Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Treating or Scouring and Washing Wool and other Fibrous Substances.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Treating or
Scouring and Washing Wool and other Fibrous Substances.
We, JOHN SMITH, ISAAC SMITH, and JOSEPH SMITH, of Kensington Works,
Siddall, near Halifax, in the County of York, Commission Wool Combers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to the present method of scouring and washing wool, such said wool
is immersed and steeped in a longitudinal vessel and carried backwards and forwards
in the scouring liquor by means of reciprocatory forks, but this method of scouring
wool, although very largely practised, is, however, objectionable, because the recipro-
catory forks entangle the fibros and mix together the various staples, so that when
the said wool is dried and passed through the carding and combing processes, the
entangled fibres are broken, consequently the staple or length of fibre is shortened,
reducing the value thereof to a considerable extent; but by our invention we propose
to scour and wash wool and other like fibre in an entirely now manner and method,
by which the felting or entanglement and disturbance of the staple of the fibre is
avoided, whilst the cleansing of the fibre is quickly performed.
In carrying out our invention we employ one or more vessels, and if more than one
vessel is employed, we preferably place one on a higher altitude than the other, so that the
scouring liquor will run from one vessel to the other. Near the bottom of the vessel is a
false bottom, perforated only at the feeding end. Above the scouring vessel and preferably
at the feeding end thereof, we place another vessel, the bottom of which is perforated
so that scouring liquor entering therein will escape through the perforated bottom
and fall or descend in the form of a spray or shower into the lower vessel, descending
upon the wool or fibre floating on the scouring liquor contained in the lower vessel.
The false bottom in the lower vessel is elevated at the outlet and, the height of which
practically determines the depth of liquor contained in the said vessel, and the supply
of scouring liquor fed by the shower or spray is of such a quantity as to cause the
liquor to become a flowing stream entering at the feeding end of the vessel and
running over the bridge at the outlet end of the vessel so that such flowing stream
of washing liquor runs through the wool or fibre floating on the top thereof, and in
order to prevent the loose fibre travelling at the same speed as the liquor, we employ
one or more perforated revolving cylinders which dip the floating wool into the
scouring liquor, thereby retarding and regulating the passage thereof. In consequence
of the dipping cylinder being perforated, the running scouring liquor passes through
the perforations therein, thereby removing the wool which might otherwise adhere
to the surface of the perforated cylinder. When the fibre arrives at the delivery end
of the machine, it may fall onto an endless travelling perforated lattice sheet, the liquor
passing through the said perforated sheet and falling into a vessel placed helow it,
the wool being received from the travelling lattice sheet by a pair of squeezing
rollers which remove the liquor therefrom, after which the fibre passes onto a
travelling apron, when it may enter another scouring vessel similar to the one
already described to be further treated, according to the will and judgment of the
operator.
Instead of the wool floating on the top of the scouring liquor we may have,
(immersed or otherwise) an endless travelling perforated lattice sheet, upon which
the wool is fed and carried from one end of the vessel to the other, receiving at the
same time a shower or douche of scouring liquor.
The scouring liquor is pumped from the lower vessel to the upper one, having a
perforated bottom, so that the said liquor may be used and re-used.
Instead of the fibre on leaving the delivery end of the machine passing direct

page_text: onto an endless travelling apron as already described, it may first of all pass over a
revolving perforated cylinder through which the scouring liquor passes into the lowest
vessel, after which it may pass to the lattice sheet and squeezing rollers, 'as already
described.
In order to give impetus to the stream of flowing liquor, the douching vessel may
have (in addition to the perforations), one or more outlet pipes, down which the
scouring liquor passes at the entrance of the machine, and it may be conducted down
an inclined plane so as to accelerate the flow of the scouring liquor.
By this method or process of scouring and washing wool, it will be observed that
the wool or fleece of wool, when first placed into the feeding end of the machine,
receives the one or more douches or showers of the washing liquor, and also receives
the several dipping or immersing processes without the fibre or the staple of the
fibre being disturbed, crossed, or felted, from end to end of the process, consequently
the breaking and shortening of the staple effected by the present way of agitating is
avoided, by which means the percentage of the longer and more valuable fibres is
maintained in the after processes of carding and combing; therefore the fibre is not
lessened in value by the scouring and washing processes, as is the case with the
present system; in addition to which the scouring or washing of the fibre is thoroughly
accomplished.
Dated this 27th day of January 1890.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Treating or
Scouring and Washing Wool and other Fibrous Substances.
