IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOL-OILING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Leon Mathews of West Troy in the County of
Albany State of New York United States of America for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOL-OILING MACHINES.
I
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Leon Mathews at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1883.
JOHN LEON MATHEWS of West Troy in the county of Albany and the state
of New York United States of America IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOL-OILING
MACHINES,
Fig. 1 and 2 are perspective views of my machine, taken from opposite sides;
Fig. 3. is a longitudinal vertical section of the same; Fig. 4. is a rear elevation,
with a portion of the back-part of the oil chamber broken away, to show the
arrangement of the float and supply-valve; Fig. 5. is a detail view of one of the
oil-feeding springs, detached from the machine; and Fig. 6. is a vertical cross-
section of the machine through the broken line marked x-x in Fig. 3.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
My invention relates to machines for oiling wool stock, or Wool-oiling
machines" and has for its object to provido for an even and well equalized
distribution of the oil into the stock, and for the regulation of the quantity of oil
to be supplied to the stock fed to the machine according to the nature of the stock
to be treated. In a machine of this class, these are the two most important
requirements, and to this end my improvement consists in the construction and
arrangement of parts whereby I accomplish these results.
"
On the drawings hereto annexed, A is the frame of the machine, which is by
preference, of cast-iron,. of the shape shown in figures 1 and 2 of the drawing,
each side having an extension, A', on which the oil-tank is supported. Journaled
in boxes, A; in the lower part of the frame, is the drive-shaft, B, on one end of
which is a loose pulley, C₁ and a fixed pulley C; while upon its opposite end, is
fixed a sheave or grooved pulley, E, and a flanged pulley, F. D is a belt-shifter
which is operated by an arm, d, extending outwardly in front of the machine.

page_text: '
A belt, f, transmits motion from the flanged pulley, F, to the large pulley G,
and another endless belt or band, e, transmits motion from the grooved pulley, E,
to another pulley, H, in the upper part of the machine, which pulley, H, has a
wrist-pin, h. Upon the shaft g, of the large pulley, G, is fixed a sprocket wheel, I;
and also the rear apron-drum or roller Q³, between which and the front apron
roller Q¹ the endless apron, Q is suspended. This apron, which may be of canvass,
or any other suitable material, is considerably higher at the back part of the
machine than at the front, for the purpose of allowing a greater fall behind, and
thereby give room for the discharge of a larger quantity of wool, The shaft of the
front roller, Q, has a sprocket-wheel, J, to which a rotary motion is transmitted
by an endless chain, K, which engages the sprocket wheel I, on shaft g. The
apron, with its drum or rollers is is mounted inside of a casing formed by the
sides, S, and back-plate, S¹. At the top of the latter, a little distance below
roller Q³, is fixed the clearer-comb, R, the teeth, r, of which project outwardly and
are for the purpose of clearing the apron of any stock that may adhere to it, and
prevent the same from being carried under the apron. To the inside of the back-
plate, S¹, is fixed a bent plate, 8, the lower end of which overlaps the removable
drip-pan, T, which slides upon ways, t, bolted to the frame of the machine below
the side-pieces, SS, of the apron casing; This plate or deflector 8, conducts the
drippings from the apron, if any, as it passes over roller Q2, down into the drip-
pan, which also receives the drippings from the apron, if any, on its return travel
between rollers. Q and Q¹, By reference to Fig. 6, of the drawing, it will be seen
that the sides of the drip-pan T pass outside of the casing-plates SS, so that
there is no possibility of any part of the oil dripping outside of the pan intended for
the collection, U, is the oil-tank or reservoir which rests upon the extended
portions A¹ of the frame. In the top of the tank is fixed a strainer, u, through
which the tank is filled; a hinged cover, U¹, being placed over the strainer. In
the bottom of the tank is a valve, V, through which the oil is fed into the oil-
chamber W, placed below the tank; said chamber being divided longitudinally by
a partition, w, into a front and rear chamber or compartment; this partition w,
does not, however, extend down to the bottom of the tank, but leaves a narrow
open space, through which oil may flow from one compartment to the other. In
the front compartment revolves the feeding-roller, X, on the shaft of which is a
cone-pulley L, which receives rotary motion by a band or belt, M, from another
cone-pulley N, secured on the outer end of shaft g on that side of the machine.
