Improvements in Apparatus for Breaking and Cleaning Hemp, Flax, Jute, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 30th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
:
Improvements in Apparatus for Breaking and Cleaning Hemp, Flax,
Jute, and the like.
We, JOHN DANIBL SHELY, Farmer, and JOIN HENRY SHELY, Mechanic, both
of Lexington, Fayette, County and State of Kentucky, United States of America,
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:
Our invention relates to hemp brakes and cleaners. The drawings show a form
of brake and cleaner properly adapted to the cleaning of hemp, but it is equally
adapted to the cleaning of flax or any other lints, such as jute, flax etc. The object
of our invention is first, to improve the machinery for breaking the hemp, and second
to deliver the same to a cleaner which removes the hurds. All of which will be
fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings making a part of
this Specification, in which :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improvement.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on line a Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional clevation on line y y Figure 2.
Fi
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing the detail of the feed roll adjustment.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bottom cleaner frame, and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the top cleaner frame inverted.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation on the line z = Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a side view of a portion of the conveyer for carrying off the hurds that
are thrown through and above the upper cleaner frame.
A represents the sills of the machine, B the rear post and C the front post of the
main frame. D represents longitudinal top plates of the frame; E the cross girders.
G represents a secondary sill bolted on to the top sill A simply for the purpose of
elevating the pulleys.
1 represents the main driving shaft; it is provided with fast and loose pulleys F, L,
by which power is received; 2, 2, represent crank wheels which are provided with
crank pins 62. 3, 3, represent pitmen conveying motion to the vibratory breaker
frame 4; this frame is mounted to slide between guides 6, 7, attached to rearwardly
inclined posts 5 and C. 8, 9, represent stationary guides gained into posts C.
10, 11, represent guides on the rear side of said sash frame gained into posts 5.
12, 13, represent feed rolls; the lower one is preferably mounted on stationary
journals secured to posts C; the upper one is journalled in a sliding journal box 14
which moves in gains in posts C. 15 represents an upwardly projecting lug or
saddle attached to the top of said journal box; the upper feed roller which journals
therein is held to its work preferably by weight levers 16 pivotted on centres 17.
The saddle 15 is rounded upon its top face, so that as it is raised the fulcrum point
is brought nearer to the centre 17, thereby increasing the weight, as the weighted
levers are raised. The weights 18 are likewise shewn as adjustable upon the
levers 16 so that more or less power may be employed for holding the feed roller to
its work. The weights 18 may be held in any desired position on the levers 16 by
means of binding screws 63, or they may be adjustably held on said levers by any
suitable means.
19 represents a series of dividers attached to the cross bar 20
which is rigidly secured to the posts 5 in rear of the feed guides 10 and 11.
21 represents a stationary cleaner frame; it is composed of parallel longitudinal
slats 22, and frames pieces 23, by means of which it is loosely supported on braces 1),
which are secured at each end to the posts B and C. In the projecting ends of the
frame pieces 23, are perforations 64 for the passage of guide bolts 65, around which
Painel

page_text: are placed springs 66 that permit a slight yielding upward movement of the cleaner
frame 21, to relieve it from strain under pressure of the hemp passing beneath said
frame.
Aside from this slight yielding movement of the cleaner frame 21 it is practically
stationary.
The guide bolts 65 are passed through the frame pieces 23, and braces D, as
shewn in Figure 1. Each bolt is provided on its lower end with a nut 67 and has
about midway its length a rigid collar 68, that is countersunk in the upper side of
the brace and together with the nut 67 holds the bolt in place. Between the
collar 68 and end cross piece 23 of the cleaner frame is a nut 69 by which a slight
vertical adjustment may be given to said cleaner frame and on the upper end of the
bolt is a nut 70, by which the spring 66 can be compressed to any desired degree to
vary its pressure on the end cross piece of the cleaner frame, which is thus made
both adjustable and yielding.
24 represents a vibratory cleaner frame; it is composed of parallel longitudinal
slats 25 which are rigidly secured to the longitudinal rails 26 by means of cross
rails 27, and clips 67, passed over the ends of the slats 25, and engaged with the
end cross rails 27 as shewn in Figure 5.
This frame is made vibratory by the following instrumentalities:-
H. represents a sprocket wheel upon shaft 1 which transmits motion to the
sprocket wheel I, on the shaft 28, which is journalled upon brackets 29.
