Improvements in Machines for Scutching Flax and the like Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application; 15th Mar., 1889
.
Complete Specification. Left, 16th Dec., 1889-Accepted. 1st Feb.
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Scutching Flax and the like Fibrous
Materials.
I RICHARD HENRY HAYWARD of the Firm of Richard Hayward and Sons of the
Tail Mill Crewkerne in the County of Somerset, Sail Cloth Manufacturers and Flax
Spinners, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for scutching flax and other
like fibrous materials and consists of an improved spring scutcher and spring feed
board in combination with manual labour.
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*
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. On a central shaft of a "barrel or front feed" scutcher any suitable number of
radial arms are mounted and to the outer ends of these are pivotted or otherwise
secured a striking board or plate mounted with a spring or springs at back and.
front so that when this striker ("swingle" or sword") strikes the flax elasticity
is given to the force of the blow according to the strong or weak character of the
material under treatment and so saving the waste hitherto caused by the effect of a
dead blow of uniform strength. on strong or weak flax alike.
::
By a combination of the principle of springs on the striker with springs also on
the feed board-against the edge of which the blow is delivered to hold back this
feed board from the edges of the strikers the operative feeding the machine is enabled
to apply a varying pressure of the flax to the blow of the striker at discretion by
the simple pressure of the knee or hand to the outside of this feed board which is
made in a curved instead of a straight form.
The curve of the feeding board is of a slightly different curve from the curve of the
cylindrical body of the machine and taken from a different centre to that on which
the arms carrying the spring strikers are made to revolve.
"
These spring strikers can also be adapted to side-stroke "scutching machines.
Dated this 15th
.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in - Machines for Scutching Flax and the like. Fibrous
Materials.
I, RICHARD' HENRY HAYWARD of the Firm of Richard Hayward & Sons of the
Tail Mill Crewkerne in the County of Somerset, Sail Cloth Manufacturers and Flax,
Spinners, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner tho
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for scutching flax and other
like fibrous materials and consists of an improved spring striking board.or scutcher
and spring feed board arranged and combined in a scutching machine to be fed or
operated by hand or manual labour.
On a central shaft of a barrel " or "front feed "scutcher any suitable number of
radial arms are mounted and to the outer ends of each of these arms is pivotted or
otherwise secured a “striking " board or plate. This striking board or plate (ie., the
striker.") is mounted with a spring or springs combined therewith in any suitable
manner so that when this
striker "
("swingle or sword") strikes the flax
elasticity is given to the force of the blow according to the strong or weak character.
of the matorial under treatment and so saving the waste hitherto caused by the effect
of a dead blow of uniform strength on strong or weak flax alike.
Pris 11
33
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page_text: By a combination of this principle of springs on the "striker" with springs also on
tho feed board against the edge of which tho blow is delivered-to hold back this feed
board from the edges of the strikers-the operative feeding the machine is enabled to
apply a varying pressure of the flax to the blow of the striker at discretion by the
simple pressure of the knee or hand to the outside of this feed board which is
advantageously made in a curved instead of a straight form.
The curve of the feeding board may or may not be the same curve as the curve of
the cylindrical body of the machine and may or may not be taken from a different
centre to that on which the arms carrying the spring strikers are made to revolve.
These spring strikers" can also be adapted to side stroke "scutching machines
as will be easily understood.
CC
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to further describe same with reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. is a sectional side clevation of a front feed scutching machine made in
accordance with my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of same
machine on line, a Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow y-with the
working parts in elevation.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
*
A is the striking edge of the sword swingle" or strikerA which is made
of wood or any other suitable material and pivotted to the arms B B on a pin Pas
shown or in any other convenient manner.
To the back of the striker "A are connected the springs S for giving elasicity to
the blows of the striker-these springs S being attached to rods R which connect them
to the cross bars n on the radial arms B in which they are held by a nut N on a screw
thread on the end of each such rod R by which means also the tension of the spring S
The arms B are
can be regulated viz. by unscrewing or screwing up the nut N.
revolved in the direction of the arrows y by any suitable motive power.
is a cushion (made of wood covered with leather or india rubber or made of other
suitable material or fitted with a spring or springs) to act as a kind of buffer after the
blow of the striker has been given and the spring S draws the striker back into its
normal position.
Vis the edge of the loose feed board which latter is mounted on arms or
support pivotted at to the frame or body z of the machine.
A spring F serves to draw the feed board back to its normal position shewn in
dotted lines in Fig. 1 and retains it in such position normally.
Over the edge V the feed takes place and the movable feed board is regulated as
to its position by the knee of the oporative or by the handle f provided for this
purpose so as to give the amount of pressure required to be given to the material
under treatment and also the thickness and bulk of same can be regulated thereby
oxactly as required.
i, i is a cover over scutcher-This cover i (which may be of iron) causes a strong
strikers
current of air to be created (by the speed of the fan shaped
A) which
assists to keep the fibre straight as the strikers pass over it and at same time assists in
carrying away the dust and skimp &c. coming from the fibre.
Any suitable opening or exits for the skimp dust tow elcelera may be provided as
usual and as is well understood, such as the passage indicated by the arrow y.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is,
1. In a machine for scutching flax or the like fibrous material the combination
with a spring feed board such as a of spring strikers such as A so as to give elasticity
to the force of the blow delivered by the latter substantially in the manner and for

page_text: the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
2. In a machine for scutching flax. or the like fibrous materials I claim the
application of a spring or springs to the striker" ("swingle" or "sword") so as to
allow the latter to "give" according to the resistance offered by the fibrous material
being struck instead of delivering a dead blow as heretofore-substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
3. I claim the movable spring feed board such as e substantially as and for the
purpo es hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 16th day of December 1889
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.