Improvements in Wool-washing and Scouring Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1896
Complete Specification Loft 10th Ann 1907 Accented
22nd Ma
1007
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wool-washing and Scouring Machines.
I, JOHN DAWSON of Mayfields Ironworks, Milnrow near Rochdale, in the
County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in wool-washing and scouring machines
in general but more particularly to such machines as are described in the
Specification of my Patent numbered 25,033 and dated December 24th 1894.
The object of the present improvements is to render the working of the aforesaid
machines more efficient than hitherto and to this end the invention consists in an
improved arrangement of pipes for conducting or conveying the suds for washing
and scouring purposes to and from the main sud or washing bowl; in means for
causing a uniform discharge of washing liquor or suds across the full width of the
sud bowl both at the entering end of the bowl and at the opposite end thereto
(at the latter end for washing-out purposes); in means for effecting a thorough
cleansing of the bottom of the washing bowl; in means for automatically regulating
the flow of suds from the settling tank to the washing bowl and for the prevention
of air entering the bowl along with the suds; in means for effecting automatic
lubrication of the top squeezing roller bearings and in improved means for raising
and lowering the rake frame whilst the machine is being cleaned.
In carrying out my invention I arrange a service of pipes for conveying the
suds from and to the sud bowl at the side of the machine so that they are in the
most accessible position for repairs or for cleansing purposes and for the manipulation
of the valves which control the flow of the suds. The means for causing a uniform
discharge of the suds into the washing bowl consists, at the entering end, of a pipe
or chamber placed across the end of the sud bowl and above the level of the suds
therein, this pipe or chamber being in communication with the sud conveying
pipes at one end whilst it is closed at the other. At the side nearest the interior
of the sud bowl I provide the pipe or chamber with an outlet extending from one.
side of the sud bowl to the other. This outlet is in the form of a slot, or it may
be a number of holes in close proximity to each other, which is narrowest at the
end farthest away from the end of the chamber at which the liquor enters. By
this means the liquor is uniformly discharged as the pressure of liquor is greatest
at the narrow end of the slot and least at the widest end. One of the advantages
arising from this method of discharging the liquor is that a uniform current, the
direction of flow of which is towards the squeezing rollers, is set up and the wool
is kept constantly on the move towards the said rollers irrespective of the motion
due to the rake frame. By this means also the wool as it drops from the
feed lattice is saturated uniformly and is prevented doubling up or becoming
entangled.
At the discharge end of the machine the same principle is applied to the inclined
plate near to the opening, in the side of the machine at which the sud conveying
pipe discharges the suds when the bottom of the sud bowl is to be cleaned out.
In this case the plate is made deeper at one side than the other so as to leave a
discharge slot between its bottom edge and the bottom of the sud bowl, of a similar

page_text: character to the slot just described. In this case and the one just referred to
means may be provided for regulating the taper of the slot in accordance with the
pressure at which the liquor is discharged.
The means for effecting the cleansing of the sud bowl bottom from sand and
heavy matters or sediment consist of an endless band or chain supported in
a suitable manner, such as by rollers or guides, and situated between the perforated
false bottom and the real bottom of the sud bowl. This chain, or chains or bands,
is provided with one or more scrapers, preferably two, arranged at a suitable
distance apart and in such a way that their free edges come in contact with the
bottom of the bowl and so dislodge the sediment thereon, carrying it towards the
end of the machine nearest the outlet. The band is rotated or traversed by
suitable means such as by a sprocket wheel fixed on one shaft that supports the
band, the said shaft being suitably mounted and driven from the outside of
the machine. The circulation of the liquor or suds during the cleaning process
and also during the normal working of the machine-that is to say whilst washing
or scouring the wool-is effected by a suitable form of circulating pump and
valves.
