Improvements in Driving Hydro-extractors and. other Centrifugal Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Hydro-extractors and. other Centrifugal
Machines.
I THOMAS BRADFORD of the Crescent Iron Works Salford in the County of
Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
My invention relates chiefly to the mode of driving hydro-extractors or centri-
fugal clothes-drying and other such like machines for laundry purposes, and the
principal novel feature of my invention is that, whereas hydro-extractors have
previously been driven by-a-single rope, catgut or other band working in single
groove pulleys which were found inefficient, and discarded for bevil wheels,and
other' toothed wheel gearing, which although more efficient for accomplishing the
purpose intended, is nevertheless found objectionable owing to excessive wear and
tear, and great vibration and noise, more particularly when required to run at high
speeds, such speeds can by the use of my invention be attained in a most-efficient
and, noiseless manner which I accomplish by the employment of several endless
ropes or other bands each working in separate grooves in separate pulleys, whereby
I obtain the maximum power and speed required with a minimum of wear and
tear, and of vibration and noise; and as all bands for obtaining and transmitting
power are more or less liable to stretch and to lose power I overcome this by an
arrangement of grooved guide pulleys and adjusting screws acting independently
upon each band ;. and the tension of each band can be adjusted with the greatest
possible nicety, so that the driving power of all the bands can be equalized, and
the wear and tear and vibration thus reduced to a minimum.
An incidental advantage obtained by this method of driving is that in the event
of one band breaking, the revolution of the machine need not necessarily be
stopped 'as the other bands will be quite sufficient to keep the machine in motion.
A further advantage consists in obtaining by this mode of driving greater safety
to the attendant in working, in consequence of the working parts of the machine
being structurally under cover, and also much greater convenience for the manipu-
lation of the linen, as by this mode of driving I am enabled to have the main
driving shaft of the hydro-extractor close to its work; and in consequence of the
uprights and pedestals being brought down so much, lower I am able not only to
cover and protect them, but also to use this cover as a receptacle or platform for
the linen, not only when it is in the wet state before being placed in the cage,
but also when removing it from the cage after the water has been extracted.
Another advantage of this platform. or receptacle is that it enables me in the
most convenient and desirable manner to cover over either partially or wholly, the
extracting cage when running it at its necessarily. very high speed.
I also propose to adopt this method of driving by multiple bands for various
centrifugal machines, more especially in sugar making for extracting the liquid
from from the crystals or solid parts, and also for the separation of cream from
milk, for which it is particularly suitable owing to the high speed, which can be
obtained thereby with a minimum of. vibration and noise.
Dated this 2nd'dex of November 1890.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Hydro-extractors and other Centrifugal
Machines.
I THOMAS BRADFORD of the. Crescent Iron Works Salford in the County of
Lancaster 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 :—
My invention relates chiefly to the mode of driving hydro-extractors or centri-
fugal clothes-drying and other such like machines for laundry purposes; and the
principal novel feature of my invention is that whereas hydro-extractors have
previously been driven by a single rope catgut or other band working in single
groove pulleys which were found inefficient and discarded for bevil wheels and
other toothed wheel gearing, which although more efficient for accomplishing
the purpose intended, is nevertheless found objectionable owing to excessive
wear and tear, and great vibration and noise, more particularly when required to
run at high speeds; such speeds can by the use of my invention be attained in a
most efficient and noiseless manner which I accomplish by the employment of several
endless ropes or other bands each working in separate grooves in separate pulleys
or in the same pulley whereby I obtain the maximum power and speed required
with a minimum of wear and tear, and of vibration and noise.
The manner in which my said invention is to be performed or carried into practical
effect will be readily understood on reference to the drawing hereunto annexed and
the following explanation thereof.
The drawing represents an elevation of a hydro-extractor with my improved
apparatus for driving shown as applied thereto.
a is the hydro extractor, b the driving shaft, and c the main driving pulley d are
grooved guide pulleys placed in an inclined position, and e is a triple grooved
pulley keyed upon the verticle shaft which carries the cage of the hydro-
extractor; 9 are the endless driving bands.
In the example illustrated by the drawing the apparatus is shown with three
driving bands but I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to confine myself
to that or any other particular number, and as all bands for obtaining and
transmitting power are more or less liable to stretch and to lose power,
overcome
this by providing the grooved guide pulleys d with adjusting screws acting
independently upon each band g and the tension of each band can be adjusted
with the greatest possible nicety, so that the driving power of all the bands
can be equalized and the wear and tear and vibration thus reduced to a
minimum.
An incidental advantage obtained by this method of driving is that in the event
of one of the bands g breaking the revolution of the machine need not necessarily
be stopped, as the other bands will be quite sufficient to keep the machine in
motion.
A further advantage consists in obtaining by this mode of driving greater safety
to the attendant in working, in consequence of the working parts of the machine
being closed in by the cover shown dotted at i and also much greater convenience
for the manipulation of the linen, as by this mode of driving I am enabled to have
the main driving shaft of the hydro-extractor close to its work; and in consequence
of the uprights and pedestals being brought down so much lower I am able not
only to protect them, by means of the cover shown at k but also to use this cover
as a receptacle or platform for the linen, not only when it is in the wet state before
being placed in the cage, but also when removing it from the cage after the water
has been extracted.
Another advantage of this platform or receptacle k is that it enables me in the
most convenient and desirable manner to cover over, either partially as shewn or
wholly, the extracting cage when running it at its necessarily very high speed.

page_text: I also propose to adopt this method of driving by multiple bands for various
centrifugal machines, more especially in sugar making for extracting the liquid
from the crystals or solid parts, and also for the separation of cream from milk,
for which it is particularly suitable owing to the high speed which can be obtained
thereby with a minimum of vibration and noise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
The improvements in driving hydro-extractors and other centrifugal machines
consisting in the combination of multiple endless driving bands with adjustable
guide pulleys so that the tension of each endless band can be separately adjusted
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawing annexed.
3 thin lot day of August 1891.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.