IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF REMOVING VEGETABLE MATTER FROM WOOL, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jasper Wetter, of New Wandsworth, Surrey, for an
invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF REMOVING VEGETABLE
MATTER FROM WOOL, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH
A communication to him from abroad by Albert Snoeck, of Ensival, Belgium
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jasper Wetter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1882.
JASPER WETTER, of New Wandsworth, Surrey, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF REMOVING VEGETABLE MATTER FROM WOOL, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH," a communication. to me from abroad by
Albert Snoeck, of Ensival, Belgium,.
"
This invention consists firstly, in subjecting wool to chemical processes having
for their object to clean the wool from vegetable matter adhering to it, not while
the wool is in locks, yarn, or woven tissue, but when it has been worked into
fleeces or slivers by the carding or combing inachine, so that the chemical action
takes place while the wool is in a state of division favorable for the destruction of
the vegetable impurities. Secondly in applying for this process a continuous
machine comprising the following principal organs:
(a) a rack on which are placed the bobbins carrying the fleeces or slivers.
(b) one or more troughs containing the acid baths and in which the said fleeces
or slivers are caused to travel several times to-and-fro by the traction of rollers.
(c) a drying apparatus comprising one or more cylinders over which the woollen
fleece formed by the said fleeces or slivers is dried and then heated to a temperature
sufficient for carbonising the vegetable matters, by means of a current of air heated
in any suitable manner and set in motion by ventilators.
(d) a series of troughs, one of which contains water, the following an alkaline
bath, and the next following a soap bath, through which baths the woollen fleece is
caused to travel several times.
(e) a drying cylinder with ventilator, if it is desired to dry the woollen fleece
thus prepared.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Jasper Wetter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th November 1882.
JASPER WETTER of New Wandsworth, Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF REMOVING VEGETABLE MATTER FROM WOOL, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH" a communication to me from abroad by
Albert Snoeck, of Ensival, Belgium
Various processes of carbonisation have hitherto been applied for removing
particles of straw and other vegetable matters from wool, while the latter is in the
form of flocks, or yarn or woven tissue.
The process of carbonisation consists generally in the following steps
.1. Drenching in an acidulated bath 2. Drying, airing.
3 Drying at temperatures more or less high. 4. The application of one or more
baths for the purpose of removing the acids.
5. The drying. A sixth operation having for its object to eliminate the vegetable
matters which have become pulverized (which, however, is not always indispensable)
often takes place after the first or second drying, it is the crushing with or without
beating, or the beating only.-When the wool in form of flocks is subjected to such
treatment, one of the principal inconveniences is, that all above mentioned
manipulations contribute to entangle the threads which causes a shortening of the
fibres in the subsequent operations.
This inconvenience increases, if the above treatment is applied to wool intended
for carding, as the value of the product in this case principally depends on the
length of the threads. If the said process is applied to the wool when in form of
yarn, such treatment is also not carried out without serious inconveniences.
The presence of teazels, besides considerably counter-acting the operation of
spinning, especially for the fine counts, makes the manipulations of the woollen
fleece in the different operations of carbonisation very expensive, and also exposes
the yarn to great injury.
The same treatment of wool, when in form of woven tissue, may answer the
purpose for certain kinds of tissues, that is to say, if the tissues are woven of yarn
so coarse that the presence of teazels and particles of straw does not present a
serious obstacle to the operation of spinning the same, and for tissues which are so
compact that the removal of the vegetable matters to be eliminated does not leave
perceptibly empty spaces, so as to diminish the value of the tissue. If, on the
contrary, the tissues are light or woven of fine yarn, the fabric cannot be subjected
to the said process of carbonisation, and to produce such tissues it is therefore
necessary to use fine (selected) wool of very high price. To prevent these many
inconveniences and to render the carbonisation applicable in different cases, where
it has hitherto not been applied advantageously, especially for wool intended for
combed and light tissues, instead of treating, like my predecessors, the wool when
in form of flocks, yarn, or woven tissue, I apply any of the well-known processes,
to the wool, when it has been worked into a fleece or slivers.
If combing-wool is under treatment, I apply such treatment to the slivers either
before they enter or after they leave the combing machine. Treating the material,
when in this form, enables one to perform simultaneously and in a continuous
manner the operations which constitute the carbonisation of the vegetable matters.
To obtain this result I use a machine which will be hereinafter described. The
filaments, of which the slivers consist, are not deranged by the passing of the
slivers through this machine and, on leaving the latter, they are equally well

page_text: adapted for the further treatment to which they are subjected for transforming
them into yarn.
