe com-
municating with the four radiating pipes of the four sets. The sides of the vat or
tank are made concave between the sets of boxes, to enable the workers to
conveniently reach the boxes near the centre, and also to diminish the capacity of
the vat or tank. If desired, because of limited available space or for other reasons,
the combined arrangement herein before described may be disposed vertically, that.
is with the axes of the boxes horizontal, suitable provision being made for conveying
the liquid to and from the boxes. The vertical combination may be arranged to
rotate continuously or intermittently in order to equalise the action on all the
boxes.
For forcing the liquid through the apparatus a direct, double-acting steam pump :
is preferably employed, and the exhaust steam from the motor cylinder or cylinders

page_text: is utilised to assist in heating the liquid by being passed through piping in the rat
or tank. Where convenient the liquid may be made to flow through the apparatus
by gravitation; and the action may be regulated by means of stopcocks on pipes
through which the liquid passes to or from the several boxes.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of May 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Dyeing or otherwise Treating with
Liquids Textile Materials in a more or less Manufactured
Condition.
I, FRANK ALEXANDER BLAIR, of the Firm of Kemp Blair and Company,
Dyers, of Gala Dye Works, Galashiels, in the County of Selkirk, North Britain,
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 :-
My said invention has for its object to obtain improved and more regular or
uniform results when dyeing or otherwise treating textile materials with liquids, the
improved apparatus being advantageously applicable to "tops" and other textile
materials in a more or less manufactured condition.
My improved apparatus is of the kind in which the dyeing or other liquid is made
to circulate or flow through the textile materials, but I have the materials disposed
so that as the dye or other constituent of the liquid is gradually absorbed by the
materials the thicknesses or cross-sectional areas of the materials successively passed
through by the liquid diminish approximately in proportion to the diminishing
strength of the liquid.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings,
showing a combined general arrangement of my improved apparatus together with
modifications of the means used for diminishing the thickness of the materials.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings is a sectional plan, and
Figure, 2, a sectional side elevation of iny improved apparatus.
Figure, 3. on Sheet, 2, is a plan and Figure, 4, a vertical section of part of the
apparatus, drawn to a larger scale, Figure, 5, being also a vertical section of a
second modification of the same part.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
According to one modification the textile material, in the state of sliver, for
example, is wound into the form of a slightly coned roll; and the roll is put into a
conical box, A, which it fills, between two perforated diaphragms, B, C. The
conical box, A, and diaphragms, B, C, are shown separately in Figures, 3, and 4.
The liquid finds its way by a central inlet pipe, D, into a space, E, separated from
the interior of the box, A, by the larger perforated diaphragm, C, the size of the
space being regulated by an adjustable ring, F, supporting the diaphragm, C; and
the liquid being very equally distributed by this diaphragm proceeds through the
textile materials towards and out at the smaller end of the box, A. Supposing the
area of the smaller end is half that at the larger end it follows that twice as much
liquid will pass through the materials which are at the smaller end as passes through
the materials at the larger end, so that if the liquid becomes reduced about one
half in strength such reduction will be compensated for by the increased quantity
passing through the materials at the smaller end. Conical, pyramidal, or wedge-
shaped boxes (A) of different proportions can be used for different cases.
instead of a conical box a cylindrical (or other) box, A, such as is shown on the
Or

page_text: right-hand side of Figures, 1, and 2, and separately in Figure, 5, may be used
having centrally placed in it a cone, G, (or equivalent) of suitable proportion, and
the materials being placed in a loose or any suitable form between the cone and the
sides of the box.
Generally a number of the boxes, A, will be combined in each vat, and may be
arranged in various ways. In one convenient and compact arraugement shown in
Figures, 1, and 2, I have, as shown at the right-hand side of these figures, one large
box, A, in a vat, H, the central inlet, D, being connected to a delivery pipe, J, and
on the left-hand side of Figures, 1, and 2, show sixteen boxes, A, in a vat, K,
with their axes vertical, arranged in four sets of four each, the bottom inlet
pipes, D, of the four of each set communicating with a single pipe, L, having its
end central to the set, and radiating from a central main inlet or delivery pipe, M,
communicating with the four radiating pipes, L, of the four sets. The sides of the
vat or tank, K, are made concave between the sets of boxes, to enable the workers
to conveniently reach the boxes near the centre, and also to diminish the capacity
of the vat or tank. If desired because of limited available space or for other
reasons, the combined arrangement herein before described may be disposed
vertically, that is with the axes of the boxes, A, horizontal, suitable provision being
made for conveying the liquid to and from the boxes. The vertical combination.
may be arranged to rotate continuously or intermittently in order to equalise the
action on the boxes.
For forcing the liquid through the apparatus a direct, double-acting steam
pump, N, is preferably employed. As shown on the right-hand side of Figures, 1,
and 2, the liquid is forced through the delivery_pipe, J, passes through the
materials in the box, A, and falls over into the vat, H, from the bottom of which it.
is withdrawn through a suction pipe, P, leading back to the pump, N. On the
left-hand side of Figures, 1, and 2, the liquid is forced through the delivery pipe, M,
the four radiating pipes, L, and the four inlet pipes, D, and after acting on the
materials in the boxes, A, falls over into the rat, K, from the bottom of which it
is withdrawn at four outlets connected by pipes, Q, to a main suction pipe, R,
leading back to the pump, N. The exhaust steam from the motor cylinder or
cylinders is utilised to assist in heating the liquid by being passed through
piping, S, in both vats or tanks, H, K, and a further perforated pipe, T, is also
shown as passing through the tank, K, so that, when desired, live steam may be used
for heating the liquid. Where convenient the liquid may be made to flow through
the apparatus by gravitation; and the action may be regulated by means of
stopcocks on pipes through which the liquid passes to or from the several
boxes.
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. The construction and combination of parts constituting my improved general
arrangement of apparatus for dyeing or otherwise treating with liquids textile
materials in a more or less manufactured condition substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures, 1, and 2, of the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for dyeing or otherwise treating textile materials in which the
dyeing or other liquid is made to circulate or flow through the materials, causing
the flow to take place through a gradually diminishing cross-sectional area of the
textile materials substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of February 1895
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.