Improvements in or applicable to Machinery for Scouring and Washing Wool and other Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr.. 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Machinery for Scouring and
Washing Wool and other Fibrous Materials.
We, WILLIAM MCNAUGHT of the Firm John & William McNaught, of
St. George's Foundry, Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and
Machinists, and THOMAS WHITEHEAD HAWKINS of the same place, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention, to be as follows:-
Machines for washing wool and other fibrous materials are generally arranged in
sets of two or more machines and these machines are usually placed in line and
about the same level, one after the other, and the material passes from one machine
to another.
Such sets of machines occupy a considerable length, and the space required
cannot be conveniently provided in many cases.
The object of our invention is to combine washing machines for fibrous material
together so that the material may pass from one to the other and in such manner as
to occupy considerably less ground space than machines as ordinarily arranged.
In carrying out this object of our invention the machines or washing troughs are
arranged one over the other with suitable spaces between, and with suitable tanks
below or in any other convenient position.
These tanks we call cistern tanks, and we propose to employ as many tanks
as there are washing troughs.
The washing troughs are used with or without false or perforated bottoms as may
be required.
In order that our invention may be readily understood we will first describe
a combined machine having three washing troughs, but any desired number of
washing troughs may be employed arranged as hereinafter described.
The material to he treated is fed to one end of the highest machine or washing
trough, by an endless lattice, suitably inclined from the floor of the room or from a
platform or from a room above the highest trough or machine, and it is intended to
convey the material along each washing trough partly by the flow of the washing
liquid and partly by mechanical means.
When the material being treated has travelled from the feeding to the delivery
end of the first and highest machine or trough it passes along with liquid down a
curved shoot or spout suitably constructed to allow more or less of the liquor to
drain away from it, which curved spout conveys the material and some of the liquor
over the upper roller of an ordinary pair of squeezing rollers. After descending
the curved spout the material passes through the "nip" of the said squeezing
rollers and is conveyed to the feed end of the second washing trough by means of a
lattice or otherwise, it is then passed through the second machine in the opposite
direction to the first machine.
The liquor which flows over the delivery end of the washing trough and also that
which is discharged with the material and squeezed therefrom is received in a trough
or cistern below the lower squeezing roller and is conveyed by a pipe to a separate
tank for the first washing trough (which may be a division of a tank under the
lowest machine) the liquor from such tank is pumped by a centrifugal or other
pump back from the tank to the feeding end of the first or highest washing
trough.

page_text: The material when it has passed from the feeding to the delivery end of the
second or middle machine, is also passed by means of a curved spout to squeezing
rollers for the second or middle machine which squeezers pass it as before explained
to the feeding end of the lowest or third machine, and it is finally discharged at
the delivery end of the third or lowest machine down an ordinary inclined or curved
chute or over a flat plate as may be found most suitable to the squeezing rollers for
the third or lowest machine.
Instead of the curved spout for the upper and middle washing troughs the
material may pass to and through the squeezing rollers in the ordinary manuer, and
then drop or be thrown from the lower squeezing roller by a rotary beater so as to
fall into the feeding end of the washing trough below.
It will be understood that the liquor received by the trough of each pair of
squeezers is conveyed to its separate tank and is pumped back from such tank to
the feeding end of the washing trough for such tank.
When required the dirty liquor from the tank of the first machine is run off,
and that from the second tank can be passed to the tank of the first and that of
the third to the second in which case fresh liquor is supplied to the third.
The washing troughs may be such as are without perforated or false bottoms as
required, and the material is or may be operated upon by pressers or immersers.
or by pressers or immersers also acting as propellers to carry the material from one
to the other end of the trough assisted by the flow of the liquor along the trough
from the feeding to the delivery end..
The propellers for passing the wool or material from one end to the other end
of the trough may each be a pronged frame or a series of perforated immersers,
with or without prongs or teeth attached below them and secured to a frame.