:
To regulate the flow of liquor from the settling tank to the sud bowl and to
prevent the entry of air into the sud bowl, I provide in the settling tank
à compartment which at one side is in communication with the sud conveying pipes
and at another side, preferably the top side, in communication with the last
compartiment of the settling tank. The opening in the last named side is controlled
by a suitable valve, such as a wing valve. On the spindle of the valve I fix an
arm carrying at its free end a float-whose position with relation to the suds in the
tank can be altered as desired. As the suds in the tank rise or fall so does the
float operate the valve to cause a greater or less opening of same and consequently
thus increase or decrease the flow of the suds towards the pump. But in all cases
the valve is totally covered by suds. The reason for so covering the valve by
suds is to prevent the pump drawing air with the latter. When air is discharged
with suds into the sud bowl the air causes the fatty matters in the suds to rise to
the surface and so form a scum on the top of the liquor. This scum is really an
insoluble soap which on coming in contact with the wool, stains it and prevents
a thorough cleansing of same. It is therefore highly important to prevent
the formation of such scum and this I claim to accomplish by the means just
described.
To lubricate the bearings of the top squeezing roller, I form beneath each
bearing, or attach to the framework below the latter a small chamber in which is
mounted, on suitable supports, a lubricating roller that runs in contact with the
journal. To enable this to be done the bottom bearing brass or step is cut out
longitudinally. The chamber serves to receive the lubricant which is fed to it
through a passage cut or formed in the collar of the bearing. To enable a large
quantity of oil to be in the chamber the roller is perforated so that the oil may get
into its interior.
To raise and lower the rake frame whilst the machine is being cleaned I use
worm and wheel gear in place of ratchet mechanism such as described in the
specification of patent before referred to. By this means I dispense with
any catch, as the worm wheel and worm sustain the rake frame at any point
desired.
Dated Lion
T 1
1000

page_text: Paper-washing and scouring Machines.
I, JOHN DAWSON, of Mayfields Ironworks, Milnrow near Rochdale, in the
County of Lancaster, Machine Maker 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 improvements in wool washing and scouring machines
in general but more particularly to such machines as are described in the
Specification of my Patent numbered 25033 dated December 24th, 1894.
The object of the present improvements is to render the working of the aforesaid
machines more efficient than hitherto and to this end the invention consists in an
improved arrangement of pipes for conducting or conveying the suds for washing
and scouring purposes to and from the main sud or washing bowl; in means for
causing a uniform discharge of washing liquor or suds across the full width of the
sud bowl both at the entering end of the bowl and at the opposite end thereto (at
the latter end for washing-out purposes); in means for effecting a thorough
cleansing of the bottom of the washing bowl; in means for automatically regulating
the flow of suds from the settling tank to the washing bowl and for the prevention
of air entering the bowl along with the suds; in means for effecting automatic
lubrication cf the top squeezing roller bearings and in improved means for raising
and lowering the rake frame whilst the machine is being cleaned.
Fig. 1 is an outline side elevation of a wool washing machine with certain of my
improvements applied.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the washing bowl of a wool washing machine
showing other improvements and Fig. 3 is a cross section of same; Fig. 3A a
part plan;
Figs. 4 to 8 shew my improved method of lubricating the squeezing roller
bearings and
Figs. 9 and 10 shew improved means for raising the rake frame.
In carrying out my invention and referring principally to Fig. 1, I arrange a
service of pipes for conveying the suds from and to the sud bowl A at the side of
the machine so that they are in the most accessible position for repairs or for
cleansing purposes and for the manipulation of the valves which control the flow of
the suds. The pipe B it will be seen is arranged near the top of the sud bowl
communicating with the latter at ba point below the false bottom b. At the
feed end of the machine the pipe B communicates with a pipe C for discharging
suds into the bowl A and which I shall hereinafter refer to more fully. A three-
way valve D is placed between pipes B and C, two of its branches communicating
with these pipes while the third is coupled to a branch pipe D' that is in turn
coupled to a rotary or centrifugal pump d. The latter is in turn connected to one
end of the settling tank E, the other end of this tank communicating by a pipe e
with the trough e below the squeezing rollers el. A valve D is placed between
the rotary pump d and the settling tank E and has a branch pipe d' leading from
it to the well d" at the end of the sud bowl. During normal working of the
machine, valve D is open to settling tank and closed to well d" but it may he
closed to tank and open to well, when the suds in sud bowl may be made to
circulate without affecting the settling tank. By means of the three-way valve D
the suds in the settling tank E may be put in communication with the feed end of
the sud bowl as required in normal working or may be turned along pipe B and
discharged into the sud bowl A at 6 beneath the false 'bottom b' so as to assist in
clearing away the sediment deposited at the bottom of the machine.
