Of the compositions used, the following are regarded as good ;—(1) Take of oleine 10 per cent., and boiling water 15 per cent., of the weight of the wool to be oiled ; mix, and add a little sal ammoniac, sufficient to cause the oil and water to combine, after which it is ready for use. (2) Pour into a trough or tub 20 parts of oil, 10 parts liquid ammonia, and 6 parts water ; mix with a wooden stick, inject steam, and allow the liquid to boil until the strong smell of the ammonia bas evaporated ; the mixture may then be applied in the ordi nary manner. This latter is stated to be a useful and economical lubricant, giving uni form results, and nei ther injurious to the colour of the wool nor to the card clothing.
Lard and olive oil are, however, always the most reliable, and generally used when the beat results are desired. The quantities greatly depend upon the state of the wool, but it will be found that 4-6 qt. per 100 lb. will ordinarily be sufficient. Where the blend, however, contains a proportion of mungo and cotton, this quantity will require to be exceeded.
The " fearnought," Fig.1449, is the last machine employed in the opening process, and is used to perfect the work of the teazer in opening out the tufts or looks of wool, in order to facilitate the work of the carding-engine. It is com posed of the framework a, contain ing the cylinder b, which is usually 45-50 in. diam., and makes 150- " 200 rev. a minute. Its surface, com posed of wood,is covered with rows of iron teeth 1 in. long, and in shape like a dog's tooth, extending across the face, and set about 1 in. apart. The teeth of each row alternate with those of the preceding one. The small rollers, shown in detail and in section in Fig. 1450, c, are denominated workers, and generally revolve about 20 times a minute. The small rollers d, alternating with the workers, have a greater surface speed than those rollers, their function being to strip them. Both workers and strippers are clothed alike with one kind of teeth, bet in a similar manner to those of the oylinder. The workers and strippers are carried upon bearers e, attached to the bend f, and corresponding one on the opposite side. By means of the bearings e, the workers a.nd strippers can be adjusted to each other and to the cylinder, ac,cording to requirement. The oylinder g is a fan, across the faeo of which aro fixed bars of wood, each carrying two rows of straight iron teeth. At the back of the machine is the feed-apron or travelling lattice h, on which the wool is placed, and carried te the feed-rollers i. The direction of the arrows shows the course of revolution of the rollers. In operation, the rollers are all enclosed in a sheet-iron casing, which is continued underneath, and there perforated, to permit of the dust dropping out, whilst all fibre is retained. Its enclosure also
enables the fan to develop and maintain a current of air.
The arrangement of the different rollers in this machine is on the same principle as prevails in all the carding prooesses, of which it may be called the first stage. The bottom feed-roller is set so that its teeth shall cut as it were into the circle formed hy the extremity of the teeth of the cylinder to a depth of about in. The top feed-roller, whilst set back from the cylinder, must similarly work into the bottom one. The first stripper is set so as to clear the top feed-roller, which it does by its quicker revolution, and must he set to within in. or lees of the face of the cylinder, so as in turn to be cleared by it. The workers must be set so as to dip their teeth about 4--} in. into those of the cylinder with which they must alternate ; and each stripper must be set to take the wool from its respective worker, and, at the same time, return it to the cylinder. The course of revolution in each case ie indicated by the arrowt, and the particular effect is obtained in a great degree from the different surface velocities.
The operative takes the wool as received from the oiled blend, and feeds it by hand upon the travelling lattice, which carries it to the feed-rollers. Passing through these, it is seized and carried upwards by the teeth of the Ender, some portion however being struck into the upper feed-roller. This is stripped by the first stripper working into that roller, and given over to the cylinder. The wool which the cylinder has already obtained is carried upward with great velocity, but is soon arrested by the first worker, which, though revolving in the same direction, does so at such a diminished rate of speed that it takes the wool from the cylinder into its own possession ; but carrying it round, the worker is immediately relieved in turn by the stripper, which is revolving at a greater speed. The stripper instantly gives it back to the cylinder. The wool is again arrested by the next worker, when it follows the same course as in the last case. This is repeated until the series is gone through, when the wool will have been sufficiently opened to fit it for the carding-machine. From the last stripper, the cylinder carries it forward to the fan, which, revolving at a quicker rate than the cylinder, clears the wool therefrorn, and throws it out at the front upon a sheet laid to receive it, and in which it is tied up and carried to the oarding-room.