30, 30 represent crank wheels keyed to each end of said shaft. 34, 34, represent
crank pins; these crank pins are preferably made adjustable by being stepped in the
slide blocks 35 which are journalled in the recess 36 pierced in the face of said
crank wheels 30. 40, 40, represent brackets attached to the longitudinal frame
pieces 26. The rear end of said vibratory cleaner frame 24 is preferably supported
upon friction rollers 41 which are journalled between the brackets 42 and the frame
pieces 26, as shewn in Figure 5. 43, 43, represent ways formed in the pillar
blocks 44. 45, 45, represent guides secured to said pillar block for holding down
the journals on the rear end of said frame.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
The hemp, flax, or other stalks to be treated are fed in between the feed
rollers 12 and 13, the guides 8 and 9 holding them in proper position to be acted
upon by the vibratory or breaking frame 4. K, represents an opening in said
breaker frame through which the stalks are passed; this frame is rapidly vibrated
by means of its crank wheels and pitmen and strikes the stalks and carries them
rapidly back and forth between the stationary guides breaking the pith in both
directions. We prefer to have the stroke of the pitmen 3, adjustable by attaching
their crank pins, in the same manner as the adjustable crank pins 34, shown in
Figure 1. As the hemp is passed forward by the feed rollers and treated by the
breakers it is carried in between the cleaner frames 21 and 24.
By referring to Figure 3, it will be observed that the posts C and 5 are inclined
slightly backward so as to cause the breaker frame 4, to move in an oblique plane
between the stationary guides 8, 9, 10 and 11 that are attached to said posts. The
rear guides 10 and 11 are located slightly below the corresponding forward
guides 8 and 9, so that the hemp stalks when acted on by the breaker frame will
readily fall away from said guides and pass at once to the cleaner frames without
clogging the guides or breaker frame. By arranging the breaker frame and its
guides in this manner the hemp is broken alternately against the upper guides and
the lower forward guide 9 but not on the lower rear guide 11 which is located
below the limit of stroke given to the breaker frame 4 (which is represented in
Figure 3, as being at the lower limit of its stroke) and so provides a free clearance
for the broken stalks on their way to the cleaner frames. The opening K
in the breaker frame and the several guides against which the stalks are broken
have square edges that are adapted to break the stalks without injury to the lint
and as the stalks are made to pass at once to the cleaner frames after being broken
the lint is not torn or crushed, and no tow is produced.

page_text: The obliquely reciprocating breaker frame supported in a rearwardly inclined
position together with the above described arrangement of front and rear guides
with relation to said breaker frame is one of the chief distinguishing features of our
invention, whereby we are enabled to produce the best results in the separation of
hurds by said breaking devices and in facilitating the free passage of the broken
stalks to the cleaners so that the breaker will not become clogged and crush or
injure the fibre. These results are not attained so well or with equal facility, in
machines in which the breaker reciprocates vertically between guides that are
substantially in the same plane. The arrangement of longitudinal slats in the
cleaner frames by which the hemp is caused to pass through the machine lengthwise
and parallel with said slats, also obviates any liability to producing tow, as commonly
experienced in hemp brakes of ordinary construction.
The frame 24 is made preferably to vibrate in the path indicated by the dotted
lines and arrows ab (see Figure 1). Motion is imparted to the vibratory frame by
means of the crank wheels 30. As the cleaner slats 25 are raised they come in
contact with the hemp and force it up into the dividers 19 which makes openings in
the gavel or stream of fibre being fed under them; the vibratory frame moves
forward so as to take up the hemp as it is fed by the feed rollers. The cleaner
slats or fingers 25, of the vibratory frame pass between the cleaner slats 22 of the
stationary frame forcing the hurd out of the hemp, but particularly opening or
making divisions in the charge so that the hurds are separated out from the lint, a
part of them being thrown out up through the upper cleaner frame and a part of
the hurds dropping down through the vibratory frame.
By referring to Figure 1, it will be observed that the stationary and vibratory
cleaner frames are separated from cach other a sufficient distance throughout their
entire length to enable the hemp or other material acted on to pass all the way
between them, the gavel being fed in at one end of said frames and discharged at
the other; and in thus passing through the cleaners lengthwise and parallel with the
cleaner slats the gavel or stream of fibre is divided longitudinally and thoroughly
cleaned by the action of the parallel and longitudinal slats which also separate the
hurds from the lint.
In order to carry off the hurds which are thrown out through the stationary
frame 21 we have provided a conveyer M, which is suitably journalled to the
posts B at the lower rear end of the stationary frame; this conveyer is preferably
an ordinary worm which receives its motion from the pulley N (see Figure 2) by a
belt N', Figure 1. Any form of conveying mechanism however, may be employed
to carry off the surplus hurds.