In the other compartment, into which the oil from the discharge nozzle of the
supply valve, V, drips, is placed a float, Y, the arm of stem y of which has a series
of apertures by means of which it may be fixed adjustably upon one end of a
lever Z, the other end of which is connected by a link to the arm a by which the
stop-cock of the supply-valve V is opened or closed; As the float is raised, by the
flow of oil into the oiling chamber, the supply-valve is gradually closed; and,
conversely, as oil is fed from the oiling chamber, lowering the level of oil and
gradually sinking the float, the supply-valve is gradually opened so as to replenish
the supply of oil in the oiling chamber. Thus it will be seen that the supply of
oil to the oiling-chamber is regulated automatically, and that the level of the oil in
the chamber will always remain uniform. Sliding in slotted bearings, bb, fastened
adjustably in brackets, cc, bolted to the frame of the machine, is a bar, i, on the
front side of which is marked off a scale marking distances one-eighth, of an inch
apart. Upon this bar is fastened, adjustably and removably, the feed springs k
The latter consist, each of three parts, viz: a flat steel strip 1, pointed at its
lower end; an arm, 2, and a slotted box or slide, 3, through one side of which a
set-screw, 4, is inserted. The pointed strip, 1, is made,, by preference, of thin
spring steel, and bears with its upper beveled end against the oiling feed-roller X
A suitable number of these feed-springs are placed upon arm or bar i, and fastened
thereon by the set-screws 4; the several springs being placed so as to be equal
distances apart, which is readily affected by means of the scale marked off on the
front side of the bar. A reciprocating motion is imparted to bar i by means of

page_text: pully H, the wrist-pin h of which secured eccentrically thereon engages a slotted,
arm, i, fastened to and depending from the outer end of bar i. This bar, with
its feed-springs is so arranged that, in its reciprocation any one of its springs will
traverse a greater distance from side to side than the distance between two adjacent
feed-springs; and it follows that the full width, of the apron will be covered by
the pointed ends of the feed-springs and the oil discharged therefrom. From the
foregoing, it will be seen that the means for regulating or controlling the flow of
oil to the stock on the travelling apron are threefold, viz: first, by adjusting the,
float Y on lever Z, so as to bring it nearer to its appropriate end of the lever, a
higher level of oil in the oiling-chamber W, is maintained, and feed-roller ✗,,
revolving deeper in the oil upon the feed-springs which bear, with their inner ends,
against its surface, acting as scrapers to scrape off the oil which adheres to the
roller. Again, by increasing the speed of the roller, by properly adjusting the
driving-belt, M, upon the cone-pulleys L and N, more oil will be fed to the feed-
springs and their discharge thus increased; and, finally, by increasing or reducing.
the number of feed-springs k, which scrape the feed-roller, the discharge of oil upon.
the stock may be regulated correspondingly. A true bearing of the feed-springs
against the feed-roller is effected by means of the adjustable bearings b b in which.
bar slides, which can be moved forward or backward in their supports or
brackets c, and fixed in any given position by means of a set-screw 6¹. By the
arrangement of the reciprocating bar and its feed-springs, in combination with.
the rotary feed-roller, the flow of oil is broken into small drops, which are sprinkled.
over the stock as it passes beneath the discharge-end of the feed-springs, thus
insuring covering all parts of the stock with its proper proportion of oil; and as
both of the apron-rollers Q and Q³ revolve, (actuated by the sprocket wheels I
and J, and chain K,) I prevent slipping of the apron and provide for the regular
and uniform feeding of stock to the oiling device
Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters,
Patent:
1. In a wool-oiling machine, the combination of the inclined feed-apron Q, oil-
feeding, roller X, and feed-springs k bearing with their inner ends against the
roller, and mounted upon a reciprocating bar i; substantially as and for the
purpose shown and set forth.
j
2. The combination with the oil-feeding roller of a wool-oiling machine, of a set
or series of springs or fingers mounted upon a reciprocating bar in front of the;
roller, and bearing with their inner ends against the same; substantially as and
for the purpose shown and set forth.
