Improvements in Holders for Holding Flax and other Fibres in Hackling or other Machines whilst under Treatment.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. .
Improvements in Holders for Holding Flax and other Fibres in
Hackling or other Machines whilst under Treatment..
1, GEORGE LOWRY of Tiffin, Ohio, U.S.A., Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improved fibre holders are made in two forms, one form is adopted for a
long holder and the other form is adopted when a shorter holder is considered to be
more convenient. In both cases a wedge like fastening is employed to draw the
cheeks of the holder together, place of bolts and nuts which are the fastenings
at present in use.
The long holder consists of three principal parts: a long back cheek and two
front.cheeks of half the length connected with the back cheek each by one end.
The connection is made by means of a hinge like joint and these joints are at the
opposite ends, of the back cheek. The two front cheeks close inwards by turning
about the hinge joints and their ends meet over the middle of the back cheek.
On the outer face of each of the front cheeks there is a groove and a taper
wedge is fitted to slide longitudinally in this groove, from which however the
wedge cannot escape or fall out.
On the inner face of the back cheek and in the centre thereof, there is a lug or
projecting piece from the face and the abutting ends of the front cheeks are
notched to accommodate this lug. There is a mortice or slot in the lug and the
locking of the front cheeks to the back cheek is effected by sliding the wedge
along the guiding groove until the point enters the mortice prepared for it in the
lug. For the inner surface of the back cheek I use a curved face or a rough
covering of sand or emery cloth in order that the stricks when nipped between the
cheeks may be firmly held. Each front cheek carries a flexible lining board
likewise covered on the face and made to conform with the curved face of the back
cheek. The stricks of fibre when in the holder are pinched between the two
rough surfaces and firmly held with the ends hanging free for the hackling machine
to operate upon them. A similar holder may be made to open from the end and
with the hinges in the centre. The shorter holder is similar in its construction except
that it has a front cheek of the full length of the back cheek; there is a lug or
projecting piece through the front cheek in the centre, a hole being formed for the
purpose and the hinge joints may be dispensed with. The locking of the cheeks
together is effected by means of a sliding wedge as already described.
This single holder can also be hinged from the end as before described. The
holders are cast with diamond shaped holes which may be used for the fingers to
act upon in traversing holders in the process of hackling or dressing. They are
also put in for the purpose of lightening the holders.
Dated this 27th day of June 1894

page_text: Improvements in Holders for Holding Flax and other Fibres in.
Hackling or other Machines whilst under Treatment,
I, GEORGE LOWRY, of Tiffin, Ohio, U.S.A., Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The improved fibre holders are made in two forms. One form is adopted for a
long holder, and the other form is adopted when a shorter holder is considered to
be more convenient. In both cases a wedge like fastening is employed to draw
the cheeks of the holder together, in place of bolts and nuts which are the
fastenings at present in use.
The long holder is shewn by the Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the annexed
drawings.
Figure 1 is a front elevation. Figure 2 is a transverse section. Figure 3 is an
end elevation and Figure 4 is a plan partly in section.
This holder consists of three principal parts a long back cheek a and two front
cheeks of half the length connected with the back cheek each by one end. The
connection is made by means of a hinge like joint c and these joints are at the
opposite ends of the back cheek. The two front cheeks close inwards by turning
about the hinged joints and their ends meet over the middle of the back cheek.
On the outer face of each of the front cheeks there is a groove d and a taper
wedge is fitted to slide longitudinally in this groove from which however the
wedge cannot escape or fall out, the groove being somewhat dovetail in form and
the wedge fitting it.
On the inner face of the back cheek and in the centre thereof there is a lug f
projecting from the face and the abutting ends of the front cheeks are notched to
accommodate this lug. There is a mortice or slot f' in the lug and the locking
of the front cheeks to the back cheek is effected by sliding the wedge along the
guiding groove until the point enters the mortice prepared for it in the lug. For
the inner surface of the back and front cheek I use a curved face with a rough
covering of sand or emery cloth in order that the stricks wben nipped between the
cheeks may be firmly held. The back cheek carries a flexible lining board h which
fits to the lug and the form of the back cheek.
This board is likewise covered on the face and made to conform with the curved
face of the back cheek. The stricks of fibre when in the holder are pinched
between the two rough surfaces and firmly held with the ends hanging free for the
hackling machine to operate upon them.
A similar holder may be made to open from the end and with the hinges c in the
centre. Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the method of construction.
The shorter holder is represented by the Figures 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
Figure 10 is a front view, Figure 11 is a back view, Figure 12 is a transverse
section, Figure 13 is an end elevation and Figure 14 is a plan partly in section.
This shorter holder is similar in its construction except that it has a front cheek
of the full length of the back cheek, there is a lug on the back cheek projecting
through the front cheek in the centre, a hole being formed for the purpose and the
hinge joints may be dispensed with. The locking of the cheeks together is effected
by means of a sliding wedge as already described.
This single holder can also be hinged from the end as before described such a
holder is represented by the Figures 15 and 16. Figure 15 is a side elevation and
Figure 16 is a plan partly in section. The holders are cast with diamond shaped
holes which may be used for the fingers to act upon in traversing holders in the

page_text: process of hackling or dressing. They are also put in for the purpose of lightening
the holders.
These improved fibre holders are more quickly and more easily opened and closed
than those heretofore in use. Thus time is saved whilst filling or changing the flax
and removing it when finished. The wedge like fastener is easily manipulated and
all is self contained the holder having no loose parts.
These holders are lighter than those heretofore employed; hence more handy to
lift and handle; and they also admit of their being placed either way up in the
carrier.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The long holder having one back cheek and two front cheeks each of half
the length of the back cheek and hinged thereto and secured by a suitable fastening
substantially as described.
2. The long holder having a back cheek and two front cheeks secured by a
wedge sliding in grooves in the front cheeks and engaging with a lug upon the back
cheek substantially as described.
3. The short holder with back and front cheeks secured by a wedge sliding in a
groove in the front cheek and engaging with a lug upon the back cheek sub-
stantially as described.
4. Fibre holders substantially as described and represented by the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 26th day of March 1895.