If the slivers are treated before entering the carding machine an accessory, but
still important, result is obtained in producing clean noils instead of noils with
teazels. The use of the machine hereinafter described has the further advantage to
reduce to a minimum a great amount of hand-work which was hitherto required in
the different operations of carbonisation.
When using said machine or one analogous to it, such hand work is in reality
reduced to the feeding of the machine. This advantage by itself is important
enough to justify the introduction of this system, even in case the length of the
fibres of the material is of no importance.
The machine represented in the accompanying drawing (Fig 1.) is composed of:
the following parts. 1, a rack on which are placed the bobbins carrying the
slivers a a a, preferably 32 in number. 2, one or more troughs B C D E containing
the acid-baths. These troughs are provided with several pairs of guide-rollers b b².
Before passing the first pair of rollers, the slivers leaving the rack are conducted
through the apertures of a guide plate R arranged as shown in Fig. 2.
The width of the slivers is about twice the space between the centre of one
aperture and the centre of the next aperture, which arrangement causes the slivers
to overlap each other and to form a regular fleece without interstices, which is of
great importance, considering the pressure and the drying to which the slivers are
afterwards subjected.
The apertures g¹g¹ g¹.
are arranged in zig-zag form in series of eight,
so as to facilitate the division of the fleece into four parts, when leaving the last
drying-cylinder; each of such parts is to be transformed into one sliver.
Before leaving each trough, the fleece formed by the slivers passes a pair of
wringing rollers d, d', intended to remove as large a part of the liquid as possible.
3. A drying cylinder F constructed with two solid discs or carriers mounted on
a hollow axle of large diameter.
The part of the axle comprised between the two discs is perforated with large
openings fff
One end of said hollow axle is closed; the other end is open and serves as a
casing for a fan F" arranged so as to drive outward the air entering the hollow
axle through the openings fff of said axle.
The circumference, of the cylinder or drum is formed by glass-bars parallel to
the axis, and at a considerable distance from each-other, so as to form an enormous
reel. The fleece is conducted by the two rollers p p¹ in such a manner, as to travel
over the whole circumference of said drum or reel.
The space between the bars corresponds in size with the width of the fleece, so
that the air-current produced by the fan is forced to pass through every part of
the fleece.
The cylinder is placed in a kind of chamber closed at the top by an arched iron
covering situated at a certain distance from the cylinder. This covering or casing
is provided with a large groove in which are situated the two rollers p p². The
spaces between the edges of the covering and the circumference of the rollers p p¹l
are closed by two bands made of leather, felt or any other suitable material fixed
to the covering and coming into close contact with the rollers, in such a manner as
to prevent the entrance of air; for the same object the space between the two
rollers pp is closed by a third roller q which is movable, so as to give way
according to the thickness of the fleece.
4. A second cylinder or drum, similar to the one above described, or a chamber G,
as represented in Fig. 1.
The spaces
The fleece enters this chamber by passing between the rollers u u.
between these rollers and the walls of the chamber are closed in the same manner
as described for the rollers p p and cylinder F. The fleece travels through the
chamber by passing over two series of guide rollers rrr.. and leaves the same in
passing between two rollers u¹ u', similar to the roller at the entrance. The

page_text: basement of the chamber contains a series of heating-pipes g 9 g... or some other
apparatus adapted to raise the temperature to the required degree. The upper
part of the chamber G communicates with the lower part of the casing of the
Such a chamber G
cylinder F, (described before), by means of two large tubes e e.
(as above described) is used, if the production is large, that is to say, in proportion
to the speed at which the fleece travels, such fleece must be caused to display a
large surface, so as to expose it for a sufficient time to the high temperature. In
the other case, however, this chamber may be replaced by one or more cylinders
similar to the drying cylinder F, enclosed in a chamber having an arrangement
similar to that of chamber G, that is to say, which is provided with a heating
apparatus in its lower part, while its upper part communicates with the lower part
of the casing of the drying cylinder.
5. A trough H containing water which is continually renewed. This trough,
similar to those containing the acid bath, and similar to those hereinafter
mentioned, is provided with several pairs of guide rollers and one pair of wringing
rollers. The wringing rollers of the trough H are, however, situated in a special
manner, namely so that the water takes a course opposite to the course taken by
the fleece, with the object of obtaining a methodical washing. The water enters
this trough by the same side by which the fleece leaves it. The space between the
under-side of the lower guide-rollers and the bottom of the trough is closed by
bars so as to prevent the water to flow in this direction. The width of the trough
is larger than the length of the rollers, and each pair of the latter is placed alter-
nately against the left and right side of the trough, so as to form a kind of zig-zag
arrangement. The outlet with which this trough is provided, being at the end
opposite to that by which the water enters, I obtain by this arrangement a
methodical washing of the fleece.
