Improvements in Machinery for Washing and Scouring Wool and other Fibrous Material.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Washing and Scouring Wool and
other Fibrous Material.
We JOHN PETRIE of Broomfield, Rochdale in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist, and JOHN FIELDEN of 32 Sussex Street Rochdale in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our invention relates to machinery for washing and scouring wool and other
fibrous material, when the material being washed or scoured is carried from the feed
end to the delivery end of the machine by a stream of the washing or scouring
liquor flowing into and through it, or which may be made to flow into and through
it by mechanical means.
The bowl or vessel in which the wool or other fibrous material is to be washed or
scoured, we construct mainly on the lines of ordinary wool scouring machines; that
is to say, with a feed and delivery apparatus, bottom plates, perforated false bottom
plates and squeezing rollers. The wool or other fibrous material is supplied to the
washing bowl by means of an ordinary travelling brat. We place a cistern or
vessel provided with a narrow slit or perforated outlet extending across the width
of the washing or scouring bowl, and which is or may be supplied with washing or
Scouring liquor by means hereafter described, and is used for the purpose of
thoroughly dashing and saturating with washing or scouring liquor, the wool or
other fibrous material ou its leaving the feeding apparatus. The wool or other
fibrous material being thus by the stream of liquor forced down into the washing
or scouring liquor in the washing or scouring bowl, we employ a revolving cylinder
of metal or other suitable material which by its rotation further forces the wool or
other fibrous material down and into the scouring liquor thus more effectually
securing its complete saturation. In order that this revolving cylinder may yield
to the varying quantities of wool passing underneath it, we attach a balance weight
or other suitable arrangement for relieving the pressure.
The wool or other fibrous material on leaving the cylinder would be carried
forward by the force of the stream of the washing or scouring liquor supplied.
Our invention further consists in the means we adopt to prevent the material
washed or scoured, being too rapidly carried to the delivery end of the washing or
scouring bowl. To do this we employ series of bars, blades or tubes, of which
there may be one or two or more sets having alternate motions, placed longitudinally
in the washing or scouring bowl and extending across the width of the bowl with
space intervals between each bar, plate or tube. Each series of bars, plates or
tubes we suspend by means of chains or other equivalents so that by suitable
mechanism they may have an up and down and to and fro motion given to them, as
required. By their downward motion the bars, plates or tubes submerge the wool
or other fibrous material on its passage towards the delivery end of the washing or
scouring bowl. The material is thus held and retarded in its progress, but the
stream of washing or scouring liquor flowing through it, is not prevented.
-
When the series of bars, plates or tubes have travelled a space in the direction
of the stream they are raised out of the washing and scouring liquor and moved
back to their former position thus having a to and fro and up and down motion
repeated as continuously as required.
We further provide at the delivery end of the washing and scouring bowl or
vessel another revolving cylinder partially balanced under which is placed
a perforated plate so that the wool or other fibrous material on its passing

page_text: underneath the revolving cylinder is or may be deprived of a portion of the liquor
held by it and is then conveyed by the usual ordinary means to the nip of the
squeezing rollers or to any other receptacle. The liquor passing through the
perforated plate placed underneath the revolving cylinder falls into a suitable
receiver having perforated false bottom plates so as to prevent escape and loss of
fibres of wool or other material which may not have passed to the squeezing rollers
or other receptacle. We further provide a separate cistern or tank which may be
placed underneath the washing or scouring bowl or in any suitable position, in
which the washing or scouring liquor is or may be prepared and kept at a
...requisite temperature by means of a steam jet or jets.
The liquor falling from underneath the cylinder at the delivery end of the
machine, as also the liquor from the squeezing rollers is made to flow back into
the preparing tank by suitable tubes or connections. In combination with this
tank or cistern and for the purpose of cleansing it on changing the washing or
Scouring liquor, we place underneath the bottom plates a pipe or pipes to which a
steam jet is or may be attached so as to produce a circulation of the liquor which
in its action will remove any sediment at the bottom of the cistern, which sediment
"finally escapes by the outlet valve.
In connection with this tank we place a pump or other suitable water lifting
apparatus by means of which the liquor is or may be forced up to and into a cistern
or vessel by which a dash or shower of washing or scouring liquor is poured on to
"the wool, or other fibrous material on its leaving the feeder of the washing or
"scouring bowl.
It will be evident that sediment will to some extent accumulate underneath the
perforated plates of the washing and scouring bowl. In order to remove this
sediment we further provide that by suitable valves and pipe communicating with
the pump or other water raising means, a stream of water will, or may, be forced
into the space underneath the said perforated plates and wash out the acoumulated
sediment into the cistern, at the time of its being cleansed, in which the scouring
liquor is prepared, or may be passed directly into an ordinary drain.
Dated this Twenty-third day of October 1891.
JOHN 'PETRIE.
JOHN FIELDEN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Washing and Scouring Wool and
other Fibrous Material.
We JOHN PETRIE of Broomfield Rochdale, Machinist, and JOHN FIELDEN
of No. 32 Sussex Street, Rochdale both in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
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 :-
Our invention relates to machinery for washing and scouring wool or other filmous
material in which the material-being washed or scoured is carried from the feed-end
to the 'delivery end of the machine by a stream of washing or scouring liquor
flowing into and through it; which flow into and through the machine; may be
effected by mechanical means.
The bowl or vessel in which the wool or other fibrous material is to be washed
or scoured, we construct mainly on the lines of ordinary wool scouring machines ;
that is to say, with a feed-and-delivery apparatus, bottom plates, perforated false
bottom-plates, and squeezing rollers.
The salient feature of this our invention, consists in the employment of. ran
arrangement or combination of mechanism, whereby the material undergoing treat-
ment in the machine may be retarded in its progress or passage through the stream
of washing liquor from the "feeding end to the delivery end thereof; or operated

page_text: "
upon in such a manner so as to be maintained in an open or "lofty
state, which
arrangement is adapted to operate, and is capable of operating upon the wool in a
gentle or sensitive manner, applying just sufficient pressure thereto, and at
intermittent periods, in order merely to retard the movement of the material in the
flowing stream, obviating its being carried along too rapidly therewith, thus the
wool may be maintained in an open or fleecy condition and admit of the most.
beneficial treatment of the fibres thereof, which may be thus subjected to the.action
of the liquor and the material thus thoroughly cleansed.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we have reference to the
accompanying sheets of drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate like
parts throughout the figures therein shewn.
Fig. 1 being an elevation of a wool scouring machine shewing our improvements.
attached thereto.
Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an elevation drawn to an enlarged scale of so much of the details of
our invention as is necessary to explain the action and details of the mechanism. for
operating upon the wool whilst passing through the stream of washing liquor.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is an elevation drawn to an enlarged scale shewing details of our improve-
ments applied at the delivery end of the machine.
Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 5.
According to our arrangement the wool or other fibrous material is supplied to
the washing bowl by means of the ordinary travelling brat a, we place in any
convenient position above the level of the washing or scouring bowl b, an apparatus c,
provided with a narrow slit or perforated outlet c¹, transverse to the washing or
Scouring bowl b, by means of which apparatus the washing or scouring liquor is
distributed therefrom, which liquor is supplied from the lower or liquor preparing
tank g, through the pipe or connection i, by means of a suitable pump or forcing
apparatus h, for the purpose of thoroughly dashing or saturating with washing or
Scouring liquor the wool or other fibrous material on its leaving the feeding.
brattice a. The wool or other fibrous material being thus by the shower or stream
of liquor from the apparatus c, forced down or carried in the longitudinal direction
of the scouring bowl b.
In any convenient position immediately in front of the apparatus c, we employ &
loosely mounted drum or cylinder d, which may be provided with strips or lags d',
and free to rotate about its axis, the said drum being suitably balanced on a fixed pivot
or fulcrum e, by means of convenient levers and balance or counter weights f, by
our arrangement the drum d being self adjustable or capable of accommodating itself
to the varying conditions of the material passing underneath. The functions of
the self adjustable drum d, applied at the part as indicated in the drawings here-
with, being to further insure or more effectually to secure the complete saturation
of the wool being operated upon. The wool passing under the drum d, is thence
carried by the flow or stream of washing liquor in the longitudinal direction of
the scouring bowl towards the delivery end thereof, but if permitted to be carried
along by the force of the stream without check or hindrance, the material would
be carried along too rapidly to admit of the cleansing or scouring process being
effectually performed, but here we provide an arrangement or combination of
mechanism by which means the movement of the material in the stream is slightly
retarded in order to allow of the liquor to more effectually flow. through the same,
and such retarding force is applied in sufficient quantity and manner so as to
convert into a gradual movement that which would otherwise be rapid, at the same
time the material may be maintained in an open or "lofty state, that is, the
material does not become "matted" consequently the creation of waste or "noil"
is minimised. To effect this, we employ a series or any convenient number of bars,
plates or other equivalents j, j (of which there may be one, two, or more sets, but
in the drawings herein, a set of two is employed) placed lengthwise of the washing
or scouring bowl and extending across the width. thereof, and between which bars
"

page_text: intervene spaces ³, 1. The set of bars being so arranged that the bars j enter or
pass into the spaces, intervening between the bars j', or vice versa, in order to
allow of the free and alternate movements or action of the component parts j and j¹
of the set of lifting bars, which series or component parts of the bars we suspend
by means of chains k, k', or other equivalents which chains are attached to pulleys
or blocks 1, mounted on shafts n, n¹.
9,
On the shafts n, n' are also mounted two toothed gear wheels o, ol which_gear
one on each side of a corresponding gear wheel p, mounted on the shaft q, see Fig. 3
the gear wheel p is caused to have an oscillating motion about the axis of the shaft
which is effected by the agency of the eccentric block r, mounted on the shaft 8,
which eccentric block rotates in the rectangular clip or box t attached to the
connecting rod t¹. When the shaft is caused to revolve, consequently an
oscillating motion about its axis is imparted to the wheel p on the shaft 99. and a
corresponding motion is imparted to the blocks l, and l', on the shafts n, n', thereby
alternate vertical movements are or an up and down motion is imparted to the
component parts or series j. j' of the set of bars respectively through the agency of
the chains or connections k, k', so actuated as to cause the said bars to be alternately
lifted out of, and to enter the stream, when this occurs the wool or material passing
underneath during its passage to the delivery end of the machine, is alternately and
periodically retarded in its progress. In order to insure sensitive action or
operation of the bars upon the material passing through the bowl, we interpose between
the extremities of the chains k, k¹ and connections u, a', suitable springs v, v, being
so adapted and arranged that when the bars come in contact with the material in
the bowl, the same are caused to yield, thus to admit of slight pressure on the
material, in order to maintain it in an open or "lofty" condition throughout its
passage from the feeding end to the delivery end of the bowl for the purposes as
herein before indicated. In addition to the alternate upward and downward
movement as before described, the bars j, j have also a movement lengthwise of, or
a to and fro motion with relation to the bowl, which is effected through the agency
of a suitable eccentric block and connecting rod w, and toothed quadrant
levers x, x, x, x. At the delivery end of the washing and scouring bowl we
provide a revolving cylinder or drum y, which may be provided with lags y', and
placed transverse to the scouring bowl b, which drum may be operated or driven by
any convenient means from any convenient motion part of the machine, and which
drum we provide with suitable guides z. In connection with the drum on each side
and above the axis thereof, we also provide suitable springs so adapted and
arranged as to allow the drum to yield or rise more or less according to the quantity
of material passing underneath. Under the said drum is likewise placed a perforated
plate A, in order that the wool or other fibrous material on its passage underneath
the revolving cylinder is or may be deprived of a portion of the liquor held thereby,
and is then conveyed in the ordinary manner over the inclined plate B to the nip
of the squeezing rollers C, C¹, or any other receptacle, or may be delivered from
the squeezing rollers to a second machine or more succeeding machines.
The liquor passing through the perforated plate A underneath the revolving
cylinder is allowed to fall through a suitable orifice or pipe D, (which may be
provided with a regulating valve at its outlet), into the receiver E provided with a
perforated false bottom plate F, see Fig. 1 in order to prevent the escape and loss
of fibres of wool or other material which may not have passed to the squeezing
rollers or other receptacle, or the liquor may pass through a pipe or conduit H
(connected with the outlet D) of rectangular or other suitable form which may
also be provided with a regulating valve J, in order to lead or convey the liquor
direct into the liquor preparing tank g, see Figs. 1 & 5. In the event of passing
the liquor direct into the preparing tank, the said tank may be provided with
perforated false bottom plates.
Whichever arrangement is used, the quantity of liquor which may be desired to
be passed over the inclined plate B, may be varied by contracting or enlarging
the opening at K, through the medium of the lip piece L, operated by the screw

page_text: threaded spindle M, which may be necessary more or less to assist in carrying the
material over the point B' leading to the inclined plate B, as may be necessary
according to the light or heavy nature of the material to be dealt with.
The liquor in passing down the inclined plate to the squeezing rollers consequently
flowing back into the mud tank or receiver E, and when full overflowing therefrom
into the preparing tank g. We provide in connection with the preparing tank or
cistern ga steam jet or jets N in any suitable position for the purpose of cleaning
out the preparing tank.
In connection with the upper cistern or washing and scouring bowl b we employ
a pump h, which is connected therewith by means of connections P, which
connections P from the pump or lifting apparatus terminate in the space R.
Through the medium of the weighted valve T we are enabled by operating or
moving the weight to the right or left, to open a communication between the space R
and the lifting apparatus h, consequently when it is desired to remove the obstruc-
tions or sediment from underneath the perforated plates S in the scouring bowl,
water may be admitted or forced into the space R, and thus the sediment may be
removed and passed out into the ordinary drain.
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 a wool scouring or washing machine the use and the application of the
balanced bars, plates, or other equivalents, having an upward and downward, also
to and fro movements whereby the material in its passage through the scouring
bowl may by its sensitive action thereon be retarded throughout the scouring
process and delivered from the machine in an open or "lofty" state as herein fully
described, and set forth and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
(2.) The spiral coils or springs v, vl, interposed between the connections and bars
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
(3.) In combination the bars, plates or other equivalents with the suitably
balanced feed drum d, whereby the material may be merely immersed in the stream
in an open state and passed therefrom to and under the bars j, j as and for the
purposes herein fully set forth.
(4.) In combination the compensating cylinder or drum y, the perforated plate A
the conduit or pipe H, provided with an outlet regulating exit valve J, which pipe
may convey the liquor into the receptacle E, or preparing tank g, accordingly as
may be preferred as and for the purposes herein fully set forth.
(5.) The adjustable or regulating exit valve J whereby a higher or lower level
of water may be maintained in the well in which the cylinder y is situate at the
delivery end of the machine as and for the purposes herein fully set forth.
(6.) In combination the weighted two way valve T and the forcing apparatus
or pump h, as and for the purposes herein fully set forth.
(7.) In combination the perforated plate A with the adjustable or regulating
exit valve J as and for the purposes herein fully set forth.
ст. x 1000.
JOHN PETRIE.
JOHN FIELDEN.
J. H. Butterworth, Rochdale,
For the Applicants.