As the hurds are thrown out with great force by the rapid movement of the
vibratory cleaner frame we provide an elevated shield O secured to the posts B at
the rear end of the machine so as to prevent the hurds from being thrown over on
to the apron P of the cleaner frame, where the clean hemp is removed, by the
operator.
By referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the lower end of the shield O is
extended forward over a portion of the cleaning devices to afford a floor for the
conveyer and to prevent any hurds from falling back into the lint that is passing
through the cleaner. This apron is preferably canvas, and stretched across from
the side rails 26 of the vibratory frame 24 in rear of the fingers 25; but any
material may be used for this purpose. We prefer to have the vibratory frame 24,
move forward in its upward and downward motion in the act of receiving and
cleaning the broken stalks, as indicated in dotted lines ab as this takes up the hemp
and assists in pulling it through and prevents its knotting or tangling up in its
delivery from the breakers to the cleaners.
We believe we are the first to employ cleaners in which one is stationary and the
other is vibratory where the cleaner slats or strips run longitudinally with the fibre.
A very important advantage is obtained by this means; first, it makes openings
or divisions in the charge being acted upon to allow the hurds to pass out; and
second, it avoids making tow or cutting the fibres which will always occur

page_text: whenever the cleaner slats, strips or fingers are passed transversely across the lint
or fibres.
Another advantage is obtained in case short stalks accidentally pass through the
breakers without being broken; these stalks will then run across the longitudinal
slats or fingers of the cleaner frames and be operated on by them and both broken
and cleaned so that the result is the hemp passed through these cleaners is not only
cleaned much freer from hurds, but the accidental passing through the cleaner
frames of unbroken and uncleaned stalks is avoided.
We have also found that in practice we can clean hemp which has been over
rotted so that it cannot be well cleaned by hand without breaking into tow. By
means of our double stroke reciprocating slide 4 working between the two sets of
guides another advantage is obtained; a large part of the hurds are cleaned out
by the rapid strokes of the reciprocating frame 4, thereby saving a large amount of
work by the cleaners.
While we have shown one end of the vibratory frame as supported upon
longitudinally moving journals, yet we do not wish to confine ourselves to this means
of vibrating the rear end of the frame, as the lower end of the frame 25 might be
loosely suspended by means of rods 50, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, with
very nearly as good results. We have shown the dividers 19 as stationary instead of
revolving, as we deem this the best mode as it is less liable to tangle the fibre than
if they are made to travel.
In order to convey motion to the feed rolls we have provided the spur gears c d
and pinion wheels e, as shewn in Figure 1, f represents the sprocket wheel on the
shaft 45, and 46 represents a sprocket wheel keyed to the shaft of the lower feed
roller 13, thereby carrying the sprocket roll 46, outside of the sweep of the crank
wheels and the crank pins 2, and transmitting motion to the feed rollers outside of
the frame.
47 represents braces, one of which is attached to each post C, and sill A, so as to
strengthen the frame and prevent vibrations.
68 is a sprocket chain that connects the sprocket wheels f and 46, for driving the
feed rollers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a hemp brake, the combination with a reciprocatory breaker frame, of
front stationary guides and rear stationary guides located on different horizontal
planes adjacent to the opposite sides of said breaker frame to afford a clearance for
the stalks, substantially as described.
2. In a hemp brake, the combination with a reciprocatory breaker frame, of
guides adjacent to the front and rear sides of said breaker frame for holding the
stalks to the stroke of said frame, the rear upper guide being located below the
horizontal plane of the front upper guide to afford a clearance for the stalks,
substantially as described.
3. In a hemp brake, the combination with a reciprocatory breaker frame, of
guides adjacent to the front and rear sides of said breaker frame for holding the
stalks to the stroke of said frame, the lower rear guide being located below the
horizontal plane of the lower front guide, substantially as described.
4. In a hemp cleaning machine, a frame provided with longitudinal slats, in
combination with driving mechanism for effecting a vibratory movement of said
frame in an elliptical path in a plane parallel with the slats, substantially as
descr.bed.
5. The combination of a reciprocatory breaker frame having a passage for stalks,
stationary guides in front and rear of the breaker frame for holding the stalks to
the action of said frame, and a cleaner having a vibratory frame provided with
slats arranged longitudinally in the direction of the path of the fibre or stalks for
removing hurds from lint, substantially as described.
