US1822387A - Steaming board - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1931. H. G. BEEDE Y 1,822,387r

,s'rEAMING BOARD Filed NOV- 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l H. G. BEEDE STEAMING BOARD Sept. 8, 1931.

Filed Nov, 25, 1928 4 SheetSSh9t 2 v n A n vE/v Tali f ai L rra/i'z EWE;v

Sept' 8, 1931- H. G. BEEDE 1,822,387

` STEAMING BOARD 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 26, 1928 r//lnnnmn/nmlull/111111111111111.l.lV/ll Y n n..

` l -f-J o/NzE/vr@ Wir/v5.95 5) A TLDR EYE Sept, g, 1931.

Filed Nov. 26. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EEN TDP V/ TDRNEYS i M ,4T

Patented Sept. 8, 1931 HERBERT G. BEEDE, F PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND I STEAMING Boem) Application led November 26, 192.8. Serial No. 322,011.

This invention relates to a steaming board adapted to be used individually or 1n connection with a garment pressing machine for applying steam to the garment or other 5 fabric upon or lin proximity to the surface.

of the steaming board for moistening and softening said garment lor fabric preparatory to pressing, shaping or other treatment thereof.

The invention also contemplates means for expeditiously removing the moisture from the garment or other fabric following the moistening, pressing and shaping operations for drying purposes.

These steaming boards when used in connection with garment pressing machines of the class set forth 1n 4my Patent No. 1,661,153, dated March, 1928, are commonly known as bucks but when used individually or in connection with the pressingmachine they are preferably provided with a heating chamber and a steam distributing chamber, the heating chamber being constantly supplied with steam for maintaining a pro er' temperature of the buck or steaming e ement while thedistributing chamber is preferably supplied with steam from some available source of supply at the will of the operator and is provided with 3o steam exits through its top wall for liberating the steaml to the arment or fabric on Vthe upper surface -of t e steaming element. These steam exits from the distributing chamber' are formed in a referably narrow '35 central lengthwise zone ofp the upper surface of the steaming element the major portion of the length thereof so that when the steam is discharged through the exits it willautomatically distribute itself' by its own ex- 40 pansive force fromthe center Vtoward the marginal' edges of said element for moistening an area of the fabric at least equivalent to the surface area of the steaming element.

One of the objects'of the invention, however, is to dividethis-dstributing chamber into separate compartments and to provide simple and'eicient means under the control ofthe operator Vwhereby 'the steam may be distributed through the -surfaces ofall of the compartments simultaneously or through the surface of one of the compartments independently of the others thus permitting economic conservation of the steam, particularly when operating upon small gar, ments or small portions of large garments when only a relatively small portion of the surface area of the steaming element is required.

A further object is toprovide simple and 'eflicient means under the control'of the operator for withdrawing the steam and moisture from the surfaces of all of the compartments simultaneously or from the surface of one of the compartments only according to the nature of the work operated upon for A moistening urp'oses.

The sppp y of steam to the plural compartments is controlled by one valve while the supply of steam to one of the compartments may be cut off by another valve and the exhaust ofthe steam from all or one of the compartments is controlled bya third valve and all of these three valves are controlled by separate pedals throu h the medium of se arate connections ereinafter more fully escribed and one of the objects of the resent invention is to construct and assemb e these pedals in such manner that they ma be individually operated inthe same or er from either side of the machine without necessitating the changing of posi-v tion of the operator.

Another object is toI enable the pedalwhich controls the cut-out valve for one of the compartments to be operated simultaneously with either the steam. controlling pedal or the exhaust controlling pedal.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the machine will be brought out in the following description.

ln the drawings: g

`Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, o f a'fabric moistening and drying machine cmbodyingthe various features of my invention. A Y

:Figure 2r is an enlarged top plan of the pedals intheir operative relation for control.ling`the steam supply valve, the steam exhaust valve and the cutout valve.

Figure 3 is an end View of one shaft and reversely arranged pedals, together with the adjacent arts of the means for transmitting motion rom said pedals to the exhaust valve. 5 Figure 4 is a top plan, partl broken away, of my improved steaming oard.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the steaming board, taken in the plane of line 5 5, Figure 4. i

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the steaming board or buck taken inthe plane of line 6 6, Figure 5.

Figure-7 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view through one end of the steaming board taken in the plane of line 7 7, Figure 6.

Figure 8. is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 8 8, Figure 6.

Figures 9 and 10 are enlarged transverse vertical sectional views taken respectively in the planes of lines 9 9 and 10-10, Figure 6.

Fi ure 1l.y is a longitudinal vertical sectiona view partly broken away, taken in the plane of line 11 11, Figure 13.

Figure 12 is' a transverse vertical sectional1 view taken in the planeof line 12-12, Figure 11.

Figure 13 is an end view of the several pedal levers and their supporting shafts, together with the adjacent yokes and crank arms on the shafts for operating the yokes.

The steaming board or buck 1 may be mounted in a substantially horizontal position upon an suitable supporting frame or standard 2 adapted to rest upon a floor or other support and com rises-'a hollow elongated element 2- o v4cast metal or equivalent material having a steam heated chamber 3 and a steam distributing chamber 4 the member 2- being tapered longitudinally to conform to the shape of certain classes of clothing such as trousers, skirts and the like which are to be treated.

The steam heated chamber 3- is disposed in a lane beneath the steam distributing cham er 4,- and is approximately coextensive with-"the surface area of the steaming board but wholly within the marginal edges thereof and is divided by a central lengthwise partition 5 Figure 6, into opposite lengthwise com artments, said partition extending the major portion of the length of the steaming board but terminating relatively short distances from the ends thereof to establish communication between the compartments or rather to permit the outflow of the steam through one compartment from the wider and to the narrower end of the steaming board and return through the other compartment to the end of the partition adjacent the wider end of the *5 steaming board for the purpose of maintainingv uniform distribution of the steam heat throughout the area of the steam heated chamber.

The end of the partition 5 adjacent the wider end of the steaming board is provided with a rearwardly extending trans- Verse partition 6 united to the rear wall of the heating chamber 3 or rear compartment thereof to form the adjacent end Wall of the rear compartment and thereby to cut o direct communication between said rear compartment and wider end of the heatin chamber, said transverse artition 6 eing arranged in spaced re ation to the wider end wall of the heating chamber to form what may be termed the steamreceivin end or supplemental compartment 7- o? said chamber.

The wider end of the partition 5 is provided with a laterally projecting flange 8- having its front edge curved toward the smaller end of the steaming board and in spaced relation to the front wall of the steam heated chamber 3 to form a connecting passage 9- between the supplemental compartment 7 and front compartment of said chamber, as shown more clearly in Figure 6.

Steam is admitted to the supplemental compartment 7 through an inlet opening 10- in the bottom thereof, said opening being connected b a pipe 11 to any available source o steam supply. l

The partition 6 is provided with an opening 6 near the bottom of the chamber 3- and some distance to the rear of the openings 10 and 15 to allow drainage of the water from the chamber 7 into the sump l4 The wider end wall of the steam heated chamber 3 is provided with a relatively short inwardly projecting central lengthwise partition 12- terlninating some distance rom the adjacent end of the partition 5 so as to form an intervening steam passage 13 connecting the supplemental chamber 7- with the corresponding end of the front compartment of the chamber 3 so that steam entering the inlet l0- may 'which is connected a vided with a drainage outlet 15 to ipe 16- leading to any suitable source of) discharge, as shown more clearly in Figure 8, the bottom wall of the chamber -3- being preferably inclined from the narrower end of the steaming board toward the sump chamber n14- to facilitate the drainage of. Water of condensation from the chamber -3-.

The partition --5- is provided near the bottom wall of the chamber -3 with longitudinally spaced transverse openings -17- to permit steam to pass therethrough from the front compartment to the rear compartment in addition to the passage of the steam around the end of the partition ad- Lacent the narrower end of the steaming oard thus obtaining a more rapid and uniform distribution of the steam throughout the area of the steam heated chamber for quickly heating the walls of said chamber.

The partitions -5-, 6- and H12 and also the top wall of the chamber f5- are preferably ormed integral with the element -2-, the lower and upper walls of the heating chamber being supported in fixed relation by said partitions and also by additional tie pieces -l8-, as shown in Figure 6.

The steam distributingr chamber 4f is formed in the upper side of the element -2- along the longitudinal center thereof and is relatively narrow transversely b ut extends the major portion of the length of said element, and, therefore, the major portion of the length of the underlying portion of the chamber -3- so that the top Wall of the heating chamber forms the bottom -Wall of the distributing chamber.

