CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS OF SCOURING, WASHING, AND OILING WOOL AND OTHER TEXTILE MATERIALS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPINNING, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Christian Koeffler, of Rochdale, in the County
of Lancaster, Bleacher and Dyer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS OF SCOURING, WASHING, AND OILING WOOL
AND OTHER TEXTILE MATERIALS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPINNING, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 14th July 1854, and dated the-31st January 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Christian Koeffler
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with lis Petition, on the
31st January 1854.
I, LOUIS CHRISTIAN KOEFFLER, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Bleacher and Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS OF SCOURING, WASHING, AND
OILING WOOL AND OTHER TEXTILE MATERIALS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPINNING, AND IN
THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the performance of the above processes; first, in
a novel and peculiar method by which such operations are conducted; and,
secondly, in the particular construction and arrangement of machinery or
apparatus in or by which such methods or processes are effected. My
improvements in the method of scouring, washing, and oiling wool preparatory
to its being spun consist in placing the wool in a closed vessel, and operating
upon it for the purpose of scouring by the introduction of an alkaline or other
scouring solution from a separate vessel, which solution is acted upon by steam
or air pressure, and thereby forced through the wool, and afterwards returned
to the vessel from whence it was withdrawn, which operation may be repeated

page_text: until the wool is perfectly cleansed or scoured. The wool is then submitted
to a further process of washing with water alone, and this operation may also
be assisted and facilitated by the pressure of steam or air. By the escape of
the water the wool becomes compressed into a nearly solid or compact mass
at the lower part of the vessel in which it is enclosed. The pressure above is
now withheld, and as much water is again introduced as will just cover the
upper surface of the said compressed mass of wool. The oil (which is required
to render the wool capable of being spun) is now introduced above the water,
steam or air at a very high pressure is then admitted, which forces the oil
downwards, driving the water out of the wool, and forcing it to escape below,
the necessary quantity of oil retained being equally diffused throughout the
entire mass of wool. The strong affinity oil possesses for wool will effectually
prevent any water being retained in it, and thus the wool will be found
sufficiently dry for spinning purposes, without any further exposure, or any
other subsequent process. The pressure above the mass of wool being
increased or diminished, it will be evident that a greater or lesser quantity of
the oil may be retained in the wool, as may be required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Christian Koeffler in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th July 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
CHRISTIAN KOEFFLER, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Bleacher and
Dyer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Louis Christian Koeftler, Her especial license that I, the said
Louis Christian Koeffler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Louis Christian Koeffler, 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, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS OF SCOURING, WASHING,
AND OILING WOOL AND OTHER TEXTILE MATERIALS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPINNING,
AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition

page_text: (amongst others) that I, the said Louis Christian Koeffler, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Louis Christian Koeffler, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Drawings (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention relates to the performance of the above processes in a novel
and peculiar method by which such operations are conducted, and in the con-
struction and arrangement of machinery or apparatus in or by which such
methods or processes are effected. The wool or other material to be scoured
is placed in a closed vessel, into which the scouring solution is admitted from
a separate vessel; steam or air pressure is then applied, by the force of which
the liquor is driven through the material, and returned to the vessel from
whence it was withdrawn; after which water is admitted, and in like manner,
if desired, forced through by pressure. In order to convey oil to the wool, I
displace water with which the material is combined by a superincumbent
stratum of oil. These methods of operation and the machinery I employ will
be fully illustrated by reference to the accompanying Drawing, which is an
elevation of the apparatus complete and partly in section. Upon a framework
a is mounted a vessel b, closed at both ends, and provided at bottom with a
perforated plate c. Within this vessel is a perforated piston d, the rod of
which passes through a stuffing box, and is connected at its upper end to a
chain and pulley or other apparatus, by which it may be raised at pleasure, and
secured in that position, or lowered as desired. At the bottom of the vessel b
is an outlet communicating with a pipe e, provided with a cock f, and branching
upwards so as to admit of discharge into a tank g, which contains the liquor
for scouring. The bottom of this tank communicates with a pipe h, which is
furnished with stop-cocks i, j, and terminates in communication with the
interior of the vessel b. At is another pipe leading from a reservoir of water,
and communicating with the interior of the pipe h, but capable of being closed
therefrom by a cock m; above this is a third pipe n, leading from a steam
generator, and provided with a branch o, also leading to the pipe h, which
branch has a stop-cock at p. A small cistern, shewn at q, contains the oil or
other matter used in lieu thereof, with which the wool is to be treated, and from
which it can be allowed to flow into the pipe h, regulated, however, by a stop-

