IMPROVE- MENTS IN PREPARING, BLEACHING, WASHING CLEANSING, AND DRYING TEXTILE, FABRICS AND MATERIALS AND PULPY SUBSTANCES machinery or apparatus for washing, scouring, cleansing, or cleaning woven fabrics either in the piece or garments; also felts or fibrous substances and corn roots, or similar matters
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wallace, junior, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PREPARING, BLEACHING, WASHING CLEANSING, AND DRYING TEXTILE,
FABRICS AND MATERIALS AND PULPY SUBSTANCES:
Sealed the 8th July 1856, and dated the 10th May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wallace,, junior,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th May, 1856.
JAMES WALLACE, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the Nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, BLEACHING, WASHING, CLEANSING, AND DRYING
TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS, AND PULPY SUBSTANCES." to be as follows, that
is to say:
This Invention relates in some respects to the further development of an
Invention of "improvements in machinery or apparatus for washing, scouring,
cleansing, or cleaning woven fabrics either in the piece or garments; also
felts or fibrous substances and corn roots, or similar matters," for which
British Letters Patent were granted to Charles Butler Clough, of Tyddyn, in
the County of Flint, on or about the Fourth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three; also to an Invention of "improvements in
bleaching, washing, or cleansing textile fabrics and materials, for which
British Letters Patent were granted to James Wallace, junior, of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, on or about the Twenty-fifth day of
017

page_text: April, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five; and thirdly, to an Inven-
tion of "improvements in bleaching, washing, cleansing, and drying textile
fabrics and materials," for which British Letters Patent were granted to the
said James Wallace, junior, on or about the Twenty-fifth day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
All these Inventions relate, more or less, to the introduction of steam and
other ingredients into rotating chambers wherein textile fabrics and materials
and other substances are deposited for treatment, preparation, cleansing, and
drying; and the present Invention comprehends several modes by which these
several improvements may be rendered of increased commercial value, as well
as other entirely novel improvements. In applying the revolving barrel or
chamber of Mr. Clough for operating upon different articles with the aid of
steam, the chamber in these improvements is set diagonally as to its spindle,
so that the axis of revolution forms a cousiderable angle with that of the
chamber itself. The same object may be effected with the dash wheel, or
modifications thereof, as referred to in the Specifications of Mr. Wallace's
Inventions, the object being the obtainment of a more effective action of the
apparatus as regards the movement of the treated articles whilst rotation
goes on.
In addition to the steam, which is admitted by the hollow spindle to mingle
with the articles in the chamber, chemical and other ingredients are supplied
in a similar manner. In the new modifications and adaptations of the dash
wheel, the internal divisions, forming the sectional chambers of the wheel, are
each made hollow, and the narrow spaces, so produced, are put in com-
munication with a similar space formed all round the wheel,and with spaces
on each flat side or face of the wheel. In this way, steam or hot air,admitted
by the hollow shaft,is passed into all the narrow spaces thus formed, producing
a powerful. heating surface throughout the wheel. When such a wheel is
applied for drying purposes, the articles to be dried are placed in the several
compartments of the wheel, and as the latter revolves, the articles fall over
from side to side upon the heated surfaces, surrounding them, and the drying
action proceeds with great rapidity. The drying effect is aided by exhausting
whatever vapor arises from the articles under treatment, so as to carry off the
vapor through the hollow axle and discharge it into the external air.
In addition to this application of the dash wheel, which may also be used as
a bleaching and cleansing apparatus, when so heated articles to be dried may
be passed over the external surface of the wheel to take advantage of the heat
developed there. The dash wheel when modified according to any of the
forms or contrivances to which reference as herein-before been made, is

