Improvements in or relating to Felt Hat Forming Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1396-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Felt Hat Forming Machines.
We, JOHN BRODIE MACQUEEN of Bredbury, Cheshire, Hat Manufacturer, and
ROBERT ROBINSON of Gee Cross, in the same county, Hat Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
In the manufacture of hard felt hats it is necessary to make the brim of a
sufficient strength or thickness to enable it to retain its shape under frequent
handling and wear, and preserve the shape of the crown part.
Hitherto in making the brims of felt hats of a sufficient thickness as aforesaid, it
has necessitated, or been a consequential contingency, that the crown part be of the
same thickness, whereas it is not necessary or desirable that such should be the
case, but rather that the crown be made thiuner than the brim since it is a matter
of first moment that the hat be made as light as possible.
Now, therefore, the object of our invention is to provide means for producing a
felt hat (hard or soft) with a brim and crown of different thicknesses, or a brim of
the desired thickness aforesaid, and a crown of a reduced thickness, and in carrying
former," and
out our invention we fit within the usual perforated hollow cone or
concentrically there with in its upper part, an inner or internal perforated cone,
about one third or quarter less in height (according to the proportionate depth of
hat crown) than the said outer or ordinary cone, and fixed therein at a slight
distance from the inner face thereof by suitable means.
By so fixing the inner cone the air for attracting the fur or wool has to be
exhausted through a double wall in the upper part of the "former," and through a
single wall only in the lower part of the "former," hence, on a hat being formed, it
will be apparent that owing to the double wall through which the air has to
be exhausted in attracting the fur or wool on to the upper and outer surface of the
"former" for forming the crown part of the hat, the exhausting effect, or indraught
will be considerably minimised or retarded, and consequently less fur or wool will
be attracted to the "former" at that point than at the lower part of the cone
(corresponding to the brim portion of the hat), where the inner cone does not
extend, and where the exhausting of the air is fully exercised, and in such manner
a hat body, or "form" is made with the brim portion of one thickness, and crown
portion of a reduced thickness.
And in order that our said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and we
will now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and
letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional elevation (about th full size) and Fig. 2 a
sectional plan (on line a-b) of a felt hat "former" with our improvements applied
thereto; Fig. 1 shewing the usual revolving table and exhaust chamber in
dotted lines.
Fig. 3 shews the "former" on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 4 shews the inner cone separately.
Fig. 5 shews a transverse section (on reduced scale) of the "form," or hat, made
by our improved apparatus.
Fig. 6 shews a section (on reduced scale) of the finished hat, with the brim
and crown part of the aforesaid different thicknesses.

page_text: In accordance with our invention, we take a hollow perforated, by preference,
sheet metal cone (A), and fit it inside, and in the upper part of, the usual cone
or "former" (B), the depth, height or position of such cone (A), causing its lower
edge or base to terminate at, or about a third or quarter of the depth of the
cone (B), from the revolving table, and thus leave the lower part of the "former"
(corresponding to the brim part of a hat) uncovered, as illustrated. The cone (A)
is concentrically mounted within the cone (B), and held clear of the inner face of
the cone (B) (so producing a small air space (D)) by narrow strips (C), or their
equivalent.
In operation, as aforesaid, the air drawn through the holes in the lower part of
the "former," is in excess of the air drawn through the upper part, hence
the "form" or hat made thereon (see Fig. 5) is thicker at (E), than at (F), and
thus we get the desired strength or thickness of brim with a very light crown (H)
as shewn in Fig. 6.
For giving the "tip" of the hat body an extremely thin section the air space (D)
may be slightly increased at that point as shewn in Fig. 3.
The perforations in each cone are, by preference, of the same size and spacing,
but if desired they may vary, to increase or diminish the force of air. If desired
the open end of the space (D) may be closed, or reduced in area, but we prefer it
open as it gives a graduated section to the hat.
The essential feature of our invention being the retarding of the indraught of air
in such part of the "former" which requires to give a thin section of felt, it will be
apparent that modifications of our invention may consist of a third cone inside
cone (A) for extremely light crowns, or for "formers" with an extra strong
exhaust; or of an ordinary cone (B) with the holes or perforations graduated in
size (the holes in the upper part of the cone being smaller than those in the lower
part); or the retarding of the air may be effected by a horizontal perforated plate
or partition (I) (shewn dotted in Fig. 3) with means for covering, or uncovering
the perforations, and controlling the draught.
In lieu of a perforated sheet metal cone (A), wire gauze or other similar
and suitable reticulated material may be used. If desired the inner cone may be
arranged stationary, and independent of the outer cone, and supported from the bed
or frame of the machine, or may be supported from the revolving table.
By reducing the thickness and weight of the crown it will be observed that we
thereby effect a great saving of fur, or wool.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1st. The improved method of forming felt hats with a brim and crown of
different thicknesses, as set forth.
2nd. In felt hat forming machines, the use of a hollow perforated cone (A), or
its equivalent, within the usual hollow cone or "former" (B), as and for the purposes
set forth.
3rd. The modifications of our improvements in felt hat forming machines,
as set forth.
Dated this 19th day of March 1896.
JOHN BRODIE MACQUEEN,
ROBERT ROBINSON,
By John G. Wilson & Co., R.P.A..,
55 Market Street, Manchester, Agents.