US1698274A - Shoe-treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

F. w. .PHILLIPS SHOE `TREATING APPARATUS Filedv 001'.. 17, 1925 3 Sheets-Shet ll i IY F Ur ...n 1 J IE, um

F. W. PHILLIPS SHOE TREATING APPARATUS Fi 1ed oct. 17, 1923 3 sheets-Shes; 2

Jan. 8, 1929.

R m w /N F. W. PHILLIPS SHOE TREATING APPARATUS Jan. 8, 1929.

5 @www Rm M 0, t Tv --.FLLL /N m h i Filed oct; 1'?, 1925 the Work-room uncomfortable `and unhealthful. Many and various types of apparatus l have `heretofore been devised to supply hoty :is

Patented Jan.' 8,1929.

UNITED srArss AENT OFFICE;

FREDERICK W. IPHILL-IPS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNTEDvSI-IO'E i MACHINERY CORPORATION; OF PATERSUN, NEVI JERSEY, A `CORPORAIIO'N 0F NEW JERSEY.

. SHOEQTREATING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 17, 1933 Serial No. 669,190', and in Canada December 5, 1922. I i

rIhis invention relates` A to apparatus for treating shoes in process of manufacture to soften the uppers and the stiffening members incorporated therein preparatory to shaping the uppers to the lasts. It is now customary to subject each shoe to a lirst softening treat-` In inodein methods of slioeinaking it has been demonstrated that inoderately'liet Watervapor is the most effective medium to render the upper pliant for pulling over and lasting and thisis true even when the stiffening meinbers aremade of a Well-known prepared-material that becomes soft kwhen heated `Without being moist-cned7 because moisture rather than hea-t is required to malre the upper leather pliant enough to be satisfactorily crimped and shaped around the toe. On the other hand, an excessive quantity of moist vaporis detrimental to someleathers and isobjectionablein that it renders the atmosphere, of

vapor for the purpose stated7 but theyhave been attendedV with problemsin which conl densation, excessive heat, and excessive quantities of vapor have, made it diteult, if not impossible, toet-tain the most desirable results and the most efficient Work-ing.

In vieiv of the diii'i'oulties landproblems above mentioned an object of the invention is to provide an in'iproved softening apparatus by 'which the quant-ity ofv moistvapor and its temperature may be regulated more closely to the requirements of sucliivork, andv bly which the-vapor may be localized at the treat-` ing stat-ions toa greater extent than hereto-k fore. In this respect a` feature of the invention consists in localizing an individual heater under and adjacent to each of a plurality of treating stations and supplying Water, preferablyhot Water, to each of said heaters to provide an individualfsupply ofvalpor for The invention is herein vapori Furthermore, to expedite vaporiza ltion of the Water it is preferable to supply hot Water Vto the individual vaporizers.v lTherefore, the invention provides means by which heat energy may be utilized to propel the viva-1 .ter at atmospheric pressure tothe vaporizers a incidentally to raising the temperature of the Water.

Said means is. hereinafter termedv thermo-motivemeans and includes a small boiler and a steam bubbling fountain.

Since the boiler necessarily produces some vapor incidentally to supplying Water to the individual vaporizers a feature of the inventionV consists in locating it so that said vapor will be used to treat the Work.

kStill another object of the invention is to provide improved means for regulating the quantity of vapor produced by the individual heaters adjacent to the treating stations.

These heaters are preferably formed and arranged to shed theivater that is supplied to them and to. vaporize more or less of the Water While it is flowing from the points vvhere itis supplied to the points-Where it is shed.

lf, then, a quantity of Water in excess of that actually required for vapor is supplied to :flow over each heater a proportionof it will beconverted into vapork and the remainder will be shed.. The proportion of ivater`vaporized may therefore be varied by varyingV the. quantity that iskcshed, and thevproportion shed may be varied either by varying the rate ofspeed at` whichy the Water Hows over the heater orbyvarying the area over vWhicl'i 1t must flow vwhile in contact with tliefheater.

