of and Apparatus for Automatically Drying and Purifying Wool and other Textile Materials.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Process of and Apparatus for Automatically Drying and Purifying
Wool and other Textile Materials.
I, ALEXANDRE DERU, of Verviers, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process of automatically drying and purifying wool and
other textile materials and the said process consists essentially in lowering the wool
or other material into vertical cages in a reverse direction to that of the passage
of a current of hot air, this being effected by means of apparatus bereinafter
described.
The cages, two for example, are arranged back to back against one another. They
are of rectangular section and have their sides formed of metal framing, filled in with
brick, iron &c.
In the interior of each of them are arranged at equal distances apart iron gratings
moveable upon horizontal hinges arranged back to back along the longer sides of the
rectangular cages.
In each section of each cage move two similar gratings so that when they occupy
a nearly horizontal position they close the cage, that is to say, they can then
support the wool; if on the contrary they are swung down on their hinges they
release the wool.
The two gratings of each section are firmly connected by means of two toothed
sectors keyed on their axis of rotation. Moreover one of these two axes in each section
carries a projection against which rubs an endless strap or band moving at a speed
which depends on the rapidity with which the drying is to be effected. A similar
arrangement of strap or band is placed on each side of the apparatus one for operating
the gratings of one cage and the other for operating the gratings of the other cage.
A driving pulley actuates through the medium of spur gearing a pulley which
gives motion to the band. From the latter pulley the motion is transmitted to the
band of the adjacent section by a train of intermediate gear wheels one of which is
keyed on the shaft of another pulley.
Through the band bearing against the projections, the gratings are kept in a horizontal
position, that is to say, they are prevented from rotating as they would otherwise do
under the action of their own weight and that of the wool placed on them. In order
to allow the gratings to swing on their hinges when required the band is provided with
a slot. of suitable length and of a width equal to that of the projections but allowing
a little play so that when the slot comes opposite a projection, the latter, being no
longer retained, the two gratings swing on their hinges and the wool, which they
supported, falls. The band, however, immediately raises the projection and consequently
the gratings are ready to receive the wool from the gratings immediately above, which
swing on their hinges when the slot reaches their projection.
It will he seen that owing to the projections and the endless band with its slot, the
pairs of gratings will move on their hinges successively and then immediately resume
their horizontal position.
To the cages is fitted a cluster of tubes through which the steam passes and over
which the air is forced from a blower.
The current of hot air rises in the cages and is divided so that it passes through the
layers of wool and over their lower and upper surfaces. This is effected by the use of
metal plates fixed to the gratings and forming baffles to force the hot air to circulate
between them and the stonework in a circuitous manner simultaneously in both cages
through the openings made in the partition separating the two compartments, or in a

page_text: single cage if the apparatus only comprises one chamber. The metal sheets forming
a portion of the gratings are formed to move down each time that the latter allow the
wool to pass.
The advantages of this arrangement are
1. That the small shreds of wool which might lodge between the wall and the baffles
are carried by the current of air onto the descending portion of the wool.
2. The excess of air which passes upwards over the layers of wool is conducted back
and by facilitating this action, the hot air is employed to the fullest advantage and
makes the drying operation quicker and more regular. The baffles are arranged in
serpentine fashion so that the air having arrived at the end of its course, passes into a
flue communicating with the outside." A part of the latter forms a receiver for
collecting the shreds of wool which may escape from the last compartment. A metal
grating is placed at the entrance of the receiver to collect the small shreds of wool
which may be carried along by the air-current, thereby preventing any loss of
material.
In order to make sure that the interior parts of the apparatus are in proper order or
to allow of cleaning the same, as, it should he observed that nothing ever remains in
the machine, I provide sight holes fitted with iron doors which can be easily removed.
