A LIFTING RAKE FOR MACHINES FOR WASHING WOOL AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS
Year: 1886

page_text: simular materia18.
We, ALEXANDRE DELETOMBE, of Tourcoing, France, Machinist, and AMÉDÉE
PROUVOST, of Roubaix, France, Wool Comber do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for A LIFTING RAKE FOR MACHINES FOR WASHING WOOL AND OTHER
SIMILAR MATERIALS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of our invention is to obtain a parallel carrying movement for the
wool to be treated; the latter being by this process subjected to the action of the
bath according to a section normal to the direction of the movement, so that
the smallest textile fibres are more thoroughly treated.
Hitherto the mechanical processes in use have consisted of the application of
curvilinear movements which have conveyed the wool through the bath according
to the thickness of the mass being treated and according to its widest section.
These processes have caused by their frequency, a disturbance in the liquid mass,
and by twining and twisting the wool, have inevitably made considerable waste.
The material treated has been carried through the bath by means of a dipping
drum, of successive advancing rakes moving circularly, and of another rake, the
wool being passed from one appliance in the bath to another. The above arrange-
ments, whilst being very ingenious, could not, for the above mentioned reasons
secure a rectilinear movement of the material such as we obtain by the present
invention.
In such machines the wool passes successively from one trough to another. The.
wool is moved from one end of the trough to the other by: a dipping or plunging
drum; successive advancing rakes with circular movements, and finally by a lifter
which carries the wool on to the feeding cloth of the wringing; press placed imme-
diately after the vat. The construction of these apparatuses varies, the wool being
passed from one to another of them to effect its passage through the length of the
bath. Now although this is an ingenious arrangement, it nevertheless fatigues,
felts, and twists the wool in consequence of the disturbance caused by the rakes

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which are continually going in and out of the bath, describing curves in so doing,
whereas the movement ought to be rectilinear.
The present invention is intended to remedy this state of things. The results.
obtained are as follows:
A better scouring, since the forks, having a rectilinear movement, the changing
of the surfaces in contact is more considerable.
A more satisfactory general result, since the wool can neither be fatigued, nor
twisted, for each of the forks of an apparatus carries the wool which it takes up at
the entrance of the bath, in a continuous manner through the whole length of the
bath without leaving hold or making the water troubled; after which the forks
rise and deposit the wool upon the feeding cloth of the wringing press, and then
return to recommence work as before.
The wool washed has also a finer appearance as the staple of the wool remains
intact and flocky, whilst the mechanical arrangements are simplified, the numerous
appliances generally used in a bath being replaced by one only which dips, carries,
and raises the wool.
The following description of the various parts of our apparatus will make the
mechanical means by which we attain our object more clearly understood.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet 1 is a side elevation of our
apparatus, and Fig. 2 Sheet 2 an end view of the same. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts.
The forks A A A¹ are of the same kind as those of the circular rake at present
in use.
Their axes turn loosely in supports B fixed to the 2 parallel endless
chains C. These chains C consisting of strong links pass over two pairs of
wheels D D¹ mounted on the parallel shafts E E. The circumferences of these
wheels D D¹ are polygon shaped, the faces corresponding with the length of the
links of the chains. They are also furnished with the same number of teeth as of
faces, such teeth gearing with others inside the links so that an absolutely regular
movement may be obtained. The shaft E which works the apparatus receive its
rotary movement from the wringing press connected with the vat by means of two
pulleys, a pinion and a wheel F mounted on a shaft E, fig. 2. The shafts E E'
rotate in journals mounted upon cross timber supports resting upon the vat, and
their distance may be regulated by means of adjusting screws so as to secure the
requisite tension of the chains. The rotary movement of the shaft E guarantees
the slow movement of the 2 chains exactly as if they were straps. On each axis
of the forks A is keyed a balance weight G which makes the forks assume a slightly
slanting position when at the upper part of the chain, they will thus the better
seize the wool as it enters the trough and plunge it into the water. There is also
.keyed upon each axis of the forks, opposite to the balance weight G, a cam H,
which meeting the roller I, causes the lifting movement intended to place the wool
upon the feeding cloth of the press.
The balance weights G and the cams H have at the lower part of their sleeves, a
flat part which slides over two parallel fixed ways J J¹ so as to prevent the forks
from remaining behind, and even to keep them vertical until they are to be raised.
These. ways therefore support the lower parts of the chains as also the forks upon
them so that the movement of the forks across the vat is absolutely rectilinear.
The wool is consequently seized and plunged by each fork successively, on its
⚫entering the vat and it is carried through to the other end of the vat, after which
it is lifted up and placed upon the endless cloth of the wringing press. The roller k
⚫ situated behind, and against which each cam H successively strikes, prevents the
-forks from assuming too slanting a position, so that their points may not come in
contact with the feeding cloth L or the edge of the vat. The roller M prevents
the forks A from remaining behind when they have plunged the wool, and helps
to guide them into the ways J J. The two rollers k, M, might be replaced by a
fixed guide against which the cams H would slide. N is an imaginary line showing
the course followed by the extremities of the teeth of the forks.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. The foregoing system applicable to washing troughs for wool or other textile
materials, and consisting in seizing, carrying and raising the wool by a single
apparatus.
2 Any modification of the various principles constituting our invention.