Preferablyvthis regulating may be eifectedV by increasing and decreasing the'lengtli of the` path traversed by the Water iowingon the heater7 and a feature of the invention consists in providing for relative adjustment of the heater and the Wateresupplying means to vary the length of said patlif An'a'dvantage in regulating thevapor output this-Way is that lfluctuation in the volume of Water-supf ply does not produce any substantial varia water for supplying the vaporizing heaters isV therefore kept in circulation while portions of it are being converted into vapor adjacent to the treat-ing localities. The water thus circulated is maintained at a high temperaturerequiring onlya slight increase by the individual vaporizing heaters to produce the Other features of the invention are illustrated by the accompanying drawings vand are hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 isa side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a preferred form of apparatus embodying this invention andineluding the forepart of a shoe in positionfor treatment g Fig. 2 is a vertical section' through `the structure intersectedby line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

3 is a top viewV partly in section, the

'front ofthe apparatus being at the bottom of the figure. p g

The illustrated apparatus comprises preferably a cast iron base 10 which constitutesv the greater part of the casing for enclosing the working parts. The upstanding walls 11 and a horizontal wall 12 provide an open topped reservoir for cold water. The central part of the reservoir is provided with an annular upstanding;r wall 13 that forms a well to contain a boiler 14 so that the reservoir and the boiler may be arranged in nested relation.

Individual treating stations are formed by a series of cowls 15 and are separated from each other by partitions 16.` These elements are preferably cast en bloc and fastened to the top of the walls l11. The bottomsof the treating stations are Vformed by foraminous plates 17 the marginal portions of which rest on flanges projecting from the cowl structure. An adjustable table 18 is provided for sup- "porting a series of shoes arranged side by side, and forms a cover for the forward part of the water reservoir. The work-support is mounted on pivot members 19 adjacent to the cowl member and is adapted to occupy various positions of adjustment with respect to movement about the axis of the pivot members. A bar or strip 20 is connected to the table by a pivot member 21 and is provided with a series of teeth 22 any one ofwhich may cooperate with a stationary pin 23 to maintain the table at the desired angle of inclination.

Individual heaters 25l are provided for the treating stations respectively and are, arranged under the stat-ions to heat the work by upward radiation. y According to the illustrated design these heaters are in the form of shells and are suitably proportionedto contain electric heating units of standard cylindric type. The heaters 25 are designed to function also as lash-boilersto furnish vapor to treat the work, and for this purpose they are preferably provided with trough portions 26 in which the water may :flow while being heated. The trough portions are preferably inclined as shown by Fig. 1 to shed the water, but the degree of inclination is slight and thel water does not drain so rapidly as to rest-riet -vaporization unduly. Since the trough portions 26 are under and adjacent to the treating stations respectively each treating station receives an individual supply of vapor which has so short a distance to travelfrom the vaporizing locality to the work that a high degree of efliciency is maintained.

The apparatus also includes thermo-inotive means for supplying individual streams of water to the troughs 26, the boiler 14 being an element of said means. The boiler is a cup-shaped receptacle and is preferably open at the top. Some hot water-vapor will, of course, rise through the top of the boiler and flow between two of the heaters 25 (see Fig. 2) to the shoes supported over said heaters by the'table 18. To all intents and purposes t-he boiler is thermally insulated from the structure forming the water reservoir and is supported by ears 27 fastened to the bottom 12 of the reservoir by screws. Tater flows by gravity from the reservoir into the boiler through al pipe 28 and maintains the same level in the boiler vas in thereservoir. The bottom of the boiler is provided with chambers 29 for containing electric heating units of standard cylindrictype. The mass to be heated by these units isso smallthat initially' cold water can be caused to boil in the space of a few minutes andwill therev after be maintained at a boiling temperature with comparatively 4little current consumption. t i Y y The thermo-motive means for supplyingA water to the individual vaporizingfheaters 25 comprises, in addition to the boiler 14, a device adapted to utilize the force of ebullition to elevate the water from the level of Athe water reservoir to or above the level of the heating troughs 26. For convenience this device is hereinafter-termed a. steam bubbling fountain. It comprises a. dome-shaped member 30 and a standpipe 31 leading therefrom. The rim of the member SOrests on the bottom of the boiler and is provided with notches to afford Vadequate circulation of lee Wat'er.` Since the bottom of the boiler is the hottest part ofthe water' under the member 30 boils with a high degree of energy and the bubbles of steam rising in the pipe 31. lift the hot water ina series of small bodies to the top of the pipe.'

