IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FLAX AND HEMP
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Davy, of Crediton, in the County
of Devon, Manufacturer and Merchant, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FLAX AND HEMP."
Sealed the 20th April 1853, and dated the 13th November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Davy at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th November 1852.
I, EDWARD DAVY, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FLAX AND HEMP " to
be as follows:-
In preparing flax and hemp according to my Invention, I first
subject the straw to a current of warm air, to expel the moisture
therefrom. I next, when fine yarn is required to be produced, cut
the straw into three lengths, in order that the finer and coarser
parts of the fibre, instead of being worked up together, may be
divided and severally worked into fine and coarse yarns. The
several lengths which contain different qualities of fibre I place by
themselves and then proceed to break the flax, and free it of the

page_text: boon or husk by mechanical means without the use of the retting
process. For this purpose I subject the flax to the operation of a
peculiar construction of machine, which may be thus described :-
An elastic feed apron carries the flax, which is spread thereon up
to a pair of fluted rollers, which pass it through a slot in a pair of
vertical plates set close together, and working up and down with
great rapidity, the one plate ascending while the other descends.
By the crushing power of the rollers, and the scutching action of
the plates, the boon or husk of the flax stalk is broken, and por-
tions thereof are loosened from the valuable fibre. The flax then
passes between other fluted rollers and reciprocating plates, by
the action of which the boon is broken away, and the fibres are
separated from each other.
Thus much of the machine may be used by the flax grower to
reduce the bulk of the staple, and render it more easy of transport
to the market; but under other circumstances I continue the opera-
tion of submitting the flax fibre as it comes from between the last
pair of nipping rollers in a sheet to the action of a brush, a gill
roller, or heckle teeth, and thereby further cleanse, open out, split,
and lay the fibres even; and after it has undergone this action, I
draw it through a condensing tube, and form it into a sliver (which
may be twisted or not), and wind it on to recls or bobbins. I
find it desirable to apply a blast of air to the flax as it passes
out of the machine, in order to drive off loose particles of boon that
may still be hanging thereto. While thus wound round the reels
or bobbins, I submit the fibre to any ordinary bleaching operation;
but while boiling, or after boiling, I wind the sliver or roving on to
another bobbin, passing the sliver between rollers in order to
express the solvent color and water from the staple.
This process I repeat when necessary, and expose the staple to
the action of the atmosphere in bleaching grounds, winding on
and unwinding, to present a different surface to the air until the
coloring matter is extracted, and the fibre is sufficiently softened.
In order to prepare the flax that it may be spun on cotton
machinery, I pass it through a machine furnished with three biting

page_text: rollers, which will gripe the flax firmly, and submit it to the action
of a rapidly rotating gill, or card roller, whereby it will be torn
into fragments suitable for being drawn into sliver on a carding
and drawing engine.
It will be obvious from the foregoing description, that hemp
may be in like manner operated upon, to separate and soften its
fibres; but when this material is under treatment neither the
severing of the stalks, nor the bleaching process, will be required.
Retted flax may in like manner be operated upon by my improved
scutching machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Edward Davy in the Great Seal
Patent Office, on the 13th May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
EDWARD DAVY, of Crediton, in the County of Devon, Manufacturer
and Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Davy, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Davy, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Davy, my exe-
cutors, 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 THE PREPARATION OF FLAX AND HEMP," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Davy, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the

page_text: 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 Edward Davy, do hereby de-
clare 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; reference being had to the Draw-
ings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):
In preparing flax according to my Invention, I first subject the
straw to artificial heat, in order to expel the moisture therefrom.
When fine yarn is required to be produced, I next cut the straw into
two or three lengths, and separate the finer from the coarser parts of
the fibre, with the view of working upon the different qualities of
fibre separately, instead of together, as has hitherto been the practice
when operating upon raw flax. Having separated the different
qualities of fibre, I proceed to remove the boon or husk from the
useful fibre by mechanical means in lieu of the retting or steeping
process.
For this purpose I employ the machine shewn in Sheet I.,
wherein Fig. 1, is a longitudinal section at elevation, and Fig. 2, a
plan view of the same. a, a, is the main framing of the machine.
b, is a feed apron for carrying the flax to be operated upon up to the
first pair of a series of fluted rollers, c, c, c, which turn in bearings in
the framing. The upper rollers c, are pressed down to their work by
means of screws d, which pass through cross heads e, e, and bear
against the brasses of the upper rollers. This pressure is, however,
rendered elastic, by the intervention of a coiled spring between the
cross head and the bearing nuts of the screws; d. f,f,f, are slotted
plates set between and behind the rollers c, and formed as shewn in the
detached view, Fig. 3. These plates f, are respectively connected by
rods g, to one of the levers h, h, which have their fulcrum at i, and a
vertical reciprocating motion is given to the plates by means of a
crank-shaft k, which is connected to the levers by the rods 1, 1.
It will be seen that behind both the first and the second pair