When it is required to ascertain if the interior of the machine be clean, it is only
necessary to place sacks of wool over the upper grating and allow them to fall to the
bottom. The operation is carried on in the following manner :-
The wool to be dried is raised from the ground-floor to the top platform by means
of an elevator. The workman takes a certain quantity and spreads it over the top
gratings of the first cage. He then sets the band in motion which causes the different
gratings to move successively upon their hinges. When the band has travelled once
round, all the gratings will have swung upon their hinges, and the first charge will
have fallen from the top grating onto the next one below it. The top grating is
recharged and during the next travel round of the band the third grating will receive
the first charge of wool from the second grating and the second grating will receive
the second charge of wool from the first grating which is then re-charged and so on.
Supposing there are 12 pairs of gratings, when the band shall have traveiled
round the eleventh time all the gratings will have been charged with wool. At
the twelfth turn of the band the wool on the lowermost gratings will fall into a
wagon.
For the second cage the operation is carried on in the same manner as for the first
only the gratings of the two cages must be caused to swing at intervals equal to half
the time necessary for the bands to move once round, in order that one workman may
be able to attend to the charging of both cages.
The dried wool from this cage falls onto the lowermost grating and thence into the
wagon.
I would remark that the number of pairs of gratings for each cage, which number
I have supposed to be twelve, can evidently be varied and depends on circumstances.
Instead of the lowermost or outlet gratings I may employ for example a moveable
endless apron or an arrangement of moveable rollers which will carry the wool into the
wagon always in a direction opposite to that of the passage of the air.
By dispensing with the air heating apparatus I can use my arrangement for cooling
the wool after it has been dried in the apparatus and in this case I let the iron gratings
drop.and disengage them from the endless band so that the wool, entering at the top,
will pass without impediment downwards.through the cages and arrive into the wagon
and will thus become rapidly cooled.
. For certain kinds of textile materials my arrangement can also work without gratings.
It suffices to place at the air-entrance of the cages an open-work grating and to direct
the air by means of a moveable key alternately into each of the two cages.
My drying process possesses the following advantages
It occupies but little space, economises hand labour, its productive power is great
and the drying of the wool is effected throughout in a methodical, perfect and uniform
manner without risk of felting.

page_text: Moreover it can be used with success in the purification or carbonization of wool and
textile materials.
The usual process for effecting the carbonization of wool consists in dipping the
wool into an acid bath which acts upon the vegetable matters, such as thistles &c.,
contained in the wool, then submitting the wool to the action of a centrifugal machine
so as to free it from the liquid and then submitting it to a very high temperature so
as to carbonize the said vegetable impurities. This latter part of the process is that
part which can advantageously be performed by means of my apparatus the manner
of proceeding being the same as for drying with the exception that the temperature in
the heating apparatus must be raised to a suitable degree.
Dated the 16th day of Angust 1889
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process of and Apparatus for Automatically Drying and Purifying
Wool and other Textile Materials.
I, ALEXANDRE DERU, of Verviers, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer,
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 relates to a process of automatically drying and purifying or
carbonizing wool and textile materials and the said process consists essentially in
causing the wool or other material to pass gradually down through vertical cages or
chambers in a reverse direction to that of the passage of a current of hot air, this
being advantageously effected by means of apparatus hereinafter described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which--
Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section.
Figure 2 a longitudinal section and
Figure 3 a side elevation of the said apparatus.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are similar views to figures 3, 1 and 2 respectively but
illustrating a modified arrangement of apparatus.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section of the same.
1 will first describe my invention by reference to figures 1, 2 and 3.
The vertical cages or chambers, two for example, marked A and B are arranged.
back to back against one another. They are of rectangular section and have their
sides formed of a metal framing filled in with brick, iron etc.
Each cage is divided into several sections and in each section is arranged a pair'
of iron gratings. These pairs of gratings marked R' R' R2 R2 etc. are placed at:
equal distances apart, and are movable upon horizontal hinges arranged along the
longer sides of the rectangular cages so that, when the two gratings forming a pair
occupy a nearly horizontal position, they close the cage, that is to say, they then
form a support for the wool and when they are swung down on their hinges they
release the wool.