For the purpose of distributing the hot water equally to thev vaporizing heaters 25, of which there are four in the illustrated apparatus, the top of the standpipe 31 is provided with two branches 32 extending horizontally in opposite directions. Further distribution of the water is eifectedby channel members 33 supplied by the branchesv 32 respectively. Each member 33 has a main channel 34 and two branch channels 35. The discharging ends of the'channels -35 are' arranged over the troughs L26 respectively.

The water-supplying apparatus aboii'e described is capable of supplying the individual vaporizing heaters Q5 with more than enough water to furnish the maximum quantity of vapor required, and since the surplus water drains from the troughs 2G provision is made to return thel surplus to the boiler 14; for subsequent use. Accordingly draining troughs 36 yare 'arranged to receive the water shed by the troughs 26. The troughs 36 are rpreferably inclined and their discharge ends are located over the boiler.

Some ofthe water is kept in-eirculation by the above-described apparatus and is maintained at a temperature that requires comparatively little additional heat from the heaters 25 to" convert it into vapor. The water-reservoir and pipe 28 automatically replenish the boiler tocompensate for' thev water taken out by vapori'zation.

The illustrated apparatus also provides for regulating the vapor output of the troughs i6 by altering tli-e extent to which -thewater may iiow on theinf Forthisf vpurpose the channel members 33 are arranged to be ad.- justed lengthwise of the troughs Q6.V The channel members 33 are arranged to slide on stationary supporting rods 37 respectively.

Operating rods 38 are fastened to the members 33 and extend laterally through slots 39 in the side walls il of the casing. Knobs 40 are attached to the outer 'ends of the rods 38 and afl'ord convenient means Vby which theV members 33 may be adjusted toward and fromthe draining ends of the troughs'.'k

When the channel members 33 are adj usted to discharge the water at points relative-ly distant from the draining ends of the troughsv quantity of vapor is more than needed it may be diminished by shifting the membersSS to `culate7 provided the Y l regulating the heating effect of vunitsin the chambers 29. p 1

Any preferred controlling apparatus may discharge the water into the troughs Q6 at' Vpoints nearer the draining ends `of the troughs. This will shorten the patlis'of the water on the heaters and, will also shorten the length of time during whichI the water remains in contact with the heaters. The range of adjustment ofthe members 33 is sufiici-ent to permit-shiftingthe discharging ends into verti cal register with the draining troughs 36, and when the members 33 are in thatposition no water is vaporized by the heaters 25 but continues nevertheless to cirbubbling fountain continues to operate.

Each adjusting rod is `provided with a frictional device for maintaining the posi@ tion of adjustmentagainst the Vtendency of lshop vibration to shift the members 33. Each of said devices comprises a 'collar el loosely surrounding the rod and pressed against the outside surface of the adjacent wall of the casing by av compression spring 42.

