US1836087A - Drying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1931.

Filed March 8, 1928 Mi v i? w ii fin x 5 m N 4 I 1 Q 1% Q; L 1% v a N l A a N ig a m Q a 4 Q I Q 1 .WWW g v Q :smvhwww': a 1% a a? w a Sag 4 g g g SQ a N, E v Q WITNESSES R INVEN TOR:

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ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED sTaTes WILLIAM T. SAVAGE, F PHILADELPHIA, 1ENITSYIlZzVAIil'IAQ ASSTG Ll'OR TO, PHILADEL PHIA METAL DRYING FORM COMPANYQDF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,' A COR- 7 POBATION OF DELAWARE marine ArrARATUs Application filed March 8,

This invention relates to apparatus for drying textile manufactures, particularly knitted wares such as hosiery. More'specifically speaking my invention is concerned withdrying apparatus of the type employing hollow drying forms through which a fluent heating medium is circulated. With use of such apparatus heretofore, considerable difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the forms uniformly heated due to trappage of aire. g. in the toe pockets of hosiery forms-wf0h attendant checking of the flow of the fluent heating medium at the designated regions and consequent uneven drying of'the stockings; The foregoing is especially true in instances Where attempts have been made to employ hot water as the heat} ing medium.

The ob ect OI my invention is to overcome the drawbacks pointed out, and this desideratum I aim to attain through provision of simple and reliable means capable of continuously and automatically relieving and carrying ofif trapped air without loss of heat ing medium from the apparatus.

A further aim of my invention is to enable in connection with drying apparatus of the character referred to, use either ofsteam or hot water as heating agents.

Still further objects and attendant advantages will become apparent from the detailed description which follows when taken in connection with the drawing which shows more or less diagrammatically, a drying apparatus convenientl embodying my invention, certain portions being broken away and in section to better illustrate underlying details. 1

As herein delineated, the apparatus coin prises a multiplicity of vertically-arranged drying forms 5-in the present instance for hosiery-disposed in serial" relation and secured to common horizontal, manifold 6 which is supported at an elevation above the floor, with a slight slope for drainage toward its right hand end, by suitabletransverse standards 7. The forms 5 are of hollow configuration and internally sub-divided by a medial longitudinal partion 8 into up and down flow passages 9,10 for a fluent heating medium in the direction indicated by the ar- 1928. Serial no, 260,151.

rows. The manifold 6 serves to receive "the flow ofthe-heating medium after it has coursed through the forms? via'ports 11 com munica-ti'ng with the passages of thelatterr The supply flowof the heating mediumjis 1 I;

conducted through/a manifold pipe12that extends longitudinally through the manifold 6, said manifoldpipe having nipples 13 extending up into the passages 9 of the indi vidual forms. Atits inner end, the flow pipe 12 is closed by acap 15,'while 'at its outer end it is connected to mains 17, 18 leading from sources of steam respectively at hi 'h and low pressures, which, in'pra'ctice, may it: in the neighborhoods of'5 to20 and 0 to 5 pounds, suitable control valves 19,20 being interposed in the pipingfor selectivity as be- I tween the two pre ssure s*in' accordance with the material embodied in the stockings being dried. Also connectinginto themanifold pipe 12 is a standpipe 21 that extends downward from an overheadeXpa-nsiontank 22. A water feed pipe 23 communicating with a suitable source of supply (not shown) ,1 en tersthe side of the tank 22 near the top. Water flow into the tank is automatically controlled by a float 25 governing avalve-26 fitted to the terminal end of the pipe 23 within said tank; Provisions are also made to take care of'overfiow, in the form of a pipe 27 leading from the side of the tank 22 above the water feed pipe 23. Ahand'valve28 near the lower end of the stand pipe 21 servesas a means to shutoff the water fromthe manifold pipe 12 when steam is used as the heating medium. I J I g I At its rear end, the inflow manifold 57 is provided with a drop fitting 30', which terminates in a sediment trap 31 at a level below the connection witha return pipe 32. Interposed in a branch 33 of the return pipe32 is a motor driven pu mp' 3 which delivers into a horizontal conduit 35.

