or Scouring Wool.
Year: 1885

page_text: or Scouring Wool.
I, WALTER COOK, of Christchurch, Canterbury, in the Colony of New Zealand,
Wool Scourer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND MACHINERY FOR WASHING OR SCOURING WOOL
to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates to improvements in the method of and machinery for
washing or scouring wool whereby the wool can be cleansed or scoured, either in
whole fleeces or portions of fleeces in such a manner as to preserve the staple
intact.
•
For this purpose I place the wool to be scoured on an endless travelling belt
which carries it into and out of a long trough or troughs, containing the necessary
washing water or fluid. Whilst in the trough or troughs the wool leaves the said
travelling belt, and floats in the water or washing fluid which is made to travel at
the same speed and in the same direction as the belt and carries the wool with it;
the wool as it passes along is at intervals subjected to a squeezing action under the
water by means of a series of hollow perforated drums hereinafter described and
one or more streams or jets of the washing fluid or water is or are forced through
it by means of one or more small water fans hereinafter described. In some cases
a trough or tank is provided for holding clean water for rinsing the wool after it
comes from the washing trough or troughs. An endless band or belt, of the same
width as the inside width of the main portion of the trough travels over rollers or
drums at each end of the machine under the above named squeezing drums and
along the top of a false bottom in the washing trough. This belt should be made
of a material which will allow the water to pass freely through it: I prefer to use
an open meshed brass wire cloth but any other suitable material can be used which
is sufficiently strong to stand the wear and tear; round the said false bottom travels
a canvas or other endless belt or apron stretched on a series of small rollers. This
belt acts as an anti-friction belt for the main belt herein before described and it also
serves to carry on any sand or dirt that may fall out of the wool and to throw it
into a well at the end of the washing trough-The hereinbefore described hollow
squeezing drums or cylinders are each divided into a number of radial sections,
so as to act as fans or paddles for the purpose of propelling the water along the

page_text: washing trough. The water thus propelled returns underneath the false bottom
and the whole of the water in the trough is thus kept in constant circulation.
The said drums are made of the same width as the main endless belt and their
peripheries are made of perforated metal, wire cloth or other similar material, the
object being to allow the Huid to pass freely through and they are kept in their
cylindrical form in any suitable manner such as by two or more circular discs or
rings. The drums are made to revolve at such a speed that their peripheries or
surfaces shall travel at the same speed as the main endless belt and they serve the
double purpose of propelling the water along the trough and of squeezing the wool
as it passes under them.
The well, or sand receptacle (at one or both ends of the washing trough) is deeper
and wider than the main part of the trough and at or near the bottom of these
wells, there is a mud-hole door for cleaning purposes. The small water fans are so
constructed as to send up a jet or stream of the washing fluid, or water, the full
width of the main belt through the wool which is held down at short intervals by
a wheel or drum which is provided with a number of radial fans or blades. This
jet or stream of water passing through the wool in this manner, washes out any
loose dirt or the like which is carried away by the flow of water between the blades
on each side.
The wool on leaving the washing trough passes between a small pair of wringing
rollers, which squeeze out the greater portion of the dirty soapy water or other
washing fluid and if found necessary the wool can then be carried into a rinsing
trough and under another wheel or drum having radial fans or blades which drum
revolves on a water pipe. This pipe is perforated on the under side and is supplied
with water coming from a cistern or other source so as to rinse the wool as it passes
under the same. The wool then passes on through the rinsing trough and passes
under another wheel or drum having fans or blades where it is again washed by
stream of water being forced through it from underneath by another water fan..
The wool then passes over the end drum or roller between the main belt and another
belt made of canvas or other similar material whence it is led onto an elevating belt
or apron which feeds it into wringing rollers.
a
Or the wool can be carried out from the washing trough or from the rinsing
trough in any other suitable manner.
11
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: or Scouring Wool.
I WALTER COOK of Christchurch, Canterbury, in the colony of New Zealand,
Wool Scourer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND MACHINERY FOR WASHING OR SCOURING WOOL
13
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 the method of and machinery for
washing or scouring wool whereby the wool can be cleansed or scoured, either in
whole fleeces or portions of fleeces in such a manner as to preserve the staple
intact.
