Improvements in and relating to Machines for Scouring and Washing Wool or other Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. .
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Scouring and
Washing Wool or other Fibrous Materials.
We JOHN PETRIE of Broomfield Rochdale in the County of Lancaster
Machinist and JOHN FIELDEN of 32 Sussex Street Rochdale aforesaid
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our improvements relate to machines for scouring and washing wool or other
fibrous materials, but our present improvements more particularly relate to certain
parts of such a machine as is described and claimed in our prior Specification
No. 18384 A.D. 1891, that is to such parts as the bars, plates or other equivalents
and certain other improvements at the delivery end of the machine and improved
construction, that is, the relative positions of the wash bowl and the liquor cistern
as hereinafter described.
We employ or substitute for the said bars &c. a series or number of troughs or
hollow rectangular receptacles having one of their ends open, their opposite ends
closed but such troughs throughout their lengths are provided with perforations
openings or apertures, the said troughs are balanced, situated and 'actuated, within
the washing bowl in the manner as described in the aforesaid Specification, that is,
having horizontal and vertical movements as therein described but being provided
with a series or number of perforations ensures the wool or material being
thoroughly or effectually showered upon during its. passage thro the flowing
stream consequently foreign matter or impurities may be removed therefrom and
deposited by such means.
According to the second part of our improvements we provide at the delivery
end of the machine, that is, at the part where and in place of the compensating
drum an arrangement or instrument capable of adjustment and provided with a
series of fine or needle points or a radially actuated comb operated by suitable
means acting upon the material so as to pass the same out at the delivery end in a
sheet or piece also in a "lofty" state or condition.
According to the third part of our improvements we construct or arrange the
upper or wash bowl with relation to the lower or liquor cistern so that practically
an equal or the same level of the liquor shall be maintained in the wash bowl and
the cistern respectively, that is we combine the bowl and the liquor cistern, and by
having a communication between the two by means of a suitable arrangement of
inclined surfaces or guide plates in proximity to the wash bowl for passing the
solid matters from one to the other we practically form the two vessels into onė,
yet each is adapted for its particular purpose or function, that is, in the former the
operation of scouring may be effected, in the latter the solid matters may be
deposited and collected. The arrangement of wash bowl and liquor cistern as
herein described may be employed in cases where the flowing stream is not used in
the wash bowl. By this arrangement of bowl and cistern as indicated we are
enabled to effect economy in construction and facilitate greatly the manipulation of
the machine and supervision of the work when in use.

page_text: According to our present construction and in accordance with the construction
as herein explained we arrange the wash bowl within and lengthwise of the liquor
cistern, a communication being effected between the two by means of a suitable
opening or openings, the said wash bowl being provided with perforated bottom
plates and an incline plane or planes or guide plate or plates being interposed
between the perforated bottom plates and bottom of liquor cistern upon which the
solids from the wash bowl are allowed to fall and thus pass into the lower or liquor
cistern.
It will be obvious from the improvements herein indicated that the alternately
horizontally and vertically actuated troughs or receptacles will when raised or
lifted, lift a body of liquid and by means of and thro. the perforations showers
or sprays will pass by gravitation on to the material thus effectually percolating
thro the fibre of the material and by this means to effectually cleanse or free the
said material from foreign matters or substances.
By the application of the radial acting instrument or comb the material may be
passed out at the delivery end obviating entanglement of its fibres and by virtue
and as a consequence of the relative positions of the wash bowl and the liquor
cistern as before explained we are enabled to pass or inject a flowing stream of
liquor through a body of liquid in which the material is immersed consequently the
material under such conditions may always be immersed in a large volume or
supply of liquor which circumstance will evidently aid in the thorough cleansing of
the material under treatment also by means of our improved construction as
indicated the removal of the solids or deposits is facilitated as the means for such
purpose are simplified.
Dated this 25th day of May 1804
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Scouring and
Washing Wool or other Fibrous Materials.