.

page_text: 6. In a hemp brake, the combination of feed rollers, a breaker device, and a
cleaner having a vibratory frame for removing hurds from the lint and dividing
the gavel longitudinally as it passes lengthwise of said cleaner, substantially as
described.
7. In a hemp brake, the combination with a cleaner, of a reciprocating breaker,
and stationary guides in front and rear of said breaker, for holding the stalks to
the action of the breaker, said front and rear guides being located in different
horizontal planes, substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. In a hemp cleaning machine, the combination with a cleaning mechanism, of
a shield located above said cleaning mechanism to receive the hurds which are
thrown out from the upper side of the lint, substantially as described.
9. A. combined hemp brake and cleaner consisting of hemp breaking and cleaning
devices and a series of dividers located between the hemp breaking and cleaning
devices, substantially as described.
10. A combined hemp brake and cleaner consisting of a hemp breaking device, a
cleaner having a vibratory frame for removing hurds from the lint and dividing the
gavel longitudinally as it passes lengthwise of said cleaner, and means for vibrating
said frame in a plane intersecting and in line with the movement of the fibre,
substantially as described.
11. In a hemp brake, the combination with the obliquely reciprocating breaker
frame supported in an oblique rearwardly inclined plane, of guides at the front and
rear.of said breaker frame for holding the stalks to the stroke of said frame, the
lower rear guide being located below the plane of the front guides and below the
limit of stroke given to the breaker frame to afford a clearance for the broken
stalks, substantially as described.
12. In a hemp brake, the combination with the obliquely reciprocating rear-
wardly inclined breaker frame, the cleaners and the feed rollers, of the front
stationary guides between said rollers and breaker frame, and the rear stationary
guides between the breaker frame and cleaners and located below the plane of the
corresponding front guides to afford a clearance for the broken stalks, substantially
as described.
13. In a hemp brake, the combination of the feed rollers, the breaker frame, the
stationary and vibratory cleaner frames, the front stationary guides between the
feed rollers and breaker frame, and the rear stationary guides between the breaker
frame and cleaner frames, and located below the plane of the corresponding front
guides, substantially as described.
14. In a hemp cleaning machine, the combination with the feed rollers and
breaking device, the series of stationary dividers 19, placed between the breaking
and cleaning device for dividing the hemp longitudinally in its passage to the
cleaners, substantially as herein specified.
15. In a hemp cleaning machine, cleaner frames separated from each other
throughout their entire length to afford a space for the gavel to be fed in at one
end and discharged at the other, each of said frames comprising parallel longitudinal
slats for removing the hurds from the lint and dividing the gavel longitudinally as
it passes lengthwise between the frames and parallel with the cleaner slats,
substantially as described.
16. In a hemp cleaning machine, the stationary frame 21 provided with
longitudinal slats 22, in combination with the vibratory frame 24, provided with
longitudinal slats 25, with driving mechanism for moving the vibratory frame in
the path a b, substantially as herein specified.
17. A combined hemp brake and cleaner consisting substantially of the feed
rolls, the reciprocating breaker frame 4, stationary guides on each side of the
breaker frame, and the stationary and vibratory cleaner frames provided with
longitudinal cleaning slats, substantially as described.
18. A combined hemp brake and cleaner, consisting of the hemp breaking device,
the cleaner frames, a series of dividers located between the hemp breaking and

page_text: cleaning devices, and means for actuating one of the cleaner frames, substantially
as described.
19. In combination with the cleaner frame 21, the conveyer M, and the shield O,
substantially as specified.
20. The combination.with an upper cleaner frame and a lower cleaner frame
each provided with longitudinal slats for removing hurds from lint, of a breaker
frame having a slot for the passage of stalks, and stationary guides in front and
rear of the breaker frame for holding the stalks to the action of said frame, the
rear guides being located below the plane of the front guides to afford a clearance
to the cleaner frames, substantially as described.
21. The combination of the longitudinally slatted cleaner frames, the rearwardly
inclined breaker frame, the feed rolls, the front stationary guides, the rear stationary
guides located below the plane of the front guides, and the stationary dividers
located between the breaking and cleaning frames to divide the hemp longitudinally
in its passage to the cleaners, substantially as described.
22. The combination of the feed rolls, the breaker frame, the stationary guides
in front and rear of said frame, the dividers in rear of the breaker frame the
stationary and vibratory cleaner frames, and the conveyer located above the
stationary cleaner frame, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of April 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.