Improvements in the Cleansing, Treating, or Washing of Wool and like Animal Fibres, and in Apparatus employed therein.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec.; 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Cleansing, Treating, or Washing of Wool and
like Animal Fibres, and in Apparatus employed therein.
We ALFRED AMBLER, SAMUEL AMBLER and FRANK AMBLER all of
Prospect and Well House Mills, Wilsden near Bingley in the County of York,
Spinners do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the cleansing, treatment with dye liquor or other
liquor, or washing of wool and like animal fibres and apparatus employed therein
and relates to a modification of the invention described and shewn in the Specifi-
cation of a prior Patent granted to us and bearing date the 29th day of August
1889 No. 13626, designed amongst other advantages to enable such apparatus to be
constructed with increased lightness and compactness.
In carrying out our invention we now introduce the wool and the cleansing,
treating or washing liquor into the enclosed conduit in substantially the manner
described in our former Specification and the liquor and wool pass down and then
along a series of superposed channels first in one direction and then in another (say
the opposite) direction and then returning and so on the effect being to cause the
liquor and wool to be most intimately brought into contact without felting action
and the wool at each turn of direction of flow drops down whilst the liquor is
directed easily in the desired course without churning. Towards the end of the
coilings of the channel to and fro we apply below a perforated part thereof a sand
box to receive precipitated solid matters and the end of the channel inclines
upwards to and is finally so formed as to deliver the wool or fibre to the nip of
compressing rollers suitably weighted by spring and lever pressure or equivalent
means. The expressed liquor is by suitable means returned to the tank below for
further treatment.
Dated the 19th day of December 1800
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Cleansing, Treating, or Washing of Wool and
like Animal Fibres, and in Apparatus employed therein.
We ALFRED AMBLER, SAMUEL AMBLER and FRANK AMBLER, all of
Prospect and Well House Mills, Wilsden near Bingley in the County of York
Spinners 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 :-
This invention has reference to the cleansing, treatment with dye liquor or other
liquor, or washing of wool and like animal fibres and apparatus employed therein
and relates to a modification of the invention described and shewn in the Specifi-
cation of a prior Patent granted to us and bearing date the 29th day of August
1889 No. 13626, designed amongst other advantages to enable such apparatus to be
constructed with increased lightness and compactness.
In carrying out our invention we now introduce the wool and the cleansing,
treating or washing liquor into the enclosed conduit in substantially the manner
described in our former Specification, and the liquor and wool pass down and then
along a series of superposed channels first in one direction and then in another (say
DO17

page_text: the opposite) direction, and then returning and so on, the effect being to cause the
liquor and wool to be most intimately brought into contact without felting action,
and the wool at each turn of direction of flow drops down whilst the liquor is
directed easily in the desired course without churning. Towards the end of the
coilings of the channel to and fro we apply below a perforated part thereof a sand
box to receive precipitated solid matters and the end of the channel inclines upwards
to and is finally so formed as to deliver the wool or fibre to the nip of compressing
rollers suitably weighted by spring and lever pressure or equivalent means. The
expressed liquor is by suitable means returned to the tank below for further
treatment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 a plan and Fig. 3 a detail view, of the invention.
In the arrangement of apparatus shewn by the preceding figures the wool or
other fibre is supposed to be supplied by means of the travelling apron, a portion of
which is shewn by the dotted lines a a, which is driven by the roller a mounted on
an axis carried by the framing. This axis of the roller a¹, also carries the toothed
wheel a², which is driven by another toothed wheel a³, mounted on the axis a',
carrying a grooved pulley u, driven by the band as, which passes around and is
driven by the grooved pulley a7, secured to and mounted on the same axis as the
gear-wheel as, mounted on the axis a which is driven by another gear wheel alo,
mounted on the axis a", on which are affixed the fast and loose pulleys a¹ and a¹³,
for driving that shaft. This shaft also carries the pulley a¹, from which may be
driven the pump for supply of liquid.
с
The fibre raised by the apron a is delivered thereby into the hopper bx forming the
uppermost extension of the trunk b. This trunk passes down substantially vertically
for a certain distance, and then is curved at 61 and extended in a line preferably
rising somewhat from the horizontal line until it comes to the end 3, when it is
formed so as to change the direction of the flow suddenly in a reverse direction,
and the trunk passes preferably inclining downwards from the horizontal line till
it arrives at the end, where the direction of flow is again reversed, when the
trunk as shewn at again inclines slightly upwards from the horizontal to the
part, whence to the part 68 the upward inclination is greater. At the point 68
the trunk terminates except that the floor is carried forward to near the nip of the
rollers c and d which rollers squeeze the moisture out of the fibre and deliver the
fibre on to an apron, a portion of which is shewn by the lines e and one of the rollers
on which it is carried by the lines e'. Above this apron is arranged another apron
a portion of which is shewn by the lines f, and findicates one of the rollers for
currying this apron. These two aprons are caused to rotate, so that the wool
passing from the rollers c, d is carried away between the two surfaces e and f. The
liquid employed for cleansing, treating or washing the wool or fibre is by suitable
pump or forcing apparatus, not shewn, supplied by the pipe gl to the chamber
from which it flows over and down into the hopper 6x and into the trunk b, and its
continuations along with the fibre to be treated, the liquid following the course.