page_text: cock 7. Upon the framework a is mounted an air pump A, of ordinary con-
struction, from which air may be expelled through the valve s, and pipe t, into
the upper part of the vessel 6. The wool or other material to be operated
upon is placed upon the false bottom c, by removing the cover of the vessel b,
which is then restored to its place, and the piston d elevated above the level of
the material. At this time the cocks f, i, o, r, m, are closed, and that shewn
at j opened so as to allow the scouring liquor to flow into the vessel b, above
the surface of the piston d, the perforations of which will cause the fluid to be
distributed over the surface of the wool, &c. When a sufficient quantity of
liquor has been thus supplied, the cock j is closed, and the air pump A is
put into motion by any suitable connection with motive power so as to force
a quantity of air on to the surface of the fluid, the effect of which will be to
drive it through the fibres and false bottom c into the pipe e, and from
thence back into the cistern g. This having been accomplished, the cock j is
again opened, another supply of liquor admitted to the vessel b, and the same
operation effected by the air pump, and so on as many times as may be con-
sidered necessary. The treatment with scouring liquor having been completed.
and the cock j being closed, water is admitted to the wool, &c. by opening the
cock m, and allowed to pass out by opening the cock f; and in order to assist the
discharge, the air pump A may again be put to work, so as to effect a desired
amount of pressure. The extent of expansive force within the vessel b may
at all times be ascertained by a pressure guage B, and I also adapt an ordinary
safety valve and whistle, so that an alarm may be given upon an undue
pressure being attained. Instead of obtaining the pressure by means of the
air pump, I sometimes, for the washing process, use the force of steam, and
admit it through the cock p, after the manner described in reference to air.
In the process of scouring wool where an alkali is commonly employed, steam
would have an injurious effect, and should not therefore be used; but in cases
where no damage can be done to the material, the steam pressure may be
employed for scouring as well as washing. The scouring liquor may be heated
in the cistern g by an arrangement of steam pipes or other ordinary means.
The wool thus treated lies in a somewhat compressed mass upon the withdrawal
of the water, and I now introduce sufficient water to cover its surface, so as to
form an even bed for the oil, which is now admitted through the cock r, those
shewn at i, j, m, o, being closed; upon the upper surface of the oil now floating
on the even bed of water, I exert pressure by means of the air pump, as above
described, the effect of which will be that the water will be displaced by the
oil, and flow through the cock f, now opened, the oil remaining in the wool,
and diffused equally throughout its entire mass. The strong tendency of oil

page_text: to combine with wool will prevent water being retained in it to any material
extent, and it will therefore be found sufficiently dry for spinning without
any subsequent process. It will be evident that a greater or lesser amount
of oil may be applied to the wool, and retained thereby, by increasing or
diminishing the pressure. In order to obtain a compact mass of wool before
the application of the oil, the piston d may be lowered from its attachment so
as to press upon the surface, in which case it will not be necessary to allow
the last water used for washing to pass out by the cock f, for by rising above
the piston it will constitute the level surface for the oil to rest upon, and the
addition of water as above described will not be necessary. I have above
alluded to the several operations of scouring, washing, and oiling as conducted
in one vessel. I do not, however, confine myself thereto, for although such
process is a peculiarity in my Invention, the separate points of novelty may be
adopted by using distinct apparatus, or the scouring and washing may be
conducted in one vessel and the oiling in another.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be under-
stood that I claim as secured to me, under the above in part recited Letters
Patent,―
Firstly, in reference to scouring and washing wool and other materials pre-
paratory to spinning, the application of air or steam pressure for forcing the
fluids into and through the material.
Secondly, returning the scouring liquor when used to the source from whence
it was drawn by air or steam pressure, and using it again in a similar manner,
as applied to oiling wool or other materials requiring such treatment pre-
paratory to spinning. I claim applying such oil or equivalent thereto by
causing it to displace water which is combined with the material. I also
claim conducting the several operations of scouring, washing, and oiling, or
oiling and one of the others, in one vessel, without removing the material, and
the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Christian Keoffler, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
L. C. KOEFFLER. (L.S.)