IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING, SCRUBBING, SCOURING, BLEACHING, AND DISCHARGING IMPURITIES OR OTHER MATTERS FROM WOVEN OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Rowley, of Leeds, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING, SCRUBBING,
SCOURING, BLEACHING, AND DISCHARGING IMPURITIES OR OTHER MATTERS FROM
WOVEN OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 31st March 1864, and dated the 14th October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Rowley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
October 1863.
I, JOHN ROWLEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING,
SCRUBBING, SCOURING, BLEACHING, AND DISCHARGING IMPURITIES OR OTHER MATTERS
FROM WOVEN OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improved arrangements of apparatus for the
purpose of washing, scrubbing, scouring, bleaching, and discharging impurities
or other matters from woven or other fibrous materials, by means of which
these processes may be performed with great economy and facility, and on a
larger scale than by the means heretofore employed for such purposes.
The apparatus for washing, scrubbing, or scouring, constructed according
to the first part of my improvements, consists of a long trough or chamber

page_text: having a raised chamber at one end in which a bead of water is maintained,
as hereafter described. A perforated false bottom is arranged within the
trough or chamber, the upper surface being formed with angular or other
shaped transverse ribs. Over this ribbed surface a floating scrubber is
arranged to move to and fro by any suitable mechanical means, the distance
between the ribbed surface and the under surface of the scrubber being regu-
lated by the height or level to which the water is allowed to rise in the
trough or chamber. The floating scrubber consists of a frame of wood, to
the under side of which coir or other rope, fish skin, stout leather or hide,
india-rubber, surfaces of lead, or other suitable scrubbing materials are firmly
attached.
I will now describe the means I prefer to employ in raising the water or
cleansing fluid at one end of the trough into the vertical chamber, so as to
maintain the level of the water therein considerably above the level of the
water in the scouring trough or chamber, and thus cause a continuous
circulation of the water or other cleansing fluid from one end to the other of
the apparatus. Near to the vertical chamber a wheel or drum, is supported
upon an axis turning in bearings at each side of the apparatus, rotary motion
being communicated thereto in any convenient manner. Around the circum-
ference of the drum chambers or recesses are formed open on the periphery,
but closed at each end by the disc ends of the drum. The chambers formed
on the circumference of the drum rotate below the level of the water or other
fluid to be raised in the trough, and a curved guard is fixed in the chamber
near to which part of the circumference of the drum rotates, this guard
serving to seal or nearly, close, the openings to the chambers whilst rising up
out of the trough. When the chambers have revolved past the guard, the
water contained therein is delivered over into the vertical chamber, from
the lower part of which it is conducted between the floating scrubber and
the ribbed surface previously described; a chain or other pump for raising
the water may be substituted for the above arrangement, if desired. A feed
hopper is placed near to the vertical chamber, having a feed or feed rollers
arranged therein to deliver the rags or other fibrous materials to be operated
upon into the mouth piece or opening which conducts them into the apparatus
and between the scrubbing and scouring surfaces. The mouth-piece consists
of a ribbed flap which is hinged to the end of the floating scrubber, and as it
moves towards the feed apparatus the flap is caused to rise or open so as to
receive and carry in a quantity of the rags or other fibrous materials between
the scrubbing surfaces, the flow of water or other cleansing fluid forcing them
onwards between the scrubbers to the opposite end of the apparatus. As the

page_text: rags or other fibrous materials are conducted between the scrubbing surfaces
to the opposite end of the apparatus, they may be allowed to pass, if desired,
with the fluid in the trough below the false perforated bottom or stationary
scrubbing surface, before described, to the opposite end of the machine again,
so as to be raised by the rotating drum or other lifting apparatus with the
fluid into the vertical chamber to be again conducted between the scrubbing
surfaces, or when this is not required, the rags or other fibrous materials may
be delivered by a rotating drum or other suitable apparatus, having pins
pointed or other surfaces dipping into the trough to raise and deliver the
fibrous materials on to an endless band to conduct them away from the
apparatus; steam pipes are arranged below the stationary scrubbing surface
for the purpose of heating the water or other cleansing fluid employed. In
place of actuating the upper scrubbing surface only, the two scrubbing surfaces
may have motion imparted thereto, if desired, and they may also be arranged
to move in suitable adjustable guides to regulate the relative distance between.
them.
When bleaching compounds or other chemicals are employed in processes
conducted in the above apparatus, then the materials of which the apparatus
is constructed will be suited to the nature of the operation or process to be
conducted therein.