Improved Condensed and Automatic Apparatus to be Employed in the Preparation of Wools for Washing and Cleansing.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY DANZER, of 19, Rue Cambon, Paris,
Engineer, as Agent for GEORGES MALARD, of Turcoing, Engineer, both in the
French Republic.]
Improved Condensed and Automatic Apparatus to be Employed in
the Preparation of Wools for Washing and Cleansing.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE HEYS, of 70, Market Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:.
The apparatus hereinafter described, and which is employed in the preparation
of all kinds of raw wools for washing, has been designed to effect in a single
continuous operation, all the preliminary treatments which the wools have to
undergo, with a view to economise, regularise, hasten, and improve their washing.
Thus, one may have in the same machine, a feeder, a steeper, a desuinter or a
suinter, and an opener. By the aid of this condensed apparatus, which is
illustrated by the accompanying drawings, the intermediate transports of the
wool, which are cumbrous and prejudicial, are suppressed with other disad-
vantages attending the treatment in several apparatus or intermittently, pre-
paratory to the washing. Further, a large economy in manual labour and a
more regular and excellent product are realised. The apparatus works continuously
and is entirely automatic.
In the drawings:-
Figure 1, shews a longitudinal section; Figure 2, a transverse section; and
Figure 3, a partial plan of the apparatus.
Figure 4, shews a longitudinal section; Figure 5, a plan; Figure 6, a side
clevation and Figure 7, a second longitudinal section of the decanting or
separating apparatus.
Figure 8, shews plan Figure 9, a side view; Figure 10, a section along
the line - Figure 11, an end view; and Figure 12 a section along the
line a-b, of a single link in the endless travelling apron.
Figure 13, shews a partial plan, Figure 14, an end view, and Figure 15, a
section along the line e-f, of an end link in the apron.
Figure 16, shews a partial plan of the travelling apron.
و.
The apparatus is composed essentially of a tank divided into a series of com-
partments
which is usually arranged directly in front of the first
tank m of the washing machine, which may be of any system whatever. Also,
of an endless travelling apron v, arranged above the tank, supported by the
riven rollers r, r, r, as to its upper part, and by the friction rollers g, 9, 9, as
to its under part. The wool, spread upon this apron is conducted by it into
the first tank m of the leviathan and during its passage it receives successive
sprinklings or artificial rains of the liquids derived from the compart-
nents 3,
These liquids are raised by a battery or series of rotary pumps h, h₂ ha
placed alternately above and below a horizontal plane and rotated in opposite
lirections, in such a manner that they may be driven by a single belt as indicated
y Figure 1. Their delivery pipes each have a part fi fa fa... perforated
elow with one or more rows of holes of any shape whatever, arranged horizontally

page_text: above the apron v, and perpendicularly to the axis of the machine, in such a
manner as to form true sprinklers.
These liquids have the duty to drench the wool, and to rationally and
methodically remove the suint therefrom.
"
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There are laterally inclined collectors P1 P2 Pa arranged between the
upper and lower parts of the travelling apron e, each of which receives a corre-
sponding liquid derived from the compartments a, a, az and allows it to
thereafter return through an outlet in its lower side, to its original compartment.
Nevertheless, a special arrangement may permit a portion of this liquid to fall
into the neighbouring compartment in the direction of the entrance to the
machine. In fact, the collectors are arranged above and on each side of each
partition between two compartments. The outlet from the collector which
permits the liquid to be discharged therefrom, is furnished with a hinged clack
valves, of which the obturator rests upon the upper end of the guide rod of a
float
with which each compartment is provided.
If the float rod steals away because of the descent of the float i, for example,
the valve sgapes, and a part of the liquid from the collector p, falls into the
compartment a3. If, on the contrary, the compartment a fills up, its float i, rises
and, the length of the rod having been calculated for that purpose, closes the
valve when the liquid has attained its upper maximum level.
This having been said, it is easy to understand the automatic operation of the
apparatus in all the compartments of which the liquids will always have the same
level. In short, they can neither contrive to be emptied nor to overflow. It
will be evident that the classification of the liquids will be separately made as a
matter of course, and that the first which traverse the wool will charge them-
selves with the larger portion of the very soluble suint and other foreign matters,
whilst the following portions will attain a gradually decreasing density.
But then, there will arrive a moment, if one treats normals wools, when the
first sprinkling liquid will attain a sufficient density to authorise its evaporation
and industrial calcination for the production of the potash of the suint, or of
a special treatment to obtain the useful products.
This point varies between 10° and 15° Bé., corresponding with 1, 0744-1, 1160
of the areometer, and when it is reached, the strong suint, which then has a
very useful but too energetic chemical action, should be automatically discharged
towards an external reservoir. To enable this to be done, the whole or part of
the first liquid which has traversed the wool, and has been received by the
collector, is directed into a special apparatus provided with decanting com-
partments, and with a certain, simple, and practical mechanism.
This apparatus is illustrated by Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. The small areometer .r,
which it contains, is simply used as a check. The whole of the operation of the
apparatus is controlled by the larger metallic float 1, which may be of pyramidical
or conical form.
The weighted float is ballasted in such a manner that when it is plunged in
a solution marking, for example, 11° Bé., it will remain immersed in the liquid
up to the middle of its upper tubular part.
The liquid introduced into the balance compartment containing the float h,
where it is preserved at a constant level, overflows at the upper part and drains
away by the side channels cd, through which it returns to the first compartment
of the machine.
The channel, which receives a uniform quantity by the inlets r₁, which
quantity is the maximum discharge supply, is furnished with a vertically sliding
door or valve the position of which controls the draining away of the liquid.
This door or valve is thus able to make the level of the liquid in the channel
rise until it has caused a more or less abundant overflow through the outlet i. All
the upward and downward movements of the balanced float h, caused by the
variations in the density of the liquid in which the float is plunged, are trans-
mitted to the sliding door or valve by the beams, and attached chains.

page_text: When the float is at the bottom, the completely lifted door or valve leaves the
passage free for the very weak suint which returns completely to the com-
partment of the machine.
If, following an increase in the density of the suint, the float rises, the door
or valve
lowered. It will suffice to regulate its position, to modify the length
of the suspending chain in such a manner as to ensure the discharge of the suint
when this latter has attained a predetermined degree, according to the nature and
richness of the treated wools. The screw », permits a precise regulation to be
made once for all.
As the circulation, in proportion to the volume of liquid received is somewhat
rapid in the first compartment 7p, the decantation is imperfect, and if one desires
to obtain clearer liquids one is able to decant and filter the weak portion of
the expelled liquid by making it pass into a second and syphon compartment 7, Pa.
In the last division of this compartment p, there is inserted a filtering agent
which may be a perforated box enclosing any suitable filtering material whatever
any desired thickness, through which the strong suint must pass from bottom
to top to gain the definitive outlet or discharge channel.
of
The outlet y and y, are for cleansing; the first is constant, and the second
has a valve connected by a chain and lever with the starting and stopping lever
of the machine in such a manner that when the machine is started, the valve
will be closed, and when it is stopped, the valve will be opened. At this
moment, the level of the liquid in the filtering compartment descends to the same
level as that of the liquid in the compartment a₁, in virtue of the law of com-
municating vessels, and the decanted heavy parts are carried along first.
filter itself may be cleared by a reverse current.
The
When the tank a, loses some of its volume as described, its float i, descends
and consequently effects the withdrawal through the valve s₁, of an equal quantity
of liquid from the compartment a2.
This compartment a, in the same way, claims and deducts by its float 2, a
like quantity from a, and so on to the last compartment in like manner.
The last compartment, to maintain its constant level, will make a call for
water, either in the first washing tank m by a communicating pipe having
a non-return valve, or directly to a higher reservoir containing hot or cold water,
charged with detersive matters or not.
The valve b, has a flat rod key pierced with an opening through which engages
a finger fixed upon the float guide rod. The latter then controls all the movements
of the valve, the finger el, being placed at such a height as to prevent all overflow
from the last compartment.
This water can be directed in fine sprinkling threads upon the wool, which
is thus finally rinced and completely deprived of the last trace of alkalinity.
It is important to remark here, that the final sprinkling is constant as it is
indirectly caused by the loss of volume which the first compartment a₁ of the
machine suffers, and that this loss is continuous. In fact, even when the wools
will not produce suint in a high degree, the compartment a, continually loses
part of its liquid which has first sprinkled the wool. As the wool is generally
supplied in the dry state, it necessarily absorbs and carries away a certain part
of the liquid.
Deposited dirt and foreign matters may be removed from the compartments
hrough the covered man-holes n n.
The wool is retained upon the travelling apron by the side pieces jj.
e e, are interceptors or perforated plates; w, is the elbow of the pump suction
ipe, and a box for holding the deposited matters; and are pressure rollers
pon the layer of wool and which have for their object to hasten and render more
omplete the expulsion of the liquids.
The rollers may vary in number and have their journals in weighted
earings so that the pressure may be regulated as desired.
When dry or defective wools are treated, excellent results are obtained by

page_text: treating them in the machine, with suint previously obtained from other wools.
The machine thus becomes a true suinter and can thus restore to such wools their
original nature and suppleness and render their washing easier and more
economical.
