IMPROVE- MENTS IN TREATING AND SOFTENING JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS AnRY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Parell Butchart, of Dundee, in the County
of Forfar, North Britain, Mill Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TREATING AND SOFTENING JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS
Annin
9
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Parell Butchart
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th April 1867.
I, WILLIAM PARELL BUTCHART, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North
Britain, Mill Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND SOFTENING JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH," to be as follows, that is to say:-
The first part of this Invention relates to an improved arrangement or con-
struction of mechanism by which jute, bemp, flax, or other fibrous substances
are treated for the purpose of thoroughly separating and disintegrating the

page_text: fibres of which such substances are composed. The mechanism is carried in
a rectangular framework of cast iron, and it consists of several sets of fluted
rollers, the under or lower ones of which are of much greater diameter than
the upper ones. The end main lower roller is that to which motive force is
first applied; it is driven by a belt passing over a pully on a shaft situated
near to the rollers, spur gearing however intervening between the pulley shaft
and the roller in order to reduce the speed of the latter to the required
extent. On the side of the roller opposite that from which it is driven a bevil
pinion is keyed, which gears into a corresponding bevil pinion or wheel on a
horizontal shaft which is carried in bearings or brackets projecting from the
side of the framing; this shaft then has a series of bevil pinions or wheels on
it at intervals for the purpose of driving the several sets of softening rollers, a
bevil pinion being secured on to the axle of every lower roller in the series,
by which each set of rollers is actuated. Of the upper rollers there may be
two or more to every large lower roller; their journals are fitted with
adjustable slide bearings acted on by helical or other springs to produce the
necessary pressure on the material being softened.
When the machine is set in motion the substance to be softened is fed into
it from a feeding table at one end, and being continually advanced forwards
it issues at the opposite end in a softened and disintegrated state;
the softening
is however promoted very considerably by the use of that which constitutes
the second part of this Invention, namely, the means or apparatus for dis-
tributing the softening liquid or liquids. Over each set of the fluted rollers a
trough is situated in which a distributing roller is kept revolving, it being
actuated off some convenient revolving part of the machine by spur or other
gearing; of every three such troughs one contains oil, another water, and
another a liquid substance known to manufacturers of textile fabrics as "anti-
mildew." As the rollers revolve in the troughs containing these liquids they
lift a small quantity of each of them, and in front of each roller a distributing
plate is situated, being cut with teeth or points on the upper and under sides
for the purpose of causing the liquids to drop on to the material as it travels
through the machine in the form of evenly distributed drops in place of a
broad and uneven stream. The distribution of the liquids is stopped instantly
that the material has passed through, or when no material is being softened
as the distributing plates are fixed on the upper end of a pair of levers, one of
which is extended downwards and terminates in a spanner, which spanner is
pushed on one side by one of the top rollers as they assume their lowes
position when there is no material between them and the under roller. The

page_text: troughs containing the liquids are provided with a float valve for regulating
the flow of the different liquids from the tank in which they are contained, so
that the level of the liquids in the troughs are maintained constant or nearly
so. The rollers for raising and distributing the liquids may have their dis-
tributing effect increased by inclined holes being formed in their surface, which
fill with liquid as the roller is rising up, and on overturning empty themselves
over the distributing plates above referred to. The distributing rollers may be
also arranged in pairs to distribute liquids in a compound set of streams or drops,
and in this way may be very conveniently applied to some classes of softening
machines at present in use. Some of the softening rollers may be heated by
admitting steam, hot air, or hot water into their interiors from a hole at the
centre, at which place a pipe is united for the admission of the heating
medium by a joint which is free to allow the roller to revolve; by heating
some of the rollers in this way the softening effect is enhanced.
The apparatus for actuating the distributing rollers is provided with a set
of change wheels and pinions, so that their speed and therefore the quantities
of liquid distributed may be varied to suit any material under treatment. As
the roller used for distributing the "anti-mildew" liquid is liable to corrosion
from that liquid it is intended to cover it with lead, on which metal the action
is of less intensity.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Parell Butchart in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PARELL BUTCHART, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Parell Butchart, Her special license that I, the
said William Parell Butchart, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Parell Butchart, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND SOFTENING
JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others). tliat I,
the said William Parell Butchart, by an instrument in writing under iny
hand and seal, 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 Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Parell Butchart, 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 accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates, firstly, to an improved arrangement or con-
struction of mechanism by which jute, hemp, flax, or other fibrous substances
are treated for the purpose of thoroughly separating and disintegrating the
fibres of which such substances are composed. The mechanism is carried in
a rectangular framework of cast iron, and it consists of several sets of fluted
rollers, the under or lower ones of which are of much greater diameter than
the upper ones. The end main lower roller is that to which motive force is
first applied; it is driven by a belt passing over a pulley on a shaft situated
near to the rollers, spur gearing however intervening between the pulley
shaft and the roller in order to reduce the speed of the latter to the required
extent. On the side of the roller opposite that from which it is driven a
bevil-pinion is keyed, which gears into a corresponding bevil pinion or wheel
on a horizontal shaft which is carried in bearings on brackets projecting from
the side of the framing; this shaft then has a series of bevil pinions or wheels
on it at intervals for the purpose of driving the several sets of softening rollers,
a bevil pinion being secured on to the axle of every lower roller in the series
by which each set of rollers is rotated. Of the upper rollers there may be
two or more to every large lower roller; their journals are fitted with adjust-
able slide bearings acted on by helical or other springs to produce the necessary
pressure on the material being softened.
When the machine is set in motion the substance to be softened is fed into