3. The combination with the oil-feeding roller of a wool-oiling machine, of a set
or series of springs or fingers mounted, adjustably and removably, upon a
reciprocating graduated bar in front of the roller, and bearing with their inner
ends against the same; substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.
4. The combination with the oil-feeding roller of a wool-oiling machine, of a set
or series of springs or fingers, mounted adjustably and removably, upon a
reciprocating graduated bar sliding in adjustable bearings in front of the roller,
whereby the pressure of the springs against the roller may be regulated by the
adjustment of the bar and its bearings; substantially as and for the purpose shown
and set forth.
5. The removable and adjustable feed-springs k consisting, each, of the flat
strip 1 pointed at its lower end; and arm 2, and slotted box 3 having set-screw 4;
substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.
6. The combination of the reciprocating graduated bar i; and removable and
adjustable feed-springs consisting, each, of the flat strip 1 pointed at its lower end;
arm 2, and slotted box 3 having set-screw 4; substantially as and for the purpose
shown and set forth
7. In a wool-oiling machine, the combination of the oiling-chamber W, feed-
roller X having cone-pulley L, endless belt M; shaft g having at one end the
cone-pulley N, and at the other end the driving-pulley G; and feed-springs k

page_text: bearing with their inner ends against the roller; substantially as and for the
purpose shown and set forth.
I'
8. In a wool-oiling machine, the combination of the oil-tank or reservoir U
having discharge-valve V provided with a stop-cock having arm a; link ;
lever Z; adjustable float Y; and oiling-chamber W; substantially as and for the
purpose shown and set forth.
9. The oiling-chamber W divided by the longitudinal partition w into two
compartments, in combination with the feed-roller X and float Y for regulating
automatically the supply of oil from the oil-tank or reservoir U located above the
oiling-chamber; substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.
10. In a wool-oiling machine, the combination of the endless feed-apron Q, and
clearer comb R, fixed at the discharge end of the apron and below the same;
substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.
11. The combination of the endless feed-apron Q; apron casing composed of the
side plates S, and back plate S¹ having bent deflector 8; and removable drip-pan T;
substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.
12. In a wool-oiling machine, the endless feed-apron Q inclined from the front
part of the machine towards the delivery end at the back of the same; substantially
as and for the purpose shown and set forth.
13. In a wool-oiling machine, the combination of the inclined endless feed-
apron Qoiling-chamber W; feed-roller X; and feed-springs ; substantially as
and for the purpose shown and set forth.
14. The improved wool-oiling machine herein shown and described, consisting
essentially of the frame A A¹; drive-shaft B having pulleys C C¹ and E F; endless
belts e and f; inclined endless feed-apron Q; shaft g having drive-pulley G,
sprocket-wheel I, apron roller Q2 and cone-pulley L; endless chain K; apron-
roller having sprocket-wheel J; apron-casing S S¹ having drip-deflector 8;
drip-pan T; clearer-comb R; endless band M; feed-roller X having cone pulley L
removable and adjustable feed-sprigs k mounted upon the reciprocating bar i
having slotted arm ¹, grooved pulley H having wrist-pin h; oil-chamber. W
having longitudinal partition w; supply-tank or reservoir U having discharge-
valve V; and device for regulating automatically the flow of oil from the supply-
tank into the oiling chamber consisting of the adjustable float Y, lever Z, link z
and valve arm a; the whole constructed, combined and arranged substantially as
and for the purpose shown and set forth.
In witness whereof I the said John Leon Mathews have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.