Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Cleansing Wool or other Materials.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Cleansing Wool or
other Materials.
We GEORGE LEWIS PHIPPS EYRE of 1 John Street, Bedford Row in the
County of London, Solicitor, and THOMAS JOHN HOPKINS of Cradle Bridge
Works, Trowbridge in the County of Wilts, Engineer, 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:-
The object of our invention is to provide apparatus or means whereby wool or
other materials (we will presume for the sake of description that it is wool that is
to be treated) can be washed or cleansed in a much more efficient manner than
hitherto, and our invention consists mainly in providing in such apparatus means
for projecting water, or other washing or cleansing medium, or agent (which we will
refer to as the cleansing agent) onto into and through the wool from reverse sides
or surfaces thereof whereby the side which is, or would otherwise be, in contact
with the perforated or reticulated apron, band or device by which the wool is
conveyed forward, during the washing or cleansing operation, is more efficiently
washed or cleansed than it would otherwise be if the cleansing agent were applied
to one side only.
Our invention is especially adapted for use in a washing or cleansing apparatus
such as is described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 10134 granted to
us and we will describe it in that connection although it is not limited in its
application to that apparatus. We arrange under the perforated or reticulated
apron, band or device, on which the wool is placed and carried between squeezing
rollers and beneath sprays of the cleansing agent, a perforated pipe, passage or
chamber, or perforated pipes, passages or chambers, through which the cleansing
agent is forced under such pressure that it passes through the perforations or
interstices, of the carrying apron, band, or device, with sufficient force to practically
lift the wool, therefrom so as to thoroughly wash or cleanse the underside of the
wool under treatment; at the same time clearing the interstices of the carrying
apron, band, or device, of fibres or dirt which would otherwise under the action of
the upper spray tend to choke up the said interstices.
The conjoint action of the sprays from above and from below, and of the
squeezing rollers thus gives a very efficient washing and cleansing action on the
wool.
If desired duplicate and intermittently acting feed aprons may be provided to
which a lateral and forward travelling and delivery action is given for the purpose
of saving the loss of time in the operations of washing or cleansing thus making the
action of the machine as nearly continuous as possible but the same feed apron may
be used continuously if desired. The cleansing agent may be so supplied and the
wool be so traversed in relation thereto that during its passage through the machine
the said wool will meet a cleaner and cleaner supply of cleansing agent it being
acted upon by the cleanest water or liquid as it is about to leave the machine so that
the cleansing agent which has acted upon comparatively clean wool aftewards acts
upon dirtier wool whereby the said cleansing agent will remove from the wool under
treatment as much dirt and soluble matter as possible during the passage of the said
wool through the machine or apparatus.
In place of using combined upper and under sprays of cleansing agent the machine
may be so constructed that the wool is turned upside down during its passage
through the machine and in this arrangement an upper spray or sprays or an under
spray or sprays of cleansing agent only may be used for the washing or cleansing o

page_text: both sides of the wool under treatment or both upper and lower sprays may be
employed with this method of reversing.
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures of the annexed drawings the same letters and figures of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.
Figure represents in side elevation a machine constructed according to our
invention for washing wool (or other materials but we will presume it to be wool)
in which the wool is acted on by a combination of upwardly and downwardly pro-
jected sprays of cleansing agent whereby the wool is acted upon from both the
upper and the lower sides so that the dirt or impurities are more effectually removed
from the wool than is the case when the cleansing agent operates from one side only
the arrangement being such also that the cleansing agent is very economically
utilized. Any soluble products extracted from the wool may be readily
recovered.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of a modification in
which in place of employing upwardly and downwardly projecting sprays of the
cleansing agent only upwardly or downwardly projected sprays may be employed
and the same result be obtained by reversing or turning the wool upside down as it
passes through the machine so as to present both sides alternately to the action of
the sprays of cleansing agent.
Figure 4 shews diagrammatically in plan an arrangement for feeding a continuous
supply of wool into the apparatus.
Referring to Figure 1 A is a tank or chamber separated by partitions a into
compartments A1 A2 A3 and provided with a reticulated or perforated endless band
apron or traversing device B by which the wool is traversed through the tank. The
apron B is carried on rollers Cat the opposite ends of the tank A and is provided
at its edges with chains or links to engage with teeth or projections on the said
rollers so as to cause the apron to travel without unequal sagging of the opposite
edges of the apron and consequently ensuring the wool being conveyed in the proper
course through the machine. The apron B may consist of any suitable reticulated
or perforated material (preferably wire work) that will admit of the cleansing agent
passing freely therethrough. This apron passes between several pairs of squeezing
rollers D, D¹, D2 situated respectively in, or over, the compartments A' A2 A3 of
the tank A. In each of these compartments are arranged two sets of jet
pipes E F E F1 E2 F2 extending transversely across the trough A and connected
to boxes or chambers e e¹ e² and ff'f' situated respectively on opposite sides of the
tank A.
The upper sets of pipes E E' E' are perforated beneath so as to direct sprays of
the cleansing agent onto, into, and through the wool, from above and the lower sets
of pipes F F F² are perforated on the upper side so as to direct sprays of the
cleansing agent onto, into, and through, the wool from beneath the said cleansing
agent being forced with sufficient pressure through these pipes to cause the wool to
be saturated therewith and preferably such that the said wool is raised slightly
from the apron band or device by the pressure of the said cleansing agent passing
through the interstices of the said apron from beneath whereby the wool is more
effectually cleansed and the interstics of the apron band or device are kept clearer
than is the case when the cleansing agent is applied from spray pipes at the upper
side only. The wool may be fed onto the apron B by any convenient means for
example (as shewn in the drawing) by means of a creeper or endless apron G. The
wool when fed onto the apron B is first saturated with the cleansing agent forced
through the pipes E and F in the compartment A¹ of the tank A and is carried
thence by the apron B between the pair of squeezing rollers D by which the liquid
and impurities are expressed from the wool and descend into the compartment A.
The lower part of the compartment A' is in communication by a pipe a² with the
suction ends of pumps H on opposite sides of the machine the delivery end of one of
which pumps is in communication by a pipe b with the box or chamber e¹

page_text: communicating with the jet pipes E' in the compartment A³ the corresponding
pump on the opposite side of the machine being similarly connected to the box or
chamber communicating with the jet pipes F1 in the said compartment A².
These pumps may be driven by gearing or otherwise from any suitable source of
power so as to force the cleansing agent from the compartment A' through
the pipes E' F' with sufficient force to saturate the wool passing from between the
squeezing rollers D. The wool is then conducted by the apron B between the
second pair of squeezing rollers D' by which the cleansing agent and further
impurities are expressed from the wool and descend into the compartment A² of the
tank A. This compartment is in communication, by pipes a³, with two pumps
arranged on opposite sides of the machine the pump H' serving to pump the cleansing
agent from the compartment A2 through the pipe 62 into the box e and through
the jet pipes E' above the wool as it passes through the compartment A the
corresponding pump at the other side of the machine forcing the said cleansing
agent from the compartment A2 into the box f2 and through the pipes F onto the
underside of the wool as before. The wool is thus again saturated with the
cleansing agent in passing from the rollers D' to another pair of squeezing rollers D²
situated in the compartment A3 by which latter rollers the liquid or cleansing agent,
and still further impurities are expressed from the wool and enter the said
compartment A³ the wool passing thence from the machine freed from dirt and
impurities and it may be conducted by any convenient means to any desired place
for further treatment if required. The machine may be provided with any desired
number of compartments fitted with spraying pipes and squeezing rollers as
described and the wool be passed through any desired number of the compartments
according to the dirtiness of the said wool. By thus employing the cleansing agent
economy of such agent is obtained while the soluble bye-products extracted from
the wool may be more readily recovered. In the arrangement illustrated by
Figures 2 and 3 the wool is traversed to and fro through the machine and is turned
upside down or reversed at each return motion so as to present alternately the
opposite sides or surfaces of the layers of wool to the direct action of the sprays of
cleansing agent. We have shewn this arrangement in combination with. the
arrangement hereinbefore described and shewn in Figure 1 but it may be used
independently thereof. When employed in combination as shewn the endless band
or apron B by which the wool is carried through the trough A is passed round a
roller I so as to convey the wool in a reversed position onto another endless band
or apron B¹ carried at one end of the machine on rollers C₁ and between a pair of
squeezing rollers D³ situated over the compartment A³ of the tank A the said apron
passing also between two other pairs of squeezing rollers D and D situated
respectively over the compartments A2 A' of the said tank A. This apron is
carried at the opposite end of the machine round rollers K situated so as to cause
the wool to turn over and pass onto another apron B2 above, by which the said
wool is traversed back towards the end of the machine from which it had travelled.
