Year: 1896

page_text: I, JOHN MALCOLM MACDONALD of 2 Victoria Mansions, Westminster, London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the treatment of rhea grass for example, for the purpose of obtaining the
fibre of same for commercial purposes, it is absolutely necessary to remove the
bark from the coating of fibre that surrounds the interior wood or pith, and to
extract the latter: such operation being necessary previous to degumming the
fibre to render it fit for combing and sinning. An apparatus according to the
present invention has reference to such preliminary treatment of fibrous plants,
and is constructed as follows.
A suitable framework supports a spindle on which is keyed a drum made with
side flauges between which are beaters extending across the periphery. These
beaters are formed with a rounded front: cutting knives are attached to beaters
to longitudinally separate the fibres. In front of the beaters is a feeding rhute
for introducing the grass having a longitudinal grooved or other form of feed
roller at end to assist the intake of the stems and travel of the bark. This roller
is revolved towards the drum by strap and pulleys. The feeding chute has a
hollow base for liquid which enters near the front and passes out at outlet meeting
with the roller and is carried round by it to act on the fibre. This liquid may be
an acidulated or an alkaline solution according to the class of fibre to he acted
upon. The use of such liquid I have discovered assists the beaters in removing a
larger proportion of the gum or resin than they would, otherwise do, and renders
the subsequent degumming operation more easy and also prevents the gum clogging
the roller. Below the roller a guide shield is provided to assist the redrawing out
of the fibre alter removal of bark and interior wood or pith.
When this apparatus is in practical use in the field a series of drum or beaters
with the other described parts are arranged along a shaft at suitable intervals one
man being employed to each to feed in the plant, the shaft being revolved by
power.
When the machine is to be revolved by manual power, a pinion is keyed on to
the end of the spindle gearing with a toothed wheel carried on a short spindle
bolted to side of main frame a hand wheel is keyed to outside end of spinille to
revolve the same. The beaters are covered in by an iron guard cover.
When the plant to be treated is particularly tender the grooved rollor may be
removed and replaced by a smoother faced one. The feeding chute is made
adjustable us to position by sot screws and slote. To assist the momentum of the
drum when the machinery is worked by hand the spindle of it may have a fly wheel
attached.
The apparatus is operated in the following manner: The feeding chute is first
adjusted to set the feed roller as near the periphery of the beaters as desired
according to the fibre to be treated, the plant is passed into the feeding chute by
the operator and carried down by the action of the roller and the beaters, the
latter of which break the interior wood or pith of the plant at short intervals over
the roller. The plaut is never released by the operator, but after passing in as far
as it will go it-is then drawn back again and the other end passed in. The summe
action which breaks the interior wood or pith effects the removal of the bark.

page_text: The pieces of bark and other matter removed by the above operation fall into a
suitable receptacle from which they are collected and carried away.
Deed this 21st dow of Ail 1906
FREDERIC PRINCE,
Agent for Applicant.
.
I, JOHN MALCOLM MACDONALD, of 2 Victoria Mansions, Westminster, London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly describal and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
In the treatment of fibre-yielding plants (of rhea grass for example) for the
purpose of obtaining the fibre of the same for commercial purposes, it is absolutely
necessary to remove the bark from the coating of fibre that surrounds the interior
wood or pitch, and to extract the latter, snuh operation being necessary previous
to degumming the fibre to render it fit for combing. An apparatus according to
the present invention has reference to such preliminary treatment, Fig. 1, illustrates
a sectional side elevation of a decorticator according to this invcution. Fig. 2, a
plan of the same. Fig. 3, a plan of a series of decorticators on a shaft.
In Figs. 1 and 2, 1, is a suitable framework supporting a spindle 2, on which is
keyed a drum 3, made with side flanges 4, between which are beaters 5, exton ling
across the periphery. The beaters are formed with a rounded front. Knives or
blndes 6, are attached to the beaters to longitudinally separate the fibres.
A feeding chute 7, for introducing the grass, is provided with a longitudinally
grooved or other form of feed roller 8, to assist the intake and travel of the plant.
This roller is revolved towards the drum 5, by the strap 9, and pulleys. The
feeding chute is jacketted, i.e. has a hollow base 10, for liquid which enters at the
inlet 1, and passes out at the outlet 12, meeting with the roller and is carried
round by it to act on the fibre. This liquid inay be an acidulated or an alkaline
solution according to the class of fibre to be operated upon. The use of such
liquid I have discovered assists the beaters in removing a larger proportion of the
guin or resin than they would otherwise do, and renders the subsequent degumming
operation more easy. A guide shield 13, serves to assist the redrawing out of the
fibre after removal of the bark and interior wood or pith.
.
When this apparatus is in practical use in the field a series of drums or beaters
with the other described parts, are arranged along a shift at suitable intervals, one
man being employed to each to feed in the plant, the shaft being revolved by
power (see Fig. 3).
The drawings illustrate a means for revolving a machine according to this
invention by manual power. In this arrangement a pinion 14, is keyed on to the
end of the spindle 2, gearing with a toothed wheel 15, carried on the short
spindle 16, bolted to the side of the main frame. A hand-wheel 17, is keyel to
outside end of spindle 16, to revolve the same. 18 is an iron guard cover.
When the plant to be treated is particularly tender the grooved roller 8, may
be removed and replaced by a smoother faced one. The feeding chute is made
adjustable as to position by set screws 19, and slots 20. To assist the momentum
of the drum when the machinery is worked by hand, the spindle of it may have a
fly wheel attached.
The apparatus is operated in the following manner: The feeding chute is first
adjusted to set the feed roller as near the periphery of the beaters as desired
according to the fibre to be treated, the plant is passed into the feeling chute by

page_text: the operator and carried down by the action of the rollers and the beaters, the
latter of which break the interior wood or pith of the plant at short intervals over
the roller. The plant is never released by the operator but after passing in as far
as it will go, it is then drawn back and the other end passed in. The same action
which breaks the interior wood or pith effects the removal of the bark. The
pieces of bark and other matter removed by the above operation fall into a suitable
receptacle from which they are collected and carried away.
Referring to Fig. 3, the parts shown are as follows:-a walls of boiler-house,
6 the boiler, c engine, e decorticators on shaft the latter being driven from a counter
shaft g by belts and pulleys h the shaft g being driven from the engine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
olaim is :-
1. The apparatus for removing the bark and breaking the interior wood or pith
of fibrous plants, consisting of a suitable frame having a double flanged drum part
arranged to be revolved circumferentially fitted between the flanges with cross
beaters with blunt faces and having attached knives or blades, an adjustable
feeding chute with jacketted base with inlet and outlet for liquid and a grooved or
other roller at the outlet drivon towards the drum, all arranged as and for the
purposes herein before described and set forth.
2. In au apparatus for the treatment of fibrous plants for removing the bark and
extracting the interior wood or pith, the combination of a feeding chute forined
with a suitable inlet for the plant having a hollow or jacketted base with inlet and
exit for liquid and a grooved or other feed roller at the outlet of the chute, all as.
hereinbefore described and set forth.
3. In apparatus for the treatment of fibrous plants as above described a double
flanged drum with cross-beaters with or without longitudinally placed knives in.
combination with a feed roller, as for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1807
FREDERIC PRINCE,.
37 Cureitor Street, London, Agent for Applicant.