IMPROVE- MENTS IN WASHING, CLEANSING, AND PREPARING TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS
Year: 1856

page_text: Sealed the 30th January 1857, and dated the 4th December 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Crawford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th December 1856.
I, DAVID CRAWFORD, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Mannger, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WASHING, CLEANSING, AND PREPARING TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS,"
to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to an arrangement of machinery or apparatus, and a
system of working the same, to be adopted for washing, cleansing, and pre-
paring textile fabrics and materials of various kinds, especially goods passing
through the hands of the bleacher, dyer, and calico printer.
Under one modification, this machinery consists of a rectangular frame,
fitted up with rollers, dashboards, a dashing frame, and gearing in such

page_text: manner that the fabrics passed through the machinery shall receive a most
effective and complete washing and cleansing.
The frame is divided into a series of stories or flats, one above another, like
the floors of a house, each flat having a dashboard floor, or a fixed platform,
divided down the centre, towards which division line each half inclines down-
wards. The goods in a continuous rope-like form are passed first of all
through a bottom pair of taking-in rollers, which direct the rope of cloth round
a long horizontal roller of considerable diameter, which runs in bearings at
one side or end of the lowest flat of the series. The rope of fabric passes
round this roller, and then proceeds horizontally along and through the flat at
that level, passing in its way through a vertically traversing frame, which
works between the contiguous edges of the platforms or dashboard of all the
flats where these boards are divided, as before explained, in the centre. At
the opposite end of the flat there is a corresponding horizontal roller, round
which the rope of fabric passes, returning through the flat and through the
vertical traversing frame to the first roller. The rope of fabric passes again
round this roller and again through the flat, and so on, until the required
number of crossings and recrossings has been completed. The rollers are
geared together, so as to be driven simultaneously to carry the rope of fabric
along back and forward over these roller and through the flats, whilst jets of
water or other fluid are allowed to fall upon the fabric in its passage, and whilst
the vertical traversing frame dashes the stretched lengths of rope with rapidity
and severity upon the dashboard beneath, the traversing frame being worked
by an overhead crank, or by any other reciprocator. As the cleansing liquid
falls down it is received upon the dashboard beneath, and until it pours off at
the centre the striking action causes the liquid to be well forced into the fibres
of the goods. When the water falls away at the centre, it is received by a
bottom duct and conveyed away to a bottom side chamber, into which chamber
the rope of fabric, as primarily washed in the bottom flat, is first of all
delivered from its rollers. Here the fabric falls loosely and opens, so as to
have what may be termed a loose or open washing, in contradistinction to
the tight or closed washing it received in the flat. From this loose washing
chamber the fabric in its rope form is again taken up, and similarly passed
through the next flat in the series, where it is treated in a precisely similar
manner, and is again returned to a second bottom loose washing chamber.
This routine is continued throughout the whole of the flats until the fabric
finally emerges from the top one of the series in its completely cleansed con-
dition. Each flat is supplied with jets of water, and it is obvious that as the
fabric passes through and beneath these jets and is violently struck upon the

page_text: dashboard a most powerful wasbing and cleansing action is secured. Pro-
vision is made both for varying the length of traverse of the vertical dashing
frame and the rapidity of its traverses.
This machinery, or modifications of it, is obviously applicable for washing,
cleansing, and preparing textile fabrics and materials of various kinds, and in
various stages of their trantment and manufactura
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Crawford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th June 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
CRAWFORD, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Manager,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victorin, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said David Crawford, Her special license that I, the said David Craw-
ford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said David Crawford, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING, CLEANSING, AND PREPARING TEXTILE FABRICS AND
MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said David
Crawford, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Crawford, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to an arrangement of machinery or apparatus,
and the system of working the same, to be adopted for washing, cleansing, and

page_text: preparing textile fabrics and materials of various kinds, especially goods passing
through the hands of the bleacher, dyer, and calico printer.
Under one modification, this machinery consists of a rectangular frame,
fitted up with rollers, dashboards, a dashing frame, and driving gearing in such
manner that the fabrics passed through the machinery shall receive a most
effective and complete washing and cleansing. The frame is divided into a
series of stories or flats, one above another, like the floors of a house, each flat
having a dashboard floor, or a fixed platform, divided down the centre, towards
which division line each half inclines downwards. The goods in a continuous
rope-like form are passed first of all through a bottom pair of taking-in rollers,
which direct the rope of cloth round a long horizontal roller of considerable
diameters, which runs in bearings at one side or end of the lowest flat of the
series. The rope of fabric passes round this roller, and then proceeds hori-
zontally along and through the flat at that level, passing in its way through a
vertically-traversing frame, which works between the contiguous edges of the
platforms or dashboard of all the flats where these boards are divided, as
before explained, in the centre. At the opposite end of the flat there is a
corresponding horizontal roller, round which the rope of fabric passes, returning
through the flat and through the vertical traversing frame to the first roller.
The rope of fabric passes again round this roller, and again through the flat,
and so on until the required number of crossings and recrossings has been
completed. The rollers are geared together, so as to be driven simultaneously
to carry the rope of fabric along back and forward over these rollers and
through the flats, whilst jets of water or other fluid are allowed to fall upon
the fabric in its passage, and whilst the vertical traversing frame dashes the
stretched lengths of rope with rapidity and severity upon the dashboard
beneath, the traversing frame being worked by an overhead crank, or by any
other reciprocator. As the cleansing liquid falls down it is received upon the
dashboard beneath, and until it pours off at the centre the striking action
causes the liquid to be well forced into the fibres of the goods. When the
water falls away at the centre, it is received by a bottom duct and conveyed
away to a bottom side chamber, into which chamber the rope of fabric, as
primarily washed in the bottom flat, is first of all delivered from its rollers.
Пere the fabrics falls loosely and opens, so as to have what may be termed a
loose or open washing, in contradistinction to the tight or closed washing it
receives in the flat. From this loose washing chamber the fabric in its rope
form is again taken up and similarly passed through the next flat in the series,
where it is treated in a precisely similar manner, and is again returned to a
second bottom loose washing chamber. This routine is continued throughout