The means for causing a uniform discharge of the suds into the washing bowl

page_text: consists, at the entering end (see Figs. 2 and 3) of a pipe C or chamber F placed
across the end of the sud bowl A, and above the level of the suds therein, this
pipe C or chamber F being in communication with the sud conveying pipes B
and D. At the side nearest the interior of the sud bowl, I provide the pipe C
or chamber F with an outlet extending from one side of the sud bowl to the other.
This outlet is in the form of a slot f, or it may be a number of holes in close
proximity to each other, which is narrowest at the end farthest away from the end
of the chamber at which the liquor enters. By this means the liquor is uniformly
discharged, as the pressure of liquor is greatest at the narrow end of the slot and
least at the widest end. One of the advantages arising from this method of
discharging the liquor is that a uniform current, the direction of flow of which is
towards the squeezing rollers, is set up and the wool is kept constantly on the
move towards the said rollers irrespective of the motion due to the rake frame.
by this means also the wool as it drops from the feed lattice is saturated uniformly
and is prevented doubling up or becoming entangled.
At the discharge end of the machine the same principle is applied to the
inclined plate G (see Fig. 2) near to the opening b in the side of the machine at
which the said conveying pipe B discharges the suds when the bottom of the sud
bowl is to be cleaned out. In this case the plate G is made deeper at one side
than the other so as to leave a discharge slot g between its bottom edge and the
bottom of the sud bowl, of a similar character to the slot just described. In this
case and the one just referred to means may be provided for regulating the taper
of the slot in accordance with the pressure at which the liquor is discharged.
The means for effecting the cleansing of the sud bowl both from sand and heavy
matters or sediment consist of one or more, preferably two endless bands or
chains (see Figs. 2 and 3) supported in a suitable manner, such as by rollers H¹
and Hand by guide bowls à secured to side i sud bowl A and situated between the
perforated false bottom & and the real bottom & of the sud bowl. The chains or
bands are provided with one or more brushes such as h¹ or scrapers such as or
a combination of the two arranged at a suitable distance apart and in such a way
that their free edges come in contact with the bottom 6 of the bowl and so
dislodge the sediment thereon, carrying it into the well d at the end of the
machine. The band or bands is rotated or traversed by suitable means such as
by a sprocket wheel fixed on one shaft that supports the band, the said shaft being
suitably mounted and driven from the outside of the machine by a chain strap,
band or the like. I, however prefer to mount the shaft J supporting the chains in
bearings formed in the sud bowl, suitable provision being made at the bearings to
. prevent leakage of suds. This is accomplished on one side by a cap j and on the
other by a suitable stuffing-box j. The shaft J may be driven directly or may
receive its motion from pulleys mounted on a stud J. The outer pulley is loose
and the other J" is connected with a pinion which gears with and drives a
wheel fixed on shaft J. The circulation of the liquor or suds during the
cleaning process and also during the normal working of the machine-that
is to say whilst washing or scouring the wool-is effected by the circulating
pump d.
To regulate the flow of liquor from the settling tank to the sud bowl and to
prevent the entry of air into the sud bowl, I provide in the settling tank a
compartment K which at one side is in communication with the sud-conveying
pipes D', through the pump d and at another side, preferably the top, in
communication with the last compartment E' of the settling tank E. The
opening in the last named side is controlled by a suitable valve such as a wing
valve k. On the spindle of the valve I fix an arm & carrying at its free end a
float whose position with relation to the suds in the tank can be altered as
desired. As the suds in the settling tank rise or fall so does the float k" operate
the valve to cause a greater or less opening in the compartment K and
consequently thus increase or decrease the flow of suds towards the pump d.
But in all cases the the valve k, or the opening to the pump d, is totally covered

page_text: by suds. The reason for this is to prevent the pump drawing air with the suds.
since when air is discharged along with suds into the sud bowl it causes the fatty.
matters in the suds to rise to the surface and so form a scum on the top of the.
liquid. This senm is really an insoluble soap which on coming in contact with the
wool stains it and precludes a. thorough cleansing of same. It is therefore highly
important to prevent the formation of such seum and this 1 claim to accomplish by
the means just described.
Instead of placing the valve k in a compartment at one end of the settling tank
I may place it in any other convenient position. For instance in one modification
I have placed it in the pipe C as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1. In this case
its spindle projects outside the pipe C and has fixed on it a lever / that communicates
by an adjustable link with the shorter arm combined with the float lever k³, the
latter, in this instance being pivoted to the side of the settling tank.
To lubricate the bearings of the top squeezing roller, I form beneath such
bearing, or attach to the framework below the latter, or to the bottom portion of
the bearing brass, a small chamber L (see Figs. 4 to 6) in which is mounted, on-
spring controlled supporting pins a lubricating roller L' that runs in contact
with the journal L". To enable this to be done the bottom bearing brass or
step M is cut out longitudinally as shown. The chamber L contains the lubricant
which is fed to it through a passage m cut or formed in the collar and body of the
bearing brass. The side or end of the brass containing the groove or passage m.
has screwed or otherwise secured to it a collar or ring m' which can be readily
removed, when it is desired to clean out the passage m. To enable a large quantity
of oil to be available for the bearing the roller L may be perforated so that the oil
can get to its interior.
Similar means of lubrication may also be applied to the bearings of the bottom.
squeezing roller see Figs. 7 & 8. In this case a light roller q would run in an oil
chamber g' formed in the framing supporting the squeezing roller and parallel with
the neck of the latter. This roller would not be in contact with the bearing neck;.
but to transfer the lubricant from it to the latter a second roller q" is mounte
above and rests on it. This second rollers also rests against the neck and so.
transfers the lubricant picked up by the first roller.
To raise and lower the rake frame whilst the machine is being cleaned I use
worin and wheel gear in place of ratchet mechanism such as described in my
previous patent before referred to. In the new arrangement shown in Figs. 9.
and 10 N is a longitudinal shaft arranged in suitable bearings above the sud bowl
and having at each end the usual pulley to which is attached a hooked chain for
attachment to the rake frame. Near one of the pulleys is fixed a worm wheel O.
gearing into and being driven by a worm P fixed on a cross shaft, the latter being
rotated when required by a winch handle. By this arrangement the rake frame.
can be raised and lowered as desired and held in any suitable position without the
intervention of a catch or the like.
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) In machines for washing & scouring wool the improved arrangement of
sud-conveying pipes substantially as described and shown.
(2) In machines for washing and scouring wool the means for causing the suds
to be uniformly discharged into the sud bowl and the means for causing a uniform.
discharge of the suds for cleaning purposes substantially as described and shown.
(3) In machines of the indicated nature the use of rotating or traversing
brushes and scrapers or a combination of brushes and scrapers for cleaning the
bottom of the sud bowl substantially as described.
(4) In machines of the indicated nature the means for automatically regulating
the flow of suds from the settling tank to the washing bowl and for the prevention.
of air entering the latter along with the suds substantially as described.

page_text: (5) In machines of the indicated nature the improved means for lubricating the
squeezing roller bearings substantially as described and shown.
(6) In machines of the indicated nature the use of worm gear for raising and
lowering the rake frame substantially as described.
(7) The improved arrangements and combination of parts constituting my
improvements in wool washing and scouring machines substantially as described
and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of April 1897
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR,
Agent.