Externally held cylindrical spreading means for tubular fabric

Abstract

This invention relates to an improvement in an externally held cylindrical spreading means for tubular fabric, particularly for the treatment of the fabric with a fluid treating agent, with a central carrier for radially displaceable supports and segment-like guide elements carried by the supports, body means at each end of the central carrier, each of the body means being tapered in the longitudinaL direction, and the guide elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the spreading means between the body means, the improvement comprising pneumatic drive means within the spreading means connected to sleeve means on the central carrier, the sleeve means being connected to the radially displaceable supports and being displaceable on the central carrier, compressed air junction means in at least one of the guide elements and having a back pressure valve means therein, and means connecting the compressed air junction means with the pneumatic drive means. The invention also includes an embodiment in which the sleeve means are threaded and are mounted on opposite threads on a central carrier, also further including reversible compressed air motor means connected to the central carrier whereby the latter may be rotated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.