A New or Improved Construction of Machine for Mixing Fuller's Earth Used in the Milling of Woven Fabrics, Applicable also for Mixing Sizing and other Substances.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 6th Sept., 1887.
A New or Improved Construction of Machine for Mixing Fuller's
Earth Used in the Milling of Woven Fabrics, Applicable also for
Mixing Sizing and other Substances.
1, SIDNEY FENTON, of the firm of John Fenton and Sons, of Batley Carr,
Dewsbury, Yorkshire, Manufacturers, 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 :-
Although this invention is chiefly designed to mix fuller's earth used by manu-
facturers in milling woven fabrics, the invention is equally well adapted for mixing
other substances, such as sizing for sizing yarns, soda ashes for fulling, etc.
The method at present in use by manufacturers consists in mixing fuller's earth by
manual labour, that is to say, by means of men who with sticks stir the mixture in
vessels, but in consequence of the mixture forming or becoming plastic, it is not only
heavy work to mix, but it does not get sufficiently stirred, consequently the mixing is
not effectually done.
According to my invention, I employ a suitably sized vessel in which I place a
horizontal shaft provided with wings or vanes, which shaft and wings have rotary
motion imparted to them by suitably arranged gearing. The wings or vanes are
slotted or perforated so as to allow the mixture to pass through, by which means the
vanes take less power to drive, whilst the mixing is more perfectly accomplished.
The horizontal shaft which passes through the mixing vessel is made with a stuffing
box so as to prevent the escape of any liquid. A suitable outlet is provided, the
inner side of which is covered with wire gauze or other suitable material so as to
prevent the escape of any unmixed or lumpy portions.
In order that my invention may be better understood, I herein give reference to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, illustrative thereof, wherein Fig. 1 is elevation
partly in section, shewing a machine constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is
plan view thereof, and Fig. 3 is cross section taken through the line a-b in Fig. 1.
The machine is composed of a cistern or vessel c, the top of which is covered in and
provided with a hopper d for the introduction of the material intended to be mixed,
whilst near to the bottom of the said vessel is an outlet tap or valve e to allow for

page_text: the escape of the mixture when sufficiently prepared, the inner side of such outlet
tap being covered with wire gauze s or other suitable material for preventing the
escape of any unmixed parts. A horizontal shaft f is placed full length of the
machine, provided with a stuffing box g so as to prevent the escape of any liquid,
whilst at the same time allowing the free rotation of the said shaft, which is caused
to rotate by bevel wheels and i driven from shaft j by driving pulleys k. On the
shaft fare fixed by means of keys, set screws or other suitable means, a number of
wings or vanes 1, the outer ends of which are perforated so that as the said shaft
and wings rotate, the material within the vessel is agitated and freely mixed, passing
through the perforations in the vanes, which not only breaks the force or pressure
against the liquid, but allows the liquid to escape through such perforations, thereby
all the better mixing the substances in the vessel. In order to freely lubricate the
horizontal shaft a cup m is employed, connected to the top of the vertical pipe n,
the bottom end of which is in connection with the horizontal shaft so as to allow the
lubricant free passage to the said shaft. Water is admitted into the vessel by means
of tap P
It will be seen that machines constructed as set forth will mix a much larger
quantity of material than can possibly be done by manual labour, whilst the mixing
is more perfectly and uniformly accomplished.
In some cases I may employ two or more horizontal winged shafts, the gearing of
which may be arranged so that the winged shafts revolve at different speeds.
Having now described the nature of my invention and shewn by Drawings how
the same may be carried into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do
not limit myself to the exact details shewn in the Drawings, as the mixing wings
may be vertical instead of horizontal, but what I do claim as my invention is :-
Firstly. The construction of a machine for mixing fuller's earth and other suitable
substances by means of rotary vanes or wings working within a vessel in manner
substantially as described.
Secondly. In combination with a vessel having rotary wings, the use of a valve
or tap for allowing the escape of the mixture.
Thirdly. In a machine for mixing fuller's earth and other substances wherein
rotary wings or vanes are employed, the combination therewith of an outlet tap or
valve provided with wire gauze or other suitable material for preventing the escape of
any unmixed parts, substantially as described.
1
3711 1
T1
1007
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.