US1687122A - Process for treating fabrics - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 9, 1928.

T. A. BRYSON ET AL PROCESS FOR TREATING FABRICS Filed Deo. l2, 1924 V2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A+ JW gwumtou Sbtozmg Oct. 9, 1928,

T. A. BRYsoN ETl AL PROESS FOR TREATING FABRICS 2 snets-sneet Filed peo. 12, 1924 Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TAN DY A. BRYSON AND-JOHN. J MCKEON, OF TROY, NEW, YORK, ASSIGNIORS, BY MESN ASSIGNMENTS,. TO GENERAL LAUNDRY MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE;

PROCESS FOB TREATINGYFABRICS. l

Original application led January 18, 1924, Serial No. 686,986. Divided and this application led December 12, 1924.

The invention relates to a novel and useful process for treating fabrics, forinstance, dyeing stock, yarn, piecegoods, and other materials, for impregnating, carbOniZing, washing, stripping, bleaching, etc., and discloses a novel and useful mechanism adapted for'fuse in carrying out the process.

The invention has for its object to 'provide a novel and useful process for treating fabrics and other materials, by which, for example,vthey may be dyed easily, rapidly and uniformly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part ,will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attainedV by means of the instrumentalities and comb? nations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel steps and processes, and improvements herein shown anddescribed.

This application is a division of our copending application Ser. No. 686,986, filed Jan. 18, 1924.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and const'tuting a part hereof, illustrate a mechanism embodying the mechanical parts or aspects of the invention, and adapted for use in practicing the process of the invention and in connection with the accompanying description, the drawings serve to illustrate the pnnciples of the invention.

Of the drawings Y Fig. l is an elevation yof a centrifugal mechanism embodying the mechanical features of the invention and adapted to be advantageously used in carrying outY the process; and

FigsfQ and 3 are top plans corresponding to Fig. l. taken also partly in section on line .2-2 of Fig. l, Fig. 3 illustrating the basket with the cover removed.

The invention is directed to a novel procfor treating fabrics and other materials,

such as stock,`yarn, and piece goods. One desirable application of the process is to dyeing, whereby the goods are very easily, ra idly, uniformly and otherwise excellent y dyed and with a minimum of handling of goods or materials, and other labor; and also to a mechanism adapted for use in carrying Out the process,

Serial No. 755,398.

erted on the liquid ydue to the rotation of the basket.

In the preferred manner of effecting this 'relatively slowly, with the basket submerged 1n the wetting down water, the dye liquor, or the Wash water, although such liquid may be otherwise supplied. When such submergence is practiced, the liquid is contained in a tank, and the tank is preferably partially or entirely closed. The basket has preferably perforatecylindrical walls and an open top, and vanes carriedeither on the basket walls or tank walls are preferabl utilized to force the water or other liqui in at the .top or center of the rotating basket.

The invention also includes the novel' and advantageous step of treating the liquid while it is centrifugally acting on the fabric, or the like, such as boiling the dye liquor during one or more of the operations just described, and particularly during the concomitant centrifugal action and forcing of the dye liquor through the material from the center' of the basket outwardly.

In practice, and referring cxemplarily to fabric dyeing, preferably the dye liquor is gradually brought up to boiling and maintained there as long as desired during the dyeing operation. This heating and boiling is conveniently done by blowing steam atI any suitable point or place into the dye liquor, although otherways for effecting this may be utilized, such as steam pipes within the tank, heating means below the tank, or other means. `Other steps may be practiced during the operation just described, such as the addition of mordants, liners, or other steps, dependent upon the nature or requirements of the particular dyeing operation.

It is also preferable in practice that the dye liquor be drawn 0E completely beforethe subsequent washing of the dyed niaterials, instead of the washing being in its first-stages a merc diluting of the dye liquor, and a gradual progression therefrom. Pref.

step, the materials in the basket are rotated vided.

erablly also the basket is speeded up after the drainingfofthe dye liquor, thereby substantiallypcompletely throwing olf the dye liquor.

Thereafter' the Wash Water is applied and circulated centrifugally ythrough the fabric or other material. Usually, most conveniently, the tank is filled with wash. Water', 1n such 'case subinerging the basket, and the Water may be heated or boiled as desired. If desired, it may be satisfactory and ellicient to flow the Water, or other fluid, into the centrifugal by a hose or otherwise. On completion of thelwasliing, the Wash Water is drawn off .from the tank, and the basket spun rapidly t9 dry the material.

lt will be understood that the foregoing general description of the process, as well as the following "detailed description thereof, and of the mechanism or apparatus used preferably in carrying it out, are merely eX- planatory and exemplary, but are not restrictive of the invention,

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, as applied 'to dyeing, including the mechanism or appa atus features thereof, a tank l ltorthe various liquids, such as the wettingdown water, the dye liquid, and the Wash water is provided, this tank being preferably cylindrical in form and of sutlicient diameter to leave a substantial space, proportioned for the practical reouiren'ients, between the cylindrical tank wall and that of the enclosed basket.

Preferably av completely closed tank is eniployed, although an open tank or a partially closed tank is suliicient andsatisfactory in some instances. Acc to the tank in such casc, is preferably provided by an annularly shaped flat lid 2 adapted to lit about the basket shaft and to close the circular opening in the flat top ui of the tank. A

The form of basket provided is preferably of the suspended type. as tliisavoills the presence of liearingrijs and driving parts within the tank and its contained liquids. As ein bodied, a frame having uprights ll. and l2 and a horizontal lop cross piece l' is pro 'l`he basket shalt le is suspended in a bearing within a housing l5, supported on cross-piece lil, within which also is a pulley drive for the shaft, the detailed construction of these parts being of standard or other suitable form. The driving means may be av belt lt running' over a` belt pulley 17, or anv other suitable form of drive.

t the bottom' end of shaft 14s, and Suspended thereon to rotate therewith, is a basket 2l, having cylindrical, perforate side -walls 22. and' an. imperforate bottoni 2B. 'l`l1e hub 2a; islitted on to the tapered bottoni end 25 of shaft lll, aud held in place by a nut 2h, or other suitable 'la ening means. basket is' preferably provided also with llt) teef/,rae

a top ring, consisting of an annular inwardly directed or projecting plate 29 fastened to the top edge of the cylindrical side Wall 22, and having a central opening'tl, through which the materials are inserted'4 into and Withdrawn. from the basket, and through. which also the'various liquids are forced under pressure during the rotation of the basket. The basket-is preferably constructed so that there are no pockets. recesses or obstructions thcrewithin. which would hold any of the material out of the natural path of the propelled currents of the dye liquor and other liquids employed in the process.

Further means are preferably provided for creating or increasing the enforced circulation of the various liquids in the manner described. ln the preferred form thereof,A

helically-disposed vanes 32 are provided, preferably fixed to the inner wall of the tank, and also preferably extending from the bottom to the top thereof, and inclined in the direction of rotation of the basket, although they may be inclined, if desired, in the opposite direction. Preferably also vaines 33 extend inwardly along the underside of the top of the tank or casing from vthe upper ends of the vanes to or toward the opening in the top of the basket.

ltleans are also provided for retaining certain kinds of *Y materials Within the basket during the various operations or steps, loose wool being an example of such materials. F or this purpose, there is provided a circular or conical Wire mesh lid or screen 34,-, the outer circular rim of which tits over the edges of the opening 3() in the top ring 29 of the basket, and is held in place by suitable means such as clamping devices 35, the screen having a central opening` 36, fitting about the basket shaft.

Means are provided by the invention for admitting liquids to the tank and for Withdrawing them therefrom, and also for heatn ing the liquids in the: tank during the various operations or steps. As embodied, this is ellected through a port at the central bottom part of the tank. Such an opening .t1 is provided at the center of the bottom 42 of the tank, this opening eon'ununicating Withy a chamber lil, which is provided with a drain valve fill, which discharges into any suitable piping in the spare du beneath the machine.

'lhe embodied forni of means for introducing' lhe wetting-down water, vthe dye liquid. the wash water or other fluids or materials into the tank, comprises a pipe 47 communicating with the port 4l andfprovided with any suitable l'orin of supply means, shown herein as a funnel 18, a valve being provided in the pipe 47 below the funnel.

'llie embodied l'orm of mean-s for heating or boiling the liquid within the tank comprises a steam pipe .5l conmiunicating into lll) (itl

the pipe47 at 52 and provided with a suitable valve 53.

In the preferred form of carrying out the process in connection with dyeing and the illustrated apparatus, the material, say for example piece goods, is laid intol the basket in any desired form, the basket being slowly rotated during .this operation, desired. After the material is in position in the basket, if it is loose stock', such as Wool for example, the screen 34 is fitted into position to hold the` material Withfinf the. basket so that it will not be displaced by the circulation of the liquid. The lid 2 is then fixed in position upon the tank.

The tank is filled Wit-h water, the basketI being rotated at slow speed, and by means of the pipe connection, steam is blown into the Water, bringing it to the desired temperature in case it is desired to heat the wetting-.down Water,l as is usually done. During the rotation of the submerged basket* in the closed tank, the Water Will be forced into the top and center of the basket and will be forced out through the perforate Walls of ithe basket thereby insuring rapid, thorough and uniform wetting-down of the material.

After the goods are thoroughly wetteddown, dye stuff properly mixed with Water is let into the tank through the piping system. The submerged basket is rotated slowly to cause ydistribution and even im; pregnation of the dye liquor. The dye li nor is forced throuvh the materials inthe su merged, rotating 7basket .in the manner already described for the wetting-down water, and a rapid, thorough and uniform dyeing of the material is thus effected.

The n temperature of the dye liquor ,is gradually raised, in the present embodiment `by blowing in steam, and is usually raised to the boiling point. The boiling'is then continued during the centrifugal action, and the forcing of the dye liquor continuously through the material through' the coopera. tion of the rotating basket and the vanes upon the tank walls. Any other agents orl materials may be added to the dye liquor as desired or required for the particular dyeing operation, luntil the dyeing process is complete l. A,

After the completion of this operation, the dye liquor is drawn ofi` through the opening of the valve 44. and the rotation of the basketfis preferably accelerated to high speed to remove the remainder of the d ve liquor from; the material.

