Improvements in and connected with Boiling Apparatus for Washing and other Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Boiling Apparatus for Washing
and other Purposes.
I SUSAN ARABELLA MACKIE of No. 27 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
In my Patent No. 5917 April 18th 1890, I have shown a means of washing
clothes and the like and other materials by the circulation of water or other fluid
caused by a steam trap or vapour chamber fitting in the bottom of the inner shell
of a double boiler. The same and similar apparatus can be employed for the
washing and cleansing of wool, cotton waste, esparto and other grasses, wood saw-
dust, oat and other straws, gun-cotton, and other fibrous animal and vegetable
materials.
For such purposes I sometimes prefer to modify the apparatus in use with the
steam trap and water funnel claimed in my said Patent referred to; and to
substitute for the internal pot within the boiler an external pipe or conduit; and to
divide a single shell boiler, either open or closed, at the top, into upper and lower
portions by a diaphragm containing the water or fluid funnel and forming a steam
or vapour trap around it. In this way the pressure of the steam or vapour will
force the hot water or fluid from the lower compartment up or along the pipe or
conduit and discharge it into the upper portion of the boiler whence it will descend
through the funnel to the lower compartment to be again boiled. In this way the
circulation of the water or fluid is maintained by the heat of the fire below the
boiler. In order to clear the sediment or dirty water from the lower part of
the boiler 1 insert a tap or blow off cock. I also adjoin a water supply tap when
required to supply loss by evaporation, modify temperature or other purposes.
A boiler of this described construction can be made to work with a separate pot,
vat, trough or other receptacle by connecting the two together by an arrangement
of pipes or conduits one for the conveyance of the hot water the other for the
return of the cooler water. By the arrangement of these connecting pipes_or
conduits the hot water may be introduced in the washing and cleansing receptacles
in ascending or descending currents. By means of telescopic arrangements of the
water funnel in the steam trap the upward or downward circulation can be altered
at the will of the operator, the other portions of the apparatus being adjusted for
the purpose.
A series of pots or vats or a long trough divided into tanks can also be connected
to a boiler of any required power and capacity properly fitted with the steam trap
and water funnel arrangement.
The way in which I prefer to apply my apparatus to the washing and cleansing
of wool is as follows:-
If the quantity be small the washing can be performed in one of the simple
washing pots herein described and in my Patent No. 5917-1890.
If the quantity be larger than can thus be conveniently dealt with a single vat
coupled to a fitted boiler will suffice. But if the quantity be very large anl the
establishment permanent the long divided trough is preferable: the trough may
be of any suitable length and of proportional breadth and depth for the work to be
done and to the capacity of the boiler.
The boiler may be hemispherical and open at top or it may be cylindrical and
closed or of any other suitable form.
The boiling water under pressure from the steam trap is passed on to the trough

page_text: by a pipe or conduit of sufficient dimensions laid either beneath or on the bottom of
the trough or along the upper sides of it: or brought over it and its contents.
Two or more pipes or conduits may be employed. The hot water may if preferred
be brought to a discharging standpipe at the farther end of the trough or at any
other position. Or two or more standpipes may be employed.
The tanks may be completely separated from each other: or they may be formed
of groups of two or more in such manner that the hot water may ascem in one and
run over the top edge of the division and descend by the next tank, thence passing
under the division of the following tank which should he cut short from the bottom
of the trough so as to allow the hot water or flaid to pass below it. The water
then will rise up again through the tank next in order and so on for a series of any
number. The ascending or descending motion of the hot water or fluid in each
tank will be dependent on the feed of hot water being applied from a standpipe or
otherwise at one or the other end of the trough.
The like variation of the motion of the currents will also be effected if the hot water
be injected from a pipe on or under the bottom, or from a pipe over the tanks or the
efflux and influx pipes from and to the fitted boiler may be interchanged in their
purpose by a valve or other means and thus produeing an ascending or descending
current respectively or alternately as required.
