IMPROVEMENTS III MACHINERY FOR EXTRACTING FIBROUS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Durand Gardissal, of 10, Bedford Street,
Strand, London, and of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, Patent Agent,
for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS III MACHINERY FOR EXTRACTING FIBROUS
AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES." -A communication.
Sealed the 5th August 1856, and dated the 6th June 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Durand Gardissal
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th June 1856.
I, CHARLES DURAND GARDISSAL, of 10, Bedford Street, Strand, London,
and of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR EXTRACTING
FIBROUS & OTHER PRODUCTS FROM VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improved machinery or apparatus for extracting
fibres, down, and juices from vegetable substances, to break and wash oil seeds,
sugar, reeds, grapes, cyder fruits, and other fruits or vegetables, and generally.
to obtain from the said substances any juice or syrups they may contain, also
to disaggregate fibrous plants either in the green or dry state, so as to thoroughly
separate their fibres from the juice that keeps them agglutinated, and render
the same fit to be either woven or reduced to a pulp.
The machinery may be also applied to the trituration of clays or compounds.
The operation being effected by mechanical means, renders the process of
maceration or thrashing unnecessary, both of which processes deteriorate the
Price 8d.]

page_text: fibres, but by this process the fibres can be preserved in all their length by
means of friction, and their breaking prevented. This friction is produced by
certain mechanical means herein after described, either by rectilinear or
circular motion, constituting two different machines.
The first of these machines for the rectilinear motion consists of a cast iron
or other metal plate or table, either horizontal or inclined, and having trans-
verse grooves, and over this another plate with similar grooves is placed and
arranged to move in the same direction; between these plates the vegetable
substance is placed, and by means of rectalinear motion imparted to either of
the plates is disaggregated, the grooves are regulated so as not to gear into
each other, and the pressure upon the vegetable substance is suitably regulated
by the weight of the apparatus or by springs, and thus any tearing of the
fibres is prevented.
The second description of machine is for circular motion, and consists of a
metallic cylinder, the curved external surface of which is provided with grooves;
the cylinder moves upon and has three quarters of its curved surface sur-
rounded by a race made of plates jointed upon two light chains, and likewise
grooved; either the cylinder may be made fixed or moveable; if fixed, then
the race is made to move, or vice versa. The space between the cylinder and
the race is made eccentric and regulated by two arched bands, upon which
the chains of the race travel.
The pressure on the materials to be deprived of their fibres is regulated by
springs, which allow sufficient variability in the setting apart of the two
grooved surfices and prevent any tearing of the fibres; these springs rest
upon the arched bands. The apparatus is placed in a trough and has its
lower part immersed in the water.
The vegetable substances are introduced at the top or widest part of the
eccentric annular space, and on motion being given to the cylinder the sepera-
tion of the fibres takes place by means of the grooved surfaces, and the fibrous
substances passing through the eccentric spaces comes out at the thinner end
and drops on to an inclined plane, while the residuum remains in the trough
in which water is constantly renewed. This apparatus may be so arranged that
the eccentric annular space between the grooves can be varied by suspending
the axle and the moving cylinder on capless bearings, or the weight of the
cylinder can be counterbalanced.
Another modification may consist in making the moveable cylinder of
grooved jointed plates, and the pressure on the substances worked may be
regulated by two sinall springs secured at both ends of the cylinder to the end
plates. The vegetable substances may be previously submitted to a prepara-

page_text: tory crushing between two cylinders, grooved or not, turning upon one another,
and fibrous plants of much length may be made to pass on cutters of circular
or other form, for the purpose of shortening them previous to the separating
process.
Another modification may consist of a portion of the fixed cylinder, the
exterior surface of which is grooved, being surrounded by an endless race
made of jointed plates, and secured on two endless chains passed over a drum
and the eccentric space between the two surfaces being regulated by two
arched bands upon which the chains of the moveable race travel. The pres-
sure on the materials to be worked is regulated by springs or indian-rubber
stays, stretched on the plates of the race to allow a certain variability to the
setting apart of the two grooved surfaces. The spherical segment and the
lower portion of the race are placed in a trough, the vegetable substances
being introduced into the upper or wider part of the eccentric annular space;
rotary motion being imparted to the race by any suitable means, the seperation
is effected between the grooved surfaces, and the fibrous substances are thrown
off at the other or thin extremity of the space and fall on an inclined plane,
whilst the residuum remains in the trough, the water of which is constantly
renewed. This apparatus may be again modified by the endless race being
passed over two fixed segments of grooved cylinders.
When either of the above-described machines are applied to the crushing of
oil seeds, sugar, reeds, grapes, cyder fruits, or other similar vegetable sub-
stances, the process is the same, excepting that there is no water in the trough,
as the liquids extracted from the substances will remain in the trough whilst
the pulp and residuum will fall into sieves or hoppers placed to receive them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Durand Gardissal in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
DURAND GARDISSAL, of 10, Bedford Street, Strand, London, and of 29, Boule-
vart St. Martin, Paris, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and graut unto me, the said Charles

