US1935022A - Apparatus for applying moisture to textile materials - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 14, FARRELL 1,935,022

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MOISTURE TO TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Sept. 22. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l 14 A, 1mm

Nov. 14, 1933- E. FARRELL 1,935,022

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MOISTURE TO TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Sept. 22. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 14, 1933. E. FARRELL 1,935,022 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MOISTURE T0 TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Sept. 22, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 14, 1933. E FARRELL 1,935,022

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MOISTURE TO TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Sept. 22. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fin/M1227: I

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 p v I 1;9's5,022 i H I V Armlmmus ron APPLYING MOISTURE? "ro 'rrExrrmE MATERIALS 'iErnestFai-rell, 'Salford, England p I Application September 22, 1932, :Serial 7N0.

This invention refers-to apparatus or-mach'ines" I forapplying-moisture to fabries for cooling {and conditioningfpurposes'i. e. for restoring moisture tO -fabrics afterthey have passed through drying,

finishingand like-operations. r

The invention refers in particulartocloth cooling'a'nd conditioning machines of the'kind-wherein-the'cloth to-be treated is caused to traverse in a-zig-za'g path' through a closed chamber, while water "is carried upwards between the adjacent vertical stretches of the cloth by absorbentendlessbelts, the latter 'dipping into troughs of water.

' The power required'to drivefthese belts-is .con-

siderable. Moreoven'the belts are only arranged between alternate stretches 'of the cloth.

The main object of the invention is to dispense with the 'belts, and'to provide an improved cons'truction of stationary moisture-distributing app'aratus which allows 'ofbeing arranged between either alternate or "successive stretches of the cloth. A further object'is to provide moisturedistributing units which by being non-absorbent or practically 'non-absorbent, 1 allow of being i only sup'erficially'wetted and thereby ensure of a more rapid evaporation of the water" and the' more rapid and effective moistening of the "cloth.

According to the invention, the improved ma-- chine comprises alarge outercasing,-'similar-to moistening units, are supportedbnchannelbars,- which besides supportingthe units, serveto convey-"any-surplu's'water awayto conduits n'ear the sides ofthe machine. r 'Wateris supplied to the "troughsby small branch pipes from a supply pipe-common to all,

which at one end is closed'and at or near the other endis furnished with 'a control cock; I

With waterdelivered to the troughs, it'finds-its way down the two opposite sides of the units in the form of a film, thewhole of the side'surfaces of the units'be'ing wetted and with such surfaces in -proximity-to the cloth and the '-c loth hot and dry, the water becomesrapidly evaporated-and absorbed bythe cloth; I

and 'in iGr'eat Brita'in October- '14,

'5 '5' Claims. (01,2643) In the accompanying drawings:

Figs. 1 andl'a collectivelydllustrate a "sideeleva tion (with the near side "enclosure panels removed), and Fig. 2 a crosssectionalelevation' (withsidefenclosure panels in position) of a'ma-' chine constructed according to the invention. j

Figs. 3, 4'an'd 5 are enlarged cross sections (partly broken away) of various constructions "of moisteningunits that maybe used in the ma: chine. p

Referring to Figs. 1 and2, the'machine com prises alarge rectangular chamber 'A buiIt up of channel-iron members a, wand removablesheetmetal panels "1), b,"the channel-iron forming a; frameworkjandthe sheet-metal panels closing in the spaces of "the framework and 'forrning' the walls of the chamber. The panels are a tight-fit in 'the framework. JIn the upper partof the ch'amber'areguiderollers c, rotatably journaled in bearings depending "from the upper side channel members '"of the chamber A, see Fig.2. In the lower part of the chamber "areif urther guide "rollers 'd" journaled' in bearings (1 carried by the lower side channel members. The rollers" of e'achfs'et are equally spaced apart, and'those in one-row lie inplanes intermediateofifthosein the other rowy,

The cloth to be cooled and conditioned (m0is-, tened) .is admitted to the chamber A throughia slot or elongated ,opening in one of the" end walls or covers, and in its passage through the machinepasses over rollers c .andunderrollers d, finallyleaving the chamber through a slot or elongated opening in the opposite end wall, or cover of the chamber, -see Fig.1. Thefcloth before entering the machine may :pass. through an arrangement of guider barsr: and over a. set -.of rollers 0 .toQ-remove creases and cause it to pass to the machine in a flat condition. I

Between the vertical stretches 4 of the cloth are mounted :the moistening units, each of. which comprises atrough or ductat its upper end v(near the rollers c) and a vertically disposed part or parts of large surface area. In the example shown in-FigC-B, the moistening unitconsists 'ofa wood board e, with the trough or .duct e ='cut :in the top e'dgeof the board. In the :floor :of :the trough or duct and at intervals along the said :floor are inclined holes, through which waterffrom the trough may flow onto the surfaces of the board, :and so wet such surfaces. 'Ifo prevent '-a too rapid discharge of the waterpand a'lsoprevent ch'ok'ing, the holes in the 'fioor 0f the trough may be fitted with tubes e and through the tubes may pass lengths. of cotton wick e To help to ensure even distribution of the water, the board e is provided with ledges or shoulders e extending the full Width of the board and acting as sills or weirs.