It, therefore, follows that the steam entering the distributing chamber will be heated to approximately the temperature of the steam in the heating chamber-- which is desirable in machines of this character for reducing the moisture content of the steam which is applied to the articles to be treated.

The distributing chamber -.-4- is provided with a substantially flat and rectangular top wall' -19- preferably of sheet metal substantially 'cocxtensive withl the area of said chamber except that its marginal edges extend beyond the Walls of the chamber and are. secured by screws 20- or equivalent fastening means to the marginal walls of the distributing chamber, as shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 5, said plate -l9 being foraminous in that it is provided with a series of relatively small perforations 21 arranged in more or less uniformly spaced relation throughout the area of the underlying portion of the chamber -4-, the in.- termediate portions of said plate being sup- .ported by spaced lugs 2Q- projecting upf wardly from the bottom wall of' the chamber 4 and preferably integral' with the element 2.

The steam'distributing chamber is divided intermediate its ends by a transverse partition Q3- Figure 5, thereby forming opposite end compartments -4- and 4- to which steam may be supplied in a manner hereinafter described so that both com partments may be used for supplying steam to a garment on the plate 19-- or steam may be supplied to one of the compartments as -4-' independently of the other compartment when operating upon relatively small articles or small portions of larger articles thus permitting the economic conservation of the steam and reducing the liability of escape of excessive steam into the room in which the' machine is located.

The transverse partition 23- is located between the larger end of the partition 5- and narrower end of the steaming board or some distance toward said narrower end from the larger end of the partition.

This larger end ofthe partition -5- is provided with a vertical opening -24- extending through the bottom of the element -2 and connected by a pipe -25 to a suitable exhaust device, presently described, the upper end of said opening 24- being in open communication with one end of a branch passage *2G- having its other end communicating With a steam-receiving chamber -27- in the lower wall of the distributing chamber J1- as shown in Figure 5.

That is, the chamber -27 is depressed below the level of the remaining portions plane of the chamber -27- so that `the opening 24- leads from the lower part A horizontal partition plate -28- is secured by screws -28- or other fastening means to the upper face of the top wall of the steam heated chamber -3-' and extends from the under side vof the transverse partition -23- to t-he end of the chamber -4- nearest the large end of the steaming chamber in spaced relation to and preferably parallel with the overlying' portion of the top plate -19- so as to form'the bottom of the compartment -4-' of the distributing chamber -4-.

The chamber Q7-s communicates with the compartment -4- through an opening or port -29 at the corresponding side of the, transverse partition --23-" and is relatively narrower transversely than the chamber -4- to serve the double purpose of conducting steam to and from the compartment -4- of the distributing cham- The plate -28- forms the top wall of the chamber -27 and passage Q6- and is provided with an opening or port registering with the inner enlarged end of the partition -12- near the wider end of the steaming board.

A baille plate -31 is secured to the upper face of the bottom Wall of the chamber -27- to extend across the upper end of the opening -Qetand also to orm a part of the top wall of the branch passage -26- which communicates with the chamber -27- throughI an opening -32- at the inner end of the baiiie plate 3l- The partition l2- is provided with a vertical opening -33- in which is secured a bushing -34, Figure 7, the opening 33 and bushing 3stbeing arranged inv vertical alinemcnt with the opening -30- in the partition plate Q8- and extending from the underside of the adjacent portion of the element -2- across the adjacent portion of the chamber -3-.

The opening or port S0- serves to connect the adjacent end of the chamber -27- with the compartment -4- of the distributing chamber -4- and is controlled by a valve 35- which is movable in the upper end of the opening -33- and adjacent portion ofthe chamber -27-, as shown in Figure 7, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The portions of the bottom and top walls of the steam heated chamber 3 between the adjacent ends of the partitions 5- and -12- are provided with vertically registering openings in which is tightly secured the hollow stem -36 of a valve case -37- so that the valve stem may extend across the chamber -3--, the upper end of the stem 3G- being threaded and engaged in a threaded aperture in the upper Wall of the chamber -3- while the lower end of said stem is threaded and engaged by a lock nut 3S- which, in turn, engages the lower face of the adjacent portions of the mem-` ber 2,- to firmly hold the valve case 37- in operative position.

This valve case is provided with two upseparated by an upright partition -41- which extends upwardly from the bottom of the valve case B7- The upper end of the passage -39- is rovided with an inlet port -42- opening directly into the steam heated chamber -3- while the upper. end of the other passage is provided with an outlet port -43--6l communicating directly with the adjacent ortion of the chamber 27-.

The ower portion of the partition -41 is provided with a port 44- connecting the adjacent portions of the passa es -39- and 40- and controlled by a orizontal valve -45, Figure 7, which is normally closed by a coiled spring -46- and is adapted to be o ened at will by mechanism presently descri ed.

Steamz'ng means The valve L15- controls communication between the passages B9- and -40 and in view of the fact that steam is maintained in the chamber -3 for heating purposes it is evident that if the valve is opened the steam from said chamber will pass from the passage 39 through the open port 411- and thence through the passages 40- and 4B- into the passage -27- and thence into the distributing chamber -4- where it is free to escape through the perforated plate -19- to the article under treatment on the upper surface of the steaming board.

That is, when the valve #45#- is opened the steam from the chamber 3- may pass into the chamber -27- and thence through the passage 253- and -30- into the steam distributing compartments -4- and *4- providing the valve -35- is in its open position.

It is obvious, however, that if the valve S5- is adjusted to close the port -30- the steam admitted to the chamber 27- will escape to the compartment 4- through the outlet 29- of the chamber Q7- at the corresponding side of the transverse partition -23- which then prevents the passage of the steam into the compartment -4-.

Both of these valves -35- and -45- and alsovthe exhaust controlling valve are under the control of the operator in a manner hereinafter described and, it, therefore, follows that the steam may be directed to both of the compartments -4"- and -4' simultaneously when the valve 35- and -45- are opened or when the valve -35- is closed the steam from the chamber -3- Will be discharged only into the compartment 4-.

r1`he portion of the bottom of the steam heated chamber -3- immediately surrounding the valve stem 3G- is made in the form of a pyramid -36 to break the.

capillary action or suction 'of water up through the valve -37- and thereby assists in maintaining a substantially dry buck.

Each compartment '-4- and -4- of the distributing chamber 4 controls about one-half of the surface of the steaming board and inasmuch as the valve 35- is used tocut oft' communication between the chamber 2T-f and compartment 4'- it may be technically termed a half-valve in that 'it controls one-half of the steaming area while the other valve 45' may be termed the steaming valve for the reason that `it controls the supply of steam to both of the compartments -4- and 4- when the valve +35- is opened or when-the valve '--35- is closed controls the supply of steam tog the compartment -4'- independently of the compartment -4--.v

The exhaust of the steam and moisture from the article under treatment is also controlled by a valve -47-, Figure l, under the control of the operator in a manner hereinafter described.

The self-closing valves L45- and ,-47-

and the self-opening valve -35- are adapted to be operated independently of each other or in certain combinations by somewhat similar mechanisms including a plurality of, in this instance three, similar double pedal levers 4S- and -49- and centrally fulcrumed adjacent each other and having their opposite arms provided respectively with similar pedals marked -S-, --H- and -D- which are arranged in sequence but in reverse order at opposite sides of their fulcrums to enable the operator to selectivel and successively operate the correspondlng valves in the same order from either side the machine, as shown more clearly in Figures l, 2 and 3. y e

It may be stated here that the openings -17 and -6- in the partitions 5- and (5- respectively are made primarily for the purpose of connecting the cores for the adjacent chambers in the process of casting the steaming board and incidentally serve as drainage openings to facilitate the drainage of water of condensation along the bottoms of the chambers 3 and 7 to the sump chamber -14- and drainage outlet -15- leading therefrom.

These pedal levers -48-, -49-- and -50- are respectively secured to the front ends of a corresponding number of longitudinally'extending shafts -5l-, -52- and V-53- which are journaled in suitable bearings in the lower portion or baseof the pedestal -2-, Figure 1.

These pedal levers are preferably located in planes approximately midway between the front and rear sides and also approximately midwa between the ends of the steaming .boar and together with the major portion of the steaming board are located in a vertical plane mainly. at the right hand side of the pedestal -2- so as ,to afford ample space between the pedals and steaming board for the manipulation of the pedal levers.

