IMPROVEMENTS IN SCUDDING SPLIT OR UNSPLIT SKINS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Turney, of the Firm of Turney Brothers,
Leather Dressers and Leather Manufacturers, of "The Trent Bridge
Works," in the County of Nottingham, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SCUDDING SPLIT OR UNSPLIT SKINS, AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 7th October 1871, and dated the 19th May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Turney at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th May 1871.
I, JOHN TURNEY, of the Firm of Turney Brothers, Leather Dressers
and Leather Manufacturers, of "The Trent Bridge Works," in the
County of Nottingham, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SCUDDING SPLIT OR UNSPLIT SKINS, AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
-

page_text: it by pressing upon it repeatedly with the edge of a knife, so as to clean
the skin and scrape or draw out the grease. Whereas according to my
Invention I clean the skin and extract the grease therefrom by means
of a machine or apparatus driven by hand, steam, or other power.
This I effect by the employment of apparatus in which there are a
revolving drum or cylinder and a set of revolving brushes. The brushes
are in a frame having a to-and-fro movement.
In one arrangement for carrying out the Invention a drum or cylinder
is supported on a framework and caused to revolve by a spur wheel
which is on one end of the axle of cylinder, and worked by a worm
on a horizontal shaft at right angles to the cylinder; the worm axle is
driven by a belt from a prime mover. Above the cylinder is a set of
brushes extending nearly the length of the cylinder; half of the brushes
revolve in one direction and the other half in the other direction. The
brushes are caused to revolve by a train of wheels on the back ends of
the axles of the brushes driven by a second belt from any prime mover.
The axles of the brushes revolve in a frame which has a to-and-fro
movement given it by a connecting rod and crank. The stroke of the
to-and-fro movement thus given to the brushes is of such length that
the skin is brushed over the whole of its width as its length is passed
under the brushes by the cylinder. The skins are spread evenly upon
the cylinder, which is capable of adjustment vertically to compensate
for the varying substance of skins and wear of the brushes.
Of course the mechanical means for communicating the above described
motions may be varied without departing from the Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Turney in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
TURNEY, of the Firm of Turney Brothers, Leather Dressers and Leather 3
Manufacturers, of The Trent Bridge Works, in the County of Notting-
ham, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, in the year

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Turney, Her special
licence that I, the said John Turney, my executors, dministrators,
5 and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Turney, 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.
0 Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SCUDDING
SPLIT OR UNSPLIT SKINS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,” upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Turney, 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 John Turney, do hereby declare-
the nature of the 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 accom-.
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,,
that is to say :-
Heretofore the scudding of split skins has been effected by the-
workman placing the split skin (whether of a sheep or other animal)
upon a beam, table, or other support, and operating upon the said skin
by pressing upon it repeatedly with the edge of a knife; such operation
cleaning the skin and scraping or drawing out. the grease. Whereas
according to my Invention I clean the skins and remove the grease
therefrom by means of a machine or apparatus which is driven by
hand, steam, or other power. This I effect by the employment of a
machine or apparatus in which there are a revolving drum or cylinder
and a set of revolving brushes. The brushes are in a frame having a
to-and-fro movement.
In one arrangement for carrying out the Invention a drum or cylinder
is supported on a framework, and caused to revolve by means of a spur
wheel secured on one end of the axle of the cylinder; which spur wheel

page_text: is moved by a worm on a horizontal shaft which lies at right angles to
the cylinder; the worm axle is driven by a belt from any prime mover.
Above the cylinder is a set of brushes extending nearly the length of
the cylinder; half of the brushes revolve in one direction of motion and
the other half in the other or opposite direction; the brushes are caused
so to revolve by a train of wheels on the back ends of the axles of the
brushes, which are driven by means of a second belt from any prime
mover. The axles of the brushes revolve in and are carried by bearings
attached to or forming part of a frame which has a to-and-fro move-
ment given it by a connecting rod which is attached to it, and is also
attached to a crank secured to the worm shaft (for driving the roller)
at one end of the machine. The stroke of the to-and-fro travel or move-
ment given to the brushes is of such length that the skin is brushed
over the whole of its width as its length is passed under the brushes by
the cylinder, on which the skin is placed. The skins are spread evenly
upon the cylinder which is capable of adjustment vertically to com-
pensate for the varying substance of the skins and wear of the brushes.
Of course the mechanical means for communicating the above
described motions may be varied without departing from the Invention.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, I proceed
to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings in what
manner the Invention may be carried into effect.
Figures 1 and 2 when placed together represent a front view of the
machine; Figure 3 is a view of the left end, and Figure 4 a sectional
view through the centre of the length of the machine.
A, A, Figures 1 and 2, are two vertical standards connected together
by a tie bar B at their upper ends, and by rails C, C, Figure 4, at their
lower ends, and also by a tie bar D at the back. These standards carry
bearings for a drum or cylinder E, which is caused to revolve in the
direction of the arrow by means of a spur wheel E¹ secured on one end
of the axle of the cylinder E, which spur wheel is moved by a worm on
a short horizontal shaft Es lying at right angles to the cylinder and
supported in bearings on the outside of the left end standard. The
worm axle is provided at the front of the machine with fast and loose
pulleys driven by a belt from any prime mover.
Above the cylinder is
placed a series of brushes F. One of these brushes is shewn in section
at Figure 3, and a front view of a brush is shewn at Figure 1. These

page_text: brushes extend nearly the length of the cylinder and are secured upon
axles F¹ which revolve in and are carried by bearings F attached to a
sliding frame G; half the brushes revolve in one direction and the other
half in the opposite direction, as indicated by the direction of the arrows,
Figure 1. The brushes are caused so to revolve by a train of gear
wheels F; twelve of these wheels are secured on the back ends of the
axles of the brushes; the remaining ten wheels revolve on axles
secured in the sliding frame G. The axle of the brush nearest the left
end of the machine is somewhat longer than the axle of the other
brushes and is carried by and revolves in bearings at the lower ends of
an arched bracket G¹ which is attached to and slides with the frame G.
This axle is provided with a loose pulley G³ and a fast pulley G³ moved
by a second belt from any prime mover. The sliding frame G has a
to-and-fro movement communicated to it by a connecting rod H which
is attached to it, and is also attached to a crank at the back end of the
worm shaft Es. The to-and-fro stroke or travel of the brushes is of such
length that the skin which is placed upon the roller E and spread
evenly upon it by the workman is brushed over the whole of its width
as its length is passed under the brushes by the revolving cylinder.
The cylinder E is capable of adjustment vertically by means of a
screw E³ in each standard, so as to compensate for the variable substance
of the skins and wear of the brushes. The driving shaft E' is capable
of adjustment vertically by the screws F", so that the worm is kept in
gear with the spur wheel E¹. In front of the roller E may be placed a
trough I to hold the skin or skins for the convenience of the workman.
The brushes may be partially enclosed by a cover or shield K shewn
only in section at Figures 3 and 4 the length of the roller E; such cover
or shield will prevent the water or other liquid which is used to saturate
the skins from being sprinkled or thrown over the workman and the
machine.
My machine is applicable alike to split and unsplit skins.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The employment of machinery or apparatus constructed sub-
stantially as herein-before described for scudding skins.
Second. The employment of revolving brushes, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes described.

page_text: Third. The general arrangement and combination of apparatus, in the
manner and for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Turney, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Nottingham.
JOHN TURNEY. (L.S.)