page_text: of rollers c, c, a pair of plates f, is situated, and that the plates
which form pairs are connected to different levers in order that
when one plate of the pair rises the other may fall. The object of
this arrangement will be presently explained.
The flax straw (which will not require to be previously stripped
of the seed bolls), as it passes from the feed apron b, is delivered to
the first pair of fluted rollers ċ, whence it passes through a pair
of slotted plates f, and is then taken up by a second pair of fluted
rollers;
these again pass it through another pair of plates f, and it
is then taken up by a third pair of fluted rollers; and after passing
through another plate f, it is delivered out of the machine by a
pair of pressing rollers m, m. During this passage of the flax
through the machine, the flux stalk is broken or bruised by the
rollers, and scutched by the reciprocating motion of the plates f
which, by being worked up and down very rapidly, will subject the
flax to a kind of rippling action, as the slots of the adjacent plates
pass each other and thereby disengage the boon or woody part of
the plant from the useful fibres. The use of the last plate f, is to
shake out the loose particles of boon from the flax, and it is kept
up to its work by a spring f*.
In some cases, instead of forming the slot of the plates f, with
sinooth edges as shewn at Fig. 1, I propose to groove the hedges as
shewn at Fig. 4, by which means the flax will be exposed to a more
searching action; or I may increase or diminish the number of the
reciprocating plates and fluted rollers according to the degree of
scutching to which I may desire to submit the fibres. Motion is
communicated to the machine through a belt from any first mover
passing round the driving pulley on the shaft k. This shaft carries.
a pinion n, which gears into a wheel o, carried by a stud from a
bracket on the framing. On the boss of this wheel o, is a pulley
P, from which passes a belt to a pulley q, also carried by a stud
projecting from the framing; and on the boss of this pulley is a
pinion, which drives a cog-wheel s, on the axle of one of the
fluted rollers c. From this roller motion is communicated to the

page_text: other rollers, and also to the feed apron, by suitable gearing, as
indicated by the red circles in Fig..1.
When the flax has been subjected to the crushing and rippling
action of this machine, it is then ready for the heckling operation,
which may be carried on in the same machine by connecting there-
with rotary or reciprocating gills or heckles. As, however, this
improved scutcher, which I designate the "Decorticator," is in-
tended chiefly for the use of flax growers, to enable them to reduce
the bulk of their produce, and render it more easy of transport, I
have preferred to shew the machine in its most simple form, and
to explain the after process of heckling in connection with a sepa-
rate machine.
Sheet II. of the Drawings, Fig. 1, shews in side elevation, and Fig. 2,
in plan view, a novel arrangement of mechanism for heckling or
combing and brushing the flax to deprive it of any boon that may
be adhering thereto, and also to open out the fibres.
In this machine, a, a, is the main framing; b, b, a feed apron;
c, c, a pair of fluted rollers, which receive the staple in the state of
rough sliver, and pass it to the guide rollers d; thence it passes
over a rotating gill or heckle e, (fitted with sliding heckle bars or
combs, for the purpose of being combed and opened out); and after
leaving the gills e, it is taken up by a second pair of fluted drawing
rollers f, and passed under the action of a reciprocating brush or
licckle eg, to a second pair of guide rollers ; thence the sliver passes
over a second rotary gill i, next between a third pair of fluted
drawing rollers, to a trumpet mouth 1, and it is passed out of the
machine in the form of a more perfect sliver by means of the draw-
ing rollers m. The gill bars work up and down in slotted end plates;
and by means of stationary excentric guides, into which pins at
the extremity of the gill bars project, the gills are to move in
nearly a straight course when acting upon the staple. The brush
or heckle g, is carried by a frame n, pendent from a crank shaft o,
and receiving at its lower end the elastic pressure of a spring P,
affixed to the framing a. Rotary motion is communicated to the
crank shaft o, by a strap from a pulley on the driving shaft,

