IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING, OILING, AND DRYING WOOL
Year: 1885

page_text: PROVISIONAL DIECIFICATION.
We, THOMAS SPEIGHT, of Bath Shed, Manchester Road, Bradford, in the county
of York, Machine Wool Comber, and HENRY WALTON WHITEHEAD, of the firin
of Taylor, Wordsworth & Co, Midland Junction Foundry, Leeds, in the same
county, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING, OILING, AND DRYING WOOL," to be
as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
treating wool immediately after washing or at the last part of that process whereby
the superfluous moisture is first squeezed out by passing the wool through rollers;
the wool is then oiled by an automatic oiling apparatus, as it passes along an apron
or sheet to a pair of heated rollers, which rollers by their heat and pressure further
dry the wool, after which it is caught by a flyer, and thrown forward into a
perforated iron box which is suitably heated such as by a coil of steam pipes or by
a steam jacket.
To carry out our invention we make use of a pair of metallic rollers mounted in
a vertical frame; the top roller is covered with a layer of slivers of wool. The
object of these rollers is to squeese out the superfluous water or suds from the woɔl
which is passed between them. The wool after passing between these rollers is
carried along by an endless apron or sheet covered with laths of iron or wood, and
which apron or sheet receives motion from one or more of the rollers over which
it passes.
The wool, during the time that it is being carried along by this apron or sheet,
is oiled by an automatic oiling apparatus, so that the oil may be more thoroughly
mixed with the wool when it passes immediately afterwards between heated
rollers.
The metallic rollers between which the oiled wool is passed after it leaves the
apron or sheet herein-before mentioned, are heated by steam, and the top roller
receives downward pressure from springs, actuated by adjusting screws, or from
weighted levers.
The object of passing the wool between these heated rollers is to further dry it,
and to force the oil more equally throughout the substance thereof.
The wool after leaving the heated rollers is caught by the wings of a revolving
flyer, whereby it is opened out to let the air pass through it, and is thrown forward
into a box, which is perforated to admit heat from a coil of steam pipes, or from a
steam jacket or otherwise.
TURNER & BAKER,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: WO THOMAS SPEIGHT, of Bath Shed, Manchester Road, Bradford, in the County
of York, Machine Wool Comber, and HENRY WALTON WHITEHEAD, of the firm
of Taylor Wordsworth & Co, Midland Junction Foundry, Leeds, in the same
County, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING, OILING AND DRYING WOOL”.
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our Invention relates to Improvements in the method of, and apparatus for,
treating Wool immediately after washing, or as the last part of that process,
whereby the superfluous moisture is first squeezed out, by passing the wool between
rollers; the wool is then oiled, by an automatic oiling apparatus, as it is carried
along by an apron or sheet, to a pair of heated rollers, which rollers by their heat
and pressure further dry the wool, after which it is caught by a revolving flyer
and thrown forward into a perforated iron box or basket which is heated by means
of a coil of steam pipes, or by a steam Jacket.
To carry out our invention, we make use of a pair of metallic rollers mounted in
a vertical frame; the top roller is covered with a layer of slivers of Wool. The
object of these rollers is to squeeze out the superfluous water or suds from the wool,
which is passed between them; The wool after passing between these rollers, is
carried along by an endless apron or sheet, covered with laths of iron or wood, and
which apron or sheet receives motion from one or more of the rollers over which
it passes. The Wool, during the time that it is being carried along upon this
apron or sheet, is oiled by an automatic oiling apparatus, so that the oil may be
more thoroughly mixed with the wool, when it passes immediately afterwards
between heated rollers.
The metallic rollers, between which the oiled wool is passed after it leaves the
apron or sheet, hereinbefore mentioned, are heated by steam, and the top roller
receives downward pressure from springs, actuated by adjusting screws, or from
weighted levers.
The object of passing the wool between these heated rollers is to further dry it,
and to bring it into a better condition for the carding process, whereby better work
is effected, and the wool being better dried, has not the same destructive effect upon
the Card Clothing as hitherto, with imperfectly dried wool.
The wool after leaving the heated rollers is caught by the wings of a revolving
flyer, whereby it is opened out to let the air pass through it, and is thrown forward
into a Basket or Box which is perforated, to admit heat from a coil of steam pipes,
or from a stearu jacket, or from a current of heated air driven in by means of a fun,
or otherwise.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1
represents an elevation of the machine herein described, and figure 2 a plan of
the saine.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in both drawings, The wool passes through
the machine in the direction shown by the arrows.

