IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR. APPARATUS FOR DRYING WOOL
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Petrie, junior, of Rochdale, in the County of
Lancaster, Ironmonger, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR. APPARATUS FOR DRYING WOOL.” --
Sealed the 6th February 1855, and dated the 12th August 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said John Petrie, junior, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
August. 1854.
I, JOHN PETRIE, junior, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Iron-
monger, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING WOOL" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in an arrangement of machinery or apparatus for
causing a current of heated or cold air to pass on to or to be forced through a
layer or stratum of the damp or wet wool. The arrangement of mechanism
for effecting this object inay be varied to a considerable extent. That which
I have found to answer practically will, however, be understood in and from
the following description:-A box or chamber of any suitable material is
formed with an open top, in the interior of which a series of fans or vanes are
mounted, and caused to revolve by any suitable arrangement of mechanism.
The interior of the chamber or box is heated to the required temperature by
means of steam pipes or chests, placed in any suitable position above or below
the fans or vanes, the rotary motion of which will cause the heated air to rise

page_text: and pass through the interstices of the layer or stratum of wool, which is laid
above the pipes or chests aforesaid, upon an open grid or perforated plate,
which forms the top of the box. This grid or plate may be formed in any
number of parts, and hinged to the side of the chamber, so that when the wool
is sufficiently dried, one or more of these parts may be raised to cause the wool
to fall into any suitable receptacle. A similar arrangement of fans or vanes
as above may also be used to cause a current of cold air to rise or pass through
the interstices of the stratum or layer of wool, or a rotary fan or vane may be
fixed in any convenient manner to the outside of the box or chamber afore-
said, and the current conducted into the interior of the same, heated as before
mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Petrie, junior, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th February 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PETRIE, junior, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Ironmonger, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year. of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Petric, Her especial license that I, the said John Petric,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Petrie, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING WOOL," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Petrie, 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 John Petrie, do hereby declarc
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing (that is to say):-
:-
My Invention consists in an arrangement of machinery or apparatus for
causing a current of heated or cold air to pass or to be forced through a layer
or stratum of wool, after the washing or other process by which it is left in a
damp or wet state. The arrangement for effecting this may be varied to a
considerable extent; but I will, by aid of the accompanying Drawing, describe
one that I have found to answer the purpose. The Drawing represents the
apparatus in vertical section, and the length of the same may be varied,
according to convenience of situation, or to the quantity of material required to
be dried. In the aforesaid sectional view a, a, represent two of a series of iron
bars, there being a repetition of the same at suitable intervals throughout the
length of the apparatus; these bars are secured at top to a ridge piece b, and
at bottom to a longitudinal framing c. The ends of the apparatus are closed
by metal or wood work l, affixed to the framing c, and the bottom by sheet
iron m, with the exception of a central opening n, left for the passage of air.
At one end of the chamber thus formed is a pipe e, leading from a steam gene-
rator to another pipe f, from which pipes g extend in a longitudinal direction.
To the framing c are fixed hinges, to which are jointed a series of flaps h, of
perforated metal, wire gauze, or other material, adapted in widths of suitable
size for being turned over; the number will of course depend upon the length
of the apparatus; or a flap in one piece may be adapted, if desired. The parts
forming the closed ends are provided with bearings for a shaft i, upon which
is mounted an ordinary fan, to which rotatory motion is communicated by any
convenient means. The supports for the steam pipes are not shewn in the
Drawing, but they may be carried by the framework, or by an extra skeleton
framing within the chamber, and which may also provide means for interme-
diato bearings for the shaft i, if the length thereof require them. The wool to
be dried is placed upon the perforated flaps h, and the shaft i then put in
motion, by which means air entering through the opening n will be propelled
over the surfaces of the steam pipes g, and from thence through the perforated
flaps and wool thereon. When the material is sufficiently dried, the flaps
may be turned over by the rings k, so as to deposit it upon the floor, or into any
receptacle placed there. The steam pipes 9 are drawn into one at the other
end of the machine, at which situation I apply any ordinary apparatus for
allowing the water of condensation to pass off.
I have alluded to a certain arrangement of apparatus by which my Invention
may be carried into effect; I desire it, however, to be understood that I do not
confine myself thereto, as many deviations may be made without departing

page_text: from the principle thereof; for instance, instead of driving air from the
chamber upon which the material is placed, an equivalent may be adopted by
an exhausting process. I would also observe that I do not confine myself to
the use of heated air, as the same effect may be attained by using it at the
ordinary temperature, although the process will of course be slower; that which
I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent being,
the drying of wool after the washing or other process which has left it wet or
damp, by causing a current or currents of heated or cold air to pass in contact
with it through the agency of a fan, or other equivalent mechanism.
Also, I claim the application of the perforated or other porous flaps upon
which the wool is placed, and constituting enclosures of a chamber through
which air is forced or drawn.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Petric, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
JOHN PEIRIE, J". (L.S.)