Since the vaporizing heaters 25y aire grouped in pairs, and since each pair is su-p` plied `with water by a single adjustable meme what they may be, have no effect on theoper-A ation of the thermo-motive means for circulating the water, the Alatter vcontinuing to e operate under all conditions excepting as the quantitv of water circulated' may he varied by the electric be provided to regulatev the` temperature of the individual heaters 25 and the Velectric heatingunits embedded in the lbottom of the primary boiler 1d.V For example7 the draw! ings illustrate a three-way switch for controlling the heating unitsby Ywhich the primary vboileris operated7 and this eircuitmay be independent of the circuits including the electricunits in the heatersQ, They threeway switch andthe heating units for kthe boiler 11i are so connected that by turning the knob of the 'switch to one position current will be furnishedv to both heating units to start kthe operation of the boiler.

iio"

12o By turning the f lnob of the switch to another position one ofvv V the? heating units maybe out out while the other continues to .operate the boiler. "Turning the knob of ithe switch to still another fposition willdisconnect both heating units. Two independent switcheset and??? are pro-- videdifor controlling-the circuits that operate the vaporizing heaters 25, reach pair of said he'atersbeing under the Vcontrol of one oli these switches. Furthermore, a iheostat 48 is included in the circuit controlled by the switch 46 While a rheostat 49 is included in the circuit controlled by the switch 47. T his affords regulation of the heating eii'ect oit one pair of heaters bythe iheostat 48 while the heatingelfect of the other pair of heaters 25 may be regulated by the rheostat 49. Il' the character of the Work is such that no vapor is required the switch 45 Will be lett in a position to cut out both heating units ofthe boiler 14 and the switches 46 and 47 will be setto turn on thecurrent for the units in the indithen supply radiant heat exclusively.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 'iso Patent ofthe United States is z- 1. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising means forming a treating station, a heater adjacent thereto, a reservoir for Water at atmospheric. pressure, and thein'io-motive means arranged to supply Water from said reservoir to said heater to furnish vapor for treat-ing the Work. Y

2. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising means forming a treating station, a heater adjacent thereto, an open reservoir Jfor cold Water at atmospheric j ressure, and means includinga steam bu bling fountain arranged to receivecold Water from said rcservoir by gravity and to supply hot Water to said heater tofurnish vapor for treating the Work.

3. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a flash-boiler for generating treating vapor, means for supporting an article of Work adjacent to said lashfboiler for treatment, a primary boiler at a level lower than said Hash-boiler, and means including a steam bubbling fountain `for supplying `hot Water from saidrprimary boiler to said flash-boiler to be vaporized by the latter.

4. A sshoe-treating apparatus comprising means forming a treating station for the Work, heating means arranged adjacent to said treating stationfor generating treating vapor, a. boiler arranged at a levelloirer than said heating means, and means includingl a steam bubblingi'ountain tor supplying het Water from said boiler to said heating means to be vaporized by the latter.

5. A shoe-treating apparatus coinprii-aing means` forming a treating station, an open boiler arranged under said treating station to supply vapor toi treating the Work, a heat `ei arranged between said boiler and the Werl;-

`means forming a series of treating stations for individual articles oi' Work, Vanopen boiler arranged undei said ftreating stations to sup- -ply vapor for treating the worlna series of heaters located under and adjacent to said treating stations respectively, and means .tor

'supplying hot Water from said boiler to said for individual articles otwork, a series ofV heaters located under and adjacent to said stations respectively, and means including a boiler and a steam bubbling fountain for supplying hot- Water to said heaters to furnish individual supplies ot vapor. to the treating sta-tions respectively.

8.- A shoe-treating vapparatus comprising meansiorming a treating station, an open boiler arranged under said station toV supply vapor totreat the Work, a heater ar@ ranged under said station but above said boilver to re-lieat said vapor, and a steam bubbling fountain for supplying het Water from said boiler to said heater to iiurnisli a supplcmental quantity of vapor for the Work.V

A 9. A shoe-treatingapparatus comprising means forming a treating station, a heater adjacent thereto, means including a boiler arranged to supplyhot Water to said heaterto furnish vapor for treating the Work, and

means arranged to return any excess of hot 4vmteii'rom said heater to said boiler.

l0. A slioe-treatiiig apparatus comprising means forming a series of treating stations, a' series of heaters arranged adjacent to said stations respectively, means including a boiler for supplying hot Water at atmospheric pressure to each of said Yheaters to furnish vapor for treating the Work, said boilerbeing below the level of said heaters, and means for draining any vexcess of Water from said heaters and returning it to said boiler.

11. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising means forming an open water-circuit, means loi' circulating Water at atmospheric j aii'essure, means i'orming a treating station adjacent to Va pointin the Water-circuit, and Vheating means arranged to vaporize somel of the Water at said point to supply said station With vapor for treating the Work. y

lf2. A shoe-treating ajipai'atus comprising means forming Van open Water-circuit including thermo-,motive means 'for heating and circulating water at atmospheric pressure means forming a treatin@ station ad- Ajacent to` a point in the Water-circuit, and

.heating means adjacent to said treating station ior vaporizingr some of the `Water in circulation to supply vapor for treating the Work. p Y i 13. A shoetreating apparatus comprising means toi-ming a treating station, a heater adjacent to said station, said heater having atrough for converting Water into vapor to treat the Work, meansincluding a boiler to meV iso

Lessa/4 supply Water-at atmospheric pressure tosaid trough, andmeaus arranged to return `surplus Water from lsaid trough to l,said boiler.

14.-.. vA shoe-treating apparatus comprising means forming a treating station, a heater adjacent to said station for converting Waterinto vapor to treat the Work, thermo-motive means to supply Water vto said heater, andl means.' arranged to return surplus Water from said heater to said thermo-mo`tive means for subsequentuse.

15. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising means forming a treating station, a heater arranged adjacent to said station for converting Water into vapor to treat the Work,

thermo-motive means arranged to supplyy water 'from a lower level to said heater' vtobe vaporized, and means arranged to kdram surplus EWater from saidheater bacl to said thermo-.motive-means -for subsequent use. y

16. A shoe-treatingapparatus comprising means ,forming a treating station, 1a heater adjacent to said station for converting Water into vapor totreatithe Work, means including an open boiler adjacent `to said station and a steam bubbling fountain for transferring hot Water at atmospheric `pressure from' said boiler to saidheater to be vaporized, vand means -or automatically replenishing;the Water in said boiler.

17. A shoe-treatingapparatus comprising means formingl a -treating station, a heater adjacent to said station for converting Water into vapor to treat the Work, means including an open boiler and a'steam bubbling fountain for transferring hot Water at atmospheric pressure romsaid boiler to said heater to be vaporized, a Water-reservoir thermally Ainsulated from said boiler and arranged substantially at theboiler level,and a conduit arranged to maintain the Water flevelin said boiler at the same height as that in said reservoir.

i 18,. A shoeftreating apparatus comprising` means forming a treating station, a yheater adjacent to saidfstationfor converting Water into vapor totreat the Work,/ther1no-motive.

means for supplyingfhotpvvaterto said heater to be vaporized, and a Water-reservoir surrounding but thermally insulatedlfrom `said thermo-.motive meansfto -replenish thev latter Withvvaterby gravity. v i

'19. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising means forminga treating station, ya heater adjacent to said station for converting Water into.vapor:totreat'the-Work, an open boiler at alevelloiver than said heater, and a conduit -arranged;to.supply hot Water fromsaid boiler to said heater, the receiving endof said conduitbeing arranged in the Water-spaceand adjacent .tothe bottom ofthe boiler to lead the Water upwardly under thepropulsive energyof the. steam bubbles.;

20. Ay shoe-treating apparatus comprising means forming .a -Water-circuit kand water- Y circulating means including one `or more heaters for vconvert-nig aproportion of-the circulating vWater .into vapor ,to treat the Work, andmeans constructed andarranged to replenish said Water-circuit automatically with additional Waterat a rate substantially commensurate With the rate of vapori'zation.

