IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA- RATUS FOR SCUTCHING AND REFINING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Byrne, of Whitehouse, in the County of Antrim,
Flaxdresser, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR SCUTCHING AND REFINING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 6th May 1862, and dated the 8th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Byrne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
November 1861.
I, JOHN BYRNE, of Whitehouse, in the County of Antrim, Flaxdresser, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SCUTCHING AND REFINING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in constructing machinery or apparatus for scutching
and refining flax, hemp, jute, and other fibrous substances in the following
manner-In the circumference of a wheel revolving about a fixed axis I
form at convenient distances from one another transverse grooves or slots, into
each of said grooves or slots I fix an arm or projection from the end of a blade
of peculiar construction formed of wood, metal, or other suitable material.
That edge of said blade which first comes in contact with the material to be
operated upon is formed sharp, and upon the side of the blade, which is
presented to said material, and towards the back of said blade I form a row of
projecting scrapers of a semicircular form, resembling finger nails, and above
said scrapers and upon the back of said blade I fix a projecting plate or scraper
of a plane rectangular form. The substance to be operated upon is placed in

page_text: an opening in front of a carriage, whereupon it is brought into contact with
said blades, and is held firm and fast in said opening by means of two plates
attached to the front of said carriage and acting like a vice, one of said plates
being made moveable for the admission and removal of said substance.
Diametrically opposite that part of said wheel to which the substance to be
operated upon is presented I fix a revolving brush of a circular form, said
brush pressing against the said blades removes from them the tow or waste,
while a fixed scraper pressing against the brush keeps said brush clear and
clean.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Byrne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BYRNE, of Whitehouse, in the County of Antrim, Flaxdresser, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Byrne, Her special licence that I, the said John Byrne,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as. I, the said
John Byrne, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SCUTCHING AND REFINING FLAX, HEMP,
JUTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the condition, amongst others,
that I, the said John Byrne, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 John Byrne, 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, that is to say:-

page_text: This Invention consists in constructing machinery or apparatus for scutching
and refining flax, hemp, jute, and other fibrous substances in the following
manner: In the circumference of a wheel revolving about a fixed axis I
form at convenient distances from one another transverse grooves or slots, into
each of said grooves or slots I fix an arm or projection from the end of a blade
of peculiar construction formed of wood, metal, or other suitable material.
That edge of said blade which first comes in contact with the material to be
operated upon is formed sharp, and upon the side of the blade which is
presented to said material, and towards the back of said blade I form a row of
projecting scrapers of a semicircular form resembling finger nails, and above
said
the back of said blade I fix a projecting plate or scraper
and upon
scrapers
of a plane rectangular form. The substance to be operated upon is placed in
an opening in front of a carriage, whereupon it is brought into contact with
said blades, and is held firm and fast in said opening by means of two plates
attached to the front of said carriage, and acting like a vice, one of said plates
being made moveable for the admission and removal of said substance.
Diametrically opposite that part of said wheel to which the substance to be
operated upon is presented I fix a revolving brush of a circular form, said
brush pressing against the said blades removes from them the tow or waste,
while a fixed scraper pressing against the brush keeps said brush clear and
clean.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of
Drawings accompanying these Presents, and to the numeral figures and letters
of reference marked thereon respectively as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machinery; Figure 2, a top
plan view thereof; Figures 3 and 4, detached portions herein-after particularly
described and referred to.
At each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar letters of reference to
denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at
each of such said Figures respectively.
A is the framing of the machine; B, a wheel fixed on an axis C, supported
in bearings D; E, a pulley, over which passes a strap or band for imparting
motion to the wheel B; G are grooves formed across the periphery of the
wheel B; H, H, åre pieces of wood fixed in each of the grooves G, one end
of each of these pieces of wood is formed with a knife edge, as exhibited, and

page_text: to the other end of said pieces a piece of wood a is screwed, and also a series
of bent plates I of sheet metal somewhat resembling finger nails; K is a strip
of sheet metal screwed to the piece a; L is a carriage to contain the substance
to be scutched; this carriage is mounted on wheels M, which run on rails N
suitably fixed to the floor or ground; O is a fixed plate, and O' a moveable
plate of metal for nipping and holding tightly, when necessary, the material
whilst being operated upon, the workman feeding the material to the machine
through the opening b; P is a treddle for depressing the plate O; and Q is a
lever and weight for lifting up said plate when pressure is removed from said
treddle; R is an adjustable stop for limiting the distance of the carriage from
the blades H, H, and parts connected thereto.
The operations of the above improved machinery are as follows:-Upon
rotary motion being imparted to the wheel B, the pieces H, I, K, will be
brought into contact with the substance to be scutched, and operate thereon in
succession, so as to beat, tear, and finish it as often as is necessary, according
to the judgment of the workman; the workman either holding the material in
his hand, or nipping it between the plates O and O', by exerting pressure with
his foot upon the treddle P. When the material has been sufficiently scutched
the carriage is run back, and the scutched material removed, and the operation
repeated as before.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Scutching and
Refining Flax, Hemp, Jute, and other Fibrous Substances," together with the
best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
hereby declare my Invention to consist in, and I claim adapting the parts or
pieces marked H, I, K, at the accompanying Drawing to the periphery of a
wheel and operating therewith, so as to beat, tear, and finish the fibrous
materials with which such said pieces are successively brought into contact
as above stated, and thus to effect the operation of scutching in a more efficient
manner than heretofore.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Byrne, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
זיד-
DYD VALT
וזמת זודו
JOHN
NE. (..)
TTT