Year: 1886

page_text: We, OWEN LLOYD WILLIAMS of the city of Athens, and ALEXANDER CONACHER,
of the city of Augusta in the State of Georgia, and United States of America,
gentlemen 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:-
C
Our invention relates to Feather Renovators, and consists in a novel construction
of the same whereby economy of space, and great efficiency in action are attained.
In the drawings:-Figure, 1, is a vertical cross section of our improved machine.
Figure, 2, is a longitudinal section through the cleaner cylinder.
Figure, 3, a similar view of the drying cylinder; and
Figure, 4, a vertical section of the generator.
The invention briefly stated consists of a renovating or cleaning chamber into
which the feathers are placed, and where they are subjected to the separate or
combined action of steam and beaters; it consists of a drying chamber communi-
cating with the renovating chamber, wherein the feathers are subjected to the
indirect action of steam, and also to the action of fans; it further consists in a
novel construction and arrangement of the fans; it further consists in a novel
construction of a portable generator; and finally it consists of various features and
details herein set forth and specifically claimed.
A, indicates the renovating or cleaning chamber preferably cylindrical in form,
provided with an inlet through which the feathers are inserted, said inlet being
provided with a door, a, as clearly shown in figure, 1. The renovating chamber is
also provided with a longitudinal box or chamber, b, on its lower side, the chamber
being cut away for about a quarter of its circumference throughout its length as
shown in figure, 2, the opening, c, thus formed being covered with wire gauze or
other perforated material, d, to prevent the escape of feathers into said chamber, b.
The chamber, b, is provided with a door or doors, e, as shown in figure, 1.
Within the chamber or cylinder, A, is mounted a shaft, f, carrying beaters, g,
and, h, motion being imparted to the shaft through a band wheel, i, from any
convenient source.
The shaft, f, is provided at its other end with a gear wheel, j, meshing with a
larger gear, k, on a supplemental shaft, l, provided with a hand wheel or crank m,
by which to rotate the shaft. f manuall

page_text: Upon reference to figure, 2, it will be seen that the beaters, g, and, h, are
composed respectively, of plates, and rakes, and said beaters are so composed that
they may be removed and long curved teeth substituted or the plates, or the rakes
may be removed and the beater composed of rakes alone or of plates only.
The chamber, A, is provided with a flue or outlet, n, at its upper side to allow
the waste steam and light particles of dust to escape into the air, the outlet or
opening being covered with wire gauze to prevent the escape of feathers, and also
provided with a valve, o, as shown in figure, 1.
B, indicates a trunk or chamber opening into a chamber, A, at the lower side of
the latter, opposite chamber, b, said trunk, B, being provided with sliding doors, p,
as shown in figures, 1, and 3, whereby communication between chambers, A, and, B,
may be controlled as desired.
The trunk or chamber, B, communicates at the opposite side with the drying
chamber, C, as shown in figures, 1, and, 3, the bottom of the trunk, B, being a little
higher than the bottom of chambers, A, and, C.
The chamber, C, is about the same size, of chamber, A, but it is provided on its
rear end walls with coils, q, of pipe which terminate at one end in the chamber, A,
and connect at the other with the generator, D.
Chamber, C, is also provided with a horizontal shaft, r, carrying fan blades, 8,
band wheel, t, and bevel gear, u, as shown in figure, 3; the band wheel, t, and
gear, u, being outside of the casing.
It will be noticed that the fans occupy only the end portions of the shaft, r, in
order to make room for fans, v, carried by shafts, w, at right angles to shaft, r, as
shown in figures, 1, and, 3, the inner ends of the shafts, w, being supported by a
yoke, a, encircling the shaft, r.
The outer ends of the shafts, w; are carried or supported by suitable boxes or
bearings; and said shafts are each provided with grooved band wheels, y, as shown.
A vertical shaft, E, outside of the machine, carried in suitable supports or
bearings, is provided with similar band, wheels, z, and a bevel gear wheel, a¹, which
meshes with gear, u, carried by shaft, r.
Belts, a, communicate motion from shaft, E, to shafts, w, as shown in figure, 3.
The portable steam generator used in connection with the renovator, consists of two
sections, a³, and, a, as clearly shown in figure, 4; the lower section, a³, forming
the fire pot and ash pit; and the upper section, a, forming the boiler.
The lower section is formed with a grate, 61, and at its top with broad lateral
flanges, b².
The inner diameter of the boiler is of about the diameter of the lower
section, a³, and has its inner vertical walls extended downward to prevent lateral
displacement.
The base, c¹, of the boiler rests upon the lateral flanges, b' as shown; and the
said boiler is provided with a safety plug or valve, c³, and connected with the
coils, q, in any suitable manner.
The operation of the machine is as follows; Feathers are placed in the
chamber, A, through the door or opening, a, and the chamber, is separated from
the chamber, C, by closing the door, p, the door, a, being also closed. The
valve, o, in the funnel shaped flue or outlet, n, is opened and motion imparted to
the shaft, f, and the fans or beators, g, h, in the direction of the single arrow, as
in figure, 1.
As the shaft rotates, the beaters rub the feathers against the wire gauze, d, in
the lower face or side of the chamber, A, and remove the dirt from the feathers, the
dirt etc. passing through the gauze and into the box or receptacle, b, formed upon
the side of the chamber, A.
This rotation of the shaft and beaters causes considerable dust, which rises and
escapes through the flue, n, and into the chimney outside of the building the
escape of feathers through the flue being prevented by a covering of wire gauze as
seen in figure, 1. As soon as the feathers have been beaten enough to remove the
adhering dirt, and the dust has escaped, steam is admitted into the chamber, and

page_text: the fans or beaters, g, h, again set in motion. The combined action of the fans of
beaters and the steam is found to have quite a beneficial effect on the feathers;
removing the grease and small particles of dirt remaining after the first operation;
and also destroying animalcules concealed on the feathers.
After the desired length of time has elapsed, the doors, p, are opened, as in
figure, 3, and the steam being shut off from chamber, A, the fans are caused to
revolve in the direction of the double arrows in figure, 1. This motion of the fans
or beaters lifts the feathers up and forces them through the trunk, B, in the
chamber, C, as will be readily understood upon referring to figure, 1.
After the feathers are in the chamber, C, the latter is shut tightly, and the
fans, v, and, s, set in motion; the result being that with the aid of the heat given
off by the coils, q, the feathers are soon dried. When the feathers are dried the
door, d, is opened, a sack placed over the opening and the fans revolved rapidly to
discharge the feathers into the sack.
While the feathers are being dried in the chamber, C, it is apparent that the
operation of cleaning in the chamber, A, may be carried an at the same time; the
doors, p, effectually separating the chambers, A, C, and preventing one from
interfering with the other. By this plan the operation is rendered continuous a
feature of considerable importance where a large amount of feathers is to be
cleaned.
The pipe, e¹, is provided with a valve, e², as shown in figure 3, by which the
steam may be shut off from the renovating and cleaning chamber. All of the doors
are preferably fitted with rubber gaskets, in order to make tight joints and prevent
the escape of hot air or steam.
Before the operation of drying commences the chamber, A, may be filled with
feathers and the cleaning and drying operations carried on simultaneously and
continuously.
Either chamber can be worked independently of the other, or both operated at
the same time it being only necessary that the band wheels, i, and, t, be connected
by a belt, as indicated in figure, 1. Upon reference to figure, 4, it will be seen
that our generator is exceedingly simple and obtains a very large amount of
heating surface, the interior walls of the annular water chamber forming the walls
of the stove.
It is obvious that the fans, v, may be placed in various positions about the
shaft, r, and hence we do not wish to limit ourselves to the precise arrangement
shown.
We are aware it has been proposed to construct a feather renovator with a
double walled chamber between the walls of which were placed steam coils and we
make no claim to such construction. By our plan we heat the chamber with less
expenditure of fuel, as the coils are directly in the chamber proper, and the necessity
of heating through an interposed wall is obviated. Besides our plan is much
cheaper and simpler.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a feather renovator, the combination of a cleaning chamber, a drying
chamber an intermediate connecting trunk, and a steam pipe coiled within the
drying chamber, and adapted to discharge steam into the cleaning cylinder.
2. In a feather renovator, the combination of a cleaning chamber, a drying
chamber, an intermediate connecting trunk, a steam pipe colled within the drying
chamber to heat the same, and adapted to discharge steam into the cleaning
cylinder; and an outlet flue provided with a valve and guarded opening.
3. In a feather renovator a drying cylinder or chamber provided with two
separate sets of fans, arranged and operating substantially as described.
4. In a feather renovator, a drying cylinder or chamber provided with two
separate sets of fans, substantially at right angles to each other."

page_text: ´ 5. In a feather renovator, a drying cylinder or chamber provided with two
separate sets of fans, and mechanism for operating both sets of fans simul-
taneously.
6. In a feather renovator, the combination with a drying chamber having two
separate sets of fans, of steam coils at each end of said chamber.
7. In a feather renovator, the combination with a drying chamber provided with
shaft, r, fans, 8, secured thereon at each end yoke, x, encircling said shaft, r,
shafts, w, carried by said yoke and provided with fans, v, and mechanism substan-
tially such as shown for imparting motion to said fans.
8. The herein described feather renovator, consisting of cleaning chamber, A,
intermediate trunk, B, drying chamber, C, coils q, within the latter, and steam
generator, D, composed of annular water chamber, a', and fire chamber, a³.
9. A feather renovator comprising a cleaning chamber, a drying chamber, and
an intermediate trunk, each provided with a door or valve as shown; whereby the
cleaning and drying operations may be carried on simultaneously and continuously
or independently, at will.