US2174474A - Dyeing or bleaching machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 26, 1939. R. E. oBl-:RHoLTzER DYEING OR BLEACHING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l aL/4%? @au J 5 Sept. 26, 1939.

R. E. OBERHOLTZER DYEING OR BLEACHILNG MACHINE Filed April 7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 No W Q W"`H SePt- 26, v1939. R. E. oBERHoLTzER DYEING OR BLEACHING MACHINE Filed April '7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet` 4 fff @3g/7142.5@

Sept. 26, 1939. R. E. oBERHoLTzI-:R

A DYEING OR BLEACHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 7, 1937 Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES eArsNr ortica Application April 7, 1937, Serial No. 135,583

10 Claims.

This invention relates to dyeing machines, and particularly to machines of the Hussong type, i. e. a type which comprises a vat arranged and adapted to receive skeins of yarn hung on poles,

or loose bulk material in cages, through which dye liquor is circulated alternately in opposite directions by means of propellers located in one end of the vat.

Heretofore difculty has been experienced in dyeing a mass or batch of material, or a series of batches, uniformly throughout the whole of each batch or the run made up of the series of successively dyed batches. The trouble is traceable p to faulty construction of the vat, by which leakage of the dye liquor around marginal portions of the mass and through channels or voids formed in the mass is permitted; and partly to poor controi of the circulation of the liquor flow in the vat. These leakages and inferior control of the flow produce higher velocities in the flow of the liquor in and around the marginal portions of the mass than in the more compacted central portions or areas of the mass and affect the penetration of the mass by the dyestuff. The .diiferences in the flow velocities and variable penetration potentialities in relatively diferent portions respectively of the mass produce relatively diierent color shades in such portions.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved vat construction and flow control which will overcome the above noted faults of devices now in use.

The improved construction and control will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a dyeing machine made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of one of the flow distributing elements of the machine;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional perspective views illustrating certain details of the construction;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the detail of the invention taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 1 -1, Fig. 2.

The machine illustrated in the drawings of the present case is of the larger size generally known in the trade as a thousand pound machine. To those skilled in the art such a designation immediately indicates a vat having a yarn-reoeiving chamber substantially 10 foot square in plan and 3 feet deep.

(Cl. (iS-188) It will be understood, of course, that the above noted measurements are approximate and are given merely as an indication of the size of the yarn-receiving chamber for reasons which will appear more fully hereinafter.

It will also be understood that the above designation is not to be construed as placing any limitations on the scope of the invention as the features of the invention are applicable, with equal facility, to machines of lower and higher capacities and correspondingly smaller and larger vats, etc.

In machines of the above noted larger size and type, it is the usual practice to hang the skeins of yarn on sticks or poles which are of a length approximating half the width of the yarn or dyeing chamber. These sticks or poles are hung in a rack which comprises two outer longi tudinal stringers and an intermediate longitudinal Stringer spaced equidistant from the outer stringers and extending parallel thereto. The outer and intermediate stringers are normally provided with sockets for receiving the extreme ends of the yarn poles which extend transversely of the dyeing chamber and are arranged in laterally spaced relation to each other in each of two parallel rows. The rack, when loaded, is lowered into the vat with the suspended skeins of yarn hanging vertically in the yarn-receiving or dyeing chamber proper. This construction leaves a channel or void running longitudinally through the mass of material to be dyed, below the intermediate Stringer, and in which the velocity of the dye liquor is greater than through the skeins of yarn hanging in the dye liquor at the opposite sides respectively of the central stringer.

The rack usually rits into the vat rather loosely, with a fairly large amount of space between the outer stringers and the side walls of the vat; and between the poles at the extreme ends of the rack and the end walls of the dyeing chamber. Such construction permits large quantities of the dye liquor to escape from the dyeing chamber without coming into contact with the material to be dyed. The escaping liquor, therefore, has a higher velocity than the liquor passing through the bulk of material in the dyeing chamber.

The construction forming the subject matter of the present invention is adapted to correct the above noted conditions. First, by eliminating the intermediate pole-supporting Stringer and providing long continuous poles of special construction extending uninterruptedly from side to side of the dyeing chamber on which skeins of yarn are hung compactly from sideto side of the chamber, thereby eliminating the central channel or void through the mass.

