IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BALES OF FIBROUS MATERIAL TO FACILITATE THE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Frank Seeland, of the City of Newark, in the
"
County of Essex and State of New Jersey, one of the United States of
America, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR TREATING BALES OF FIBROUS MATERIAL TO FACILITATE THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Frank Seeland at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th October 1880.
FREDERICK FRANK SEELAND, of the City of Newark, in the County of Essex
"IMPROVEMENTS
and State of New Jersey, one of the United States of America.
IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BALES OF FIBROUS MATERIAL
TO FACILITATE THE SUBSEQUENT ASSORTMENT AND TREATMENT THEREOF."
My Invention can be used to treat hair, cotton, and various other fibres, including
flax and hemp, but I have designed it more particularly for treating wool. It acts
by the penetrating and swelling effect of steam. The unbaled or liberated fibre is
penetrated by steam and swelled very greatly, and opened so as to facilitate the
subsequent operations.
One result of the treatment with steam is to so swell and open the wool that
cach separate flecce may be easily detached from the adjacent fleeces, thus enabling
different wool to be graded prior to its ordinary combing and other modes of
separation.
It has long been a desideratum to take the fleeces of different grades and qualities
from the bale after the bands have been ruptured separately, that is to say, the
lamb's fleece separate from the adjacent fleece of the old sheep, that of one grade
of quality or degree of market value from its adjacent fleece of different grade or
value. To this end is the design of my Invention.
The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying
out my Invention:-
I provide a table or platform supported at a proper height on legs or equivalent
supports. One or more steam pipes lead from a boiler or other steam generator,
and extending beneath and adjacent to the table; these pipe or pipes are provided
with branch pipes which extend upward through the table to which they are
soldered or otherwise secured.
The open tops of these branches or vertical pipes are governed by a single valve
plate, having perforations to correspond with the steam ports in the series in such

page_text: number and positions that a single movement of the valve plate in either direction
will open and close the entire series.
The outer edge of the table, which is preferably of rectangular form, is formed
into an upward flange, or such Hanges may be secured thereto.
The valve plate is provided with a proper operating handle and works in metal
guides, occupying but little vertical space, so as not to elevate the bale which rests
thereon but slightly, if any,
from the surface of the table.
The bale being placed upon the table the slide is pulled, and the steam through
the series of steam exits is forced by its pressure into the bale and permeates the
several fleeces.
To expedite the process and have the steam more fully and completely reach
every portion of the bale I provide flexible tubes or hose, which are connected to
the steam pipes below, and into which steam is allowed to enter controlled by a
steam-cock, and which is connected to the steam pipes below. There may be any
desired number of these tubes. Each is provided at its free end with a metal tube
perforated to form several steam exits, and having a pin, as shown, to operate a
bayonet slot or other suitable opening which will admit of longitudinal or rotary
play in an outer tube, which in its turn is perforated to exactly coincide with the
perforations in the tube secured upon the end of the pipe or hose when the inner
tube is pulled out as far as the pin in the slot will permit. When these tubes are
in the act of being inserted into the bale, or of being removed therefroin, the inner
tube is pushed into the outer tube so far as it will go. In this position the holes
in the inner and outer tubes do not correspond. The two perforated tubes form,
so to say, one solid tube, which prevents dust, hair, wool, or dirt from falling into
the tubes and closing the holes.
When the tubes are fully inserted into the bale enough steam is turned on to
have some pressure in the tubes, then the inner tube is pulled out of the outer one
so far as the pin in the slot will permit, or turned so as to cause the holes to
coincide and to allow the steam to issue freely and permeate the mass of fibrous
material.
These outer tubes have sharp pointed closed ends, and are adapted to be easily
forced into the bale at desired places at will.
When it is necessary to remove the same the flexible connection is rotated
or pushed in so as to close the holes, the steam is shut off, and the tubes are
removed.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a steam-pipe having vertical branches,
the upper ends of which pass through holes in a table, and are by preference
rigidly secured thereto. The steam exits thus formed in a series are governed by
a single valve, having apertures or passages to correspond with the different steain
exits. I employ flexible tubes connecting with the steam-pipe, each of which has a
proper steam connection with a perforated tube and rest. The perforated tube may
be connected directly to a flexible tube, and provided with a proper controlling cock.
