IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING AND DYEING FIBROUS MATE- BIALS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bernoulli Barlow, the younger, of Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING AND DYEING FIBROUS MATE-
BIALS." A communication from abroad by Charles Grandison.
Sargent, of Graniteville, Massachusetts, United States of America.
°
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bernoulli
Barlow at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his:
Petition, on the 4th July 1873.
I, HENRY BERNOULLI BARLOW, the younger, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING AND DYEING
FIBROUS MATERIALS," being a communication to me from abroad by
Charles Grandison Sargent, of Graniteville, Massachusetts, United States
of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in improved machinery for conveying the

page_text: fibres to be washed or dyed through the bowl containing the scouring or
other liquor, and in carrying them to the squeezing rollers.
An inclined plane leads from the bowl containing the liquor to the
squeezing rollers; the wool or other material is carried along and
up this
incline by a rake provided with three or other number of rows of pins
or teeth fixed at its lower extremity; the shank or handle of the rake is
supported at the top in a swivel bearing through which the shank
projects; and it is provided with a pair of lock nuts bearing on the top of
the swivel; between the top of the shank and the rake is a swivel box
on a crank through which the rake shank passes and obtains its motion;
by this arrangement for carrying the rakes the points of their teeth on
the lower part of.the stroke describe an arc of a circle of large radius,
namely, from the top of the shank or handle instead of from the crank
as usual.
The bottom of the inclined plane mentioned above may be made of
the same radius as that described by the point of the rake teeth; it is
provided at the upper end with stationary pins or projections and at the
lower end with one or more rows of pins hooked towards the upper end
of the inclined plane; this latter row of pins is secured to a balanced
rocking bar, so set that the pins stand erect but free to fall forward to
allow the wool to be drawn over them; they catch and prevent fibres
passing in the opposite direction.
The fibres are deposited at the bottom of the inclined plane by the
last rake in the bowl of the machine; a rocking rake is held at the
lower extremity of the incline, the points of the teeth resting on the
false bottom of the machine; by giving an upward reciprocating motion
to this rake, the wool is assisted on to the incline from which it is carried
by two or more small rollers running at increasing speed to the squeezing
rollers.
All the rakes may be made as described above.
Beneath the squeezing rollers and incline I place a cistern to catch
the liquor from the rollers and for collecting the dirt; this cistern is
covered with perforated metal to exclude the fibres.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BERNOULLI BARLOW, the younger, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow, the younger, Her special
license, that I, the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow, the younger, my
exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Bernoulli Barlow, the younger, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and .at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING AND
DYEING FIBROUS MATERIALS," being a communication to me from abroad
by Charles Grandison Sargent, of Graniteville, Massachusetts, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henry Bernoulli Barlow, the younger, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow, the
younger, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say). :—

page_text: the scouring or other liquor, and in carrying them to the squeezing
rollers.
And in order that the Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation, I will proceed to describe the two accompanying
Sheets of Drawings.
On Sheet 1 Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of "the Improved
Machine for Washing and Dyeing Fibrous Materials," and on Sheet 2
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
The design of this machine is to furnish an effectual method of con-
veying the fibres to be washed or dyed through the bowl containing
the scouring or other liquor, and in carrying them to the squeezing
rollers, and only those parts of the machine which relate to the present
improvements will be minutely described in the description hereinafter
following.
66
"
These machines consist of two principal parts termed technically the
squeeze roll frame" and the "bowl," these two parts or portions of the
machine are detachable at the line A, A, Figures 1 and 2, where they'
are firmly bolted to each other when the machine is in operation. The
squeeze roll frame" consists of two main frames or sides B, B, which
are secured together by the cast-iron girder C and the wrought-iron stays
D, D. The girder C also forms the extremity of the receptacle which con-
tains the scouring or dyeing liquor. The "bowl" consists of two sides
E, E, which are secured together by the cast-iron bottoms F, F, and
by sundry stays placed in appropriate positions, but which are not
represented in the Drawing. The bottoms F, F, are cast in segments
and are bolted to one another and to the "bowl" sides in the manner
represented in the Drawing, all the joints being packed in such a manner
as to render the whole water-tight. From one end of the machine nearly
to the other the bottom is made of a concave form and together with the
sides E, E, form the tank, basin, or bowl, which contains the washing
or dyeing liquor.
Above the curved bottom F, F, are mounted a series of perforated
plates G, G. These plates are arranged horizontally in close juxta-
position from one end of the bowl to the other, and together constitute
what is termed "the false bottom." This bottom serves to support tho
fibres while at the same time it permits the dirt and impure matters
removed therefrom to pass through into the space below.