The construction further includes improved features by which the escape of uid around the margins of the mass is eliminated and by which the flow of liquor is directed and controlled in a manner to distribute the flow uniformly through the heart or centralized areas of the mass and the marginal portions of the mass. First, by providing a seal between the rack and the walls of the dyeing chamber; and secondly, by providing a perforated cover plate for the dyeing chamber, with the perforaticns arranged so as to equalize or distribute the flow evenly over the entire area of the dyeing chamber.

Another feature of the invention resides in providing a similar perforated plate in the bottom cf the dyeing chamber and providing a seal between the bottom plate and the walls of the dyeing chamber.

Another feature resides in making the sum of the areas of the perforations in the top and bottom plates of the dyeing chamber substantially equal to each other and equal to the sum of the areas of a plurality of propeller wells through which the dye liquor must pass in circulation in the vat.

The holes in the bottom and top plates of the dyeing chamber are similarly arranged in order that, regardless of the direction in which the liquor is caused to flow through the dyeing chamber, the volume of liquor leaving the dyeing chamber through the perforations of one plate is equal to the volume of liquor entering the dyeing chamber through the perforations of the other plate, it being noted that, in the Hussong type of dyeing machine, the dye liquor is circulated first in one direction, by a series of propellers rotating in said wells, and then in the opposite direction by reversing the direction of rotation of said propellers.

By controlling the flow set up by the propellers and by preventing the escape of the circulating liquor in the manner above noted equal uniform dyeing of the entire batch in each instance, and

-in any number of recurring instances, is obtained.

In the drawings, the vat is generally indicated at A, and comprises a bottom I, vertical end walls 2 and 3, and vertical side walls 4 and 5.

In the present instance, the bottom I is arranged on an incline, being a greater distance from the door .r at the end 2 of the vat, as indicated at m1, than at the end 3, as indicated at x2, for the purpose of insuring complete drainage of the vat through drain pipes 6 and for other reasons which will be hereinafter disclosed.

The entire interior and top edges of the vat A are lined or covered with a non-corrosive dyeresisting material, in the present instance stainless steel. This lining is indicated at I0. All joints between the sheets which compose the lining of the tub A are welded together and the seams are smoothened to prevent harboring of any dyestuffs when the tank is drained through the pipes 6, whereby the color of one dyeing operation will not be carried over into a different 'color used in the next dyeing operation and detrimentally affecting the subsequent dyeing,

At the bottom of the tub A and extending along the end 2 and sides 4 and 5 of the tub is a filler block 'I, around which the lining I0 passes and which provides a shelf II in a single horizontal plane around said three walls 2, 4 and 5 of the vat, for purposes hereinafter noted.

Likewise the end 2 and the side walls 4 and are reduced in thickness at and to a substantial distance below the top edge of the Vat to provide a shelf I2 in a single horizontal plane around the three walls 2, 4 and 5 of the Vat, in vertically spaced relation to the shelf II and to the top edge I3 of the vat for purposes hereinafter described.

Spaced inwardly from and extending in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the end wall 3 of the vat is a removable partition I5 which extends from the side wall 4 to the side wall 5 of the vat. The partition I5 in the present case is also made of stainless steel and divides the vat into a dyeing chamber A1 and a propeller chamber A2.

Extending in a horizontal plane completely across the propeller chamber A2, from the end wall 3 of the vat to the partition I5 and from the side wall 4 of the vat to the side wall 5 thereof, is a removable propeller bo-ard in the form of a stainless steel plate I6 which is provided at spaced intervals with propeller openings I'I, I 'I. Each of the propeller openings I1 is provided with a cylindrical flange I8 forming a well in which is mounted a propeller I9. Each propeller is carried by a vertical shaft 2U.

The upper end of each shaft Ztl is rotatably mounted in the usual framework 2I common to machines of this type. The framework 2| rests on and is secured to a top plank 22 disposed above the propeller chamber A2. The top plank 22 rests on the upper edges of and is secured to the end wall 3 and the side walls 4 and 5 of the vat A. The framework 2l carries the usual driving and reversing mechanisms for the shafts 20 which form no part of the present invention.

The lower edge of the partition I5 is provided with a right angle flange 23 which is disposed in a horizontal plane, with the upper surface of said flange flush with the upper surface of the shelf II and forming therewith a continuous bearing and sealing surface completely around all the four sides of the dyeing chamber A1 and on which a perforated false bottom 25 is seated in a manner to prevent leakage of the dye liquor into or out of the bottom of the dyeing chamber A1 around the marginal edges of the false bottom 25; and whereby any and all liquid passing to and from the dyeing chamber A1, through the bottom thereof, must pass through the perforations 25 formed in and distributed over substantially the entire area of the false bottom 25 in a manner hereinafter described.

