STRAINERS 159

if plenty of water is used, and will pass through and into the back-water system,
to be used again.

The rubber and pieces of wood and other light particles will float, and can
be scooped off periodically, and thus, besides the great saving which is effected,
valuable additional straining is also achieved.

The Watford Engineering Works have given a great deal of attention
recently to the production of an efficient auxiliary strainer, and these work very
well on fine rag stock and printings. This strainer (Fig. 50) consists of a cast-
iron trough, and the strainer plates, which may be either flat or curved, are

[WatferJ Engineering Works
Ere. 50.— THE WATPOHD AumiABY TSBMOR* STRAINER

suspended from a shaft which runs in a tube, thus preventing the leakage of
any oil from the plummer blocks. A 'tremor* motion is imparted to the
shaft, which passes on the 'dither* to the plates. The strainer works very
efficiently and is easily cleaned, as the straining portion tips up and exposes
the plates. If it is desired, the strainer can be made to work on the 'inward-
flow* principle, the strained stuff being passed out through a flexible tube to
die back-water pump. In this latter type the heavy stuff remains below the
plates in the bottom of the vat, and can be washed out periodically with the

This strainer, although primarily designed as an auxiliary strainer, is being
used successfully m many mills as an ordinary strainer for the stuff itself.