page_text: Durand Gardissal, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Durand Gar-
dissal, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Charles Durand Gardissal, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR EXTRACTING FIBROUS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM VEGE-
TABLE SUBSTANCES," a communication, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Charles Durand Gardissal, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Stal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Durand Gardissal, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the four Sheets of Drawings here.
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to machinery for extracting or separating the fibres
and other parts of vegetable substances, for breaking and crushing linseed and
other seeds and vegetable substances, to extract the oil, and also for crushing
and breaking sugar cane, grapes, and other fruits and veget.ble substances
generally in a green or dried state, for the purpose of expressing or extracting
the juice or syrups from such fruits or substances, or for the purpose of disin-
tegrating in order to obtain any desired part of such substances, all of which
is performed without water, retting, or any previous analogous chemical action
being induced in the vegetable matters, such as heretofore practised in obtaining
the fibres of some vegetable substances.
This machinery is, however, principally adapted for separating the fibre of
plants from the matters which bind them together preparatory to their further
manufacture, for which it is well adapted, the fibres being preserved of their
entire length or nearly so. In these machines green plants or other substances
are submitted to friction and pressure, but without at any time exceeding the
limits of resistance of the fibres or parts of plants so treated, and from which
pressure the plant or substances can at any time escape when the fibres are on
the point of being broken or otherwise injured. They are composed of plane
or curved surfaces furnished with flutes or grooves; one of these grooved rub-

page_text: bing surfaces is formed of a seriesof moveable partslinked together,and acting
on the fixed rubbing surface, which is also grooved, or the moveable rubbing
surface may be rigid while the stationary surface is formed in picces linked
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
The same reference letters are used to denote like parts where they recur in
the several Figures representing one machine.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a lateral vertical section of a machine con-
structed according to this Invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation, and
Figure 3 a transverse vertical section of the same.
This apparatus consists of a semi-cylindrical barrel A, attached to the con-
taining vessel B, which forms the base of the apparatus. This barrel is grooved
throughout its external surface, and has on its circumference two raisedribsor
rails D, D, which form a course for the transverse of the moveable surface,
the height of which ribs is gradually reduced towards one extremity. These
ribs are fixed to A,and the distance they project is gradually reduced from oue
extremity to the other to regulate the distance of separation of the moveable
pieces C, C, which surround the barrel A. The grooves of barrel A are
angular and parallel with the axis of that cylinder. The moveable pieces C,C,
are supported by two endless chains E, E,which comply with the curvature of
the line of motion, and allow the moveable parts C, C, to recede from the
opposing friction barrel A if a too large quantity of fibres accumulate at one
point. This separation of the parts A and C at such times prevents injury to
the fibres, which might otherwise be broken up. The endless chains and
plates C, C, are suspended over pullies C¹, C', on a shaft D', which com-
municates motion thereto.
Figure 4, Sheet 1, shows the construction of the endless chains, and the
means by which the parts C, C, are fixed to them. Every separate link E' is
provided with an eye F, in which a moveable plate C is held loosely; this
latter always tending to come near the barrel A by the action of a steel spring
or an india-rubber spring or strap pressing againstall themoveable plates C,C,
and attached to the same at certain points. The two raised ribs or guide
rails D, D, never permit the grooved plates C, C, to touch or knock against
the ridges of the grooves of thebarrel,although approaching veryclose thereto.
At the right side of the apparatus the moveable parts C, C, are at a greater
distance from the barrel A than on the left side, in order to give ready ad-
mittance to the material to be operated on, which is reduced in bulk by the
fricton and pressure of the machine, which causes a gradual reduction and