The thorough steaming which the wool receives tends to soften the grease and
other dirt, and leaves the material in better condition for subsequent scouring.
In some cases the table may be provided with a series of vertical and horizontal
pipes, the circumference of each of which is perforated to allow of the passage of
steam to act upon the bale placed upon the table. In this case I prefer that the
ends of the vertical pipes shall be closed by fitting into them and fastening by
means of a rivet or pin a piece of round iron which is brought to a tapering point.
To the ends of the vertical and horizontal ends of the pipes a steam hose is
attached.
If the pressure of steam is very great a cloth or other suitable covering may be
placed over the wool to keep it from being blown away.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Frank Seeland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th March 1881.
FREDERICK FRANK SEELAND, of the City of Newark, in the County of Essex,
and State of New Jersey, one of the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BALES OF FIBROUS MATERIAL.
TO FACILITATE THE SUBSEQUENT ASSORTMENT AND TREATMENT THEREOF."
My Invention can be used to treat hair, cotton, and various other fibres, including
flax and hemp, but I have designed it more particularly for treating wool. It
acts by the penetrating and swelling effect of steam. The unbaled or liberated
fibre is penetrated by steam and swelled very greatly, and opened so as to greatly
facilitate the subsequent operations.
One result of the treatment with steam is to so swell and open the wool that
each separate fleece may be easily detached from the adjacent fleeces, thus enabling
different wool to be graded prior to its ordinary combing and other modes of
separation.
It has long been a desideratum to take the fleeces of different grades and
qualities from the bale after the bands have been ruptured separately, that is to
say, the lamb's fleece separate from the adjacent fleece of the old sheep, that of one
grade of quality or degree of market value from its adjacent fleece of different
grade or value. To this end is the design of my Invention.
The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out
the Invention.
I provide a table or platform, supported at a proper height on legs or equivalent
supports. One or more steam pipes lead from a boiler or other steam generator,
and extending beneath and adjacent to the table. This pipe or pipes are provided
with branch pipes which extend upward through the table to which they are
soldered or otherwise secured.
The open tops of these branches or vertical pipes are governed by a single
valve plate, having perforations to correspond with the steam ports in the series,
in such number and positions that a single movement of the valve plate in either
direction will open or close the entire series.
The outer edge of the table, which is preferably of rectangular form, is formed
into an upward flange, or such flanges may be secured thereto.
The valve plate is provided with a proper operating handle and works in metal
guides, occupying but little vertical space so as not to elevate the bale which rests
thereon but slightly, if any, from the surface of the table.
The bale being placed upon the table the slide is pulled, and the steam through
the series of steam exits is forced by its pressure into the bale and permeates the
several fleeces.
To expedite the process and have the steam more fully and completely reach
every portion of the bale, I provide flexible tubes or hose which are connected to
the steam pipes below, and into which steam is allowed to enter, controlled by a
steam-cock, and which are connected to the steam-pipe below. There may be any
desired number of these tubes. Each is provided at its free end with a metal
tube perforated to form several steam exits, and having a pin, as shown, to operate
a bayonet slot or other suitable opening which will admit of longitudinal or rotary
play in an outer tube, which in its turn is perforated to exactly coincide with the
perforations in the tube secured upon the end of the pipe or hose when the inner
tube is pulled out as far as the pin in the slot will permit. When these tubes are
in the act of being removed therefrom, the inner tube is pushed into the outer
tube so far as it will go. In this position the holes in the inner and outer tubes

page_text: do not correspond. The two perforated tubes form, so to say, one solid tube,
which prevents dust, hair, wool, or dirt from falling into the tubes and closing the
holes.
When the tubes are fully inserted into the bale, enough steam is turned on to
have some pressure in the tubes, then the inner tube is pulled out of the outer one
so far as the pin in the slot will permit, or turned so as to cause the holes to
coincide and to allow the steam to issue freely and permeate the mass of fibrous
material.
