IMPROVEMENTS IN BRATS OR TRAVELLING SURFACES FOR CONVEYING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS OUT OF OR INTO WASHING MACHINES, WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER MACHINES IN WHICH SIMILAR TRAVELLING SURFACES ARE REQUIRED
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Petrie, junior, of Rochdale, in the County
of Lancaster, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BRATS OR TRAVELLING SURFACES FOR CONVEYING WOOL AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS OUT OF OR INTO WASHING MACHINES, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER MACHINES IN WHICH SIMILAR
TRAVELLING SURFACES ARE REQUIRED."
Sealed the 3rd July 1868, and dated the 8th January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Petrie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th January 1868.
I, JOHN PETRIE, junior, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRATE OR TRAVELLING SURFACES FOR CONVEYING WCOL
AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS OUT OF OR INTO WASHING MACHINES, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER MACHINES IN WHICH SIMILAR
TRAVELLING SURFACES ARE REQUIRED," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in a method of constructing and jointing
together ribs in order to form a continuous travelling surface some-
times called a "brat." To effect this I propose to use light tubes or

page_text: half round metal ribs jointed together and passing over suitably shaped
rollers. The joints or hinges which I propose are formed by loose
links adapted to the ends of the aforesaid tubes or half round metal,
or to rods or bars, and which may be removed and replaced endwise
of the parts to which they are connected. For instance, I take two
tubes and studs carried by a bar within their ends, which bar also
carries other studs on which are links, the other ends of the said
links being adapted to two other tubes provided with studs as aforesaid,
and this arrangement is repeated as often as may be required. The
aforesaid studs may be loose or fast in the tubes, and in the latter
case the connecting bar need not be used. If tubes be not employed
the said studs may be formed upon or fastened to the ribs. I propose
to keep the links in their places by causing them to travel in a groove,
which groove I propose to make adjustable for regulating the tension
of the travelling surface and to furnish it with an opening or door for
examination of the links and removal when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Petrie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PETRIE, junior, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Petrie, Her special license
that I, the John Petrie, 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, usc, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
'BRATS' OR TRAVELLING SURFACES FOR CONVEYING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS OUT OF OR INTO WASHING MACHINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE

page_text: ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER MACHINES IN WHICH SIMILAR TRAVELLING SURFACES
ARE REQUIRED," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said
John Petric, 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 declare
the nature of my 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 Invention consists in a method of constructing and jointing
together ribs in order to form a continuous travelling surface some-
times called a brat.
'
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents the brat and the
framework which carries it in longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is a plau
view thereof; Fig. 3, a cross section; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, detached. views
of portions of the brat; and Fig. 8, a plan view, showing several ribs
jointed together, and I will in the first place proceed to explain how
this joining is effected.
At a, a, Fig. 4, are two studs formed with feathers, as seen in
Fig. 6, and cast upon or otherwise united with a flange b, which also
carries two. centre pins. c, c'. At. d, Fig. 7, is onc. of. a .series of links
provided witli two holes e, e¹. In applying these links the hole e for
instance is slipped over the pin c', and then a pin of another double
stud carried by a flange (Fig. 8) is applied to the hole e¹, after
which another link d is in like manner adapted to the second pin
of the stud ', and so on in succession, and by which means a chain
of any desired length may be formed. This relates to one side of
the travelling surface a brat, but the same operations are repeated
for the other side, and as the two chains are thus built up tubes f
are placed upon the studs a, a', &c., so as to abut against the flanges
b, b, &c.,. and thus the necessary width of travelling surface is
obtained, the said studs extending a short distance only into the tubes
which they carry."

page_text: Having thus described how a series of bars or tubes are joined
together, I will proceed to explain the framework which carries them,
and the methods by which they are adapted thereto and caused to
travel.
At 9 are two plates carried by the main framework and bound
together by tie rods h*. The plates g
are provided with projec-
tions upon which the links d of the tubes f rest. A portion only
of these tubes is shewn at Fig. 1, but they form an endless chain by
extending around grooved guide rollers i, and they are also in gear
with larger central rollers k. At is a door which may be opened at
pleasure and situate above the part h on which the links of the tubes
rest, and there is a similar door on the other side of the machine. The
distance from one side of the travelling surface to the other is such
that the links d will run lightly against the plates g, and they are
thus kept in their places. In adapting the travelling surface above
described the studs, links, and tubes are successively joined together
at one end of the plates g, as at A, and pushed forward upon the
rib h, and are thus held together during the formation of the required
length of surface by the plates g. They are then threaded in and
over the rollers i until the required length is obtained with the exception
of one link, and this last joint is made through the doors l.
in use motive power is applied to the axis of the roller k, and the
brat will be caused thereby to travel onward. The doors also serve
another purpose, for they afford a ready oppurtunity for removing a link
or tube for the substitution of another when necessary.
When
Figs. 9 and 10 shew a modification of my Invention. The studs c
are in this instance formed round, and upon them are rivetted half
round pieces of metal n instead of the tubes f formerly described.
The method of joining the studs together is the same.
Fig. 11 shews another modification of my Invention. In this case
the studs c are supposed to be in one piece or fast with the rods or
tubes o, which are not in this instance united by a flange as seen at b
in the formerly described Figs. but are single rods o united in pairs
by links p, and these pairs are then coupled together by other links p
abutting as in the former instances against the plates g. In fitting
these linked bars or tubes into the machine, it may happen that
the exact length for the proper tension is not obtained, I therefore make

page_text: the rollers i adjustable so that they may be caused to approach towards
or recede from each other.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed,
I desire it to be understood that I claim as secured to me under
the above in part recited Letters Patent, and for the purposes above
set, the use of a "brat" or travelling surface formed by tubes or bars
united by loose links kept in their places by side plates.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Petrie, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.