Each toothed or propelling or operating frame may be worked by separate
mechanism, but by preference the same actuating mechanism is arranged and made
to actuate all the propelling frames which are or may be connected to move
together both up and down and to and fro horizontally.
Where three washing tanks are employed the upper and lower propelling
frames may be arranged to move together and the middle propelling frame
may have reverse movements imparted to it by levers and connections from the
other frame.
The mode of arranging and gearing up the propelling frames of the above
described three trough machine may be varied without departing from our
invention.
The two pairs of squeezing rollers at one end may be carried on the same side
frames one over the other.
Suitable platforms are provided to give easy access to each washing trough.
Our invention may also be carried out by arranging the two or more machines
or washing troughs with the feeding ends of the lowest and upper machines (in
the case of three machines or washing troughs) in the same direction, and that of
the middle machine in the reverse direction to the other two, feeding the material
to be treated first to the lowest machine and taking the material delivered by its
squeezers to the feeding end of the middle machine by an endless spiked carrying
lattice or by a suction draught produced by a fan or by other or equivalent
means, and from the squeezers of the middle machine to the feeding end of the
upper machine in like manner from which it may be delivered down a shoot
or spout.
Where four machines or washing troughs, are to be combined together we
arrange or may arrange them in two pairs one over the other, one pair side by
side of the other pair passing the material first from the lowest to the highest
washing trough or vice versa, and from one pair of washing troughs to the other
pair in any desired manner and by any suitable means. Or in the case of four
washing troughs, three may be combined together one over the other and a fourth
washing trough alongside the other three as required.
Or any desired number of washing troughs may be combined together according

page_text: to our invention by a modification of the arrangements and mechanism hereinbefore
described.
1
Th 1
c
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
Agent.
.45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or applicable to Machinery for Scouring and
Washing Wool and other Fibrous Materials.
We, WILLIAM MCNAUGHT of the Firm John & William McNaught, of
St. George's Foundry, Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and
Machinists, and THOMAS WHITEHEAD HAWKINS of the same place, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Machines for washing wool and other fibrous materials are generally arranged
in sets of two or more machines and these machines are usually placed in line and
about the same level, one after the other, and the material passes from one machine
to another.
Such sets of machines occupy a considerable length, and the space required
cannot be conveniently provided in many cases.
The object of our invention is to combine washing machines for fibrous material,
together, so that the material may pass from one to the other and in such
manner as to occupy considerably less ground space than machines as ordinarily
arranged.
In carrying out this object of our invention, the machines or washing troughs are
arranged one over the other with suitable spaces between, and with suitable tanks
below or in any other convenient position.
These tanks we call cistern tanks, and we propose to employ as many tanks as
there are washing troughs.
The washing troughs are used with or without false or perforated bottoms as may
be required.
In order that our invention may be readily understood we will first describe a
combined machine having three washing troughs, but any desired number of
washing troughs may be employed arranged as hereinafter described.
The material to be treated is fed to one end of the highest machine or washing
trough, by an endless lattice, suitably inclined from the floor of the room or from
a platform or from a room above the highest trough or machine, and it is intended
to convey the material along each washing trough partly by the flow of the washing
liquid and partly by mechanical means.
After
When the material being treated has travelled from the feeding to the delivery
end of the first and highest machine or trough it passes along with liquid down a
curved shoot or spout suitably constructed to allow more or less of the liquor to
drain away from it, which curved spout conveys the material and some of the
liquor over the upper roller of an ordinary pair of squeezing rollers.
descending the curved spout the material passes through the "nip" of the said
squeezing rollers and is conveyed to the feed end of the second washing trough by
means of a lattice or otherwise, it is then passed through the second machine in
the opposite direction to the first machine.
The liquor which flows over the delivery end of the washing trough and also
that which is discharged with the material and squeezed therefrom is received in

page_text: a trough or cistern below the lower squeezing roller and is conveyed by a pipe
to a separate tank for the first washing trough (which may be a division of a tank
under the lowest machine) the liquor from such tank is pumped by a centrifugal
or other pump back from the tank to the feeding end of the first or highest washing
trough.