These outer tubes have sharp-pointed closed ends, and are adapted to be easily
forced into the bale at desired places at will.
When it is necessary to remove the same, the flexible connection is rotated
or pushed in so as to close the holes, the steam is shut off, and the tubes are
removed.
In some cases I can employ a table provided with a series of vertical and
horizontal pipes, the circumference of which is perforated to allow of the passage
of steam to act upon the material or fleeces placed upon the table.
But that my Invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe the
same more in detail by aid of the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my complete apparatus.
Figure 2 is a cross-section, showing a bale in position with the various parts in
operation.
Figure 3 is a detailed view of the tube E and its connections.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a slight modification.
Figure 5 is a cross-section of the same, showing a mass of material or fleeces in
position for treatment.
Figure 6 represents a sectional view of a modified form of the tube E.
A represents the table supported on legs a, a, and having flanges a¹, a¹, as
shown.
B represents the steam-pipe, having vertical branches b, b, b, the upper ends of
which pass through holes in the table, and are by preference rigidly secured
thereto. The steam exits c, c, c, thus formed in a series are governed by a single
valve-plate C having apertures C¹, C¹, to correspond with the said steam-exits c, c, c.
D represents flexible tubes connecting with steam-pipe B at b', b₁, and having each
a proper steam connection d with a tube E perforated at e, e, and provided with a
pin or lug el, as shown.
This pin el operates in a bayonet slot f in a tube F', having a pointed end f1, and
perforated at 2 to correspond in number and position with the perforations e in
the tube E.
From the foregoing description and illustration the operation of the entire device
is obvious.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view, and Fig. 5 a cross-section, illustrating a slight
modification of my Invention. In this case, the table A is provided with a series
of vertical and horizontal pipes E, E*, the circumference of each of which is
perforated to allow of the passage of steam to act upon the material or fleeces placed
upon the table A. In this case I prefer that the ends of the pipes E shall be closed
by fitting into them and fastening by means of a rivet or pin a piece of round
iron which is brought to a tapering point. To the ends of the pipes E, E*, a
steam hose B is attached in a similar manner to that described in relation to the
foregoing Figures.
If the pressure of steam is very great, a cloth or other suitable covering may be
placed over the wool to keep it from being blown away.
Various modifications may be made without departing entirely from the
principle or sacrificiug all or any of the advantages of the Invention. For instance,
several pipes, branches and steam exits, may be used in connection with the table.

page_text: The steam exits under the bale may be irregular, scattered over the surface, and
not in a straight series. I can have a number of cocks, each controlling the access
of steam to different parts of the platform A, so that when only a small bale is
treated no steam shall be discharged outside. Parts of the apparatus may be
used without the rest, but I prefer the whole used together, as shown.
The perforated tube F may be connected directly to the flexible tube D, and a
proper controlling cock be supplied.
The thorough steaming which the wool receives tends to soften the grease and
other dirt, and leaves the wool in better condition for subsequent scouring.
Having thus described my Invention, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the exact details as shown and described, so long as the peculiar
characteristics of my Invention be retained substantially as described, but what
I do claim is,-
First. The method of opening and unbaling fibrous material by introducing
steam into the mass through jets controlled by valves, as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
Second. The combination of the steam-pipe B having branches b, b, b', b', with a
platform A having steam exits c, c, and with the valve C, C¹ c', and guides C², as
and for the purposes specified.
Third. The flexible pipes D and pointed perforated tube E, e, combined with a
steam-boiler and suitable connecting devices and controlling valves, as specified.
Fourth. The interior tube E, e, e', and pointed exterior tube F, f, f', fa, combined
with flexible tube D and steain connections, as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Frank Seeland, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
FREDERICK FRANK SEELAND. (L.S.)
Witnesses
WILLIAM COLBORNE BROOKES,
THOMAS DREW STETSON,
Patent Solicitor,
New York City, U.S.A.