IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR DRYING AND BUMBLING WOOL
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Moore, of Trowbridge, in the County
of Wilts, Dyer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR
DRYING AND BUMBLING WOOL."
Sealed the 28th August 1874, and dated the 20th June 1874.

page_text: after washing. By the one operation the wool is rendered fit for
manufacture without going through any further dusting process.
The machine consists of a close galvanized iron box with wood or
iron framing. In the lower part of box are fixed a number of pipes,
which are to be heated by steam for raising temperature therein to the
required degree of heat.
The box is also furnished with two travelling aprons, constructed
either in wood, iron, or canvas netting, and upon which the wool is placed
when introduced into the machine. These aprons are mounted one
over the other with a space between them sufficient for the quantity of
wool, which is laid on the lower apron, to pass freely. The aprons
themselves are worked horizontally over rollers by means of a chain or
strap leaving a space at the end of the machine for the bumbling wheel
or cylinder, which is of a size to suit the depth from top of the upper
apron to the bottom of the lower one.
The operation consists in passing the wet wool along the lower apron
until it falls of its own gravity into the bumble, which in its turn by
revolving at a rapid rate carries the wool over and throws it on to the
upper apron. The latter being somewhat shorter than the lower apron
allows the wool to fall on it when reaching the front of the machine.
!..
The bumble being provided with iron teeth opens the wool and by its
action frees it from any dye or other dust remaining therein. This
operation is repeated until the wool is sufficiently dried and clear.
To further assist the drying process a fan is placed at the top of the
machine over the bumble for the purpose of exhausting the damp air
arising from the wool by reason of the high temperature to which it is
subjected, fresh air being supplied at the lower part of the machine in
corresponding quantity, which becomes heated by passing over the steam
pipes already referred to. The bumble being surrounded by a wire
netting, the fan while exhausting the damp air is thereby prevented
from drawing out the wool itself.
To empty the machine when the wool is sufficiently dry a door is
provided at the back of the box. This door on being opened reverses
the action of the bumble upon the wool, and instead of taking it up
drives it out through the door into the receptacle placed to receive it.

page_text: Two brushes are fixed at the end of the aprons opposite to each other
for the purpose of cleansing the same of any wool which may adhere
thereto, and to prevent it mixing with any other color which may be
subsequently introduced.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Moore in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK,
MOORE, of Trowbridge, in the County of Wilts, Dyer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Frederick Moore, Her special licence,
that I, the said Frederick Moorc, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick Moore, 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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY
FOR DRYING AND BUMBLING WOOL," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Frederick Moore, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 Frederick Moore, 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.

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
The object of this Invention is to dry wool after it has undergone the
washing process.
By means of my improvements the drying operation is effected in a
more expeditious and satisfactory manner than by the plans now in uso
for the purpose. By combining the bumble with the drying apparatus
the wool is freed from any dust that may be left therein after washing,
so that by one operation the wool is rendered fit for manufacture
without going through any further dusting process.
In the accompanying Drawing this machine is represented in plan
at Fig. 1, in longitudinal section at Fig. 2, and in transverse section at
Fig. 3.
The machine consists of a closed box A, formed by preference of
galvanized sheet iron and strengthened by a wood or iron framing, on
which the several bearings required for the roller and other axles rest.
The lower part of box is fitted with an arrangement of steam or hot-
water pipes B, B, for raising and maintaining a high temperature within
the box.
The box is also furnished with two or more travelling aprons C, C,
constructed either of laths of wood or iron, or of canvas or netting, and
upon these travelling aprons, the wool is placed when introduced into
the machine. These aprons are supported by the bars and rollers L, and
are arranged one over the other with a space between them (as shewn at
Fig. 2) sufficient for the quantity of wool, which is laid on the lower
apron, to pass freely through the apparatus. The aprons C, C, are
worked horizontally over tension rollers D, D¹, mounted in suitable
bearings and driven in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows
Fig. 2, by means of chains or straps passing over chain wheels or
pulleys E on the axles of the rollers D and D'. A space is left at the end
of the machine for the bumbling wheel or cylinder F, which is of a
diameter to suit the depth from the top of the upper apron to the
bottom of the lower one.
If thought desirable two sets or series of rollers may be used in place
of the aprons C, C, as carriers for the wool.

page_text: In operating with the apparatus the wet wool is placed on the lower
apron or set of carrying rollers, and carried along thereby until it
reaches the bumble F, to which a rapid rotary motion is given by a
strap passing over a pulley on its axle. The bumble in its rotation takes
up the wool on its radial pins, and carries it round and throws it on to
the upper apron. This apron being somewhat shorter than the lower
apron allows the wool when it reaches the front end of the machine to
fall on to the inclined plate I which directs it on to the lower apron. The
continuous travel of the aprons in the direction of their arrows will
cause the wool to circulate so long as the machine is in motion.
The bumble F being provided with iron teeth opens the wool, and by
its action frees it from any dye or other dust remaining therein. The
opening operation is repeated until the wool is sufficiently dried and
clean..
The further to assist the drying process an exhaust fan M is connected
with the top of the machine for the purpose of carrying off the vapor
arising from the wool, by reason of the high temperature to which it is
subjected. Fresh air is supplied at the lower part of the machine in
corresponding quantity through openings O, O, and becomes heated by
passing over the steam pipes B, already referred to. The fan M while
exhausting the damp air is prevented from drawing out the wool by
means of a wire screen or netting G which partially surrounds the
bumble F and separates the part of the box A containing the wool from
that which is in direct communication with the exhaust fan.
To empty the machine (when the wool is sufficiently dry) a door R is
provided at the back of the bumble F. The effect of opening this door
will be to change the action of the bumble F upon the wool, and cause
it instead of taking the wool up and throwing it on to the apron to
drive it out at the open door into a receptacle placed to receive it.
K, K, are brushes mounted at the rear end of the aprons C, C, for the
purpose of clearing them of any wool which may adhere thereto, and
to prevent it from mixing with any other colored wool which may be
subsequently introduced.
Doors P at the bottom of the box allow of the dust being periodically
3 removed therefrom.
It must be understood that one of the peculiar advantages of this
machine is that from the time the wool is introduced into the drying

page_text: chamber of the apparatus it is keet continually in motion, the bumble F
taking it from the lower apron and so agitating or disturbing it as to
allow the heat to penetrate through the whole mass without baking
the wool or drying the surface of it only, as is the case when the wool
simply lies at rest over a heated surface. This improved drying apparatus
consequently obviates the difficulty of getting heat through the mass,
and at the same time clears the wool of any dust and dirt that may
remain therein.
Having now described my Invention of "Improved Machinery for
Drying and Bumbling Wool," and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the
above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
An arrangement of mechanism, substantially as above described,
whereby the bumbling and the drying process are combined, and the
further dusting operation is rendered unnecessary, as hercin set forth.
I also claim particularly the use of means for keeping the wool con-
stantly in motion and in a state of agitation in a heated atmosphere,
whereby the wool instead of becoming baked and hardened by the
drying operation is rendered softer in its nature and free from dust and
extraneous matters, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Moore, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, the First day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-
four.