page_text: 5
it from a feeding table at one end, and being continually advanced forwards it
issues at the opposite end in a softened and disintegrated state; the softening
is however promoted very considerably by the use of that which constitutes
the second part of this Invention, namely, the means or apparatus for distri-
buting the softening liquid or liquids. Over three sets of the fluted rollers a
trough is situated in which a distributing roller is kept revolving, it being
actuated off some convenient revolving part of the machine by spur or other
gearing; of the three troughs one contains oil, another water, and another a
liquid substance known to manufacturers of textile fabrics as anti-mildew. As
the rollers revolve in the troughs containing these liquids they lift a small
quantity of each of them, and in front of each roller a distributing plate is
situated, grooved on the upper side for the purpose of causing the liquids to
drop on to the material as it travels through the machine in the form of evenly
distributed drops in place of a broad and uneven stream. The distribution of
the liquids is stopped instantly that the material has passed through or when
no material is being softened, as the distributing plates are fixed on the upper
end of a pair of levers, one of which is extended downwards and terminates
in a spanner, which spanner is pushed on one side by one of the top rollers
as they assume their lowest position when there is no material between them
and the under roller. The troughs containing the liquids are provided with a
float valve for regulating the flow of the different liquids from the tanks in
which they are combined, so that the level of the liquids in the troughs is
maintained constant or nearly so. The rollers for raising and distributing the
liquids may have their distributing effect increased by inclined holes being
formed in their surface which fill with liquid as the roller is rising up, and on
overturning empty themselves over the distributing plates above referred to.
The distributing rollers may be arranged in pairs to distribute two liquids in a
compound set of streams or drops, aud in this way may be very conveniently
Some of the
applied to some classes of softening machines at present in use.
softening rollers may be heated by admitting steam, hot air, or hot water into
their interiors from a hole at the centre, at which place a pipe is united for
the admission of the heating medium by a joint which is free to allow the
.roller to revolve; by heating some of the rollers in this way the softening effect
is enhanced.
The apparatus for actuating the distributing rollers is provided with a set of
change wheels and pinions, so that their speed and therefore the quantities of
liquid distributed may be varied to suit any material under treatment.
the roller used for distributing the anti-mildew liquid is liable to corrosion
As

page_text: from that liquid it is intended to cover it with lead, on which metal the action
is of less intensity.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or
under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect,
reference being had, for the sake of more complete elucidation, to the several
Kigures and letters upon the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I have
hereunto appended, that is to say :-
On Sheet 1, Figure 1 is a complete side elevation of my machine; Figure 2,
a plan showing the driving gear complete; Figure 3, a longitudinal section
of part of the machine; and Figure 4, an end elevation of the feed end of the
machine. In the following description the same letters of reference apply to
all the views.
In Figure 1, A is the main framing, on which is carried in suitable bearings
the lower set of fluted rollers B; on the top of the main framing the guide
framing C is bolted for the purpose of carrying the upper set of fluted rollers
D and also the helical or other springs E, which communicate the requisite
amount of pressure to the upper rollers, and which pressure may be increased
or diminished at will by the set screws F, which are situated in the covers G,
bolted on the top of the guide frames. To the side of the guide frames are
bolted the frames H for carrying the troughs containing the liquid relating
to the second part of my Invention, and which is herein-after more particularly
described. J, J, Figures 2 and 4, are the fast and loose pulleys by which the
machine is driven, the power being transmitted through suitable gearing to
the wheel K, which is keyed on the spindle of the first of the under set of
rollers at the feeding end of the machine, the shafting being carried on the
main framing of the machine and the stool bracket L. The remainder of the
lower rollers are driven by mitre wheels M keyed upon the shaft N extending
along one side of the machine, similar wheels being keyed on the ends of the
lower rollers. The shaft N is driven from the spindle of the first roller by
mitre gearing, this being made of greater pitch, as shown on Figure 1. At
suitable distances along the sides of the machine brackets O are bolted for
carrying the shaft N. P is the table upon which the jute, flax, or other sub-
stances are laid for being fed into the machine; and Q is the table upon which
the substances are delivered after having passed between the fluted or softening
rollers; P is a pipe extending along the side of the machine, to which may
be connected by pipes R, Figure 1, any number of the lower rollers, so that
steam may be admitted to the interior of the rollers.