The false bottom 25 is provided with a depending flange 2l extending around all four sides thereof, at a predetermined distance inwardly from the extreme marginal edges thereof, and arranged to rest against the metal lining of the vat where it bends at right angles from the shelf II over the upper, inner edge of the filler block 'I. The portion of the flange 21 which is adjacent the partition I5 bears against the free edge of the flange 23 of the partition I5. The flange 2'! assists in forming a seal around the false bottom 25.

The upper edge of the partition I5b is provided with a reinforcing or edge bar 38. The edge bar 35 is welded throughout its entire length to the upper edge of the partition I5 to form an integral part thereof, and to prevent leakage between the bar 30 and the abutting edge of the partition I5. The upper surface of the bar 30 is flush with the upper surface of the upper shelf I2 and forms therewith a continuous bearing and sealing surface, disposed in a single horizontal plane around the four sides of the dyeing chamber A1, for the reception of a perforated cover plate 35 for the dyeing chamber A1. The marginal edges of the cover plate 35 overlap and form a seal with the shelf I2 to prevent escape of the dye liquor into or out of the dyeing chamber A1 around the cover 35 and requires that any liquid iiowingl to or from the dyeing chamber A1 through the top thereof must pass through perforations 36 formed in the cover plate 35 and distributed over substantially the entire area thereof in the same manner as the perforations 26 of the false bottom 25.

The total areas of the perforations 36 in the cover plate 35 are substantially equal to the sum of the areas of the perforations 26 in the false bottom 25, as above noted.

From the above, it will be clear that the dyeing chamber A1 is sealed and isolated from the other parts of the interior of the vat A in such a manner that the flow of liquor to and from the interior of the dyeing chamber A1 must pass through the perforations 26 and 35 in the false bottom 25 and cover plate 35 respectively.

The partition I5 is removably mounted in grooves 3| formed in the side walls 4 and 5 of the vat. These grooves are actually formed in bars 32 which are welded throughout their entire lengths respectively to the lining I8, to prevent escape of liquor through the butt joints between the bars 32 and the lining III.

The propeller board I6 is likewise removably mounted in grooves 3| formed in bars 32 welded throughout their entire lengths to the lining I8 of the end andv side walls 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The propeller board I6 is provided with a depending flange 33 at that edge thereof which abuts the partition I5 and the partition I5 is provided with a flange 34 which rests on the upper surface of the propeller board I6 and, if desired, may be secured to said propeller board by bolts 29. This construction prevents leakage around the propeller board I6 so that all liquor flowing or passing from the lower part of the propeller chamber A2 to the upper part of said propeller chamber or vice versa must pass through the propeller wells I8 which are formed in the propeller board.

The total areas of the plurality of propeller openings I1, I1 in the propeller board I6 are substantially equal to the total areas of the perforations 26 or 36 in the false bottom 25 and cover plate 35 of the dyeing chamber A1.

In this manner the flow of liquor in either direction in the machine, due to the prevention of leakage from one part to another part of the interior of the vat A and by rotating the propellers I9 at a predetermined number of revolutions per minute, may be accurately controlled and the speed of the propellers recorded. In this way, subsequent batches of material may be uniformly dyed by using corresponding dye mixes for the successive batches and by rotating the propellers in one direction for a given length of time and in the opposite direction for a given length of time corresponding to the recorded operations of the propellers during dyeing of an initial batch.

In each instance the accuracy of the control of the flow insures that, under the circumstances with all things and conditions equal, each of any number of successive batches intended to be dyed the same color will be uniformly dyed throughout each batch and throughout all of the batches combined.

The cover plate 35 is removable from the dyeing chamber A1 together with and as a part of the yarn-supporting rack B. The rack comprises a pair of parallel transversely extending beams 31, 31 which, as shown in Fig. 1, are of suflicient length to extend over and beyond the side walls 4 and 5 of the vat A.