The material when it has passed from the feeding to the delivery end of the
second or middle machine, is also passed by means of a curved spout to squeezing
rollers for the second or middle machine which squeezers pass it as before explained
to the feeding end of the lowest or third machine, and it is finally discharged at
the delivery end of the third or lowest machine down an ordinary inclined or
curved chute or over a flat plate as may be found most suitable, to the squeezing
rollers for the third or lowest machine.
Instead of the curved spout for the upper and middle washing troughs, the
material may pass to and through the squeezing rollers in the ordinary manner,
and then drop or be thrown from the lower squeezing roller by a rotary beater so
as to fall into the feeding end of the washing trough below.
It will be understood that the liquor received by the trough of each pair of
squeezers is conveyed to its separate tank and is pumped back from such tank to
the feeding end of the washing trough for such tank.
When required the dirty liquor from the tank of the first machine is run off,
and that from the second tank can be passed to the tank of the first and that of the
third to the second in which case fresh liquor is supplied to the third.
The washing troughs may be such as are without perforated or false bottoms as
required, and the material is or may be operated upon by pressers or immersers, or
by pressers or immersers also acting as propellers to carry the material from one
to the other end of the trough assisted by the flow of the liquor along the trough
from the feeding to the delivery end.
The propellers for passing the wool or material from one end to the other end of
the trough may each be a pronged frame or a series of perforated immersers, with or
without prongs or teeth attached below them and secured to a frame.
Each toothed or propelling or operating frame may be worked by separate
mechanism, but by preference the same actuating mechanism is arranged and made
to actuate all the propelling frames which are or may be connected to move
together both up and down and to and fro horizontally.
Where three washing tanks are employed, the upper and lower propelling
frames may be arranged to move together and the middle propelling frame may
have reverse movements imparted to it by levers and connections from the
other frame.
The mode of arranging and gearing up the propelling frame of the above
described three trough machine may be varied without departing from
invention.
our
The two pairs of squeezing rollers at one end may be carried on the same side
frames one over the other.
Suitable platforms are provided to give easy access to each washing trough.
Our invention may also be carried out by arranging the two or more machines
or washing troughs with the feeding ends of the lowest and upper machines (in
the case of three machines or washing troughs) in the same direction, and that
of the middle machine in the reverse direction to the other two, feeding the material
to be treated first to the lowest machine and taking the material delivered by its
squeezers to the feeding end of the middle machine by an endless spiked carrying
lattice or by a suction draught produced by a fan or by other or equivalent
means, and from the squeezers of the middle machine to the feeding end of the
upper machine in like manner from which it may be delivered down a shoot
or spout.
Where four machines or washing troughs, are to be combined together we
arrange or may arrange them in two pairs one over the other, one pair side by side
of the other pair passing the material first from the lowest to the highest washing

page_text: trough or vice versa, and from one pair of washing troughs to the other pair in any
desired manner and by any suitable means. Or in the case of four washing troughs,
three may be combined together one over the other and a fourth washing trough
alongside the other three as required.
Or any desired number of washing troughs may be combined together according
to our invention by a modification of the arrangements and mechanism hereinbefore
described.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a machine illustrating one modification of our
invention, in which there are three washing troughs one over the other, and
connected mechanism.
Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the machine shown by Fig. 1, but with some of the
parts such as the curved chute the toothed propelling frames and connected
mechanism shown in Fig. 1, omitted.
Fig. 3, is a cross section of the machine shown by Fig. 1, with toothed propelling
frames and other mechanism shown in Fig. 1, omitted.
Fig. 4, is a detached side elevation on an enlarged scale and Fig. 5, an end
clevation of one of the curved chutes conveying wool or material and liquor from
the end of a washing trough above to the squeezing rollers for the washing trough
below.
Fig. 6, is a detached side elevation, and
Fig. 7, an end elevation on an enlarged scale showing more clearly the com-
bination and arrangement of the two sets of squeezing rollers shown at one end of
the machine illustrated by Fig. 1.
