Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Fulling, Washing, Scouring, Cleaning, Beating, Softening, and Beetling of Yarns and Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Nov., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Fulling, Washing,
Scouring, Cleaning, Beating, Softening, and Beetling of Yarns
and Textile Fabrics.
I, WILLIAM ARCHIBALD LESLIE HAMMERSLEY, of Bridge End Works, Leek, in the
County of Stafford, Silk Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of machinery, or apparatus for Fulling, Washing,
Softening, Beating, and Beetling or otherwise treating yarns in the bank, or Textilo
Fabrics in the piece by passing such materials over rollers, and Beetling them to
effectually remove all creases, and at the same time subjecting them to streams of
water, or other liquid or liquids, best adapted for the purpose in the process of Fulling,
Cleansing, Softening or otherwise treating such materials.
The Machine constructed according to my Invention consists of two rectangular
frame sides, and ends, having provision made therein for all suitable bearings, brackets
and other parts, and for the various motions required.
On the bottom rail, and between the two frame sides, is affixed a rocking shaft
mounted in suitable horizontal bearings. This shaft carries the necessary vertical
carriers, or armis, on which the moving beater or beaters, are affixed, for beating, or
beetling the yarn, or fabric under treatment; such moving beater upon the rocking
shaft, striking the permanent, or fixed buffer, or buffers hereinafter described, at the
most suitable angle, which is of the highest importance. And, in order that this
operation may be efficiently performed, I, attach to the said rocking shaft, and between
the said frame sides a lever, which is worked by means of an eccentric, and fly wheel,
on a shaft, revolving in suitable bearings, between the main frame sides, such shaft,
hereinafter called the intermediate driving shaft, being driven in its turn by means of
a belt, and fast and loose pulleys hereinafter mentioned.
Attached to this said driving shaft, is a bevelled wheel, gearing with another hevel
wheel on an inclined shaft, such shaft, having at its other end a worm, working into

page_text: a worm wheel, for driving the rice heads; these rice-heads (constructed of a series of
wooden bars revolving around a central axis) being for the purpose of imparting to
the yarn, or textile fabrics the necessary revolving motion.
Along the top of the main frame sides, provision is made for a transverse shaft,
working in suitable bearings; such shaft overhanging the said frame sides, and there
carrying at each of its extremities a rice head, of any desired dimensions; the same
being worked as hereinbefore described.
On the main frame sides, and opposite the beater, or beetlers, driven by the rocking
shaft before mentioned, is affixed a suitable bracket, or brackets, for supporting a
stationary buffer or buffers, and which is fixed at an angle most requisite for the purpose
desired the reason for so fixing such stationary buffer or buffers, at an angle and the
striking beetle, or beetlers working in the manner hereinbefore named is to obviate
any undue strain upon the yarn, or textile fabrics under manipulation.
The buffer, or buffers, and beetlers are made of wood, or other suitable materials,
and of any width to suit the cloth or materials under treatment, and if necessary
covered with any suitable facing.
For the keeping of the yarn, or fabric straight, or expanded, I employ a loose roller,
below the top rice heads, such roller working on a small stud fixed in a slot in the
main frame sides, and, made adjustable by ineans of a nut, and screw to suit the
various longths of material under treatment.
In fulling machines employ in lieu of the loose rollers before stated two revolving
rollers fixed either, in the bottom, or top rails of the main frame sides; one of the
rollers being weighted by means of a lever and weights or springs.
At the ends of the frame sides or at suitable positions I provide a revolving roller,
or drum with necessary gearing, &c., for the purpose if desired of taking the fabric in
the opposite direction or to carry such forward in a continuous circuit and through
the tank at bottom of machine containing the necessary liquors.
For the protection of the yarn or fabric under treatment, and to prevent the same
getting entangled, in the various pedestals, or bearings, I affix along the whole length
of the said frame sides, and in necessary brackets, a brass or other suitable rod.
it
For the washing of yarns or textile fabrics, or the process of fulling, I provide
pipe with a stop tap or taps running the whole length of the said frame sides such
pipe having a branch pipe with a stop tap leading into a trough at the bottom of the
machine, and which is more particularly defined hereafter; the pipes in question are
supplied with water under pressure (or other liquid or liquids, from the tank below),
either by means of the ordinary pressure from the towns main, pump or from any
other suitable source affording pressure, and in case of using water, or other liquid or
liquids, from the tank below, I use a pump or injector, to obtain the pressure required;
the said pipe having projections or arms, which are perforated and pass under or
between or at the outsides of the yarn or fabric, or in any suitable position which may
be deemed necessary for playing upon the yarns or fabrics and for the effectual
saturation of such yarn or fabric.
In this manner I thoroughly impregnate the goods under treatment with the
necessary liquid or liquids from the tank below in order to cleanse the same from all
dirt or otherwise feed the goods under treatment with the liquid or liquids, desired,
after passing through the beetle or beetlers.
At the ends of the said Machine or on the top of the said frame sides I provide and
affix suitable upright pedestals or brackets with necessary bearings for carrying a
shaft driven by means of a belt and pulleys from the main line shaft or direct by
an engine and on which shaft L fix fast and loose pulleys and so by means of a cross
belt, drive, the before mentioned intermediate driving shaft of my Machine.
Fixed at the bottom and running the whole length of the said frame sides, I provide
a tank or tanks for the holding or reception of water, or any liquid or liquids required
in the fulling, washing, cleansing, scouring, or softening operations of the matters
under treatment, and which liquid can be used, and returned again to the said tank
as often as desired in the manner before stated. This tank can be made of suitable
dimensions to enable the yarn or other materials to pass through the various liquids at

page_text: whatever depth thought best; provision being also made in the said tank or tanks, for
running off the liquid or liquids employed.
Although only herein described as applied to one set of beaters or beetles on each of
the said frame sides, the same can be repeated as often as desired, and according to
the length of the framework employed.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact
manner set forth, for driving the said machine, as the same can be modified several
ways without interfering with the general details; for instance, the brackets on the
ends or frame sides for carrying the driving shaft as aforesaid can be dispensed with;
and the intermediate driving shaft can be driven by means of a shaft and bevel
gearing from a shaft running the whole length of the said frame, and which said shaft
in its turn is driven by means of fast and loose pulleys from a main line shaft, or by
separate engine the means of throwing the pulleys in and out of gear being arranged
by suitable brackets and arms fixed where most convenient.
In fulling machines, I enclose the whole in an iron casing for the purpose of
retaining heat and preventing injury to the fabric.
I do not confine myself to the materials of construction, as either wood or other
suitable materials may be used according to the purpose required.
The whole of the openings in the main frame sides and bearings can be protected
against wet or dirt in any manner thought desirable.
Reversing motion for the working of the yarn or fabric in the opposite direction is
obtained by means of a cross belt or belts working on the main line shaft and thrown
in and out of gear by the usual methods in vogue.
Dated this 4th day of November A.D. 1887.
JOHN G. WILSON,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Fulling, Washing,
Scouring, Cleaning, Beating, Softening, and Beetling of Yarns
and Textile Fabrics.
I WILLIAM ARCHIBALD LESLIE HAMMERSLEY of Bridge End Works, Leek in the
County of Stafford, Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 that class of machinery or apparatus for fulling, washing,
softening, beating and beetling or otherwise treating yarns in the bank (or textile
fabrics in the piece) by passing such materials over rollers and beetling them to
effectually remove all creases and dirt and at the same time subjecting them to streams
of water or other liquid or liquids best adapted for the purpose in the process of
fulling, cleaning, softening or otherwise treating such materials.
On the accompanying drawing I illustrate in Fig. 1 a side exterior view partially
broken in Fig. 2 an end view and in Fig. 3 a plan view of so much of my improved
hank washing and beetling machine as is necessary to explain my improvements and
I will now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and
letters of reference marked thereon.
My improved machine consists of two rectangular frame sides a and ends having
provision made therein for all suitable bearings, brackets and other parts and for the
various motions required.
At the ends of the said machine and on the top of the same frame sides I provide
and affix suitable upright pedestals or brackets with necessary bearings for carry-
ing a shaft c driven by means of a belt and pulley c' from the main line shaft or direct
by an engine and on which shaft I fix pulleys c² and so by means of a cross belt,
I drive the several intermediate driving shafts of my machine as hereinafter
explained.
On the bottom rail a² and between the two frame sides a is affixed a rocking shaft d
mounted in suitable horizontal bearings d¹. This shaft carries at each of its
extremities the necessary vertical carriers or arms c¹ on which the moving beaters e
are affixed for beating or beetling the hank of yarn or fabric under treatment and
which moving beaters are designed to beat the yarn or material passing over the
surface of the permanent or fixed buffers at an angle of about 5° and which is of
the highest importance as hereinafter described.
And in order that this beating operation may be most efficiently performed I attach
to the said rocking shaft d and between the said frame sides a lever arm d² which is
worked to and fro by means of a connecting rod and eccentric on a shaft g
revolving in suitable bearings g. This shaft (hereinafter called the intermediate
driving shaft g) carrying a suitable fly wheel and being driven in its turn by
means of a belt i and fast and loose pulleys from a pulley on the main driving
shaft c.
jis the handle of the strap work for throwing the belt i from the fast on to
the loose pulley or vice-versa as desired.

page_text: On the main frame sides and opposite each of the beaters or beetlers driven by the
rocking shaft d before mentioned is affixed a suitable bracket for supporting the
stationary buffer hand which is fixed at an angle of about 5° with a vertical line as
illustrated the reason for so fixing the stationary buffers at such an angle and the face
of the striking beetle or beetlers being arranged to strike the buffer at an angle of 5°
over its entire surface as aforesaid is to obviate any undue strain upon the yarn or textile
fabrics whilst under manipulation for instance delicate or fine strands of silk fibre
would be broken causing serious loss and expense.
The buffers and beetlers e are made of wood or other suitable materials and of
any width to suit the cloth or materials under treatment and if necessary covered
with sheet copper or any suitable facing capable of withstanding the expansion and
contraction from heat and moisture which is unavoidable.
I will now describe how the hanks of yarn are supported in the machine.
Attached to the same shaft g is a bevelled wheel j¹ gearing with another bevel
wheel on an inclined shaft k which has at its other end a worm gearing into a
worm wheel upon a transverse shaft working in suitable bearings 1. This shaft
overhangs the frame sides and there carries at each of its extremities a rice head m of
any desired dimensions-consisting of a series of brass, wooden or other bars
revolving around a central axis. These rice heads are designed for carrying the
hank of yarn and to keep the same constantly moving between the two surfaces of the
beaters and of the buffers as indicated by the dotted lines and marked o.
For the keeping of the banks of yarn o or piece of fabric straight or expanded !
employ a loose roller below the rice heads such roller working on a small stud n
carried by a bracket ² fixed in a slot in the main frame sides and made adjustable
by means of a nut and screw to suit the various hanks and lengths of material
under treatment.
For the washing of the yarns or textile fabrics so mounted upon the rice heads as
aforesaid I provide a pipe (with a stop tap or taps) running the whole length of the
said frame sides snch pipe being supplied with water under pressure (or other liquid
or liquids from a tank preferably above or below) either by means of the ordinary
pressure from the towns main, pump or from any other suitable source affording
pressure and in case of using water or other liquid or liquids from the tank I use a
pump or injector to obtain the pressure required the said pipe having branch projec-
tions or arms which are perforated and pass under or between or at the outsides of
the yarn as indicated by the letter in Fig. 1 or in any suitable position which may
be deemed necessary for playing upon the yarns or fabrics and for the effectual
saturation of such yarn or fabric. By employing a three-way tap leading into a pair
of perforated pipes (each perforated with different sized holes) I am enabled to vary
the jets of water as desirable.
In this manner I thoroughly impregnate the goods under treatment with the
necessary liquid or liquids and whilst undergoing the beating process and thus I
cleanse the same from all dirt or I otherwise feed the goods under treatment with
the requisite liquid or liquids desired after passing through the beetle or beetlers.
For the protection of the yarn or fabric under treatment and to prevent the same
getting entangled in the various pedestals or bearings I affix along the whole length
of the said frame sides and in necessary brackets one or more brass or other suitable
rods s.
In fulling machines I employ in lieu of the said loose rollers two revolving rollers
fixed either in the bottom or top rails of the main frame sides one of the rollers being
weighted by means of a lever and weights or springs.
At the ends of the frame sides or at suitable positions I provide a revolving roller
or drum with necessary gearing for the purpose if desired of taking the fabric in the
opposite direction or to carry such fabric forward in a continuous circuit and through
a tank which I sometimes provide at the bottom of the machine and containing water
or any liquid or liquids required in the fulling, washing, cleansing, scouring or
softening operations of the matters under treatment. This liquid can be used and
returned again to the said tank as often as desired in the manner before stated. This

page_text: tank can be made of suitable dimensions to enable the yarn or other materials to pass
through the various liquids at whatever depth thought best provision being also made
in the said tank or tanks for running off the liquid or liquids employed.
Although only herein before described as applied to one set of beaters or beetlers on
each of the said frame sides it will be observed that three sets are illustrated shewing
that the same can be repeated at suitable intervals as often as desired and according
to the length of the framework employed.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact
manner set forth for driving the said machine as the same may be modified several
ways without interfering with the general details for instance the brackets on the ends
or frame sides for carrying the driving shaft as aforesaid can be dispensed with and
the intermediate driving shaft can be driven by means of a shaft and bevel gearing
from a shaft running the whole length of the said frame and which said shaft in its
turn is driven by means of fast and loose pulleys from a main line shaft or by a
soparate engine the means of throwing the pulleys in and out of gear being arranged
by suitable brackets and arms fixed where most convenient.
In fulling machines I enclose the whole in an iron or other suitable casing for the
purpose of retaining heat and preventing injury to the fabric.
I do not confine myself to the materials of construction as either wood or other
suitable materials may be used according to the purpose required.
The whole of the openings in the main frame sides and bearings can be protected
against wet or dirt in any manner thought desirable.
Reversing motion for the working of the yarn or fabric in the opposite direction is
obtained by means of a cross belt or belts working on the main line shaft and thrown
in and out of goar by the usual methods in vogue.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The general construction and arrangement of hank washing and beetling
machine substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
2nd. In a machine for hank washing and beetling the employment of moving
beaters and stationary buffers arranged at an angle and operating substantially and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
3rd. The combination and arrangement of mechanism for supporting and revolving
the banks of yarn whilst under treatment substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of July 1888.
JOHN G. WILSON,
Agent for the Applicant.