page_text: Upon one of the main sides of the "bowl" is secured stand H, H.
This stand serves as a support for the bearings of the crank shafts I, I,
with all the pulleys and gearing necessary to communicate motion to the
same. Extending upwards in two separate projections or turrets, this
stand also serves to give support to the swivels J, J.
In-suitable bearings placed in the "squeeze frames" B, B, are mounted
the squeezing rollers K, K, to press the liquor from the fibre as it
leaves the machine. Between these rollers and the body of the bowl I
mount an inclined chute L, L, having raised sides M, M, to support and
guide the fibre from the "bowl" or tank to the squeezing rollers. The
lower end of the chute is above the false bottom of the bowl, and I
therefore provide at its lower end a curved sheet metal apron N, N,
extending downward towards the false bottom for the purpose of sup-
porting the fibre, and guiding it up on to the chute as the carrier rake
moves it forward, as herein-after described. Upon the lower edge of
this sheet metal apron N, N, is riveted the metal bar O, and into this
bar is fixed a series of metal teeth or rods P, P, P, extending downward
from the edge of the apron until their lower extremities rest upon
the
false bottom of the bowl. These teeth or rods are curved to conform to
the arc of a circle, having the same radius as that of the curve given to
the apron N. The apron, together with its pins or rods, thus presents
one continuous slope or curve, extending from the lower edge of the
chute L to the false bottom of the bowl, as described. This apron with
its pins or rods are so constructed as to swing upon the centre Q; and
when occasion requires they may be swung upwards upon this centre,
thus giving access to the portions of the machine under the chute Ļ for
cleansing or other purposes; but when the machine is in operation
this apron is designed to remain stationary with its pins resting upon
the false bottom of the bowl, as represented in Figure 1. By making
the upper part of this apron of sheet metal and the lower part of rods or
pins the liquid pressed from the fibre as it passes the squeeze rollers and
flows beneath the chute L is directed downward by the sheet metal
apron, where it enters the working portion of the bowl through the
interstices between the pins P, P, seen more clearly in Figure 2, while
at the same time the pins prevent the fibre from being forced beneath
the chute by the action of the stirrer rake.
The stirrer rake consists of an arm or rod R connected at its middle to
the crank S. and arranged to slide at its upper end through a sleeve or

page_text: swivel J. Upon the lower end of this arm are secured two plates of
metal U and V, each of which is provided with a series of curved
teeth T, T, T, and W, W, W. By means of the crank S and the
swivel J combined in their action upon the rod R, it follows that
when the crank S is rotated the teeth are caused to describe the
course indicated by dotted lines, thus carrying the fibre along through
the liquor contained in the bowl towards the inclined chute L.
In the Drawings only one of these stirrer rakes is shewn, but the
machine may be constructed with two or any number of them, each
following rake taking the fibre which is conveyed to it by the preceding
The stirrer rake is described as having two series of teeth T and
W, but when a machine is constructed with several stirrer rakes each of
the rakes except the one placed nearest to the chute L is provided with
one series of teeth only.
⚫one.
By constructing the stirrer rake, which comes next to the chute L,
with two series of teeth; in one of which the teeth are shorter, and
placed in advance of the teeth of the other series, the fibre is more
effectually deposited upon the extremity of the chute L, as may be seen
by an examination of the dotted lines indicating the course of the points
of the teeth of the rake.
It has been found in practice that it is sometimes necessary to vary
slightly the movement of these rakes, I therefore mount the journal on
which its fulcrum or sleeve J turns in a horizontal slot X, and secure it
by a nut so that it may be adjusted laterally.
Placed still nearer towards the squeeze roll frame than the rake last
described is another. rake termed the "carrier rake." This rake consists
essentially of a rod or lever Y, which is provided at its lower end with
teeth or prongs Z; the upper end of the rod or lever Y slides in a sleeve
or swivel J, and it is operated by a loose sleeve a, which encircles its
middle, and is secured to the crank b. The rod or lever Y is provided
at its middle with a shoulder c, and on its upper end with a pair of jam
or lock nuts d. During the lower half of the revolution of the crank
the rod or lever Y is sustained from the swivel J by the nuts d bearing
thereon, while the sleeve a slides downwards on the lever, and swings it
forward, so as to carry the teeth Z up over the face of the chute L.
During the upper half of the crank's revolution it lifts the sleeve a, so as
to bear under the shoulder c, and raises the rake from the face of the