This band or apron B2 is at this end of the machine carried upwards round a
squeezing roller D and guide rollers L so as to cause the wool to be again reversed
or turned upside down onto another endless band or apron B³ by which it is again
conducted through and from the machine. Between the upper and lower portions
of the endless band or apron B' are arranged perforated pipes F3 through which
the cleansing agent is forced through the interstices of the said band or apron onto,
into, and through, the wool from the underside thereof; similar perforated pipes F
and F' being arranged respectively between the upper and lower portions of the
endless apron B2 and the apron B through which pipes, cleansing agent is forced in
upwardly directed sprays through the bands or aprons onto, into and through the
wool so that while the wool is passing through the machine it is alternately acted
upon from first one side or surface of the layers and then from the other side or
surface of layers by the sprays of cleansing agent the wool after each saturation
passing between squeezing rollers so that it is very efficiently cleansed.
As the inlet for cleansing agent is at the upper part of the machine and the wool

page_text: passes in an upward direction through the machine, the cleanest water acts on the
wool as it is about to leave the machine with the advantages mentioned with regard
to the previous arrangement, Figure 1. The final pressure is given to the wool by
a pair of squeezing rollers D', to express the cleansing agent and last impurities
from the wool before it leaves the machine. The cleansing agent and impurities
expressed from the wool by the squeezing rollers D D D D and D' are caught
in a tray or trough M, and conducted therefrom by a spout m, into the compart-
ment A of the tank A, from which it may be pumped into and through the
pipes F and F to act again on the wool, and thus economise the use of cleansing
agent as hereinbefore described.
Although we have shewn in Figure 2, the sprays of the cleansing agent as being
directed onto, into, and through the wool from the under side thereof, as it is traversed
through the machine, the said sprays may in this arrangement be passed onto, into,
and through the wool from the upper side thereof, or the said sprays may be
directed simultaneously onto, into, and through the wool from both the upper and
under sides thereof as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1.
The sprays or jets of the cleansing agent may be so arranged as to act inter-
mittently, continuously or simultaneously in any desired manner.
They may for example be made to act intermittently, by providing the several
pipes with cocks which are opened and closed as required by means of a rod
connected to a striker acting on their levers or handles, which rod or striker can
receive motion from a crank driven by or from any convenient part of the
machine.
N, are rotating beaters or strippers to ensure the wool passing from one apron
onto another. Three beaters or strippers and also the endless aprons, squeezing
rollers and pumps may be driven by means of gearing as shewn or in any other
suitable manner.
The machine may be made with the aprons in line instead of
with the aprons one above the other as shewn.
.
The wool to be washed or cleansed may be fed into the apparatus in a
continuous manner by providing duplicate feeding aprons or creepers, as shewn
in Figure 4 the said feeding aprons or creepers being capable of being moved in
a lateral direction or at right angles to the direction of feed, so that when the
wool has been delivered from one of the aprons on to the washing apron band or
device the apron from which the wool has been so delivered will be moved away
and the other feed apron which has meantime been supplied with a charge of dirty
wool will be brought into position to continue the feed to the washing apron band
or device.
In the arrangement shewn for this purpose two feeding aprons G G²
are carried on rollers o. o mounted in a frame P fitted to slide on rods or
shafts QQ The shaft Q is driven by gearing R from any suitable rotating part
of the washing apparatus, and is provided at about the centre of its length or
opposite the apron B by which the wool is traversed through the apparatus, with a
wedge or projection 9 (or any other suitable engaging device) which when either
forward roller o or o2 is brought into position opposite the said apron B engages in
a notch or recess or corresponding engaging device in the said roller, so as to
impart rotation thereto and consequently give a forward motion to the apron
carried thereby. While one of the feed aprons (say, for example, the apron G) is
in position for feeding wool on to the apron B, the other apron, (say that G³)
remains stationary, its forward carrying roller O being out of engagement with the
engaging device on the shaft Q2 and then the said apron may be supplied with a
charge of dirty wool in readiness to fill the place of the feed apron in action.
g
When the wool from the apron G has been fed into the apparatus the frame P
with the rollers carrying the aprons G G2 may be traversed along the shaft Q2 so
as to move the apron G from opposite the apron B, and being the apron G2 with its
charge of dirty wool opposite the said apron B.
