IMPROVE MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BREAKING AND SOFTENING FLAX AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE THE SAME BE USEFULLY ADOPTED." KIND OF RECIPROCATING ROTARY MOTION
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustav Albrecht Carl Bremme, of Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, formerly of Unna, in Westphalia, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BREAKING AND SOFTENING FLAX AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES WHERE THE SAME
BE USEFULLY ADOPTED."
KIND OF RECIPROCATING ROTARY MOTION CAN
Sealed the 11th March 1870, and dated the 16th September 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustav Albrecht Carl
Bromme at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis
Petition, on the 16th September 1869.
I, GUSTAV ALBRECHT CARL BREMME, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, formerly of Unna, in Westphalia, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BREAKING AND SOFTENING FLAX AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
[Price 8d.]

page_text: WHERE THE SAME KIND OF RECIPROCATING ROTARY MOTION CAN BE USEFULLY
ADOPTED," to be as follows:-
In machinery for breaking and softening flax and other fibrous
materials a certain movement is given to rollers causing them to rotate
reciprocally in opposite directions, but to rotate farther in the one
direction than in the other. Various mechanical arrangements for
effecting this movement are well known and in use.
Now my Invention relates to new and improved apparatus for effecting
this movement, and is as follows:-A toothed wheel is fixed on the
reciprocating shaft, and one or more equal pinions turning freely on
their axles are held in gear with this wheel by arms, radii, or frame
turning loosely on the reciprocating shaft, so that the centres of the
pinions are equidistant from the centre of the reciprocating shaft, and in
preference also equidistant from each other. On the axles of the one
or more pinions, as well as on the shafts without pinions, but in the
same distance from the centre of the reciprocating shaft as the pinion
shafts, are fixed cranks of equal length, which by means of their crank
pins are connected to and-held parallel to each other by a ring turning
on an excentric, the excentricity of which is equal to the length of the
said cranks, and which excentric turns loosely on the reciprocating shaft
and receives a rotary motion in one direction by means of a pulley or
wheel attached thereto, and also turning loosely on the reciprocating
shaft, and by means of a strap or any other suitable gearing from any
convenient prime mover. The frame carrying the one or more pinions
and crank shafts is connected by a connecting rod to a crank or excentric
fixed on a continuously rotating shaft or prime mover, so that as this
prime mover rotates the pinions and crank shafts are caused to vibrate
in an arc described from the centre of the reciprocating shaft. Thus
while the pinions vibrate in an arc to and fro they receive also a con-
tinuous, rotary motion on their own axles from the rotating excentric on
the reciprocating shaft, and turning simultaneously on their own axles
in the same direction and vibrating to and fro impart to the reciprocating
shaft the reciprocating rotary movement required, namely, a move-
ment alternately in the one direction and in the other, but greater in
the one direction than in the other. Instead of connecting the frame
which carries the pinions and crank shafts to the crank or excentric
of the prime mover the required reciprocating rotary movement may
be obtained by connecting the excentric which turns loosely on the

page_text: reciprocating shaft by an arm and a connecting rod to the crank or
excentric of the prime mover, and imparting to the frame which carries
the pinions and crank shafts a continuous rotary motion from any con-
venient prime mover by any suitable gearing. Instead of using the
vibrating pinions gearing into a toothed wheel on the reciprocating
shaft one or more spiral wheels, namely, wheels with spiral screws or
worms on the face, may be employed, and in this case a suitable wheel
is fixed on the reciprocating shaft. The axes of these spiral wheels lie
in a plane vertical to the reciprocating shaft. The spiral wheels are
held in gear with the said fixed wheel by a proper frame loose on the
reciprocating shaft, and turn freely on thoir axles. This frame receives
reciprocating motion either from the crank or excentric of the prime
mover, as described, or by means of a hand lever. In order to turn the
spiral wheels on their own axles while the same are vibrating with the
frame to and fro it is preferred to apply the well-known ratchet notion.
'
Another part of my Invention consists in the following:-Instead of
giving the reciprocating motion to any part of the mechanism from an
excentric or crank shaft turning in fixed bearings, as described above, I
mount a frame wheel or a frame either with a toothed periphery or
attached to a toothed wheel loosely and turning freely on a shaft, which
either itself shall receive or supports the parts which shall receive the
required reciprocating rotary movement. The frame wheel carries in
proper bearings at a distance from its centre an excentric or crank shaft,
which has affixed thereto a toothed wheel which gears into a central
wheel loose and turning freely either on the reciprocating or supporting
shaft. The crank or excentric shaft is connected by a connecting rod
either to an arm or its equivalent fixed to to the reciprocating shaft, or
to a pin on that part of the mechanism which is supported by and turns
freely on the supporting shaft, and to which the required reciprocating
rotary movement shall be given. To the loose central wheel a con-
tinuous rotary motion is given by any convenient means and from any
convenient source, thereby causing the excentric or crank shaft to rotate
on its axis, thus giving a reciprocating movement to the parts connected
to the crank or excentric. While thus the crank or excentric shaft
turns on its own axis the frame wheel is caused to rotate on either the
reciprocating or supporting shaft by means of a pinion wheel, worm,
spiral wheel, or any other suitable gearing carrying with it the crank or
excentric shaft and all parts connected to it. Thus the part or parts