In order that, in machines of relatively restricted dimensions, the wool may
have a soaking of sufficient duration, without being exaggerated, a type of
travelling apron has been sought which shall be practical and of sufficient
strength to be able to carry without to great wear and tear, a layer of soaked
wool having a width of about 32 to 39 inches, and a thickness which may
reach to from 20 to 23 inches. Such an apron has been devised and is illustrated
by Figures 8 to 16 inclusive. By its aid a good feeding of the leviathan is
assured, and a complete soaking is effected in from 15 to 25 minutes.
The apron may be made of any suitable metal, its elements are well propor-
tioned and their assembly is easy.
It is composed of perforated links A. having lugs breaking pitch on opposite
sides B. Holes which are preferably oval or similarly shaped with their major
axis in the direction of the length of the apron, are produced through the lugs
for the reception of the articulation rods CC. Two rows of the links having
been arranged end to end, the lugs of one row fitting between the contiguous
lugs of the other row, one of the articulation rods is passed through the contiguous
lugs, thus hinging the two rows of links together, and is secured by collars
pinned on at each end. Another row of links is then added and connected
and so on until the necessary length has been completed when the two ends of
the apron are joined by a last articulation rod. The non circular form of the
holes is preferred as it allows some play and facilitates repairs.
It has already been stated that a complete soaking is effected in from 15 to
25 minutes. Because of the consequently comparatively slow motion of the
apparatus, the same results are obtained as by mechanical feeders, regularity of
fed, and economy of labour.
Several of the travelling aprons may be easily and practically fed by a single
operative, and the layer is always sensibly uniform, because of its firm thickness
and the time the operative has at his disposal to make it.
My. correspondent further describes a kind of feeding shoot which permits the
very regular supply of wool to the apparatus from the first floor.
This descending conduit D, Figure 1, is like a nearly vertical prolongation of
the travelling apron and it permits the gauging and the regulation as may be
desired, of the volume of wool which should enter for treatment.
The side of the shoot towards the machine is hinged at its upper part, so that
the lower end of this side, k, may be made to occupy a position more or less
remoto from the opposite side 1, according as it may be desired that the rate of
supply of the wool should be increased or diminished.
Triangular extensions E may be attached either to the sides of the shoot or to
the edges of the panel k, to prevent a lateral opening being produced in the shoot
when the panel k is moved outwards.
With this installation, a single operative may casily feed three or four
leviathans.
Finally, manufacturers who have no interest in preserving wools in entire
fleeces, as they exist after having passed through the herein before described
apparatus, may, if they so desire, beat their wools in the dry state without
additional labour, by installing their beating machines in front of the apparatus
in such a manner that the beaten wool may be received upon the travelling
apron, or by the shoot D.
But they will have greater facility for opening and disentangling the fleeces
in the wet condition and in a less brutal and dangerous manner for the filaments,
by substituting the ordinary immersing drum c of the washing machine by an
opening drum.
It suffices, as indicated by Figures 1 and 2, to arm the wings or strips on

page_text: this drum with combs composed of metallic, needles slightly inclined with
reference to the produced radius. The stripping of the endless apron is thus
facilitated and there is produced a regular fall of the wool, supported by the
roller in divided portions, that is to say in the most favourable conditions for
the rapid achievement of a perfect washing.
A blade flyer furnished at its outer extremities with leathers may equally be
employed for detaching the wool at the outlet of the machine and projecting
it upon the immerser of the washing machine, or upon an intermediate travelling
apron conducting to that machine."
The apparatus may be employed for the preparation of wools for ordinary
washing and in their preparation for treatment by volatile hydrocarbons for the
removal of greasy matters.
It is to be understood that the description hereinbefore given is intended
to fix the ideas, and that numerous modifications may be applied with respect
to the number, nature, and arrangement of the different elements which compose
the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for the preparation of wool for washing, an endless travelling
apron, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for the preparation of wool for washing, a feeding shoot having
a hinged side by means of which the supply of wool may be regulated, constructed
and arranged substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus for the preparation of wool for washing, the combination
construction and arrangement of devices for ensuring the preservation of a
constant level in the several compartments ₁₂ ... which consist essentially
of the floats ₁₁ . . . having guide rods the upper ends of which, by the
motions of the float, open and close valves in the collectors P1 P2 P3 sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
"
4. In apparatus for the preparation of wool for washing, the hereinbefore
described means for effecting a final sprinkling of the wool with rinsing water,
constructed and operating substantially as herein before described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
5. In apparatus for the preparation of wool for washing, the appliance
illustrated by Figures 4 to 7 inclusive of the accompanying drawings and con-
structed arranged and operated substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In connection with apparatus for the preparation of wool for washing,
an immersing drum e having rows of inclined metallic teeth thereon, constructed
and arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
7. In connection with apparatus for the preparation of wool for washing, the
hereinbefore described construction and arrangement whereby the whole series
of centrifugal pumps may be driven by a single belt, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.