Improvements in Machines for Drying and Purifying Wool.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Drying and Purifying Wool.
I, MICHAEL HARDING, of the Town of Simcoe, in the County of Norfolk, in
the Province of Ontario, Canada, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in machines for drying wool and removing
the vegetable matter therefrom and the object of the invention is to design an
economical machine for this purpose, which will expeditiously, effectually and
thoroughly dry and remove the vegetable matter from the wool and it consists
essentially of a rectangular casing or receptacle provided with a lining of steam
pipe forming one continuous passage-way for the steam, one end of the pipe
being provided with a suitable faucet and the steam being introduced through
a pipe running through one of the hollow journals upon which the casing is
supported, the opposite hollow journal being connected to a chamber, which is
designed to supply chlorine gas, the parts of the machine being otherwise constructed
and arranged in detail as hereinafter more particularly explained.
The drawing represents a perspective view of my apparatus showing portion of
the casing broken away and the chlorine gas receptacle and furnace therefor
partially in section.
A is the rectangular casing, which is supported on hollow journals B and B ia
the bearings C and C, which are supported on standards C C². c is a union
coupling at the end of the journal C, which connects with the elbow D leading
down into the gas chamber E. c is a union coupling connecting the end of the
journal B' with the end of the pipe F leading to the exhaust fan G, which is of any
suitable form and driven in any suitable manner.
H is a gear wheel secured on the journal B' and connected with driving gearing,
so as to rotate the casing A. The journals B B' will of course rotate freely within
the union couplings c and c¹ respectively.
I is a steam pipe provided with a suitable faucet i and coupling i. The pipe I
leads through the pipe F and hollow journal B¹ into the interior of the cylinder
where it is connected to one end of the pipe lining J, which extends in a
continuous length of coils around three sides of the casing A to a point outside one
side where the pipe J is provided with a suitable faucet J.
One of the sides of the casing A is preferably left free from pipe and is provided
with a door K, which is designed to provide for the insertion of the wool before
being treated and the removal of such wool after treatment.
L are a series of arms extending preferably through the central longitudinal
rib a on each side of the casing A into the interior of the casing. These arms L
are designed to agitate the wool as the casing is caused to revolve and prevent
it from becoming bunched, or in other words to render it fluffy and open, so that
the heat from the steam pipe will thoroughly permeate and dry it.
The gas chamber E is designed to receive chloride of lime, of sodium and
sulphuric acid, which when heated by means of a fire grate on the grate bars M
produces chlorine gas, which is introduced into the casing as hereinafter explained.
The chamber E is formed preferably in three parts E¹ E and E³, the top
portion being formed separately from the bottom portion and connected together
by lugs e e and bolts e', the joint of course being water and gas tight. The
bottom E is made very much heavier, so as to provide a long life for the same as
it is eaten away by the acid.

page_text: The front E³ is provided with slots e3 at each side, one only of which is shown
through which extends staples e in which are inserted wedges e, so as to hold the
front securely in position.
N are port holes made preferably in the top of the chamber E and provided with
closing plugs N'. I show one of these plugs removed. O is the chimney leading
from the fire place.
Having now described the principal parts involved in my invention I shall
briefly describe its operation. The wool after being washed is placed within the
casing A and the door K is closed. The faucet i at the supply end of the
steam pipe I is then turned on as well as the faucet J at the opposite end.
The steam then passes through the pipe or piping at the three sides of the
casing A until it reaches the faucet J' whereupon such faucet is turned off and the
full pressure of the steam is still allowed to pass into the pipes, so as to produce a
very great heat in the casing. The casing is at the same time rotated and the wool
passes from one set of arms L to the other set and is thereby separated and prevented
from being bunched or to be more explicit is rendered into a very fluffy condition,
so that the action of the heat will thoroughly dry it. I preferably leave one or
more port holes N open in the chamber E, so as to permit of the escape of the
steam from the wet wool in the casing A during the drying of the wool.
After the wool has been dried, which in practice takes about fifty minutes I
introduce a mixture of chloride of lime, of sodium and sulphuric acid through the
port holes N, which are subjected to the action of the heat from the fire in the
grate M, thereby evolving chlorine gas, which passes through the hollow journals
into the casing A where it intermingles with the rotating fluffy wool and effectually
reduces and eliminates the vegetable matter in such wool. After this is done the
port holes N in the chamber E may be again opened and the exhaust fan G set
in motion, so as to draw out all the gas from the chamber E through the hollow
journals B casing A and hollow journal B and pipe F. After this is done the
door may be opened and the purified wool removed.
It will of course be understood that the faucet J¹ is essentially important in
removing the condeused steam from the end of the pipes J at the end of each treat-
ment and also is necessary to produce a circulation of steam through the pipes at
the commencement of the treatment.
Heretofore the gas chamber or retort has been cast in one piece and has been a
complete failure on this account simply from the fact that if any pin hole or blow
hole was formed in the casting the acid would very quickly eat its way through
the bottom. By forming it in two parts as hereinbefore described it will be
readily understood that the interior of this part can be perfectly formed and
polished if necessary so that it will be impossible for blow holes to form. The
end portion E³ of course hereinbefore described is simply to remove the refuse
when desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In a machine for drying and purifying wool the combination with the casing
suitably supported, of a steam pipe leading into the casing and pipes forming a
continuation thereof and designed to partially line the casing and a faucet at the
opposite end of the steam pipe extending outside the casing as and for the purpose
specified.
2. In a machine for drying and purifying wool the combination with the casing
suitably supported, of a steam pipe leading into the casing and pipes forming a
continuation thereof and designed to partially line the casing, a faucet at the
opposite end of the steam pipes extending outside the casing and a series of agitating
arms extending radially into the casing from the sides as and for the purpose
specified.
3. The combination with the casing, hollow journals for supporting the casing

page_text: at each end, means for rotating the casing, steam pipe lining for the casing, the
supply pipe of which extends through the hollow journal at one end as and for the
purpose specified.
4. The combination with the casing hollow journals for supporting the casing
at each end, means for rotating the casing, steam pipe lining for the casing and
the supply pipe of which extends through the hollow journal at one end, union
couplings at the end of one journal, a gas chamber, heating means for same and an
elbow connecting the top of the gas chamber with the union coupling on the end
of the hollow journal as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with the casing, hollow journal for supporting the casing at
each end, means for rotating the casing, steam pipe lining for the casing, the supply
pipe of which extends through the hollow journal at one end union couplings at the
end of one journal, a gas chamber with ports, heating means for same, an elbow
connecting the top of the gas chamber with the union coupling on the end of the
hollow journal, a hollow journal at the opposite end provided with union coupling
connecting it to one end of a pipe and an exhaust fan connected to the opposite end
of such pipe as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination with the rotatable casing, the steam pipe lining extending
throughout three sides thereof and the supply pipe for such steam lining at one end,
of a door situated at the unlined side of the casing as and for the purpose specified.
7. The combination with the casing suitably supported and provided with drying
means, of a gas chamber connected thereto and port holes in such gas chamber
provided with suitable closing plugs as and for the purpose specified.
8. In a machine of the class described, a gas chamber comprised of an upper
portion and a lower portion connected together by suitable joints, the bottom of
the lower portion being of great thickness as and for the purpose specified.
9. In a machine of the class described a gas chamber comprised of an upper
portion and a lower portion connected together by suitable joints, the bottom of the
lower portion being of great thickness and a suitable end plate secured on the end
of the upper and lower portions by means of the staples extending through the
slots in the end and wedges extending through the staples at the end as and for the
purpose specified.
Dated the 24th day of January 1896
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.