IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SCOURING, MILLING, FULLING, WASHING, AND WRINGING WOVEN FABRICS.”
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Cochran Adam, Bleacher, Dyer, and Cloth
Finisher, and Duncan Stewart, Engineer, both of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR SCOURING, MILLING, FULLING, WASHING, AND WRINGING WOVEN FABRICS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Cochran Adam
& Duncan Stewart at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
21st February 1882.
ALEXANDER COCHRAN ADAM, Bleacher, Dyer, and Cloth Finisher, and DUNCAN
STEWART, Engineer, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SCOURING, MILLING, FULLING, WASHING, AND
WRINGING WOVEN FABRICS."
This Invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
machinery for scouring, milling, fulling, washing, and wringing woven fabrics.
According to one modification, the improved machinery comprises a cylinder
fixed on a horizontal shaft which is carried in bearings at the sides of a tank or
trough made of iron and wood combined and by preference of a semicylindrical
form. The cylinder is formed with a channel-shaped rim which is generally of
brass, and which has two sets of one or more, generally three nipping rollers fitting
in between the sides of the channel for the purpose of nipping and acting on the
woven fabric which in the form of chains or in a gathered rope-like condition pass
between the nipping rollers and the cylinder. After passing under one set of
nipping rollers the fabrics pass between rubbing or compressing boards which are
pressed together by weights or otherwise and then descend into the tank whence
they are drawn up again to be passed under the second set of nipping rollers and
between a second set of rubbing or compressing boards. The two ends of the
length of fabric may be united in the usual way and the fabric be passed repeatedly
through the apparatus.
The bearings of the nipping rollers are fitted in radial guides in the framing
and accomodate themselves to the thickness of fabric passing under them; and

page_text: their pressure is produced by means of small hydraulic cylinders the rams of which
are formed on or act on the bearing brasses. The several hydraulic cylinders are
connected by piping with an hydraulic accumulator the weight on which is
regulated to produce a suitable pressure on the hearings of the nipping rollers. If
desired the dydraulic cylinders may be connected to different accumulators so that
the pressures on the several rollers may be regulated separately. The nipping
rollers are made with their outer or acting parts of wood or of rubber, and the
rollers of one set are by preference applied to the cylinder so as to be diametrically
opposite to those of the other set, in order that their pressures on the cylinder
may be nearly balanced. Instead of the hydraulic cylinders acting directly on the
bearings of the nipping rollers, the hydraulic pressure may be communicated
through levers in which case fewer hydraulic cylinders may be required.
Instead of two sets of nipping rollers being combined with one cylinder, two
cylinders each with its set of nipping rollers may be combined in one tank or
trough; or a single cylinder with its set of nipping rollers acted on by hydraulic
pressure and one set of rubbing or compressing boards, may be combined with two
cylinders working together with the fabric passing between them.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Cochran Adam & Duncan Stewart in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th August 1882.
ALEXANDER COCHRAN ADAM, Bleacher, Dyer, and Cloth Finisher, and DUNCAN
STEWART, Engineer, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SCOURING, MILLING, FULLING, WASHING, AND
WRINGING WOVEN FABRICS."
Our said Invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
machinery for scouring, milling, fulling, washing, and wringing woven fabrics.
According to one modification our improved machinery comprises a cylinder or
drum upon a horizontal shaft and made with a channel-shaped rim which is
generally of brass; and this cylinder has two sets of one or more-generally three
nipping rollers fitting in between the sides of the channel for the purpose of
nipping and acting on the woven fabrics which in the form of chains or in a
gathered rope-like condition pass between the nipping rollers and the cylinder.
After passing under one set of nipping rollers the fabric passes between rubbing
or compressing boards and then descends into the tank whence they are drawn up
again to be passed under the second set of nipping rollers and between a second
set of rubbing or compressing boards. The two ends of the length of fabric may
be united in the usual way, and the fabric may be passed repeatedly through the
apparatus.
The nipping rollers have the pressure with which they act on the fabric
determined by small hydraulic cylinders arranged to act on their bearings these
cylinders being in communication with an hydraulic accumulator the weight on
which is adjusted to suit the desired pressure. If desired the hydraulic cylinders
may be connected to different accumulators so that the pressures on the several
rollers may be regulated separately. The nipping rollers are made with their
outer or acting parts of wood or rubber, and the rollers of one set are by preference
applied to the cylinder so as to be diametrically opposite to those of the other set,
in order that their pressures on the cylinder may be nearly balanced.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing an example of our improved
apparatus.