This conduit 35 2 leads tothe coil 36 Off! water heater 37; and

said coil is in-turn connected 'at'itsftop to the manifold pipe 12 through abra'nch38, Any

suitable medium may be employed to heat the 2 i 17 under control of a valve 40. An extension ll of the return line'32 terminating in a steam trap 42, has a hand valve 43 interposed in 1t .at a po'int'slightly in advance of a bottom drain connection .44 from the jacket of the heater 37, said connection 41- being fitted with a. check valve 45 permitting downward flow only. After being freed of impurities in the trap42,.the steam is conducted back to'the source from whence it originally came by a pipe 4:6. 7

As a means to automatically control the temperature of the water when the latter is employed as a heating medium, I equip the apparatus with a thermostatic device which may be of any standard construction, the

3 same being conventionally represented at 4'7 and shown as lying within the conduit previously mentioned. This thermostatic de- 7 and prevent circulation of the fluent heating medium around the top of thepartition 8. As shown, the several tubes extend downward through the manifold 6 to a common main 51 under-lyingsaid manifold .The main 51 slopes downward slightly toward the left in the illustration, and has vertical drain branch 52 with a hand valve 53 that is normally kept closed. From the right hand or highest end of themain 51 leads an air and vapor relief tube 55, the same enteringthe' stand pipe 21 near the lower end and extending upward-axially within it as at 55a. 3 For a purpose later on explained, the horizontal portion of the relief tube 55 is somewhat inclinedsupwardly toward the left in the illustration, and itste'rminal end55b is open at a level above the water in the expansion tank 22. For drainage ofthe apparatus in its en tirety, I have shown a cross connection 56 with a valve 57 between the pipe dl'and the downward branch 52 of the main 51.

lVitlr use of water as the heating medium,

the operation of :the apparatus is as follows :As a pre-requisite, the valves 19 and 20 in the steam mains 17, 18 are of course closed; and the valve 28 in the stand pipe 21 and thevalves 53-and 57 controlling flow into the drain 52 opened.- Vater is .thereby permitted to flow'into the manifold pipe v12 I r from the tank'22, the supply in the latter being constantly replenished the while through automatic a'ction of the float valve 26. With assurance that the system is filled wvith water (determinable through discharge of water throughthe drain 52), the valves 53 and 57 are shut-off, thereby establishing a closed circulatory system which includes the manifold pipe 12, the forms 5, the manifold 6, the return pipe 32, thepump 3%,the conduit 35 and the water heater 37. The valve 40 is thereupon opened to admit steam to the jacket of the water heater 37, and the pump 34 set in motion to induce circulation of the water throughthe system as indicated by the full line arrows in the illustration. When once heated, the water is maintained atthe proper temperature through automatic regulation of steam flow to the heater 37 by U the valve 48 under control of the thermostatic device 47 which may be setto function at the desired degree with aid of a thermometer, such asshown at 58 in the conduit 35, as a guide. The air released incidentallyto the heating of the water will naturally findits way to the toe tips of the forms 5 wherefrom it is forced, under pressure of the circulating water, into the ends of the release tubes 50 within said forms. The air, as well as water carried along with in the tubes 50, is conducted to the main 51, and from thence, via the relieftube 55, into the expansion tank 22 above the level of'the water inthe latter.

3 In this way it will be seen that the relief of trapped air is effected automatically without loss of waterfrom the system. Evaporation taking place over long p'eriodsof operation with water is compensated for by automatic action of the floatpcontrolled valve 26 in the water feed main 23 which permits flow of additional water into the expansion tank 22as needed from time to time,

The operation of the apparatus with steam is moreor less identical as regards circula-.

tion through the manifolds 6, 12,theforn1s 5, and the return piping 32. However, to prepare the apparatus ,for' steam operation the procedure is as follows :-the valve28 in the stand pipe 21 is first shut 0E, and the valves 53 and 57 opened to permit drainage of the water remaining in the system through the pipe'52. l/Vith this accomplished, the

pump 34- is stopped and the valves 53, 57 are closed, and then either the valve 19 or the valve 20 opened for supply of steam from the mains 17 18 -depending on the pressure desired or required for a particular grade or quality of goods to be dried. The COUISQOf the steam through the apparatus beyond the return pipe 32 is in accordance with the dotted line arrows in the drawing. Relief of air under steam operation takes place, as before, through the tubes 50 into the main 51 and from thence to the water tank 22, the vapor carried along with the. air being therefore also released in said tank and its condensation conserved for re-use' in the system. In I this connection itwillbe noted that any wa ter precipitated in the relief tube is obliged,

come filled with water as will occur from time to time, it may be readily drained by opening the valve 53 for a few moments.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicity of hollow dryers with coordinating flow and return piping to constitute a closed circulating system for a fluent heating-medium, and means for continuously and automatically conducting away trapped air from the highest'point within the dryers without wastage from the system of any heating medium carried along with such air.

2. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicity of hollow dryers with coordinating common flow and return piping constituting a closed circulatory system, connections permitting selective use either of steam or hot water as the heating medium in the system, and means for continuously and automatically conducting away trapped air from the highest point within the dryers without wastage from the system of heating medium carried along with such air.

3. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicity of hollow dryers with coordinated flow and return piping constituting a closed circulatory system, connections permitting selective use either of steam or hot water as the heating medium in the system, a stand pipe topped by an expansion tank connecting into the piping aforesaid, and means for continuously and automatically conducting trapped air and any heating medium carried along with it, from the highest point within the dryers for release at a point above the water level in the expansion tank and conservation of the heating medium for re-use.

4:. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplictiy of hollow dryers with coordinated flow and return piping to constitute a closed system for circulation of water through the forms, and means to continuously conduct away trapped air from the highest point within the dryers and discharging it within the system so, as to re tain within the system any water carried along with such air.

5. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicity of hollow dryers with coordinated common flow and return piping to constitute a closed circulatory system for hot water, a stand pipe with an expansion tank at the top connecting into said piping; and air relief means including open-ended tubes leading from the highest point withinthe individual dryers, a common main into which thetubes discharge and .a tube extendingv from said: .main and delivering at a'point above' the water level in the expansion tank aforesaid with conservation in the system' of any wat'ercarriedalong I with the trapped air.

6. Drying apparatus of the characterdescribed comprising amultiplicity of hollow dryers with coordinating fiowand return-piping to constitute aclosedcirculating system for a fluent heating medium, and means for continuously and automatically conducting away trapped air from within the dryers, said means comprising tubes extending with in the dryer and having an air-receiving end opening into substantially the highest point within the respective dryers and an air-discharging end within the system and from which any heating medium carried along with the air is discharged into the system.

7 Drying apparatus ofthe character de-- scribed comprising a multiplicity of hollow dryers with coordinating flow and return piping to constitute a closed system for. a fluent heating medium, a water reservoir and connections therefrom to the circulating system, and means for conducting away trapped air from. the highest point within the respective dryers; said means comprising tubes opening into substantially the highest points within the respective dryers and aconduit connected with said tubes and opening abovethe water level of the water reservoir.

8. Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicity of hollow dryers with coordinating flow and return piping to constitute a closed system for a fluent heating medium, a water reservoir and connections therefrom to the circulating system, and means for conducting away trapped air from the highest point within the respective dryers said means comprising tubes opening into substantially the highest points within the respective dryers, a drain line with which said tubes connect for carrying ofi liquid and a conduit connected with said drain pipe for carrying off air and vapor. Y

9. Drying apparatus of the character de-' scribed comprising a hollow dryerhaving a.

closed end and provided with a partition exj tending toward said closed end, and coordinated flow and return piping constitutlng a g closed system for circulation of a fluid heating medium, and a tube extending within the dryer and beyond the partition and having an air-receiving end opening into the dryer at a point substantiallycloser than the end of the partition to the closed "end of the dryer.

Drying apparatus of the character described comprising a multiplicity of hollow I dryers with coordinating flow of return pip-- ing to constitute aclosed circulating system for a fluent heating medium, an inclined drain Pipe extending beneath thedryers, tubes expipe;

tending Within the' dryers andhaving air-receivi'ng ends opening into substantially the highest points Within the dryers and communicating With said drain pipe, and a vapor relief tube extending upward from said drain In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name atPhiladelphia, Pennsyl- Vania, this 3rd day of March, 1928. r i v WVILLIAM T.. SAVAGE.

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