page_text: Figure 2, Sheet 2, is a longitudinal section of one of the rollers drawn to
a larger scale. R is a pipe by which steam is admitted to the rollers; S, the
pipe by which it escapes; the pipe S is made to extend across the under side
of the rollers. On the upper side of the pipe perforations T are made by
which the steam after having heated the rollers is allowed to escape, and
passes up into the jute or other substances that may be passing through the
machine, and assists in softening the substance or substances. The pipe R
is fitted with a tap U, so that the steam may be shut off, each roller being
thereby rendered independent of the rest. The ends of the rollers are
properly fitted with stuffing boxes and packing, so as to render them steam-
tight.
I now proceed to describe more particularly the second part of my Inven-
tion, viz., the machinery for applying the liquids used to assist in the
disintegration of the jute, flax, or other fibrous substances. Referring to the
Drawings on Sheet 1, H is the framing on which the troughs V which contain
the liquid are carried; the first trough a' containing water, the second b¹ oil,
the third c the liquid known as anti-mildew. W, the rollers which lift the
liquids and convey them to the distributing plates X; these plates are made of
brass or other material, and are grooved on their upper sides, so that the liquid
may drop uniformly over the material being softened instead of in an uneven
stream. The plates X are screwed to the lever Y keyed on the transverse
shaft a; on one end of each of the shafts a lever b is keyed terminating in a
curve h at the bottom end, as more particularly seen at Figure 1, the length
of each lever being regulated so that when no material is passing between the
rollers, the upper rollers being then in their lowest position, the ends of the
levers are in contact with the projecting ends k of the journal of the rollers D
at a point on the line of their horizontal diameters, and each lever being thus
held back the grooved plates X are lifted from contact with the rollers W.
When the machine is in motion and jute or other material is passing between
the rollers the upper ones are pushed up, and consequently as the centre of
the bearings rise above the curved end of each lever the lever falls forward
by its own weight and the plates X come into contact with the rollers W in
the troughs, so that the quantity of liquid removed from the rollers W by the
plates X is regulated by the quantity of jute or other material passing between
the fluted rollers. The pipes c for supplying the liquid to the troughs are
provided with taps d, so that the liquid passing through any of them may be
turned off altogether; and for keeping the liquid at a proper height in the
troughs ordinary self-acting ball-cocks are used.

page_text: Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a transverse section of one of the troughs, the letters
being the same as for the corresponding parts (Sheet 1). In order to increase
the power of the rollers for lifting the liquids holes may be formed on their
surfaces, as shown on Figure 1, Sheet 2; each of the rollers is provided with
a set of change wheels e, as shown on Figures 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 1, carried in
slot brackets hung on a stud to the loop f, Figure 3, Sheet 1; by means of
these change wheels the speed of the distributing rollers may be increased or
diminished at pleasure.
The mode of working the machine is as follows:-The machine having been
set in motion the fibrous substance to be softened is placed on the feed table P
and fed into the first rollers; immediately it passes under the rollers in contact
with the lever b the roller is lifted up, the lower end of the lever falls forward,
and the grooved brass plate X comes in contact with the rollers W, and the
liquid drops upon the fibres. The steam having been admitted to the lower
fluted rollers through the branch pipes R exhausts by the pipes S, passing
under the machine, and escapes by the perforations T, assisting in softening the
substances passing through the machine. After passing under the rollers the
fibres pass out at the delivery table Q.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would
observe, in conclusion, that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of parts constituting the
softening mechanism, as herein-before described, or any mere modification
thereof.
Second, the mode of applying the softening liquids by means of rollers, and
the distribution of the liquid raised by the rollers over metallic plates or edges
to enable the liquid or liquids to be evenly applied to the material being
treated, substantiaily as herein-before described.
Third, the means or mode of placing the distributing plates in or out of
.contact with the rollers that raise the liquids, and the rendering of such
arrangements self-acting by means of the material passing through the grooved
rollers.
j
Fourth, the application of steam, hot. air, or hot water for the purpose of
heating any number of the lower rollers, and thereby enhancing the softening
effect, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the application of two or more helical or other springs with pads of

page_text: iron or other suitable material between each for applying the pressure to the
ends of the upper fluted rollers, and thereby admitting of the rollers having
vertical motion in the slots without jamming, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Parell Butchart, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
ST. JOHN VINCENT DAY, C. E.,
166, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
W. P. BUTCHART. (L.S.)