The shaft,51- upon which the pedal lever '-48- is mounted is tubular t0 permit the passage of the shaft -53- therethrough and extends longitudinally through the major portion of the base of the pedestal -2- and is provided with oppositely pro.- jecting similar crank arms 54 disposed in approximately the longitudinal and transverse vertical planes of or directly below the xvalve case -37- for engaging the opposite'armsfof a saddle oke-.'-55- at opposite sides of the axis o the shaft.'A

The yoke is provided with-.a central verticalslot -55- extending upwardl from the bottom thereof soi-as to straddle tile shafts 5land v-52;-, said slot being extended upwardly a sullicient distance above the shaft -52- to permit thelnecessar vertical movement of the yoke by the roc 11g of the arms 541- without interfering with the shaft -52-.

The side walls of the slot cooperate with opposite sides of the shaft --5ltoguide the yoke -55- in itsv vertical movement and also to keep the outer ends of the opposite sides of the yoke in alinement with the adjacent ends of the crank arms -54--, the opposite arms of the yoker---55-v adjacent the hub of the arms -54- being slotted vertically from the bottoml-upwardly to receive said arms.

It is now evident that the downward pressure'upon either of the pedals will effect a corresponding rocking movement of the tubular shaft -51- and crank arms 54- carried thereby and that this rockin movelnent in either. direction of the cra arms -54- willeffecty a corresponding vertical movement of the yoke -55-.

This oke `55.- is connected by avvertical r --56d to one arm of a bell-crank lever -57- which is pivoted at -58- to the underside of the valve case -37-, as shown in Figure 7, and has its other end engaged with one end of another bell-crank lthe underside of the valve case -37- and its other shorter arm engaged with a plunger -60- which lis guided in' a bushing in the adjacent side of the valve case -37- in alinement the valvef45 for opening said valve as the levers' '--'57- and -59- are rocked about their li'espective pivots by the upward movement of the rod `-56.

This openixgf movement of' the valve .-45- p'ermits 'the passage of steam from the steam heated chamber -3- into the chamber f-27-. and thence into the distrib- Wuting chamber -4.-- throughout the entire above the adjacent pedals -S- and -D, as shown in Figure l, so that either of the pedals --Hw may be operated by the foo*J of the operator simultaneously with the operation of either of the pedals -S- or D- at the same side for closing the normally open valve When it is desired to cut olf the supply 'of steam to one of the compartmentsas -4- and to supply steam to lthe other compartment as 4 of the distributing chamber 4-, thus permitting the use of approximately half of the surva head 611- having a vertical guide o ening Hirtherein r the reception o the lower end of a valve stem which carries at its up er end the half valve 35ras shown in gure 7.

The valve stem V G5- is yieldingly supported on the head S4- to allow a limited upward movement of the rod G3- and yoke -62- carried thereby after the valve -35- has been closed to assure a positive closing of the valve and for this purpose the valve stem -65- is rovided with a shoulder 66- and 'coile springs -67 and -67-.

One of the springs -67- is interposed between the shoulder 6G- and upper end of the head G4- While the other spring -67- is interposed between said shoulder 66 and the lower end of the bushing --35-.-

It is now clear that if it is desired to utilize only a part of the surface of the steaming board for steaming purposes as for example, the part which 1s registere with the compartment 4 either one of the pedals -H- may be depressed by the foot of the operator simultaneously with the adjacent pedal -X-S- thereby opening the valve 45- and closing the valve -35-, the opening of the valve -45- serving to admit steam to the distributing compartment -4"- while the closing of the valve -35 will prevent the entrance of st eam from the chamber -27 to the distributing compartment -4, aspreviously explained.

D17/ing device This drying device including the valve 5 -7- is controlled by the pedals -D- through the medium of the shaft -53- which extends from the pedals entirely through and beyond the tubular shaft 5land is provided with oppositely projecting crank arms 68- adaptcd to engage the opposite arms of a yoke w69- similar to the yokes -55- and -62-..

The yoke 69- is secured to the lower -end of an upwardly projecting rod -70- having its upper end connected to a lever -71- which, in turn, is pivoted at -71 to a bracket on the valve case 4XL- and has its other end adapted to engage the stem -72- of the valve within the case 117- foi opening said valve when the rod -70- is moved upwardly by the turning movement of the shaft -53- in either direction.

The' valve case -47- and valve therein is of. the self-closing type and is connected to a stem supply pipe -73- to which steam may be supplied from any available source.

