Washing Wool and other Fibres.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1887
Complete Left, 19th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
Washing Wool and other Fibres.
We, WILLIAM AMBLER, Patent Agent, and WILLIAM OWEN BLACKBURN, Chartered
Accountant, both of Bradford, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to an improved construction and arrangement of
machinery for washing wool and other fibres, the improvements being applicable to
that class of such machinery in which the washing is effected in a circulating
current of water by which the material is floated along from the feeding to the
delivering end of the tank and in which it is in the course of such transit subjected to
various cleaning operations.
The improved apparatus is constructed with a suitable tank for containing the
washing fluid; the opposite ends thereof being adapted with feeding and delivering
aprons in a usual manner, the delivering end being also adapted with an arrangement
of wringing rollers. The tank is constructed with a diagonal partition which slopes
downwardly from the feeding end towards the delivery end, and above such partition
there are adapted receptacles for the sand and refuse which is washed or removed
from the wool under treatment, and which are enclosed by grated tops which prevent
the sediment being stirred up by the circulating water. The partition terminates
towards the delivering end of the tank at the lower part thereof, and rearwardly from
this point the space below the partition is divided by a grating or filtering sieve
situated a suitable distance above the bottom of the tank, and into which space the
dirty water which has traversed the tank enters on its return traverse from the
delivering end, the grosser impurities it contains being deposited therefrom on and
along the bottom of the tank, and the water being further purified or filtered by
the said grating or filtering sieve through which it is drawn in an upward direction
by a pump or other equivalent means which draws off the clearest water from the top
part of the said space under the feeding end of the said partition and reintroduces it
into the tank at the feeding end thereof above the partition. This operation is
continuous, and the wool is carried along by the movement thus given to the water.

page_text: Above one of the said top gratings, there is fitted so as to be partly immersed in the
washing fluid, a revolving washing drum the periphery of which is constructed of wire
gauze and is adapted with projecting ribs or parts, and is so adapted internally as to
lead the water, which in its rotation percolates through its circumference and
causes the fibres for the time to adhere thereto and to be impelled forwards in the
tank and simultaneously cleansed,- towards its centre which is hollowed or tubular
and leads or returns the water directly to the said space below the bottom grating
where its impurities are deposited.
The wool thus receives a preliminary cleansing and the water in which it is thus
treated at the time deposits the major portion of the impurities in suspension therein.
After such preliminary treatment the wool is carried along by the circulating current
of water to a travelling endless wire belt or apron by which it is raised from and
above the liquid in the tank and is delivered between an arrangement of squeezing
rolls by which the principal portion of its remaining impurities is squeezed out,
and can be suitably led away so as not to enter the tank after which its fibre is
opened up by a rotating fan, prior to a re-immersion in the tank into which it falls
from such fan, and upon which it is carried forward by the current of water and
again acted upon by a rotating drum washer or by a series of such washers acting
substantially in the manner herein before described, and effecting a further cleansing
thereof, the sediment from this operation being also deposited and separated in the
manner hereinbefore described, and after which treatment the wool is again carried
forward by the current of water from which it is elevated as aforesaid to the usual
squeezing rollers at the delivering end of the tank.
The receptacles into which the said refuse is deposited may be formed with suitable
openings closed by suitable valves or doors and through which the sediment may be
removed.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: An Improved Construction and Arrangement of Machinery for
Washing Wool and other Fibres.
We, WILLIAM AMBLER, Patent Agent, and WILLIAM OWEN BLACKBURN, Chartered
Accountant, both of Bradford, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of
our said 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 has reference to an improved construction and arrangement of
machinery for washing wool and other fibres, the improvements being applicable to
that class of such machinery in which the washing is effected in a circulating current
of water by which the material is floated along from the feeding to the delivering end
of the tank and in which it is in the course of such transit subjected to various
cleansing operations.