We JOHN PETRIE of Broomfield Rochdale in the County of Lancaster
Machinist and JOHN. FIELDEN of 32 Sussex Street Rochdale aforesaid
Mechanical Engineer 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 :-
Our improvements relate to machines for scouring and washing wool or other
fibrous materials, but our present improvements more particularly relate to certain
parts of such a machine described and claimed in our prior Specification No. 18384,
A.D. 1891, that is, such parts as the bars, plates or other equivalents and certain
other improvements at the delivery end of the machine, also the improved con-
struction or arrangement, that is, the relative positions of the wash bowl and the
liquor cistern as will be hereinafter and more particularly described.
We employ or substitute for the said bars or plates a series or number of troughs
or receptacles of rectangular or other suitable form having one of their ends open,
their opposite ends closed, but such troughs throughout their lengths are provided
with perforations, openings, or apertures, the said troughs are balanced, situated,
and actuated within the bowl in the manner described in the aforesaid Specification
that is, having horizontal and vertical movements as therein set forth, but being
provided with a series or number of perforations ensures the wool or material deait

page_text: with being thoroughly or effectually showered upon during its passage thro the
flowing stream, consequently foreign matter or other impurities may be removed
therefrom and deposited thereby.
According to the second part of our improvements we provide at the delivery
end of the machine, that is, at the part where and in place of the compensating
drum an arrangement or instrument capable of adjustment and provided with a
series of fine or needle points, or being a radially actuated and sensitive operating
comb operated by suitable means acting upon the material so as to pass the same
out at the delivery end in a sheet also in a "lofty" state or condition.
According to the third part of our improvements we construct or arrange the
upper or wash bowl relatively to the lower or liquor cistern so that practically an
equal or the same level of the liquor shall be maintained in the wash bowl and the
Cistern respectively being so arranged that one shall be placed within the other and
yet the two bowls are each adapted to serve their particular functions or offices,
that is, the operation of washing or scouring is carried on in the wash bowl and the
mud is collected in the liquor cistern but such is devised so that the mud or foreign
matter may be directed or conveyed to certain parts of the said cistern admitting
of easy access thereto for the purposes of removal. Another important feature is
that thro the body of liquor in the wash bowl a body or stream of water or liquor
may be and is passed or forced from end to end or lengthwise of the said wash
bowl.
In order that a clear understanding of this our invention may be had we have
hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings in which like letters of reference through-
out the figures therein shewn indicate like or similar parts.
Fig 1. is an elevation of the perforated trough.
Fig. 2. is an end sectional elevation shewing a series of troughs in working
position in the wash bowl arranged within the liquor cistern.
Fig. 3. is a longitudinal elevation of the wash bowl shewing the delivery end of
the machine and radially acting comb.
Fig. 4. is an end elevation of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5. is a sectional elevation shewing a combination of wash bowl and liquor
cistern the wash bowl being centrally situated such arrangement shewing two or
double liquor cisterns.
Fig. 6. is a sectional view of wash bowl in combination with a single liquor
cistern.
Fig. 7. is an elevation of a washing and scouring machine to which our improve-
ments relate.
According to our construction and arrangement we employ troughs or receptacles
of rectangular or other suitable form a, suitably hung or depended from carriers b,
by means of chains c, which we provide in suitable series two troughs being so
depended as to balance each other as shewn in Fig. 2 and actuated by suitable means
as set forth in Specification No. 18384 A.D. 1891, but which troughs in the present
case are provided with perforations so that when lifting a body of water or liquor
from the wash bowl and when elevated above the liquid level causes a shower or
spray thro the perforations ensuring effective percolation thro the fibres of the.
material undergoing the washing or scouring process and situate immediately under
the said troughs whereby foreign matter may be removed therefrom or the material
effectively cleansed.
We employ at the delivery end of the machine or wash bowl which part we
arrange or adapt of suitable form as at d, see Fig. 3, in conjunction with which
we employ a radially actuated comb or an auxiliary or assisting instrument e,
which we cause to be actuated by suitable mechanism whereby the comb may:
be periodically lifted entirely out of the liquor and produce or accomplish a
sensitive or delicate application or contact with the material sufficiently so as to
assist the same over the bridge, ridge or elevation f, so that the same may
float or flow forward to the nip of the squeezing rollers g, g, but yet its fibres
being loose or the material is in a "lofty" condition thus obviating matting or

page_text: clotting together of the fibres, which movements or action of the comb is con-
trolled or effected by means of a rotary actuated lever h, working in the slotted
portion i, of the arm or lever j and actuated about a fixed point or fulcrum as at k.
We arrange the wash bowl 1, relatively to the liquor cistern m, so that that the
former shall be within the latter as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6.
The wash bowl 1, being within the outer or liquor cistern m the former being
provided with a perforated bottom plate n, the same level of liquor is manifestly
maintained in both vessels forming one body or volume of liquid or liquor in which
the material is submerged or immersed and thro which body of liquid located in
the wash bowl a stream of scouring liquor or water may be and is. injected by
suitable means-thro-or-from-the-pipe-o-yet-the-two vessels are adapted-to perform
-each a separate office the former to act-as-a wash bowl, the latter to receive the
deposits of foreign matter removed from the material which foreign matter we cause
to be directed or carried towards the front part or side p, of the liquor cistern which
we effect by means of an inclined surface or guide plate r, from which part the
removal of the deposit or sediment may be facilitated by means of a suitable
outlet or outlets provided as at s or the deposits may gravitate to the bottom of the
liquor cistern when guide plates are not employed which may be the case, but we
prefer the use of plates or inclined surfaces for the carrying out of our invention
thus according to our arrangement of wash bowl and liquor cistern as herein
described we claim the following advantages, firstly that the supervision of the
scouring by the workman is facilitated, secondly, the material is submerged and
subjected to the influence of a large volume of the washing media, that is,-the
injected stream confined within the limits of the wash bowl and the liquor in
which it is constantly immersed and thirdly the sediment or deposits are easily
removeable without disturbing, the perforated plates thus the state or condition of
the scour may be frequently freed or divested of objectionable matter and thus
practically may be maintained in a clean state, and again the residuum is not allowed
to pass away into the drains or waste outlets and thus pollution of streams is or may
be obviated.
The illustration shewn in Fig. 5 is a modification of the arrgt. in Fig. 6. Fig. 5
represents a system in which two inclined guide plates or surfaces are employed
thus constituting in contradistinction to the arrangement shewn in Fig. 6 a double
liquor cistern or forming two liquor cisterns one being provided on each side of the
wash bowl.
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
1. In a machine for washing and scouring wool or other fibrous materials the
hollow troughs a, of rectangular or other suitable form balanced, actuated and
arranged as and for the purposes herein fully set forth and described in the drawings
hereunto annexed.
2. In combination one or more pairs of or series of balanced and alternately
vertically actuated or lifting troughs a, with a wash bowl whereby the
material may be subjected at each lift or elevation of the troughs above the liquid
level to a shower or douche of scouring. liquor and thereby ensuring a thorough or
effective percolation of the liquor thro the fibres of the material as herein fully set
forth.
3. In combination the wash bowl l, with or without the guide plate or plates
and the liquor cistern m, in which arrangement the perforated bottom plate n is
immersed within the liquor cistern and whereby the deposits or matter removed
from the material during the washing and scouring process is free or allowed to
from the wash bowl on to the guide plate or plates and conveyed to a convenient
part of the liquor cistern or may fall or gravitate therein thereby facilitating and
limiting the removal and the deposit thereof in and to one vessel-the liquor
pass

page_text: cistern-thus obviating any interference with the perforated bottom plate of the
wash bowl during the removal of the deposits or mud as herein fully set forth.
4. In combination the guide plate or plates r, and the perforated bottom plate n,
of the wash bowl as and for the purposes herein fully set forth and described.
5. The guide plate or plates r. as and for the purpose herein fully set forth.
Dated this 12th day of suust 1801
JOHN PETRIE.
JOHN FIELDEN.
J. H. Butterworth,
Rochdale, for the Applicants.
JOHN
PETRIE.
JOHN FIELDEN.
J. H. Butterworth,
Rochdale, for the Applicants.