IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR HECKLING AND SCUTCHING FLAX AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rowan, of the firm of John Rowan and
Sons, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Engineers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR HECKLING AND SCUTCHING FLAX AND
OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRES."
Sealed the 23rd May 1862, and dated the 27th November. 1861..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rowan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the:
27th November 1861.
I, WILLIAM ROWAN, of the firm of John Rowan and Sons, of Belfast, in
the County of Antrim, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR HECKLING AND SCUTCHING FLAX
AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in forming on or in fixing to the ends of the beaters
and of the bars which carry the pins for heckling and the combs for scutching
spindles or trunnions, which spindles are received in bearings fixed on. the
circular frame, cylinder, or drum of the machine.
My Invention also consists in fixing adjustable guards in front of the heckle
pins when the machine is used for heckling, in order that the depth to which
the pins enter the fibre may be regulated according to the nature thereof.
While play is allowed to the beaters and heckle and comb bars they are
prevented from revolving.

page_text: My Invention applies to all kinds of circular frames, cylinders, and drums,
whether rigid or made according to the Invention for which Provisional Pro-
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Rowan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROWAN, of the firm of John Rowan and Sons, of Belfast, in the County of
Antrim, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Rowan, Her special licence that I, the said
William Rowan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Rowan, 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, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR HECKLING AND SCUTCHING FLAX AND OTHER
VEGETABLE FIBRES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Rowan, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Rowan, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto

page_text: My Invention also consists in fixing adjustable guards in front of the heckle
pins when the machine is used for heckling, in order that the depth to which
the pins enter the fibre may be regulated according to the nature thereof.
While play is allowed to the beaters and heckle or comb bars they are
prevented from 'revolving.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shows in vertical section, and
Figure 2 in end view, so much of a drum fitted with a beater and heckle or
comb bar as will be necessary to illustrate the manner in which my Invention
is carried into effect. a is the periphery of the drum; 6 is the beater; and c
is the heckle or comb bar; d, d, are the spindles or trunnions on the ends of
the bars, and resting in bearings e, e, bolted or otherwise secured to the drum;
fis the guard in front of the heckle pins or teeth, inserted in the drum a, and
fitted in such manner that its height may be adjusted to regulate the depth
the pins or teeth enter the fibre. When the machine is used for heckling, the
heckle bars are arranged round the periphery of the drum, cylinder, or circular
frame alternately or otherwise with the beaters.
My Invention applies to all kinds of circular frames, cylinders, and drums,
whether rigid or made according to the Invention for which Letters Patent
were granted to me the Fifth day of October last, No. 2490.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my improve-
ments in machines for heckling and scutching flax and other vegetable
fibres,―
First, constructing the beaters and bars which carry the pins for heckling
and the beaters or combs for scutching with spindles or trunnions, which are
received in bearings in manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
And second, the employment of adjustable guards as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Rowan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two.
WILL". ROWAN. (L.B.)