The outlet side of the valve case 47- is connected by a pipe -74- to the inlet side of a T-pipe -75- having an exhaust pipe 76- adapted to be connected to any suitable waste or soil pipe, not shown.

This T-coupling is connected to the lower end of the exhaust pipe -25- which, in turn, is connected to both compartments 4 and -4- of the distributing chamber -4-' through the openings 30- and -29-, Figure 5. so that when the valve 47 is opened by one or the other of the corresponding pedals D steam will pass through the plpes 73-, and -74- and thence through the T-coupling 75-d and outlet pipe 76 across the lower end of the pipe 25- thereby creating more or less suction in the pipe -25- to withdraw steam and moisture from the distributing chamber 4.

Or, if the steam vis used in the compartment 4 only for moistening purposes the steam and moisture may be withdrawn therefrom independently of the compartment 4'- by simply closing the valve -35 simultaneously with the opening of -the valve -47- which may be accomplished by the simultaneous depression of adjacent pedals -D and -H- by the foot of the' operator.

Operation,

If, in the operation of the steaming board, it is desired-t0 utilize the entire surface of the steaming board for moistening purposes it is simply necessary to depress one or the other of the pedals -S- which through the medium of its connections with the plunger 60- Will open the valve 45- thereby allowing steam to pass from the heating chamber -3- through the passages -39- and 40, through the chamber 27 and thence through the passages -29 and 30 into the distributing chamber 4- from which thesteam is discharged Athrough the perforated plate -19- and into the garment on the-surface of the steaming board.

If it is desired to introduce steam-into the compartment 4- of the distributing chamber -4- independently of the compartment -4- it is simply necessary to depress one or the other of the pedals S and the adjacent pedal H which through the medium of its connections with the valve -35- will cause said valve to close the port 3G- thereby cutting off communication between the steam chamber -27- and steam distributing compartment 4'-, it being understood that the steam is then free to escape into the compartment -lat the corresponding side of-xithe partition -23-, the latter serving to prevent the passage of steam from the compartment -4- to 'the compartment IVhen it is desired to exhaust the steam and moisture from the article under treatment on the surface of the steamingr board it is simplynecessary to depress one or the other of the pedals -D- which through the medium of its connection with the valve -i7*- will open said valve, thereby allow- Y ing the steam to discharge across the lower end of the exhaust pipe -35- for creating suction therein sufficient to withdraw the steam and moisture from the distributing chamber --4- and to discharge the same through the pipe -76- ofthe T-coupling After the steam has been used in the compartment -tonly for mois'tening purposes one or the other et the pedals-H- may be depressed simultaneously with the depression of the adjacent pedal -D- for closing the valve ,-33'- and thereby directing/the suction entirely to the compartment -4 Owing to the fact that t-he pedals -H- are disposed in a plane slightly above and between the normal planes of the adjacent pedals -S- and D- it is evident that the pedal H4- Will be' operated to close the valve -35- just ahead of the opening of the steaming controlling valve -45- or exhaust' valve YI- this operation being of considerable importance in the use of the machine for the reason that it is desirable to 4close the valve S5- just preceding the admission of steam into'the compartment -t and for the further reason that it is d esirable to close the valve 35- just preceding the opening of the valve 47 for exhaust purposes.

Although I have described in detail the various parts of the garment steaming ina-1` chine it will be evident that many of these details may be changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is 1. In a fabric steaming machine, a buck having a steam-heated chamber, a steam-receiving chamber connected to the heating chanber for receiving steam therefrom, andy heating chamber to the receiving chamber,

and a separate valve controlling one of said ports independently of the first-named valve.

2. In a fabric-steaming machine, a buck having separate steam distributing compartments provided with steam exits leading therefrom through the upper surface of the buck, a steam heated chamber underlying said compartments and having Separate passages leading therefrom to said compartments, a normally closed valve controlling one of said passages, a normally-open valve controlling the other passage, and separate devices operable at will for opening the firstnamed valve and for closing the secondnamed valve respectively.

3. I'n a fabric-steaming machine, a buck having a steam-heated chamber, separate steam-distributing compartments provided with steam exits leading therefrom through the upper surface of the buck, a steam-receiving chamber receiving steam from the steam heated chamber and provided with separate passages leading to the separate compartments, a normally closed valve controlling the passage of steam from the heated chamber to the receiving chamber, means for opening said. valve, a normally open valve controlling the steam passage to one of the compartments, and means for closing the second named valve While the first named valve remains open whereby the steam supply to one compartment is cut off While supplying steam to another compartment.