Secured to the under side of the beams 31, 31 are longitudinally extending members 38, 38 which constitute the main stringers of the rack. Each Stringer 38 is formed of a bent sheet of stainless steel, in the present instance, and comprises a horizontally extending portion 39 which lies in the same plane as the cover plate 35 and is welded to the longitudinal edges of said cover plate throughout the full length thereof, along the juncture lines 40 therebetween, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. The horizontal portions 39 of the stringers 38 form continuations of the cover plate 35 and constitute the parts of the plate 35 which rest on the shelf I2 along the side walls i and 5 of the vat, to form the seal above noted.

The upper edge of the rack member 38 in each instance is provided with a horizontally extending flange 4I which is adapted to be secured to the under side of the lifting beams 31, 31. The corresponding ends of the anges 4I, 4I, at that end of the rack B which is disposed adjacent the partition I5 and cover plank 22, are integrally connected by an angle member 42 which is welded at its opposite ends to the ends of the flanges 4I, 4i and to longitudinal rack members 38, 38 respectively below said fianges.

The above noted ends of the members 38, 38 are also integrally connected by a second angle bar 43 which is parallel to and spaced from and below the angle bar 42. One ange 44 of the bar 43 lies in the plane of the cover plate 35 and forms a continuation thereof which rests on the top bar 38 of the partition I5, said flange forming a continuation of the cover plate 35. The second flange 45 of the angle bar 43 extends vertically from the plane of the cover plate 35 and is welded to said cover plate throughout the entire Width of the cover plate along the juncture line 46 shown in Fig. 5.

The opposite ends of the two longitudinal members 38, 38 of the rack B are integrally connected by a top angle bar 41 which is welded at its opposite ends to said side members 38, 38 respectively. Said members 38, 38 are also connected at said end by a second angle bar 48, one fiange 49 of which is disposed in the plane of the cover plate 35 and rests on the shelf I2 on the end 2 of the vat A, the edge of the cover plate 35 being welded throughout its entire width to the angle bar 43 along the juncture line 58, as shown in Fig. 4.

The rack B also includes a longitudinally extending channel beam 5I which is disposed equidistant from the members 38, 38 and parallel thereto and secured to the beams 31, 31 by bolts 52, 52.

Disposed in a horizontal plane above the members 38, 38, 5I and below the under sides of the beams 31, 31 is an imperforate cover plate 55 which closes the top of the vat A when the rack B is in position therein, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The marginal portions of the cover plate 55 rest on the upper edges I3 of the walls 2, 4 and 5 of the vat. The cover plate 55 is provided with hinged doors 56, 56, 51, 51 and 58, 58 which may be opened at will for purposes hereinafter described.

The rack B also includes a pair of longitudinally extending pole-supporting beams or stringers 60, 6U which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are arranged to lie immediately adjacent and parallel to the side walls 4 and 5 respectively. The stringers 68 are removably attached to the rack B by means of latch bolts 6|.

Each latch bolt 6| includes a shank 62 which is slidably mounted in axially aligned openings formed in bearings 63, 64 and 65, all of which are welded to the horizontal portions 33 of they longitudinal rack members 38, 38, Intermediate the bearings 64 and 65 the frame members 39 are provided with openings 66 through which extend eye members 61, each eye member having an opening 68 normally aligned with the openings in the bearings 63, 64 and 65 and arranged to receive the shank 62 of the latch bolt. Each eye member 61 is provided with a plate or body portion 69 which is disposed in the channel of the stringer member 60 and welded to the upstanding legs or side flanges thereof. The shank 62 of each of the latch bolts 6| is provided with a handle 10 which when the opposite end 15 of the bolt 6| is extending through the elements 64, 65 and 61 to lock the channel member 66 to the rack members 38, lies in front of a vertically projecting lug 1| which is carried by the element 39 to keep the bolt 6| from moving in a direction to release the channel member 56. A collar 12 secured to the shank 62 limits movement of the bolt 6| in the opposite direction, and a similar collar 13 secured to the ehr-nk 62 prevents the shank from being moved a suilicient distance to release the locking end 15 of the shank from the member 64 when the handle 18 is turned from the horizontal positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to a vertical position to withdraw the locking ends 15 to the bolts 6| from the eye members 61 to release the channel members 60.

The inner leg or side wall 16 of each of the channel members 68 is provided with a series of recesses 11 which extend from the top edge 18 thereof to the base or cross member 19 of the channel member 60, for the reception of yarnsupporting elements 80.

The yarn-supporting elements 88, as shown in the drawings, are of hollow rectangular cross section and extend continuously from the one channel member 60 at the one side 4 of the vat A to the channel member 66 at the opposite side 5 of the vat A. The yarnesupporting members 86 are prevented from moving to any substantial extent longitudinally by the opposite ends of said yarnesupporting members 8D engaging the outer vertical legs 8| of the channel members 66. Relative lateral movement of the yarn-supporting members 86 is prevented by the side edges of the recesses 11 of the members 66; and vertical movement of the yarn-supporting members Si), rela tive to the members 68, is normally prevented by a depending 82 which extends downwardly from the horizontal member 39 of the elements 38 of the rack B and engages the tops of the yarn-supporting members 80.

After a dyeing operation has been completed on a batch of yarn, the rack B is raised out of the vat A by means of hooks on crane cables or chains fastened to the eyes 83, 83 carried by the beams 31, 31. The rack B, including the cover plates 35 and 55, the channel members 60 and the yarnsupporting members 80 are all raised clear of the vat A, as a unit, and transported to a loading and unloading station where the channel members 6|) are brought to rest on suitable supports provided therefor. The doors 56, 51 and' 58 of the imperforate cover may now be opened to gain access to the locking bolts 6| by which the members 60, 68 are normally secured to the rack B. The bolts 6| are turned and moved longitudinally until the ends 15 thereof move out of the apertures 68 of the eye members 61 carried by the channel members 66. The rack B is then raised leaving the members 60, in the supports provided therefor with th'e yarn-supporting elements 80 resting in said channel members 60.

In raising the rack B, the eyes 61 of the channel member 66 slip out of the openings 66 in the rack members 38 and the flanges 82 of the rack members 38 are raised from the upper surfaces of the yarn-supporting members 80, after which the members 8U may be individually removed from the recesses 11 in the channel members 60 for removing the dyed yarny therefrom.

In loading the vat, the operation is reversed, with the channel members 60 supported in predetermined laterally spaced relation to each other by the supports above noted, the yarn-supporting members 80 are individually loaded and placed in the recesses 11 of the channel members 60, B is lowered over the members 60 until the eyes 61 thereof pass through the openings 66 in the rack members 38, at which time the lower edges of the flanges 82 of the rack members 38 come to rest on the tops of the yarnsupporting elements 86. The eyes 61 of the channel members 66 are then aligned with the bolts 6| which are operated to secure the members 66 to the rack B. The rack is then ready for placement in the vat A.

The perforations in the false bottom 25 and in the cover plate 35 of the dyeing chamber A1 are arranged in the manner illustrated. in Fig. 3, said perforations being relatively close together within a central area C. In a surrounding area D the perforations 26 are spaced apart a relatively greater distance than in the central area C, and in an extreme marginal area Ev surrounding the area D the plates 25 and 35 are devoid of perforations. It is preferred that there be substantially twice as many perforations per square foot in the area C as in the area D of As an example in a machine of the size disclosed, there would be approximately 4,722 openings of 1/4 inch diameter in the area D and 9,444 similar size openings in the area C. In this manner the relatively high velocity iiow which normally exists between the outer edges of the load or bulk of material being dyed and the walls of the vat and in the lesser compacted marginal regions of the load are shut oif completely immediately adjacent the walls of the vat by the imperforate areas E and directed inwardly to the areas D wherein the perforations are relatively far apart. This arrangement, while permitting flow through the marginal portions of the load, directs the excess flow into the cen.- tral more closely compacted region or area of the load, to pass through the closer spaced perforations 26 within the central area C. This relationship in practice has proven quite satisfactory in producing substantially uniform ow of the liquid through the entire batch being dyed in the vat A.

The dye liquor passing to and from the interior of the dyeing chamber A1 passes through the perforated plates 35 and 25 into horizontal channels F and G which communicate with the upper and lower portions respectively in the propeller channel A2 and afford circulating passages for the liquor between the dyeing chamber A1 and the propeller chamber A2.

The false bottom 25 is secured in place by studs T85 vand nuts 86 thereon, as shown in Fig. 7. The studs 85 are secured to bridge piecesv B1 which span the otherwise open ends of recesses 88 formed in pipe supports 89. The pipe supports support steam pipes 9] by which the dye liquor in the vat A may be maintained at the proper temperature. The supports 89 are welded or otherwise secured to the lining In of the vat.

The channel G formed between the inclined bottom i of the vat A and the false bottom .25 is shallower at the end 2 of the vat than at the end 3 thereof and aids in the distribution of the dye liquor along the length of the vat, due to its gradually decreasing depth from the propeller end of the vat toward the distant end thereof.