page_text: especially serviceable for cleansing machinery waste, or soiled and dirty textile
waste of various kinds. Such waste, when cleansed and bleached in the dash
wheel or other receptacle, by the aid of steam, is most rapidly and economically
prepared for re-employment like new waste. The centrifugal apparatus, or its
modifications, when supplied with bleaching and cleansing agents and steam, is
also a most effective agent for this especial process of cleansing waste.
According to another modification of this Invention, a beetling apparatus is
made to work in concert with a steam bleaching, cleansing, and preparing
apparatus in such manner as to greatly accelerate the process of finishing the
goods. In this arrangement, a stationary chamber supplied with the necessary
chemical and other ingredients, and heated by steam either internally or
externally, is fitted up in conjunction with a beetling apparatus, or mechanical
agitating stamper, so that the beetling effect may be carried on in concert
with the chemical action of the steam and bleaching ingredients.
The apparatus, and the general system of procedure, herein-before described
or referred to, also properly available in the treatment, preparation, or inanu-
facture of paper and other articles or materials, not necessarily of the textile
class.
In manufacturing paper pulp, in this way, the materials for the pulp
are placed in the rotating apparatus, and treated with chemical ingredients and
steam, in a manner generally similar to that herein-before described.
Various classes of pulpy or pulp-producing materials may be thus treated, so
as to secure great rapidity, economy, and superiority of results in the manu-
factures to which such pulpy matters relate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Wallace, Junior, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WALLACE, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said James
Wallace, junior, Her special license that I, the said James Wallace, junior,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said James
Wallace, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING
BLEACHING, WASHING, CLEANSING, AND DRYING TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS.
AND PULPY SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Wallace, junior, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 James Wallace, junior, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
fto be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
ollowing statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates, in some respects, to the further development of
an Invention of "improvements in machinery or apparatus for washing, scour-
ing, cleansing, or steaming woven fabrics either in the piece or garment;
also felis or fibrous substances, and corn, roots, or similar matters," for
which British Letters Patent were granted to Charles Butler Clough, of
Tyddyn, in the County of Flint, on or about the Fourth day of August, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three; also of an Invention of "improve-
ments in bleaching, washing, or cleansing textile fabrics and materials," for
which British Letters Patent were granted to me, the said James Wallace,
junior, on or about the Twenty-fifth day of April, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five; and, thirdly, of an Invention of "improvements in bleaching
washing, cleansing, and drying textile fabrics and materials," for which
British Letters Patent were granted to me, the said James Wallace, junior
on or about the Third day of March, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six.
All these Inventions relate, more or less, to the introduction of steain and.
various ingredients into rotating chambers wherein textile fabrics and materials
and other substances are deposited for treatment, preparation, cleansing, and
drying; and the present Invention comprehends several modes by which these
several improvements may be rendered of increased commer ial value, as well
as other entirely novel improvements. In applying the revolving barrel or
chamber of Mr. Clough for operating upon different articles with the aid of
steam, the chamber in these improvements is set diagonally as to its spindle,

page_text: so that the axis of revolution forms a considerable angle with that of the
chamber itself. The same object may be effected with the dash wheel, or
modifications thereof, as referred to in the Specifications of my previous
Inventions, the object being the obtainment of a more effective action of the
apparatusas regards the movement of the treated articles whilst rotation goes
on. In addition to the steam, which is admitted by the hollow spindle to mingle
with the articles in the chamber, chemical and other ingredients are supplied
in a similar manner. In the new modifications and adaptations of the dash
wheel, the internal divisions, forming the sectional chambers of the wheel are
each made hollow, and the narrow spaces so produced are put in communi-
cation with a similar space formed all round the wheel, and with spaces on
each flat side or face of the wheel. In this way steam or hot air, admitted by
the hollow shaft, is passed into all the narrow spaces thus formed, producing a
powerful heating surface throughout the wheel. When such a wheel is applied
for drying purposes, the articles to be dried are placed in the several compart-
ments of the wheel, and as the latter revolves the articles fall over from side
to side upon the heated surfaces surrounding them, and the drying action
proceeds with great rapidity. The drying effect is aided by exhausting what-
ever vapour arises from the articles under treatment, so as to carrying off the
vapour through the hollow axle and discharge it into the external air.
In addition to this application of the dash wheel, which may also be usedas
a bleaching and cleansing apparatus, when so heated, articles to be dried may
be passed over the external surface of the wheel to take advantage of the heat
developed there. The dash, wheel, when modified according to any of the
forms or contrivances to which reference has herein-before been made, is
especially serviceable for cleausing machinery waste, or soiled and dirty textile
waste of various kinds. Such waste, when cleansed and bleached in the dash
wheel orother receptacle by the aid of steam, is most rapidly and economically
prepared for re-employment like new waste. The centrifugal apparatus, or its
modifications, when supplied with bleaching and cleansing agents and steam,
is also a most effective agent for this especial process of cleansing waste.
According to another modification of this invention, a beetling apparatus is
made to work in concert with a steam bleaching, cleansing, and preparing
apparatus in such manner as to greatly accelerate the process of finishing the
goods. In this arrangement, a stationary chamber supplied with the necessary
chemical and other ingredients, and heated by steam either internally or
externally, is fitted up in conjunction with a beetling apparatus or mechanical
agitating stamper, so that the beetling effect may be carried on in concert
with the chemical action of the steam and the bleaching ingredients.

page_text: And in order that the arrangement and construction of the said combined
beetling and steam bleaching and washing apparatus may be properly under-
stood, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of explanatory Drawings, Figure 1
on which. Sheet is a transverse vertical section of one chamber of a three-
chambered beetling or plash.mill, of which Figure 2 is a front elevation, one
of the chambers being shown in section in the latter Figure. The washing or
cleansing apparatus, to which this portion of my Invention refers, and is
applicable, is known by a variety of names, and is arranged and constructed in
a variety of ways, but cousists essentially of a chamber or vessel A, into which
the goods B to be treated are put, and one or more beetles C,contrived so as
either to slide in a vertical or other direction, or, as in the modification repre-
sented in the Drawings, to turn about a centre 1), so that they can be lifted or
drawn away from the goods B, and be allowed to fall upon or against thein
repeatedly. In the modifications represented in the Drawings, the beetles C
are fixed upon long levers E, capable of turning upon the spindles D, which
are carried in brackets F bolted to a strong framing G. The levers E are
prolonged below the beetles C, to be acted upon by wipers H, upon a wheel I,
fixed upon a revolving shaft J. As the wipers E come round they lift the
levers E, and with them the beetles C, until they pass the extremities of the
levers, when the beetles fall. There are two beetles C in each chamber A,
and they are lifted alternately, the wheel I being between the two,and acting
upon them by wipers H on opposite sides of it. The beetles C are curved to
the radius of the levers E, as is also the bottom K of the chamber A. The
back Lof the chamber A is curved in the manner peculiar to these machines
to cause the goods B to turn over. A duct M runs along the back of the
chambers A, and. communicates with the chambers by a series of passages N,
serving to supply water and chemical agents to assist in the cleansing effect
upon the goods. Steam is supplied to the chambers by means of a horizontal
pipe O running along behind them, and fitted with branches P communicating
with ducts at the back of each chamber. These ducts communicate with
each chamber by ineans of passages R, which it is preferred to place at a lower
level than the passages N, so as to enter below the goods B. Both water and
chemical agents may also obviously be introduced through the pipe () as well
as steam, if found desirable, the duct Min such case being dispensed with, or
serving merely to supply cold water, whilst hot water is introduced by the
pipe O. The chamber A may either be left open in front, or it may be fitted
with covers S, to retain the heat and steam, and prevent loss by radiation.
The apparatus and the general system of procedure, herein-before described
or referred to, is also properly available in the treatment, preparation, or

page_text: manufacture of paper,
and other articles or materials not necessarily of the
textile class. In manufacturing paper pulp in this way, the materials for
the pulp are placed in the rotating apparatus, and treated with chemical
ingredients and steam, in a manner generally similar to that herein-before
described. Various classes of pulpy or pulp-producing materials may be thus
treated, so as to secure great rapidity, economy, and superiority of results in
the manufactures to which such pulpy matters relate.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,
First, the application and use of a rotating cylinder or chamber, fitted with
hollow partitions and casings, and heated by steam or hot air introduced into
such partitions and casings, for drying textile fabrics and other materials, as
herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of arranging and constructing dash wheels or
rotating cylinders, or chambers for washing, bleaching, cleansing, or preparing
and drying textile fabrics and other materials with the shafts or axles upon
which they rotate disposed obliquely as regards their own axes, as herein-
before described.
Third, the system or mode of introducing steam or chemical agents into
the chambers of "plash," beetling, or washing mills, as herein-before
described.
Fourth, the application and use in the manufacture of paper pulp, and in
the treatment of cotton waste, of any of the improved processes or apparatus
described herein, or in the Specifications of the Letters Patent herein-before
referred to.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wallace, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.
JAS. WALLACE, JR. (L.S.)