IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND PROCESSES FOR SCUTCHING, DRESSING, CLEANING, TREATING, AND PREPARING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBROUS MATERIALS. AND THE TOW OF THE SAME
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Brasier, of New Cross, in the County of
Surrey, and John Eliot Hodgkin, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND
PROCESSES FOR SCUTCHING, DRESSING, CLEANING, TREATING, AND PREPARING
FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBROUS MATERIALS. AND THE TOW OF
THE SAME."
Sealed the 2nd October 1868, and dated the 8th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Brasier and
John Eliot Hodgkin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 8th April 1868.
We, EDWARD BRASIER, of New Cross, in the County of Surrey;
Engineer, and JOHN ELIOT HODGKIN, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND PROCESSES FOR SCUTCHING, DRESSING,
CLEANING, TREATING, AND PREPARING FLAX, HEMP,
AND
OTHER VEGETABLE
FIBROUS MATERIALS, AND THE Tow OF THE SAME," to be as follows:-
Our Invention has for its object certain improvements in machinery
and processes for scutching, dressing, cleaning, treating, and preparing
Vid

page_text: flax, hemp, and other vegetable fibrous materials, and the tow of the
same, and consists, firstly, in an improved arrangement of mechanical
parts for imparting a reciprocating rolling movement more progressive
than retrogressive to rollers intended for crushing and breaking the
woody portion known as the "boon" or "shive" of flax, hemp, and
other similar fibrous materials. In this arrangement a reciprocating
movement is imparted by means of an eccentric or crank to a lever or
beam rocking upon an axis upon which are two ratchet wheels side by
side, the teeth of which point in opposite directions. The rocking lever
or beam has two pawls, catches, or drivers mounted upon it (by
preference one on either side of the centre of the axis), one of these
pawls taking into the teeth of one of the ratchet wheels, and the other
pawl into the teeth of the other ratchet wheel; the ratchet wheels are
consequently caused to vibrate, and by arranging a stop or surface to
act upon one of the pawls to lift it out of the teeth of the rachet wheel,
and so prevent it from driving the wheel during a portion of the
vibration of the lever, more movement will be given to the ratchet wheels
in one direction than in the other, and they will consequently have a
revolving motion in one direction in addition to their reciprocating
movement. The motion as above described can be applied either
directly to the roller or rollers of a machine for the purpose above
described, or the movement may be transmitted to such roller or rollers.
The amount of reciprocating movement can be regulated by the throw
of the crank or eccentric or by the distance of the connecting rod from
the centre of the vibrating lever, and the amount of progressive
movement can be regulated by the form or position of the surface which
acts upon the pawl to lift it out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel, as
above described.
The second part of our Invention relates to improvements in a machine
for rolling, cleansing, scutching, and otherwise treating vegetable fibrous
materials, for which Letters Patent were granted to one of us, the said
Edward Brasier, dated the 3rd day of August 1864, No. 1926. In this
machine the fibrous material to be operated upon is taken between a
central roller, and a series of surrounding rollers caused to press upon
the surface of the central roller, and the whole of such central and sur-
rounding rollers are caused to revolve first in one direction and then in
the opposite direction, the progressive rotation imparted to them being
in excess of the retrogressive rotation, and this movement of the rollers

page_text: is effected as described in the Specification of the Patent above referred
to by means of sectors of toothed wheels.
Now one of our present improvements consists in so arranging the
machine described in the Specification of the Patent above referred to
that the progressive and retrogressive movement of the rollers is
effected by mechanism similar to that described in the first part of
our present improvements.
The third part of our Invention relates to certain improvements in
the forms of the fluted rollers to be employed for "breaking" or rolling
flax or hemp in the machine described in the Specification of the Patent
before referred to. When acting upon fibrous plants, such as flax
straw, and especially hemp, by means of a central roller partially-sur-
rounded by fluted rollers caused to press upon it, the whole series having
a progressive and retrogressive motion, we find that the woody portions
become flattened and partially removed as the material travels through
the machine, and in order to cause each of the surrounding rollers which
acts successively upon the material to have its full effect, we form the
flutes of each successive roller fuller or thicker, and the recesses between
the flutes somewhat deeper than those of the preceding roller,.
so that the flutes and recesses of each succeeding roller when brought
into proximity with the recesses and flutes of the central roller, will
leave a smaller space for the material than the preceding roller, thereby
compensating for the diminished bulk of the material in its passage
through the machine.
The fourth part of our Invention relates to the combination of a
scutching wheel, by preference similar to that known as the "Irish
stock," with a machine arranged to work with central and surrounding
rollers in the manner described in the Specification of the Patent above
referred to, this arrangement and combination being especially adapted
for a combined portable machine for "breaking," rolling, and scutching
fibrous plants. The scutching wheel is by preference mounted upon the
driving axis of the machine, and serves as a fly wheel to the machine.
By this arrangement the same machine performs both operations of
breaking the "boon" or "shive," and scutching the fibrous materials,
and these operations can go on either separately or simultaneously.
The fifth part of our Invention consists in an improved process or
method of preparing flax straw for the "breaking" or scutching processes.
In order to render the "shive" or "boon" more easy of separation