In the example shown in'Fig. '4, themoistening unit also consists of a wood board e, while a metal trough or duct f is fitted to. the top edge of the board, which is shouldered to receive the duct, as well as to form the horizontal ledges for the water to flow along as it isconveyed thereto by the lengths of cotton Wick f 4 H In the example shown in Fig. 5, the moistening unit consists of twolarge sheets 9 g of asbestos cement, wood or the like, spaced apart by wood packing bars h, h and held-together at intervals by screws 2', 2'. Above the top of the boards is horizontally mounted a metaLpipe :i with rows of holes is along each side, and with a hole 1 in its top face, and near one end. Threaded through eachpair of opposite holes is and extending below a'rod m within the pipe :1 is a length of cotton wick n, the loose ends of which rest on the top edges of the sheets g g This last described construction. of moistening unit is the one shown applied in Figs. 1 and 2. In each example, the moistening ,unit rests upon the channel bars 0, extending across the machine and supported by the further longitudinal channel bars 1), p.

I For further supporting the moistening units, adjustable steady pins or stay members 9 are provided, which engage angle-iron slippers g embracing the edges of the unit, see Fig. 2.

Wire lashings g may be used, to help to hold the nect with a'hole'in the end of the trough (Fig. 4).

Said water supply pipe 1' is closed atone end (see Fig. 1) and terminates at such end inside the machine, while at its'other end, which extends outside the machine, the pipe is fitted withv a control cook 1 To further help to reinforce the moistening units, especially when made of asbestos cement boards, a metal frame 9 may be fitted to each face of the unit, see Fig. 2.

The several rollers 0, care provided with duplex" chain wheels s and are driven through a shaft t common to all from'any suitable source of power.

channelbars go, see Fig. 2, while from each of the latter extends a T pipe u,leading to a sump or culvert -'u. r t

The operations of the machine .are as follows:With a web of cloth threaded through the machine (which is facilitated by removing some of the side panels of the chamber A), and the rollers c and 01 set in motion, the cloth travels through the machine.- The control cock r is then (or previously) opened, whereupon water flows into the ducts or troughs of the respective moistening .units, which finding its way through the openings in the troughs and regulated by the wicks,fiows in the form of a film down the two opposite faces of the units. Owing to the heat of the cloth and the proximity of the vertical stretches of the cloth to the films, the water becomes taken up by the cloth, each traverse of the cloth between the moistening units enabling all parts of the cloth and on both sides reaching the final roller to receive and absorb the desired degree of moisture.

' In the example shown in Fig. 1, there is a moistening unit next each side of the cloth as it passes up or down, but there may be a moistening unit only between alternate stretches of the cloth.

Byregulating the control cock 1- the amount of water supplied to the ducts or troughs and therefore to the cloth, may be varied, and such variation, may. also be determined by the speed of the cloth.

The wood employed in the construction of the moistening units will preferably be coarse grained so that its'surface will be somewhat rough and produce a rippling effect on the film of water flowme down the unit. Alternatively, large mesh wire netting 9/ ,(see Fig. 2) may be applied to each face of the board, which whilebreakingup the film helps to prevent the cloth touching the board.

WhatI-claim is:- I t 1. A cloth cooling and conditioning machine of the kind comprising a large rectangular chamber, and guide rollers in the upper and lower parts of the chamber for conveying the textilematerial through thechamber, characterized by stationary moistening units between the vertical stretches of the textile material each unit comprising a water conduit, and depending vertically from said conduit, a non-porous slab-like member, down the opposite sides of which water from the conduit flows film-fashion, means for convey n water to each trough and from the troughto the slab-like structures, a channel-shaped cross-bar below each slab-like unit, and means for supporting the cross-bars and conveying any excess of water away from the machine. j

'2. In a cloth cooling and conditioning machine as claimed in claim 1, stationarymoistening units each consisting of afiat-wood board, and a water conduit along its top edge, the conduit having of wick threaded through said perforations and,

resting at their free ends on the top of the said 1 boards. The ends of the channel bars 0 open into the 4. In a cloth coolingand conditioning machine as claimed in-claim-l, a stationary moistening unit having horizontal ledges or shoulders near its upper end and on opposite sides, on to which water from the trough flows, the ledges or shoulders forming sillsor weirs over which the water flows, prior to flowing down the faces of the unit.

5. A machine in which moisture is applied to textile material while passing through the machine, comprising a large-rectangular chamber composed of channel-iron ,members and sheet metal panels for closing in the spaces of the frame and forming the walls of the chamber, some of the panels being removably fitted to the frame with removable side panels, sets of, guide practically non-porous material depending verti-h cally below the conduit, means for conveying and controlling a supply of water to the conduits, means for supporting the units, and means for conveying away any excess of water from the units. Y v r ERNEST FARRELL;

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