The corners at the intersections between the bottom I and end walls 2 and 3 are iilleted, as indicated at 9i to prevent formation of eddy currents and thereby facilitate even flow of the dye liquor in circulation.

If desired any suitable form of clamp may be provided on the side walls i and 5 to extend over and engage the protruding ends of the beams 3l, to force and hold the rack B down firmly with the cover plate 35 of the dyeing chamber Al seated iirmly on the sealing shelf i2 of the vat A.

While the foregoing disclosure is directed particularly to dye liquor, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the apparatus will function equally and can be used with other liquids such as bleaching fluids, rinse water, etc., without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is preferred to make all of the metal parts of the machine which come in contact with the dye liquor, including the stringers 60 and yarn poles ll, and all other parts not specifically noted hereinbefore of stainless steel and to weld all joints smoothly to eliminate accumulations of dyestuif for reasons noted above.

The hollow rectangular cross sectional construction of the yarn poles 8i! provides sufficient rigidity to prevent the poles, in the maximum sized machines noted, from sagging unduly intermediate the stringers 6B when loaded with Wet yarn. The ends of these hollow members are preferably sealed to exclude all liquor from the interiors of the hollow poles.

I claim:

l. A textile processing machine comprising a processing chamber, means for Ycirculating fluid through said processing chamber, said chamber comprising a pair of perforated walls. through which said fluid enters and leaves said chamber, and means for sealing said chamber to force said fluid to pass through the perforations of said walls exclusively, the sum of the areas of the perforations in each of said walls being substantially .equal to the sum of the areas of the perforations in the otherof said walls, and the perforations in both walls being similarly distributed over the respective areas of said walls and arranged in closely adjacent relation to each other in a central area of each wall and in relatively wider spaced relation in an area surrounding said central area.

2. A textile processing machine comprising a processing chamber, means for circulating uid through said processing chamber, said chamber comprising a pair of perforated walls through which said fluid enters and leaves said chamber, and means for sealing said chamber to force said fluid to pass through the perforations of said walls exclusively, the sum of the areas of the perforations in each of said walls being substan tially equal to the sum of the areas of the perforations in the other of said walls, and the per- 5 forations in both walls being similarly distributed over the respective areas of said walls and arranged in closely adjacent relation to each other in a central area of each wall and in relatively wider spaced relation in an area surrounding said central area with substantially twice as many perforations per unit area of perforated surface in said central area as in said surrounding area.

3. A textile processing machine comprising a processing chamber, means for circulating fluid through said processing chamber, said chamber comprising a pair of perforated walls through which said fluid enters and leaves said chamber, means for sealing said chamber to force said fluid to pass through the perforations of said walls exclusively, the sum of the areas of the perforations in each of said walls being substantially equal to the sum ofthe areas of the perforations in the other of said walls, and the perforations in both walls being similarly distributed over the respective areas of said walls and arranged in closely adjacent relation to each other in a central area of each wall and in relatively wider spaced relation in an area surrounding said central area with substantially twice as many perfcrations per unit area of perforated surface in said central area as in said surrounding area, and an imperforate area surrounding the area having the lesser number of perforations therein.

4. A textile processing machine comprising a processing chamber including a pair of perforated walls, a fluid passageway outside and extending around said chamber from one of said walls to the other of said walls, a barrier in said passageway, means operable in openings in said barrier for circulating fluid through said barrier, said passageway and said chamber through the openings in said perforated walls of said charnber, means for sealing said chamber and forcing said liquid to pass exclusively through the openings in the perforated walls thereof, and means for sealing said passageway around said barrier to force the uid to pass exclusively through said openings in said barrier, the portion of said passageway extending along and lying adjacent to at least one of said perforated chamber walls gradually decreasing .in cross-sectional area from that portion of the passageway in which said barrier is located toward a distantly disposed portion of the perforated wall along which said diminishing passageway extends.

5. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open top processing chamber, a rack structure arranged to be superposed above said chamber, said rack structure including a pair of substantially parallel stringers extending along and adjacent oppositely disposed side walls of said chamber substantially from end to end of said chamber, a plurality of yarn-supporting poles extending transversely of said chamber uninterruptedly from the one to the other of said stringers and seated at their opposite ends respectively in recesses formed in each Stringer, and means for -detachably securing said stringers to said rack structure, said stringers being of a substantially U-shaped cross section including substantially parallel upstanding legs connected by a transverse bottom web with the pole-receiving recesses formed in the innermost of said upstanding legs and the ends of the poles substantially abutting against the inner surfaces of the outermost of said legs. Y

6. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open top processing chamber, a rack structure arranged to be superposed above said chamber, said rack structure including a pair of substantially parallel stringers extending along and adjacent oppositely disposed side walls of said chamber substantially from end to end of said chamber, a plurality of yarn-supporting poles extending transversely of said chamber uninterruptedly from the one to the other of said stringers and seated at their opposite ends respectively in recesses formed in each Stringer, means for detachably securing said stringers to said rack structure, said stringers being of a substantially U-shaped cross section including substantially parallel upstanding legs connected by a transverse bottom web with the pole-receiving recesses formed in the innermost of said upstanding legs and the ends of the poles substantially abutting against the inner surfaces of the outermost of said legs, said pole recesses extending upwardly to the upper edges of said innermost legs, and a depending flange on said rack structure adjacent and extending parallel to each of said stringers and depending below said top edges of said innermost legs to limit upward movement of said poles in said recesses.

7. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open top processing chamber, a rack arranged to be superposed above the open top of said chamber, a perforated cover plate for said chamber carried by said rack, a continuous shelf around said chamber below the upper edges of the walls of said chamber and on which the marginal edges of said cover plate rest and seal said chamber against passage of fluid except through the perforations of said cover plate, an imperforate cover plate carried by said rack in substantially parallel vertically spaced relation to said perforated cover plate and resting on said upper edges of said chamber walls, a pair of polesupporting stringere below said perforated cover plate, means carried by said stringers and extending upwardly through said perforated cover plate, means above said perforated cover plate for engaging the last said means for detachably connecting said stringers to said rack, and doors in said imperforate cover plate affording access to said detaching means.

8. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open top processing chamber, a rack arranged to be superposed above the open top of said chamber, a perforated cover plate for said chamber carried by said rack, a continuous shelf around said chamber on which the marginal edges of said cover plate rest and seal said chamber against passage of fluid except through the perforations of said cover plate, the perforations in said cover plate being arranged relatively close together over the central portion of said chamber and relatively further apart in an area surrounding said central area with an imperforate marginal area surrounding the last said perforated area and lying adjacent the walls of said chamber and a correspondingly arranged perforated bottom in said chamber in the form of a removable plate, a shelf extending around the walls of said chamber and on which the marginal edges of said plate rest and seal the bottom of said chamber against passage of fluid except through the perforations in said plate, and means for maintaining said plate in sealing contact with said shelf.

9. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open top Vat, a partition extending across said vat with its upper edge below the upper edges of the walls of said vat and its lower edge above the bottom of said vat and dividing the vat into a processing chamber and a iiuidcirculating chamber, a horizontal uppper shelf formed on the walls of the processing chamber portion of the vat in a horizontal plane coinciding with the plane of the upper edge of said partition, a horizontal lower shelf formed on the walls of the processing chamber portion of the vat in a plane coinciding with the plane of the lower edge of said partition, a flange on said lower edge of said partition completing said lower shelf, perforated bottom and top plates resting on said upper and lower shelves respectively and sealing the top and bottom of said chamber against passage of fluid except through the perforations of said plates.

10. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open top vat, a partition extending across said vat with its upper edge below the upper edges of the walls of said vat and its lower edge above the bottom of said vat and dividing the vat into a processing chamber and a fluidcirculating chamber, a horizontal upper shelf formed on the walls of the processing chamber portion of the vat in a horizontal plane coinciding with the plane of the upper edge of said partition, a horizontal lower` shelf formed on the walls of the processing chamber portion of the vat in a plane coinciding with the plane of the lower edge of said partition, a flange on said lower edge of said partition completing said lower shelf, perforated bottom and top plates resting on said upper and lower shelves respectively and sealing the top and bottom of said chamber against passage of fluid except through the perforations of said plates, and a propeller board extending across said fluid-circulating chamber and provided with a plurality of uid openings, means for sealing said circulating chamber against passage of fluid except through the openings in said propeller board, and rotary propellers in said board openings respectively for circulating fluid in the vat through the perforations in the top and bottom plates of said processing chamber exclusively and through the openings in said board exclusively,

' ROBERT E. OBERHOLTZER.

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