A NEW AND USEFUL MACHINE WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED FOR SCOURING, SLEEKING, OR SETTING HIDES OR LEATHER
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Fitzhenry, of the State of Oregon, of the
United States of America, for the Invention of "A NEW AND USEFUL
MACHINE WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED FOR SCOURING, SLEEKING, OR SETTING
HIDES OR LEATHER."
Sealed the 7th December 1866, and dated the 10th September 1866.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edward Fitzhenry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 10th September 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,
BE IT KNOWN, that I, EDWARD FITZHENRY, of the State of Oregon, of the
United States of America, have made "A NEW AND USEFUL MACHINE WHICH
MAY BE EMPLOYED FOR SCOURING, SLEEKING, OR SETTING HIDES OR LEATHER," and
I do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which it is to be performed, or in which it is constructed and made to operate,
to be fully described in the following Specification, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings making a part thereof.
Of such Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a longitudinal
section, and Figure 3 an end elevation of such machine; Figure 4 is a top
view of the movable tablet and its supporting frame; Figure 5 is a top view,
and Figure 6 a vertical section of one of the scouring brushes and one of the
sleekers used in the macbine.

page_text: In such Drawings A denotes a flat board or tablet, which rests horizontally
on a series of rails B, B, B, radiating from a central post C, and being
supported at their outer extremities by a series of posts D, D, D, the whole
being arranged as represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The said tablet
should be provided with a series of handles a, a, applied to it, and projected
from its edges and ends, the said handles being to enable an attendant to move
the tablet about horizontally on its supporting rails and posts in any direction
as circumstances may require while the scouring and setting devices may bo
in operation, the upper edges of such rails as well as the upper ends of such
posts being kept well greased while the machine may be in use. Over the
tablet is a carriage E, which is supported between, and by, and hangs down-
ward from, two parallel and horizontal rails F, F, each of which is sustained
in position by two struts G, G, projected downward from a horizontal frame H'
duly supported. The said carriage is to slide on the rails F, F, and lengthwise
thereof. The two cheeks or side plates b, b, of the carriage are connected by
four transverse bolts c, c, d, e, and arranged as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Two sets of brushes H, H, (three of which are shown in Figure 3 as com-
prising a set) are applied to opposite ends or parts of the carriage E, each of
such brushes being attached to two of a series of springs f,f,f, &c., which
extend from the setting stone carriers 9, 9, 9, that project from and turn freely
on the rods c, c. An adjusting screw h goes through each of the springs and
is screwed into the carrier g below each spring. These carriers support setting
stones or implements as represented at I, I. Arms i, i, carrying sleekers K, K,
also project from and turn on the bolts c, c;
by small helical springs k, k, which envelop screws 1, 1, screwed down through
the carriers 9, 9. The setting stones are held in place in their carriers by set
screws m, m, screwed into them and against the stones. Each of the carriers g
is connected to the shorter arm of one of a series of bent levers n, n, by means
of a rod o, which is hinged to the carrier and extends through slots or holes
made in a rocker plate L. This rod has a screw cut on its upper half, there
being four nuts screwed upon such screw, as shown at p and q. The said
rocker plate is supported by and turns on a bolt e, and is arranged between
the cheeks of the carriage E. A long connecting rod M fastened firmly to
the rocker plate L extends from it in manner as shown in Figures 2 and 3,
Bud is jointed to a crank N projecting from a shaft O, to which rotary motion
may be imparted by any suitable motor. On the bolt are three springs
P, P, P, each of which is formed and applied to the bolt and to the two
opposite setting stone carriers 9, 9, in manner as represented in Figures 1, 2
and 3. For the purpose of varying the pressure of the said springs on the said
these arms are forced downward

page_text: carriers the bolt d at or near its two ends is supported in and by adjustable
slides or boxes, one of which is shown at r in Figure 1. Each of such slides
should be so applied to the cheek of the frame as to be capable of being
moved vertically a short distance therein, its movement being controlled by an
adjusting screws suitably applied to the box and such cheek. There are two
of the bent levers n, n, over each of the springs P, or, in other words, there is
one of such levers to each of the carriers 9, the purpose of such lever being to
raise the carrier in order that the brush and setting stone connected therewith
may be elevated sufficiently to prevent them from acting on a piece of leather
when on the table and the carriage E is in movement. Each of the springs P
turns freely on the bolt d, in order that when one arm of the spring is being
raised up the other arm shall be forced downward. Each of the levers n
which turns on a fulcrum t supported by the carriage should have a friction
spring or a notch or recess applied to or made in the carriage for the purpose
of holding the longer arm of the lever in position after the said lever may
have been moved sufficiently to raise upward the carrier connected with it.
Against the back of each of the series of setting stones a scraper S is arranged,
it being supported by springs u, u, which extend from it upward, and are
fastened to the two checks of the carriage. This scraper is to remove from
the stones any dirt or foreign matters which may collect on them, and it does
this in consequence of the stones, while the machine is in operation, being
moved up and down against the scraper. Were it not for the scraper such
dirt or extraneous matters might be driven into the leather so as to scratch,
groove, or otherwise deface it. For convenience of setting the two series of
brushes and stones nearer together the carriage may be formed with additional
holes v, v, in each cheek, each being to receive a rod c, c. The crank pin w
of the crank N is to be applied to the crank arm, so as to be adjustable
thereon, that is, nearer to or further from tho centre of motion of the crank,
and should be provided with a set nut or other proper means of fixing it in
position, the crank having a slot a to receive the said pin. In order to
scour" and "set," or "scour," "set," and "sleek" a hide or side of leather
by the machine, such side of leather should be laid flatwise on the upper
surface of the tablet L, after which the crank N is to be put inrevolution, so as
to impart to the carriage E by means of the connecting rod M a reciprocating
rectilinear motion over the leather. During each movement of the carriage
the rocker plate L connected to the connecting rod M will turn with such
rod, and will lift upward one set of tho carriers 9, 9, 9, and tilt the several
springs P, and allow the other set of such carriers to be depressed by the
pressure of such springs upon them. In the meantime one set of the brushes

page_text: will be raised by their springs and the other set will be depressed by the
pressure of the carriers so depressed. In this way the two sets of brushes
and setting stones will be alternately brought down upon the leather and
moved along and upon it so as to scour and set it, provided that water or
other suitable scouring liquid be thrown upon the leather during the operation.
The "sleckers" will also be brought into action at the same time provided
they are in place, but the rest of the machine may be used to good advantage
without them, that is, when the scouring and setting operations only are
required to be performed.
I claim as my Invention the machine substantially as described, and par-
ticularly the mechanism for operating the reciprocating carriage, the bushes,
and the setting stones thereof, such consisting mainly of the rocker plate,
connecting rod, and crank, the springs and the lifter rods extending from the
setting stone carriers through the rocker plate, and being provided with
screws and nuts or their equivalents.
I also claim the combination of the lifting levers or their equivalents with
the reciprocating carriage, the brushes and setting tools, and the mechanism
for operating such carriage, brushes, and tools, as specified.
I also claim the tablet and its supporting frame, made so that the tablet may
be moved either laterally or longitudinally, or in any direction horizontally on
the said frame, as set forth.
I also claim the combination of the cleaning scrapers with the setting stones
and mechanism for operating them, as described.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Edward Fitzhenry, havo hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 21st July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-six.
EDWARD FITZHENRY. (L.S.)