Figs. 8 and 9 are side sectional elevations of combinations and arrangements of
mechanism for transferring wool from a lower to an upper washing trough.
Fig. 10, is a side elevation of a machine similar to that shown by Fig. 1,
parts of the mechanism being omitted, principally illustrating another method of
transferring the wool or material from an upper to a lower washing trough.
Fig. 11, is a side elevation similar to Fig. 10, showing another modification
differing principally from it in the mode of transferring wool or material from the
squeezing rollers of a washing trough to a washing trough below it.
Fig. 12, on Sheet 4, illustrates a modification of our invention in which there
are three washing troughs one over the other, where the wool or material passes
from the highest to the middle and from the middle to the lowest washing trough
without first passing through squeezing rollers which form of machine is adapted
for certain classes of wool.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, illustrate that machine according to our invention
the side elevation and plans of which is shown by Figs. 1 and 2, which machine
will be first described.
a, is a cistein or tank, placed at the lowest part of the machine, the bottom of
which is supposed to be surk in a pit or space below the level of the floor of the
room represented by the line a, in Figs. 1 and 3.
This tank is wider than the washing troughs above it, and there is an open space
on each side to give access for cleaning it out.
Its bottom a', is or may he inclined in its widthway from one side to the other as
shown in Fig. 3.
The tank a, is divided by two cross partitions a*, into three separate com-
partments a², a and a', each of which forms a separate cistern and settling
tank for the highest, middle and lowest washing troughs respectively above the
tank a.
a,
There is an outlet to draw off and empty each separate compartment of the
tank and the outlets from such compartments to the drain are opened and closed
each by a valve b, which is or may be in each case connected by a rod b',
to a screw but in a handle 3, which has its bearing in a bracket on the side
of the tank.
There is a valve 6, in each of the two partitions a*, of the tank, which are or
may be actuated by a bell crank lever b, od 65 and screw handle 6, having its

page_text: bearings on the side of the tank by which the liquor in one compartment a³,
may be passed to the other compartiment a*, and from compartment a³, to
compartment a³.
In connection with these valves 63, there is or may be a steam ejector of ordinary
arrangement to force the liquor from one compartment to the other.
Fresh liquor when required is passed into compartiment at, for the lowest or last
of the washing troughs.
To the sides of the tank a, two standards c, on each side of the tank, are screwed
(see Fig. 3) and these standards by cross bars or beams from one standard on one
side to the opposite standard on the other side of the tank, carry the washing
troughs above the tank a, and one over the other (see Fig. 3).
Each washing trough d, d' and d³, (respectively the upper, middle and bottom)
may be made with or without a perforated bottom or for a length with and for a
length without a perforated bottom.
In Fig. 1, the three washing troughs are supposed to be each made with plain or
unperforated bottoms at the two ends, and in the middle part with a length or
section of the two upper troughs, and for a section near the delivery end of the
lowest trough with a perforated bottom d³, (see Fig. 3).
The bottom d', of the washing tank under each perforated or false bottom
part d³, is made inclined in the widthway from one side of the washing tank and
trough to the other side, and the tank under the false or perforated bottom d³, is
made wider on one side of the washing troughs to give access for cleaning out the
tanks below the false bottom d', (see Fig. 3). Each of these tanks below the false
or perforated bottoms d³, of the washing troughs has an outlet closed and opened
by a valve actuated by a rod and screw handle d³, having its bearings on a bracket
in the side of the washing trough shown in Fig. 3.
From the outlet from each washing tank there is a pipe to convey the liquor
to be discharged into the compartments of the tank a, belonging to each washing
trough.
de, is the pipe from the highest; d, the pipe from the middle; and d³, the pipe
from the lowest washing trough to their respective compartments a², a" and a.
