IMPROVEMENTS IN DRESSING HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ronald, of Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRESSING HEMP,
FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Scaled the 16th November 1858, and dated the 22nd May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ronald at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
May 1858.
I, JAMES RONALD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRESSING
HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as follows (that is to
say):-
To construct a machine according to this Invention, on two horizontal
revolving shafts which are laid parallel to each other (say eight feet long),
at each end of these revolving shafts there is mounted a fast pulley or disc,
which supports bars that extend from one pulley to the other, forming an open
cage or cylinder; these beaters or rails are cranked at their ends so as to
admit their passing between each other, about (say) six inches at one end and
only a short distance at the reverse end. This part of the machine is herein-
after termed the "softening machine," and is used to beat the hemp or other
fibre which is suspended over and between the two cylinders or longitudinal
bars or beaters passed in an oblique line, parallel with the driving shafts.

page_text: Immediately in longitudinal line with this softening machine, two gill bar
cylinders are mounted parallel to each other, and the teeth of which may
intersect each other; and a second pair of gill bar cylinders, having finer
teeth than the first, are also mounted longitudinally at the end of the first pair
of gill bar cylinders. The first set of gill bar cylinders are by preference of
smaller diameter than the circumference of the path of--the cylinder or beaters
of the softening machine, and the second pair of gill bar cylinders is aiso
preferred to be of less circumference than the first. The upper end of each
"strick" of fibre being secured between two flat bars of iron, of, say, nine
inches long, and which are held together by a nut or bolt at. each end. The
back plate is provided with two short studs, which fit into two links of the flat
chain forming an endless carrying band. The "stricks" of fibre are supplied
to the machine to be operated upon by means of this endless band or chain,
which travels above and directly over 'the line of intersection of the revolving
cylinders, and is supported by travelling through a grove or slotted rail or
inclined plane, which is placed at an angle to the horizon, so as to present
first the lower end of the "strick" to the beaters of the softening machine,
and as it travels longitudinally along the beaters, it gradually descends to allow
the beaters to operate on the upper part of the fibre. Having travelled the
full length of the beaters of the softening machine, it is carried over the first
pair of gill bar cylinders, again presenting the lower part of the "strick" to
the gill teeth, and gradually descending during its course to allow the whole of
the pendant part of the "strick" to be acted upon by the gill bar teeth. It
is then carried over a second set of gill bar cylinders, which are of smaller
diameter, and provided with finer gill teeth than those of the first. The lower
end of the "strick" of fibre having now been operated upon by the machine, it
is carried clear of the grove supporting bar and gill cylinders, when it is removed
from the endless chain by the hand. The "stricks" are then reversed on the
holding plates, and aro again passed through the machine which operates
upon that portion by which they were previously suspended.
The endless flat chain or band in addition to passing over the slotting bar,
is carried over pullies, by one of which it is actuated. The periphery of the
driving pulley of this endless band is provided with studs, which work in the
links of the chain so as to prevent the band from slipping on its pullies. This
studdied driving pulley is used in combination with the friction pulley to
prevent accident to the machinery should an undue strain be applied to the
travelling band.
"
It will be readily seen that by the foregoing arrangement, the softening and
dressing of hemp or other like fibres is one continuous unceasing operation,
'

page_text: the machinery never requiring a suspension of motion during the time it is in
use. And it will be further seen that this machine may be variously modified,
as for instance, the softening machine might be used alone or in duplicate, or
in combination with one or any greater number of pairs; gill cylinders, or one
or more pairs of gill cylinders may be used independent of the softening
machine; but in most cases it is preferred to use the softening machine in
combination with one or more pairs of gill bar cylinders, as by that arrange-
ment the fibre is softened dressed by one continuous operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Ronald in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
RONALD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Ronald, Her special licence that 1, the said James Ronald, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Ronald, 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 DRESSING HEMP,
FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Ronald, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their bands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 James Ronald, 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 (that is to say):-
To construct a machine according to this Invention, on two horizontal

page_text: revolving shafts which are laid parallel to each other (say eight feet long),
at each end of these revolving shafts there is mounted a fast pulley or disc,
which supports bars that extend from one pulley to the other, forming an open
cage or cylinder. These beaters or rails are cranked at their ends so as to
admit their passing between each other, about (say) six inches at one end, and
only a short distance at the reverse end. This part of the machine I herein-
after term the "softening machine," and which I use to beat the hemp or other
fibre, which is suspended over and between the two cylinders, or longitudinal
bars or beaters, and pass the fibre in an oblique line, parallel with the driving
shafts.
Immediately in longitudinal line with this softening machine, two gill bar
cylinders are mounted parallel to each other, and the teeth of which may
intersect each other; and I use a second pair of gill bar cylinders having
finer teeth than the first, which are also mounted longitudinally at the end of
the first pair of gill bar cylinders. The first set of gill bar cylinders I prefer
to have of smaller diameter than the circumference of the path of the cylinders
or beaters of the softening machine, and the second pair of gill bar cylinders
I also prefer to be of less circumference than the first. The upper end of
each "strick" of fibre being secured between two flat bars of iron, of, say,
nine inches long, and which are held together by a nut and bolt at each end.
The back plate is provided with two short studs which fit into two links of a
flat chain which forms an endless carrying band. The "stricks" of fibre are
supplied to the machine to be operated upon by means of this endless band or
chain, which travels above and directly over the line of intersection of the
revolving cylinders, and is supported by travelling through a groove or slotted
rail or two inclined planes, which are placed at an angle to the horizon, so as
to present first the lower end of the "strick" to the beaters of the softening
machine, and as it travels longitudinally along the beaters, it gradually descends
to allow the beaters to operate on the upper part of the fibre. Having
travelled the full length of the beaters of the softening machine, it is carried
over the first pair of gill bar cylinders, first presenting the lower part of the
"strick" to the gill teeth, and gradually descending during its course, to allow
the whole of the pendant part of the "strick" to be acted upon by the gill
bar teeth. It is then carried over a second set of gill bar cylinders, which are
of smaller diameter, and provided with finer gill teeth than those of the first.
The lower end of the "strick" of fibre having now been operated upon by the
machine, it is carried clear of the grooved supporting bar or inclined planes
and gill cylinders, when it is removed from the endless chain by hand. The
"stricks" are then reversed on their holding plates, and are again passed

page_text: through the machine which operates upon that portion by which they were
previously suspended.
The endless flat chain or band, in addition to passing over the slotted bar,
is carried round loose pullies, and a wheel by which it is actuated. The
periphery of the driving pulley of this endless band is provided with studs,
which work in the links of the chain to prevent the band from slipping on its
pullies. This studded driving pulley is used in combination with the friction
pulley to prevent accident to the machinery, should an undue strain be applied
to the travelling band.
usc.
It will be readily seen that by the foregoing arrangement the softening and
dressing of hemp or other like fibres is one continuous unceasing operation,
the machinery never requiring a suspension of motion during the time it is in
And it will be further seen that this machine may be variously modified,
as for instance, the softening machine might be used alone or in duplicate, or
in combination with one or any greater number of pairs of gill cylinders, or
one or more pairs of gill cylinders may be used independent of the softening
machine; and in some cases I use only one pair of cylinders, which are formed
at one end by the softening beater rods, and the other by bars provided with
gill teeth; but in most cases it is preferred to use the softening machine in
combination with one or more pairs of gill bar cylinders, as by that arrange-
ment the fibre is softened and dressed by one continuous operation.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have hereunto annexed Drawings in illustration of its practical application ;
like letters and figures marked thereon being used to denote similar parts.
Figure 1 is a plan of one of my improved apparatus having one pair of
softening cylinders, and two pairs of gill bar cylinders; Figure 2 is a side
elevation, and Figure 3 an end clevation of the same; Figure 4 is a plan of a
pair of cylinders formed with the beating bars and gill bars on one axis. A
and A¹ are the softening machine cylinders, formed of a, longitudinal cranked
rods or beaters which are secured at their ends to B, discs or wheels. Cand
C', revolving shafts, to which the discs B are made fast; D and D¹ are fast
and loose pullies on the end of shaft C; E, toothed driving wheel, which gears
into F, an intermediate wheel, which gears into F, a second intermediate
wheel, which gears into and gives motion to G, driving wheel on the end of
shaft C; II, worm on the end of the shaft C', which works into I, worm
wheel on K, an upright shaft which carries L, a peg wheel, which drives M,
the endless chain or band, which carries N, the "stricks" of hemp or other
like fibre; O, loose pullies, over which the endless band works; P, journals
of revolving shafts; Q, driving wheels on the ends of the shafts C and C',

page_text: which communicate motion to the gill bar cylinders through R, intermediate
wheels, and S, driving wheels, on the end of the gill bar cylinder axis; T, gill
bar cylinders; U, gill teeth; V, driving wheels on the end of the axles of the
first pair of gill bar cylinders, which give motion to the second pair through
W, intermediate wheels which gears into X, driving wheels on the end of
the revolving axle of second pair of gill bar cylinders.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and shewn how I believe the same may be most advantageously
put into practical use, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details or relative dimensions of the various parts of the
machinery herein-before described, as it will be readily seen by those practised
in the art that they may be variously modified without departing from my
Invention; but what I claim is,-
First, the softening, straightening, and heckling of hemp, flax, or other like
fibrous material by one continuous operation, and without the necessity of
stopping the machinery during any part of the time it is in use, substantially
and in the manner herein-before described.
And, secondly, the combination, construction, and use of the apparatus
herein-before described, or any mere modification of the same, for the dressing
of hemp, flax, or other like fibrous material.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ronald, have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street, Liverpool.
JAMES (L.S.) RONALD.