The two gratings of each section are firmly connected by means of two toothed
sectors SS', figure 3, keyed on their axes of rotation. Moreover one of these two
axes in each section carries a projection, which projections are shewn at P¹ P² etc.
against which runs an endless strap or band G moving in the direction indicated by
the arrow in figure 3 at a speed which depends on the rapidity with which the drying
is to be effected. A similar arrangement of sectors and of strap or band is placed
on each side of the apparatus, one (indicated in full lines in figure 3) for operating
the gratings of the cage A and the other (indicated by dotted lines in the same
figure) for operating the gratings of the cage B. A driving pulley S actuates,
through the medium of spur gearing, a pulley T which gives motion to the band G
.

page_text: of one cage. From the pulley T motion is transmitted to the band G of the other
cage by a train of intermediate gear wheels U, V and W, the latter of which is
keyed on the shaft of a pulley T¹.
Through the bands bearing against the projections P₁ P3 P3 etc. the gratings are
kept in a horizontal position that is to say, they are prevented from rotating, as they
would otherwise do, by their own weight and that of the wool placed on them.
In order to allow the gratings to swing on their binges, when required, the band is
provided with a slot p of suitable length, and of a width equal to that of the
projections P1 P2 P3 etc. but allowing a little play so that, when the slot comes
opposite a projection, the latter will be no longer retained, and the two corresponding
gratings will consequently swing on their hinges and the wool which they supported
will fall. The band, however, immediately afterwards raises the projection and,
consequently, the gratings which are then ready to receive the wool from the
gratings immediately above, which swing on their hinges when the slot reaches their
projection.
It will be seen that, owing to the projections and the endless band with its slot,
the pairs of gratings will move on their hinges successively and then immediately
resume their horizontal position.
To the cages A and B is fitted a cluster of tubes T2 through which the steam
passes and over which the air is forced from a blower.
The current of hot air rises in the cages A and B and is divided, so that it passes
through the layers of wool, and over their lower and upper surfaces. This is
effected by the use of metal plates fixed to the gratings and forming baffles to
force the hot air to travel between them and the stone work with a serpentine course
simultaneously in both cages through openings made in the partition which separates
them as indicated by the arrows in figure 1; or with a serpentine course in a single
cage if the apparatus only comprises one chamber. The said metal plates forming a
portion of the gratings are forced to move down each time that the latter allow the
wool to pass.
The advantages of this arrangement are-
1. That any small shreds of wool which might lodge between the wall and the
baffles are carried by the current of air onto the wool as it is descending.
2. That the excess of air which passes upwards over the layers of wool is conducted
back and, by facilitating this action, the hot air is employed to the fullest
advantage and renders the drying operation quicker and more regular than it would
otherwise be.
The baffles are only provided in alternate sections as shewn in figure 1 and the
air, having arrived at the end of its course, passes into a flue C and C communicating
with the outside.
A part D D¹ of the said flues forms a receiver for collecting any shreds of wool
which may escape from the last section or compartment, a metal grating E E' being
placed at the entrance of the flue to arrest the said shreds as they are being carried
along by the air-current thereby preventing any loss of material.
In order to make sure that the interior parts of the apparatus are in proper order,
or to allow of cleaning the same, although it should be observed that, as a rule,
nothing ever remains in the machine, I provide sight holes F fitted with iron doors
or covers which can be easily opened. When it is desired to make sure of the
interior of the machine being clean, it is only necessary to place some wool-sacks
over the uppermost gratings and allow them to fall to the bottom.