The bottoms d', of the washing tanks under the perforated parts d³, of the
washing troughs which are inclined in the widthway of the tank, and the inclined
bottom a', of the cistern or tank a, are similar to the inclined bottoms of washing
tanks and cistern described and claimed in the Complete Specification of an
application for Letters Patent No. 7133 of 1894 made by William McNaught one
of the present applicants.
The wool or material to be treated is fed by an inclined endless lattice or apron e,
at one end of the highest washing trough d.
This lattice e, may be supplied from a suitable platform or from a room above
that in which the machine is used.
"
The wool or material is immersed in the liquor in the washing trough d, and is
propelled and partly floated along it, over the plain and perforated parts of its
bottom to the delivery end of the washing trough where it is pushed and partly
floated over the raised bottom , of the washing trough at its delivery end down
a curved chute (hereinafter referred to) to the "nip of a pair of squeezing
rollers fand, between which it passes and is delivered by them to an endless
inclined apron or lattice e', that carries it to the feeding end of the middle washing
trough d, along which it is carried as in the highest washing trough to the delivery
end of the middle washing trough d', down a similar curved chute to squeezing
rollers at the feeding end of the lowest washing trough d, then up an inclined
lattice or apron ², along the washing trough d², to the last pair of squeezing
rollers, at the end thereof and may be delivered from them to an endless
inclined lattice or apron e³, in the ordinary manner.
There is a pump (centrifugal by preference) for each washing trough. The
centrifugal pumps g, are shown best in Figs. 2 and 3.
is the pump g, its shaft; g³, its pulleys for the driving belt; g', the pipe

page_text: between the pump and compartment of the tank a; g', the pipe from the pump to
the feeding end of each washing trough.
It will be understood that each centrifugal pump forces the liquor from the
compartment of the tank or cistern with which it communicates to the feeding cud.
of the washing trough with which it is connected.
There is or may be a cack on each pipe g', between each pump and the feeding
end of the washing trough to regulate the quantity of liquid to be fed thereto.
The liquor in passing to the feeding end of each washing trough is or may be
passed through a vessel in which steam is blown to heat it, which arrangement for
heating such liquor is well known.
The liquor which is delivered from each of the upper and middle washing troughs.
and that expressed from the wool or material by the squeezers and, is received
into a trough, below the lower squeezing roller f', of each pair for the highest
and middle washing trough.
The liquor coming into the troughs 2, below the squeezing rollers is conveyed
by a pipe in each case to its respective compartment in the tank or cistern a, such
pipe, for the highest washing trough is shown in dotted line in Fig. 1. extending
between the trough f, for the upper squeezers, and the compartment a², and by a
pipe, extending between the trough , for the middle squeezers and the
compartment a', of the tank a.
The end of the compartment a', of the tank a, is extended to project under the
squeezing rollers and f', for the lowest washing trough d, so that the liquor
passes directly into it.
There are two curved chutes, one for the highest and one for the middle washing
troughs, both constructed and arranged in like manner.
Each curved chute is a trunk h, which is or may he hinged on its upper
side at h', to the delivery end of the washing trough so that it can be lifted
and turned upwards on this hinge when required, to get at the squeezing
rollers ff.
The interior part of the curved chute h, is made with a perforated or false
bottom, shown in dotted line, (see Fig. 4) so that a part of the liquor delivered
with the wool or material down the chute may drain away into the epace in the
trunk, below its false or perforated bottom h³, and such liquor passes from this
space through holes, (see Fig. 4) at each side in the sides of the trunk and
enters two side pipes ³, (best shown in Figs. 4 and 5) which side pipes convey the
liquor to the trough f, below the lower squeezing roller, from which trough the
liquid passes to the compartment of the tank a, for the washing trough for which
such squeezers are acting.
The detached views Figs. 6 and 7 on an enlarged scale, show the combination
and arrangement of the two sets of squeezers more clearly.
f, are the two side frames or standards which carry the bearings for the two
lower squeezing rollers f'.
The bearings for the upper squeezing roller, in a lever f, (one lever for each
end of the roller f). which levers are each upon fulcrums at f', in the side
standards f³.
Each upper lever f*, has a vertical rod/8, passing through a hole or fork in its
end and upon the upper part of this rod f, above the lever, there is a spring 19,
between disc plates on the upper part of each vertical rod f³.
The lower ends of the vertical rods f8, are formed with a loop for a lever fa, to
pass through having its fulcrum at fb, on the standard ƒ³.
On the end of each of the levers, (one on each side) a rod ƒ*, is jointed, upon
which a series of disc weights f", are suspended.
The levers f, having their fulcrums at f', for the upper roller f, of the lower
squeezers are each connected to a rod, arranged in like manner to the rods f³,
for the upper levers, and the rod f, is connected with a lever ft, having its
fulcrum, on a projection from the base plate which carries the side standards,
and the end of this lever fh, is connected with the lower end of a vertical rod f',

page_text: -
which at its upper end slides freely through a hole in a projection from the side
standard, and at the upper end of this rod f, the disc weights, are carried.
There is a similar arrangement for each side of the squeezers.
Each pair of squeezers are driven by separate belts from the motor.
f', are the fast and loose pulleys for driving the lower pair of rollers, a spur
pinion on the first motion shaft driven by the pulleys gearing with a spur wheel on
the outer end of the lower squeezing roller 1.
The upper squeezing rollers are driven in like manner by a belt working on the
fast and loose pulleys ".
We will next describe how the propelling toothed frames are arranged and
actuated..
The toothed propelling frames are similar for each washing trough.
The frames i, are formed by two parallel side bars or tubes one on each side to
which cross bars are secured carrying teeth or prongs and immersers which are or
may be similar to those described in the Complete Specification of Letters Patent
No. 15082 of 1893 granted to William M Naught one of the present applicants.
The prongs or teeth at the delivery end of the propelling frame i, are shorter
than the others.
The mechanism for carrying and actuating the propelling frame is the same at
both ends and at each side with the exceptions hereinafter stated and we shall
therefore first describe the mechanism at one end (that on the left of Fig. 1) and
on one side of the machine.
There is a shaft k, in suitable bearings on the standards c, or on the sides of the
tank u, this shaft has an upright arm k', shown in dotted line secured upon it,
the upper end of which arm forms the bearing for a shaft 3, which extend-
across the machine to an arm k¹, on the other side.
On the shaft k³, a lever k³, is secured, one end of which is jointed with a crank
pin k*, in a crank or in a disc on a shaft k³, across the machine, in suitable bearings
on the framing.
This crank pin *, thus gives to that end of the lever ³, a to and fro and up and
down movement, and the shaft ³, rocks to and fro on the shaft k, radiating from
centre of shaft k.
The toothed propelling frame for the lowest trough d², or a projection from the
frame, is jointed with the lever k³, at some distance from the crank pin k*, and
consequently the lowest propelling frame receives a to and fro and up and down
movement describing a figure in the form of an ellipse.
To the lever ³, at its joint with the lowest propelling frame the lower end of a
vertical side bar or rod ko, is jointed, the upper end of which is jointed to another
lever ', similar to k³, above the highest propelling frame, the end of such lever k³,
being jointed with a crank pin 8, on a crank arm or disc secured on a shaft A³,
same as the shaft ko.
The lower crank lever k³, extends from the crank pin 4, and past the shaft k³,
and to this end of the lever k³, the lower end of another vertical rod or bar kª, is
jointed, that is jointed with the corresponding end of the upper lever k³.
The upper toothed frame is jointed with the upper crank lever where the upright
connecting rod ko, is attached to it.
The two crank shafts and kº, are geared to work together in any suitable
manner.
°
The crank pink, on the upper shaft k³, is arranged in a slide that can move
slightly in a slot in the lengthway to the arm for the crank, that is, in a direction
radial from the axis of the shaft k, this arrangement providing for any want of
exactness in the radius and adjustment of the cranks on the two shafts in relation
to each other and allows them to pass the top and bottom "centres" without
binding.