For this purpose I place the wool to be scoured on an endless travelling belt or
feeding aprons such as are hereinafter described which carries or carry it into a
long trough or troughs, containing the necessary washing water or fluid. Whilst
in the trough or troughs the wool leaves the. said travelling belt, and floats in the
water or washing fluid, which is made to travel at the same speed and in the same
direction as the belt, and carries the wool with it; the wool as it passes along is,
at intervals, subjected to a squeezing action under the water, by means of a series
of hollow perforated drums as hereinafter described and one or more streams or
jets of the washing fluid or water can be forced through the wool by means of one
or more small water fans as hereinafter described.-In some cases a trough or tank
is provided for holding clean water, for rinsing the wool after it comes from the
washing trough or troughs.-When an endless band or belt is employed I make it
of the same width as the inside width of the main portion of the trough and cause
it to travel over rollers or drums at each end of the machine under the above named
squeezing drums and along the top of a false bottom in the washing trough. This
belt should be made of a material which will allow the water to pass freely through
it. I prefer to use an open meshed brass wire cloth, but any other suitable material
can be used which is sufficiently strong to stand the wear and tear; round the said
false bottom (when the said endless band is employed) travels a canvas or other
endless belt or apron stretched on a series of small rollers. This belt acts as an
anti-friction belt for the main belt herein before described, and it also serves to
carry on any sand or dirt that may fall out of the wool and to throw it into a well
at the end of the washing trough-The hereinbefore described hollow squeezing
drums or cylinders are each divided into a number of radial sections, so as to act
as fans or paddles for the purpose of propelling the water along the washing trough
or separate fans or paddles can be employed for this purpose.-The water thus
propelled returns underneath the false bottom and the whole of the water in the
trough is thus kept in constant circulation. The said drums are made of the same
width as the main endless belt and their peripheries are made of perforated metal,
wire cloth, or other similar material, the object being to allow the fluid to pass
freely through, and they are kept in their cylindrical form in any suitable manner
such as by two or more circular discs or rings. The drums are made to revolve at
such a speed that their peripheries or surfaces shall travel at the same speed as the
main endless belt or feeding aprons and they serve the double purpose of propelling
the water along the trough and of squeezing the wool as it passes under them.

page_text: The well or sand receptacle when such is employed (at one or both ends of the
washing trough) is deeper and wider than the main part of the trough and at or
near the bottom of these wells, there is a mud hole door for cleaning purposes. The
small water fans are so constructed as to send up a jet or stream of the washing
fluid, or water, the full width of the main belt through the wool which is held
down at short intervals by a wheel or drum which is provided with a number of
radial fans or blades. This jet or stream of water passing through the wool in this
manner, washes out any loose dirt or the like, which is carried away by the flow of
water between the blades on each side.
The wool on leaving the washing trough passes between a small pair of wringing
rollers, which squeeze out the greater portion of the dirty soapy water or other
washing fluid, and if found necessary, the wool can then be carried into a rinsing
trough and under another wheel or drum having radial fans or blades, which drum
revolves on a water pipe. This pipe is perforated on the under side, and is supplied
with water coming from a cistern or other source, so as to rinse the wool as it
passes under the same. The wool then passes on through the rinsing trough and
passes under another wheel or drum having fans or blades, where it is again
washed by a stream of water being forced through it from underneath by another
water fan. The wool then passes over the end drum or roller when a main belt is
employed between the main belt and another belt made of canvas or other similar
material whence it is led onto an elevating belt or apron which feeds it into
wringing rollers.
Or the wool can be carried out from the washing trough or from the rinsing
trough in any other suitable manner.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing shewing the modifications of
my improved washing machinery which I find may be used with advantage in
which figure 1 represents a longitudinal section and figure 2 a plan of a machine
for washing or scouring wool constructed according to my invention; figure 3, is a
longitudinal section and figure 4 a plan shewing my invention applied to an
ordinary bowl or washing trough, figure 5 is a similar view to figure 3, but drawn
to a smaller scale and shewing the machine provided with separate paddles for
propelling the water through the trough. Similar letters in all the figures represent
similar or corresponding parts.