page_text: separation of the parts of the materials introduced, which are at same time
slowly carried towards the left side of the machine, where the fibrous parts,
separated by the two crushing or triturating surfaces A, C, are discharged.
On the drivingshaft D'a small pulley D is placed, which gives motion to the
distributer G by means of a band and pulley F. The distributor G is formed
with cross blades or armshaving rotary motion immediatelyabove an inclined
plane H, which conducts the materials to the barrel A.
The material to be operated ou is deposited on the inclined plane H at
its highest part. The rotary motion of the distributor carries it forward in
regular, equal, and consecutive portions,and causes it to pass on to the lower
part of H, where it is introduced between the two grooved surfaces, which
crush and separate the parts of it in its course round the circumference of A.
At their exit on the left side the fibres fall down into the hopper 1, in which
the fibres are conducted out of the machine. The box or vessel B is furnished
with an inclined bottom Bland contains a quantity of water, which constantly
washes the plates C, C, and the materials during the operation of crushing or
trituration in order to dissolve the gummyjuices or matters which agglutinate
or bind the fibres together. This operation is effected without allowing time
sufficient for the fibres to become soft. The water being kept in constant
agitation by the moveable plates C, it takes up all the pulpyor gummymatters
detached, which matters are drawn off by the spout and delivered into vat.P.
A feed valve is placed at a sufficient elevation to maintain a proper supply of
water and a constant level in the box. K is the rigger, by which motion is
communicated to the whole, and L, L, bearings of shaft D1.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of an apparatus, somewhat similar to that
before described, but having two cylinders L and M in order to perform a
double amount of work.
: Figure 6 represents a side elevation of the same. The strap rigger K gives
motion to the moveable plates C, C, attached to the chains E; E, which
encircle the two grooved barrels L and M. The pulley N keeps the endless
chains and moveable rubbing surface C, C, in a suitable position to leave the
first barrel and to enter or take effect. in the second. The two pulleys O and
P communicate motion to two distributors G,G, similar to that herein-before
described, which distribute the materials on the inclined planes H, HI, Qand R
are two cylinders carrying an endless web R', which takes up the fibrous
substances as they leave the barrel L. The substances so treated and con-
ducted are carried into the trough S, in which a screw S¹ works, whose motion
carries thesubstances out of the machine. The grooved crushing or triturating
barrel M deposits the substances crushed by it into the iuclined hopper T.

page_text: The arrangement of apparatus in Figures 5 and 6 does not admit of the
materials being constantly washed, as in the first arrangement. This is com-
pensated for by jets of water, which constantly impinge on the moveable
plates C, C, as they pass over the fixed barrels L and M. A large basin or
chamber in the ground having a free escape receives the water and all the
residue. Instead of making the interior barrel and grooved surface fixed, and
the outer grooved surface moveable, the reverse may be the case, which
modification of the machine is applicable for barking or removing the outer
coating of vegetable substances. Examples of these machines are given in
Sheet 2.
Sheet 2: Figure 1 shows a lateral vertical section of a machine, consisting
of a cylindrical barrel A, supported and turning on an axis B, and provided
with fixed & loose pullies B₁, B¹; it is surrounded on three-fourths of its
circumferance by moveable articulated plates, provided with grooves as before
described, fixed upon a chain C, turned over a roller at one end and held in
tension by a spring D and screw G, and at the other end by a counterbalance
lever and weight. A curved part H, provided also with friction grooves, is
placed in advance of the moveable plates, which are kept in sufficient proximity
to the friction drum or barrel by the spring I, this latter being fixed upon the
bracket J. The distance between H and A is such as to admit the entrance
of the materials to be operated on, which materials are fed in by the small
drum K. All the parts of the apparatus work in a box or vessel M con-
taining water, and having an inclined bottom towards the spout N. In this
latter apparatus the substances are carried by the cylinder A against the
articulated plates or triturating surfaces, the stationary part of which can at
all times recede from the rigid moving cylinder if a too large quantity of
material accumulates at any one point. The refuse matters being separated
and extracted, the fibres are carried round and arrive at the extremity of the
plates a and fall upon the inclined plane T..
In Figure 2, which represents a lateral vertical section of another similar
machine, the cylinder A is represented as rotating within the interior of a fixed
crushing or triturating grooved surface C, C, which is placed eccentric to the
drum A. I prevent the breaking of the fibres by placing the journals of the
shaft B in bearings D open at the top, as seen in the side view, Figure 3,
which bearings permit the rise of the cylinder A when the pressure becomes
too great. The weight of the cylinder may, if necessary, be lightened by a
counterbalance weight. The last herein-before described apparatus is placed
in a vessel or receiver M, provided with a spout N and vat P, as before.
The vessel M contains water, in which the barrel A is partially immersed.
.

page_text: Figure 4 represents a lateral vertical section of an apparatus having the
exterior curved crushing or rubbing surface fixed, as in Figure 2, and sup-
ported by a frame and bracket R, R.
Figure 5 is a transverse section, and Figure 6 a side view of the same.
The cylinder or barrel A turns within the interior of C, C, and carries on its
surface moveable plates a, a, of which Figure 7 shows the detail on an enlarged
scale. The ends of each of these plates a, a, have projecting parts which slide
in grooves or slots b, b, b, cut in the checks or flanges of the moving cylinder.
Spiral springs c, c, c, or springs of any other kind, constantly draw the plates a,a,
so as to extend the diameter & periphery, and thereby to press them against
the exterior curve C. The guides b, b, while permitting the necessary motion
of a, a, is such as to allow the grooved surfaces a & C to come very near each
other, without, however, coming in contact.
The endless cloth X carries the materials under the rollers Y and Z, which
conduct and feed it into the machine, to be submitted to the friction or
trituration produced therein. After being operated on in the machine the
fibrous parts leave the hopper V, where it escapes. The parts of the machine
are continually washed in a reservoir or vessel M. The elevation, Figure 6..
shows the disposition and arrangement of the springs c, c, which impart the
constant outward pressure to the plates «, a.
•
Figures 8, 9, show plans, and Figures 10, 11, vertical sections of apparatus,
which is put in motion by hand. It is furnished with horizontal grooves.
The fixed part A has two guides B, B, jointed to cross slides for the control
of the moveable rubbing surface C, so that the grooves of the different parts
may either be parallel, as in Figure 8, or obliquely, as in Figure 9.
Figures 12 and 13 shews in plan and in elevation a similar machine moved
by a treadle D.
A is the fixed part provided with friction grooves, and C
the moveable grooved rubbing part, which advances when the treadle is
released. The spring A¹ causes it (the moveable rubbing part) to move back,
and the treadle to rise up. The moving surface C is fixed to part B¹ by a
circular plate, on which it may be turned, in order to change the direction of
the grooves of the rubbing surface. The position of the grooves may also be
varied by moving the lower part A, whilst the upper part B remains always in
the same position. Instead of only one part being moveable, both parts may
be set in motion simultaneously.
Figure 14 is a lateral vertical section of a machine constructed according to
this Invention, provided with shears or cutting instruments A, B, having
rectilineal motion in order to cut the plants before their entrance between
the grooved surfaces of the apparatus. The plants are drawn into the slide or

page_text: channel E by grooved rollers F, F. C is the grooved inner cylinder, and D
the grooved exterior surface.
Figure 15 is a similar machine provided with a rotary cutter or knives D,D,
and stationary knife C, for the same purpose; E, hopper; F, F, grooved
feeding rollers; C1, interior rubbing cylinder as before described, and D.
exterior grooved rubbing surface.
Sheet 3 Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a machine constructed
according to this Invention with several cylinders, and Figure 2 a plan of the
same. This apparatus consists of a frame A of wood or cast iron, on which
five similar circular hollows B, B, are formed, each having longitudinal
grooves on the interior, and in each of which is placed a cylinder C grooved
on the exterior, as before described. The pulley D (see Figure 2) fixed on the
first cylinder C gives rotary motion to the first or upper cylinder, which is
successively transmitted to the other cylinders by the small strap pulleys E, E;
the rollers F placed between each of the cylinders are to guide the materials
under the successive cylinders, and prevent their escape until passed through
the whole number, The pipe G affords the supply of water to the rubbing or
crushing rollers to aid in the separation of the fibres. The materials operated
on fall into the receptacle P.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of a machine having two crushing
or reducing barrels, and Figure 4 a plan of the same. The first moves in
a half cylinder of moveable grooved plates B, each having a counterbalance
weight, which has a tendency to press the plates B near the cylinder A. The
second cylinder D, D, is formed of moveable plates F, which rotates in a
fixed semi-cylinder G mounted on a joint at G'. Motion is imparted to the
cylinder D by the pulley H, which motion is transmitted to the cylinder D by
the strap J, J. In this apparatus the material to be operated upon enters
at K, and passes successively on all the plates B, B, until it arrives at L,
where the other cylinder D takes it up over the top, and continues to operate
on it till it reaches the incline shoot M. Metallic or india-rubber springs
may be substituted for the counterbalance weights C, C, provided they exert
sufficient pressure for the purpose; P is the reservoir in the ground to receive,
the pulp and water; N, bottom of vat furnished with spout O for the escape
of the pulp or refuse matters. Between the two cylinders A, D, a small
conducting roller can be placed to conduct the material in passing from the
first grooved rubbing cylinder to the second. This passing from one cylinder
to another produces a rubbing or triturating action on the materials in an
opposite direction, and so as to cause it to be delivered from the machine
without any ringing or rolling up of the fibres.

