IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING OR SCOURING WOOL OR OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Fairburn, of Burloy-in-Wharfedale, in
the County of York, Machine Wool Combing Overlooker, for tho
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING OR SCOURING
WOOL OR OTHER FIBRES.”
Scaled the 22nd July 1873, and dated the 23rd January 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Fairburn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd January 1873.
I, ROBERT FAIRBURN, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, in the County of
York, Machine Wool Combing Overlooker, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING OR
SCOURING WOOL OR OTHER FIBRES," (to be as follows) :-
In the washing and scouring of wool by the machines as heretoforc
constructed the wool is delivered by the delivering sheet or "brat" in a
compressed or condensed state caused by the pressure of the squeezing
rollers in expelling the water therefrom, and as hot water is used there
is a considerable amount of steam amongst and arising from the fibre

page_text: so treated, and to disperse the steam fans have been employed, but it is
found the action of the air from a fan only serves to condenso the steam
amongst the fibres and the fibre is removed in this state to the drying
machine. Now this Invention has for its object the rendering light and
fleecy and expelling the steam from the fibre so as to reduce the labour
and cost of drying the fibres, and the lustro or finish of the same is
greatly improved.
Near to the delivering sheet so as to catch the wool or fibre falling
therefrom is a rake or number of prongs mounted upon or connected to
a shaft (parallel with and extending across the delivering sheet) to which
a partial rotary motion is given by a crank which gives to the prongs
or fingers a rapid rising and falling motion, tossing or throwing up the
wool or fibre which gradually falls off the end of the prongs in a light,
open, or fleecy state upon an inclined tray or hopper, having a like rapid
rising and falling motion. The outer edge or end of this tray is pro-
videded with prongs or fingers and its inclination causes the fibre to
gradually fall towards and over the prongs or fingers to the floor or to a
receptacle ready for removal to the drying machine or room. The fan-
like motion of the inclined tray or hopper also causes a current of air
to be thrown amongst the wool in its open state so that the steam and
vapour is thereby expelled therefrom and not condensed therein as
heretofore.
•
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Fairburn in the Great Scal Patent Offico
on the 23rd July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
FAIRBURN, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, in the County of York, Machino
Wool Combing Overlooker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Fairburn, Her special.
licenco that I, the said Robert Fairburn, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Fairburn, my ;

page_text: 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, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING OR SCOURING WOOL OR OTHER FIBRES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, tho said Robert Fairburn,
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 Robert Fairburn, 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 and accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that
is to say :-
In the washing or scouring of wool by the machines as heretofore
constructed, the wool is delivered by the delivering sheet or "brat" in a
compressed or condensed state caused by the pressure of the squeezing
rollers in expelling the water therefrom, and as hot water is used there
is a considerable amount of steam amongst and arising from the fibre
so treated, and to disperse the steam fans have been employed, but it is
found the action of the air from a fan only serves to condense the steam
amongst the fibre and the fibre is removed in this state to the drying
machine. Now this Invention has for its object the rendering light and
fleecy and expelling the steam from the fibre so as to reduce the labour
and cost of drying the fibres, and the lustre or finish of the same is
greatly improved.
Near to the dilivering sheet so as to catch the wool or fibre falling
therefrom is a rake or number of prongs mounted upon or connected to
a shaft (parallel with and extending across the delivering sheet) to which
a partial rotary motion is given by a crank which gives to the prongs
or fingers a rapid rising and falling motion, tossing or throwing up the
wool or fibre which gradually falls off the end of the prongs in a light,
open, or fleecy state upon an inclined tray or hopper having a like rapid

page_text: rising and falling motion. The outer edge or end of this tray is pro-
vided with prongs or fingers and its inclination causes the fibre to
gradually fall towards and over the prongs or fingers to the floor or to a
receptacle ready for removal to the drying machine or room. The fan-
like motion of the inclined tray or hopper also causes a current of air
to be thrown amongst the wool in its open state so that the steam
and vapour is thereby expelled therefrom, and not condensed therein
as licretoforc.
. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side clevation of a portion of an ordinary wool washing
machine; A is the delivering sheet or "brat" passing round the rollers B
and C, the latter of which is supported in adjustable bearings D; E arc a
number of prongs mounted upon or connected to a shaft I parallel with
and extending across the delivering sheet, which shaft has a partial rotary
motion communicated to it by means of the lever G connecting rod II and
crank pin J on the face plate J', which is balanced to the weight of the
prongs and connecting rod. This partial rotary motion of the shaft F
gives a rapid rising and falling or shaking motion to the prongs E, and
the compressed wool falling on to them is tossed up and shook, and then
fallsoff the prongs in a light open fleecy state upon an inclined tray or
hopper K, supported on a rocking shaft L to which is fixed a lever L'
connected by a rod M to a crank pin N on the balanced plate 1', whereby
a shaking motion is communicated to the tray, the outer edge of which
is provided with prongs R. The inclination of the tray (which is
adjustable by nut M' and right and left hand screws) together with the
rapid shaking motion causes the wool or fibre to fall gradually over
the prongs R on to the floor or into a receptacle provided to receive it.
The fan-like motion of the tray or hopper causes a continual current of
air to be thrown upon or into the wool as it falls over the prongs in an
open, light, or loose state whereby the steam and vapour is expelled and
not allowed to condense in the wool as heretofore. Motion is communi-
cated to the plates J' and P by straps S and S', pulleys T, T', and Tº,
and gear wheels U and X which are driven by or from the first motion
of the machine. On the shaft F is fixed a board or scraper Z for pre-
venting the wool adhering to the cloth A and for guiding the wool to
the prongs E.
Fig. 2 is a detail of the prongs or rake E, and Fig. 3 shows the tray or

page_text: Having thus described the nature and particulars of the said Invention
and shewn by Drawings and description in what manner the same is
performed or put into practical operation, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details shown and described,
but what I claim is, the application to and use in connection with
machines for washing or scouring wool or other fibres of apparatus for
shaking the wool or other fibres as delivered by the sheet or "brat"
from the pressing or squeezing rollers, for the purpose and in the manner
substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Fairburn, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Nineteenth day of July, in the of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
year
Signed, scaled, and delivered
by the within-named Robert
Fairburn, in the presence of
W. M. TASKER,
Tasker & Brierley,
Patent Agents,
ROBERT FAIRBURN. (L.S.)
Halifax, Bradford, & Blackburn.