Improvements in Rag Engines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rag Engines.
I, JOHN WILLIAM MITCHELL, of Holme Mill, Rawtenstall, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Waste Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention is designed with the object of providing means whereby the
material can be removed from a rag engine such as is used in the cleaning of cotton
waste or rags or other material in the manufacture of paper, without stopping the
machine.
It consists essentially in providing the machine preferably at the end furthest
removed from the weir, with a conveyor or creeper of lattice or other material in
combination with a door or other sluice which can be raised to stop or divert the
current of the material through the machine in one direction, and a second door
that can be opened to allow the current to flow through an additional chamber to
the conveyor which is placed therein.
In carrying out the invention as applied to existing machines I add an additional
chamber or part to the machine in order to obtain the required amount of space
for applying the improved apparatus but as applied to new machines the additional
space may be provided in the tank of the machine.
The additional space is preferably provided at the end of the machine furthest
away from the "weir as I consider that the invention will work best when so
applied though it may be applied at the other end or in any other convenient
position to suit the situation of the machines.
The additional space or chamber thus provided is separated from the ordinary
tank by a door sluice or the like which can be opened or closed at pleasure and
which when the machine is at ordinary work is closed. This door preferably
slides vertically to open and close it being raised to open it and lowered to
close it.
A second door sluice or the like is provided and placed between the end of the
diaphragm or division plate or in other suitable position which when closed will
direct or divert the current of the material as it flows or circulates through the
machine into the additional part or chamber. This door has also preferably a
vertically sliding movement to open and close it. It is however situated in a
chamber or recess below the machine that when open it is below the material in
the tank and the raising of it closes the aperture in which it fits and diverts the
direction of the current of the material. It is preferably provided with a scissor
or knife edge on the upper end to sever any of the material that may lodge upon
it as it is raised.
The one door should be opened and the other closed simultaneously.
In the chamber I place a fixed conveyor in the form of a travelling creeper or
other convenient form onto which the material is directed as soon as the current is
diverted by the opening of one and closing of the other door. When the material
is all removed from the tank the doors are returned to their normal position and
a fresh batch of material can be filled in without stopping the machine at all either
to discharge or refill it.
I wish it to be understood that I am well aware that a conveyor for discharging
such machines is not new and that such in combination with the weir of a rag
machine does not form any part of my invention.
Dated this 8th day of Danamhna 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rag Engines.
I, JOHN WILLIAM MITCHELL, of Holme Mill, Rawtenstall, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Waste Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is designed with the object of providing means whereby the
material can be removed from a rag engine such as is used in the cleaning of
cotton waste or rags or other material without stopping the machine.
It consists essentially in providing the machine preferably at the end furthest
removed from the weir, with a conveyor or creeper of lattice or other material in
combination with a door or other sluice which can be raised to stop or divert the
current of the material through the machine in one direction, and a second door
that can be opened to allow the current to flow through an additional chamber to
the conveyor which is placed therein.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
a rag engine is shown with my improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 1. Longitudinal sectional elevation on line x-x.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal sectional elevation on line y—y.
Fig. 3. Plan.
The tank A of the machine the rag roll B the drum washer C and the weir D
are all constructed in the ordinary manner.
To the tank A as at present constructed I add an additional chamber or tank E
in order to obtain the required amount of space for applying the improved
apparatus to the machine.
The chamber or tank E is provided with two openings e e' communicating with
the interior of the tank A, one or both of which can be closed when desired by
means of a door to shut off all communication between the two tanks A and E.
The chamber or tank E can thus when desired be separated from the tank A. by
the sliding sluice or door F fitted into the opening e. The door F is preferably
arranged to slide vertically it being raised to open it and lowered to close it and
when the machine is ordinarily at work it is kept closed.
A second sliding door or sluice G is provided to work in conjunction with the
door or sluice F and (in the example shown) is placed between the end of the
diaphragm or division plate a and the end of the tank A so that when closed it
will stop the circulation of the material therethrough and will direct or divert the
current of the material as it flows or circulates through the machine into the
additional chamber or tank E.
The door or sluice G has also preferably a vertically sliding movement to open
and close it, and is situated in a chamber or recess below the machine so that when
open it is below the material in the tank A. and the raising of it closes the
aperture a in which it fits and diverts the direction of the current of the material.
It is preferably provided with a sharp or knife edge on the upper end to sever
any of the material that may lodge upon it as it is raised. To the upper edge
of the door G are fitted two uprights and a cross head g' by which it can be
raised.
The doors F and G are opened and closed by rods ff attached to a piston and
cylinder whereby the door F may be opened and the door G closed simultaneously.
In the chamber or tank E I place a conveyor H (preferably fixed) in the form
of a travelling creeper or other convenient form onto which the material is directed
as soon as the current is diverted by the opening of the door F and closing of the
door G. The conveyor H is previously set in motion and lifts the material up out
of the tanks A and E and delivers it out over the other end either into a truck or
barrow or onto a conveyor. The outer end of the conveyor may be supported by

page_text: a bearer or by a bracket or other convenient means. When the material is all
removed from the tank the doors are returned to their normal position and a
fresh batch of material can be filled in without stopping the machine at all either
to discharge or refill it.
In applying the invention to existing machines the tank or chamber E is added
onto the tank A but in constructing new machines the tank A may be so con-
structed as to contain the second tank E within the same frame work the doors F
and G being provided to control and divert the current or flow of the material.
The tank E with the doors F and G and the conveyor H is preferably placed
at the end of the machine furthest away from the "weir" D as I consider that the
invention will work best when so applied though it may be placed at the other
end, at the side or in any other convenient position to suit the situation of the
machines.
I wish it to be understood that I am well aware that a conveyor for discharging
such machines is not new and that such in combination with the weir of a rag
machine does not form any part of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A rag engine provided with a second or additional tank (such as E)
separated from the main tank A. by a door or sluice in which is placed a conveyor
to remove the material from the machine when the partition door is opened
substantially as described.
2. In a rag engine the combination with the tank A. of the second chamber or
tank E the door F which separates the two tanks the door G which directs the
circulation or flow of the material and the lattice or other conveyor H placed in
the tank E which removes the material from the machine substantially as
described.
Dated this 4th day of October 1908.
55535 VLAD
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.