IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN WASHING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Illingworth, Worsted Spinner, of the Firm of
Daniel Illingworth and Sons, of Bradford, in the County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN WASHING WOOL
AND OTHER FIBRES."
Sealed the 4th May 1880, and dated the 8th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Illingworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1879.
HENRY ILLINGWORTH, Worsted Spinner, of the Firm of Daniel Illingworth and
Sons, of Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN WASHING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
In the washing of wool and other fibres it is customary to feed the fibres to be
washed into troughs containing the wash liquid, and such fibre is progressively
conducted forward through the liquid in such trough by means of successive series
of prongs or other moving means actuated mechanically, by which the fibre under
operation is conducted forward to the delivery end of the trough, and the object of
such operation is more effectually to bring the fibre into complete contact with the
wash liquor for the more effectually cleansing such fibre. But according to arrange-
ments hitherto adopted for this purpose each row or series of prongs, or other the
moving means employed, has been in length nearly equal to the breadth of the
interior of the trough containing the wash liquid, consequently the movement of
the fibre through the wash liquor in one direction has produced the effect of a
movement of the wash liquor through such fibre in the opposite direction, by which
the fibre is found to be injuriously acted upon, and the object of the present
improvements is to remedy this evil. For this purpose I reduce the length of the
successive series or rows of prongs or other moving means employed so as to leave
a free passage between them and the internal side or sides of the trough, and I find
it convenient to apply the prongs or moving means so that they may occupy the
central portion of the width of the trough, leaving free passages on each side

page_text: thereof, by which the fibre under operation will be taken forward along the wash
trough by the prongs or other moving means, and the return action of the wash
liquor through the fibre is minimised, thus leaving passages for the back current
or currents between the end or ends of the moving means and the sides of the
trough.
In some cases if desired I apply plates to aid in preserving the respective
channels, or the effect may be obtained by the application of pipes or conduits to
the outside of the present arrangement of parts of the wash troughs to conduct the
return currents of the wash liquor.
For facility of removing the grates and cleansing the bottom of such trough I
also suspend the series of prongs or other moving means employed with their
actuating parts so that by chains, screw, or other suitable motion I may at pleasure
raise such moving means sufficiently to admit of the grating being removed and
the interior of the trough being more freely cleansed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Illingworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th May
1880.
HENRY ILLINGWORTH, Worsted Spinner, of the Firm of Daniel Illingworth and
Sons, of Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN WASHING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
In the washing of wool and other fibres it is customary to feed the fibres to be
washed into troughs containing the wash liquid, and such fibre is progressively
conducted forward through the liquid in such trough by means of successive series
of prongs or other moving means actuated mechanically, by which the fibre under
operation is conducted forward to the delivery end of each trough, and the object of
such operation is more effectually to bring the fibre into complete contact with the
wash liquor for the more effectually cleansing such fibre. But according to arrange-
ments hitherto adopted for this purpose each row or series of prongs, or other the
moving means employed, has been in length or has occupied space transversely of
the trough nearly equal to the breadth of the interior of such trough containing
the wash liquid, consequently the movement of the fibre through the wash liquor
in one direction has produced the effect of a movement of the wash liquor through
such fibre in the opposite direction, by which the fibre is found to be injuriously
acted upon; and the object of the present improvements is to remedy this evil.
For this purpose I reduce the length of or extent of space occupied transversely by
the successive series or rows of prongs or other moving means employed so as to
leave a free passage between them and the internal side or sides of the trough, and
I find it convenient to apply the prongs or moving means so that they may occupy
the central portion of the width of the trough, leaving free passages on each side
thereof, by which the fibre under operation will be taken forward along the wash
trough by the prongs or other moving means, and the return action of the wash
liquor through the fibre is minimised, thus leaving passages for the back current or
currents between the end or ends of the moving means and the sides of the trough.
In some cases if desired I apply plates to aid in preserving the respective
channels, or the effect may be obtained by the application of pipes or conduits to
the outside of the present arrangement of parts of the wash troughs to conduct the
return currents of the wash liquor.
For facility of removing the grates and cleansing the bottom of such trough I
also suspend the series of prongs or other moving means employed with their
actuating parts so that by chains, screws, levers, or other suitable motion I may at
pleasure raise such moving means sufficiently to admit of the grating being removed
and the interior of the trough being more fully cleansed.
Having thus described my improvements I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details indicated, but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The improvements in apparatus employed in washing wool and other
fibres whereby a free passage or free passages are provided for the return current
or currents of the wash liquor, substantially as described.
Secondly. I claim the method of facilitating the removal of the grates and
cleansing the bottoms of the wash troughs by suspending the series of prongs or
other the means giving motion to the wool or other fibre during such cleansing
operation, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Illingworth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
sight hundred and eighty.
HENRY ILLINGWORTH. (L.S.)