page_text: Figures 5 represents a vertical section and Figure 6 a plan of a machine,
consisting of a grooved cylinder A, supported and rotating on an axis in
combination with several other smaller cylinders B, B, whose dimensions,
number, and speed may be varied according to the material to be operated on.
The material is deposited at the point C, and after passing through the
machine is discharged at shoot D. The pulley Egives motion to the cylinder A,
which is transmitted by F and G to the first small cylinder, and from the
latter to the whole of the small cylinders B, B, by the toothed wheels H,
fixed on the axis of those cylinders and gearing into each other. The
cylinders B, B, may be mounted on bearings, moveable or fixed, to advance
or recede more or less towards or from the principal barrel A.
Sheet 4 Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a machine (constructed
according to this Invention, to be moved by hand; and Figure 2 is a plan of
the same. It consists of a hollow half cylinder A, having internal grooves,
and fixed upon a frame B; C, C, bearings, which carry the shaft of the
moveable half cylinder D, formed with grooves externally, and consisting of
moveable plates, which have a tendency to advance towards half cylinders A,
a pressure being exerted against them by the action of springs inserted in
grooves a, a, An alternating circular motion is imparted to D by means of
a crank E fixed on shaft G; F, fastening of the fixed part of the frame; P, vat
for the pulp.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section of the same apparatus, but with the
position of the fixed and moveable parts reversed; and Figure 4 a plan of
the same. In this arrangement the barrel D is formed of one piece, while
the semi-cylinder A is formed of moveable plates actuated by springs, and
working in grooves a, a.
G is the axis; E, crank handle; C, bearings; P,
vat for receiving pulp; B, frame.
Figure 5 represents a vertical section, and Figure 6, a plan of a machine,
in which the pressure of the rubbing surfaces is exerted by a treadle O
mounted on a fulcrum O¹ fixed to the frame B; the part D is of one piece,
as in the last mentioned machine. The cylinder A is formed in two sections,
jointed at X and Z, and is held upwards by the treadle O, whose roller P
presses on the curved surface M, which surrounds the moveable part A. The
dotted lines slows the position of the lower semi-cylinder when the treadle is
released. In this manner the materials may be released immediately from the
rubbing surfaces and their grooves, when the washing and cleaning becomes
very easy; E is the crank handle; G, the shaft; P, vat for pulp stuff, and
the c, c, bearings.
It has been shown that the arrangement of the rubbing, crushing, and

page_text: disintegrating machines represented in Sheets 3 and 4 operate on the plants_
alternately in opposite directions, and therefore do not twist the fibres, and
thereby facilitating the operation, and renders the washing easy, & at the
same time the fibres of the plants are preserved of their entire length. In
all these machines a necessary inclination can be given to the moveable plates
as required, according to the nature of the plants to be operated on; and in
all cases the rubbing surfaces can recede from or approach each other, and
may have the same or different speeds. The rubbing or crushing cylinders or
sections of cylinders, and other rubbing surfaces may be of any suitable
dimensions, so grooved with any suitable form of groove, and the grooves may
either be parallel with the axis of such cylinders or sections of cylinders, or
produced in a helical direction on the cylinder, or in any other suitable form
or direction, and such surface may have a continuous or alternating motion
imparted to them for effecting the desired operations.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner in which the
same my be performed, I would have it understood, that what I claim and
desire to be secured to me under the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is the construction and application of machinery or apparatus herein-
before described and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed, or any
mere mechanical equivalents therefore, for the purposes and as herein-before
described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Durand Gardissal, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
C. D. GARDISSAL. (L.s.)