Improvements in the Process of and Apparatus for Scouring and Degreasing Wool.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1894-Accepted, 21st July, 1894
DELE
MULTICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGES MALARD, of 19, Rue Cambon, Paris, in
the French Republic, Engineer.]
Improvements in the Process of and Apparatus for Scouring and
Degreasing Wool.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described, and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for scouring and degreasing-
wool and its object is to extract the grease therefrom in a simple efficient and
continuous manner the resulting solution being in a state of greater concentration
than is at present usual and hence of increased commercial value.
According to this invention the wool is placed upon a travelling band or apron
and is subjected both successively and simultaneously to the action of the cleansing
liquid. The cleansing liquid which may be any of those usually employed is
contained in a vat situated beneath the travelling apron and divided into a suitable
number of compartments the liquid being pumped up from each compartment to
nozzles or roses from which it is discharged upon the apron and the wool and passes
to the vat. The liquid returning to the vat is either discharged into the compart-
ment from which it is pumped, or, if it has reached a certain density, into the next,
so that the wool entering the apparatus is first treated by that part of the liquid
containing the greatest amount of grease and finally by that containing the least.
The apron and the wool borne by it are passed between rollers by which the
contained liquid is expelled and returned to the vat.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I have hereto
appended a sheet of drawings reference to which is hereinafter made.
The wool is placed either mechanically or by hand upon the apron T which
consists of a number of slats, preferably metallic and perforated, attached by their
ends to two endless chains gearing with chain wheels by which a slow movement
is imparted to the apron in the direction of the arrow. Beneath the apron is placed
a vat or beck containing the cleansing liquid and divided into the compart-
ments B, B1, B2, B3, any suitable number of compartments being employed.
Pumps P P P are placed in the compartments of the vat and force the contained
liquid up into the distributors D D D situated at a convenient distance above the
apron T. Each of the distributors is provided with a perforated outlet plate so
that the liquid is discharged in a shower upon the wool on the apron. Alternating
with the distributors are pairs of rollers E, E', E" and J between each pair of
which the apron and wool passes and by which the liquid from the last passed
distributor is expressed. The upper roller E of each pair is preferably sheathed
or covered with wool or felt and is carried by its bearings in a slotted frame
so that a variable pressure may be exerted by levers and counterweights one each
of which only is shewn in the drawings at L and R. The lower rollers J
support the apron and all the rollers may be driven in any suitable or usual
manner by means of chains or toothed wheels. The apron preferably passes
between sides or guides Q so as to form the bottom of a trough or if desired the
same result may be attained by returning the ends of the slats of the apron or
band. After treatment by the last of the series of distributors and expressors
the wool is removed from the apron by a suitable doffing device consisting of the
wheel V the paddles of which are provided or covered with leather formed or

page_text: cut into teeth and which carry or throw the wool to a second device or wheel W
which introduces it to the vat or bath W₁ where it may be subjected to any further
desired washing or other treatment. A revolving brush or rubber X removes any
wool which may remain upon the apron.
The treatment of the fleece is then as follows:-Under each distributor it
receives a shower of the grease removing liquid part of which may pass through
and the remainder be expelled by the next pair of rollers E, J. The use of the
rollers ensures the removal of the grease in a solution of great concentration.
The liquid is returned to the compartment from which it was pumped or if it has
reached a certain degree of density or saturation into the next compartment, the
liquid passing from compartment to compartment until it reaches the reservoir A
in its highest state of concentration.
After passing through the apron and wool the liquid falls upon the subdivided
table or series of receptacles 0, 0, 0", placed between the upper and lower parts
of the apron T. These receptacles are inclined to one side so as to discharge
their contents through suitable outlets into or upon the shoot or troughs N, N', Nº.
Each of these troughs N is pivoted between two of the compartments B so that
according to the direction in which it is inclined it will discharge the liquid
delivered to it into either one or the other of the two contiguous compartments. In
order to prevent any wool getting into and interfering with the action of the pumps
the top of each of the compartments B is provided with a strainer C.
A portion of the liquid pumped up from the compartment B is diverted and
instead of falling on to the wool and apron falls into a small box or tank which is
preferably divided into four compartments a b c d to decrease the current and
maintain a constant level. Contained in one of the compartments of the tank is a
hydrometer or similar apparatus, which, rising upon the increase of density in the
liquid, closes the contacts K. M of an electric circuit and rings an electric bell.
The position of either or both of the contacts may be adjusted so that the
hydrometer rings the bell or otherwise gives warning when the liquid has reached
any desired or predetermined degree of density.
When the warning is given that the required degree of density of the liquid in
the compartment has been reached the attendant operates a rod Y or by similar or
analogous means tilts the trough or shoot N in the opposite direction so that the
liquid is discharged into the reservoir or cistern A instead of being returned into
the compartment B. This reservoir may if desired be of sufficient size to serve
more than one of the machines and may act as a settling tank in which the liquid
is clarified and the earthy and other matters deposited.
The compartment B contains a float F moving upon a suitable guide rod and
surmounted by a tube or pipe which may serve as a level indicator and which
carries two claws or projections. Upon the compartment becoming empty or
nearly so owing to the liquid being discharged by the pump into the reservoir A
the float F has descended to the bottom and the upper claw upon the tube or pipe
engages with the trough or shoot N' and, tilting it, diverts the liquid from
the compartment B₁ into the compartment B. The float or other apparatus in
the compartment B then tilts the shoot N' so as to divert the liquid from
this compartment B and this operation is repeated in all the compartments
in succession.
The last compartment B³ of the series receives its liquid from a tank W' which
may be one of a series for performing any subsequent washing or cleansing
operations upon the wool. The liquid passes through a pipe G which is fixed
under a strainer in the vat and a suitable clack valve or back pressure valve
prevents any back current of the liquid.
If the extraction of the last of the liquid from the wool be performed more
thoroughly and energetically than previous extractions then the compartment B³
will receive more than its proper share of liquid and its level will be raised.
To obviate this, this compartment is of larger volume than the others and its
level is normally lower. When the compartment emptied through its liquid

page_text: being diverted by the trough N³ into the compartment B' then a suitable
system of float or ball valves permits the liquid from W₁ to flow in until the
desired level is attained.
When the electric bell or other warning ceases, the attendant again operates
the rod and restores the shoot N to its original position and as shewn in the
drawing. The other shoots N', N2, N³, are automatically restored by the floats
contained in the compartments.
Manholes or other suitable openings U are formed in the bottoms of the
compartments to allow of the easy removal of any sediments.
The travelling apron or band may, instead of being formed of perforated
slats or plates be formed of wire or of any of the known or usual materials of
which such bauds are constructed. If desired the single apron may be replaced
by several aprons which pass the wool on from one to another, or the separate
aprons may be arranged one below the other so As to
מוויו
over one another
and travel in opposite directions. By this arrangement the material falls from one
to another and is returned for rescouring and working. The strainers C may
be disposed above the plates or receptacles O and these latter replace the
troughs N which may be mounted upon vertical pivots and be operated by the
floats so as to throw the liquid into either one of two receptacles.
The pumps if desired may be replaced by any other suitable lifting or forcing
apparatus.
The floats in the compartments by which the troughs are tilted to direct the
liquid are of sufficient strength to do this easily but may if desired be combined
with levers to increase their power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The process of scouring and degreasing wool in which the wool is successively
subjected to the action of different strengths of the cleansing liquid and squeezing
or expressing rollers so as to obtain the wool grease and other matters in a
concentrated solution substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
2. An apparatus or machine for scouring and degreasing wool constructed
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
3. In a machine for scouring or degreasing wool means or devices for diverting
the cleansing liquid from one compartment of the vat to the next when a
predetermined degree of concentration is reached, constructed arranged and operated
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawing.
4. lu a machine for scouring and degreasing wool the combination with a
tank or receptacle containing the most concentrated solution of a densimeter
or equivalent device and apparatus operated by the densimeter for giving warning
electrically or otherwise to indicate when a predetermined degree of density has
been reached, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
5. In a machine for scouring and degreasing wool a circulating system consisting
of a vat or compartment of a vat containing the cleansing liquid, a pump or its
equivalent for raising the liquid, a nozzle or perforated distributor for discharging
the liquid upon the wool carried by a travelling apron and shoots or trough by
which the liquid is returned to the compartment or vat or diverted to the next, all
constructed and arranged substantially as herein before described and as illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of June AD 1894