4. A steaming board having a steam heated chamber, and separate steam distributing compartments having steam exits leading therefrom through the upper surface of the board, said board having a steam receiving chamber and separate passages lea g therefrom to said compartments and the heating chamber, a normally closed valve controlling the passage from the heating chamber to the receiving chamber, anormally open valve controlling one of the other passages, a steam operated exhaust device connected to said receiving chamber, a normally closed valve cont-rolling the steam to said device, and means for opening the last named valve independently of the other valves.

5. A steaming board having separate steam distributing compartments and steam exits leading from said can "tinents through the upper surface of tus a. rl, means for supplying steam to eachcof said compartments, steam operated means for exhausting steam irom said compartments, and se arate devices operable at will for cutting ofi) the supply of steam to one of the compartments independently of the other compartment and for permitting the passage of steam to the exhausting means, said devices including separate pedals arranged adjacent one another to permit them to be operated simultaneously by one foot of the operator.

6. A steaming board having a steam distributing chamber and steam exits leading therefrom through the upper surface of the steaming board, means including a valve for supplying steam to said chamber, and operating means for said valve including a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to move about an axis transversely of and below the longitudinal center of the board and having each end provided with a pedal, and means actuated by the de ression of either pedal for o* ening said va ve.

7. n steaming board of the character described having a steam distributing cham ber divided into separate opposite end compertinents, each compartment having steam exits leading to the upper surface ofthe board, means tor supplying steam to both of said compartments, a normally closed valve controlling the supply of steam to both of said compartments, a normally open valve for cutting oit the supply of steam to one of the compartments, means including a pedal for opening the iirst-named valve, and means including a pedal for closing the secondnamed valve.

8. In a steaming board of the character described having a steam distributing chamber divided into separate opposite end compartments, each compartment having steam exits leading to the upper surface of the board, means including a normally7 closed valve for directing steam to both of said compartments simultaneously, a normally open valve controlling the supply of steam to one of the compartments independently of the tirst` named valve, means including a. pedal for opening the first-named valve, and means including a. pedal for closing the second-named valve, said pedals being juxtaposed for si multaneous operation by the foot of the opcat-ion between said exhausting means and one of the compartments while maintaining communication between said exhausting means and another compartment.

10. In a steaming board of the character described having a distributing chamber divided into separate opposed end compartments, each compartment having steam exits through the upper surface of the board, means for supplying steamto said compartments, means operable at will for controlling the supply of steam to said compartments, means operable at will for controlling the exhausting means, and means operable at Will for cutting oil' communication between one of the compartments and the steam supplying means and also for cutting off communication between the same compartment and the exhausting means. I

11. In a steaming board of the character described having a distributing chamber divided into separate opposed end compartments, each compartment having openings extending therefrom through the upper surface of the board, means for supplying steam to said compartments, means for exhausting steam from said compartments,' a normally closed valve controlling the steam su ply to said compartments, a normally closed valve controlling the exhausting means, means including a normally open valve for controlling communication between one of the compartments and the steam supply means and also controlling communication between the same compartment and the exhausting means, means including a pedal for opening the steam supply valve, means including a pedal for opening the exhaust valve, and means including a pedal for closing the cut oil` valve.

12. In a' steaming board of the character described having a distributing chamber divided into separate compartments, each compartment having openings extending therefrom through the upper surface of the board, means for supplying steam to said compartments, means for exhausting steam from said compartments, a normally closed valve controlling the steam supply to said compartments, a normally closed valve controlling the exhausting means, means includ' ing a normally open valve for controlling communication between one of the compartments and the steam su ply means and also controlling communication between the same compartment and the exhausting means, means including a pedal for opening the steam supply valve, means including a pedal for opening the exhaust valve, and means including a pedal for closing the cut off valve, the pedal controlling thecut o valve being arranged adjacent the remaining pedals to permit it to be operated simultaneously with either of said remaining pedals by the foot of the o rater.

13. e combination with a steaming' board arranged to permit the manipulation ot the Work thereon from opposite sides thereot` and 4provided with a steam distributing chamber having exit openings through its upper wall, a valve controlling the passage of steam to said chamber, pedally operated rock arms extending in opposite directions` from their axes toward opposite sides oi the steaming board, and means actuated by the operation of either of said arms in the same direction for opening the valve.

14. The combination with a steaming board arranged to permit the manipulation ot the work thereon from opposite sides thereof and provided with a steam distributing chamber having exit openings through its upper wall, a rock shaft extending .lengthwise of and beneath the steaming board and provided with oppositely projecting treadles operable at will by the operator at opposite sides of the machine for rocking the shaft in reverse directions, and means actuated by the rocking of the shaft in either direction for opening the valve.

15. The combination with a steaming boa-rd haring a steam distributing chamber provided with steam exits through its upper wall. means including a valve for supplying steam to said chamber, and means including a valve tor creating suction in said chamber, of levers pivoted intermediate their ends to rock about axesextending length-l wise of and some distance below the steaming board so that the opposite ends of the levers may face opposite sides of the-steaming board to be depressed by the operator at either side, means actuated bythe depression ot either side of one of the levers for opening one ot the valves, and additional means actuated by the depression of either side-of the other lever for opening the other valve. 1G. A steaming board as in claim 15 in which the outer ends of the valve-operating levers are arranged side by side lengthwise of the steaming board but in reverse order.

17. In a fabric steaming device, a buck having a steam-heated chamber and a steamdistributing chamber provided with a. perforated top wall.l said buck having a central lengthwise partition dividing thc heating chamber into opposite lengthwise compartments having connecting passages around b oth ends ot the partition, means including a normally closed valve adapted to l be opened at will for directing steam from one ot said passages tothe distributing chamber` said partition being provided with an exhaust port therethrough communicating with the distributing chamber. and a steam operated exl'must device connected tro-the exhaust port and provided with a normallf,T closed valve adapted to be opened at will for exhausting steam from the distributing chamber. I 18. In a steaming board of the character chamber' n a' ing cha @i1-@avea-aeamfaiaatatded 'with7 aplerforated 'top wall. sai,dgbucllifhavingl acent'ral lengthwise'T l' partitiiin difviding'the heating chamber into" Y comparinient-5Y connecting 'pass ge'sfaroundbotliendsofthe "l partition, means o ijintroduet n'frfst .aml

chamberit'o the Adistributing chamber', Af partition havingan exhaustport :extending therethrough and :communicating f with' the distributing.: chamber, exhaust'deifice connectedto ysaid port for exhausting steam from the distributing chamber. v

19. A fabric-steaming board having a steam heated chamber, a steam distributing chamber overlying the heating chamber and provided with a perforated top wall and a. transverse partition dividing it into opposite end compartments, and an intermediate steam-receiving chamber between the heating chamber and one ot said compartments and connected through separate passages with both compartments, means including a normally closed valve adapted to be opened at Will for directing steam from the heating chamber 'to the intermediate chamber and thence through said passages to the distributing chamber, and a normally open valve controlling one of said passages and adapted to be closed at Will.

20. A steaming board asv in claim 19 in which a steam opera-ted exhaust device is connected to the intermediate chamber and provided with a normally closed valve adapted to be opened at will for withdrawing the steam Jfrom the intermediate chamber and from the distributing chamber.

21. In a steaming board, a buck having a steam heated chamber provided with a central lengthwise 'partition dividing it into opposite lengthwise compartments having connecting passages around opposite ends of the partition, said chamber having a sump' near one end of the partition provided with ay drainage outlet, the bottom of said chamfvs l teafmcperated ber being inclined downwardly toward said sump for draining Water of condensation through, the partition being provided with-a transverse opening intermediate its ends near the bottom of th'e chamber to'` allow Water of condensation to drain therethrough to the sump.

22. A steaming` board having a steamV around opposite ends of the partition, means for introducing steam into said chamber ,at one'end .of the partition, means for conducting steam from the passage at one end of 5 the partition to the distributing chamber, and a nolinallyclosed valve adapted to be opened at'will for controlling the passage of steam through said conducting means, said partition being vprovided with an eX- m haust port communicating with the distributing chamberA and steam loperated exy haust means connected to saidport vfor Withdrawing the steam `from the distributing chamber. y l .15 In witness whereof 'I have' hereunto v`set my'hand this 6th dy of November, 1928. HERBERT GniBEEDE.

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