US2182541A - Toe softener - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 5, 1939.

c. E. MARTIN 2,182,541

TQE SOFTENER Tiled Nov. 11, 1937 raz 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 5, 1939. c. E. MAR-HN 2,182,541

TOE SOFTENER Filed Nov. ll, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 24 Patented Dec. 5i, 1939 'r oFFl-E A T E TOE soFTENn' Application November' 11, 1937, Siial'o 174,115

18 Claims.

This invention'relates toheaters for softeningl box toe stieners in connection with'the pull over and bed lasting operations in the manufacture 'of shoes.

3 T.n'thetoe softening' operation the elements to beconsidered are 'the box toe material, the upper leather` of theshoe and theinsole, and in some cases a lining of sheepskin or a lining having a o coating'oi material which will'become sticky if l overheated.

B0X toe material can be softened in a dry heated atmosphere, but dry heatis'injurious to the upper leatherv and innersole materials, and cannot be safely appliedto'anassembled shoe.

i Furthermore when dry heat is'used'the composition with which the box toe is impregnated will fry out in the form of'v drops and beads on the surface of the material and this impairsv the resultant structure.

Inthe 'manufacture of shoes, when the shoe comes to the bed laster the upper is pulled over the last and secured by tacks located on each side and at the extreme tip; the upper'then hanging down around the forepart of the last except when secured bythe tacks, and such pulled over upper tends to spring 'away from .the last, and this exposes much' of the inside of the box toe stiiener and lining. y

One object of my invention is'to provide novelV SOmeansWhereb-y the box toe, upper leather, and` lining can be readily softened Yto`a degree that' enables them to be easily formed or lasted without injury Vto the materials, and present a' smooth unwrinkled appearance when the jobU is "completed; A further object is'V to enablethe box-toe to'V be softened without injuring the insole and'upper portion of the shoe by either burning or wetting.

y The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention, and I Will first describe the same in detail with reference to said drawings; and then summarize in the claims the novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In saiddrawings: n

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my softener partly in section;

Fig'. y2 -is a detail vertical section on the line 2-2,Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is -a side View of Fig. 2;

Fig.- 4 is an lenlarg'ed'bottom plan view of the' base plate and expansion chamber; and

Fig; 5 is a perspective' view of part of the radiator. 5.7 In-the constructionshown a 'hollow standard'l th'efreai' edgfefthereof, is ,a hollow Inveni'loer4 2 1)` is anni@ upon; a, aan ai if may Steba construction. On the upperend :of standard lis 'f `mounted' a base'kplatehZ, havingacentralrdependingcollarn 2721,' whichis provided with an inf; terna'l 4partitior' 2e, which closes ofi,theupperv portion 'ofthe collar. o The endofthe collar below the 'partitin isl e'rvlgag'edv Vwith dthe upper endI of standard' l', and supports the baseplatethereon. l

Ori the underside' ofa the' `base plate,4 adjacent X i 10 (preferably cast integral the basemplatel) having itsv ylo'c'ittornv portion sloping inwardly and downward from its ends 'towards its center, Y`Thevl inte'rinfafrl of mei'ber 2li-forms a rstearnexpansignh chanibe'r'E. At its` central portion thisfchambermw opens into thefchamber in collar Zaabove the partition 2e; the chamber in( therupperfparty of the collar above" the partition formsanextensin of the yen'p'e'lr'isi'in chamber E. To the partition 2e'is connected a vapor outlet pipe 2p, Whioh'depends'int the hollow standardv i, its lower' endgbe'ing below'the'` level of the water; thereinQ andfbe'irg' sealeduloy the water in the," v staiid'ard.` llinA collar' 2d below partitionQZe .are

openingstp which serve yas vents for escape ofg steam if the water sealis'broken. j ,Y y v Mounted upon' the'loasek plate 2 is a radiator 4, l which fis' "preferably formed 4of a hollow casting having"a`piur'ality of integral eiiterior fins vila,V that 'extend' at right angle's'tto the radiator across the top and partially down eaelrl side thereof. The iinsfincrease'the heatwradiation, andA the, spaces'therbetwen provide continuous vertical and horiaont'al passagewaysfor heated air andI vapor.` d. .A K Y 35 The radiator haslfend flanges 4b which extend,` entirely around the radiator and"H support it on ,Y and abovethfplat'e `2 and space it from the walls ofthe" casing 3.l

The radiator lits surroundeduby ay oasiigv 40'v mounted upnth'e HpleittewZuandv open at QD, and.,y lotittorr'i, Thisfcasing ,forms the outside Walls offv,

upper'edg' oilthe ncasing 'is preferably lprovided The hoodl 5 is pre'feraloly formed of a casting corresponding in length toY the radiator, and having it'sff'rontwall 5d curved, downwardly from the toparirdrear of the hood tothe Vfront iloweril, ed'g'e thereof, and in this curvedwall are` formedo new, we hief. tlef bpiliegs ,are plagehim l i vertical` straight Wall facing the operator,` and al l the curved wall extends downwardly on the back side of the hood and away from the operator.

