CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HECKLING OR DRESSING, AND FOR BREAKING, SCUTCHING, OR CLEARING HEMP, FLAX, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1826

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
BUSK and WILLIAM KING WESTLY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Flax
Spinners, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster the Thirtieth day of August, One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-six, in the seventh year of His reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said Robert Busk and William King
Westly, His especial license that we, the said Robert Busk and William
King Westly, our cxors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Robert Busk and William King Westly, our exors, adñiors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times,
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise and vend within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
HECKLING OR DRESSING, AND FOR BREAKING, SCUTCHING, OR CLEARING HEMP,
FLAX, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; " in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso obliging us, the said Robert Busk and William King
Westly, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the
band and seal of one of us, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature

page_text: of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the
said Robert Busk and William King Westly, do hereby declare that the
nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, are particularly described and ascertained by the following descrip-
tion thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed (that is
to say):
That the improvements "in Machinery for Heckling or Dressing, and for
Scutching, Breaking, or Clearing Hemp, Flax, or other Fibrous Substance,"
constituting our said Invention, are two-fold, viz' :-
The first and main improvement consists in the application of a regular
alternating curvilinear motion like that of a pendulum, or otherwise in a
diagonal direction, compounded in any ratio of a vertical and an horizontal
motion (sec curvéd line colored red, Fig. 1 of the Drawings), to a flat or other
shaped bar or rail of iron or other suitable materials called an holder bar, from
its containing and carrying any number of holders used for holding stricks or
handsful of hemp and flax when dressed by machinery (see D, Fig. 3.)
The second improvement, in a manner accessory to the first, consists in
combining with it a frame or bench corresponding in length with the holder
bar employed as above, and carrying or bearing on its surface heckles, kegs,
or other tools (resembling those commonly used for the purposes aforesaid),
but arranged longitudinally in troughs or boxes, and firmly fixed thereto in one
or more double rows or setts (sec end view, Fig. 1), where each single row
or sett of the two forming one double row or sett slants outward from the
other in an oblique direction at any angle required. This frame or bench,
termed our heckle bench frame, is moreover firmly pinned or keyed upon a
shaft or axis that passes longitudinally through its centre, and so suspended on
the ends of this shaft or axis as to be easily turned when occasion requires to
bring up for use in succession any or all of the various rows or setts of heckles
or other tools it carries or bears as aforesaid. By placing this heckle bench
frame, with one or more double rows or setts of heckles, kegs, or other tools
immediately below and within a proper distance from the said holder bar when
filled with holders containing stricks or handsful of hemp, flax, or other fibrous
substance (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 3), it is evident that the ends of the said
stricks so appended to the said holder bar will and must, when wafted or

page_text: swung backwards and forwards by its diagonal curvilinear motion above
described, forcibly strike or impinge with each side alternately upon the said
double row or sett of heckles or other tools presented to their action, and then
partially pass or be drawn quickly. over and through the same, in a manner
nearly resembling that of hand heckling. The effect thus produced is, that
the said ends of the stricks appended as aforesaid are thoroughly worked,
heckled, or dressed or cleared on both sides over one or more setts of heckles
or other tools of any degrees of fineness required, without shifting or. turning
the holders by hand, as requisite in common heckling machines, and the
advantages thence resulting are,-
Firstly, a considerable saving of manual labor;
Secondly, a greater certainty and regularity in the work performed;
Thirdly, a larger yield or produce of line from most kinds of rough hemp
or flax than usually obtained even by hand dressing; and,
Fourthly, a quality of tow very superior to that made by common machines.
For a minute explanation of the nature, construction, application, and use
of both these our said improvements, we refer to the annexed Drawings, taken
from a machine in which they are both most successfully combined, and to the
following descriptions of the said Drawings. Fig. 1 represents a section of
the machine; Fig. 2; an elevation of the driving end; Fig. 3 a front elevation
of the machine; Fig. 4 a section of the mechanism for turning the heckle
bench frame. The same letters refer to the same parts of the machine
throughout all the Figures, A, A, A, A, A, the frame end; B, B, B, B,
the slider frame, moving up and down between the pillars of the frame end,
and serving to support and connect the geering that actuates the holder bar D;
C, C, levers to carry weights, by which the weight of the slider frame B, with
its contents, is counterbalanced; D, the holder bar attached to the arms II,
and moving as the geering is now set in the curvilinear course delineated in
red ink; E, a wheel, four inches diameter at the pitch line, carried round on
a crank by the wheel F (see Fig. 2). Inside of the internal or annular
wheel G, G, of eight inches diameter, bolted fast to the slider frame B, a stud
fixed on the pitch line of wheel E is placed in such a position, well known to
every mechanic, as to receive from the rotation of that wheel on its own-
stud or axis, and round the inside of the annular wheel G, G, an up and
lown motion in a direct vertical line. Upon this stud is suspended at its
upper extremity the rod or arm H, which consequently receives therefrom a
like vertical motion, and communicates it to the holder bar D attached to its
ower extremity. 1, I, is a wheel of eight inches diameter, carried on a
crank by wheel K (Fig. 2), inside of an internal or annular wheel L, L, of