Figures 1 and 2, on the accompanying sheet of drawings are vertical sections as
at right angles to each other; and figure, 3, is an enlarged detail view. In these
drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
Our improved apparatus is fitted in connection with an oblong wooden vat or
vessel, 4, made with vertical sides and ends and with its bottom inclined at the
ends. This vat, 4, is fixed between a pair of castiron standards, 5, formed and
fitted with bearings for various parts, and which is indicated by dotted lines in
figure, 1. On a main shaft, 6, carried in bearings, on the standards, 5, and
provided with fast and loose pulleys, 7, for a driving belt, there is fixed the
cylinder, 8, having a brass, channel-shaped rim, 9, and two sets of nipping
rollers, 10, each set comprising three rollers, are arranged diametrically opposite to
each other and so as to work in the channel of the cylinder rim, 9. The shaft, 11
of each nipping roller, 10, is held in bearings, 12, fitted, as shown in figure, 3, to
move in guides, 13, formed in the standards, 5, in positions radiating from the
centre of the cylinder, 8, and the bearings, 12, are pressed towards the centre in
each case by the ram, 14, of a small hydraulic cylinder, 15. The several hydraulic
cylinders, 15, are connected by pipes which are not fully shown in the drawings
with an hydraulic accumulator which is not shown but which may be of any
suitable known construction, and which is weighted to correspond with the
pressure desired to be applied to the nipping rollers, 10. With this arrangement

page_text: of hydraulic-pressure bearings the nipping rollers, 10, move inwards and outwards
to accomodate themselves to varying thicknesses of the fabrics passing between
them and the cylinder whilst they continue to act with uniform pressure.
The woven fabric which is being operated upon is in figure, 1, represented in
the form of an endless chain or set of chains, the ends being joined so that the
fabric may be passed repeatedly through the machinery. After the fabric has
passed between the cylinder, 8, 9, and either set of three nipping rollers, 10, it
proceeds between rubbing or compressing boards, 16, forming a kind of tapering
spout or duct, with the sides movable and also the top or bottom. As usual with
such boards, 16, those of them which are movable are pressed inwards by
weights, 17, applied either directly or by levers or by cords and pulleys. From
the outer contracted end of each set of rubbing boards, 16, the fabric descends to
and accumulates at the bottom of the vat, 4, whence it is drawn up again over
guide rollers, 18, and between dividing pins, 19; and then is led through guide
spouts, 20, in between the cylinder, 8, 9, and nipping rollers, 10. At the left-hand
side of the machine as seen in figure, 1, the ascending fabrics are divided so as to
pass up one half on each side of the boards, 16.
Instead of the bearings, 12, of the nipping rollers, 10, being acted on directly by
hydraulic cylinders the hydraulic pressure may be communicated through levers, in
which case fewer hydraulic cylinders may be required.
Instead of two sets of nipping rollers, 10, being combined with one cylinder, 8, 9,
two cylinders each with its set of nipping rollers may be combined in vat or
vessel, the fabric being led alternately over the two cylinders; or a single cylinder
with its set of nipping rollers acted on by hydraulic pressure, and one set of
rubbing or compressing boards, may be combined with two cylinders working
together with the fabric passing between them.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the
precise details herein described or delineated but that what we believe to be novel
and original and claim as the Invention secured to us by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is:
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of machinery for scouring,
milling, fulling, washing, and wringing woven fabrics substantially in the improved
manner hereinbefore described.
2. The application of pressure to the nipping rollers of machinery for scouring,
milling, fulling, washing, and wringing woven fabrics by means of hydraulic
cylinders acting directly or through levers as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination with one cylinder (8, 9) of two sets of nipping rollers (10)
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described.
4. The combination in one vat or vessel of two cylinders (8, 9) each with one set
of nipping rollers (10) the parts being arranged to lead the fabric alternately over
the two cylinders substantially as herein before described.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Duncan Stewart, on behalf of the said
Alexander Cochran Adam and myself have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Eighteenth day August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty tow
Witness
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
DUNCAN STEWART (L.S.)