The hood 5 is provided with an inner curved wall 5e substantially parallel with the curved front wall 5a and is provided with openings 5f similar and adjacent to the outer openings 5b. The interior of the hood adjacent the related openings 5b- 5f forms a softening chamber S into which the toe of the shoe is inserted during the softening operation.

In the construction shown the casting 2, casing 3, radiator 4 and hood 5 are shown of sufficient length to permit four shoes to be treated simultaneously. In such construction the hood has four openings 5b and 5f in its walls Eva-5e and the adjacent pairs of openings are separated by vertical partitions 5C, which register with partition flanges 4c on the radiator, said flanges 4c extending around the top, bottom, and sides of the radiator and corresponding in size with the end of flanges 4b. The construction described is in eect fourseparate shoe treating units, each operating entirely independent of the others.

The base plate 2 is providedwith air inlet openings 2d so spaced that there is an inlet between,

l entering under the -radiator and passing up both Asides thereof and being heated by direct contact with, and radiant heat from, the radiator.

The expansion chamber E is provided in its top with one or more jet openings 6i to permit the escape of vapor or steam from the expansion chamber into the casing below the radiator; there being a like arrangement of outlets between each adjacent pair of anges 4b or 4c.

The partitions tlc and end flanges 4b of the radiator 4 line up with the partitions 5c and ends of the hood 3 5, and form continuous partitions from the bottom of the radiator chamber to the top of the hood which `keep separate the mixture` of air and vapor admitted to each compartment or chamber S. The advantage of this design is that if any one or more of the chambers is open (that is no shoe being treated therein), air currents in the room, or from an open window, which may enter the open chamber cannot in any way affect the atmosphere in a chamber wherein a shoe is being treated.

VSteam is supplied from a main steam pipe 6, to a distributing head 6x, and passes from this head through a pipe 6a to the inlet 4i of the radiator. VThe amount of steam is regulable by a valve 6b, and in practice the radiator inlet valve is usually turned to wide open. Steam escapes from the radiator through an outlet opening 4o at the other end of the radiator and is returned by a pipe 6c to the trap 6d.

Steam is supplied from the head 6x through a 1 pipe 'l to the expansion chamber E, the amount of steam admitted being controlled by a needle valve 1a. The condensate in the expansion chamber E drains downto the collar 2a above partition 2e and thence through pipe 2o into the Opening the needle valve 'la about three-quarters of one turn will admit steam to the expansion chamber E, wherein expansion of the steam takes placeand the consequent water vapor formed lescapes upwardly into the casing below the radiator through the jet apertures 6i.

The vapor emerging from the jets mixes with the air and passes upward between the heated fins of the radiator. The heated air rising from the top and sides of the radiator mixes with the vapor, and the air and vapor become thoroughly mixed and interspersed before reaching and entering chambers S in the hood. I preferably adjust and proportion the parts so that a relative humidity of about 100 and a temperature of about 200 F. is obtained within the chambers S.

The inner curved wall 5e being heated causes a natural draft or up movement of mixed air and vapor which escape through the curved passage 5s between the curved walls 5ft-5e, and pass out the vent 5t provided in the extreme top and rear end of the outer curved wall. This construction is effective for the purpose designed. The vent 5t might be connected to a stack or an exhaust system, without detracting from the eciency of the softener, because no heated air or vapor can be removed from a chamber S until it has contacted with and passed around the toe of the shoe being treated.

When the toe part of a shoe is inserted in a chamber S of the hood through the top openings 5b5f the passage between the two curved walls Sa-lie is directly over the rear limit of the portion of the shoe to be heated (approximately the tip line of the shoe).

The relation between the size of the vapor jets 6i and the depth of the water seal should be such that the proper amount of Vapor and air will be normally directed to the chambers S in the hood;

and then if an operator should attempt to get more vapor into the hood and open the needle valve further, the increased pressure in the expansion chamber will break the water seal at the end of the outlet pipe 2o and the excess steam will ow out of the pipe and ,up the standard and escape through the vent openings 2p, and no more than the predetermined correct amount of vapor will escape through the jets. 'I'his is a practical safety feature; as an excess amount of vapor will cause precipitation on the insole or upper or both, either of which conditions ref sults in spoilage or cripples.

