US3183690A - Apparatus for treating web materials in fluids - Google Patents

Description

a y 1965 K. ZIMMERLI 3,183,690

. APPARATUS FOR TREATING WEB MATERIALS IN FLUIDS Filed July 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: KURT Zl MMERLI ATT YS.

K. ZIMMERLI May 18; 1965 APPARATUS FOR TREATING WEB MATERIALS IN FLUIDS Filed July 9. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORZ KURT ZIMMERLI ATTYS.

Unil d States Patent lice 3,183,690 APPARATUS FOR TREATING WEB MATERIALS IN FLUIDS Kurt Zimmerli, Langhorne, Pa., assignor to Butter-worth Manufacturing Company, White Plains, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 9, 1963, Ser. No. 293,650 4 Claims. (CI. 68-179) This invention relates to apparatus for treating web materials in fluids and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art.

In particular, the invention is an improvement upon that disclosed in the patent of Macomson No. 2,904,981 granted Sept. 22, 1959. According to that patent a web of material to be treated is passed through a thin channel of 1 to 6 inches thickness filled with fluid (commonly a liquid) exposed on at least one side to a flexible diaphragm which is vibrated at sonic or supersonic rates at different points along the length, the flexible diaphragm in the sonic range being vibrated in alternation at different points along its length to agitate the fluid and treat a travelling web of material.

According to the present invention a channel wall area is positively reciprocated by power means at one or more places and is provided with associated yieldable portions or areas which are caused to vibrate by pressure conditions set up by the positive surges caused by the power agitating means.

In a particular form of the invention a wave pattern of fluid-induced movement is set up in a plurality of yieldable wall portions by positive surges produced by a single power means.

The equipment is useful for washing, dyeing and the like. It has been found that the treatment provided by the present apparatus and method is very rapid like that of the patent device yet has a controlled action which will not disintegrate web material if held for longer than normal periods in the field of action.

The above and other objects of the invention as well as various novel features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of certain exemplary embodiments thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged half section illustrating the vibratory action;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a modified form of vibrating means.

The framework and general arrangement used herein are much like that disclosed in the patent referred to and need not be shown or described in detail. There is a frame 20 supporting a U-shaped web treating unit 21 having vertical narrow channels 22 and 23 connected at the bottom by an arcuate channel 24. The vertical channels are formed by inner solid walls 25 and outer flexible walls 26. The outer wall shown is flexible as a whole but the device will operate if only certain zones of the wall are yieldable.

3,183,690 Patented May 18, 1965 The web W to be treated passes over upper pulleys 30 and a lower pulley 31. If desired, the lower pulley 31 may be large enough to restrict the connecting channel space at the bottom to generally isolate the action in one vertical channel from that of the other.

Means are provided for creating surges in the fluid by positively acting power means, the means here shown comprising transverse bars 32 operated by one or more reciprocatory rods or plungers 33 driven by fluid operated diaphragm motors 34 having each a casing 35, 21 diaphragm 36, and a diaphragm return spring 37. Fluid is supplied and returned by a line 38 from a pump or pressure source P and to a tank T, a suitable valve V controlling the fluid flow.

The valve is operated by a power solenoid 40 acting against a return spring 41, the solenoid being controlled by a switch 42 which is closed to energize the solenoid and supply fluid each time the bar 32 moves out after a fluid compression surge has been completed and the diaphragm returned by the spring.

At a distance from the positive surge producing zone there is provided at least one and preferably a plurality of yieldable areas comprising bars 45 connected to rods 46 acting against springs 47 and fixed supports 48 therefor. As here shown, there are a plurality of yieldable wall means for the single power surge means, the yieldable means being spaced at distances which will produce a sinuous wave action in the fluid.

It has been found that fairly rapid action can be effected within the sonic range of from 5 up to near 1000 vibrations per minute, 700 vibrations per minute being found to be especially effective.

Higher speeds can be readily attained by the direct pressure-relief apparatus shown in FIG. 4 where a doubleended reciprocatory air pump 50 is directly connected at each end by a line 38' to a motor 34. Additional air is drawn at check valves 49 as needed.

FIG. 2 shows a fill pipe 51, a drain pipe 52 and a ternperature controlling steam pipe 53, each pipe having a suitable valve 51a, 52a and 53a respectively.

In the first arrangement the power devices are supplied by a common electrical source but operate in opposite channels 22 and 23 in random order. In the FIG. 4 form, due to the direct alternate action of the power pump 50 the action in the channels 22 and 23 occurs in alternation.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the above description.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of illustration it is to be understood that there may be various embodiments and modifications within the general scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating travelling web material, comprising in combination, spaced walls forming a narrow channel through which the web passes in a fluid filling the channel, at least one of the walls having a movable power pulse generating area movable inward and outward, a power motor moving said pulse generating area inward and outward periodically, at least one fluid operated yieldable area spaced at a distance from said pulse generating area, and resilient means backing said yieldable area and 3 adapted to yield when fluid pressure is applied to said yieldable area by the action of said pulse generating area.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the entire wall is formed of a flexible unit of material.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which a plurality of yieldable areas are provided at spaced intervals in order along said wall.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which two channels are disposed in parallel, and means for operating a 10 pulse generating area of one channel in' alternation with the movement of a pulse generating unit of the other channel.

19,828 WALTER References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/91 Norwood 68-190 3 39 Ballentine.

7/48 Williams 8151 1/51 Williams et a1. 815l 10/57 Mellgren 68-190 9/59 Macomson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 10/56 Germany. A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING TRAVELLING WEB MATERIAL, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, SPACED WALLS FORMING A NARROW CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THE WEB PASSES IN A FLUID FILLING THE CHANNEL, AT LEAST ONE OF THE WALLS HAVING A MOVABLE POWER PULSE GENERATING AREA MOVABLE INWARD AND OUTWARD, A POWER MOTOR MOVING SAID PULSE GENERATING AREA INWARD AND OUTWARD PERIODICALLY, AT LEAST ONE FLUID OPERATED YIELDABLE AREA SPACED AT A DISTANCE FROM SAID PULSE GENERATING AREA, AND RESILIENT MEANS BACKING SAID YIELDABLE AREA AND ADAPTED TO YIELD WHEN FLUID PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO SAID YIELDABLE AREA BY THE ACTION OF SAID PULSE GENERATING AREA.

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