21. yA shoe-treating yapparatus .comprising one or more heaters for convertingvvaterinto vapor adjacent to one or more v4treatingstations, means form-ing a Water-circuit `and Water-circulat1ng means yincluding an: open boiler `tor supplying hot Waterfat atmose` pheric pressure to saidheater,orheatersnand lmeans constructed and arranged to replenish v said boiler automatically with additional water at a rate substantially commensurate with the rate of vaporization. Y

22. A shoe-,treating apparatus comprising a Watersheddingheater for convertingy Water into vapor togtreatathe Work, and'means or supplying lWater to lovv von said heater, said heater and supplying means 1being Erelativelyadjustable to vary inverselythe-sheddingand vaporizingof Water.

23; A,shoeftreatingapparatus comprising a heater for converting Water into vapor-*Ito treat the work, @said1heater diaviirgia avatardraining trough, :and fmnnfs for supplyfllg l vvillremain in contact `vvitli the heater inflow- .ing from the'point ofsupply to the lshedding locality.

25. A shoeetreating'apparatus comprising a fheater for vconverting Water 4into vapor .to treatfthe Work, said heater having la trough formed and arranged to drain the Water toa predetern'iined `point and to discharge vsurplus Water atsaid'point, and means for sup-` plying Water to'said trough to be zvaporized, saidheater and ysupplying meansbeing rela# tively adjustable to vary the distanceV be# tvveenthe discharge. i

26. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising point of supply and :said point ot" les a heater for converting Water into Avapor Ato treat; the Work, said'heater having aninclined vaporiaingportion, and means for supplying Water to iow on said inclined portion, said heaten and supplying-means being yrelatively down said inclined portion. f' i Y y '27. A3 shoetreating apparatus comprising adj ustablefto shift the'po'intlof supplyup and lao a heater for converting Water into vapor to treat `the Work, said heater having a draining trough the bottom of which is inclined, and means for supplying Water to said trough,

i said heater and supplying means being relavidual streams of Water to flow on said heaters respectively, said heaters being formed and arranged to shed the water not vaporlzed,

and said heaters collectively and said meansV liieing relatively adj ustable to vary inversely the proportions oi water drained and Water vaporized.` i

29. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising heating means having `a plurality of individual draining receptacles for converting Water into vapor to treat the Work, and means for supplying individual streams of water to said receptacles respectively, said receptacles collectively and said supplying means being relatively adjustable to `vary inversely the proportions of Water drained and Water vaporized.

30. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a plurality of heaters each having a draining trough for converting Water into vapor to treat the Work, means forminga source of supply for vvater, and means for distributing Water from said source of supply to said troughs respectively, said distributing means including an adjustable member by Which water is supplied to a plurality of said troughs and by which the points of supply may -beshifted toward and from the draining points of the troughs. i f L 3l.` A shoe-treating` apparatus comprisinga plurality of groups of heaters for converting Water into `vapor to treat the work, a source of Water-supply, and Water-distributingmeans comprising a plurality of individually adjustable members arranged to deliver'water to flow on the heaters of the groups respectively, said heaters being formed and arranged to shed the Water and said members being adjustable to shift the points of `delivery for thepurpose ofvarying the vapor output of the heaters.

32. A shoe-treatingapparatus comprising a series of pairs of heaters for'converting Water into vapor to treat the Work, `each pair of heaters having a pair of parallel draining troughs for the Water, and water-supplying means comprising channelmembers arranged between the heaters of said pairs respectively, each of said channel members being adapted to deliver Water to the tWo troughs adjacent to it and being adjustable lengthwise of the troughs to vary inversely the proportions of `Water vaporized and Water drained.

33. A shoe-treating appartus comprising Water-sheddingsheatingmeans for converting ivater into vapor to treatthe Work, a casing, means in said casing for supplying Water to flow on said heatingmeans, said supplying means including an adjustable member for shifting the delivery point or points ofthe Water toward and from the shedding point or Vpoints ot saidheating means, and adjusting means extending Vthrough said casing to be operated externally for shifting said adjustable memberi 3ft. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a series of individual heaters for converting Water into vapor to treat the Work at a series of stations,` a relatively broad and shallow ivater-reservoiriuiderlying said heaters and having a, substantially central. Welhineans for supplying water 'to flow on said heater-s, said supplying means including arboilcr arranged in said Well and a connection forenabling Water to iioiv from said reservoir into said boiler, and means for draining surplus Water from said heaters back to said bOileriOrsubsequent use.

35. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a plurality of individual heaters for converting Water into vapor to treat articles oit workv individually at separate'stations, and means for supplying individual streams of Water to said heaters respectively, said means including an adjustable vmember for changing the course of one or more of said streams independently or' one or more .other streams to vary the vapor output of one or more of said heaters independently of the vaporoutput of one or more other heaters. r

36. A shoe-treatingl apparatus comprising means. forming a treating station, a heater adjacent thereto, and means,` adjacent tothe treating station for boiling` a liquid at atmospheric pressure and supplying thesame to said-heater by the action producedxin boiling. f 37.` A shoe-treating apparatus comprising las means for supporting the Work, a heater for boiling Water under the Workstation, means for supplying Water to'said heater, a secondary heater Lfor vaporizing Water ladjacent to the Work station, and means arranged4 to supply to said secondary heater, by the boiling action of said primary heater, a portion of the Water boiled by the latter.

38. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a water-reservoir having an interior upstanding Wall `forming an air space surrounded by the Water space, a heater arranged in said air space, a conduit arranged to supply vvater from said reservoir to said heater to be heated, and means for supporting the Work over said heater to be treated by the vapor rising therefrom. i i y 39. AV shoe-treating apparatus comprising Work-supporing means, heating means arranged adjacent to the Work station, and

Water-circulating means for supplying running Water to .said heating means to furnish vapor for treating the Work, the two latter the two latter said means being relatively.

adjustable to vary the quantity of vapor irrespective of any surplusage of water sup# plied. f i

4l. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising work-supporting means, means for heating the work, and water-circulating means in` cluding said heating means for supplying water to furnish vapor for treating the work, the two latter said means being organized to limit the quantity of vapor irrespective of the quantity of water circulated and irrespective of the degree of heat developed.

42. A slice-treating apparatus comprising means forming a Water-circuit and including heating means arranged to circulate the waterl and vaporize a. portion thereof in the atmosphere, and means` arranged to support the work adjacent to a point in said circuit where the vapor is liberated from the water.

48. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a plurality of work-stations, a plurality of {lash-boilers arranged adjacent to said sta'- tions respectively, and y means for heating water at atmospheric pressure and for there by'supplyng hot Water to said flash-boilers individually to Jfurnish individual supplies of vapor to the work-stations.

44. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising work-supporting means, and means 'forming an open water-circuit, the latter said means including water-circulating means and a heater arranged to supplyradiant heat to the work and to evaporate some of the water flowing in said circuit.

45. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising means arranged to support a shoe for treatnient, an open reservoir for cold water at atmospheric pressure, a heater arranged above the level of said reservoir, both said reservoir and said heater being arranged to underlie the shoe, and means arranged to supply water from said reservoir to said heater to be converted into vapor by the latter, said water-supplying means including a boiler vthermally insulated from said reservoir andl arranged to raise the water to or above the level of said heater by the force of ebullit-ion.

46. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a water-reservoir and an open topped boiler arranged in nested relation but thermally insulated from each other, av conduit torming communication between said boiler and said reservoir below the kwater-level, and

means constructed and arranged to provide.

a cover for said reservoir and to support a slice in the path of the vapor risingrfrom said boiler.

n 47. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising means arranged` to support a shoe Jfor treatnient, a heater arranged to underlie a shoe supported by said means, a water reservoir and a boiler arranged in nestedrelation but thermally insulated from each other and having communication with each other below the water-level, said reservoir and said boiler being arranged to underlie'such shoe below the level of said heater, and means arranged to supply hot water from said boiler to said rheater by the vforce of ebullition.

l Iny testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specication.

FREDERICK w. PHILLIPS.

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