Improvements in Machinery for Drying Wool and other Fibres or Materials.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Drying Wool and other Fibres or
Materials.
We, JOE BOOTH WHITELEY, WILLIAM WHITELEY, and EDWARD WHITELEY,
trading as William Whiteley and Sons Limited, of Lockwood, near Huddersfield,
in the County of York, Iron Founders, and Machine Makers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In constructing a machine according to our invention for the above named
purposes, we employ any suitable form of framework so as to form an enclosed
chamber in which we cause to travel by suitable gearing, one or more pairs of
endless chains, to which are attached a number of laths or cross bars arranged to
overlap each other, but space is left at the overlapping parts for the passage of hot
air. The wool or other fibre or material to be dried is fed into the machine by an
arrangement of compound endless travelling aprons which conduct the fibre on to
the upper surface of the overlapping travelling laths which conduct the fibre to
the opposite end of the machine, at which point the fibre drops on to a corre-
sponding travelling surface which conducts the fibre back to the other end of the
machine allowing it to drop onto another travelling surface and so on, of which
travelling surfaces there may be any suitable number, and finally the fibre is
conducted out of the machine in a dried condition. Between each pair of endless
travelling chains or under the overlapping laths upon which the fibre rests, we fix
a horizontal division plate, so that as the hot air is blown in at the side of the
machine at a point above each of these horizontal division plates, the said hot air
is prevented from going downwards by the said division plates, consequently the
air ascends in doing which it passes through the spaces or apertures between each
overlapping lath and consequently forces its way through the fibre lodging thereon,
by which means the drying of the fibre is quickly performed. The top of the
machine is enclosed, and a suitable opening is left for the egress of the air which
may be forced or drawn through the machine. At a suitable position near one
end of the endless travelling laths, we may employ a revolving swift or wheel to
batter the fibre, and if there be any tendency of the fibre to adhere to the endless
travelling overlapping laths, we may employ a revolving brush to remove the
fibre.
Instead of the overlapping laths being attached to endless travelling chains,
and made to travel thereby, we may combine 'the said laths with right and left
handed screws for carrying forward the overhanging laths somewhat after the
manner of a gillbox for drawing out wool, which causes the fallers employed
therein, to travel backwards and forwards through the machine; or the said over-
hanging laths may be independent of each other and helped on horizontally step
by step, by means of a suitable arrangement of lifting bars.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1892.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Drying Wool and other Fibres or
Materials.
We, JOE BOOTH WHITELEY, WILLIAM WHITELEY, and EDWARD WHITELEY,
trading as William Whiteley and Sons, Limited, of Lockwood, near Huddersfield,
in the County of York, Iron Founders and Machine Makers, 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 :-
In constructing a machine according to our invention for the above named
purposes, we employ any suitable form of framework so as to form an enclosed
chamber in which we cause to travel by suitable gearing one or more pairs of
endless chains, to which are attached a number of laths or cross bars perforated or
otherwise arranged to overlap each other, but space is left at the overlapping parts
for the passage of hot air. The wool or other fibre or material to be dried is fed
into the machine by an arrangement of compound endless travelling aprons which
conduct the fibre onto the upper surface of the overlapping travelling laths and
which in turn conduct the fibre to the opposite end of the machine, where the
fibre drops onto a corresponding travelling surface and conducts the fibre back to
the other of the machine allowing it to drop onto another travelling surface and so
on, of which travelling surfaces there may be any suitable number; and finally the
fibre is conducted out of the machine in a dried condition.
Such being, the nature and object of our invention we will now proceed to
describe the same more fully, and for that purpose make reference to the accom-
panying sheets of drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is longitudinal section of a machine constructed according to our
invention.
A is the framework forming an enclosed chamber, and B is the feeding end of the
machine where the fibre is placed onto the endless travelling apron or lattice sheeting C
which together with another endless apron or lattice sheet D carry the fibre up to
the pair of feed rollers E from whence the fibre drops onto a slowly travelling
surface F, a revolving wiper G being employed to ensure the fibre leaving the
rollers. The travelling surface F carries the fibres to the opposite end of the
machine, where the said fibre drops onto a corresponding travelling surface which
conducts the fibre back towards the feeding end of the machine, where in like
manner the fibre drops onto another travelling surface F and so on until the fibre
reaches the lowest travelling surface when it leaves the machine at the outlet at H
in a dry and lofty condition. For hastening on the process of drying we employ a
heater I of any suitable construction and air is generated by the fan J which blows
hot air into the machine entering through apertures or openings L situated between
each pair of endless travelling surfaces, and in order to cause all the hot air to
impinge upon the fibre we place between each pair of travelling surfaces, a hori-
zontal division plate M which distributes the hot air and also prevents it from
blowing downward, consequently the hot air ascends, in doing which it passes
through openings in the travelling surfaces and forces its way through the fibre
lodging thereon, by which means the drying of the fibre is quickly performed. We
also cause heated air to impinge against the fibre as it is dropping from one
travelling surface to the other, which we effect by pipes N provided with perforations
or horizontal apertures or slits O, which materially assists in drying the fibre,
because when it is dropping from one travelling surface to the other it is in a free
and loose condition to receive the heated air.
The travelling surfaces which form an important feature in our invention consist
of horizontal laths P preferably composed of steel attached to endless chains Q
shewn more clearly and on an enlarged scale at Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the former being

page_text: cross section Fig. 3 plan and Fig. 4 edge view, which also serve to illustrate the
method we have adopted for connecting the parts together.
It will be observed that each lath P overlaps the next succeeding lath, but it will
also be observed that a space is left between cach lath which permits the free
passage of hot air upon the fibre. In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 we have shewn a slight
modification of the laths which do not overlap each other, but are perforated to
allow of the free passage of heated air upon the fibre. The construction and
arrangement of travelling surfaces as herein shewn and described. Where free and
open apertures are formed for the passage of hot air, together with the horizontal
pipes N placed in the particular positions shewn, forms a machine well adapted for
the drying of wool and other fibre, rags, skeins, or hanks of yarn, or other material
and as the fibre or material is frequently changing positions it is freely dried and
instead of being baked or solidified it leaves the machine in a light and lofty
condition.
At a suitable position near one end of the endless travelling surfaces, a revolving
swift may be employed to batter the fibre and if there be any tendency to adhere
to the endless travelling surfaces a revolving brush may be used to remove the
fibre.
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
Firstly. In a machine for drying wool and other fibre, rags, skeins or hanks of
yarn or other materials the use therein of travelling surfaces composed of overlapping
laths, preferably of steel or other suitable metal, arranged crosswise of the machine,
and leaving air spaces, all in the manner substantially as herein shown and
described.
Secondly. In a machine from drying wool and other fibre, rags, skeins of yarn
or other material, the use therein of travelling surfaces composed of perforated
laths arranged crosswise of the machine in manner substantially as herein shewn
and described.
Thirdly. In a machine for drying wool and other fibres, rags, skeins of yarn or
other material, the method of blowing air onto the loose fibre, as it is falling from
one travelling surface to the other, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly. In a machine for drying wool and other fibre, rags, skeins of yarn or
other material where endless travelling surfaces are employed, the combination
therewith of horizontal division plates M placed between each pair of travelling
surfaces for purposes and in manner shewn and described.
Dated this 2nd day December 1892.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.