Improvements in Wool Washing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wool Washing Machines.
We, SAMUEL DAVIS and FREDERICK G. DAVIS, residing at Las Vegas, in
the Territory of New Mexico, United States of America, Gentlemen, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Our invention has relation to improvements in apparatus for washing wool and
the like, and will be fully understood from the following description and claims
when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which :
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improvements with parts in section.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with parts in section.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the cleansing apparatus, minus the pressure devices.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the open-work bottom of the wool receptacles or
plungers and
Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the pressure plate, illustrating the valve-gates
thereon to a better advantage.
Referring by letter to the said drawings, A indicate the stationary water tanks,
two being preferably employed arranged approximately as shown. These water
tanks A are preferably of a rectangular form and are open at their tops and are
provided with a discharge opening and in order to keep the water at a proper
temperature for washing wool we provide steam pipes B around the tanks, although
a steam jacket or other means of heating the water might be employed.
Within the tanks A is a perforated false bottom C through which the sediment
from the wool sifts.
Journaled upon a standard between the stationary tanks A is a transverse
rocking shaft D upon which are fixed two rocking beams E. Pivotally connected
to and depending from the ends of the rocking levers E are bail-bars F which
have their lower ends pivotally connected in a suitable manner to the plunging
wool receptacles G which are designed to be alternately immersed in their
respective tanks by the rocking of the beams E.
These wool receptacles G are of a form corresponding to that of the tanks A in
which they are designed to plunge and they are open at their upper side to receive
a weighted pressure device presently described.
The side walls of the receptacles G are perforated as shown to allow a free
circulation of the water through the wool when the receptacle is immersed and one
of the side walls is provided with a hinged section H hooked or otherwise connected
at its upper end to the main portion of the receptacle, and by this construction it
will be seen that when it is desired to remove the wool from the receptacle, the
hinged section H is let down and rests upon the edge of the tank A when it will
serve as an apron for the wool which may be thus readily removed.
wire-work
The bottom of the receptacles G is preferably formed of open
arranged slightly above the lower edges of the side walls so that the water may
be cut by said edges to prevent splashing when the receptacles G are plunged
into the tanks.
Arranged transversely of the receptacles G and at suitable distances apart are
two strips J of suitable material which are set edgewise and have their ends con-
nected to the side walls of the tank. These strips J while serving to strengthen
the bottom I also serve in conjunction with the lower edges of the side walls to
prevent splashing of the water as has been described.
Journaled in a standard frame and in a plane above or below the shaft D is a
transverse shaft K which carries adjacent to its ends two fly-wheels L which are

page_text: :
connected by levers M and N, to the shaft D and serve to impart a rocking motion
thereto and to the levers or beams E whereby the receptacles or plungers G will
be caused to alternately plunge into the tanks A.
P indicate pressure plates which are of a form and size to enable them to enter
the receptacles G. These pressure plates which are preferably formed of iron or
other heavy material, are provided with holes or openings vertically-disposed,
which are or may be closed when desired by valve gates Q which are pivotally
connected to the upper side of the plate. Thus it will be seen that in operation
the water may be allowed to come up through the openings in the plate or made to
seek passage through the perforations in the side walls and bottom of the plunging
receptacles at each stroke or plunge thereof.
Connected in a suitable manner to the four corners of plate P, are chains R
which have their ends connected in a suitable manner to the lower ends of
vertically disposed rack-bars S, which are guided in the transverse bar T of a
hanger frame.
The hangers U to which the bar T is connected depend from a ceiling or frame
to which they are connected above the respective tanks A.
Journaled in the hangers U adjacent to their lower ends is a transverse shaft V
provided with crank arms and handles W which serve to turn the same to adjust
the vertical rack-bars and the weighted pressure plates through the medium of
pinions X keyed on said shaft in line with the rack-bars and adapted to engage,
the teeth thereof.
Fixed on the shaft V outside the hangers U are ratchet-wheels Y which are
adapted to be engaged by pawls Z pivotally connected to the hangers, whereby the
rack-bars may be locked in their adjusted positions.
By this construction it will be seen that the weighted pressure plates may be
adjusted so as to exert a great or slight pressure upon the wool in the receptacles
or plungers G and that when no pressure is desired they may be adjusted up
out of the way of the plunging wool receptacles.
In operation the requisite amount of water is placed in the tanks A and is
heated to the desired temperature as described, and the receptacles G are
charged with wool according to their capacity. The pressure plates are then
adjusted with respect to the receptacles through the medium of the devices set
forth. The shaft K is then set in motion and driven by any suitable power, when
motion will be imparted to the shaft D and the rocking beams E and the respective
receptacles G will be caused to alternately plunge into the tanks.
Thus it will be seen that the wool is subjected first to a cleansing process,
the
water being caused to freely circulate therethrough by the plunging and is then
subjected to pressure which causes the dirty water and a quantity of dirt to
leave the wool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In a wool-washing apparatus, a wool receptacle comprising open-work sides,
one of which is provided with a hinged section, an open-work bottom situated
above the lower edges of the sides, and strips set edgewise beneath said bottom,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a wool-washing apparatus, the combination with a stationary water tank, a
rocking beam journaled on a standard adjacent to said tank and an open-work
receptacle for the wool connected to the end of said beam and adapted to be
immersed in the tank of a pressure plate adapted to be adjustably fixed with
respect to the wool receptacle to operate in conjunction therewith, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
3. In a wool cleansing apparatus, the combination with a stationary water tank,
a rocking beam journaled on a standard adjacent to said tank and an open-work
receptacle for the wool connected to the end of said beam and adapted to be immersed

page_text: in the tank, of a pressure plate having vertical perforations and valve-gates
adapted to close said perforations an upright rack-bar connected to said plate, and
a pinion adapted to adjust the rack-bar vertically, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
4. In a wool-washing apparatus, the combination with a water receptacle, of a
vertically-movable wool receptacle arranged therein and a pressure plate arranged
in the wool receptacle in an adjustably fixed manner, substantially as specified.
5. In a wool-washing apparatus, the combination with two stationary tanks, of
the open-work wool receptacle adapted to be immersed in said tanks, the rocking
beams fixed on a transverse shaft and connected at their ends to the said receptacles,
the transverse shaft carrying the rocking beams journaled on a standard inter-
mediate the stationary tanks, a transverse shaft journaled on the standard and
carrying fly-wheels adjacent to its ends, the levers connecting said fly wheels with
the shaft carrying the rocking beams and a suitable means for actuating the shaft
carrying the fly-wheels, substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. The combination with a plunging wool receptacle, of the pressure plate con-
nected to a vertically disposed rack-bar, a pinion shaft adapted to engage and
adjust said rack-bar, a ratchet-wheel also carried by said transverse shaft and a
pawl adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel to lock the pinion and rack-bar in their
adjusted positions, substantially as specified.
Dated this 05th day of August 1801
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.