page_text: chute, and at the same time carries it backward to the lower end of the
same. It will be seen that the rake teeth Ziare carried upward close to
the face of the chute, so as to take the fibre from the rake R to the
squeeze rolls, and they are then raised and carried back at a considerabló
distance above the face, so as not to carry back the fibre that may
chance to be lying thereon. The course described by the rake teeth is
clearly shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 1..
It will be observed that while the rake is passing up over the chute
it swings from the sleeve or swivel J, as a centre, and. that con-
sequently the teeth move in the arc of a circle, whose radius is the
distance from the centre of the sleeve J to the extremities of the
teeth Z.
In order that the teeth during their upward movement may swing
parallel with the face of the chute I curve its face in the arc of a circle
from the point that the rake swings on, that is to say, the centre or
journal of the swivel J. By thus arranging the parts the rako is
adjusted to work close to the face of the chute without touching it.
It will be observed that the sleeves attached to the cranks S and b,
and which operate respectively upon the levers R and Y, are similar to
each other in their construction, each consisting of two sleeves placed
at right angles to each other and cast together, thus forming one piece,
which is technically termed a "right-angled box." One of the sleeves
of each of these right-angled boxes is secured to its crank by a journal
or pivot e, and. the nuts f. The cranks are furnished with slots, where
the journals of the boxes are fastened to them; thus enabling the
journals to be adjusted at a greater or less distance from the centres
of the cranks, and the strokes of the rakes can be varied in length, as
may seem desirable. Through the other sleeve of these right-angled
boxes pass the rake levers R and Y. In the case of the box attached
to the crank S the sleeve, through which passes the lever R, is provided.
with set screws, as shown, which being screwed tightly against the
lever R holds it firmly in any position that may be required.
In the case of the right-angled box attached to the crank B the sleeve
through which the lever Y passes is not provided with set screws, as
in the case of the box before described, but instead thereof it is provided
with a square hole, and the portion of the lever Y extending below the
shoulder c being constructed with a square section and fitted accurately.

page_text: to the hole in the sleeve, the sleeve may slide up
and down upon the
lever without affecting the position of the latter. This square portion
of the lever Y in its passage through the square hole in the sleeve is
shown very clearly at g, Figure 2.
The object of making the lever Y of a square section where it passes
through the sleeve is to prevent the lever from turning in the sleeve
and to preserve the rake head always in a position perpendicular to
the sides of the chute L.
The swivel which guides the upper end of the carrier rake lever Y
is mounted upon a journal which is secured in a slot by means of a
nut, as before described in the case of the stirrer rake, so that it may
be adjusted laterally to vary the stroke of the rake. Upon the lower
end of the lever Y is secured the rake head h. The teeth of the carrier
rake consists of plates Z, each having three teeth or prongs, as shown,
arranged crosswise on the rake head.
In order to prevent the fibre that may lodge on the chute from
passing back into the tank or bowl I provide rows of fixed pointed
teeth projecting upwards from the face of the chute and inclined or
rounded in the direction in which the fibre is to be carried. These rows
of teeth are so arranged with respect to the teeth of the carrier rake
that each of the plates Z with its three prongs in its passage upwards
over the face of the chute L shall pass between a consecutive pair of
the projecting stationary teeth, that is to say, the teeth of the carrier
rake are caused to "break joints" with the teeth in the chute. Thus
while the fibre is uninterrupted in its passage upward over the face of
the chute these projecting teeth catch and retain any fibre that may
chance to be drawn or washed backwards towards the bowl.
same.
At the extreme lower end of the chute L, I mount a rod m. This rod
is fixed in suitable bearings in the sides M so as to turn freely in the
Into the rod m are fixed a series of teeth or pins n, so that when
the rod m turns in its bearings these teeth are caused to reciprocate
between the points o and p, and the points of the teeth describe the
course indicated by the dotted line. The use of this rod with its teeth
or pins is as follows:-When the stirrer rake R conveying a portion of
fibre through the bowl and up over the apron N (the teeth n being in
the position o), and has passed the fibre a little beyond the point o, the
teeth n turn upward closely following the teeth of the stirrer rake and

