An Improvement in Machines for Scutching Flax and other Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 7th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 7th Feb., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Machines for Scutching Flax and other Fibrous
Materials.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention a communication to me from abroad by
Adolphe Casse, of Fives-Lille (Nord) France, Manufacturer, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved machine for scutching flax, hemp, ramie and
other textile materials.
The machine consists of two sets of revolving beaters, which also receive an
oscillating motion so as to act uniformly on all portions of the fibre submitted to
their action. The beater drums revolve in opposite directions, and the blades of the
two sets of beaters act on opposite sides of the fibre and alternate or intermesh with
each other.
The shafts of the beaters are mounted in oscillating end frames pivoted on the shaft
from which the beaters are driven, the frames being oscillated by means of a crank,
also driven from said shaft.
The revolving beaters are alternately brought close up to the rolls or holders from
which the textile materials are suspended, so that their action is uniform upon every
part of the fibres, instead of leaving some portions untouched as is at present the
case in machines for cleaning and separating the ligneous and other matters from
textiles.
Another advantage is that the fibres are no longer weakened by being continually
broken at the same points, whereby an improved product is obtained. Instead of the
revolving beaters being made to oscillate as described they may be caused to slide to
and fro upon a horizontal shaft with the same object of bringing them as close up to
the nipping rolls as possible. The improvement is applicable to existing machines as
well as to hackling machines having strick holders and to vertical or horizontal
breakers, as the beaters may be arranged either way.
Dnted the 7th 1
1007
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Machines for Scutching Flax and other Fibrous
Materials.
1, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me from abroad
by Adolphe Casse of Fives-Lille (Nord) France, Manufacturer) and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This Invention relates to an improved machine for scutching, breaking, or beating
flax, hemp, ramie, and other textile materials.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this
specification, wherein figure 1 is a side elevation, and figure 2 a part plan, of the
machine; the same letters of reference being used to designate the same parts in
both the figures.
The machine consists of a pair of revolving beater drums c d e d which also receive
an oscillating motion whereby they are caused to act uniformly on all portions of the
fibres. The beater drums are geared together by wheels a b so as to revolve in
opposite directions. or towards each other, and their blades d act on opposite sides of
the fibres, the blades of the one drum alternating or intermeshing with those of the
other. The shafts of the beaters are mounted in oscillating end frames e e pivoted on
the shaft from which the beaters are driven, the frames being oscillated by means
of a crank and connecting rod i also driven from said shaft through the intermediate
gearing g, as shewn. The revolving beaters are alternately brought close up to the
rolls or holders k from which the textile materials are suspended, so that the action of
the blades d will be uniform upon every part of the fibres instead of some portions
being left untouched as is at present the case in machines for cleaning and separating
the ligneous and other matters from textiles, and the fibres are no longer weakened
by being continually broken at the same points, whereby an improved product is
obtained.
Instead of the revolving beaters being made to oscillate as described, they may be
caused to slide to and fro horizontally, with the same object of bringing them
alternately as close up to the nipping rolls as possible.
The improvement is applicable to existing machines as well as to hackling machines
having strick holders, and to vertical or horizontal breakers, as the beaters may be
arranged either way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In a machine for scutching, breaking, or beating textile materials. the

page_text: employment of revolving beater drums mounted on a frame to which an oscillatory or
to and fro movement is imparted, so as to vary the points at which the beaters act on
the materials, substantially as herein before described and for the purpose specified.
2nd. In a machine for breaking beating or scutching textile materials, a pair of
revolving beater drums mounted in end frames each consisting of a pair of arms
connected together and oscillated on a common axis by means of a connecting rod and
crank or their equivalent, substantially as described and represented in the drawing
for the purpose specified.