IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF MIXED FABRICS AND IN THE EXTRACTION OF WOOL THEREFROM, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR SUCH TREATMENT WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Martin, of Toadsmoor Mills, near Stroud,
in the County of Gloucester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF MIXED FABRICS AND IN THE EXTRACTION OF WOOL
THEREFROM, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR SUCH
TREATMENT WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 11th September 1868, and dated the 18th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Martin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th March 1868.
I, GEORGE MARTIN, of Toadsmoor Mills, near Stroud, in the County of
Gloucester, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF MIXED FABRICS AND IN THE EXTRACTION
OF WOOL THEREFROM, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR
SUCH TREATMENT, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the carbonizing or destroying cotton
and other vegetable fibre or material contained in mixed fabrics, and

page_text: the separation and extraction of the wool therefrom more expeditiously
than has hitherto been done, by means of certain apparatus constructed
as herein-after mentioned, and which apparatus is also applicable for
drying, dusting, and cleaning rags, flocks, and other materials. For
these purposes after the usual process of steeping the materials under
treatment in acid or other chemical substance or compound, or of
subjecting the same to the influence of acidulated vapours or gases, the
same are placed within a stove or vessel or chamber similar to the
ordinary rotary boiler, but of such dimensions as may be necessary to
carry the quantity of rags, cotton, or other materials to be operated
upon. This apparatus is provided with suitable openings in the
periphery thereof, or by preference the width of the circumference is
perforated or covered with wire gauze for the egress or ingress of the
heated or cold air, gases, or steam, and is enclosed and rotates within
a case or outer chamber, and is actuated by suitable gearing connected
with a source of motive power, as will be well understood. If necessary
or convenient the case may be attached to the stove or chamber, round
which is left an annular space of any determined capacity for conducting
the moisture, steam, or dust away.
or if
In order to enable the heat requisite to effect the objects of this
Invention to be applied, the trunnions at either or both sides of the stove
or vessel or chamber and upon which it rotates are made hollow,
1..
solid suitable openings are provided in the side of the chamber or stove.
Air previously heated to the required temperature is forced or made to
pass through the trunnions or through the before-mentioned openings at 2
any velocity required, either by an ordinary blast engine or steam jet
exhaust, or by any other suitable means, for the purpose of heating the
interior of the stove or chamber and carbonizing or drying the rags or
other materials under treatment, and of creating the current or draught
necessary to carry away the moisture, steam, or dust. The heat may 3
also be obtained by means of steam, or hot water pipes, or flues charged
with heated air so arranged as to pass through the trunnions. For this
purpose hot water pipes upon
what is well known as Perkins's principle,
or steam conveyed through pipes, may be used, but a flue can be.
employed to advantage with or without hot water or steam pipes, and 3
through such flue the interior of the stove or vessel may be heated by
means of heat specially generated, or by the waste heat from any steam
boiler or other available scource of heat. The means or mode for
T
71

page_text: heating can be so arranged within the outer chamber of the apparatus
as to obtain the desired effect, and when the case or outer chamber is
attached to and rotates with the stove or inner chamber the radiating
heat from a coke or other fire or stove brought to bear upon the
apparatus itself will be sufficient. For the purpose of simply drying or
dusting such materials as require cold dry air only, the means. already
mentioned are employed to obtain the necessary blast or draught through
the trunnions or openings, or by reversing the action of the apparatus
through the perforations in or wire gauze forming the circumference of
the chamber. The interior of the stove or vessel or chamber is provided
with spikes, ledges, or other analogous contrivance or contrivances for
the purpose, as the vessel or chamber rotates, of agitating and separating
the materials under treatment, the moisture or steam evolved or dust
liberated being carried away through the trunnions or openings, or
through the circumference of the chamber by the blast or steam jet
exhaust. The heat can be so regulated as to be applicable for the
carbonization or destruction of the cotton or vegetable fibre in mixed
fabrics, or for the simple drying of rags, flocks, and other materials.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
MARTIN, of Toadsmoor Mills, near Stroud, in the County of Gloucester,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Martin, Her special licence, that I,
the said George Martin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Martin, my executors, administrators,
and 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

page_text: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
MIXED FABRICS AND IN THE EXTRACTION OF WOOL THEREPROM, AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR SUCH TREATMENT, WHICH APPARATUS
IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Martin, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Martin, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:
My said Invention has for its object the carbonizing or destroying
cotton and other vegetable fibre or material contained in mixed fabrics,
and the separation and extraction of the wool therefrom more expe-
ditiously than has hitherto been done, by means of certain apparatus
constructed as herein-after mentioned, and which apparatus is also
applicable for drying, dusting, and cleaning rags, flocks, and other
materials. For these purposes after the usual process of steeping the
materials under treatment in acid or other chemical substance or
.compound, or of subjecting the same to the influence of acidulated
vapours or gases, the same are placed within a stove or vessel or chamber
similar to the ordinary rotary boiler, but of such dimensions as may be
necessary to carry the quantity of rags, cotton, or other materials to be
operated upon. This apparatus is provided with suitable openings in
the periphery thereof, or by preference the width of the circumference
is perforated or covered with wire gauze for the egress or ingress of the
heated or cold air, gases, or steam, and is enclosed and rotates within
a case or outer chamber, and is actuated by suitable gearing connected
with a source of motive power, as will be well understood by persons
conversant with mechanical arrangements. If necessary or convenient
the case may be attached to the stove or chamber, round which is left