page_text: connected to the crank or excentric receive the required reciprocating
rotary motion. More than one crank or excentric shaft may be employed.
Sometimes if the shaft which supports the frame wheel shall not receive
the reciprocating rotary movement, but other parts mounted loosely
thereon, then instead of mounting the central wheel also loosely on this
shaft it may be keyed on this shaft, which then receives the continuous
rotary motion from any convenient source and by any suitable means.
Instead of a central wheel turning on the supporting axis an excentric
may be employed connected by a connecting rod to an
equivalent to the excentric or crank shaft which is carried by the frame
wheel, thereby causing the same to reciprocate. This reciprocating
movement of the said crank shaft is imparted by means of proper rods,
links, and arms either to the supporting shaft or to parts mounted
thereon; or the reciprocating movement imparted by the said central
excentric to a shaft mounted on the frame wheel as aforesaid may be
transmitted by means of a sector of a wheel gearing into a central wheel
fixed to the part which shall receive the reciprocating movement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Gustav Albrecht Carl Bremme in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GUSTAV
ALBRECHT CARL BREMME, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
formerly of Unna, in Westphalia, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Gustav- Albrecht Carl Bremme, Her
special licence that I, the said Gustav Albrecht Carl Bremine, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Gustav Albrecht Carl Bremme, 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

page_text: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
BREAKING AND SOFTENING FLAX AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS, WHICH IM-
PROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE THE SAME KIND OF
RECIPROCATING ROTARY MOTION CAN BE USEFULLY ADOPTED," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Gustav Albrecht Carl Bremme,
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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Gustav Albrecht Carl Bremme
do hereby declare 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 thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
In machinery for breaking and softening flax and other fibrous
materials a certain movement is given to rollers causing them to rotate
reciprocally in opposite directions, but to rotate farther in the one direction
than in the other. Various mechanical arrangements for effecting this
movement are well known and in use.
Now my Invention relates to new and improved apparatus for effecting
this movement, and is as follows:-A toothed wheel is fixed on the
reciprocating shaft, and one or more equal pinions turning freely on
their axles are held in gear with this wheel by arms, radii, or frame
turning loosely on the reciprocating shaft, so that the centres of the
pinions are equidistant from the centre of the reciprocating shaft, and in
preference also equidistant from each other. On the axles of the one or
more pinions, as well as on the shafts without pinions, but in the same
distance from the centre of the reciprocating shaft as the pinion shafts,
are fixed cranks of equal length, which by means of their crank pins are
connected to and held parallel to each other by a ring turning on an
excentric, the excentricity of which is equal to the length of the said
cranks, and which excentric turns loosely on the reciprocating shaft, and
receives a rotary motion in one direction by means of a pulley or wheel
attached thereto, and also turning loosely on the reciprocating shaft, and
by means of a strap or any other suitable gearing from any convenient

