IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING WOOL, COTTON, FLAX, OR OTHER LIKE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Dan Dawson, of Milnsbridge, near Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR DRYING WOOL, COTTON, FLAX, OR OTHER LIKE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Dan Dawson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th February 1881.
DAN DAWSON, of Milnsbridge, near Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING WOOL, COTTON, FLAX,
OR OTHER LIKE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
My improvements consist in the employment of a cylindrical cage, which rests
upon and is caused to revolve by frictional contact with revolving pullies. Within
the cylindrical cage is placed stationary projections, and a fan is placed at about
the centre thereof, but caused to revolve independently of the cage.
The wool or other fibre is placed within the cage, and is carried around therein
and thrown about and beaten by the fan, by which means the fibre is opened and
thoroughly dried. In order to carry the wool backward and forward within the
cage so as to alter its position, and also in order to get it towards the door so that
it may be readily removed, the fan is arranged so that its axis can be lowered at
one end, and this is accomplished by means of screws or other means. The whole
of the apparatus is placed within a room heated by steam pipes or other suitable
means.
This construction of apparatus is particularly applicable for thoroughly exposing
the fibre to the action of air, which is sometimes necessary for purposes of
oxidation in processes of dyeing; also in exposing the fibre to action of gases or
vapour, as in the case of destroying cotton with hydrochloric acid gas in substances
composed of woollen and cotton.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Dan Dawson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th August
1881.
DAN DAWSON, of Milnsbridge, near Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING WOOL, COTTON, FLAX,
OR OTHER LIKE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
My improvements consist in the employment of a cylindrical cage, which rests
upon and is caused to revolve by frictional contact with revolving pullies.
Within the cylindrical cage is placed stationary projections, and a fan is placed
at about the centre thereof, but caused to revolve independently of the cage. The
wool or other fibre is placed within the cage, and is carried around therein and
thrown about and beaten by the fan, by which means the fibre is opened and.
thoroughly dried.
In order that the improvements may be more fully understood I herein give
reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is elevation of
apparatus constructed according to my Invention, and Fig. is cross section of
same. A is the cylindrical cage composed of bars of metal secured at each end by
flanges B and C, and supported by other rings or flanges D and E. The cage
rests upon driving pullies F and G, by which the said cage is caused to revolve at
any required speed, the flanges D serving as rails.
The pullies F are driven from pinion shaft H which is driven by pulley I from
any convenient source, the other pullies G being driven by frictional contact with
the cage. Within the cage is placed a fan J, receiving its motion by pulley and
cord K from the pinion shaft H. There is also placed within the cage projections
or stop pieces L for lifting the wool so as to allow it to fall on the fan J revolving
in the centre of the cage; by this means the rolling of the wool is prevented.
The wool is placed into the cage through an opening in the right hand end, and M
is a door for closing the opening. It will thus be seen that when the material is
placed into the cage and caused to revolve along with the fan that the wool will
be carried around and thrown about therein, the stop pieces L gathering the wool
in masses, so that when it arrives at the top position the mass of wool is released
and falls upon the said fan and distributed into various parts of the cage.
The whole of the apparatus is placed within a room heated by steam pipes or
other suitable means. In some cases a series of pipes may be fixed on the wings
of the fan, and supplied with steam through the shaft of the fan which is made
hollow for the purpose, the condensed steam being made to pass out through a
stuffing box placed at the other end of the said shaft. This construction of
apparatus is particularly applicable for thoroughly exposing the fibre to the action
of air, which is sometimes necessary for purposes of oxidation in processes of
dyeing; also in exposing the fibre to action of gases or vapour, as in the case
of destroying cotton with hydrochloric acid gas in substances composed of woollen
and cotton.
Having thus described the nature and object of this my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein shewn and described, as the same may be varied without essentially
departing from my Invention, but what I believe to be new and therefore claim
is,—
Firstly. The use and employment of a revolving cage with inward projections or
stop pieces for drying wool and other fibre, substantially as shewn and described.

page_text: Secondly. The combined use of cage A and fan J, for the purpose substantially
as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Dan Dawson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
DAN DAWSON. (L.S.)