page_text: passing to a pulley on the crank shaft, and thus a reciprocating
motion is given to the brush or heckle g, whereby the fibres of the
staple are opened out as they are carried forward, and further
cleared of any remaining portions of boon. The rotary motion
of the gills and rollers is derived from the lower roller k, the axle
of which carries a cog-wheel r, which is driven by a pinion s,
mounted on a stud projecting from a bracket on the main framing,
the boss of which pinion carries a pulley that is driven by a strap
from a pulley on the main driving shaft q. The arrangement of
gearing for transmitting the rotary motion of the lower roller k, to
the gills and the other rollers is shewn in the plan view Fig. 2. In
some cases, I may find it desirable to pass the staple through the
machine for the purpose merely of condensing and equalizing the
sliver. In such case, I throw the reciprocating brush or heckle
out of action, by stopping the rotation of the crank shaft o, and
raising the brush or heckle clear of the passing sliver.
In some
cases I also propose to mount, in the place of the guide rollers
h, a rotating drum or cylinder fitted with rows of brushes, or gill
pins, for the purpose of acting on the under surface of the sliver,
and removing the tow or short fibre therefrom. This drum will
require to be driven rapidly, and to be furnished with a stripper, for
clearing it of the tow, which may be received into any convenient
receptacle below.
The flax having by the action of this machine been drawn into
a loose sliver, it will be desirable, when the staple is intended to
undergo the bleaching operation, to be presently explained, to
convert the sliver into a coarse roving in the ordinary way of
imparting a twist to slivers. The roved staple is then wound upon
reels, to form them into hanks, and these hanks are strung upon a
fluted wooden roller set above a vessel containing water or any
suitable kind of bleaching liquor, and at such a distance therefrom
as will admit of the hanks dipping into the water or other liquor.
Above this roller I set a wooden pressing roller, which is also fluted;
and as these rollers are caused to rotate by a winch handle, or
other means, the hanks will be gradually passed through the water

page_text: or bleaching liquor, and carried upwards under the bite of the
rollers, whereby the liquor, and the color which it has dissolved
out or removed from the fibre, will be expressed from the staple.
When this bleaching operation has been carried on sufficiently long
(which will be determined by the judgment of the bleacher), the
staple may be exposed to the action of the atmosphere in bleaching
grounds, either by laying it on the grass, or hanging it upon rods or
lines. When dried, it will be desirable to pass the staple again under
the action of the above described machines, for the purpose of
bringing it into a better state for spinning.
In order to prépare the refuse portions of flax fibre for being
spun upon cotton-spinning machinery, or for mixing with cotton,
wool, or silk waste, I pass it through a machine furnished with
three biting rollers, which will gripe the staple firmly while they sub-
mit it to the action of a rapidly rotating gill cylinder or card roller,
furnished with brushes, whose office is to clear the staple and break
it up into fragments suitable for being drawn into sliver, on a
carding and drawing engine, which sliver may be bleached in the
manner before described, and again passed through this machine.
This breaking machine is shewn in Sheet III., wherein Fig. 1, is
a plan view, and Fig. 2, a cross section. a, a¹, a¹, are three fluted
metal rollers, mounted in bearings.b, b. The rollers a, a¹, are made
to bear against the lower roller a", by means of the weighted
levers c, c, and thereby hold the staple (which is passed into the
machine by the endless cloth d) tightly between them. c, is the rotary
gil or card cylinder, which takes hold of the staple as it passes
from between the rollers, and, being driven with great speed, breaks
up the fibres into lengths approximating, to those of the cotton
fibre, and renders them soft and woolly. The fluted rollers are
geared together, and driven by any, convenient means; and the
lower roller a¹¹, has somewhat sharper ribs than the others, to assist
the action of the gill or card cylinder. It will be obvious to all
parties conversant with the manufacture of flax and hemp, that the
machines and processes above described with relation to the treat-
ment of flax may also be applied in whole or in part to the treat-

page_text: ment of hemp, according to the use to which that material is
required to be applied. The same observation also applies to the
treatment of retted flax, for when operating upon that material,
the machine first described may be used in lieu of the common
scutcher.
Having now described my Invention, and explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,.
Firstly, the arrangement of machinery above described with
reference to Sheet I. of the Drawings; and particularly I claim the
use of reciprocating plates, or any analogous contrivance, in com-
bination with holding or retaining rollers or pressers for effecting
the separation of the fibres of flax and hemp.
Secondly, I claim the arrangement of gill, or heckling machine"
described with reference to Sheet II.
Thirdly, I claim the arrangement of machinery for effecting
the breaking of the fibres of flax and hemp, as described with
reference to Sheet III.
And, lastly, I claim the mode of operating upon the sliver or
roving for effecting the bleaching of the same, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Davy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of May, in the
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
year
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66. Chancery Lane.
EDWARD DAVY. (L. s.)