page_text: prime mover. The frame carrying the one or more pinions and crank
shafts is connected by a connecting rod to a crank or excentric fixed on
a continuously rotating shaft or prime mover, so that as this prime
mover rotates the pinions and crank shafts are caused to vibrate in an
arc described from the centre of the reciprocating shaft. Thus while the
pinions vibrate in an arc to and fro they receive also a continuous rotary
motion on their own axles from the rotating excentric on the recipro-
cating shaft, and turning simultaneously on their own axles in the same
direction and vibrating to and fro impart to the reciprocating shaft the
reciprocating rotary movement required, namely, a movement alternately
in the one direction and in the other, but greater in the one direction
than in the other.
Figure 1 represents a side view, and Figure 2 an elevation of an
apparatus constructed according to the first
part of my Invention.
The apparatus is supported upon standards or a framework, as shewn,
and is capable of being worked by hand or by any motive power as found
most desirable. I prefer working it by a band or strap, as its motion
would be more regular than if worked by hand. I mount a shaft in
suitable bearings in the standards, and I cause it to rotate in any given
manner by gearing, as hereafter explained. A pinion on this shaft is
directly in gear with a wheel or pinion on one of the breaking or
softening rolls. The shaft D just referred to carries a tooth wheel C,
which is fixed upon it. This wheel C is geared into by three pinions
E, E, E, fixed to the arms or pins of three cranks F, F, F, the pins
passing through the side plates of a frame A, A, so that the pinions are
held in place. There are three other cranks F¹, F, F', also carried by the
plates A, A; these are without pinions. The short arms or pins of the
cranks which are outside one of the plates enter holes in the face of a
ring G, which is ringed on an excentric H so as to be free in its own
movements from those of the excentric. The excentric receives a con-
tinuous rotary motion from the toothed wheel I, to which it is fixed by
the gearing K from the wheel P and pinion Q on the driving belt
shaft O, The shaft L also carries an excentric M. The excentric M on
the prime moving shaft L need not necessarily have the same throw as
the cranks E and F. As the excentric rotates it communicates a
partially rotative movement to the frame A first in one direction and
then in the other by means of the strap and connecting rod N. Thus it
will be seen that two motions are produced in the one apparatus, viz., a

page_text: continuous rotary motion in one direction of one part and a recipro-
cating rotatory motion in the other. The first of these motions is
obtained through the main driving shaft O to the wheel I and excentric
H, and the second through the excentric M and frame A. The ring G
holds the six cranks parallel to each other, and causes them to turn in
the same direction and at the same amount of speed in whatever direction
they are turned. It will be observed that the wheel G, which is fixed
on the shaft D, only receives its motion from the movements of the
pinions E, E, and as these pinions are drawn up and down by the connecting
rod of the excentric M it naturally transmits a similar movement to the
rolls between which the flax or other fibrous substance is placed, so that
the flax or other substance is acted upon for a certain length, which is
determined by the amount of rotation given to them or their diameters.
It is however essential that the flax or other substance under treatment
should travel through the apparatus as it is sufficiently softened and
broken; and this is accomplished by the movement given to the ring G
by the excentric H, which always travels in one direction. By this
means the wheel C is made (to travel farther round in the feeding
direction than in the return or backward direction.
Instead of connecting the frame which carries the pinions and crank
shafts to the crank or excentric of the prime mover, the required
reciprocating rotary movement may be obtained by connecting the
excentric which turns loosely on the reciprocating shaft by an arm and
a connecting rod to the crank or excentric of the prime mover, and
imparting to the frame which carries the pinions and crank shafts a
continuous rotary motion from any convenient prime mover by any
suitable gearing. This mode is represented in Figures 3 and 4, which
are respectively a side view and an elevation of the modified apparatus.
In this the toothed wheel I is dispensed with, and the connecting rod N is
attached to a link or lever arm on the boss of the excentric H to produce
the reciprocating movements. The continuous rotatory motion is
obtained through the wheel K being in gear with a wheel on the
frame A, as shown.
Instead of using the vibrating pinions gearing into a toothed wheel on
the reciprocating shaft one or more spiral wheels, namely, wheels with
spiral screws or worms on the face, may be employed, and in this case a
suitable wheel is fixed on the reciprocating shaft. The axes of these
spiral wheels lie in a plane vertical to the reciprocating shaft.
The