page_text: gathering all the fibre the stirrer rakers turns to the opposite end of its
stroke, while the teeth i deposits the fibre upon the lower portion of the
chute L, and there confines it until the carrier rake comes down upon
the fibre and conveys it towards the squeeze rolls; the teeth n then
return to the point ó ready for a repetition of the operation. In order to
give a reciprocating motion to the teeth n, I cause one end of the rod m
to pass beyond the side M, and on this projecting end I fix a toothed
segment q, into which works the quadrant r, working upon a journal or
stud 8. The upper end of this quadrant is prolonged into a crank arm u,
at the extremity of which is attached the rod v. At the opposite end of
the rod it is connected by a pivot or stud to the periphery of the
toothed wheel w, which is driven by the pinion y fixed upon the end of
the shaft z, which is the same shaft as that from which the larger wheels
upon the shafts I, I, are driven. The teeth of the wheel w and pinion y
having the same proportional ratio as the teeth which drive the crank
shafts I, I, it follows that the wheel w makes the same number of
revolutions in a given time as do the shafts I, I; and the wheel w
being connected by the mechanism described to the teeth n, they
reciprocate between the points o and p in exact unison with the move-
ments of the stirrer and carrier rakes. The mechanism for actuating the
teeth n may be varied.
It will be observed that the chute L is provided with longitudinal
grooves 1, through which the liquor draining from the fibre is conveyed
back into the bowl.
At the upper end of the chute, between it and the squeezing rolls, I
mount two or more horizontal conveying rolls 2, which take the fibre
from the end of the chute, and convey it between the squeezing rolls.
Each of these rolls passing from the chute towards the squeeze rolls is
arranged so that its surface travels faster than the one next before it, so
that the fibre as it passes from one roll to the other is drawn out
and spread into a sheet, in which form it passes between the squeezing
rolls.
The different velocities of the roller surfaces may be attained by using
rollers of the same size, and driving them at different rates of speed,
or by using rollers of different sizes and driving them at a uniform speed.
In the present machine the rollers are of different sizes, and by suitable
geering, not shewn in the Drawings, they are driven at the same rate of
speed.

page_text: Beneath the chute L, I have formed a receptacle or vat by placing
one of the plates, of which the false bottom G, G, is constructed, in a
perpendicular position, as shewn at 3, Figure 1. In this vat the liquor
being shut off from communication with the body of the bowl lies
without current or circulation. The liquor which is removed from the 5
fibre by the squeeze rolls passes into this receptacle, and flowing over
the upper edge of the plate 3, between it and the inclined chute L, it
passes into the bowl through the interstices between the rods P, as
before described. By thus passing the liquor removed by the squeeze
rolls over a vat of still liquor the coarse particles and dirt contained in 1
the liquor are allowed to quietly settle and accumulate in the vat, while
the liquor itself and all floating particles of fibre escape over the edge of
the plate 3, as described. When it is desired to remove the accumu-
lations in the vat, the plate 4, which forms the lower portion of the
division between the vat and the bowl, is removed, when the rush of the 1
liquor contained in the vat washes the deposit beneath the false bottoms,
and so out of the machine through the drain.
The mode of operation is as follows:-The bowl is first filled with
scouring or dyeing liquor, about three-fourths full, or up to the
horizontal dotted lines, shewn in Figure 1. The fibre is fed into the 2
machine upon a feed apron of ordinary construction, and dropped into
the bowl just behind the first of the series of stirrer rakes. This rake
seizes upon the fibre thus dropped and passes it onward through the
liquor to the action of the second stirrer rake, which transmits it to the
third, and so on, until at length the fibre reaches the rake R, this being a
the last of the stirrer rakes. The rake R with the assistance of the
rod m and its teeth n, operating as before described, deposits the fibre
upon the edge of the chute L. It is thence conveyed by the carrier
rake Y' over the face of the chute L and deposited upon the rolls 2,.2,
by whose action the fibre is drawn out into a sheet and so fed to the
squeeze rolls K, K. The squeeze rolls are very solid and heavy, and
their pressure is still further increased by the application of suitable
levers and weights. Passing between these squeezing rolls the fibre
emerges nearly dry, and by the action of a beater fan is thrown upon a
pile at the end of the machine.

page_text: First. The lifting rake m, n, arranged at the foot of the inclined
chute L, as and for the purposes set forth.
Secondly. The inclined chute L, provided with the fixed inclined teeth
or projections k, k, substantially as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The curved chute L, in combination with the swinging
carrier rake Y for conveying the fibre towards the squeezing rolls.
Fourthly. The rake lever Y, having its upper end mounted in the
swivel J, and provided with the nuts d, and its middle provided with
the shoulder c, in combination with the right-angled box a attached to
the crank b, as shewn and described.
Fifthly. The carrier rake Y, in combination with the curved chute L,
having fixed inclined teeth, the stirrer rake R, and the squeeze rolls K.
Sixthly. The combination of the stirring rake R, lifting rako m, n,
chute L, carrier rake Y, and squeezing rolls K, K.
Seventhly. The conveying rolls 2, 2, having their surfaces arranged to
travel at different rates of speed when used in combination with the
rake R and chute L, as and for the purposes set forth.
Eighthly. The vat or receptacle X arranged below the chute L,
between the main tank or bowl and the squeezing rolls, as and for tho
purpose set forth.
Ninthly. The rakes. R and Y having the swivels which support their
upper ends made adjustable laterally, as described.
Tenthly. The curved apron N with its pins or rods P in combination
with the chute L and lifting rake_m, n, as and for the purposes set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bernoulli Barlow, junior,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of January