We, JOHN SMITH, ISAAC SMITH, and JOSEPH SMITH, of Kensington Works, Siddall,
near Halifax, in the County of York, Commission Wool Combers, 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 :-
According to the present method of scouring and washing wool, such said wool is
immersed and steeped in a longitudinal vessel and carried backwards and forwards
in the scouring liquor by means of reciprocatory forks, but this method of scouring
wool, although very largely practised, is, however, objectionable, because the recipro-
catory forks entangle the fibres and mix together the various staples, so that when
the said wool is dried and passed through the carding and combing processes, the
entangled fibres are broken, consequently the staple or length of fibre is shortened,
and its value reduced, but by our invention we propose to scour and wash wool and
other like fibre in an entirely new manner, by which the felting or entanglement and
disturbance of the staple of the fibre is avoided, whilst the cleansing of the fibre is
effectively performed.
In carrying out our invention, we employ one or more vessels, and if more than
one vessel is employed, we preferably place one on a higher altitude than the other so
that the scouring liquor will run from one vessel into the other. Near the bottom of
the vessel we may placo a false bottom, perforated only at the feeding end. Above the
scouring vessel, and preferably at the feeding end thereof, we place another vessel,
the bottom of which is perforated so that scouring liquor entering therein will escape
through the perforated bottom and fall or descend in the form of a spray or shower
into the lower vessel, descending upon the wool or fibre floating on or being carried
through the scouring liquor contained in the lower vessel. The false bottom in
the lower vessel is elevated at the outlet end, the height of which practically determines
the depth of liquor contained in the said vessel, and the supply of scouring liquor
fed by the shower or spray is of such a quantity as to cause the liquor to become
a flowing stream entering at the feeding end of the vessel and running over the
bridge at the outlet end of the vessel so that such flowing stream of washing

page_text: Liquor runs through the wool or fibre floating on the top thereof, and in order to
prevent the loose fibre travelling at the same speed as the liquor, we employ one
or more perforated revolving cylinders which dip the floating wool into the scouring
liquor, thereby retarding and regalating the passage thereof. In consequence of
the dipping cylinder being perforated, the running scouring liquor passes through
the perforations, thereby removing the wool which might otherwise adhere to the
surface of the perforated cylinder. When the fibre arrives at the delivery end of the
machine it may fall onto an endless travelling perforated lattice sheet, the liquor
passing through the said perforated sheet and falling into a vessel placed below it, the
wool being received from the travelling lattice sheet by a pair of squeezing rollers
which remove the liqour therefrom, after which the fibre passes onto a travelling
apron, when it may enter another scouring vessel, similar to the one already
described, to be further treated, according to the will and judgment of the operator.
Instead of the wool floating on the top of the scouring liquor, we may have
(immersed or otherwise) an endless travelling perforated lattice sheet, upon which
the wool is fed and carried from one end of the vessel to the other, receiving at the
same time a shower or douche of scouring liquor.
The scouring liquor is pumped from the lower vessel to the upper one, having a
perforated bottom, so that the said liquor may be used and re-used.
Instead of the fibre, on leaving the delivery end of the machine, passing direct
onto an endless travelling apron, as already described, it may first of all pass over a
revolving perforated cylinder through which the scouring liquor passes into the
lowest vessel, after which it may pass to the lattice sheet and squeezing rollers, as
already described.
In order to give impetus to the stream of flowing liquor, the douching vessel may
have (in addition to the perforations) one or more outlet pipes, down which the
scouring liquor passes at the entrance of the machine, and it may be conducted down
an inclined plane so as to accelerate the flow of the scouring liquor.
b
Such being the nature and object of our invention, we will now, in order that the
same may be better understood, make reference to the accompanying sheets of
drawings illustrative thereof, wherein Fig. 1 represents one arrangement or form of
apparatus constructed according to our invention for washing and scouring wool and
other like fibre. The said fibre is first of all placed into the hopper a from whence
it is lifted by the endless travelling creeper provided with teeth or spikes for the
purpose of lifting the fibre to the top of the said hopper, from which spikes the said
fibre may be removed in suitable tufts or layers by means of the revolving wiper or
toothed roller c, which delivers the said fibre onto the endless travelling perforated
lattice sheet d, caused to travel over the tank or vessel e, or through the liquor
therein, being supported horizontally or in a distended state by a series of small
rollers placed across the vessel e. As the perforated lattice sheet d is travelling
over or across the vessel e, scouring liquor is descending like a shower or spray
from the upper vessel g, the bottom of which is perforated, allowing the said scouring
liquor to descend and fall upon the fibre, which is being carried across the vessels
by the lattice sheet, such liquor passing through the fibre and through the perforations
in the lattice sheet, and finally dropping into the lower vessel e. The fibre thus
douched is afterwards conveyed between the squeezing rollers h, from which it is
taken by the small revolving roller i and transferred onto another perforated
travelling lattice sheet d¹ to be conveyed to the second pair of squeezing rollers h¹,
but before reaching the second pair of squeezing rollers the fibre is subjected to
another douche or shower of liquor as already described.