page_text: the whole of the flats until the fabric finally emerges from the top one of the
sories in its completely cleansed condition. Each flat is supplied with jets of
water, and it is obvious that as the fabric passes through and beneath these
jets, and is violently struck upon the dashboards a most powerful washing and
cleansing action is secured. Provision is made both for varying the length of
traverse of the vertical dashing frame and the rapidity of its traverses.
This machinery, or modifications of it, is obviously applicable for washing,
cleansing, and preparing textile fabrics and materials of various kinds, and in
various stages of their treatment and manufacture.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of
showing one modification under which my improvements may be judiciously
carried out in practice.
The modification of the mechanical washer shown in my illustrative Sheet
of Drawings is adapted more particularly for washing or cleansing from
extraneous matters textile fabrics which have previously undergone the process
or processes of dyeing or printing.
Figure 1 on my Sheet of Drawings is a longitudinal sectional elevation of
one modification of my improved mechanical washer; Figure 2 is an end
view of the apparatus. The framing of the machine consists of two cast-iron
side standards A. The end columns forming the angles or corners of the
framing are cast hollow to admit of the passage of water through then. The
framing is divided longitudinally into a series of compartments or stories by
the transverse stays B. These stays are made with bracket flanges on their
inner sides and, with the exception of the uppermost one, they slope down-
wards towards the central column of the framing. Upon the bracket flanges
formed on the inner side of the transverse stays the ends of the dashboard
floors C rest. These dashboards floors slope downwards towards the centre of
the machine at an angle corresponding to the inclination given to the trans-
verso stays. The dashboard floors are not carried completely across the
machine, but terminate just within the central column of the framing, thereby
leaving a space or aperture in the centre of the machine between each pair
of dashboard floors. The bracket flanges which support the dashboard floors
are formed on the lower edges of the transverse stays of the framing, so that
the upper portion of the stays serve to form the sides of a series of shallow
chambers or trays. The chambers are supplied with water by means of the
pipes D, which are fitted into the hollow columns A, up which the supply of
water is forced. The pipes D are perforated on their inner sides, so that

page_text: the water is emitted in a series of jets upon the fabrics or materials under-
going the operation of washing. The ends of the horizontal water pipes D
are fitted in stuffing boxes at their junction with the vertical columns A; by
this means the pipes may be turned round, so as to direct the descent of the
water or washing fluid on to any part of the dashboard. The dashing or
beating action, by means of which the fabrics or materials are rapidly cleansed
from impurities, is effected by passing the fabrics between horizontal rollers E,
to which a rapid vertical reciprocatory motion is given. The journals of the
rollers E are carried in the vertical traversing frame F, which is attached by
means of the studs G to the connecting rods H. The upper ends of the
rods are connected by means of studs to the adjustable disc cranks I,
which are driven by means of the conical belt pulley J. The grooves in the
faces of the disc cranks I give facility for readily adjusting the length of
traverse of the frame F. The conical pulley J is supported in pedestal
bearings on the upper part of the framing, and is driven by means of an
endless belt K, which passes round a corresponding belt pulley L. A double
strap fork M is fitted on the upper part of the framing; the fork is moved to
and fro on a fixed screw shaft m by means of a hand wheel. The cross piece
which carries the fork slides to and fro on a pair of parallel guide bars. By
moving the strap fork M to and fro the attendant is enabled to regulate the
velocity or rate of motion of the conical belt pulley J, that of the conical
pulley L remaining constant. At each end of the machine, and in a line with
the centre of each compartment or chamber, is fitted a series of rollers N one
above the other; these rollers are supported in bracket bearings projecting
from the end columns A. The fabrics in passing through the different com-
partments of the machine are carried round the rollers N and between the
traversing rollers E. To prevent the fabrics which are under operation from
rubbing against each other, wooden pins O are inserted in the dashboards at
suitable intervals; at the side of each compartment or chamber where the
fabric emerges it is nipped by a roller P, fitted above and parallel to the
rollers N. The rollers P, are enlarged at one end, where they are required to
press upon the fabric. The other portion of each roller is made of smaller
diameter, so as not to interfere with the passage of the fabric round the
rollers N. Motion is given to the different parts of the machine by means
of a horizontal shaft actuated by a suitable prime mover. The shaft carries
the bevil wheel Q, which gears with the wheel R fast on the lower end of
the vertical shaft S. The lower end of the vertical shaft rests in a footstep
bearing on the floor, and its upper end is supported in a collar bearing carried
by a bracket T bolted to the framing of the machine. A bevil wheel U fast