Referring to figures 1 and 2, a, is the endless travelling belt on which the wool
to be scoured is placed and which serves to carry it into and out of the trough b,
containing the necessary washing water or fluid; the said endless band is perforated
and operated as hereinafter described.
c, c, c, are the series of hollow drums of the same width as the belt a, and having
their peripheries made of perforated metal, wire-cloth or other similar material so
as to allow the fluid to pass freely through; by these drums c, the wool is subjected
at intervals as it passes along through the trough to a squeezing action under the
water by passing between the said hollow drums c, and the rollers d, d, d; e, shews
one of the water fans for forcing a stream or jet of the washing fluid or water
through the wool as it passes along; f, is the trough or tank for holding clean
water for rinsing the wool after it comes from the trough b; g, is the false bottom
of the washing trough b, between which and the drums c, the endless band a
travels; the said band is of the same width as the inside width of the trough b, and
after leaving the drums c, passes under the drums with radial arms and through
the wringing rollers hereinafter described, to the rollers h and i, at one end of the
machine whence it passes under the roller j, at the bottom of the machine over the
rollers and, under the roller m, and over the rollers n and o; p, is the endless
belt or apron which travels round the false bottom g, and is stretched on the small
rollers d, d, herein before described; r and r¹, are the wells at each end of the
trough b, for receiving the sand or dirt which falls out of the wool, the said wells
being deeper and wider than the main part of the trough; a mud hole door (not
shewn in the drawing) is provided at or near the bottom of the wells 7 and r for

page_text: cleaning purposes; q, q, are the radial plates dividing the drums c, into sections,
and forming fans or paddles for propelling the water along the trough b; 8, is one
of the wheels or drums having a number of radial fans or blades t, serving to hold
the wool down at short intervals, whilst the water fan e, sends up a jet or stream,
of the washing fluid or water through it the full width of the belt a; u, u, are the
wringing rollers through which the wool then passes as it leaves the washing
trough b, and whereby the greater portion of the dirty soapy water or other
washing fluid is squeezed out, the wool being conducted to the said rollers u, by
the endless band, a; v, is the wheel or drum revolving on a water pipe w, in the
rinsing trough f; x, x, are the radial fans or blades of the wheel or drum v; the.
pipe w, is perforated on its under side as shewn, and is supplied with water coming
from a cistern or other source, so as to rinse the wool as it passes under the same;
y, is a wheel or drum and z, a water fan, (similar to the drum s, and water fan e,
at the end of the trough b) by which the wool is again washed by a stream of water
being forced through it; a¹, is the belt between which and the belt a, the wool
then passes; the belt a¹, after passing under the roller , travels with the belt a,
over the drum i, it then passes round the rollers b¹, c', and d¹, to the roller h; e¹, is
the belt for elevating the wool as it comes from between the belts a, and a¹, to the
final wringing rollers f¹, f¹; the belt el, travels over rollers g¹, h¹; ¹, is a false
bottom in the rinsing trough f. Suitable overflow outlets are provided near the
top of the rinsing trough. Suitable means are provided for giving the required
pressure to the various squeezing rollers and drums and the various parts of the
machine are operated by any suitable arrangement of gearing as will be well
understood.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
.
The various rollers and other parts of the machine having been put in motion 80
as to rotate in the direction shewn by the arrows, the belts or bands <<, and p, will
be carried along also in the direction indicated by the arrows, the water or
washing fluid, being caused by the fans or paddles g, to flow in a like direction;
the wool or fleece is fed into the machine from over the roller n, whence it will be.
carried by the first drum c, and belt a, (receiving at the same time a squeezing
action whilst in the water) into the trough b, containing the washing water or fluid.
and a portion of the sand and dirt in the wool will fall into the well r; it then
floats in the said water or fluid which by the action of the fans or paddles q, is
made to travel at the same speed and in the same direction as the belt, and carries
the wool with it; the wool is then drawn down by the next perforated hollow
drum c, and subjected to another similar squeezing action under the water; the
wool then again floats in the liquid and is a third time subjected to a squeezing
action under water, meanwhile the sand and dirt which have fallen from the wool
through the belt a, onto the belt p, will have been drawn along to the end of the
false bottom g, and will be deposited in the well r; the wool then passes on under
the radial fans or blades t, of the wheel or drum 8, where a stream or jet of the
liquid in the trough is forced through it by the water fan e; the wool is then
conducted up to and through the wringing rollers u, u, by which the greater
portion of the soapy water or fluid is squeezed out of the wool; it is then drawn.
in under the water in the rinsing trough f, by the drum v, the supply of rinsing
water meanwhile being syringed onto it by the perforated pipe w; the wool passes.
along over the false bottom ¹, and under the drum y, where a stream of the
rinsing water is forced through it by the fan s; it is then drawn along under the
roller h, and between the. belts a and a¹ over the drum i; it then falls onto
the elevating belt e¹, whereby it is carried to the final wringing rollers f¹, f¹, and
the washing or scouring operation is complete.
In figures 3 and 4 my invention is shewn applied to a bowl or washing trough
of ordinary construction and in this case I prefer to dispense with the endless
belts a, and p, hereinbefore described when referring to figures 1 and 2 and in
place thereof I make use of the ordinary serving sheets a, a, to carry the wool into
the bowl b, at one end and to carry it out at the other end of the bowl; the false

page_text: bottom is made of perforated metal as is usual in wool washing machines so as to
allow the sand and dirt coming from the wool to fall through onto the bottom of
the bowl b, whence it is removed in the ordinary way; the arrangement of the
drums c and rollers d, is the same as that hereinbefore described and shewn in
figures 1 and 2 except that I prefer to arrange the set at the end of the bowl
furthest from the feed with the perforated drum c, under the roller d, as shewn so
as to deliver the wool to the serving sheet a, near the top of the water, and the
wool is then conducted direct to the wringing rollers f', f¹, as shewn; the rinsing
trough f, and rinsing apparatus and also the water fan e, and drum 8, shewn in
figures 1 and 2 are in this arrangement dispensed with.
The apparatus shewn in figure 5, is similar to that shewn in figures 3 and 4
except that instead of forming the drums c, with fans or paddles the circulation of
the water or washing fluid is effected by separate paddle wheels g; and in this case
the drums c, can be made of smaller dimensions as shewn, and similar drums be
used to take the place of the rollers d; although both the upper and lower drums
are shewn perforated the upper drums need not always be so perforated.
It will be obvious that the number of drums c and rollers d can be varied
according to requirements.
The cleansing of the machines may be readily effected by passing through them
streams or currents of water or steam so as to remove all deposits of dirt or other
matters that may adhere to the various parts, or other suitable methods of cleansing
may be employed.
By my improvements the necessity of employing rakes or forks for carrying
the wool through the washing or scouring machine is obviated and the wool is
continually subjected to a cleansing action during its passage through the trough
or bowl by means of the perforated drums and rollers, which allow the grease and
dirt as it is squeezed out to pass through the perforations into the water or
washing fluid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The construction and use of machinery for washing or scouring wool which
provides for the circulation of the water or washing fluid in the trough or bowl,
round a false bottom in such a manner that the current of water or fluid on the
top of the said false bottom, shall float the wool through the machine, whilst
the return current passes back underneath substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein before described.
2. The use for the purpose of washing or scouring wool according to my
improved method, of one or more pairs of squeezing rollers (one or both of each
pair being hollow and having a perforated periphery or surface) the rollers being
so arranged as to give the wool a nip or squeeze under water whilst passing
through the trough or bowl, while the grease or dirt is squeezed through the
perforations into the water or washing fluid all substantially as herein before
described.
3. The improved machines for washing or scouring wool hereinbefore respectively
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicant.