IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF SCUTCHING FLAX, AND OTHER LIGHT STRAWS AND FIBROUS BODIES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Robert Dry, of 25, Oriental Street, East India
Road, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF SCUTCHING FLAX, AND OTHER LIGHT STRAWS AND FIBROUS
BODIES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Robert Dry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1880.
JAMES ROBERT DRY, of 25, Oriental Street, East India Road, in the County.
of Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF SCUTCHING FLAX AND
OTHER LIKE STRAWS AND FIBROUS BODIES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE
PURPOSE."
This Invention relates to improvements in the method of scutching flax and
other like straws and fibrous bodies, and in apparatus for the purpose, and consista
in employing, instead of the scutching handles now in use, a tapered cone with five'
blades that will be made to revolve in front of a stock similar (in part) to the one
now in use. The flax straw will be offered to the action of the cone over the top
edge of the improved stock in a manner similar to that now used with the scutching
handles.
The blades on the cone will be placed at a right tangent from the large end of
cone, or any angle, and will act in front of the stock like a screw. The stock will
not bo perpendicular, but at an angle of 30 degrees, more or less, and will be
provided with slotted grooves in front to allow the wind to escape.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Robert Dry in the Great Seal Patent Oflice on the 23rd
December 1880.
JAMES ROBERT DRY, of 25, Oriental Street, East India Road, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF SCUTCHING FLAX AND
OTHER LIKE STRAWS AND FIBROUS BODIES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE
PURPOSE."
This Invention relates to improvenients in the method of scutching flax and
other like straws and fibrous bodies, and in apparatus for the purpose, and consists
in employing, instead of the scutching handles now in use, a tapered cone with
preferably five blades that will be made to revolve in front of a stock similar (in
part) to the one now in use. The flax straw will be offered to the action of the
cone over the top edge of the improved stock in a manner similar to that now used
with the scutching handles. The blades on the cone are placed at a tangent to a
circle struck from the centre of the large end of the cone, and radial to the axis at
the small end of the cone, and will act in front of the stock like a screw.
stock will not be perpendicular, but will be arranged at an angle of, say, from 10
to 30 degrees, more or less, from a- vertical line, and will be provided with slots on
its face to allow the wind or air to escape which is thrown off by the blades of the
revolving cone.
The
The Invention will be clearly understood on reference to the accompanying
Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the scutching apparatus with a
portion removed, so as to render it more clear; Figure 2 is a side view, partly in
section, whilst Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a complete front view and a plan.
As plainly seen in each of the Figures, the apparatus consists of a revolving cone
drum A with preferably five straight blades B, the faces of the blades being arranged
at an angle with the axis, and equidistant around the circumference of the drum.
The cone drum is securely keyed to the central shaft C, which is carried by the
bearings D formed in the strong frames E, the latter being securely attached to the
bed plate F.
G is the stock, preferably of cast iron, arranged in front of the drum A, and
preferably at an angle; the latter can be adjusted by the shiftable bearings H
which support the stock, and on which it is pivoted. Slotted openings I are formed
in the stock to carry off some of the wind set in motion by the blades of the cone
drum when the latter is revolving. A fender or shield J is erected in front of the
stock G, and serves two purposes, viz., to carry the gear by which the distance
between the edges of the drum blades and the face of the stock is adjusted, and to
act as a shield to protect the person of an operator from the wind or draught which
passes through the openings I, and is set up by the rapid motion of the drum.
This shield is supported by the standards K firmly bolted to the bed plate.
The gear by which the distance between the face of the stock and the edges of
the drum blades is adjusted is as follows:-
Two screws I, are attached to the stock G near each end by means of the links M
and lugs N, the latter cast with or forming part of the stock; the screws L aro
carried by nuts O, and the latter are supported and are capable of being rotated in
sockets P cast in the upper ends of the brackets or standards K. On the ends of
the nuts O are keyed the worm wheels Q, which are actuated by the worm shaft R,
the latter being actuated by the hand wheel R' and carried in the bearings S on
the outside of the shield, as clearly shown. This gearing enables the position of
the stock relatively with the drum blades to be very delicately adjusted, and
possesses the advantage of locking it in any position within its range in which it
may be set. That position is indicated by the index finger a, the point of which is
arranged over a graduated scale on one of the worm wheels Q.

page_text: The top of the stock is provided with a revolving screw T for the purpose of
spreading out the flax straw when it is presented to the action of the blades B, and
also for feeding it in and carrying it through the machine; this screw is shown as
being rotated by the pullies and straps U off the drum shaft C, but it may be
driven from an overhead or other shaft, if preferred. The screw T may, if desired,
be dispensed with, and the flax straw will then be fed to the apparatus in the
ordinary way.
On referring to Figures 3 and 4 it will be seen that the end of the stock at which
the flax straw is presented to the cone drum is provided at its edge with a quadrant
shaped_plate V, and a similar plate W is carried by the main frame E. These
plates V and W form unitedly a fair guide for entering the straws.
The cone drum is preferably formed by two end discs X firmly keyed to the
main axle C, and held at the correct distance apart and relatively to each other by
the stays Y which run through the drum; the edges of the discs X are provided
with recesses to receive the blades B, which are firmly secured within them by
screws, and the spaces between the blades around the periphery of the drum are
filled in by thin sheet iron plates, the edges of which lodge in grooves formed in
the blades, and are further secured by screws let into a lip running around the inner
edge of each of the end discs. One drum only is shown, but in practice two or any
number preferred may be mounted on the same shaft, and each drum is covered in
by the casing Z, which is supported by the arms b on the standards E; the only
portion of the cone drum, which revolves at about 600 revolutions per minute,
presented to the operator is that seen between the lip'c of the drum casing and the
upper edge d of the stock, as seen in Figures 2 and 3, which renders it practically
safe. c, c, are the pulleys by which the drum is driven.
The shive and other debris removed from the flax straw by the action of the
drum blades can be carried off through openings in the floor where required.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. The improved method of scutching flax and other like straws and fibrous
bodies, hereinbefore described.
Secondly. The improved apparatus for scutching flax, and other like straws and
fibrous bodies, herein before described, and substantially as shown in the annexed
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Robert Dry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty third day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and cighty.
JAMES R. DRY. (LS.)