page_text: team, or dust away.
In order to enable the heat requisite to effect the objects of my said
Invention to be applied, the trunnion or trunnions at either side or both
sides of the stove or vessel or chamber and upon which it rotates is
or are made hollow, or if solid suitable openings are provided in the side
of the chamber or stove. Air previously heated to the required tem-
perature is forced or made to pass through the trunnion or trunnions,
or through the before-mentioned openings, at any velocity required,
either by an ordinary blast engine or steam jet exhaust, or by any other
suitable means, for the purpose of heating the interior of the stove or
chamber, and carbonizing or drying the rags or other materials under
treatment, and of creating the current or draught necessary to carry
away the moisture, steam, or dust. The heat may also be obtained by
means of steam or hot water pipes or flues charged with heated air so
arranged as to pass through the trunnions. For this purpose hot water
pipes upon what is well known as Perkins's principle, or steam conveyed
through pipes, may be used, but a flue can be employed to advantage
with or without hot water or steam pipes, and through such flue the
interior of the stove or vessel may be heated by means of heat specially
generated, or by the waste heat from any steam boiler or other available
source of heat. The means or mode for heating can be so arranged
within the outer chamber of the apparatus as to obtain the desired
effect, and when the case or outer chamber is attached to and rotates
with the stove or inner chamber the radiating heat from a coke or other
fire or stove brought to bear upon the apparatus itself will be sufficient.
For the purpose of simply drying or dusting such materials as require
cold dry air only, the means already mentioned are employed to obtain
the necessary blast or draught through the trunnions or openings, or by
reversing the action of the apparatus through the perforations in or wire
gauze forming the circumference of the chamber. The interior of the stove
or vessel or chamber is provided with spikes, ledges, or other analogous
contrivance or contrivances for the purpose, as the vessel or chamber
rotates, of agitating and separating the materials under treatment, the
moisture or steam evolved or dust liberated being carried away through
the trunnion or trunnions or openings, or through the circumference
of the chamber by the blast or steam jet exhaust. The heat can be
so regulated as to be applicable for the carbonization or destruction of

page_text: 'the cotton or vegetable fibre in mixed fabrics, or for the simple drying
of rags, flocks, and other materials.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the
nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is an end elevation, Figure 2 a sectional elevation, and
Figure 3 a sectional plan of the before-mentioned apparatus; the same
letters of reference indicating similar parts in the several Figures.
A, A, is the case or outer chamber, within which the inner chamber,
stove, or vessel B, B, rotates. The periphery of the latter is covered
with wire gauze or is perforated. The case or outer chamber is supplied
with openings and suitable doors or lids F, F, for charging and dis-
charging the materials. The inner chamber, stove, or vessel is furnished
with spikes or ledges G, G, G, for the purpose of agitating the materials
under treatment as the chamber rotates. The axes or trunnions b, b,
which are hollow for the ingress or egress of cold or heated air, or steam,
or gases work in suitable bearings D, D, which bearings may form part
of the casing or outer chamber A, A, or have independent supports
or frames from the foundation. C, C, are the supports which carry
the apparatus; E is the steam exhaust pipe or egress pipe for carrying
away the moisture, steam, gas, or dust, or when the action of the
apparatus is reversed for the ingress of the hot or cold air, or steam,
or gas. If desired, the case or outer chamber A, A, may be attached
to the inner chamber B, B, the bearings D, D, in which the machine
rotates being independently supported from the foundation.
The operation of the machine or apparatus is as follows:-The
materials (after the preliminary preparation for carbonizing, when such
result is in view) are placed within the inner chamber, stove, or
vessel B, B, through the opening E, the opening of the last-mentioned
chamber being placed under the same. The lids are then closed and
the inner chamber, stove, or vessel B, B, is set in motion. The steam 3
jet is applied or a blast engine set to work to cause the necessary
current or draught of cold or heated air, or steam, or gas to pass through
the trunnions or axes b, b, into the inner chamber, stove, or vessel B, B.
This treatment carbonizes or dries or dusts the materials making exit
through the steam or egress pipe E, or when the action is reversed 3
through the trunnions or axes b, b, which are made under those cir-
cumstances to meet by a connecting pipe, if both are used, carrying
away the moisture, steam, gas, or dust obtained from the materials

page_text: under treatment. During this operation the spikes or ledges serve to
continually lift and agitate the materials, thus submitting the whole
thereof to the action of the apparatus. If desired, one trunnion or axis
only may be used for egress, as last described. In employing the
apparatus in which the outer casing or chamber is attached to the
inner chamber, stove, or vessel the action and result are the same, the
ingress and egress being respectively made through the trunnions or
axes b, b.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim
as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent are, the methods of treatment and the
combination and arrangement of parts and mechanism as and for the
purposes herein-before described and set forth, or any mere modifications
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Martin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
GEORGE MARTIN. (L.S.)