An Improved Arrangement for Scutching and Rippling Flax and like Fibre-bearing Plants.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arrangement for Scutching and Rippling Flax and
like Fibre-bearing Plants.
I THOMAS ADAIR Machinist 26 Walnut Street Belfast do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This improved arrangement for scutching and rippling flax and the like consists
of a novel method of carrying or leading the material whilst subjected to the
operation of scutching or of rippling, and of a novel disposition of the beaters
employed for the purpose of removing the extraneous matters from the fibres, or for
the purpose of rippling or removing the seed from the straws.
To hold the fibrous material during the operation of scutching or rippling, I
employ a grooved pulley on a vertical axis, on which ropes or chains are stretched
and to which rotary motion is given during the operations of scutching or rippling.
The material to be treated is held between the ropes or chains and the surface of
the grooved pulley. The ropes or chains are passed over suitable guiding and
stretching pulleys so that a portion of the circumference of the main carrying pulley
is free from contact with the ropes or chains, and allows the material to be inserted
or removed between or from the revolving pulley and its encircling ropes or chains.
Beneath the carrying pulley and chains or ropes are placed two revolving beaters
encased in shells or covers and turning in opposite directions. These beaters are
set at such an angle to each other, that their axes are about parallel to tangents
from the part of the carrying pulley over the centre of the beaters. The beaters
are made with conical ends and the lower ends of the material while being carried
round between the ropes or chains and the grooved pulley are brought into contact
with the beaters at their conical ends, and are carried forward along the inside and
edge of the case or shell, and so one side of the material is beaten. After leaving
the first beater the material is subjected to the action of the second beater which
revolves in the opposite direction so the other side of the material is beaten, and
thus all extraneous matter is removed from the fibre without damage thereto.
In the operation of rippling or removing the seed from flax one beater only need
be used.
DAL
CA
11000
THOMAS ADAIR.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arrangement for Scutching and Rippling Flax and
like Fibre-bearing Plants.
THOMAS ADAIR Machinist 26 Walnut Street Belfast 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 improved arrangement for scutching or rippling flax and the like consists of
a novel method of carrying or leading the material whilst subjected to the operations
of scutching or of rippling, and of a novel disposition of the beaters employed for
the purpose of removing the extraneous matter from the fibres, or for the purpose of
rippling or removing the seed from the straw.
To hold the fibrous material during the operations of scutching or of rippling, I
employ a grooved pulley W (see drawing) revolving on a vertical axis in the
direction indicated by arrows. On this pulley and on the smaller one P ropes or
chains of any suitable material are stretched. By means of springs or weights a
powerfull and self-adjusting tension is maintained on these ropes or chains, and when
Price 61

page_text: a rotary motion is given to the pulleys and a hand full of the material to be treated
inserted between the ropes and pulley at point F it is evident that it will be held
between and carried round by, the bands and pulley untill it reaches the point H
where it can be removed. The grooves in the carrying pulley may be of any
convenient form, and any number may be employed. Spikes may also project from
the "ribs" of the grooves at intervals to prevent the bands from leaving their
"
seat one such spike is shown at Z.
66
Beneath the carrying pulley and bands are placed two rapidly revolving
beaters B B encased in shells or covers (indicated by dotted lines CC) and turning
in opposite directions. These beaters are set at such an angle to each other that
their axes are parallel to tangents from the parts of the carrying pulley over the
centre of beaters.
The beaters are made with conical or tapering ends, they may have any number
of blades and these blades may be of any suitable form and material. The upper
parts of the covers have a slot X in each, along this slot the flax etc. is carried untill
it reaches the point X' where it is drawn out. As it passes from X to X' it is
subjected to the action of the beater, which breaks and strips off the woody part
when scutching, and knocks of the seed bolls when rippling. After leaving first
beater the material is subjected to the action of the second beater, which revolves
in the opposite direction and so the other side of the material is beaten, and thus
all the extraneous matter is removed from the fibre without damage thereto. In
the operation of rippling or removing the seed from flax etc. only one beater need
be used. The accompanying drawing represents the machine as viewed from above.
The frame A A is fixed at a convenient height from the ground, and one beater is
driven off another by the bevel wheels N.
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
1st. The construction of a machine that is capable of performing either or both
the operations of scutching or rippling.
2nd. The employment of a grooved pulley and bands as described above, to hold
and carry the material while it is being operated on, and the addition of spikes pro-
jecting from the ribs of the grooves to keep the bands in place.
3rd. The arranging of the beaters at about right angles to each other, so that
it is possible to get a considerable length of "feed with a moderate sized feed
pulley.
"
4th. The driving the beaters in opposite directions, so that both sides of the
material is subjected to the action of the beaters.
Dated this 7th day of January 1891.
THOMAS ADAIR.