New or Improved Machinery for Breaking or Scutching Flax.
Year: 1898

page_text: New or Improved Machinery for Breaking or Scutching Flax.
We, EDWARD JOSEPH DE COURCY, of 46, Carlisle Street, Belfast, Gentleman,
and ROBERT CRAWFORD, of 7, Lombard Street, Belfast, Manager, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
*
This invention has reference to new or improved machinery for breaking
or scutching flax in an economical, expeditious, and efficient manner and without
wasting the fibre.
According to the present practice of treating flax, considerable difficulty is
experienced in the process of removing the straw and bark, without wasting
the fibre.
Various mechanical attempts have been made to overcome this difficulty but
up to the present, these attempts have failed either wholly or partly through
various
causes not necessary for the purpose of this specification to
mention.
At present the most efficient method in
mercially known as "scutching by handles
above stated.
use for the purpose, is that com-
and this is subject to the objection
Now our invention is designed to produce means whereby the defect in question,
will not only be thoroughly and efficiently overcome, but a fibre of a softer and
silkier finish produced, and superior in all respects, to that obtained by the
method just mentioned.
In carrying out our invention we propose to mount a series of fluted, or toothed
rollers, in pairs--one roller of each pair being over the other and all arranged
transversely, in a horizontal plane, at suitable intervals apart, in suitable frame
work.
The teeth or flutes on these rollers are of the finest possible pitch--the finest
consistent with practical gearing--and are parallel to the axis of the roller.
On one end, of one of each pair of rollers-preferably the under one is fixed
a bevel pinion, and in order to provide for the use of pinions of larger diameter
than the rollers, and the placing of the latter in close proximity to each other,
we mount the bevel pinions on opposite ends of each alternate lower roller:
that is to say, a bevel pinion is presented on each side of the machine by each
alternate pair of rollers.
These pinions engage with corresponding bevel pinions fixed on counter shafts
mounted longitudinally in suitable bearings, by the rotation of which motion is
imparted to the transverse rollers.
To the longitudinal counter shafts is imparted a reciprocating motion by means
of a reversing belt, or other suitable reciprocating means, so arranged that the
forward motion shall be greater than the reverse motion for the purpose of
effeeling the delivery of the fibre at the terminal end of the machine.
As thus constructed and arranged the flax upon being fed between the rollers,
and carried forward and backward by the reciprocating motion, is subjected to
a fine nipping and breaking process, and, owing to the fineness of the pitch of

page_text: the teeth or flutes of the rollers the nip or break occurs at infinitesimally limited
intervals, thereby breaking the straw into extremely short lengths and effecting
its separation from the fibre, in a ready and efficient manner, while the unusual
friction produced (by the fine pitch) accomplishes the glossy or silky appearance
above described.
It is obvious that the reciprocating motion may be adjusted according to
requirements, and thus the process of scutching curtailed, or prolonged.
The flax is fed to our improved machine by an arrangement consisting of a
movable board or table arranged to slide horizontally over a fixed table, and to
deliver the flax at a proper level on reaching the feed rollers so as to present the
fibre fairly between same.
This fed arrangement, which we designate a "movable table" enables the
attendants to arrange the fibre in properly distributed layers before presenting
to the machine, and also ensures the supply being carried on in a continuous
manner.
1st day of December 1970.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
Agents for Applicants, 9, Westland Row, Dublin.
We, EDWARD JOSEPH DE COURCY, of 46, Carlisle Street, Belfast, Gentleman,
and ROBERT CRAWFORD, of 7, Lombard Street, Belfast, Manager, 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:-
This invention has reference to new or improved machinery for breaking
or scutching flax in an economical, expeditious, and efficient manner and without
wasting the fibre.
According to the present practice of treating flax, considerable difficulty is
experienced in the process of removing the straw and bark, without wasting
the fibre.
Various mechanical attempts have been made to overcome this difficulty but
up to the present, these attempts have failed either wholly or partly through
various causes not necessary for the purpose of this specification to
mention.
At present the most efficient method in use for the purpose, is that com-
mercially known as "scutching by handles" and this is subject to the objection
above stated.
Now our invention is designed to produce means whereby the defect in question
will not only be thoroughly and efficiently overcome, but a fibre of a softer and
silkier finish produced, and superior in all respects, to that obtained by the
method just mentioned.
In carrying out our invention we propose to mount a series of fluted
rollers, in pairs-one roller of each pair being over the other-and all arranged
transversely in a horizontal plane, in suitable frame work.
The flutes on these rollers are of a fine pitch, and of special formation, as
hereinafter more fully described.
On one end, of one of each pair of rollers-preferably the under one-is fixed
a bevel pinion, and in order to provide for the use of pinions of larger diameter
than the rollers, and the placing of the latter in close proximity to each other,