page_text: The wool after passing up the endless sheet or apron A is caught by the two
rollers B, the shafts of which revolve in bearings in the upright frame C, and the
top roller is forcibly pressed downwards by weighted levers D. When passing
between the rollers B, the top one of which is covered with a layer of slivers of
wool, a great portion of the water or suds contained in the wool being operated
upon is squeezed out, and thus far the operation resembles that to which wool is
subjected when leaving an ordinary wool washing machine, such as has been
hitherto in use, but immediately after passing between the two squeezing rollers B,
the partially dried wool is conveyed along the upper surface of the endless apron
or sheet E, which apron or sheet is driven by one or more of the rollers over which
it passes.
During the time that the wool is passing along the apron or sheet E, the wool is
oiled by means of an automatic oiling apparatus, of which a simple modification is
represented in the drawing Figure 1; the receptacle to contain the oil being shown
at F, and the revolving brush G, for sprinkling the oil upon the wool passing
beneath it. The revolving brush is driven by means of a Cord, or strap, from any
convenient part of the machine.
°
The wool, after it has passed along the apron or sheet E, is caught by the
rollers H, which are heated by steam. These rollers are carried by bearings fitted
in the upright frames J, and the top roller receives downward pressure from the
spiral springs L, which pressure can beegulated as required by the screw and hand
wheel K. The object of these heated.rollers H is to further dry the wool, by
combined heat and pressure, and by this more effectual process of drying, to bring
the wool into a better state for the process of Carding, and at the same time, and
by the same .cans to prevent the damage and destruction to the Card clothing
which is caused by damp wool.
After passing between the heated rollers H as described, the wool is caught by
the rapidly revolving wings of a flyer L which in its revolution opens out the
wool, and brings all parts of it in contact with the air, thereby facilitating the
process of drying, and also throws it forward in a loose and open state into the Box
or Basket M, which is heated by means of a Coil of steam pipes placed under a
perforated false bottom, or by a steam jacket, or by means of a current of warın
air blown through, or into the box or basket M, by means of the fan N, to which
the bottom of the Box or Basket is connected by the pipe O, which passes into the
space formed by the false bottom as described or by other means. The wool is
more effectually dried after it has remained a short time in the Box or Basket M,
and the process of drying, in combination with the process of oiling, as herein before
described, is effected without discoloration or damage to the fibre of the wool, and
with more regularity of oiling, and with a saving of oil and labour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we
make no claim to the construction and arrangement of the squeezing rollers B
herein before referred to, and which are for the purpose of squeezing the superfluous
water and suds out of the wool, immediately after such wool leaves the washing
tank, but what we claim is
1. In combination with the rollers for squeezing out the superfluous water and
the suds hereinbefore described, the endless apron or sheet for the purpose of
carrying the wool from the squeezing rollers to the heated rollers; the method of
oiling the wool, as it passes froin the squeezing rollers, to the heated rollers, as
Lerein set forth, the heated rollers for further drying the wool and forcing oil into
the same by means of combined heat and pressure, the flyer for opening out and
throwing forward the wool, and the Box or basket .eated as described, fur
completing the drying of the wool, all substantially as set forth or any mere
modification of the same.
2. The method of, and apparatus for oiling wool, immediately after such wool has
passed between the squeezing rollers of the washing machine, and before it passes

page_text: between the heated rollers, substantially as herein described, or any modification
thereof.
3. The employment of heated rollers for the purpose of submitting newly washed
and oiled wool to combined heat and pressure, in the manner and for the purpose
herein set forth, or any mere modification of the same.
4. The employment of a flyer or its equivalent, for the purpose of opening out to
the air the partially dried and oiled wool, and throwing it forward into a drying
Box or Basket after such wool has passed between heated rollers, substantially as
described.
5. The construction and use of a Box Basket or other receptacic, heated as
described, for the purpose of completing the drying of wool, after it has undergono
the process of squeezing, oiling and drying, as described, or any modification of
such process.