It will be seen that the upper and lower levers k² and k², connected with the
crank pins k¹ and A, and the connecting rods or bars and , form a parallel
motion, and impart the elliptical movement (the long axis of which is in the

page_text: lengthway of the frame) derived from the cranks to the upper and lower propelling
frames, which are thus moved simultaneously in the same direction.
The lower crank shaft k, may have a spur wheel upon it that gears with a pinion
on a shaft in suitable bearings on the framing having pulleys upon it for the driving
belt from the motor. Or the pulleys k, for the driving belt are or may be placed
directly upon the lower shaft ko.
The middle propelling frame is jointed to the rod k, at 4, so that it receives
movements in a to and fro horizontal direction simultaneously with those imparted
to the upper and lower propelling frames but the up and down movements of the
middle frame are reversed in relation to those of the other propelling frames.
The lower lever ³, on one side is a three armed lever, and the third arın k",
descends from the shaft k2, and is shown in dotted line and the end of this arm M,
is jointed to one end of a rod k, the other end of which is jointed to the end of the
arm A, of a three armed lever A, corresponding to the lever, on the left of Fig. 1,
this three armed lever *, is on a shaft h, having its bearings in the ends of arms k',
from a rocking shaft, which correspond respectively with the arms k', and
shaft, on the left side of the figure.
One arm of the three armed lever 48, on the right of Fig. 1, is jointed to the
lower end of a vertical rod *, the upper end of which is jointed to the upper
propelling frame, and the other end of the three armed lever A, is jointed to the
lower end of a vertical rod, the upper end of which is jointed to the middle
propelling frame.
Thus arranged it will be seen that the levers k³ and k', and bars or rods and kª,
at the left end of Fig. 1, for both sides of the machine form a parallel motion and
the corresponding levers 18, and rods * and k', at the right end of Fig. 1, on both
sides of the machine, also torm a parallel motion when connected and that the
movements imparted at the left end of the machine to the propelling frames are
transmitted by the connecting rod 4, and the propelling frames i. to the other end
of the machine so that all the propelling frames move together simultaneously.
The upper and lower propelling frames i, have to propel the wool or material
from the feeding to the delivery end of the machine, and when doing this the
prongs or teeth of the frames have descended into the washing trough, and when
the propelling frames are moved back the prongs or teeth are lifted out of the
washing trough.
The horizontal to and fro movements of the middle propelling frame are the
same as those of the upper and lower frames but when the middle frame is moving
towards the feeding end of the middle washing trough, its prongs or teeth are lifted
from the trough and they descend into the trough when the frame has to move
endways in the reverse direction, at which time the frames i, for the upper and lower
washing troughs are moving backward.
If desired other mechanism may be used for carrying and working the propelling
frames.
If desired there is or may be a platform w, on one side or on both sides of the
niachine.
Fig. 10, shows another arrangement of washing troughs d, and d, somewhat
similar to that shown by Figs. 1 and 2 with the exceptions hereinafter referred to.
The upper washing trough, delivers to the squeezing rollers f, and the wool or
material when it has passed between them is detached or thrown off the lower one,
by a rotary shaft (, having blades driven by a belt from the motor or some
convenient rotary part of the machine.
The wool or material comes into and descends a trunk or trough ', by gravity,
into the feeding end of the middle washing trough, and in like manner the wool or
material passes from the delivery end of the middle trough d', to the feeding end
of the lower washing trough d', and is discharged at its delivery end in the ordinary
manner.
Fig. 11, shows a similar machine to that illustrated by Fig. 10, the difference
being mainly that the wool or material which descends an inclined surface 12, from

page_text: the delivery ends of the upper to the middle, and from the middle to the lower
washing troughs and falls upon an endless lattice or apron el or e, in each case and
is thus carried to the feeding ends of the washing troughs below.
This arrangement allows of the washing troughs being placed closer together one
over the other than in the modification shown by Fig. 10.