Thereafter. the. valve 44 is closed and the tank is'filled, through the piping system with the Washwater, andthe wash water may be heated or boiled to any desired degree and for any desired 'time during the Washing operation. Duringythis operation also, the

water is forced under pressure through 4the for promoting or accelerating chemical reactions, when applied asa mixing process, by effecting intimate and thorough intermixture of the materials.

Itwill be understood that changes may The process is herein debe made lin the steps or sequence'o/f steps of the process, or in the construction of the apparatus or mechanism, Within the scopel of the accompanying claims, Without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificingits chief advantages.

lVha-t We claim is l. The process of dyeing Vfabric which comprises rotating the fabric in a centrifugal basket in Water, to Wet down the fabric, introducing the dyeing li uid and rotating the basket to effect distribution and uniform impregnation of the dyethrough the fabric, gradually raising the temperature of the vd e liquor during said dyeing operation, su sequently continuing the heating for a desired period, removing the dye liquor, rotating the basket at a highers eed to remove the excess liquor from the fa ric.

surrounding the basket with Wash vvgater and l A rotating the basket to effect thorough penetration yand distribution of the Wash water,

drawingoffthe wash water, and rotatingthe basket 'relatively rapidly to dry the fabric.

. 2; The process of dyeing fabric -which comprises Vrota-ting the fabric in a centrifugal basket in Water, to wet down the fabric, heating-the vvaterl during the wetting' down, -introducing the dyeing liquid and rotating theubasket-fto effect distribution and uniformfimpnegna'tion of the dye through the fabric, gradually raising the temperature of the dye liquor durin said dyeing operation, removing the dye liquor, rotating "the basket at ahigher speed to remove theexcess liquor from the fabric, surrounding the basket with. Wash Water'and rotating the basket to effect thorough penetration and distriLv uniform impregnation of the dye through lli) the fabric, gradually raising the temperature of the dye liquor during said dyeing operation, removing the dye liquor, rotating the basket at higher speed to remove the excess liquor from the fabric, surrounding the basket with wash water and rotating the basket to effect thorough penetration and distribution of the wash water, and rotating the basket relatively rapidly to dry the fabric. i

fi, The process of dyeing fabric which comprises slowly rotating the fabric in a centrifugal basket in water, to wet down the fabric, introducing the dyeing, liquid and slowly rotating the ybasket to elfect distribution and uniform impregnation of the dye through the fabric, removing the dye liquor, rotating the basket at a higher Aspeed to remove the excess liquor from the fabric,.

surrounding the basket with wash water and slowly rotating the basket to effect thorough penetration and distribution of the wash water, and drawing off the wash water.

5. rlihe process of impregnating materials with dye or the like which consists in rotating the materials' at one angular velocity in a centrifugal basket in water' to wetdown the fabric, introducing the dyeing liquid while continuing to rotatel the basket at substantially the same velocity to effect uniform distribution and impregnation of the dye through the materials, removing the dye liquor from the basket and rotating' the basket at a different velocity to remove .the excess liquor from the materials.

6. Theiprocess of impregnatiiig materials with dye or the like which consists in rotating the materials at a relatively low angular velocity in a centrifugal. basket` in water to wet down the fabric, introducing the dyeing liquid while continuingrto rotate the basket, at substantially the same velocity to effect uniform distribution and impregnation of the dye through the materials, ren moving the dye liquor from the basket and rotating the basket at a relatively higher velocity to remove the excess liquor from the materials. y

7. The process of impregnating materials with dye or the like which consists in rotating the materials at a relatively low angular velocity in a' centrifugal basket in Water to.

with dye or the like which consists in rotating'the Imaterials in a centrifugal basket at a relatively low angular velocity, wetting down the materials with Water while gradually raising vthe temperature of the water, and introducing dye liquor into the basket whileI the basket is rotating to thoroughly and uniformly impregnato the materials with the dye.,

' 9. The process of impregnatingmaterials with dye or the like which consists in rotating the materials in a centrifugal basket at a relatively low angular velocity, successively introducing water and dye -liquor `into the basket during the rotation, accelerating the rotation of the basket to eliminate excess dye liquorfrom the materials, de-

celerating thebasket and centrifugally washing the materials with Wash water,

and accelerating the basket to drive the re- .maining wash water from the materials.

10. The process of impregnating materials with dye or the like which comprises the steps of rotating the materials in a centrifugal basket `with water to preliminarily wet down the materials and gradually heating the water during the wetting down.

11. The process of iinpregnating materials with dye or the like which comprises the steps of rotating the materials in a centrifugal basket with water to preliminary Wet down the materials and gradually heating the water to thev boiling point during the wetting down.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

- TANDY A. BRYSON.

JOHN J. MCKEON.

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