The operation is carried on in the following manner :
The wool to be dried is raised from the ground-floor t the top platform by means
of an elevator. The workman takes a certain quantity and spreads it over the top
gratings R' R' of the cage A. He then sets the band G in motion, which causes the
different pairs of gratings to move successively upon their hinges. When the hand
has travelled once round, all the pairs of gratings will have swung upon their
hinges, and the first charge of wool will have fallen from the top gratings R¹ R¹
onto the next ones R R below it. The top gratings R' R¹ are recharged and,

page_text: during the next travel round of the band, the third gratings R³ R³ will receive the
first charge of wool from the second gratings R2 R2 and the second gratings will
receive the second charge of wool from the first gratings, which is then recharged
and so on.
Supposing there are 12 pairs of gratings, as in the drawing, when the band shall
have travelled round the eleventh time, all the gratings will have been charged with
wool. At the twelfth turn of the band the wool on the lowermost pair of
gratings R will fall into the waggon H, and a charge of wool will from this time be
delivered at each turn of the band.
For the second cage B the operation is carried on in the same manner as in the
first, only the gratings of the two cages must be caused to operate at intervals
equal to half the time occupied by the bands in moving once round, in order that
one workman may be able to attend to the charging of both cages.
The dried wool from the cage B falls onto the lowermost grating R" and thence
into the waggon H.
I would remark that the number of pairs of gratings for each cage, which number
I have by way of example, supposed to be twelve, can evidently be varied and will
depend on circumstances.
Instead of the lowermost or outlet gratings R¹ I may employ, for example, a
movable endless apron, or an arrangement of movable rollers which will carry the
wool into the waggon without allowing the air to escape.
By dispensing with the air-heating apparatus T2 I can use my arrangement for
cooling the wool, after it has been dried in the apparatus, and in this case I let the
iron gratings drop and disengage them from the endless band G so that the wool
entering at the top will pass without impediment downwards through the cages into
the waggon and will thus become rapidly cooled.
For certain kinds of textile materials my process can be carried on without
gratings. It is only necessary to place at the air-entrance of the cages at R" R"
for example, an open-work grating, and to direct the air by suitable means alternately
into each of the two cages.
My drying process possesses the following advantages.
But little space is occupied in carrying it on, hand labor is economised, its
productive power is great and the drying of the wool is effected throughout in a
methodical, perfect, and uniform manner without risk of felting. Moreover it can
be used with success in the purification or carbonization of wool and textile
materials.
The usual process for effecting the carbonization of wool consists in dipping the
wool into an acid bath which acts upon the vegetable matters such as thistles etc.
contained in the wool, then submitting the wool to the action of a centrifugal
machine so as to free it from the liquid, and then submitting it to a very high
temperature so as to carbonize the said vegetable impurities. This latter part of the
process is that part which can advantageously be performed by means of my
apparatus, the manner of proceeding being the same as for drying, with the
exception that the temperature in the heating apparatus must be raised to a suitable
degree.
In the modified arrangement illustrated in figures 4 to 7 only a single grating
instead of a pair is used in each section of the cages A and B in which case the
hereinbefore described toothed sectors would not be required; the baffle plates
instead of being fixed to the gratings are arranged on the four sides of the cages
in the manner clearly shewn in figures 5 and 6 so as to cause the air to travel
lengthwise through the sections of the cages in the direction indicated by the
arrows in figure 6 (instead of in the direction of their width as in figures 1 to 3)
and also to pass from one cage to the other.
The action otherwise is substantially the same as that of the apparatus herein-
before described with reference to figures 1, 2 and 3 and therefore no further
description is necessary.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. The herein described process of drying and purifying or carbonizing wool and
textile materials consisting essentially in causing the said materials to pass gradually
down through vertical cages or chambers in a reverse direction to that of the
passage of a current of hot air.
2. Apparatus for drying and purifying or carbonizing wool and textile materials
comprising vertical cages or chambers having a number of hinged gratings or pairs
of gratings arranged throughout their height and operated in the manner described
and baffle plates along all four or only two of their sides substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. The improved apparatus for drying and purifying or carbonizing wool and
textile materials hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1, 2 and 3 and
figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 16th day of June 1890
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.