New or Improved Machinery for Scutching and Cleaning Flax.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Machinery for Scutching and Cleaning Flax.
We, EDWARD JOSEPII DE COURCY, of 46, Carlisle Street, Belfast, Gentleman,
and ROBERT CHAWFORD, of 7, Lombard Street, Belfast, Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce machinery for scutching, cleaning,
and beating flax in an expeditious and superior manner, without injuring the
fibre while at the same time reducing the waste of fibre to a minimum.
In carrying out our invention we construct in the first instance suitable frame
work in which we mount two drums of suitable dimensions provided with a
number of blades or heaters parallel to each other, the free edges of which are
serrated in manner hereinafter described.
-are
These drums which rotate in the same direction and at the same speed-
so arranged in relation to each other that their respective blades or beaters will
(when revolving) dovetail to a suitable depth; that is to say the blades or
beaters of one drum will move midway between the blades or beaters of the
other drum, and vice versa.
Suitable gear is provided for imparting the necessary rotary motion to these
drums.
The manner in which the free edges of the blades or beaters are serrated
constitutes an essential feature of our invention and is as follows:-
The blades, or beaters of both drums, at one and the same end; called for
convenience the "right" division are provided with serrations of the same
pitch so that the flax operated upon will be combed straight and the serrations
upon the other ends, called for convenience the "left" division are arranged.
so as to cause the flax to spread out or diverge for the purpose of combing
out the shoves "which accumulate in the centre of the flax whilst being
treated through the right division.
This spreading out or diverging of the flax is effected by forming the ser-
rations on the blades or beaters of the left divisions of both drums in such a
manner as to diverge from a point midway between the extremities of said left.
divisions.
The diverging serrations on each blade or beater are so disposed that they
will strike the flax at a suitable distance further from the centre in both
directions than the serrations on the preceeding blade or beater, constituting
in fact diverging spirals round each drum and producing the effect of combing.
as well as spreading the flax.
"
At the point where the "right" and "left" divisions of the blades or beaters
meet the serrations are blended, or merged into each other so that the flax
while undergoing treatment may be passed to and fro, from one division to
the other without the necessity of withdrawing it from the drums.
We prefer to use the above described apparatus as a "finishing" machine.
We may also use the said apparatus with the spiral or diverging serrations
separately for "buffing" flax, or we may use the spiral or diverging serrations
гр .
877

page_text: on the left divisions in combination with straight edged blades or beaters in
the right divisions of the drums for finishing purposes.
The flax may be fed to the drums by hand, or other suitable, incans.
Dated this 5th day of July 1899.
New or improved machinery for scutching and Cleaning Flax.
We, EDWARD JOSEPHI DE COURCY, of 46, Carlisle Street, Belfast, Gentleman,
and ROBERT CRAWFORD, of 7, Lombard Street, Belfast, Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to 'be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement;-
-
!
The object of this invention is to produce machinery for scutching, cleaning,
and beating flax in an expeditious and superior manner, without injuring the
fibre while at the same time reducing the waste of fibre to a minimum.
In carrying out our invention we mount two drums in suitable framework
provided with a number of blades or beaters parallel to each other the longitu-
dinal free edges of which are provided with teeth or serrations in manner
hereinafter described.
-are
These drums which rotate in opposite directions and at the same. speed ar
so arranged in relation to each other that their respective blades or beaters will
dovetail to a suitable depth; that is to say the blades or beaters of one drum
will engage midway between the blades or beaters of the other drum, and
vice versa.
Suitable gear is provided for imparting the necessary rotary motion to these
drums.
The formation of the teeth or serrations of the blades or beaters constitutes
the essential feature of our invention and will be understood by reference to
the accompanying drawings which form part of this. specification.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a complete machine constructed according to
our invention!
Fig. 2 a transverse section.
Fig. 3 is a detailed view of two of the blades or beaters to an enlarged scale
showing the peculiar formation of the teeth or undulations, and the relation
of the blades or beaters to each other as présently more fully. described.
Fig. 4 is a broken portion of Fig. 3, the scale being still larger.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the
views:
A, is the frame of the machine; B and C the two drums mounted on
shafts D and E, and rotating in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows.
Motion is transmitted to these drums by the fast pulley F through the spur
wheels G and H, which are keyed to the shafts D and E.
J is a loose pulley.
K are the blades or beaters secured to the drums by bolts; or screws, and
operating as shown; that is the blades or beaters of one drum engaging freely
between those of the second drum.
r
These blades or beaters are shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, and we would
have it expressly understood that the formation of the teeth or undulations of
same constitutes the essential feature of our invention and is as follows:

page_text: A section of each blade or beater as shown to the right of the dotted line L, L,
Fig. 3 is provided with teeth or undulations consisting of regular semi-
circular domes and recesses above and below the pitch line.
This section which is intended for the purpose hereinafter described is
designated for convenience the "regular" section.
The section towards the left of the dotted line L, L, is provided with teeth
or, undulations of a special formation, being. shaped approximately as illustrated
in Figs. 3 and 4, especially in the latter figure which shews the formation to
an enlarged' scale.
These teeth or undulations run in opposite direction from the centre (indicated
by the dotted line P, P,) towards the extremities of the section as shewn.
This section we designate for convenience the "diverging section.
"
The beaters thus prepared are mounted round each drum in manner, whereby
the teeth or undulations will coincide with an imaginary, plane at right angles
to the axis of the drum.
The drums thus equipped are mounted in relation to each other in a manner
whereby the teeth or undulations of one drum will strike an imaginary circum-
ferential line drawn about midway between the teeth or undulations of the
opposite drum.
This relationship is clearly illustrated by the dotted lines R, R, Figs. 3
and. 4.
'
The effect of this arrangement is, that in the operation of the machine as
each beater comes in contact with the flax, the fibres are caused to spread
laterally or diverge in a fan-like manner, and are thereby more thoroughly
exposed, and consequently more efficiently acted upon in the process of combing
out the shoves in the centre of the flux under treatment.
**
It must be understood that the domes or apices of the teeth or undulations
of both the regular and diverging sections should be suitably rounded on the
striking side, in order to ensure the easy combing or straightening of the
fibres without pulling them away; while the recesses should be sharp edged to
ensure the efficient cleaning and beating of the fibres.
The dotted lines Fig. 2 indicate a slotted frame which carry the journals of
the drum-spindles.
We prefer to use the machine as herein described as a "finishing" machine.
We may also extend the diverging section along the entire length of the
beaters when using the machine for "buffing" purposes.
The flax may be fed to our improved machine through the hopper T by
hand, or otherwise as found' convenient.
In the operation of our improved machine the attendant takes by one end.
a bundle of flax technically called a "handful," and introducing the opposite
end between the drums allows it to be carried forward as far as possible. He
then withdraws it, and allows it to be again carried forward. This operation
he repeats as often as occasion may require whoreupon he reverses the handful
and subjects the other end to similar treatment.
The flax may be passed from the diverging section to the regular section,
or vice versa at pleasure, the function of the latter section being to bulk the
fibres, as it were and so present them in manner whereby they will be more
efficiently beaten, and rendered soft and silky in texture and appearance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact formation of the teeth
or undulations as herein described and illustrated as the same may be altered
in detail without departing from the principle of our invention, but we declare,
that what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
:
First In machinery for scutching and cleaning flax, the combination of
drums mounted in suitable frame work and carrying beaters provided in part

page_text: or wholly with teeth or undulations by the operation of which the fibres are
caused to diverge or spread laterally in a fan-like manner substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second: In machinery for scutching and cleaning flax, the use of beaters
provided in part or wholly with teeth or undulations, by the operation of which
the fibres are caused to diverge or spread laterally in a fan-like manner sub-
stantially as herein specified and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Third: In machinery for scutching and cleaning flax, the use of beaters
provided in part with "diverging" teeth or undulations as illustrated in the
diverging" section, and in part with ". regular" teeth as illustrated in the
"regular" section, the domes or apices of all of which are suitably rounded on
the striking edge whereby they serve the purpose of combing without pulling
the fibres, in a smooth and efficient manner; and the recesses of which are
sharp edged whereby they serve the purpose of beating and cleaning the fibres
in a thoroughly efficient manner.
Dated this 1st day of January 1900.
J. K. FAHTE & SON,
Agents for Applicants, 9, Westland Row, Dublin.