6. A trough I containing a bath consisting in a solution of carbonate of Soda,
or of ammonia or of another suitable base.
7. A trough K. containing a soap bath.
8. A drying Cylinder L similar to the cylinder F, but having, in its lower part
a heating apparatus. This heating apparatus, as well as the heating apparatus of
the chamber G, is divided into several independant sections constructed and
arranged in such a manner that the required degree of temperature of the air may
be obtained and easily maintained by using a larger or smaller number of said parts
or sections.
9. A drawing frame M, or gill-box with several heads and having for its object
to trans-form the fleece into a certain number of slivers.
A difficulty met with in a machine of such length consists in maintaining the
tension of the fleece at a suitable degree. To obtain this, I use the following two
devices.
For the first, I employ an expansible pulley (Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7), which sets the
whole machine in motion.
This pulley is formed of two discs i i, the circumferences of which are comical.
The first of said dises is keyed on the driving shaft h, while the second slides on
a feather, so that its distance from the other disc can be increased or decreased by
means of a hand-wheel l. The said discs are provided with grooves 8 8 8 8.
Each groove of one disc corresponds with a groove of the other disc, so as to
receive the branches of the segments M which form the circumference of the
pulley.
.
These segments rest with two of their edges on the conical flanges of the discs,
and are maintained in place by the branches they carry and by means of the
India-rubber rings o.
The result of this arrangement is that, if I increase or decrease the distance
between the two discs by means of the handwheel the distance of the segments M
from the Axle h, and consequently also the diameter of the pulley, will be increased or
decreased accordingly. By this construction of the pulley, the speed of the moving
parts of the whole machine may be easily increased or decreased. These mechanisms

page_text: are driven by toothed wheels and endless screws and do not present any particular
novelty. To prevent the breaking of the fleece in consequence of inattention or bad
regulation of the expansible pulleys, I use an apparatus for regulating and
indicating the tension which, I place at each or only between some of the different
parts of the machine. Two of these appliances n N¹ are shown in Fig 1. placed so
that the fleece passes them before arriving at the drying cylinders.
Fig 8 represents the details of such an apparatus. N is a hollow cylinder
mounted loose on an axle guided at its two extremities in slots, and carrying at
each end a toothed wheel gearing into a rack. The fleece on leaving the wringing
rollers passes over the fixed roller n, then under the roller or cylinder N and is
then conducted by the fixed roller n¹ to the entrance of the drying-cylinder The
roller N rests on the fleece, and its weight is regulated according to the tension to
be given to the fleece. If the fleece comes too scarcely, or to abundantly from the
wringing rollers, the roller N rises or falls in consequence. Said roller is further-
more maintained in a horizontal position by the connection of its axle with the
toothed wheel and the rack. R' represents a bell-signal or ringing apparatus which
can be set to work by either of the two vertical rods t³, t³, that is to say by, the
rising of the upper rod t or the falling of the lower rod ts. These two rods are
connected with each-other by a short lever in such a manner that, when the lower
rod falls, the upper rod rises. Each of the two rods is provided with a small catch c
and c¹, which are placed so as to face one of the racks. Consequently if the fleece
is not fed in sufficient quantity, the roller N rises, and before its axle reaches the top
of the slot, the teeth of one of the toothed wheels mounted on said axle, lifts the
catch c and causes the bell-signal to ring.
If, on the contrary, the fleece is fed too abundantly, the roller descends and sets
the ringing apparatus equally in motion by the catch c'. Consequently the bell-
signal informs the attendant that at some part of the machine the regulating
apparatus has nearly reached one of its extreme positions, and that the diameter of
one or more of the driving pulleys of the machine must be increased or decreased.
In order to show at which part of the machine the speed must be modified I apply
a signal-board W carrying a small stud or projection t¹
This board is placed vertically and rests by means of the stud t¹ on the end of
the ringing rod t³. It remains in this position, as long as the ringing apparatus
remains at rest, but as soon as the latter works, the projection t' is raised and
causes the signal board to fall into the horizontal position W', thus indicating at
which part of the machine the speed has to be modified In order to stop all parts
of the Machine (all of which are driven by an expansible pulley, such as described)
at the same time, I arrange a longitudinal driving shaft along the whole length of
the machine.
Besides the pulleys driving the expansible pulleys of the machine, said shaft also
carries a loose and a fast pulley adapted to produce or stop at will the rotary
motion of the said driving shaft. An ordinary belt shifter serves to shift the
driving belt on one or the other of the pulleys. Two rocking beams or bars
running along the whole length of the machine communicate by means of levers
with the belt shifter, so that the attendant, at whatever part of the machine he
may be, is enabled to stop or set to work all parts of the machine at the same time.
The number of troughs containing the acidulated or the neutralizing (alkaline)
baths or soap baths may be increased, or diminished, as well as the number of
drying cylinders. The drying cylinders may be replaced by any suitable well-
known drying appliances.
The trough K, the last drying cylinder and the drawing frame may also be
omitted and these three organs replaced by any known machine which performs
substantially the same operations.
The process of carbonisation by means of liquids, is the one most generally
employed; if more suitable, however, the acidulated and neutralizing baths, as
de-cribed, may be replaced by chambers in which the fleece under treatment is

page_text: impregnated with gases having an effect similar to that obtained by the acidulated
baths.
The machine as described operates as follows:
The slivers leaving the bobbins mounted on the rack are either automatically
delivered by the latter, or drawn by the first pair of guide rollers through the
apertures of the plate R and are thereby transformed into a regular fleece as
described.
The fleece, after being drawn through the acidulated bath, is subjected to a
strong pressure by the wringing-rollers; it then surrounds the circumference of the
drying cylinder F, to be conducted through the carbonizing chamber G, and leaves
the latter in passing between the rollers u¹ u¹
By means of the heating apparatus gg,.
the air in the chamber G is raised to a
temperature sufficiently high to produce the carbonisation of the vegetable matters
The fan situated in the hollow axle of the drying cylinder rotates, rarefies the
air in the chamber in which the latter is enclosed and draws the hot air from
the upper part of the carbonizing chamber G into the cylinder F by means of the
conducting pipes e e. These conducting pipes are provided with air-valves by
means of which cold air may be introduced into said pipes, whereby the temperature
of the air in the casing of the cylinder F can be regulated. The temperature of the
air in cylinder F should be maintained as low as possible, but sufficiently high to
dry the fleece before it leaves the cylinder.
It is important that the fleece should enter the carbonizing room in a completely
dry state, in order that it may be exposed as short a time as possible to the high
temperature, and also for the purpose of maintaining the air in the carbonizing
chamber as dry as possible. By this combined arrangement of drying and
carbonizing an almost complete utilization of the hot air is obtained.
The fleece leaving the chamber G is drawn through the trough H, where it is
subjected to a methodical. washing in the manner before stated in describing this
machine. When the fleece leaves the wringing rollers of the latter trough, the
greater part of the acids with which it has been impregnated are eliminated. The
fleece then passes through the trough I containing a solution of Carbonate of Soda,
Ammonia or another base having for its object not only to neutralize the remaining
acid but to soak the fleece with an excess of basic substance, thereby preventing
the decomposition of the soap contained in the last trough K. In passing through
this last trough K, the fleece leaves behind it the salts formed by the neutralization
of the acid, as well as the excess of base with which it has been impregnated.
To be certain of a complete elimination of these matters the fleece may be drawn
through a second trough containing likewise a soap-bath. The fleece arrives
finally in the last drying cylinder. The hot air is furnished to the chamber of this
cylinder either by a heating-apparatus placed under said chamber, or by pipes
conducting the air from the upper part of the carbonizing chamber G.
The fleece, which I have supposed to consist of 32 slivers arranged in series of 8,
is, when leaving the last drying cylinder, divided into 4 parts. By passing
through a drawing frame or gill-box having 4 heads M, these four parts are
transformed into 4 slivers.
The sliver in this form still contains vegetable matter which, however, has little
or no cohesion.and is therefore pulverulent; its elimination can be effected without
any difficulty, either through the combing machine or by the winding or drawing
operations which are preparatory to the spinning, according to whether the car-
bonization is carried out before or after the treatment of the wool by the combing-
machine.
Having now described the invention as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I wish it to be understood, that I claim :-
1. The method, consisting in applying the various processes of removing vegetable
impurities from woolly textile material, after it has been transformed into the
shape of a fleece or of slivers, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. The combination of guide-plate R with one or more acidulated baths B, C,
D, E, drying apparatus F, carbonizing apparatus G, water bath H, alkaline bath I,
soap bath K, drying apparatus L and gill-box or drawing frame M, substantially
as described and illustrated, and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Jasper Wetter have hereunto set my hand and
seal this thirtieth day of November A.D. 1882.