page_text: sixteen inches diameter. Upon the pitch line of this wheel I, I, a stud, being
also fixed, is so placed (in a position well known to mechanics) as to receive from
the rotations of that wheel on its own stud or axis, and round the inside of the
annular wheel L, L, a backwards and forwards motion in a direct horizontal
line, which it imparts likewise to the connecting rod or arm H, not, however,
immediately (as it might by working in a mortise made in the said arm or
rod H, were it not desirable to keep the center of this horizontal motion at a
fixed point in the arm or rod H, and at an unvarying distance from the center
of the vertical motion it receives at its upper extremity from the stud or
wheel E); but this arrangement being preferable, it is effected by the inter-
vention of a flat bar M (Fig, 3), carried by the stud fixed on the pitch line of
wheel H, and retained in a vertical position by means of a rod M, which slides
in a socket at O, screwed fast on the outer side of the annular wheel L, L,
while so carried with the said stud on wheel I, I, in a direct horizontal line.
To this flat bar M is affixed by means of small pillars projecting from its ends
towards the arm or rod E, around rod Q, which must consequently partake of
the same direct horizontal motion, and be kept vertical also by the said rod N.
This round rod Q is moreover connected with the rod or arm H by means of
a thimble or socket at the end of a rod R (Fig. 3), which passes through the
said arm or rod Hat R, the fixed point chosen for the center of the horizontal
motion, thus plainly communicated to it from the stud on wheel I, I,
through the medium of the flat bar M with the round rod Q, and the
thimble or socket at the end of rod R, which thimble or socket, by sliding
freely up and down on the rod Q during its horizontal motion, admits of the
arm or rod H (and with it the holder bar D attached to its lower extremity)
to partake of the vertical motion communicated at its upper extremity by the
stud or wheel E, in combination with the horizontal motion it thus receives by
means of rod Q and thimble or socket at the end of rod R. Hence it appears
obvious (from Fig. 2) that the wheel F, which gives the vertical motion, being
exactly half the size of wheel K, whence proceeds the horizontal motion,
the arms or rods H, with the holder bar D attached to them, must be raised
and lowered uniformly and precisely to an equal extent once in each half of
the diagonal curvilinear track or course the said holder bar D performs, as
delineated in the red ink diagram, and thereby cause a regular uniform action
to the pendent ends of the stricks or handsful of hemp, flax, or other substance
appended to the said holder bar D, so that they will necessarily strike or
impinge upon and partially pass over or be drawn quickly over and through
each of the rows of heckles or other tools presented to their action alternately
first on one of their sides and then on the other, every time they perform the