indicated by the arrows and carrying with it the wool Hoating therein. At the
points and the current becomes reversed bringing wool and liquid into very
intimate contact, the wool and a portion of the water passing along the channel 6º,
up the inclined portion ', whilst another portion of the liquid, and with it the sand
and heavy matters, pass into the chamber 6, through reticulate or open-work,
which bars the entrance of the wool, whilst permitting liquid and sand to pass in.
The liquid passing into this sand box passes on to the end and into the pipe 6,
along which it flows to the cross pipe 6 down which it flows into the reservoir h,
from which it may be drawn off as required by the pipe ', to be reused by supply
to the pipe g or otherwise. The sides of the space left between the end 6 of the
trunk and the squeezing rollers c d are filled up by wire work or other reticulate
material which whilst serving to guide the fibre forward permits of side escape of a
g

page_text: liquid. A portion of this liquid also passes up into the pipe k, through the opening k¹,
guarded by reticulate work, so that the fibre is prevented entering, whilst the liquid
is free to pass over and down to the point . The opening k¹ is adjusted so as to
permit of suitable depth of water being maintained at the exit end of the trunk 68.
The liquid squeezed out by the rollers c, d, and that passing through the open-
work i, falls into a trough or guide and so back to the reservoir h.
The level of liquid flowing to the point 68 may also be further regulated by
means of the pipe 6 which at the point 613 is formed with a socket joint applied in
the sand box. One of these T shaped pipes 61, 61 is located at each side of the
trunk and by means of the chain m passing around the pulley m² mounted on suitable
axis and operated by the handle maided by rack and catch m³, the pipe 6" may be
raised and lowered, on the said socket joint 613 as centre of motion and thereby the
height of point of overflow from the pipe into the pipe 6" may be so adjusted
as to regulate the quantity of liquid flowing to the point b³.
The socketting of the pipe 6, as well as the junction between the leg 6" and
cross piece of this pipe, may be made in any usual or convenient manner, the
junction of the latter, say, being by casting, rivetting, brazing, soldering or
otherwise.
The roll c is caused to press on the roll d by means of the two levers n one at
each side, centred at ' in the framing, pressing on blocks applied at each side on
the axis c, and travelling in the grooves n' in their supports; said levers being
drawn downwards by the rods o secured one to each of them with the intervention
of the springs o', said rods being connected to the levers o³, centered at o*, and at
their opposite ends o', jointed to the rods o, which rods, (here shewn partly broken
away for convenience of the drawing), pass through the bearings o7, and carry the
weights of, which serve to press the rods o, down and so exert leverage at o* on
the rods o.
The trunk 6 to 8 may be formed of broad shallow cross section, and it is
preferably formed of slightly increasing diameter between the two said points. The
floor of the portion of the trunk may form the roof of the portion 6, and again
the floor of the portion may form the roof of the portion 6, and the floor of the
portion 6 may form the roof of the sand-box portion b. The trunk may be formed
of any suitable material, but we have found that the tops and floors-or broad
sides may conveniently be made of tin-plate, and the side walls of iron; but we
do not confine ourselves to these materials or to the precise form or shape of the
various parts, or to the number of superposed reversals of the trunk.
The rollers c, d, are driven as follows: The tooth wheel a³, on the axis a°,
receiving motion carries with it the roll d mounted thereon. This axis also carries
the toothed wheel d', which gears with another wheel c, mounted on the axis c,
driving the same.
•
r is a plate or flap centered at 1 to the upper side of the interior of the trunk,
and adapted, when the quantity of fibre passing is sufficient, to be raised, freeing
the passage, but when the quantity of fibre is small it falls, and exerting a slight
pressure thereon keeps it in a more compact mass for delivering to the nip of the
rollers.
8 is a side guard of which one is arranged at each side of the outlet to prevent
escape of liquid and to aid in guiding it back to the reservoir h.
The mouths of the various delivery passages-as that from the trough l—may
be protected by wire-work or otherwise to intercept the fibre that may escape.
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 construction and arrangement of the trunk 6 to 6 in combination with
means for supply of liquid and fibre, for intercepting sand or dirt, and expressing
liquid therefrom, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. In apparatus for cleansing, treating or washing wool or like animal fibres, the
arrangement or combination and use of parts cooperating as and for the purposes
herein before set forth.
Dated the 7th day of September 1891.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.