CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CLEANSING AND PREPARING RAGS, OR OTHER MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Partington, of Heap Bridge, in the County
of Lancaster, Manager, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF CLEANSING AND PREPARING RAGS, OR OTHER MATERIALS
USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 15th August 1862, and dated the 5th March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Partington at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th March 1862.
I, EDWARD PARTINGTON, of Heap Bridge, in the County of Lancaster,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CLEANSING AND PREPARING RAGS, OR OTHER
MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My improvements in the method of cleansing rags and other materials
preparatory to their formation into pulp, as designed for the purpose of
economizing the water employed in such operation, and also in saving part
of the fibrous material which hitherto escapes with the washing water.
The machinery for effecting the washing and cleansing of the material,
consists, in a chamber having its interior surface furnished with projections,
teeth, or tearing points, and being spirally arranged.
Within this chamber a cylinder revolves baving projections upon its peri-

page_text: phery also spirally arranged and passing between the others in its revolutions
so that by the means of the propelling power of the spirally arranged teeth
the dirty material is passed through the machine in one direction to their
tearing action during its progress, the course of the washing water through
the chamber being opposite so as to meet the material in a pure state, cleanse
it, and pass off through a strainer (to retain the fibrous material) when
rendered unclean.
When the material has passed through the machine and is sufficiently
purified, a large pronged fork is thrust into it from an opening in the side of
the machine by means of a crank which removes as much as it can contain and
deposits it in a receptacle provided for the purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Partington, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
PARTINGTON, of Heap Bridge, in the County of Lancaster, Manager, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Edward Partington, Her special license that I, the said
Edward Partington, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Edward Partington, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree 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 "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CLEANSING AND PREPARING RAGS OR OTHER
MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the
said Edward Partington, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Edward Partington, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
My improvements in the method of cleansing rags, and other materials
preparatory to their formation into pulp are designed for the purpose of
economizing the water employed in such operation, and also in saving
one part of the fibrous material which hitherto escapes with the washing
water.
The machinery for effecting the washing and cleaning of the material,
consists in a chamber having its interior surface furnished with projections,
teeth or tearing points, and being spirally arranged. .
Within this chamber a cylinder revolves, having projections upon its peri-
phery, also spirally arranged, and passing between the others in its revolutions
so that by the means of the propelling power of the spirally arranged teeth
the dirty material is passed through the machine in one direction, and sub-
jected to their tearing action during its progress, the course of the washing
water through the chamber being opposite so as to meet the material in a pure
state, cleanse it, and pass off through the strainer (to retain the fibrous material)
when rendered unclean.
When the material has passed through tho machine, and is sufficiently
purified, a large pronged fork is thrust into it from an opening in the side of
the machine by means of a crank, which removes as much as it can contain,
and deposits it in a receptacle provided for the purpose.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood and explained
in detail I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of
about an inch and a half to the foot, and having the same letters marked upon
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the centre of the
machine, and shewing the central drum with its teeth and the gearing through
which the water passes before leaving the machine; Fig. 2 is a cross section
taken through the feeding hopper; Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 shews the
action of the pronged fork for withdrawing the material after being washed.
Referring to the Figures a, a, is a drum furnished with teeth or spikes b, b, b,
and revolving in the cylindrical chamber c, c, the interior surface of which is
also furnished with teeth d, d, d, and with adjustable ribs e, e, e, arranged
diagonally or spirally for the purpose of propelling the rags towards the exit
end of the machine; f,f, is the pronged fork sliding in the bar g, and receiving a
reciprocating motion from the crank h, through the connecting rod and lever i.

page_text: The water enters the machine through the pipe k, and traverses the machine in
a contrary direction to the materials under operation, passing out by means of
the pipe I, and the strainer m, where the finer particles of the material are
arrested, the heavier. particles of dirt settling through the semicircular
grating n, and accumulating in the spaces o, whence they are occasionally
discharged through the openings p. The rags or other materials are introduced
into the chamber by means of the mouth or hopper q, and are torn and loosened
by the action of the teeth, thus the dirt becomes separated and discharged
therefrom, and the spirally arranged ribs propell the materials through the
machine until they are thrown out upon the fork f, which empties or clears
itself by sliding in the bar g, the rags falling into any convenient receptacle
placed to receive them. By altering the inclination of the ribs e, e, the
material may be subjected to the action of the machine for a longer or shorter
time as may be required.
It will be evident that this machinery may also be employed for cleansing
the materials in a dry state if required.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim the novel arrangement and construction of mechanism
for cleansing rags and other materials wherein the process of cleansing rags
may be carried on continuously and without stopping the machine, and so
arranged that the washing water constantly meets the material in a pure state
and passes off as it becomes impure as herein-before described, set forth, and
fully illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Partington, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
EDWARD PARTINGTON. (L.S.)