page_text: complete course or stroke with the holder bar D, in the track delineated as
aforesaid. Thus too is strikingly illustrated and proved how, by proper
combinations of mechanism, the peculiar kind of motion (in the application of
which to machinery for the purposes aforesaid our main improvement consists)
is or may be produced and varied at pleasure, by compounding it of a vertical
and a horizontal motion in any ratio required; and further, how it is in one
way (and may in numberless others be) practically used either by itself or
conjointly with the heckle bench frame, which forms our second (and as stated
above) in some degree an accessory improvement. S, S, S, S, are arms
which form this heckle bench frame. They support troughs or boxes W, W,
in or upon which the stocks of the heckles or other tools are firmly fixed in the
slanting position required. They are also keyed or pinned on shaft T, and
turn with it as occasion requires, to bring up the different rows or setts of
leckles or tools in succession when more than one are used; and their number
and fineness may casily be varied (it is evident) according to the kind of work
to be done. These troughs or boxes W, W, are jointed at U, U, U, U, and are
adjustable by the screws tapped into the swing or swivel nuts at V, V, V, V,
V, V, V, V. X, X, are the back boards working on hinges at X, X. During
the occasional rotation of the heckle bench frame they are raised out of the
way of the heckle points by the rods and stud Y on the locking bar Y, Y (sec
Fig. 4). Z is the camm shaft. a (see Fig. 2), one of the weights that
counterbalance the slider frames B, B. Concealed in a part of the casting
that constitutes the frame end b, b, b, b, is a plate bolted in the frame A, A,
A, A, A, at a proper distance to leave room for the pullies that receive and the
pinions that distribute the motion of the prime mover. c, c, a live and a dead
pulley, by which the machine is drawn by an endless belt from the mill gear.
d, a shaft, one end of which is supported as seen in the plate; b, b, the other,
in a plumber block bolted to the frame A, A. From this point the motion
divides into two directions; upwards to drive the holder bar D, and downwards
to regulate the motion of the heckle bench frame and camm. We will first
trace the motion upwards. e, e, a wheel fixed on the shaft d, drives a similar
wheel ff, which is fixed on a shaft, the ends of which run in a plumber
block y, bolted to the frame A, A, The wheel ff, communicates its motion
to what we call our hinges or linked wheel h, which is fixed on a short spindle,
and kept in geer by the links i, i, i, i, jointed at the centres of the wheel h.
This joint allows the slider frame B to move up and down while the wheels it
contains continue in motion. The wheel H drives the wheel K, of like
dimensions, fixed on a shaft that goes through the slider frame B, and carries
the crank and wheel I, I, (see Fig. 1,) to produce the horizontal motion of the

page_text: connecting rod or arm H. The same shaft on its outer end carries the fly
wheel,. The wheel K drives the wheel F, of half its size, which produces
the vertical motion of the connecting rod H (see Fig. 1), and also drives the
wheel-n, n, fixed on the shaft o, o (see Fig. 3), which communicates the same
motion to the holder bar D, at the other end of the frame, by a train of wheels
and mechanism precisely similar to what has been here detailed, and is exhibited
in Fig. 2.
We will now follow the motion from the shaft d downwards.
The shaft carries a pinion, partially seen at p, which drives the stud
wheel 2, 9, in the cannon or socket of which is screwed the change pinion 1,
which drives the wheel s fixed on the shaft t, t, extending the whole length
of the machine, to communicate a simultaneous motion to the camms x, x,
and from them to the slider frames B, B at each end (Fig. 3). For this
purpose the shaft t, t, carries a pinion u at each end, working into stud wheels
v, by means of which it drives the wheels w fixed on the camm shafts (sce
Fig. 1), shewn also by the dotted line at 10, Fig. 4. x is a camm fixed on a
shaft z, one as aforesaid at each end of the machine.
It is by the rotation of
this camm that the slider frame B, B is made to rise and fall in order to
regulate the gradual descent of the hemp or flax into the heckles or tools.
y, y, y are the rods and plate attached to the slider frame B, B, with a small
friction pulley at a resting on the camm a. 2,2, is a strong round plate, by
which the heckle frame is turned or held fast as occasion requires (vide Fig. 4.)
The way in which the machine stops itself is exhibited in Figure 2, where
1,1 is a light beam connected at 2, by a bell crank, with the fork 3, which
guides the belt on and off the live pulley. This beam I has always a tendency
to throw off the belt by reason of the weight of the ball 4; but when the
machine is set to work (as it must be by raising the end of the beam 1 at
which ball 4 is fixed) it is kept up by the catch 5 thrust forwards for that
purpose by the spring 6, when the heckle bench frame has completed one
revolution. The tooth 7, which is fixed on the shaft of the said frame, arrives at
the detent or catch 5, and pushes it aside, thus allowing the ball 4 at the end
of the beam 1 to drop, and draw off the belt from the live to the dead pulley.
In Fig. 4, T is the shaft of the heckle bench frame. 2,2,2,2, a strong
round plate fixed on the shaft, with four notches cut in its circumference, and
four studs or pegs projecting from its side at 2, 2, 2, 2. Z the cam shaft.
Y, Y an iron plate sliding freely up and down on the shafts T and Z. At the
top of this plate is a projection 11, that fits into the notches of the circular
plate z, z, to hold fast when required the heckle bench frame, which it
necessarily must, because the plate Y extending to the shaft Z is thereby

page_text: prevented from turning. This plate has a friction pulley fixed at Y. 8, 9
an arm or lever fixed on the shaft Z, and turning together with the camm, so
situated on the said shaft that at the time when the camin is lifting the
slider frame B the lower part of the arm 8, 9 reaches the friction pulley at Y,
and by lifting it disengages the projection 11 of the plate Y, Y from its notch
on the round plate 2, 2, 2, 2, and sets the heckle frame bench at liberty. At this
moment the extremity of the arm 8, 9 comes in contact with one of the pegs
z, and by driving that peg forward with it turns the heckle bench frame one
fourth of a revolution; the plate Y, Y then falls into the succeeding notch
and holds the heckle bench frame fast, as before.
Observation. The speed at which this machine is driven must of course
vary according to the nature of the work. For common flax dressing we
reckon thirty-six to forty double strokes of the holder bar per minute most
advantageous. The heckles or other tools, being intended to resemble as
nearly as possible those in general use, (excepting in point of length and
relative position, both which have been described,) can require 'no further
explanation; and it seems almost superflous to add, that for the purpose of
scutching and breaking suitable blades or bars must be substituted for the
heckles or kegs, with pins proper for dressing and clearing.
Remarks. The preceding accounts, elucidated by the Drawings to which
they refer, cannot, we trust, fail to afford all the information any Specification
can be expected to give. But though for this purpose we have with the
utmost perspicuity detailed and explained all the parts of a machine in which
both our said improvements are practically combined, we must distinctly
disavow all idea of claiming the whole or any single part of the said machine
as of our invention or the subject of our patent, excepting the two specific
improvements we have already stated as such, viz., the application of the
peculiar kind of motion we have described, and the peculiar arrangement of
heckling or other tools in double rows or sets, combined with a holder bar so
moved as aforesaid. In the mechanical means that may be devised for
carrying both or either of these improvements into effect, it must be evident to
every person conversant with such subjects there is an almost infinite variety.
This peculiar kind of curvilinear motion, for instance, may be made rounder or
flatter, as well a shorter or longer, by varying the proportions of the vertical
and horizontal motions respectively of which it is composed, and instead of the
precise mechanism we have described different combinations of cranks,
eccentrics, circular or elliptic wheels, may be used for its production.
The heckle bench frame too admits of numberless alterations in form or size,
and if attached to chains the double rows or sets of heckles or other tools

page_text: might be brought up by their revolving on the frame in slides or otherwise,
instead of turning the frame itself. It is equally obvious that the frame or
whatever else carries these heckles or tools in double rows or setts might be
raised and lowered to favor the gradual action of the hemp or flax upon them,
instead of raising and lowering the slider frame (Fig. 1, B,) with all its
contents. But these and all other variations in the mode of carrying our
said improvements into effect we consider merely incidental; not essential to
the improvements themselves. In what way soever they may be executed,
performed, introduced, or employed, their nature and effect remaining the
same as to their operation in machinery used for the purposes aforesaid,
they no less really constitute our said Invention, and consequently, with no
less truth or justice, remain the real and sole subjects of our Patent.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Busk and William King Westly,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this third day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven.