CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANING, DYEING, AND DRYING MACHINES, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN SUGAR, SOAP, METAL, AND COLOR MANUFACTURING
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
ALLIOTT, of Lenton Works, Nottingham, Engineer, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Third day of February
(One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one), in the fourteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alexander Alliott, my exors, adññors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege, and authority, that I, the said Alexander Alliott,
my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Alliott,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANING, DYEING, AND DRYING MACHINES, AND IN MACHINERY
TO BE USED IN SUGAR, SOAP, METAL, AND COLOR MANUFACTURING;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Alexander Alliott, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery, within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said

page_text: Alexander Alliott, hereby declare that the nature of the said improvements
and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Firstly, my Invention, in so far as it relates to dyeing machines, has reference
to those of the centrifugal class, and consists in making such additions to and
modifications in the same, that yarns can be dyed therein of different colors in
separate and distinct divisions, without having recourse to the usual practice
of knotting for the purpose, or, in other words, so that any determinate length
of the yarn may be dyed of one colour only, another length of a second
colour, and so on, and without there being the least intermixture of any one
of the colours with the others, or any of them.
Secondly, my Invention has relation to centrifugal cleaning and drying
machines, and consists in certain improvements in the construction of the
cylinders thereof, whereby the labour of emptying and working the same from
time to time is much diminished, and the escape of the liquid so much facili-
tated that the difficulty hitherto experienced in the application of these
machines to heavy and sticky substances, as some classes of sugars, colours,
pigments, &c., is greatly diminished.
66
Thirdly, my Invention, in so far as it relates to the manufacture of sugar,
has also reference to the machine for moulding sugar into loaves, called the
forming machine," which was the subject of Letters Patent, granted to
Richard Archibald Brooman, of date the Sixteenth August, One thousand
eight hundred and forty-nine, and consists in certain new and improved ar-
rangements of the parts of the same, whereby the liquid is driven from the
loaves laterally as well as longitudinally, that is, sideways as well as endwise.
Fourthly, my Invention, in its relation to the manufacture of soap, consists
in subjecting the fatty and alkaline materials whilst boiling to the action of
centrifugal force in a machine suitably constructed for the purpose, whereby
their intermixture is accelerated and a great saving of both time and cost in
the process of saponification effected.
Fifthly, my Invention, in so far as it relates to the manufacture of metals,
consists in an adaptation of centrifugal force to the separating, dividing, and
mixing of the same while in a fluid state. The manner in which these
different branches of my Invention are respectively carried into effect, is
represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed, and in the following description
thereof.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved dyeing machine before-
mentioned; and Figure 2 a plan of the same partly in section. A is a pan

page_text: which forms the framework of the machine, and also answers for catching the
liquids used; B is a perforated cylinder (with interiorly projecting rings b, b,)
which turus on the spindle 6', in bearings at top and bottom, and has upright
wires b², for the purpose of preventing the spreading of the liquid soldered
inside. The interior of the cylinder is further covered with wire gauze b³; b*, is
a dome which forms the centre of the cylinder; 6, 6, are boxes perforated at
the ends, which are fastened to a cylindrical ring 66, fitting loosely and turning
round the dome 6, and formn the channels for delivering the colouring liquids;
67 is an inverted tun dish, which is fastened round the top of the ring bo, and
has openings into the boxes; 65, 68, are covers, open at both ends, which fit
loosely over the boxes 65; the space c is occupied by the yarn to be operated
upon; D is a pipe for conveying the liquid into some receptacle, to be used
over again.
The method of working the machine is as follows:-The yarns are placed
round the cylinder in the space c, the boxes 6 are moved up to the yarn, and
the machine set in motion. When it attains a suitable speed the liquid with
which it is desired to operate upon the yarn is poured into the tun dish b³, and
is by the centrifugal tendency imparted to it forced through the channels 65,
and that part of the yarn which comes opposite the end of the perforated
boxes 6, the other parts of the yarn remaining untouched; the liquid being
pumped up and made to pass through the yarn as often as desired. When
sufficient liquid has been passed through to produce the desired effect on the
yarn, the machine is kept in motion until the yarn is partly dry, when the
boxes b³ can be turned round on the dome 6, to act on a different part of the
yarn either with the same on any other coloring matter.
Thus yarns may by
moving the boxes and working as before described, be dyed as shown in plan,
Figure 2. By perforating the ends of the boxes 65 with more holes in the
centre of the ends than at the sides, a shaded effect may be imparted to the
yarns.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of part of my improvements in centrifugal
cleaning and drying machines. A is a cylinder fastened on the spindle B
(driven from below); the periphery of this cylinder may be made of sheet
metal or of frame work; but if of sheet metal, suitable arrangements, namely,
perforations or other suitable openings, must be made to carry off the liquid.
a¹ is a flange projecting upwards; D is an inner case or cylinder, which fits
loosely in the cylinder A, and is constructed of wire work or other
suitable reticulate material, and has rings d¹ projecting inwards at top and
bottom. This cylinder may be made very light, as it will have only to bear
its own weight with the weight of the material operated upon, the force im-

page_text: parted to it in work being resisted by the cylinder A. The advantage of this
improvement consists in the ease with which the cylinder D can be lifted out
and emptied when used for operating upon substances of a cohesive nature..
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a further part of this branch of my
improvements. In Figure 5 is a plan. A is the pan as before, but con-
structed so as to enable a vessel to be brought under it, having also an opening
a for carrying off the materials after being operated on in the machine; B is
the cylinder, the improvement in which has relation to the bottom openings
b', 6', and consists in a method adopted of preventing the escape of the
materials through these openings, without the necessity of having recourse to
water-tight joints. For this purpose a flange 62, fitting loosely on the dome
of the cylinder is used and a couple of spring bolts 63 for preventing this
flange rising, or lids b* fitting in recesses 65 on the dome may be used, as
shown separately in Figure 6. The advantage of this improvement consists
in the ease with which the material operated upon can be introduced, and
removed from the machine, no time being lost in making any joint to secure
the opening. In the machines represented in Figures 3 and 4 the materials
are poured into the cylinder whilst revolving, and are immediately thrown by
centrifugal force over the flange or the lids on to the internal periphery of the
cylinder, and when sufficiently clean and dried the loose flange or loose lids
are removed. The opening in the cylinder is then brought opposite the
opening in the pan, and the materials are discharged through the opening in
the cylinder and the opening in the pan into a vessel or otherwise, as desired.
When used for washing substances, such as corn or other materials requiring
washing, the lids 6' are the most convenient, and a perforated dome should be
employed in addition to the first dome, into which the water is introduced in
manner well known; crystallized and granular substances, and substances of a
naturally drainable nature, can be dried, and, when desirable, also can have
liquids passed through them in these machines.
Figure 7 shews an arrangement (in plan) for assisting the drying of sub-
stances in these machines. The Invention consists in making perforated
channels a, a, in the cylinder (shewn with the top removed), which project
inwards or towards the interior of the cylinder. This arrangement is found
advantageous in separating the liquid parts from such descriptions of substances
as starch, low sugars, pigments, and other materials which have a tendency to
force the liquid inward when operated on in these machines.
My improvements in the machine for moulding sugar into loaves, called the
forming machine, are represented in Figure 8 (a vertical section). A is the outer
case or framework of the machine; B, the cylinder; C, C, two of the forms,"

page_text: of which the number in the circle arranged around the spindle D will be more
or less according to the size of the machine; the forms are fitted into
bearings in the cylinder, so that they may each revolve upon its own axis.
F, F, are the outer bearings, which are fixed upon the side of the cylinder B,
the inner bearings are formed in a ring G, which is attached to the cone of
the cylinder by the joints H, H; I, I, are pulleys fixed to the neck of each
form;
K is a ring, covered with leather on the under side, which occupies a
position immediately over the whole set of pulleys I, I, and upon which it can
be made to bear more or less, as required, by means of screws or springs
attached to the top of the casing. The lids a, a, have suitable perforations,
and are fastened by catches c, c. When the sugar is set in the forms and a
syrup or other liquid is to be passed through the loaves for the purpose of
purifying the same, then the cylinder being in motion the ring K is caused to
bear upon the pulleys I, I, by which the forms are made to revolve in their
bearings F and G, so that while the centrifugal action of the cylinder is
causing the syrup to pass longitudinally or endwise, the revolution of the
forms upon their own axes causes also a dispersion of the fluid outward
towards the sides of the loaves. In some cases the forms are put each sepa-
rately into a machine, of the description represented in section in Figure 9,
and there subjected to the lateral dispersing process. A is a pan, which
carries at top a cross head or bearing B, which is supported by the pillars
C, C; D is a cylindrical case or frame, which is connected to a second cross
Lead De by pillars B2, B3, and revolves upon top and bottom bearings at E
and F; G is one of the sugar loaf forms; and H, a pulley, which is keyed
to the cylindrical case D. When the form has been put into its place, as repre-
sented in the Drawing, a quick rotary motion is communicated to the machine
through the pulley H, when the centrifugal tendency imparted to the syrup
causes it to be driven to the sides of the moulds, when it is discharged through
the perforated lid into the channel I, I, formed in the top of the pan A. The
mould or form may have perforations in it (but small enough to prevent the
escape of the crystals of sugar) to facilitate the discharge of the liquid.
The improvements in the manufacture of soap are embodied in the appara-
tus, a section of which is given in Figure 10. A, A, is the boiling pan; B is
a centrifugal pump, the lower end of which reaches below a false bottom a',
and is fixed on the spindle 6', which has its bearings 62, 63, at the top and
bottom of the pan. The top bearing & has a stuffing box *, through which
the spindle & passes; the false bottom a¹ rests on a flange a in the pan, and
has a pipe a fastened on it, fitting loosely over the lower part of the pump,
the false bottom has an opening in the centre, of the same size as the pipe a³,