page_text: the bevel pinions are mounted on opposite ends of each alternate lower roller:-
that is to say, a bevel pinion is presented on each side of the machine by each
alternate pair of rollers.
These pinions engage with corresponding bevel pinions fixed on longitudinal
shafts mounted in suitable bearings, by the rotation of which, motion is imparted
to the transverse rollers.
To the longitudinal shafts is imparted a reciprocating rotary motion by suitable
gear so arranged that the forward motion of the transverse rollers will be greater
than the reverse motion for the purpose of effecting the delivery of the fibre at
the terminal end of the machine.
As thus constructed and arranged the flax upon being fed between the trans-
verse rollers and carried forward and backward by their reciprocating rotary
motion is subjected to a thorough and efficient breaking process, and owing to
the formation of the flutes of the rollers the straw is broken into extremely
short lengths and is effectually separated from the fibre without breaking or
injuring the same, while the rolling friction produced by the flutes accomplishes
the glossy or silky appearance above described.
The flax is fed to our improved machine by a movable tray or table arranged
to slide horizontally over a fixed platform and to deliver the flax at a proper
level on reaching the transverse rollers.
"
This feed arrangement, which for convenience we designate a movable table"
enables the attendants to arrange the flax in properly distributed layers before
presenting to the machine, and also ensures the supply being carried on in a
continuous manner.
In order that our said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practice we will describe the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a complete machine constructed according to our
invention, the scale being about one and a half inches to the foot.
Fig. 2 is a detail view hereinafter more fully described.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the complete machine.
Fig. 4 is an end view (feeding end) and,
Fig. 5 illustrates in cross section segments of the fluted rollers shewing the
formation of the flutes as hereinafter more fully described.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the views:-
A indicates the frame of the machine: B, B, the fluted rollers arranged in
pairs, the lower series being carried in fixed bearings and the upper series in
inovable bearings in combination with springs C, C, whereby the pressure between
the rollers may be adjusted.
D, D, are the bevel pinions mounted on opposite ends of each alternate lower
roller which gear with corresponding bevel pinions E, E, carried on the longi-
tudinal shafts F, and F, mounted in suitable bearings on each side of the
machine.
These longitudinal shafts gear in turn with bevel pinions H, and H¹, mounted
on the transverse shaft H2, the extremities of which carry ratchet wheels J,
and J, and oscillating arms K, and K.
To the oscillating arm K, is pivotably connected one end of the link L, (shewn
partly in dotted lines in Fig. on off side of machine and full in detached view
Fig. 2) the opposite end being pivotably connected to crank M; while to the
oscillating arm K, is pivotably connected one end of link L', the other end
of which is pivotably connected to an adjustable crank M', carried in the spur
wheel M².
Both cranks (M and M³) are carried on the transverse shaft N.
Gearing with the spur wheel Me, is the pinion N', mounted on the transverse
shaft N3, on which are also mounted the fast pulley N³, and loose pulley N+
The oscillating arms K, and K', are provided with pawls P, and Pt, which
gear with the ratchet wheels J, and J¹, and are held in positive action by
springs Q.

page_text: R, R, indicate angle irons which carry the platform S, the feed end of which
is carried to close proximity with the feed rollers.
On this platform is carried a movable tray or frame T, provided with rollers
on its under surface and on its side edges whereby it is readily moved to, and
from the machine.
It is also provided with divisions T", which facilitate the proper distribution of
the flax before presenting to the machine.
This movable table or fray enables the attendant to carry on the supply to the
rollers in a convenient and continuous manner.
The formation of the flutes of the rollers B, B, as illustrated in Fig. 5
constitutes an essential feature of our invention and is as follows:-
The thickness of the teeth at the pitch line is equal to about half the distance
between the teeth so as to provide an open space between the sides to ensure the
treatment of the fibre in a manner whereby it will be properly and efficiently
broken, without injuriously crushing it angularly.
It is to the rolling effect produced by this special formation of flutes in
combination with the reciprocating motion of the rollers that the fine breaking
of the straw without injury to the fibre is mainly due.
As thus constructed the action of our improved machinery is as follows:-
The driving shaft N, transmits motion through the spur wheel M², to the
shaft N, which carries the cranks M, and M¹, whereby motion is imparted to
the connecting links L, and L'. It will be observed that the throw of crank M,
is approximately half that of crank M, and consequently the swing of the
oscillating arms K, and K', will vary in proportion.
By this means the ratchet wheel J, is thrust forward by pawl PI to the extent
of two teeth at each revolution of shaft N, while ratchet wheel J, is thrust
backward to the extent of one of its teeth, the latter ratchet wheel being rotated
in the reverse direction to that of J', as indicated by the respective arrows.
A forward motion is thus obtained which exceeds that of the reverse motion,
and this reciprocating motion is imparted to the series of rollers B, B, through
the longitudinal shafts F, and F.
It is obvious that the travel either way of the rollers may be altered at
pleasure by altering the throw of the adjustable crank M.
It is obvious that since the stroke of pawl Pl, is greater than that of pawl P,
provision must be made to disengage partially pawl P during the forward motion
of the rollers.
This is accomplished by causing the tail of the pawl P to strike the stop P2
just before the completion of its stroke whereby the fore end of the pawl is
disengaged at the actual termination of the stroke as illustrated in dotted lines
Fig. 2.
Immediately contact with the stop ceases, the pawl is restored to engagement
by the spring Q.
The stop is carried on a suitable bracket P³ attached to the frame of the
machine Fig. 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim as our invention is:
First: In machinery for breaking or scutching flax, the combination of trans-
verse rollers provided with flutes of a special formation, arranged in pairs and
in a horizontal plane, and gearing with longitudinal shafts actuated in a manner
whereby a varying reciprocating rotary motion is imparted to the said transverse
rollers; also a movable feeding table consisting of a fixed platform and a sliding
table or tray whereby the feeding of the machine is facilitated and rendered
continuous, all constructed and operating in the manner, substantially as herein
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Second: In machinery for breaking or scutching flax, the use and application

page_text: of a movable feeding table consisting of a fixed platform on which slides longi-
tudinally a table or tray whereby the attendant is enabled to properly distribute
the fibre and present same to the rollers in a regular and continuous manner,
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of October 1899.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
Agents for Applicants, 9, Westland Row, Dublin.