Fig. 12, shows a modification similar to that illustrated by Fig. 10, except that
squeezing rollers for the upper and middle washing troughs are dispensed with, and
the wool or material and liquor discharged, descends directly from the upper to
the middle and from the latter to the lowest trough, the wool or material being
squeezed only at the delivery end of the lowest or last washing trough d².
In this machine the tank a, forms one undivided tank, and there is only one
pump required to pump the liquor from the tank to the feeding end of the upper
trough d.
This machine is used for certain classes of wool requiring to be soaked for some
time.
So far in the machines described by drawings, the wool or material has been
supposed to be fed to the upper washing trough d, and to descend to the middle d³,
and from the middle to the lower washing trough .
But the machines according to our invention may be arranged to feed the material
first to the lower washing trough d, and to ascend to the middle d', and then to the
highest washing trough d.
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate arrangements by which this may be effected.
In Figs. 8 and 9, d, represents the delivery end in section of the lower washing
trough, and d', the end of the washing trough next above to which the material is
to be fed.
fend, the squeezing rollers, at the delivery end of the washing trough, d*, the
chute along which the material passes to the squeezing rollers.
In Fig. 8, m, is a drum or cylinder rotated on its axis by any suitable gearing;
m³, is an endless lattice or apron working round rollers m², at each end, and against
a series of other rollers m³, arrauged round the drum m, as shown.
By this means the material delivered by the squeezing rollers and f¹, passes
between the upper side of the lattice or apron m', and the surface of the drum m,
and is delivered to the lower end of another endless lattice or apron m*, that carries
it to the feeding end of the washing trough d¹, above.
In Fig. 9, four endless lattices or aprons are shown and their arrangement and
action will be readily understood by inspecting the figure from the description of
Fig. 8.
From what has been herein before explained it will be readily understood that
washing or scouring machines may be made according to our invention having two
washing troughs one over the other, and it will be readily understood that machines
with more than three washing troughs one over the other may be combined
together, and also that machines with two or more washing troughs one over the
other may be arranged either end to end or side by side, and that the material
delivered from one machine may be readily passed if desired to the other machine
by endless lattices suitably arranged, or by other suitable means.
It will also be understood that machines with washing troughs one over the
other may be arranged so that all the washing troughs will deliver at the same end
of the machine, but in such case the material from the delivery end of one washing
trough will have to be carried back to be fed to the feeding end of the other
washing trough, and this would be inconvenient.
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 machines for washing or scouring wool or other fibrous materials, the
combining in one machine of two or more washing troughs one over the other
· substantially as herein before described.

page_text: 2. The combination in one machine of two or more washing troughs one over the
other, in which the material passes along one washing trough in one direction and
returns along another washing trough in another direction substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of washing troughs, propelling frames,.
mechanism for carrying and actuating the same, chutes for conveying squeezing
rollers, endless lattices or aprons, settling tanks or cisterns and pumps substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 1 to 7
inclusive of the drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of washing troughs substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings when modified,
substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated by Fig. 10 or Fig. 11, or
Fig. 12, of the drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement substantially as and for the purpose
described of washing troughs, one over the other when the material from the
delivery end of one washing trough is carried to the next higher washing trough by
arrangements substantially the same as those hereinbefore described and illustrated
by Figs. 8 and 9, or by equivalent arrangements.
6. The combination and arrangement of mechanism for carrying and actuating
three propelling frames for three washing troughs one over the other two propelling
frames passing the material one way and the third propelling frame the reverse
way, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Fig. 1, of the drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of two sets of squeezers at one end of a
washing machine to squeeze the material delivered at the same end of the machine
from troughs one over the other substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 6 and 7 of the drawings.
8. The combination with washing machines having one washing trough over the
other of one or more curved chutes for conveying the wool and liquor delivered
from one washing trough to the squeezing rollers for a washing trough below,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figs. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawings.
Dated this Eighteenth day of January 1895.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.