Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Washing or Cleansing Wool and other Textile Fibres, also Applicable to the Washing of Clothes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Washing or
Cleansing Wool and other Textile Fibres, also Applicable to the
Washing of Clothes.*
We, WILLIAM EASTWOOD of 31 Great George Street, Leeds, in the County of York,
Commercial Traveller, and ABRAHAM AMBLER, of Hollings Mill, Sunbridge Road,
Bradford, aforesaid, Commission Wool Comber, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:—
This invention relates to an improved method of cleansing or washing wool, and
other textile fibres, and to the apparatus employed therein, and has for its object the
arrangement of an apparatus whereby the use of rakes or the like in contact with the
fibre to carry the same from the feeding to the squeezing rollers, is entirely obviated,
the washing liquor alone being the medium by which the progress of the wool or
other textile fibre through the machine is effected, further to provide a receptacle for
the seperation from the washing liquor of solid matter such as sand which may be
washed from the fibre.
We effect our object in the following manner. The wool or other textile fibre is
passed through feeding rollers into a trough without ends, which may be termed the
washing trough, fixed at a slight declivity towards the squeezing rollers, and made of
marble, porcelain, onamelled iron or other material having a non-metallic surface.
Into the washing trough we fit a trough having a number of perforations at the
bottom and ends, to which by means of eccentrics or other mechanical arrangement,
we give a reciprocating motion, the perforated trough however being at a higher level
in the washing trough when moving towards the fooding rollers than when moving
towards the squeezing rollers. Below the washing trough we have a tank having an
inclined bottom from both ends to the centre, where we have a receptacle into which
all solid matter from the fibre, such as sand, collects.
In operation we pump the washing liquor from the tank into the perforated trough,
from whence it flows through the perforations into the washing trough and thence
back into the tank, the motion of the perforated trough sufficiently agitating the fibre
and the liquid, and forcing the latter through the former, to ensure of the wool or
other textile fibre being thoroughly cleansed, while the flow of the liquor through the
washing trough carries the wool towards the squeezing rollers.
Our improved apparatus is also equaily applicable for laundry work, but in washing
clothes it may be found necessary to dispense with squeezing rollers.
54 at Sun 1880
I. SIDNEY CRITCHLEY.
Of the firm of Rhodes & Critchley,
Agent for the Applicants.
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Washing or
Cleansing Wool and other Textile Fibres, also Applicable to the
Washing of Clothes.
We WILLIAM EASTWOOD, of 31 Great George Street, Leeds, in the County of York,
Commercial Traveller, and ABRAHAM AMBLER, of Hollings Mill, Sunbridge Road,
Bradford aforesaid, Commission Wool Comber, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for washing wool
and other textile fibres and has for its object the combination and arrangement of an

page_text: apparatus whereby the use of rakes or the like in contact with the fibre to carry the
same along the washing bowl from the feeding end to the squeezing rollers is entirely
obviated, and further to provide a receptacle for separation from the washing liquor
of any solid matter such as sand which may be washed from the wool or other
fibre.
We effect our object in the following manner. The wool or other textile fibre is passed
into an elongated sud bowl termed the washing bowl which may with advantage he
fixed at a slight declivity towards the squeezing rollers and is preferably made of
marble, porcelain, enamelled iron, or other material having a non-metallic surface.
Into the washing bowl we fit one or more perforated troughs to which by means of
eccentrics or other mechanical arrangement we give a reciprocating or rising and
falling motion.
Below the washing bowl we place a tank for the deposition and separation
of sedimentary matter constructed and arranged substantially as hereinafter
described.
In operation we pump the washing liquor from the tank into the perforated trough
or into the washing bowl whereby the displacement and flow of water in conjunction
with the pressing or squeezing action of the trough or troughs ensures the thorough
cleansing of the wool or other textile fibre which passes onwards to the squeezing
rollers as hereinafter described.
Such being the nature and object of this our said invention we will now proceed to
describe the same in detail, and in order that the invention may be fully understood
we have hereunto annexed six sheets of drawings in which
:-
Fig. 1 is sectional elevation of a machine constructed according to our inven-
tion.
::
Fig. 2 is a like view the trough "being divided, or made in a series of separate
shorter lengths than the trough in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a like view of Fig. 2, the troughs being shewn in alternate working
positions to Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a plan of Figs. 2. 3.
Fig. 5 is a cross section in line A. B. of Fig. 2.
::
Figs. 6. 7 are enlarged views of the trough" in section and plan.
Fig. 8 sheet 6 is a section enlarged shewing the action of two of the shorter lengths
of "trough."
Atis sud bowl or washing trough, 2 is the reciprocating trough carried by
links 3. 3 connected to eccentrics, discs or cranks 4, the latter being fixed on cross
shafts 5. connected by shaft and gear wheels 6, driven by driving strap and
pulley 7, the parts 4 imparting a rising and falling and rectilinear motion to the
trough 2.
The wool or fibre to be washed is by feed rollers, feed apron or by hand fed into the
end 8 of the sud bowl 1, the sud or washing liquor being forced by the pump 9 and
conveyed by pipe 10 to the interior of the trough 2, the bottom of the said trough
being perforated so that as the wool or fibre is fed into the end of each bowl at i it is
by the movement of the trough 2 covered, immersed, in the sud, pressed and squeezed
between the bottom of the sud bowl, and the under surface or bottom of the trough 2
whereon the trough will be again raised and carried in the direction of the feeding
end S of the sud bow! 1 and by the displacement of sud water on the trough being
again immersed together with the slight declivity or incline of the bottom of the said
bowl 1 the wool is gradually stage by stage worked and washed to the opposite end 11
of the sud bowl 1 receiving in its progress a series of squeezing or pressings from the
trough 2, together with the pouring of suds through the perforations upon the fibre at
each time the trough is lifted upwards and out of the sud or washing liquor in the
bowl 1 as explained.
The wool or fibre so acted upon thence floats forward to the nipping rollers 12 at
which in consequence of an entire dispensing with forks or forking operation the fibres
reach such rollers 12 in a perfectly open and fleecy state which as will be readily
understood greatly facilitates the squeezing out the sud, and also the dirt or foreign

page_text: matter because the wool or fibre is not matted or clogged together as is the case more
or less in all fork machines or fork operations.
The portion of the bottom of the said bowl from C to D is perforated and
preferably corrugated longitudinally the corrugations forming channels for the sud
or washing liquor to run under the wool and thereby not only to facilitate its
passage to the squeezing rollers 12 but to keep it in its open and fleecy state.
The wool or fibre passes from the squeezing rollers 12 to the endless apron 13 by
which it is carried to the succeeding machine.
At 14 is a tank divided as shewn; into compartments 15, being for receipt of and
return from the washing bowl wherein solid matter or sand can precipitate, the overflow
from 15 being by way of the perforations in the plate 16 the liquor from the compart-
ment 17 passes through the perforations in the plate 18 in a comparatively filtered state
to the supply tank 19 from whence it is drawn as described and forced by the pump 9
to the trough 2. At 20 are standards which support the sud bowl 1 above the tank 14
(see Fig. 5).
Referring now to the apparatus illustrated by drawings on sheets 2. 3. 4. 5 and 6
all the parts are alike to those already described in reference to Fig. 1 save the
trough 2 is, as stated divided into five separate lengths each of which receives by
means of the strap eccentrics 4 a rising and falling motion, and as the, say first, third
and fifth are immersed and second and fourth will be raised the pressing or squeezing
action on the fibre, the displacement of sud consequent flushing or floating the fibre
forward and under the next trough to be thereby further operated upon as described;
follows as the succeeding squeezing operations of the trough 2 when made in one
entire length, and we find that with this the trough 2 divided into lengths, excellent
practical results are obtained without any end wise motion being imparted to the
troughs; that is to say, a rising and lowering motion only is imparted by means of
the strap eccentrics 4 and the chains passing over the guide pullies 21.
We prefer the top or tops of the trough or troughs 2 should be covered by a lid 22
as the immersion of the trough or troughs 2 forces more or less air from the interior
of the trough into the sud and amongst the wool or fibre favouring the extension of
the fibres in the desired open and fleecy state and the expulsion of dirt, grit and
sand.
In practice we have made the trough or troughs 2 of cast iron and about inch in
thickness and about 1 inch narrower than the sud bowl, such proportions afford ready
immersion with the requisite pressure or nip on the fibre whilst not heavy or
cumbersome to raise, move, and lower; but we do not confine ourselves to any special
dimensions nor to any number of troughs 2 such as one trough or five as the number
may be varied according to the circumstances or requirements.
Having thus fully described the said invention together with the manner in which
the same is to be performed or carried into practical effect, we claim :-
--
1. The method of and apparatus for washing wool and other textile fibres wherein
the material passes under a trough or troughs having a reciprocating motion and
operating within a sud bowl or washing trough by a pressing or squeezing action
substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.
2. The employment of a trough or troughs combined with actuated and operating
within the sud or washing bowl of wool or fibre washing machines; substantially as
and for the purposes herein fully described and illustrated in and by the annexed
drawings.
3. In combination with a wool or fibre washing machine having pressing and
squeezing troughs substantially as described; the tank subdivided into compartments
as and for purposes herein fully set out and illustrated by annexed drawings.
101
2300
WALTER
BRIERLEY,
Central Chambers, Halifax, Agent for the Applicants.
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Central Chambers, Halifax, Agent for the Applicants.