The forward roller, carrying the apron G2 when in this position, is engaged by
the engaging device q, on the shaft and receives motion therefrom, so as to feed
the dirty wool on to the washing apron band or device B and while, this is taking

page_text: place, the apron G is stationary so that it can be supplied with dirty wool to be
ready to take the place of the feed apron G2 when that is emptied. A constant
feed of dirty wool on to the washing apron band or device may thus be maintained
as long as required, and the apparatus thus be made to work, continuously or
practically so.
Duplicate delivery aprons may be similarly arranged at the delivery end of the
apparatus so as to conduct the wool as it passes from the apparatus into centrifugal
machines or other receivers. Or receivers may be alternately brought into position
to receive the wool from a single delivery apron or the like.
As before stated although we have used the term "wool" in describing the
apparatus the said apparatus may be employed to wash or cleanse any other
material for which it is suitable.
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 what
we claim is :-
1. In apparatus for washing or cleansing wool and other materials, the com-
bination of an endless perforated or reticulated band apron or equivalent device and
means by which washing or cleansing water liquid or agent is sprayed onto, into,
and through, the material from the underside thereof, or both from the upper and
underside thereof, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. In apparatus for washing or cleansing wool and other materials, the com-
bination of an endless perforated or reticulated apron or equivalent device and
means by which the wool or material is subjected to the action of washing or
cleansing water liquid or agent projected onto from and through both sides or
surfaces, or from above and below the material and squeezing rollers for expressing
the water liquid or cleansing agent and impurities therefrom substantially as herein-
before described.
3. In apparatus for washing or cleansing wool and other materials, the com-
bination with means whereby the material is alternately acted upon by washing
or cleansing water liquid or agent, and by squeezing rollers by which the water
liquid or agent is expressed from the material of a receiving tank, vessel or com-
partments or receiving tanks vessels or compartments, for the water liquid or
agent and impurities expressed from the material, and a pump or forcing device or
pumps or forcing devices whereby the same water liquid or cleansing agent is
forced several times onto, into, and through the material under treatment as it is
passing through the apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
4. In apparatus for washing or cleansing wool or other material and means
whereby the material to be washed or cleansed is caused to pass to and fro through
the apparatus, and be reversed or turned upside down at each change in the direction
of its motion in combination with means for spraying, washing or cleansing water
liquid or agent, onto, into, and through the material under treatinent, alternately
from opposite sides or surfaces thereof, and squeezing rollers for expressing the
water liquid or agent and impurities from the said material arranged substantially
as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In apparatus for washing or cleansing wool or other material, the combination
with means whereby the material is caused to travel to and fro through the
apparatus, and reversed or turned upside down at each change in the direction of
its motion of means whereby it is acted on, on both sides or surfaces by upwardly or
downwardly, or both upwardly and downwardly, projected sprays of washing or
cleansing water liquid or agent, the said water liquid or agent being projected onto,
into, and through, the material in its passage through the apparatus so that the
cleaner water liquid or agent acts upon the cleaner material, the water liquid or
agent as it gets dirtier meeting the less cleansed material, substantially as herein

page_text: before described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying
-drawings.
6. In or connected with apparatus for washing or cleansing wool or other material
the employment of duplicate feeding aprons (or their equivalents) and means for
alternately moving them into and out of position and of traversing them for feeding
material into the apparatus, so that while material is being fed into the apparatus
by one of the feeding aprons the other feeding apron is stationary and in position
to receive a charge of material in readiness to take the place of the one when empty,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figure 4 of the accom-
panying drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting apparatus for washing
or cleansing wool or other materials, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting apparatus for washing
or cleansing wool or other materials sul stantially as herein before described and
illustrated by Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, whether the bottom
endless band or apron and the squeezing rollers through which it passes form part
of the combination or not.
Dated this 29th day of Sentember 1809
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.