IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BREAKING, SCUTCHING, SOFTENING, WASHING, DISCHARGING, AND SEPARATING FIBROUS MATERIALS, PART OF SUCH MACHINERY BEING APPLICABLE FOR GLAZING OR CALENDERING WOVEN FABRICS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Brasier, of New Cross, in the County
of Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR BREAKING, SCUTCHING, SOFTENING, WASHING, DISCHARGING, AND SEPARATING
FIBROUS MATERIALS, PART OF SUCH MACHINERY BEING APPLICABLE FOR GLAZING
OR CALENDERING WOVEN FABRICS."
Sealed the 31st January 1865, and dated the 3rd August 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Brasier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd August 1864.
I, EDWARD BRASIER, of New Cross, in the County of Kent, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MA-
CHINERY FOR BREAKING, SCUTCHING, SOFTENING, WASHING, DISCHARGING, AND
SEPARATING FIBROUS MATERIALS, PART OF SUCH MACHINERY BEING APPLICABLE POR
GLAZING OR CALENDERING WOVEN FABRICS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in machinery for breaking,
scutching, softening, washing, discharging, and separating the fibres of fibrous
materials (such as flax, hemp, China grass, or other fibrous materials,) from
the boon, flesh, or woody matter, adhering thereto in order to prepare the

page_text: same ready for the subsequent processes of bleaching, carding, combing, and
spinning.
For this purpose, according to this part of my Invention, I arrange by pre-
ference a series of three or more rollers around the circumference of a drum or
cylinder of larger diameter, at the same time I would remark that I do not
confine myself to any particular number of such rollers, as one or other number
may be employed. The rollers, and the drum or cylinder, thus arranged to
work together, may be either plain, serrated, or have corrugated teeth formed
thereon as may be found most suitable for the treatment of different kinds of
fibrous materials, rotary motion is communicated to the drum or cylinder by
suitable gearing, alternately in opposite directions, the movement in one
direction or forwards being greater than the backward movement.
The
The mechanism which I prefer to employ for imparting alternate rotary
motion to the drum or cylinder consists of toothed sectors acting upon toothed
wheels, fixed on each end of the drum or cylinder, the toothed sector for im-
parting the forward movement having a larger number of teeth than the
toothed sector which causes the drum to rotate in the opposite direction. The
drum or cylinder communicates motion to the roller or rollers arranged around
its circumference, either by surface contact or by suitable gearing.
fibrous material to be operated upon is fed into the machine between the drum
and the roller or rollers upon its circumference, and after moving a certain
distance forward, the movement of the drum or cylinder is reversed by the
action of the driving gear, so as to cause the fibrous materials to travel
backwards part of the distance it had previously been fed forward. The drum
or cylinder is then again caused to move the fibrous material forwards the
same distance as before, by which a portion of the fibrous material after being
operated upon by the rollers in opposite directions is fed forward a given
distance, and it is thus delivered from between the drum and rollers on to a
frame of bars, or a perforated surface, where it is subjected to the action of a
revolving brush or beaters in order to brush or beat out the refuse or woody
particles separated from the fibres during their passage between the drum
and rollers. The fibrous materials may if desired be passed first through a
machine of this character, in which the surfaces of the drum and rollers are
serrated, fluted, or corrugated, and afterwards through a similar machine
having a drum and rollers with plain or smooth surfaces. The revolving
beaters may be made of vulcanized india-rubber, or other elastic surfaces, or
they may be composed partly of beaters, and partly of brush surfaces. Suitable
feed rollers or apparatus may be arranged to work in combination with the
machinery previously described. The movement forward of the fibrous

page_text: materials may if desired be arrested for a time whilst the brush or beaters are
allowed to act for a time upon the stationary fibrous material previously fed
forward to be so acted upon.
When operating upon fleshy fibres, such as the aloe or fibres combined with
a considerable quantity of refuse matters, I prefer to discharge streams or jets
of water upon the same as it passes over the surface of the drum or cylinder,
or the rollers may be arranged to work on the under side of the drum or
cylinder in a vessel containing water, an endless band being arranged upon the
rollers to conduct the fibrous material below the surface of the water, whilst
under operation, in its passage to and fro between the drum and rollers. The
fibrous material may thus be subjected to a washing and discharging process
if desired.
The second part of my Invention consists in arranging machinery similar
to that previously described, the drum and rollers in this arrangement having
plain polished surfaces suitable for glazing or calendering the woven fabrics
passed between them. The drum and rollers are caused to rotate alternately
in opposite directions as previously described, the forward movement being in
excess of the backward movement thereof. The woven fabrics to be glazed or
calendered are fed into the machine and operated upon alternately in opposite
directions between the polished surfaces of the drum and rollers so as to glaze
or calender the same, and the drum and rollers may be heated by steam or
otherwise in order to dry the fabrics as they pass between them, the position
of the rollers being capable of adjustment in relation to the surface of the
drum or cylinder, by which arangement the fabrics may be caused to travel
over a larger or smaller surface of the heated drum or cylinder as may be found
necessary for drying the same. The brush and beaters in this arrangement of
machinery are dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Brasier, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
BRASIER, of New Cross, in the County of Kent, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her. heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said Edward Brasier, Her special licence that the said Edward
Brasier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Edward Brasier, 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
MACHINERY FOR BREAKING, SCUTCHING, SOFTENING, WASHING, DISCHARGING, AND
SEPARATING FIBROUS MATERIALS, PART OF SUCH MACHINERY BEING APPLICABLE FOR
GLAZING OR CALENDERING WOVEN FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Edward Brasier, my executors or administrators, by an in-
strument in writing under my, or their, or one their hands and seals, shoulil
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 Edward Brasier, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in machinery for breaking,
scutching, softening, discharging, and separating the fibres of fibrous materials
(such as flax, hemp, China grass, or other fibrous materials) from the "boon,"
flesh, or woody matter adhering thereto, in order to prepare the same ready
for the subsequent processes of bleaching, carding, combing, and spinning.
For this purpose, according to this part of my Invention, I arrange, by pre-
ference, a series of three or more rollers around the circumference of a drum
or cylinder of large diameter; at the same time I would remark, that I do
not coufine myself to any particular number of such rollers as one or other
number may be employed. The rollers, and the drum or cylinder thus
arranged to work together, may be either plain, serrated, or have corrugated
teeth formed thereon as may be found most suitable for the treatment of
different kinds of fibrous materials. Rotary motion is communicated to the
drum or cylinder by suitable gearing alternately in opposite directions, the
movement in one direction or forwards being greater than the backward
movement.
The mechanism which I prefer to employ for imparting alternate rotary
motion to the drum or cylinder consists of toothed. sectors acting upon toothed
wheels fixed on each end of the drum or cylinder, the toothed sector for

page_text: a
imparting the forward movement having a larger number of teeth than the
toothed sector which causes the drum to rotate in the opposite direction. The
drum or cylinder communicates motion to the roller or rollers arranged
around its circumference either by surface contact or by suitable gearing.
The fibrous material to be operated upon is fed into the machine between the
drum and the roller or rollers upon its circumference, and after moving
certain distance forward the movement of the drum or cylinder is reversed by
the action of the driving gear so as to cause the fibrous materials to travel
backwards part of the distance it had previously been fed forward. The
drum or cylinder is then again caused to move the fibrous material forwards the
same distance as before, by which a portion of the fibrous material after being..
operated upon by the rollers in: opposite directions is fed forward a given
distance, and it is thus delivered from between the drum and rollers on.to. a.
frame of bars or a perforated surface where it is subjected to the action of a
revolving brush or beaters in order to brush, or. beat out the refuse or woody
particles separated from the fibres during their passage between the drum and
rollers. The fibrous materials may, if desired, be passed first through a
machine of this character in which. the surfaces of the drum and rollers aro
serrated, fluted, or corrugated, and afterwards through a similar machine
having a drum and rollers with plain or. smooth surfaces.. The revolving
beaters may be made of vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic surfaces, or.
they may be composed partly of beaters and partly of brush surfaces; suitable.
feed rollers or apparatus may be arranged to work in combination, with the
machinery previously described. The forward movement of the fibrous
materials may, if desired, be arrested for a time, whilst the brush or beaters
are allowed to act for a time upon the stationary fibrous material previously
fed forward to be so acted upon.
When operating upon fleshy fibres, such as the aloe or fibres combined with
a considerable quantity of refuse matters, I prefer to discharge streams or
jets of water upon the same as it passes over the surface of the drum, or
cylinder, or the rollers may be arranged to work on the under side of the
drum or cylinder in a vessel containing water, an endless band being arranged
upon the rollers, to conduct the fibrous material below the surface of the water
whilst under operation in its passage to and fro between the drum and rollers.
The fibrous material may thus be subjected to a washing and discharging
process if desired.
The second part of my Invention consists in arranging machinery similar to
that previously described, the drum and rollers in this arrangement having plain
polished surfaces suitable for glazing or calendering the woven fabrics passed

page_text: between them. The drum and rollers are caused to rotate alternately in
opposite directions, as previously described, the forward movement being in
excess of the backward movement thereof. The woven fabrics to be glazed
or calendered are fed into the machine and operated upon alternately in
opposite directions between the polished surfaces of the drum and rollers so
as to glaze or calender the same, and the drum and rollers may be heated by
steam or otherwise in order to dry the fabrics as they pass between them, the
position of the rollers being capable of adjustment in relation to the surface
of the drum or cylinder, by which arrangement the fabrics may be caused to
travel over a larger or smaller surface of the heated drum or cylinder as may
be found necessary for drying the same. The brush and beaters in this
arrangement of machinery are dispensed with.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are different views of a machine for breaking,
scutching, and dressing fibrous materials constructed according to my
Invention. Figure 1 is a section showing the operating parts of the machine;
Figure 2 is a side elevation, and Figure 3, and end view of the machine.
Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in each Figure.
A, A, A, (Figure 1) are a series of rollers arranged round the upper
circumference of the drum or cylinder a, which is of much larger diameter.
The drum a, as shewn in the Drawing, is corrugated or fluted, the rollers
A, A, A, being also fluted or corrugated so as to gear with and be driven by
the drum a; but I do not confine myself to the use of such fluted rollers, but
claim also the use of rollers having plain surfaces or otherwise according to
the nature of the fibre to be operated upon, and it may be necessary where the
said drum and rollers are not geared together, as shewn, to impart motion
thereto by ordinary toothed or other driving gear, as is well understood.
The drum a is mounted on the shaft a', and is caused to rotate alternately in
opposite directions by the following arrangement of driving gear -Below the
drum a is a second or intermediate shaft a³, which receives motion from the
main driving shaft a³, this shaft having suitable fast and loose pullies a
mounted thereon, and the two shafts a², a³, are geared together by the toothed
pinion B fixed on the shaft a³, which takes into and drives the wheel b fixed
on the shaft a. At each end of the intermediate shaft a² a toothed quadrant
is keyed, one of which, marked C, Figure 2, gears with the toothed wheel c

page_text: on the shaft a', upon which the drum a is mounted, causing it to revolve in a
forward direction so as to draw a certain portion of the fibre into the machine.
In order to reverse this motion I employ the second toothed quadrant D
(Figure 1), which instead of being directly geared with a toothed wheel on
the shaft a, communicates its motion through an intermediate toothed
wheel d placed between the toothed quadrant D and the toothed wheel d' on
the shaft a', and at the same time, and by the same means that this reverse
of motion of the rollers is effected the amount of motion communicated to
them is also decreased, so that the backward or return motion is less than
that of the forward motion, for in consequence of the introduction of the
toothed wheel d, the radius of the toothed quadrant D. and the diameter of
the toothed wheel d' are less than those of the toothed quadrant C and the
toothed wheel c, and as their surface contact is proportionately less, it follows
that the amount of motion will be diminished in the same proportion. It is,
obvious that this gain of the forward over the backward motion at each suc-
cessive change in the rotory motion of the drum and rollers will result in
the fibre being gradually passed through the machine. After passing through
the rollers already described, the fibre is caused to pass, by preference, between
a pair of revolving fans or beaters E, E, (Figure 1) which are caused to
rotate with considerable velocity by an endless strap or band e leading from a
pulley e on the shaft a³, the strap or bande being, for the sake of con-
venience, passed over a loose pulley placed on the end of the spindle of the
centre roller A. The fans or beaters are geared together by suitable gearing.i
After passing between the fans or beaters the fibrous material may.
if desired
be passed between a pair of rollers e³, having plain surfaces, and actuated by,
an endless strap or band F, as shewn. From the rollers the fibrous;
material is conducted on to the delivery board f, Figure 2. In place;
of employing a pair of beaters, arranged as previously described, the fibrous;
material may be delivered on to a frame of bars or perforated surface upon
which the revolving brush or beaters act to separate, the refuse matter from
the fibre.
In consequence of the reciprocating rotating motion of the rollers A, A,.
and drum a, as previously described, it becomes necessary that, the fibrous.
materials operated upon should be fed into the machine in a suitable manner..
For this purpose, in place of having a fixed feedboard I employ an endless,
band or web H (Figure 1) passing over two rollers h, h, and this band or,
web receives a reciprocating motion corresponding with the reciprocating:
motion of the rollers A, A, by means of an endless chain'h' passing around a
chain wheel fixed on the drum shaft a¹ to and around a chain wheel h² on the

page_text: axis of one of the rollers: h, h. The web H is kept steady and free from
"sagging" by passing over a suitable board or frame h³.
In order that any hard or extraneous substance which may be mixed up
with the fibrous material being operated upon shall be allowed to pass through
the machine without causing any derangement thereto, the rollers A, A, are
mounted in brasses which slide in suitable bearings in the frames I, I, the
requisite contact between the rollers and the drum being maintained by
means of spiral or other springs capable of being adjusted by the set screws i, i,
as shown. !
In operating upon some descriptions of fibrous materials I employ jets of
water 'thrown upon the surface of the drum and rollers in the form of spray
from the perforated pipes K, K..
Although I have for the purpose of illustration shewn a machine in which
three rollers are arranged round the circumference of a larger drum or
cylinder, I do not confine myself to the use of that particular number, but
propose to use one or more rollers as circumstances may require.
Figure 4 is a section, Figure 5 an elevation, and Figure 6 an end view of
another machine arranged according to my Invention, for softening, washing,
discharging, and separating fibrous materials. In this arrangement of appa-
ratús I place the rollers A, A, on the under side of the drum a in a suitable
vessel or trough L; and in order to conduct the fibrous materials effectually
through the water and to and fro between the rollers I employ an endless
band or web passing over the said rollers. Motion is communicated to the
various parts of this machine in a similar manner to the one previously
described, but for convenience of construction the different parts communi-
cating motion are changed in position, the shaft as being placed at one end of
the machine instead of at the lower part thereof. The corresponding parts
are indicated by corresponding letters of reference, the nature of which will
be readily understood on examining the Drawings, aided by the previous
description of Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Figure 7 is a section, and Figure 8 an elevation of a machine arranged
according to the second part of my Invention, which has for its object the
glazing or calendering of woven fabrics. For the accomplishment of this
purpose I employ a central drum or cylinder (A, Figure 7) as before
described, the drum in this case being formed with a plain polished surface.
On the upper side of this drum, and in contact with it, I place a roller a
mounted in suitable bearings a¹, and capable of adjustment, as already
described. In addition to this roller I employ two other rollers B, one on
either side; these rollers B are mounted in frames b, which vibrate on the

page_text: axis of the drum A, their position in relation to the surface of the drum A
being capable of adjustment by means of the curved slotted guides or arms C,
Figure 8, to vary their position and action on the circumference of the
drum A in such manner that by elevating or depressing the frames and
rollers, the amount of surface of the drum A passed over by the woven fabric
is increased or diminished as may be required.
In order that the process of drying the fabric may be efficiently performed,
the axes of the drum A and roller a are constructed hollow, and fitted with
suitable tubes and stuffing boxes c, through which steam or heated air of the
requisite temperature is introduced, and as the amount of the drum passed
over by the fabric may be regulated, as just previously described, so the drying
of the said fabric may be effected with very great facility and accuracy.
All the rollers in this machine are constructed with plain polished surfaces,
and they are driven by similar arrangements of gearing to that already
described in connection with the other parts of my Invention. D is the main
driving shaft on which are mounted the fast and loose pullies d; this shaft
gears by means of the toothed pinion d¹ with the toothed wheel de fixed on
the intermediate shaft E, at each end of which is keyed a toothed quadrant or
sector e, the quadrant e being directly geared with the toothed wheel e', which
is keyed to the shaft of the drum A, and so imparts the forward motion
thereto. The toothed quadrant e³ at the opposite end of the shaft E gears
with the intermediate driving toothed wheel e, which likewise gears with the
toothed wheel e keyed on the shaft of the drum A, whereby the necessary
return motion of the drum and rollers is effected, as herein-before described..
It will be seen by examining the Drawings that the same arrangement of
parts for the adjustment of the requisite amount of contact between the rollers
and the drum are employed in this instance as in the machines previously
described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein described,
so long as the peculiar features of my Invention be retained; but what I
claim is,-
First, the arrangement and combination of parts into machines such or
similar to those herein shown and described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, and 6 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, for the purpose of breaking,
scutching, softening, washing, discharging, or separating fibrous materials.
Secondly, I claim the arrangement and combination of parts into a machine
such or similar to that herein shewn and described in reference to Figures 7

page_text: and 8 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, for the purpose of glazing or calen-
dering woven fabrics.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Brasier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings.
Chancery Lane.
E. BRASIER. (L.B.)