page_text: from the fibre of flax straw we find it desirable to dry the flax straw
more thoroughly before the "breaking" and "scutching" operation
than has hitherto been practised, and this we accomplish by exposing
the flax straw in a chamber or apparatus heated to a "dry heat" by hot
air, steam; or other suitable means, and in which currents of air may.
be set in motion by forcing or exhausting apparatus or other suitable
means; the flax may either be placed on shelves or suspended in the
chambers, or it may be carried through the apparatus continuously upon
endless sheets of cloth, wire gauze, or other material. These endless
sheets may be arranged one below another, each alternate sheet being
arranged to travel in the opposite direction to that above it, and to
project beyond it at one end so that the flax straw placed upon the
uppermost endless sheet may be delivered from one sheet to another and
carried backwards and forwards until it falls upon the lowest endless
sheet, when it is delivered from the apparatus. After the flax straw has
been deprived of its moisture by the means above described, it is
submitted to the action of the "beater" and "scutcher" so as to
remove the "shive." or boon" from the straw, which operation will
be found to be more easily effected than before the flax was dried.
.After the fibre is "scutched" or cleaned we find it desirable to submit
the fibre to the action of a damp atmosphere for a sufficient time to
enable it to reabsorb the moisture of which it has been deprived in the
above-described process.
The sixth part of our present Invention consists in an improved
process or means for treating, preparing, and cleansing the tow produced
in the above-described processes of "breaking" and "scutching,"
whether such tow has been produced in the working of the "breaking "
and scutching machinery above described, or by machinery of a
different construction. In treating such tow for the purpose of
separating the fibrous from the woody portions we have found that when
the tow is fed into the cleaning or scutching machine in a confused mass
as hitherto practiced the tow is not retained a sufficient length of time
under operation in the machine, and we have found it desirable to
straighten the tow and form it into coarse strands or yarns preparatory
to feeding it into beating or scutching machinery in place of feeding it
into such machinery in a confused mass as hitherto practised.
In carrying out this part of our Invention we first submit the tow to
the action of heckle teeth suitably arranged on a drum or otherwise, or

page_text: in a gill or heckle drawing frame. The tow may, if preferred, be heckled
by hand, or it may be submitted to a carding process by which the tow
is straightened, and we afterwards twist it loosely into coarse strands or
yarns; we then submit the strands or yarns of tow formed as above
described to the action of rolling, beating, and scutching instruments
arranged to act upon such yarns as they are passed continuously through
the machine to remove the impurities from them and reduce them to
tow.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent,
filed by the said Edward Brasier and John Eliot Hodgkin in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME we, EDWARD
BRASIER, of New Cross, in the County of Surrey, and JOHN ELIOT
HODGKIN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in
the thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said Edward Brasier and John
Eliot Hodgkin, Her special licence that we, the said Edward Brasier, and
John Eliot Hodgkin, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Edward Brasier and John Eliot Hodgkin, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 AND PROCESSES FOR SCUTCHING, DRESSING. CLEANING,
TREATING, AND PREPARING FLAX,
FLAX, HEMP,
HEMP, AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBROUS
MATERIALS, AND THE TOW OF THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Edward Brasier and John Eliot Hodgkin, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us
or them, should particularly 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

page_text: six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Eliot Hodgkin, on behalf
of myself and the said Edward Brasier, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment thereof, that is to say:-
Our Invention has for its object certain improvements in machinery
and processes for scutching, dressing, cleaning, treating, and preparing
flax, hemp, and other vegetable fibrous materials, and the tow of the
same, and consists, firstly, in an improved arrangement of mechanical
parts for imparting a reciprocating rolling movement more progressive
than retrogressive to rollers intended for crushing and breaking the
woody portion known as the "boon "shive" of flax, hemp, and
other similar fibrous materials.
" or
And at Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed is shown
so much of a machine for the above-described purpose arranged according
At
to this part of our Invention as will enable us to describe the same.
Figures 3 and 4 a similar arrangement is shewn, the rocking lever m³
in this arrangement being in the "bell-crank" form, but the other parts
being similar to those shown in Figures 1 and 2 are marked with similar
letters of reference.
.
In this arrangement m is an eccentric upon the axis m', and by the
rotation of the axis m' and eccentric m a reciprocating movement is
imparted by means of a connecting rod m³ to a lever or beam m³ rock-
ing upon an axis a'. Upon the axis a' are two ratchet wheels m', m³
side by side, the teeth of which point in opposite directions. The rock-
ing lever or beam m³ has two pawls, catches, or drivers m, m³,
mounted upon it (by preference one on either side of the centre of the
axis a¹), one of these pawls taking into the teeth of one of the ratchet
wheels m' and the other pawl taking into the teeth of the other ratchet
wheel ms; the ratchet wheels are consequently caused to vibrate, and by
"arranging a stop or surface m³ to act upon one of the pawls m' to lift
it out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel m³ and so prevent it from
driving the wheel m³ during a portion of the vibration of the lever m³
more movement will be given to the ratchet wheels m', m³, in one
direction than in the other, and they will consequently have a revolving
motion in one direction in addition to their reciprocating movement

page_text: The motion as above described can be applied either directly to the
roller or rollers of a machine for the purpose above described, or the
movement may be transmitted to such roller or rollers. The amount of
reciprocating movement can be regulated by the throw of the crank or
eccentric m, or by the distance of the connecting rod m² fromo the centre
of the vibrating lever m³, the amount of the progressive movement can
be regulated by the form or position of the surface m³ which acts upon
the pawl m' to lift it out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel m³, as above
described.
The second part of our Invention relates to improvements in a
machine for which Letters Patent were granted to one of us, the said
Edward Brasier, dated the 3rd day of August 1864, No. 1926, the said
Invention being for "Improvements in Machinery for Breaking,
Scutching, Softening, Washing, Discharging, and Separating Fibrous
Materials, part of such Machinery being applicable for Glazing and
Calendering Woven Fabrics."
At Figure 5 of the Drawings hereunto annexed is shown so much of a
machine constructed according to the Invention above referred to as
will enable us to explain the application of our present improvements
thereto; and at Figure 6 is shewn a similar machine marked with
similar letters of reference, the rocking lever m³ being shown in
this view in the "bell-crank ".form. I is the framing of the machine...
In this machine the fibrous material to be operated upon is taken :
between a central roller a and a series of surrounding rollers A, A,
caused to press upon the surface of the central roller a, and the whole
of such central and surrounding rollers are caused to revolve first in,
one direction and then in the opposite direction, the progressive:
rotation imparted to them being in excess of the retrogressive rotation,
and this movement of the rollers is effected as described in the,
Specification of the Patent above referred to by means of sectors of ⚫
toothed wheels.
Now one of our present improvements consists in so arranging the
machine described in the Specification of the Patent above referred to
that the progressive and retrogressive movement of the rollers is effected
by mechanism similar to that described in the first part of our present
improvements in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. Those parts in
Figures 5 and 6 by which movement is given to the rollers a and A, A,

page_text: being marked with similar letters of reference to those in Figures 1, 2,
3, and 4, it is unnecessary to repeat the description thereof.
The third part of our Invention relates to certain improvements in
the forms of the fluted rollers to be employed for "breaking" or rolling
flax or hemp in the machine described in the Specification of the Patent
before referred to. When acting upon fibrous plants such as flax straw,
and especially hemp, by means of a central roller partially surrounded
by fluted rollers caused to press upon it, the whole series having a pro-
gressive and retrogressive motion, we find that the woody portions become
flattened and partially removed as the material travels through the
machine, and in order to cause each of the surrounding rollers which
acts successively upon the material to have its full effect, we form the
flutes of each successive roller fuller or thicker and the recesses
between the flutes somewhat deeper than those of the preceding roller,
so that the flutes and recesses of each succeeding roller when brought
into proximity with the recesses and flutes of the central roller will
leave a smaller space for the material than the preceding
roller, thereby compensating for the diminished bulk of the material
in its passage through the machine.
Figure 7 of the Drawings hereunto annexed shews as much of a side
view, and Figure 8 so much of an end view, of a machine constructed
according to the Invention before referred to as will enable us to
describe the fourth part of our Invention, which relates to the com-
bination of a scutching wheel n, by preference similar to that known
as the "Irish stock," with a machine arranged to work with central
and. surrounding rollers a and A, A, in the manner described in the
Specification of the Patent above referred to, this arrangement and
combination being especially adapted for a combined portable machine
for breaking," rolling, and scutching fibrous plants. I is the framing
of the machine, and those parts which are similar to those previously
described are marked with similar letters of reference. The scutching
wheel n is by preference mounted upon the driving axis a of the
machine and serves as a fly wheel to the machine. The fibrous material
after being subjected to the action of the breaking rollers a and A
is held by an attendant over the fixed support n' to be acted upon by
scutching wheel n, and by this arrangement the same machine performs
both operations of breaking the "boon" or "shive" and scutching the

page_text: fibrous materials, and these operations can go on either separately
or simultaneously.
وو
The fifth part of our Invention consists in an improved process or
method of preparing flax straw for the "breaking" or scutching
processes. In order to render the "shive" or boon more easy of
separation from the fibre of flax straw, we find it desirable to dry the
flax straw more thoroughly before the "breaking" and "scutching'
operation than has hitherto been practised, and this we accomplish by
exposing the flax straw in a chamber or apparatus heated to a "dry
heat" by hot air, steam, or other suitable means, and in which currents
of air may be set in motion by forcing or exhausting apparatus or
other suitable means; the flax may either be placed on shelves or sus-
pended in the chambers, or it may be carried through the apparatus con
tinuously upon endless sheets of cloth, wire gauze, or other material:
These endless sheets may be arranged one below another, each alternate
sheet being arranged to travel in the opposite direction to that above
it and to project beyond it at one end so that the flax straw placed upon
the uppermost endless sheet may be delivered from one sheet to another
and carried backwards and forwards until it falls upon the lowest end-
less sheet, when it is delivered from the apparatus. After the flax
straw has been deprived of its moisture by the means above described
it is submitted to the action of the "breaker" and "scutcher" so as to
remove the "shive" or "boon" from the straw, which operation will
be found to be more easily effected than before the flax was dried.
After the fibre is scutched or cleaned we find it desirable to submit the
fibre to the action of a damp atmosphere for a sufficient time to enable
it to reabsorb the moisture of which it has been deprived in the above
described process.
66
The sixth part of our present Invention consists in an improved pro-
cess or means for treating, preparing, and cleansing the tow
produced in the above described processes of "breaking" and
scutching," whether such tow has been produced in the working of
the breaking and scutching machinery above described or by
machinery of a different construction. In treating such tow for the
purpose of separating the fibrous from the woody portions, we have
found that when the tow is fed into the cleaning or scutching machine
in a confused mass as hitherto practised the tow is not
retained a sufficient length of time under operation in the machine, and

page_text: we have found it desirable to straighten the two and form it into coarse
strands or yarns preparatory to feeding it into beating or scutching
machinery in place of feeding it into such machinery in a confused mass
as hitherto practised.
In carrying out this part of our Invention we first submit the tow
to the action of heckle teeth suitably arranged on a drum or otherwise,
or in a gill or heckle drawing frame. The tow may, if preferred, be
heckled by hand or it may be submitted to a carding process, by which
the tow is straightened, and we afterwards twist it loosely into coarse
strands or yarns. We then submit the strands or yarns of tow formed
as above described to the action of rolling, beating, and scutching instru-
ments arranged to act upon such yarns as they are passed continuously
through the machine to remove the impurities from them and reduce
them to tow.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the best
means we are acquainted with for carrying the same into practice,
we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the
precise details herein shown and described, which may be greatly varied
without departing from the nature of the various parts of our Invention;
but what we claim is,-
Firstly. The arrangement and combination of the rocking lever m³,
catch wheels m', m³, drivers or catches m", m", and surface m³, for actuating
rollers for operating upon fibrous materials, substantially as herein shewn
and described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Secondly. We claim actuating the rollers in machines constructed
according to the Invention herein-before referred to by means of drivers
or catches and catch wheels arranged to work substantially as and for
the purpose herein described in reference to Figures 5 and 6.
Thirdly. We claim forming the successive rollers in machines
constructed according to the Invention herein-before referred to with
thicker or deeper flutes, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
Fourthly. We claim the combination of a scutching wheel with a
rolling machine constructed according to the Invention herein-before
referred to, substantially as herein shewn and described in reference to
to Figures 7 and 8,

page_text: Fifthly. We claim the combined processes of thoroughly drying flax
straw by artificial means, afterwards scutching it, and then submitting
it to a damp atmosphere, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
Sixthly. We claim the combined processes of straightening tow by
means of heckle teeth, and afterwards twisting it into ropes and
scutching it by machinery, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Eliot Hodgkin, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
JOHN ELIOT HODGKIN. (L.S.)