IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR "GRINDING" OR TEARING UP RAGS AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB- STANCES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Wood at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th March
1867.
I, WILLIAM WOOD, of Monkhill, near Pontefract, in the County of York,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR "GRINDING" OR TEARING UP RAGS AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES," to be as follows:-
The ordinary machines for "grinding" rags consist principally of a toothed
"swift" or drum mounted on a frame, and of a feeding apparatus ; the
swift or drum is composed of an iron shaft, arms, and rings on which are
fixed two layers of wooden "lags" or segments, the outer lags having a large
number of wrought-iron "teeth" or small pointed spikes driven into them,
and standing out therefrom on the face or outside, which when the swift is
made to revolve rapidly grind or tear up the rags supplied by the feeding
apparatus; these teeth are forged round and tapering on the part which
stands out of the wood lag or face.
Now my improvements consist, firstly, in making the teeth oval or flat
sided instead of round, placing the narrow face of the tooth first, whereby it
is much stronger and more effective; for this purpose I prefer to use flattened
or drawn steel wire of the desired shape and size cut into suitable lengths for

page_text: the teeth. The teeth are now driven singly into the lags, and are liable to
be drawn out of the face in working; to prevent which I make them double
or two together in the form of a staple, the points of which being driven
into and through the lags the back or bent part of the double tooth when
the lag is fixed in its place rests on the usual or other foundation, the teeth
cannot then either be pushed out at the back nor drawn out on the face or
working side.
My improvements also consist in making the teeth of cast iron, steel, or
other suitable cast metal of such a shape and size as may be required for
cast metal, and which may be driven into perforated wood lags or inserted in
drilled metal lags, which are afterwards fixed on the swift in any convenient
manner.
My improvements also consist in making the cast-iron or other cast-métal
teeth in one piece or casting with the lag bar or body that carries them, the
teeth being cast on the face of the lags or carrying bodies, which are then
bolted or fastened on the swift. I also cast the teeth on and as parts of thin
bars or segments of the circumference, especially when hooked or undercut
teeth are required. These segments have projections on one side or washers
put between them to regulate their distance apart, and are held or supported
by transverse rods or bars passing through them, and fastened to and carried
by the rims or bearings on the sides of the swift, or otherwise affixed
thereto.
My improvements also consist in making the face or circumference of the
swift on which the toothed lags, bars, or segments are laid of iron or metal
instead of wood as at present, and in forming such face, circumference, or
cylinder in one piece or casting with its supporting arms and central boss as
in a cast driving pulley.
When cast teeth, lags, bars, or segments are used and fixed on a metal
swift I place a thin layer of soft wood or elastic substance between the back
of the lags, bars, or segments and the metal face of the swift, so as to avoid
or lessen injurious concussion or action.