After the fibre has been squeezed and the liquor removed by the second pair of
squeezing rollers ', the said fibre is taken therefrom by another spiked revolving
roller which transfers the fibre upon a third perforated travelling lattice sheet (³,
where it again receives another shower or douche of liquor; afterwards it passes
between the third pair of squeezing rollers h², and is finally conveyed into the
receptacle to be ready to receive the subsequent processes of manufacture. It will
be observed that in the drawing Fig. 1 the scouring vessels are at different elevations,

page_text: and this is done so that the scouring liquor will run or pass down connecting pipe
from the upper vessel to the lower one, and in order that the liquor may be used
over and over again, the lower vessel is connected to the upper one by means of a
pipe k, and the scouring liquor lifted from the lower vessel by means of a pump,
pulsometer, or other suitable means of lifting liquid from one elevation to another.
In Fig. 2 we have shown a slight modification of Fig. 1; in this case the scouring
liquor is placed in the upper vessel g, which by means of a valve can pass from
the upper vessel g into the convex chamber m having a perforated bottom through
which the scouring liquor passes and descends in a shower or spray upon the fibre
placed underneath it, and resting upon a perforated sheet d. In this case also the
scouring liquor is lifted by means of a pump through the pipe from the lower
vessel e to the upper one.
Within
Fig. 3 shews another modified form of apparatus for scouring wool. In this case
we may or may not employ the upper perforated vessel y, having a perforated bottom
through which the scouring or other liquor falls in the form of a spray or shower
upon the fibre underneath it; but we dispense with the perforated travelling lattice
sheet, and instead thereof the fibre falls from the feeding apron n into the vessel o,
where the fibre floats upon the liquor in the bottom of the said vessel o.
the said vessel is a stationary sieve or grating p, which it will be observed is
elevated or made with a bridge at the outlet end, which bridge determines the
height of liquor and prevents the fibre floating too easily out, thus retarding the
outward passage of the said fibre, but the floating fibre is encouraged towards
the said bridge by the floating liquor, which is running over the end of the machine,
and in order to immerse or dip the fibre, and retard its progress as it is floating,
we employ a series of perforated revolving cylinders », driven by a chains or other
means. When the floating fibre reaches the bridge q, it is received by the squeezing
rollers, from whence it gets onto the delivery apron t. In this case the liquor is
transferred from the lower vessel e to the upper vessel g by means of pumps or
other means, the said liquor passing up through the pipe . The vessel o is made,
as already stated, with a perforated or false bottom p, through which the dirt and
sediment passes as it is cleansed from the wool, a plug u being employed in the
bottom of the vessel o, so that it can be emptied of accumulations.
It will be understood that the number of times the fibre is douched and squeezed
by the squeezing rollers may be varied according to the class of fibre under operation.
We also wish to say, that for the sake of clearness in the drawings, we have omitted
the various wheels or pulleys necessary to drive the squeezing rollers and travelling
sheets and other rollers employed.
Although we have shewn and described a lower vessel for containing liquor and
an upper vessel for douching the fibre, we wish it to be understood that the lower
vessel can be used without the upper one, although in some cases it may be preferable
to use the upper douching vessel.
By this method or process of scouring and washing wool, it will be observed that
the wool or fleece of wool, when first placed into the feeding end of the machine,
receives one or more douches or showers of the washing liquor, and also receives
the several dipping or immersing processes without the fibre, or the staple of the
fibre being disturbed, crossed, or felted from end to end of the process; consequently
the breaking and shortening of the staple effected by the present way of agitating
is avoided, by which means the percentage of the longer and more valuable fibres
is maintained in the after processes of carding and combing; therefore the fibre is
not lessened in value by the scouring and washing processes, as is the case with the
present system; in addition to which the scouring or washing of the fibre is
thoroughly accomplished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
Firstly. In machines for scouring and washing wool and other fibres, the

page_text: employment of endless travelling perforated lattice sheets, carrying fibre under a
shower or spray of liquor in manner substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. In machines for scouring and washing wool and other fibres, the
employment of endless travelling perforated lattice sheets carrying fibre under a
shower or spray of washing liquor in combination with squeezing rollers such as h.
Thirdly. In machines for scouring and washing wool and other fibres, the
employment of an uncovered vessel such as o having a bridge at one end, in com-
bination with the upper vessel 9 provided with a perforated bottom for douching the
fibre underneath it together with squeezing rollers, all arranged as described.
Fourthly. In a machine such as that herein shewn and described, the combination
therowith of means for raising the liquor from the lower vessel to the upper vessel
so that the said liquor may be used and re-used.
Fifthly. The construction of a machine such as Fig. 3 for scouring wool and
other fibre (with or without an upper douching vessel) supplied and fed with a
continuous stream of liquor entering at one end and passing over a bridge at the
other, the fibre therein floating with the said stream, but at a slower speed. the said
fibre being retarded in its onward passage by dipping rollers or other mechanical
equivalents.
Dated the of Antalon 1900
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.