US1558060A - Acid-circulating system for mercerizing yarn - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1925. 1,558,060

L. A. STEAD Filed Aug 1. 1924 Patented @et PATEN'l GFFME.

LAWRENCE A. STEAD, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

.ACID-CIRCULATING SYSTEM FOR MERCERIZING- YARN.

Application filed August l, 1924. Serial No. 729,446.

To all ifi/wm t may concern.'

lie it known that I. LAwnnNon Sinin, a citizen of the United States. residing at ihester. in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsjflvanizn have invented cert: in new and us .Lul improvements in Acit Circulating Systems for h'lercerizing ll'arin of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an acid circulating system for mercerizing 'arns. ln mercerizinpl yarns the yarn is immersed in a caustic solution then treated in an acid solution to neutralize` the caustic. To the best results the acid in the mercerizing vats must be maintained at a practically constant strength. eutralization reduces the strength of the acid and. as the work proceeds, more arid must he added from time to time. `tulphuric acid is generally used. The method heretofore in use has been to test the strength of the acid solution in the vats periodically and add acid suflicient to increase the strength of the solution in the vat to a point somewhat above that required. rl`he acid is added by hoisting a container above the vat and allow ing what is supposedto be a sutlicient quantity to flow into the vat. operation the vat is drained and the acid solution run to waste. Under this method the strength of the acid is iirst of greater and then of less strength than is required. 'Vhile a slight excess or deficiency of strength is permissible, the tendency is to wide variations due to uncertainty of control, and no considerable degree of precision can be attained with the most careful attention. The result tends to non-uniformity of product. Moreover the waste of acid is considerable.

The objects of my invention are to provide an automatic system which insures a constant circulation of acid; which automatically maintains the acid in the mercerizing vats at a strength which insures proper mercerization of the yarns; which avoids waste of acid, and which dispenses with the skilled attention and much of the labor required under the old method.

The drawing is a diagrammatic representation of mercerizing` apparatus embodying my invention.

The apparatus includes an acid storage tank l, designed to carry acid of commercial strength, a solenoid actuated acid feed-controlling valve 2, a mixing tank or well 3, a circulating pump 4, a mercerizing vat 5 and acid strength controlling mechanism 6.

After each days with the inercerizing vat by a pipe Yl() andk the inercerizing rat with the mixing tank by a pipe l1. An air pipe l2, designed for admission of air under pressure leads to the mixing tank. A. conductivity cell 1 3 is disposed in the mixing tank and is electrically connected by leads lll and 15 with the strength controlling mechanism which is electrically connected by leads 16 and 17 with the feed controlling valve.

The acid strength controllingmechanism and the feed controlling valve are preferably of the type disclosed in an application for acid strength maintaining apparatus filed of even date herewith by Frank H. Olden.

In operation, the deliver)v of strong acid from the storage tank through the feed controlling valve to the mixing tank is automatically controlled by the conductivity cell and the strength controlling mechanism. The circulating pump maintains a. constant flow of acid solution from the mixing tank to the mercerizing vat, and the overflow pipe is constantly returning a like quantity of the acid solution from the mercerizing vat to the mixing tank.

Under the old system the waste of acid usually amounted to 12% or thereabout. With my system none of the acid goes to waste. The old method required constant and skilled attention. My system requires but incidental attention. Under the old method there was a serious lack of uniformity in the product. With my system the product is practically uniform.

While I have described my invention as taking a particularform, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the pre` cise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus `described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. .An acid circulating system for mercerizing including a storage tank; a solenoid actuated feed-controlling valve; a pipe leading; 'from the stnragv tank to the vulve: :i mixing;` tank; 1 pipe lending); 'from the vnive to the mixing; tank; n inerrerizing unit; n pump adapted to draw acid irf'nn tb@ mixingv tank und deiivcr it io iba inercerixing unit; an ovm-finir; pipe lending; from the inorcerizing uniii in rice mixing' tank; u l rndncfivity cell in tbv mixingaunk` und means, Controiied by ne conductivity.' veli. Yfor ncinziting' the feeii-wiihoiiing valve.

Q. An acid Circulating System im' nim'- corizinp; invluding a' Storage tank: :i Snklnoid actuated eid-fontloi]ing' vniv: a pipo. lending; from the storage tank To the *unive whereby acid flows b v `gravit)v ifroni ik@ Storage funk i0 the valvv; a mixing` tank: a

pipo lending irmn tba: miv@ to the niixingcr tank Whrabjv the :mid Hows bv 4giuivitv tu the mixing tank; a niriirixingg unit: n pump adapted to iii-im' :1L-iii sulution fumi the, mixing tank and deliver i1. in the :iwi-- cerizing unit; zn :wei-fion' pipe iznii w the inercerizing '.ini; no tb@ inix. whereby acid shinn Hows bj.' gravit): the inercerizing unit rn the mixing); tank: :1 conductivity wel] in tbc niiinfg funk. :ind means` controlled by tbe Cfvnziuciivijc wil. Jfor animating; thv ifmii-vfaitroiiing vulve.

n testimnnv Wirren? T have Signo@ nr.' nani@ i0 this Spe ifi atinii.

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