:.What I term a correct amount of vapor is `that amount which when admitted to a chamber S (in which the toe part of the shoe is treated) will'produce and maintain such a moist atmosused in the shoe making art for uppers, toe` stiffeners, linings and innersoles can be treated perfectly and without injury.

In my construction the entire surface ofthe radiator over which the shoe rests is exposed so that I transmit heat directly to the parts to be softened by direct radiation as well as by convection, and the operation of my softener does not depend in any way upon keeping separated any of the various elements such as air or vapor.

The incoming air streams divide below the ra.- diator, part going to the rear, and part passing up the .frontthereo and' presumably a larger portionfof the incoming air is drawn to the Vback of the radiator due to suction created bythe vapor jets, and I ldo not keep the air and vapor separated.

My heater enables the operator to soften the toe of a shoe up to any desired point and not affect in any way that portion of the shoe adjacent to it. Excess air cannot enter the outer poltion of a chamber S while a shoe is being treated, because the shoe practically closes the entire opening in the front of the chamber and the rising streams of air and vapor pass into and through the chamber.

When the upper is pulled over by the bed laster and the shoe is inserted in one of the shoe treating chambers, the exposed portion of the box toe stiifener is subjected to direct radiant heat from the top of the radiator and also to the vapor laden heated air which directly contacts with the exposed portion of the box toe stifener, and the stifrener is thereby quickly softened suiiiciently to be lasted.

While the heater shown has four treating chambers, lthe number can be varied. In practice I have found that three treating chambers are suicient to enable the box toe stiiieners to be softened as rapidly as they are required by an operator Working at normal speed, but a fourth treating chamber provides a safety margin for unusually fast operators or unusually hard stiffeners.

Iclaim:`

l. A toe softener comprising a base, a casing on said base, an expansion chamber adjacent the base, a radiator mounted upon the base within the casing, a hood above the radiator having a wall provided with an opening and forming a chamber in which the toe of a shoe to be treated is inserted, means for supplying steam to the expansion chamber and radiator, the hood having an inner wall parallel with the front wall thereof and provided with an opening for admission of the shoe toe, and a vent to the atmosphere for the space between the walls at the end opposite the opening.

2. A toe softener comprising a base, a casing on said base, an expansion chamber adjacent the base, a radiator mounted upon the base within the casing, a hood above the radiator having a wall provided with an opening and forming a chamber in which the toe of a shoe to be treated is inserted, means for supplying steam to the expansion chamber and radiator, a pipe for conducting condensate from the expansion chamber, and a water seal for said pipe whereby the pressure in the expansion chamber is automatically controlled.

3. A toe softener comprising a base, an expansion chamber adjacent the base, a casing mounted on the base plate, a radiator within the casing, a hood mounted upon the casing above the radiator and provided with an opening for the insertion of a shoe toe, said base plate being provided with an inlet for -air into the casing beneath the radiator, and said expansion chamber having apertures for admission of vapor into the casing below the radiator, and means for supplying steam to the radiator and to the expansion chamber.

d. In a toe softener as set forth in claim 3, a pipe for conducting condensate from the expansion chamber, and a water seal for said pipe whereby the pressure in the expansion chamber is automatically controlled.

5. A toe softener comprising abase plate, an expansion chamber adjacent the base plate,l a casing mounted on the base plate, a radiator mounted `upon the base plate Within the casing, said radiator having flanges and transverse fins on its top and sides intermediate the langes,fa hood mounted upon the casing above the radiator and having. its front .Wall curvedA forwardly and downwardly from rear to front and provided with an opening in the curved face of said wall for the insertion of a shoe toe, said base being provided with openings for admitting air into the casing beneathl the radiator and said expansion chamber having apertures for admission of vapor into the casing below the radiator, and means for supplying steam to the radiator and to the eX- pansion chamber.

6. In a toe softener as set forth iny claim 5, said hood having an inner wall parallel with the front wall thereof and provided with an opening for admission of the shoe toe, and a vent to the atmosphere for the space between the walls at the end opposite the opening.

'7. In a toe softener as set forth in claim 5, a pipe for conducting condensate from the expansion chamber, and a water seal for said pipe, whereby the pressure in the expansion chamber is automatically controlled.

8. In a toe softener of the character described, a hood having its front wall deflecting forwardly and downwardly and provided with an opening in the front portion for admission of a shoe toe; an interior wall -in the hood parallel with the front wall and having an opening. for the accommodation of theshoe toe, and a vent to the atmosphere for the space between the walls at the' end opposite the opening.- v

9. For a toe softener, a casing, a radiator within the casing having end anges and spaced intermediate iianges projecting beyond the top side and bottom wail thereof and partitioning the casing, and iins on the exterior sides of the radiator intermediate the flanges.

lil. For a toc softener, a casing, a radiator within the casing having end flanges and intermediase iianges projecting beyond 'the top side and bottom thereof and partitioning the casing, and exterior ns extending transversely across the top and sides of the radiatorintermediate -adv jacent flanges.

ll. A toe softener comprising a base, an eX- pansion chamber adjacent the base, a casing on the base, a radiator mounted upon the base Within the casing, said radiator having end flanges and intermediate flanges projecting beyond the top side and bottom thereof to space the radiator from the walls of the casing, and a hood mounted above the radiator and having an open bottom and spaced openings for the admission of shoe toes, and partitionsv intermediate said openings, the partitions registering with the related flanges on the radiator so as to form a plurality of independent similar shoe treating chambers.

12. A toe softener comprising a base, an expansion chamber adjacent the base, a casing on the base, a radiator mounted upon the base within the casing, said radiator having end fianges and intermediate flanges projecting beyond the top side and bottom thereof to space the radiato-r mediate the openings, the partitions registering with the related flanges on the radiator so as to form a plurality of independent similar shoe treating chambers, the front wall of said hood being deected forwardly and downwardly, the base plate being provided with inlets for air beneath the radiator and the expansion chamber having apertures in its upper side for admission of vapor into the casing below the radiator.

13. A toe softener comprising a base, an expension chamber adjacent the base, a casing on the base, a radiator mounted upon the base `within the casing, said radiator having end flanges and intermediate flanges projecting beyond the top side and bottom thereof to space the radiator from the walls of the casing, and ns extending transversely across the top and sides of the radiator intermediate the adjacent anges, an open bottom hood mounted upon the casing above the radiator and having its front wall deected forwardly and downwardly from rear to front, and provided with an opening in said front wall for the insertion of a shoe toe, said hood having an interior wall parallel with the front Wall andprovided with an opening for the admission of the shoe toe, the base plate being provided with air inlets beneath the radiator andthe expansion chamber having apertures for admission of vapor into the casing below the radiator; and means for separately supplying steam to the radiator and to the eX- pansion chamber.

14. For a toe softener, a base having a central depending collar, and air inlet openings at opposite sides of the collar, an expansion chamber connected to said base and extending below the same and having its bottom wall inclined toward the collar, and apertures for the escape of vapor from said expansion chamber, a drain pipe connected with said expansion chamber, means for supplying steam to said chamber, and a water seal for said pipe whereby the pressure in the chamber is automatically regulated.

15. I n a toe softener of the character specied, a hollow standard, a base mounted on the upper end of said standard, an expansion chamber connected with said base and having apertures for the escape of vapor, a drain pipe connected with said expansion chamber and depending into said standard, a radiator mounted on said base, means for supplying steam tosaid expansion chamber and to said radiator, and means for conducting condensate from the radiator to said standard; the expansion chamber drain pipe being water sealed by the condensate in said standard.

16. In a toe softener of the character specined, a hollow standard, a base mounted on the upper end of said standard, an expansion chamber connected with said base and having apertures for the escape of vapor, a drain pipe connected with said expansion chamber and depending into said standard, a radiator mounted on said base, means for supplying steam to said expansion chamber and to said radiator, and means for conducting condensate from the radiator to said standard; the expansion chamber drain pipe being water sealed by the condensate in said standard, a casing surrounding the radiator, and a hood mounted on the casing above the radiator and having its front wall curved forwardly and downwardly from rear to front and provided with an opening for the insertion of a shoe toe.

17. A softener of the character specied, having an expansion chamber provided with restricted orifices for water vapor, a regulated steam supply for said chamber, a drain pipe for condensate connected with said expansion chamber, and a water seal open to the atmosphere for said pipe maintained -by the condensate whereby the pressure in the expansion chamber is automatically relieved whenever an excess amount of steam is admitted into the expansion chamber.

18. In a toe softener of the character specified, a hollow standard, means for venting the standard to the atmosphere; an expansion chamber supported on said standard and having restricted apertures for the passage of vapor, a regulated steam supply for said chamber, and a drain pipe connected with said expansion chamber and depending into said standard, the lower end of said pipe being sealed by water in said standard whereby excess steam in the expansion chamber will be diverted to the atmosphere.

CHARLES EARL MARTIN.

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