page_text: to the upper end of the shaft S gears with a wheel on the spindle of the
conical belt pulley L, through which motion is given to the corresponding
pulley J and disc cranks I. The rollers N are driven by means of three
bevil wheels V fast on the shaft S. These wheels gear with corresponding
wheels W on the spindles of the rollers N. The nipping rollers. P rotate by
their frictional contact with the fabric and the rollers N. By means of a
lever X, fitted to a boss on one of the bearings of each of the rollers P, the
roller may be lifted to admit of an increased bulk of fabric passing out from
the compartment. To prevent the water or cleansing fluid from being thrown
about beyond the machine as the fabrics pass round the exterior of the
rollers N, a shoot or duct Y is fixed below each roller, which serves to convey
the water or cleansing fluid back to the compartments or chambers of the
machine. The water or cleansing fluid that is thrown off by the lower
roller N on the left of Figure 1 is conducted by the shoot Y beneath the
machine, and runs down the inclined flooring into the receiving trough or
chamber Z. The superfluous water or cleansing fluid thrown off by the right-
hand lower roller N falls into the receiving trough Z below it. The different
pieces or lengths of the fabrics to be cleansed are in the first instance joined
together end to end, so as to form a continuous web. One of the ends of the
fabric is passed through a porcelain eye or guide ring in a bracket at a,
attached to the ceiling of the workshop or building in which the mechanical
washer is placed; the fabric b is then carried downwards and beneath a
guide roller c, fitted in the lower part of the receiving trough Z; from the
roller c the line of fabric is passed into the lower compartment or chamber of
the machine at d, between the lower rollers E of the traversing frame F and
round the left-hand lower roller N; from the roller N the fabric is carried
between the second pair of rollers E and round the right-hand lower roller N.
The fabric is passed successively round the lower pair of rollers N, as shown
in the end view, Figure 2, until it emerges from the chamber, passing out
between the roller N and the widened portion of the roller P at c. The
fabric is then carried into the third compartment of the machine, passed
between the rollers E, round the second pair of rollers N, and out beneath
the second nipping roller at the opposite side of the machine at f. From the
second nipping roller P the fabric is carried into the fifth compartment or
chamber, and finally it passes through the sixth compartment and out between
the upper rollers N and P at 9. During the passage of the fabric through
the machine the vertical reciprocatory motion of the traversing frame F
dashes the goods violently upon the dashboards C whilst the jets of water are
falling in continuous streams upon the fabrics. These combined actions

page_text: rapidly cleanse the goods from all impurities, so that when they leave the
machine they are thoroughly and effectually cleansed. It is at those parts
of the line of fabric where the pieces are joined together that it is liable to
drag or catch in passing between the rollers N and the nipping rollers P.
By means of the lever X the difficulty is readily overcome, for by simply
pressing down the lever the roller P is raised, and its pressure on the roller N
removed, which leaves a free passage for the egress of the goods. The water
or cleansing fluid used in the process of washing flows over the edges of the
dashboard floors at h, and thence it falls on to the fabric, passing through
the compartment below it. The onward motion of the fabric carries the
greater part of this supply of water out beyond the rollers N, whence it falls
into the ducts or shoots Y, and is carried into the compartment below. Thus,
by means of the foregoing arrangement the impure water or cleansing fluid
gradually finds its way to the lower part of the machine, whilst the fabric as
it successively passes upwards through the different compartments is acted
upon by the water or fluid, which at every stage increases in purity. The
water or cleansing fluid after passing through all the compartments falls on to
the inclined floor beneath the machine and flows into the receiving trough Z.
At one end of the trough Z is fitted a sluice or dam i to prevent the water
rising beyond a certain level in the trough; the grosser impurities may be
allowed to flow away through apertures or a narrow slit, as shown at j, into
a drain pipe k. The dashboard floors C are made of stout planks of wood
dovetailed together, and these may be additionally strengthened by transverse
tie rods bolted to the framing of the machine. With slight modification the
mechanical washer above described may be readily adapted to the particular
requirements of the manufacturer, bleacher, and finisher.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for washing, cleansing, and preparing textile fabrics or materials, as herein-
before described,
Second, the system or mode of washing, cleansing, and preparing textile
fabrics or other materials by mechanical means, in which the goods as they

page_text: pass upwards through the machine are subjected at every stage to the action
of water or other cleansing fluid of increasing purity.
Third, the system or mode of washing, cleansing, and preparing textile
fabrics by means of a combined vibratory, dashing, and reciprocatory traversing
action, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Crawford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Socond day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-seven.
DAVID CRAWFORD. (L.8.)