In the tanks formed by the divisions of the trough the wool is placed in bulk or
in trays, bags or wrappers. The hot water can be supplied to each tank from a
pipe or conduit above or can be admitted into every tank by suitable orifices from
the pipe or conduit below. In the latter case the pressure of the steam trap will
force the hot water upwards through the wool in the tanks and will bring the oil
from it up to the surface of the water in the trough where it will float and can be
skimmed off by hand or by automatic means,
:
If a small current of water slightly
in excess of the loss of fluid by evaporation be allowed to fall into the boiler or into
the trough there will be a slight overflow from the trough. If this overflow be
guarded by an inclined board or plate or other suitable means: and the intake of
the return pipe or conduit to the boiler be placed beneath the guard plate the thin
overflow of the surface water from the trough will carry the oil and grease away
into the gutter supplied for the purpose of catching it: and the water or fluid which
is returned into the boiler will be freed from that contamination.
As the circulation goes on continuously so the automatic skimming will be
continuous.
As the oil and grease have commercial value they can be collected from the
gutter and stored as convenient.
The essential action for automatic working is that the hot water should circulate
through all the divisions of the trough and percolate the wool in every one of them.
As solid dirt and heavy impurities from the wool will sink to the bottom it will
sometimes be necessary to have descending currents to facilitate its separation.
Hand or automatic gear is needful for adding water to supply the loss by
evaporation and for regulating the temperature and the overflow.
Rinsing, wringing, squeezing, and drying, adjuncts may also be employed; and
travelling bands and other arrangements for loading the wool into the trough,
carrying it from the tanks to the dryers, and delivering it finished into baskets or
otherwise for packing, and transport.
In cases where useful I also combine electrical plant with my boiling apparatus.
The wool and other fibrous materials may be well cleansed by repented washings
in my apparatus without the use of electricity or chemicals.
By means of suitable fittings the wool and other operations to which my apparatus
is connected can be made adjustable and continuous from beginning to end.
My boiling apparatus can be employed in boiling petroleum or other suitable
fluids for making gas for illuminating and other purposes and for generating vapour
for petroleum and other vapour engines. Hot oil can also be supplied for spray
engines. For these purposes the boiler would be entirely closed.
The boiler can either be divided by a diaphragm with vapour chamber and

page_text: funnel and the circulation of the fluid currents completed by an external pipe or
conduit.
Or an internal pot or inner shell such as is described in my former Patent
No. 5917, can be applied to a closed boiler. The upper part of the closed fitted
boiler would form a gasometer or store for the gas or vapour.
By similar arrangements in closed boilers hot water inay be circulated by pipes
or otherwise for the heating and ventilation of rooms, offices and the like: or for
the supply of hot water or other purposes.
The application of my fitted boiler and apparatus is best suitable for chemical
purposes when connected to a series of pots or receptacles in which seperation and
deposition of the constituents of the materials treated and crystalization and other
requirements can be effected by the gradual cooling or by variations of temperatures
of the water or fluid currents supplied to each of the receptacles respectively.
Dated this Fourth day of September 1890.
SUSAN ARABELLA MACKIE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Boiling Apparatus for Washing
and other Purposes.
1, SUSAN ARABELLA MACKIE of 27 Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex
Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
In my Patent No. 5917 April 18th 1890 I have shown a means of washing
clothes and the like and other materials by the circulation of water or other fluid
by a steam-trap or vapour-chamber with funnel fitting in the bottom of the inner
shell of a double boiler. The same and similar apparatus can be employed for the
washing and cleansing of wool, cotton-waste esparto and other grasses, wood,
sawdust, oat and other straws, gun-cotton, and other fibrous vegetable and animal
materials.
For such purposes I sometimes prefer to modify the apparatus in use with the
steam-trap and water-funnel claimed in my said Patent referred to and to substitute
for the internal pot within the boiler an external pipe or conduit and to divide a
single shell boiler, either open or closed at top, into upper and lower portions by
a diaphragm containing the water or fluid funnel and forming a steam or vapour trap
around it.
In this way the pressure of the steam or vapour will force the hot water or
fluid from the lower compartment up or along the pipe or conduit and discharge it
into the upper portion of the boiler whence it will descend to the lower compart-
ment to be again boiled. In this way the circulation of the water or fluid is
maintained by the heat of the fire below the boiler. In order to clear the
sediment or dirty water from the lower part of the boiler I insert a tap or blow
off cock. I also adjoin a water supply tap when required to supply loss by
evaporation, modify temperature or other purposes. A boiler of the described
construction can be made to work with a separate pot, vat, trough or other
receptacle by connecting the two together by an arrangement of pipes or conduits
for the conveyance of the hot water. the other for the return of the cooler water.
By the arrangement of these connecting pipes or conduits the hot water may be
introduced in the washing and cleansing receptacles in ascending or descending
currents. By means of a telescopic arrangement of the water funnel in the steam-
trap the upward or downward circulation can be altered at the will of the operator,
the other portions of the apparatus being adjusted for this purpose.
A series of pots or vats or a long trough divided into tanks can also be con-
nected to a boiler of any required power and capacity, properly fitted with the
steam trap and water funnel arrangement.

page_text: :
"The way in which I prefer to apply my apparatus to the washing and cleansing
of wool is as follows. If the quantity be small the washing can be performed
in one of the simple washing pots herein described and in my Patent No. 5017, 1890.
If the quantities be larger thm can thus be conveniently dealt with a single vat
coupled to a fitted boiler will suffice. But if the quantities be very large and the
establishment permanent the long divided trough is preferabl. The trough may
be of any suitable length and proportionate breadth and depth for the work to
be done, and to the enparity of the boiler. The boiler may be hemispherical and
open at top, or it may be eylindrical and closed: or of any other suitable form.
The boiling water under pressure from the steam trap is passed on to the trough
by a pipe or conduit of sufficient dimensions laid either beneath or on the bottom
of the trough or along the upper sides of it; or brought over it and its contents.
Two or more pipes or conduits may be employed. The hot water may if preferred
be brought to a discharging standpipe at the farther end of the trough or at any
other position. Or two or more standpipes ein be employed. The tanks may be
completely separated from each other : " or they may be forined in groups of two or
more in h manner that the hot water my ascend in one and run over the top
ge of the division and deemed by the west tank; thenee passing under the
division of the following tank which should be cut short from the bottom of the
trough so rs to allow the hot water to pass below it. The water then will rise up
again through the tenk next in order and so on for a series of any number. The
ascending or des ending motion of the hot water or fluid in each tank will be
dep. men on the fd of hot water being applied from a standpipe or otherwise at
one or the other end of the trough. The like variation in the motion of the
currents will also be elietel if the hot water be injected from a pipe on or under
the bottom, or from a pipe over the tanks. Or the flux and influx pipes from and
to the fitted boiler may be interchanged in their purpose by a valve or other means
and thus produce an ascending or descending current respectively or alternately as
require. In the tanks formed by the divisions of the trough the wool is placed
in bulk, or in trays bags or wrappers, The hot water can be supplied to ench tank
from a pipe or conduit above or can be admitted into every tank by suitable
orifices from the pipe or conduit below. In the latter case the pressure of the
steam in the strain trap will force the hot water upwards through the wool in the
tanks and will bring the oil from it up to the surface of the water in the trough
where it will float and can be skimmed off by hand or by automatic means. If a
small current of water slightly in excess of the loss of fluid by evaporation be
allowed to fall into the boiler or into the trough there will be a slight overflow from
the trough. If this overflow be guarded by an inclined board or plate, or other
suitable means: and the intake of the return pipe or conduit to the boiler be placed
beneath the guard plate the thin overflow of the surface water from the trough will
carry the oil and grease away into a gutter supplied for the purpose of catching it:
and the water or luid which is returned to the boiler will be freed from that con-
Lamination. As the circulation goes on continuously so the automatic skimming will
be continuous.
As the oil and grease have commercial value they can be collected from
the gutter and stored as convenient. The essential action for automatic working
is that the hot water should circulate through all the divisions of the trough
and percolate the wool in every one of them. As the solid dirt and heavy
impurities from the wool will sink to the bottom it will be sometimes necessary to
have descending currents to facilitate its separation. Hand or automatic gear is
needful for adding water to supply the loss by evaporation and for regulating the
temperature and the overflow. Rinsing, wringing squeezing and drying adjuncts
may also be employed, and travelling bands and other arrangements for loading the
wool into the trough, carrying it from the tanks and to the dryers, and delivering it
finished into baskets for packing and transport.
In cases where useful I also combine electrical plant with my boiling apparatus
The wool and other fibrons materials may be well cleansed by repeated washing

page_text: in my apparatus without the use of either chemicals or electricity. By means of
suitable fittings the wool and other operations to which my apparatus is connected
can be made adjustable and continuous from beginning to end. My boiling
apparatus can be employed in boiling petroleum or other suitable fluids for making
gas for illuminating and other purposes or for generating vapour for petroleum and
other vapour engines. For this purpose the boiler would be entirely closed. The
boiler can either be divided by a diaphragm with vapour chamber and funnel and
the circulation of the fluid contents completed by an external pipe or conduit. Or
an internal pot or inner shell such as is described in my former Patent No. 5917
can be applied to a closed boiler. The upper part of the closed fitted boiler would
form a gasometer or store for the gas or vapour. By similar arrangements in
closed boilers hot water may be circulated by pipes or otherwise for the heating
and ventilation of rooms, offices and the like for the supply of hot water and other
purposes.
The application of my fitted boiler and apparatus is best suitable for chemical
purposes when connected to a series of pots or receptacles in which separation and
deposition of the constituents of the materials treated, crystallization and other
requirements can be effected by the gradual cooling or by variations of temperatures
of the water or fluid currents supplied to each of the receptacles respectively.
The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Fig. 1. is a section of a double shell boiler and washing pot.
A is the furnace wall; a' the iron top of the furnace wall; B is the boiler;
the boiler flange; the side of the boiler; C the pot or inner shell; is the
pot flange; the side of the inner pot, c³ the lower flange or bottom on which the
cover of the slop-out orifice rests, is the funnel; the ring or flange con-
stituting the steam-ring and forming the steam-trap S; the handle is for lifting
out the cover (c) which is secured by studs or otherwise as at c. G is the level
of the water or fluid in C the inner pot, and H is the hot water forced by the
steam pressure in the steam-trap S up the interspace between and band ejected
by the orifices K by the jets J in'o the pot or inner shell C. F is the fire.
Fig. 2. Section of the cover (*) with the funnel c and steam ring c attached,
forming the steam trap S. The handle for lifting it (c') and fastening studs.".
D is the cavity of funnel for descent of water.
Fig. 3. Plan of cover (e) with funnel and steam ring e forming the steam
trap S and D is the cavity of funnel for descent of return water to boiler B.
Fig. 4. Portion of a double shell boiler showing joint made between the boiler
side and the inner pot c' by the ring of flange of the inner pot c¹.
Fig. 5. Portion showing joint between flanges of boiler and inner pot c¹ with
angled packing ring (c).
Fig. 6. Serrations of lower edges of funnel and steam ring to permit passage of
water if the inner pot rests on the boiler B or touches its sides.
Fig. 7. Portion showing inner shell corrugated. B boiler. inner pot. H H hot
water spaces.
Fig. 8. Section of steam ring c with perforations (M) for passage of water.
Fig. 9. Section of boiler and washing pot with rim joint c' open, and angle
zinc (c) protecting ring to prevent overboil of water.
Fig. 10. Section of a small vessel or stewing pot (c) with cover (R).
Fig. 11. (a) Section of coffee pot with steam-trap and funnel and external
circulating pipe; spout N, tap L, P connecting pipe, ' coffee holder. (b) The
like with internal circulation.
Fig. 12. Section of a closed boiler (single shell) of which B represents the lower
half and R the upper half or cover; the two parts being bolted together at the
Hanges (). The diaphragm which divides the interior of the boiler forms
with the funnel (c) and the portion of the sides (c) of the boiler between it and
the orifice (p) of the external pipe (P) the vapour chamber S and the funnel c
serves for the descent of the fluid (in this case petroleum) at D. The petroleum
in the portion of the boiler B beneath the diaphragm being heated by the

page_text: furnace fire the hot liquid II under the pressure of the vapour in the chamber S
passes out by the orifice (p) into the external pipe (P) and is ejected by the
rifice K into the contents of the boiler the level of the hot petroleum being
shown by the dotted line (.
The gas which reeks off from the surface ( is stored in the receiver or gasometer
formed in the dome of the closed boiler B at W. An injector supplies fresh
petroleum to make up for loss by consumption of gas which passes off by the
service pipe (). L L are cocks. Circulation in this case external.
Fig. 13. Section of a closed single shell boiler B having an inner pot (C) or
double shell in the lower half producing internal circulation.
Fig. 14. Section of an open boiler B with steam trap and funnel and fitted with
external pipe (P) by which the hot water H is carried to a separate external
vat V. The circulation being ascending the return water Hows back by the pipe P
to the contents (C) of the boiler B.
Fig. 15. Section of a portion of a vat (V) showing the hot water H delivered at ||
top by a stand pipe (1³). The circulation being descending the return water
passes by the pipe
Fig. 16. Section showing a trough, divided into a series of tanks arranged for
wool washing with alternate overshot and undershot barriers so placed as to cause
ascending (7) and descending (T) currents in alternate tanks. (i is the surface of:
the water in the trough which flowing over the inclined plate X at the summit of
the barrier is skimmed of floating oil and grease which are carried off by the
gutter. P is the hot water pipe, the return water pipe into which the
water flows by the orifice K in the trough.
Fig. 17. Section of a horizontal cylindrical boiler divided by a diaphragm e
with steam trap and funnel. The hot water is conveyed from one half of the boiler
to the other half by the external pipes or conduits P P Q safety valve.
Fig. 18. Section showing the details of skimming arrangement at X Y Z in
Fig. 16.
Fig. 19. Section of a portable furnace (A) with splayed boiler B fitted with
steam pipe S and funnel for descent of water at D and external pipe P for
circulation of hot water II.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is :-
1.) The application of the steam trap or vapour chamber and water or fluid
fimmel to a boiler of any form or capacity and either open or closed, the circulation
of hot water being completed by means of an external pipe or conduit or trough or
a series of pipes conduits or troughs.
2.) The division of a single shell boiler into upper and lower portions by a‹
diaphragm carrying the water funnel and so fitted to the boiler as to form a steam
trap or vapour chamber around the funnel.
3.) The application of an internal pot or second shell to a closed boiler whereby
the circulation of the hot water in the apparatus is effected.
4.) The connection of one or more independent pots, vats, troughs, or receptacles
by pipes conduits or otherwise to a boiler fitted with the steam trap and water
funnel.
5.) The application to the steam-trap or vapour-chamber of a telescopic funnel
and the other arrangements notified, for causing the currents of hot water from the
fitted boiler to be ascending or descending in the circulation effected.
6.) The particular combinations of the boiling apparatus fitted as described with
the special appliances detailed herein for effecting the washing of wool and similar
materials.
7.) The application of the above detailed combinations of appliances with my
boiling apparatus to the washing, cleansing, and treating of animal vegetable, i
chemical, mineral, and other products.

page_text: 8.) The application to my fitted boiling pots and apparatus, and to the circulating
troughs and receptacles of an overflow rim or gutter and the particular arrangement
notified of a skimming plate connected therewith.
9.) The application of the internal pot or inner shell, and of the external pipe
or conduit and the internal diaphragm with steam-trap or vapour chamber and
water or fluid funnel to closed boilers.
10.) The application to cooking and infusing utensils, such as stewpots, coffee
and other pots and vessels with lids or covers and sometimes used open and some-
times closed, of the steam-trap and water funnel.
11.) The application of the boiling apparatus to the generation and storage of
petroleum and other gases and vapours for illuminating purposes or motive power
in closed boilers.
12.) The application of the boiling apparatus in closed boilers to the circulation
of hot-water currents by pipes or conduits through rooms, offices and the like for
warming and ventilation, and the supply of hot water and other purposes.
13.) The application of the boiling apparatus to a series of connected pots or
receptacles for chemical and other operations.
All for the purposes herein stated and substantially as described.
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