The improved apparatus is illustrated in longitudinal sectional elevation on the
accompanying drawing and is constructed with a suitable tank, 1, for containing the
washing fluid, the opposite ends thereof being adapted with feeding and delivering
aprons, 2, 3, in a usual manner, the delivering end being also adapted with an arrange-
ment of wringing rollers, 4. The tank is constructed with a diagonal partition, 5,
which slopes downwardly from the feeding ends towards the delivering end, and above
such partition receptacles, 6, for the sand and refuse which is washed or removed
from the wool under treatment are formed being enclosed by perforated or grated
tops, 7, which permit of the sand and sediment passing into the receptacles but
prevent it from being stirred up by the circulating water. The partition, 5, terminates
towards the delivering end of the tank at the lower part thereof, and rearwardly from
this point the space, 8, below the partition is divided by a grating or filtering sieve, 9,
situated a suitable distance above the bottom of the tank, the sieve being also
continued in the tank forwardly of the said point and upwardly at the forward end
thereof as represented; and into the lower space, 10, thus formed the dirty water which
has traversed the tank enters on its return traverse from the delivering end, the
grosser impurities it contains being deposited therefrom on and along the bottom of
the tank, and the water being further purified or filtered by the said grating or
filtering sieve, 9, through which it is drawn in an upward direction by a pump or
other equivalent means, 11, which draws off the clearest water from the top part
of the said space, 8, 10, from under the feeding end of the partition, 5, and reintro-
duces it into the tank at the feeding end thereof above the partition. This operation
is continuous, and the wool is carried along by the movement thus given to the
water.
Above the first of the said top gratings, 7, there is fitted so as to be partly immersed
in the washing fluid, a revolving washing drum, 12, the periphery of which is con-
structed of wire gauze and is adapted with projecting ribs or parts, 13, and is so
adapted internally with curved vanes, 14, or equivalent means, as to lead the water,-
which in its rotation percolates through its circumference and causes the fibres for the

page_text: time to adhere thereto and to be impelled forwards in the tank and simultaneously
cleansed, towards its centre, 15, which is of a tubular or hollow formation and leads
or returns the water by communicating ducts or channels, 16, directly to the said
space, 10, below the bottom grating, 9, where its impurities are deposited.
The wool thus receives a preliminary cleansing and the water in which it is thus
treated at the time deposits the major portion of the impurities in suspension therein.
After such preliminary treatment, the wool is carried along by the circulating current
of water to a travelling endless wire belt or apron, 17, by which it is raised from
and above the liquid in the tank and is delivered between an arrangement of squeezing
rolls, 18, by which the principal portion of its remaining impurities is squeezed out,
and can be suitably led away so as not to enter the tank or may be also deposited on
the bottom of the tank being led thereto by ducts or channels, 19, from a receiving
trough, 20, after which the fibre of the wool is opened by a rotating fan, 21, prior to
a re-immersion thereof in the tank into which the wool falls from the fan, and is then
carried forward by the current of water and again acted upon by a rotating drum
washer, 12*, or by a series of such drum washers, constructed and operating sub-
stantially in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to the drum washer, 12,
and effecting a further cleansing of the wool, the sediment from this operation being
also deposited at the bottom of the tank in the manner hereinbefore described; after
which treatment the wool is again carried forward by the current of water, from
which it is elevated by the apron, 3, as aforesaid to the usual squeezing rollers, 4, at
the delivering end of the tank.
The receptacles, 6, 10, into which the said refuse is deposited, may be formed with
suitable openings, 22, closed by suitable valves or doors, 23, and through which the
sediment may be removed.
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. The hereinbefore described improved construction and arrangement of machinery
for washing wool and other fibres.
2. The construction of the tank with the diagonal partition or false bottom, 5, in
combination with the receptacles, 6, enclosed by grated tops, 7, substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described.
3. The construction of the tank with the diagonal partition or false bottom, 5,
adapted or provided with the receptacles, 6, enclosed by grater tops, 7, in combination
with the grates or sieve bottom, 9, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
4. The application and use of revolving drum washers, 12, 12×, partly immersed in
the water, and internally constructed and adapted in such a manner substantially as
herein before described as to lift the water which percolates through the circumference
thereof and to lead it by communicating ducts or channels to the bottom of the tank,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
5. The application and use in combination with such revolving drum-washers of the
endless band or bands, 17, and rolls, 18, adapted as hereinbefore described and of
the fan, 21, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Dated this 16th day of March 1888
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicants.