US554585A - Island - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. E. BROWN. MACHINE FOR DRYING WADDING.

Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

Inveniar WiZnesses.

M. M Q

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. E; BROWN. MACHINE FOR DRYING WADDING.

No. 554,585 Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

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I Witnesses. [2211672202 mini) STATE ATENT. F

OTIS E. DROWN, or LINCOLN, nnonn ISLAND.

MACHINE FOR DRYING WADDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,585, dated February 11, 1896. Application filed July 5, 1894. Serial No. 516,594. (No model.)

1'0 60% Lu/"1 0710 it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTIS E. DROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Lincoln, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manufacture of and Mechanism for Making and Drying Wadding, &c. and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of and mechanism for making waddingthat is, the production of a continuous web of loosely-carded material, as cotton-the same being continuously sized or starched on both sides and dried while connected with the web issuing from the card and subsequently book-folded or cut into sheets, as desired.

In drying apparatus hitherto employed the devices have usually been so constructed and arranged that the heated air was permitted to escape before it had been suflieiently charged with moisture, thereby materially increasing the operating expenses. S uch former devices not only required a greater amount of fuel to supply the needed heat or steam, but the corresponding output was greatly reduced, as compared with the improvements forming the subject of my present invention.

My invention consists, essentially, in producing a continuous web of fibrous material, as cotton, sizing or starching both sides of the traveling web, passing it through aheated drying-chamber to evaporate the moisture from the thus-treated web, exhausting the moisture-laden hot air from the chamber, admitting outer or cold air to the heating-chamber. to replace the exhausted hot air, and finally converting the thus-produced web of wadding into sheets, layers or rollers, as desired.

It further consists in providing the upper portion of the heating-room or drying-chamber with a series of diaphragms or partitions arranged above one another to form intercommunicating smaller chambers communicatin g with the lower portion of the main chamber, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, in partial elevation, on line 0 0 of Fig.

2. Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view taken on line 00 a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar sectional View of a heating-chamber, &c., as usually constructed; and Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the diaphragm.

I would state here that I do not broadly claim mechanisms for producing a continuous web of cotton wadding. The novelty of my invention resides, essentially, in the construction of the drying room or chamber, and through which latter the web is carried back and forth. Means for producing the web, as a card A, suitably-actuated sizing or starching rolls, as B, between which the web .is passed continuously, thereby sizing both sides of the web, and a series of suitably-supported continuously-traveling endless aprons or conveyers, as C, for carrying the web back and forth through the drying room or chamber, as D, are allold. Fig. 3 shows an arrangement of such well-known devices. In said figure the drying-chamberD is simply a comparatively-large room having a heating-coil E or other suitable heating means located in the lower portion thereof and having in the upper portionthe series of endless-web conveyers 0 arranged above one another. When thus constructed or arranged, it will be seen that most of the heated air in rising simply comes in contact with the under side of the lower apron and its load and then flows or 0 passes upwardly to the right and left past the edges of the other aprons and finally escapes through the exhaust-passage m. (See arrowdirection, &c., Fig. Obviously in the arrangement last referred to the heated air will 5 or at least is liable to pass out of the chamber before it takes up or absorbs a sufficient amount of moisture. Consequently the operation must be longer continued, thus increasing the cost in order to thoroughly free the web of all its moisture.

In my improved drying room or chamberH the heating means or coils E are or may be substantially the same as indicated in said Fig. 3, since I make no claim herewith to such part of the apparatus. The same also applies with respect to the carding-engine A, sizingrolls B, and the series of endless aprons or eonveyers 0, arranged to receive the continuous web from the card and carry it back and forth through and longitudinally of the drying-chamber.

At or near the bottom of the drying-room II, I prefer to locate a series of controllable intake or cold-air ducts I). These furnish cold air to the chamber to supply or take the place of the discharged heated air, the latter being exhausted mechanically or in any other suitable manner into a passage d connnunicating with the top of the chamber.

The series of endless carriers or conveyers C are located in the upper portion of the drying-room II and about midway of the same transversely. (See Fig. 2.) They extend longitudinally oi the drying-room and, as drawn, pass through narrow openings h, formed in the end walls 7L2. (See Fig. 1.) In order to pro vide ample time, &c., for the passage of the continuous web 10 back and forth through the room II, I may make the latter some sixty feet to seventy-five leet long. Each carrier or apron C may consist of a pair of linked chains united laterally at intervals and adapted to support the web to, as common, the chains in turn being supported or guided by side brackets a secured to uprights f.

Just above each carrier 0 is secured a diaphragm or partition I These extend substantially the length of the drying-room, but do not extend entirely across it transversely. As drawn, (see Fig. 2,) I have shown two of such partitions, the same being arranged in a zigzag mannerthat is, one edge forms a close joint with the side wall of the room and the other or free edge falls short of the adjacent wall-thereby forminga space or opening .9 for the passage of the heated air. The other partition is reversely arranged with respect tothe first-named or lower partition. Consequently the heated air as it passes upwardly from the lower portion of the drying-room into the exhaust-passage (l is compelled to travel in a circuitous or zigzag course. In order to further increase the efficiency of the device, I prefer to make the surface of the partitions P bright or planished. Continuous sheets of copper or tin answer very well for the purpose. I prefer also to set the partitions at a slight angle with respect to the horizontally-traveling web of material 10, as shown in Fig. 2.

3y means of the construction and arrangement just described it is apparent that the heated air in rising will first come in contact with the under side of the traveling web, restin g on the bottom carrier, and with the under side of the lower partition, the latter at the same time radiating heat from its surface onto the upper side of the web adjacent thereto. The heat then passes around the end or side edge of said partition through opening 3 and comes in contact with the other partition and the corresponding portion of the web. Thence the heat passes around the free edge of the last-named partition into the top space, in which is located the last carrier, and into the exhaust-passage d. A blower or other mechanically-actuated analogous device may be connected with the opening d, whereby the moisture-laden heated air may be exhausted from the drying-room and thus produce circulation, cold air at the same time being supplied into the room II through the ducts or passages Z).

I would state that although I have shown two partitions, P, it is obvious that any other number of them may be employed, the carriers being arranged correspondingly. The partitions may be made readily removable if desired. They may also be provided with dampers or gates, as g, Fig. 4, for controlling the openings .9 without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention* 1. In a drying apparatus for wadding or other continuous material, the combination with a heating-chamber and carriers therein for the wadding extending lengthwise o'fthe chamber, of diaphragms arranged one above the other, extending transversely of the chamber each closing the ascent of the heated air at one side of the chamber and leaving an opening or passage therefor on the other side, said closures and openin being arranged on opposite sides alternately whereby there is formed a zigzag passage for the heated air transverse to the path of the wadding, substantially as described.

2. In a drying apparatus, for wadding or other continuous material, the combination, with a heating-chamber, of endless aprons adapted to convey the waddin g through said chamber, and rollers for said aprons and independent rollers for turning said waddin g, substantially as described.

3. Ina drying apparatus for wadding or other continuous material, the combination, with a heating-chamber, of endless aprons to carry the waddin g through said chamber, rollers for the aprons located outside said chamber, the latter being provided with openings for said aprons, diaphragms arranged one above another, extendin transversely of the chamber each closing the ascent of the heated air at one side of the chamber and leaving an opening or passage therefor on the other side, said closures and openings being arranged on. opposite sides alternately whereby there is formed a zigzag passage for the heated air transverse to the path of the wadding, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTIS E. DI 1OWN \Vitnesses: 7

mo. 11. REMINGTON, IDA M. WVARREN.

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