Improvements in Scouring and Degreasing Wool.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1895-Accepted. 22nd Feb., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGES MALARD, 19 Rue Cambon, Paris, it
the French Republic, Engineer.]
Improvements in Scouring and Degreasing Wool.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE HEYS, of 70 Market Street, Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Patent Agent, 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for effecting the automatic and continuous
scouring and degreasing of wool.
In the improved apparatus the wool is fed or placed upon a travelling apron or
belt which passes above a series of vats or tanks containing the cleansing liquid.
The liquid contained in the tanks is pumped up into sprinklers or the like arranged
above the belt and falls from these on to the wool to be treated, and then passes to
a device which returns it to its own tank or directs it to the next tank. The
transference of the liquid contained in one tank into the next tank in the opposite.
direction to that in which the wool is travelling is effected automatically. The
wool is first treated by the liquid containing most of the grease and finally by that
containing the least, or by pure water or other suitable liquid.
In order that this invention may be more readily understood there are hereto
appended two sheets of drawing to which reference is hereinafter made.
Figure 1 illustrates in sectional elevation apparatus constructed to embody these
improvements.
Figure 2 is a representation of the same apparatus in plan.
Figure 3 shews it in cross section.
Figure 4 illustrates the mechanism employed to control the supply of water or
the like to the last tank over which the wool passes.
Figure 5 is an illustration of one form of travelling belt or table which may
be used.
Figure 6 shews an arrangement of the pump driving belt.
The wool to be treated is spread upon the travelling table or belt T which moves
slowly between the side frames Q above a series of tanks or the like B, B1, B2, B3,
which contain the solvent or other cleansing liquid. The wool is first treated by
the liquid contained in the tank B which contains the most grease, and successively
by liquids containing less and less grease until it is treated by that contained in
the last tank of the series which is practically pure. The belt in its journey
passes between rollers Y J. E J1, E1 J2, E2 J3, E3 J 31, one pair of which
is arranged over each tank. The rollers are weighted by means of levers L
and weights R. The liquids contained in the tanks are forced by the
pumps P, P1, P2, P3, up into the sprinklers or the like D, D1, D2, D3,
whence they fall on to the wool carried by the belt T. The wool after being
treated by one sprinkler is subjected to pressure by a pair of rollers E, J, before
being treated by the next sprinkler. The liquids pass through the wool and the
pelt and are received upon inclined planes O, Figure 3 which direct them to the
ide troughs or receptacles N, N1, N2, N3, where they are either returned to
he 'vat from whence they came or to the next one in the series. Above each of
he vats is a strainer or sieve C.

page_text: The troughs or receptacles N within which the liquid is directed to one tank or
the other, are longitudinally divided and are provided with deflecting plates n
which are movable so as to direct the liquid delivered from the plate into either
one or the other side of the trough and thus to either one or the other of contiguous
tanks. The deflecting plates n are operated by the floats F, F 1, F 2, F3.
In communication with the first sprinkler D or with the first tank B is a cell or
vessel H which contains a hydrometer or similar density meter or indicator I.
This hydrometer is so arranged that when the liquid in the tank B reaches a
pre-determined density it closes an electric circuit. An electric bell may thus be
rung and the deflecting plate n be moved over so that the liquid entering the
trough N from the tank B may be passed into the tank A. If desired a float or
manual means may be employed to operate the deflecting plate.
Each of the deflecting plates n is provided at each end of its axis with a
projecting crank m and the rods of the floats F pass between the cranks of
contiguous plates and are provided with pins or projections, which will, upon the
descent of the floats, engage with the cranks.
22
Thus, when the contents of the tank B have been transferred to the reservoir A
and the float F has descended to the bottom of the empty tank, the projections
upon the float rod engage with the cranks of the plates and n'. The plate n is
moved so that the liquid delivered to the trough N from the tank B is returned to
the tank. The plate n¹ is so moved that the contents of the tank B 1 are delivered
to tank B until the tank B1 is empty when its float operates and returns the
plate n' to its original position while at the same time moving the plate n2 to
deliver liquid from the tank B2 to the tank B 1. The same operations take place
throughout the series of tanks.
The float F3 in addition to the stop t which actuates the deflecting plate is
provided with additional stops t¹ t2 for operating a valve which controls the
supply of water or other liquid to the tank B3. See Figure 4. P is a butterfly
valve situated in the pipe G and has secured to it two wings B C fixed on the
spindle A, on which is mounted the free cranked lever D weighted at E. R is a
weighted lever to balance the valve P and the lever D. The rod R is operated by
the float and commences to move the valve when it reverses at the same time
moving the lever D by one of the valve wings. As soon as the lever D passes the
vertical, it suddenly falls and, coming into contact with the other wing of the valve,
completely opens or closes it.
The pumps employed with the apparatus may be of any suitable form or
construction and may be driven from the main pulley by means of a belt which
passes round the pump pulleys and a tension wheel X as shewn in Figure 6.
The travelling belt or table may be formed of suitable pieces or plates of metal
or other material joined or hinged together, or may consist of woven or other
permeable or perforated substance suitably driven by chain wheels or other well
known means. A suitable form of belt is shewn in Figure 5, the links in one row.
having their ends interposed between the links in the next row, the links in the two
rows being joined together by transverse pins or bolts. In order to secure lightness
the links may be additionally perforated.
At the end of the apparatus is situated a beater or drum V furnished with arms
or wings preferably four in number, for removing the scoured wool from the
table T. Two of the arms or wings are provided with leather or indiarubber tips
or points and the other two are provided with metallic teeth or points which to a
certain extent open or card the wool. W is a roller which feeds the wool to the
beater V.
The apparatus herein before described may be employed with slight modifications
for scouring or washing wool while still upon the skin.
The rollers E may be perforated and the liquid entering the rollers by the
perforations can escape through openings formed in the roller ends.
The tanks are provided with manholes U by means of which they may be cleaned
and any sediment removed.

page_text: 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 I
claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for scouring and degreasing wool, means or devices for
controlling the flow of the cleansing or similar liquids consisting of a trough N
containing a movable deflecting plate, constructed arranged and operated substan-
tially as and for the purpose herein before described and as illustrated by the-
accompanying drawings.
2. In an apparatus for scouring and degreasing wool, a water or other supply
valve constructed arranged and operated substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and as illustrated by Figure 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. Apparatus for scouring or degreasing wool, constructed arranged and operated
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 12th dev of December A D 1895