IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BREAK- ING' AND SCUTCHING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Aimé Koch, of Belfast, of the firm of Ami Bernard
and Koch, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BREAK-
ING' AND SCUTCHING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Scaled the 19th June 1857, and dated the 23rd February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Amió Koch at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
February 1857..
I, AIME KOCH, of Belfast, of the firm of Ami Bernard and Koch, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
BREAKING AND SCUTCHING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for breaking
and scutching flax, hemp, and other fibrous substances. For these purposes
there are three parallel blades fixed to a suitable frame, across which fixed
blades the flax, hemp, and other fibrous substance is placed to be beaten by
moveable beaters.
Between each set of fixed blades two moveable parallel blades work, such
two blades being framed together at their ends, and they move on a fixed axis.
near one of their ends. The moveablo blades are moved into an inclined
position (so as to raise them from between the fixed blades) by depressing the
end which extends beyond the axis on which they move; the moveablo blades

page_text: are moved by means of a rotating axis put in motion by a steam engine, or
other suitable power; such axis having on it curved projections which act in
succession on the end of the moveable blades. Several sets of moveable blades
are fixed or move on the same axis, so that by the rotation of one shaft motion
may be given to all the moveable blades, and the sets of fixed blades are at
such a distance apart as to admit a workman between two sets. The move-
ablo and fixed blades are of a triangular section, and by preference they are
made of hard wood.
In order to give to the moveablo blades a quick and powerful action in their
descent on to the flax, hemp, or other fibrous substance placed across the fixed
blades, vulcanized india-rubber or suitable springs are applied to each of the
moveable frames of blades, in such manner that when the moveable blades
bavo been raised by the curved projections on the rotating axis, the moveable
blades may be caused to descend suddenly by the reaction of the springs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Amić Koch.in the. Great. Seal Patent Offico on the 22nd
August 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AIMÉ KOCH,
of Belfast, of the firm of Ami Bernard and Koch, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her. heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Aimé Koch, Her special licence that I, tho said Aimé Koch,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Aimé Koch, 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,
tho Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR BREAKING AND SCUTCHING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES," upon, the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Aimó: Koch,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 Scal Patent Office

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW. YE, -that I, the said Aimé Koch, do hereby declare tho
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed;
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement.
thereof, that is to say:-
•
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for breaking
and scutching flax, hemp, and other fibrous substance. For these purposes
there are three parallel blades fixed to a suitable frame, across which-fixed
blades the flax, hemp, or other fibrous substance is placed to be beaten
by moveable beaters.
Between each set of fixed blades two moveable parallel blades work, such
two blades being framed together at their ends, and they move on a fixed axis
near one of their ends. The moveable blades are moved into an inclined
position (so as to raise them from between the fixed blades) by depressing tho
end which extends beyond the axis on which they move. The moveable blades
aro moved by means of a rotating axis, put in motion by a steam engine
or other suitable power, such axis having on it curved projections, which act in
succession on the end of the moveable blades. Soveral sets of moveable blades
are fixed or move on the same axis, so that by the rotation of one shaft motion
may be given to all the moveable blades, and the sets of fixed blades are
at such a distance apart as to admit a workman between two sets. Tho
moveable and fixed blades are of a triangular section, and by preference they
are made of hard wood. In order to give to the moveablo blades a quick
and powerful action in their descent on to the flax, hemp, or other fibrous sub-
stance placed across the fixed blades, vulcanized india-rubber. or suitablo
springs are applied to each of the moveable frames of blades, in such manner
that when the moveable blades have been raised by the curved projections on
tho rotating axis, tho moveable blades may be caused to descend suddenly by
the reaction of the springs.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto

page_text: b, b. These support transverse piers c, c, having three or other number of
stationary blades dd, fixed to them. e, e, are beating levers, which may be all
mounted on one longitudinal axis; but I prefer to mount them in the way
shewn in the Drawing, viz., on separate short pins or axes carried by standards
ff, and then, by adjusting the position of these standards, I am able to adjust
the rise and fall of the beating levers. The boating levers consist of a short
centre piece of metal e', having bolted to its two sides, near one of its ends, two
or other number of blades e, e, which I usually make of hard wood; the
piece e' has at its other end a friction pulley, which is acted on by the cams or
wiper arms g, g, mounted on a shaft h³ driven by any suitable power, and so
the beater levers e, e, are lifted at one end, and they are guided in their rise
and fall by guides h fixed on the pieces c, so that the upper blades descend into
the space between the lower blados. In order to produce a rapid descent of
the levers e, vulcanized india-rubber springs i, i, are used, and these are fixed
at one of their ends to the levers e, at a point near the axes on which they
turn, and at their other ends to the longitudinal bar j. By adjusting the
strength of the springs i, i, the force of the strokes given by the beater may be.
adjusted according to the nature of the work.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would remark that the arrangement" of machinery
described is applicable to the treatment of all fibres which require to be sub-
mitted to a beating process, and which have heretofore been submitted to tho
action of ordinary hand beaters. What I claim as my Invention is, the
actuating the beating levers of breaking and scutching machinery, of the
description herein shewn and described, by means of cams or wiper levers
mounted on rotating axes.
Also, the use of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable springs to produce
a rapid descent of the beating levers, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Aimé Koch, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand and eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
AMI BERNARD, of Belfast,
Merchant.
AIME KOCH. (L.S.)