page_text: and is perforated beyond the flange of the pipe a³, for the return of the liquid
into the bottom. D is a pipe for connecting the pan with an air pump, when
it is desired to draw off the air and gases that may be formed in boiling.
The action of the apparatus will be as follows:-The materials being placed
in the pan, and heat applied to it, the pump is made to revolve by turning the
pulley 5, when the liquid will be drawn from the bottom part, by means of
which a thorough mixing of the material will take place, thus assisting the
saponification of the fatty matters. When it is desired to treat the mass with
sulphites, the pump must be raised a little above the level of the mass, and
sulphurous gas introduced above.
My improvements in relation to the manufacture of metals consist, as before
stated, in an adaptation of centrifugal force to the separating, dividing, and
mixing of the same while in a fluid state. Figure 11 is a vertical section of
a machine suitable for this purpose. A is the outer casing; B is a centri-
fugal cylinder or machine, fixed upon the upright spindle C; D is one of the
bearings for the spindle C, the lower end of which is stepped in another bear-
ing, not shewn in the Drawing. The inner surface of the cylinder B is
covered with a lining a, a, of fire lumps or other suitable material, being a
bad conductor of heat; b, b, are two of a series of slots made in the periphery
of the cylinder at the point of its largest diameter; E and F are two funnels
or supply pipes. The outer and larger one E is fixed to the top of the casing A,
and its lower end terminates within an opening formed in the cover of the cen-
trifugal cylinder, but is not connected to it. The smaller funnel F is supported by
the larger one, and occupies a central position in relation to it. When any two
or more metals are to be mixed by the aid of this machine they are poured in
a molten state into the funnels E and F in the proper proportions in which it
is desired to mix them, taking care that the cylinder is in motion while the
pouring in of the metals is taking place. The centrifugal action causes the
metals to be projected through the holes or slots b, b, and thereby an intimate
mixing of the metals to take place; by the same action metals may also be
divided into minute particles; the speed of the machine and the size of the
slots regulating the fineness of the division. G is a pipe which is fixed
round the interior of the casing, and is perforated with numerous holes upon
the under side, so that water or other liquid, or steam or gas may be showered
upon the metal while it is being dispersed by the machine; or the steam or
gases may be introduced into the casing A through the pipe H. By this
means sulphurous or other gases may be made to act quickly upon the metals
operated on.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, I declare that the improvements which
I claim as embraced under it are as follows:-
First, I claim in reference to dyeing machines of the centrifugal class the
arrangements before described, whereby yarns may be dyed therein of dif-
ferent colours in separate and distinct divisions.
Second, I claim in reference to centrifugal cleaning and drying machinery
the employment of the inner case D, the flange 6, the lids &, and the per-
forated channels a, a, in the mode or manner respectively represented in
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, and before described.
Third, I claim in reference to the manufacture of sugar the improvements
before described in the "forming machine," patented by Richard Archibald
Brooman, whereby the liquid matters are expelled from the loaves sideways as
well as endways; and also the separate machine for the same purpose repre-
sented in Figure 9, and before described.
Fourth, I claim in reference to the manufacture of soap the employment of
the machine represented in Figure 10, and before described.
And, fifth, I claim in reference to the manufacture of metals the adaptation
of centrifugal action to separating, dividing, and mixing the same while in a
fluid state, by means of the machine represented in Figure 11, and before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Alliott, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of August, One thousand eight hundred
Enrolled the Second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.