page_text: spiral wheels are held in gear with the said fixed wheel by a proper
frame loose on the reciprocating shaft and turn freely on their axles.
This frame receives reciprocating motion, either from the crank or
excentric of the prime mover, as described, or by means of a hand lever.
In order to turn the spiral wheels on their own axles while the same are
vibrating with the frame to and fro it is preferred to apply the well-
known ratchet motion.
Figures 5 and 6 represent how this part of my Invention is carried
into effect. D is the shaft or spindle of one of the breaking and softening
rolls; the shaft carries a toothed wheel C, which is geared into by two
spirally toothed wheels E, E, which have the teeth cut or formed on
their faces, as shewn. These teeth are made with the thin or tapering
ends near the peripheries, so that they enter between the teeth of the
wheel C with ease and freedom. Both wheels are enclosed in a recess
or aperture in one side of a plate J, and their axles or shafts pass
through holes in the plate and carry spur wheels F, F, which are
operated upon by pauls or catches G, G, alternately as the plate is
pushed and drawn to and fro by the rod I. The pauls G, G, are pinned
to a frame which is held rigid by a link H secured to one of the
standards of the supporting frame. The pauls are kept in the teeth of
the spur wheels F, F, by springs a, a, in each alternate movement, and
slip over in the other.
In the Drawing, Figure 5, I have shewn another set of pauls G¹, G',
which may be brought into working position when it is necessary to
reverse the motion ot the rolls, so that the feeding or delivering of the
flax or other fibrous substance may be accomplished at either end of
the machine. The rod I may be moved by hand or by a crank or
excentric on a band pulley shaft in any convenient manner.
plate J is supported by the shaft D, and it is free to vibrate or rock
upon the shaft to cover or slip over as many teeth as are required for the
proper working of the machine.
The
The mode of operation of this plan is easy to understand. When the
plate is moved in a circular direction to and fro the pauls take into the
teeth of the spur wheels alternately and force them round to a distance
corresponding in length to the throw of the rod I; the spiral wheels
being fixed to the same axles they partake of the
rotation, and cause the roll D to turn.
same amount of

page_text: Another part of my Invention consists in the following:-Instead of
giving the reciprocating motion to any part of the mechanism from an
excentric or crank shaft turning in fixed bearings, as described above, I
mount a frame wheel or a frame either with a toothed periphery or
attached to a toothed wheel loosely and turning freely on a shaft, which
either itself shall receive or supports the parts which shall receive the
required reciprocating rotary movement. The frame wheel carries in-
proper bearings at a distance from its centre an excentric or crank shaft,
which has affixed thereto a toothed wheel which gears into a central
wheel loose and turning freely either on the reciprocating or supporting
shaft. The crank or excentric shaft is connected by a connecting rod
either to an arm or its equivalent fixed to the reciprocating shaft, or to a
pin on that part of the mechanism which is supported by and turns
freely on the supporting shaft, and to which the required reciprocating
rotary movement shall be given. To the loose central wheel a con-
tinuous rotary motion is given by any convenient means and from any
convenient source, thereby causing the excentric or crank shaft to rotate
on its axis, thus giving a reciprocating movement to the parts connected
to the crank or excentric. While thus the crank or excentric shaft
turns on its own axis the frame wheel is caused to rotate on either the
reciprocating or supporting shaft by means of a pinion wheel, worm,
spiral wheel, or any other suitable gearing carrying with it the crank
or excentric shaft, and all parts connected to it. Thus the part or parts
connected to the crank or excentric receive the required reciprocating
rotary motion. More than one crank or excentric shaft may be
employed.
Figure 7 is a side view, and Figure 8 an elevation of an apparatus as
above referred to. The main driving shaft E, which is driven either by
the belt pulleys S, S, or by the hand winch T, passes through the hollow
shaft D and communicates rotary motion to the toothed wheel N,
through the wheel O. The wheel N is keyed on a shaft P which carries
a pinion M; this pinion in its turn gives a continuous rotary motion to
the frame wheel L which is mounted loosely on the shaft E, so as not to
partake of its movement; two cranks shafts are carried by and have their
bearings in the frame wheel L, and they carry pinions I, I, which are in
gear with a wheel K fixed on the shaft E. The cranks H, H, have links
or rods G, G, on them, and as they are rotated they produce a partial
rotation to a double-ended lever arm F, F, which is fixed on the hollow

page_text: Boat D; thus the rons
eceive a reciprocating y
through the wheels Q,, R. I do not confine myself to the employment
of two cranks, as shewn and described, as any number of them may be
employed.
Figure 9 is, a side view, and Figure 10 an elevation of another
arrangement for producing the reciprocating rotatory movement of the
rolls. In this case, the driving shaft P carries a wheel N and pinion M,
as in the previous arrangement; they also gear into a wheel O and frame
wheel L, both of which turn loosely on the reciprocating shaft D. The
wheel I carries a crank on each side; one of the crauks K is jointed to
a short link T forming part of a strap which encircles an excentric V
mounted loosely upon the shaft .D. The excentric is attached to the
wheel O, and rotates with, it; the other crank H is jointed to a link U,
and communicates motion through the lever arms F, F, to the shaft 1)
on which they are fixed. It will be observed that the motion which the
shaft D receives from the crank His a reciprocating rotatory one; there is
however, a positive rotary motion also given to it in one direction by the
frame wheel L being compelled to travel round by the pinion M. Some-
times if the shaft which supports the frame wheel shall not receive the
reciprocating rotary movement, but other parts mounted loosely thereon,
then instead of mounting the central excentric and wheel also loosely on
this shaft, the same may be keyed on this shaft, which then receives the
continuous rotary motion from any convenient source and by any suitable
means. In lieu of the link U being connected to the crank arms F, F,
as shown in Figures 10, I sometimes dispense with the same, and I fix a
pinion on the reciprocating shaft D, and I cause a segment of a toothed
wheel, as seen in Figare 11, to gear into the pinion; by this means I
impart the intermittent rotary. motion to the reciprocating shaft D.
In Figure 12 I have shown a section of a complete machine for
breaking and softening flax and other fibrous substance, with the
arrangement of mechanism as described in reference to Figures 7 and 8
of this Specification; and in Figure 13 I have shown another section
of the same machine taken at right angles to Figure 12. I propose to
work a scutcher in close connection with the breaker and softener, as
shown at Figure 16, so that the same power which drives the breaker
machine may also work the scutcher.
I do not wish to limit myself to any special kind of scutcher, but I

page_text: prefer to employ the one shown in the Figures, which consists in a pair
of revolving drums. formed of rotating blades which receive their rotatory
motion from pinions on their ends engaging into a central rotatory
wheel which is driving from the outside of the framing. The blades
are so arranged on their centres that the lower set pass up into the
spaces formed by the rotation of the upper set, and in the same manner
the upper set pass down into the spaces formed by the rotation of the
lower set. The drums have a rotary motion on their own axles, as seen
in Figure 17, so that as they revolve the flax or other fibre under
operation is caught by the blades at their meeting point; the drag which
is put upon it by the blades in their combined double movement causes
it to be completely scutched, cleaned, streaked, and beaten.
In the foregoing Specification I have referred to the employment of
my Invention to breaking and softening flax and other fibrous sub-
stances ouly, but it may be employed in many ways, such, for instance,
as operating the rolls used for reducing the thickness of sheets of metal,
for which I have found it very applicable. In fact, the utility of the
special method or arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8 is beyond all
doubt most efficient for rolling or reducing all kinds of metal, whether
in thin sheets, boiler, and other thick plates, such as armour plates for
ships and forts, and also for the calendering and glazing of fabrics, as
well as for actuating the rolls of sugar cane mills, or for working the
stirrer of boiling or heated liquids, &c.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not
confine myself to the exact details of the apparatus or machinery herein-
before described and shewn ; but what I do claim is,—
Firstly. The general arrangement of apparatus, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, and the modification
shewn in Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawings annexed.
Secondly. I claim the special arrangement of apparatus, as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of this Specification
and Drawings.
Thirdly. I claim substantially the arrangement of apparatus, as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 7 and 8, also the modification
herein-before described and shewn at Figures 9 and 10 of the Drawings.

page_text: And, fourthly. I claim the employment of a sector and pinion, and the
method of driving the same, for the purpose as herein-before described
and-shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustav Albrecht Carl Bremmé, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March
One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
GUSTAV A. C. BREMME. (L.S.)