CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS PROAL
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bayley, of Stockport, in the County of
Chester, and John Taylor, of Denton, in the County of Lancaster, for
the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bayley and
John Taylor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 5th December 1866.
We, THOMAS BAYLEY, of Stockport, in the County of Chester, and JOHN
TAYLOR, of Denton, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
HATS OR COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to
be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to the manufacture of that description of hats or other
coverings of the head which are made of felt, and to that part or process of
manufacture termed hardening "hat bodies."
The improvements consist in the combination of a revolving solid conical
block with an oscillating cap or cover, between the surfaces of which (the
exterior of the block and the interior of the cover) the felt is beaten and
hardened. The conical block is mounted on a revolving axis, and upon this
block the conical felt body (as it comes from the carding engine) is placed
and is covered with a loose cover of linen or other fabric, the whole being
surrounded by the oscillating cover which does not revolve, the apex or
central axis of which is over that of the conical block, and to the apex of this

page_text: cover is attached a rod which may be at will connected with or disconnected
from a reciprocating motion effected by crank or ordinary means so as to
traverse the cover to strike the felt and block at each side in any one line
taken diametrically through its axis. During this operation the conical block
and felt rotates, and thus the felt becomes hardened all round, and by the
peculiar action and combination a thin edge is made at the bottom of the
felt cone which is of advantage for the future formation of the brim, and
which is not effected by other machinery. When the cover is removed from
the felt and block it is placed over a jet of steam to be warmed, which
steaming assists in hardening the felt.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Bayley and John Taylor in the Great Seal Patent
"Office on the 4th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
BAILEY, of Stockport, in the County of Chester, and JOHN TAYLOR, of Denton,
in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight 'hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Thomas Bailey and John Taylor, Her special license that us, the said Thomas
Bailey and John Taylor, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as. we, the said Thomas Bailey and John Taylor,, our executors, adminis-
trators, 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 Inven-
tion for CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS OR OTHER
COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE WITH," upon the
condition (amongst others), that we, the said Thomas Bailey and John Taylor,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
one of our or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Taylor, 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
statement; and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
Our. Invention relates to the manufacture of that description of hats or other
coverings of the head which are made of felt, and to that part or process of
such manufacture termed "hardening" hat bodies.
The improvements consist in the combination of a revolving solid conical
block with an oscillating cap or cover, between the surfaces of which (the
exterior of the block, and the interior of the cover) the felt is beaten and
hardened. The conical block is mounted on a revolving axis, and upon this
block the conical felt body (as it comes from the carding engine) is placed.
and is covered with a loose, cover of linen or other fabric, the whole being
surmounted and covered by the oscillating cover, which may not revolve, the
apex or central axis. of which is over that of the conical block, and to the apex
of this cover is attached a rod which may be at will connected with or discon-
nected from a reciprocating motion effected by crank or ordinary means so as
to cause the cover to strike or be forced against the felt and block at each
side in any one line taken diametrically through its axis in such a manner as
to effect a rubbing or frictional pressure on the felt.
: :
:. In order that the Invention may be better understood, and explained in
detail, we have hereunto, attached a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of
about three inches to the foot.
Fig. 1. represents a side elevation of the apparatus employed for "hardening"
bat bodies shewn partly in section in order more fully to illustrate the
moveable or vibratory bearings, and Fig. 2 represents a back elevational view
of the same..
+
In Figs. 1 and 2, a, a, is a conical block mounted on the vertical
axis b, which is supported by means of the foot rail c secured to the frame d;
the conical block a is driven by means of the worm wheel e secured to
the vertical shaft, and the worm keyed on the driving shaft g from
whenco it receives a regular revolving motion. The conical block a is, pro-
vided with a loose cover h, between the inner surface of which and the outer
surface of the cone the conical felt body (as it comes from the carding engine)
is placed, the said felt body being also loosely covered with linen or other
suitable fabric, the whole being surmounted and covered by the reciprocating
cover h which is here made to revolve; this cover is provided with a rod i
projecting upwards from its apex or central axis, which is directly over that of
the conical block; this rod is readily connected by means of the link k with

page_text: the vertical rod or lever 1; the lower extremity of this rod or lever forms also
the fulcra of the two levers m, m, the upper ends of which above their fulcra
being connected by means of the cross pin n with the vertical rod or lever l.
The lower extremities of these levers below their fulcra are provided with two
clips or slides which embrace sliding blocks placed eccentrically on the
driving shaft g, thus when the machine is in motion and the connecting link k
is coupled up with the projecting rod i of the cone cover a lateral reciprocating
motion is transmitted from the vertical rod or lever / through the medium of
the link k to the cover h, thereby causing such cover to strike the felt and to
impart an intermittent, frictional, or rubbing pressure to the outer surface of
the felt. During this operation the conical block and felt rotates, and thus
the felt becomes hardened all round, and by the peculiar action and com-
bination a thin edge is made at the bottom of the felt cone which is of
advantage for future formation of the brims, and which is not effected by
other machinery. When the cover is removed from the felt and block it is
placed over a jet of steam to be warmed, which steaming assists in hardening
the felt.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to be distinctly
understood that we claim, the combination and use of a revolving conical
block with a cap or cover having a lateral reciprocating or oscillating motion
between which the soft felt is placed, and by which the process of hardening
is effected by the peculiar frictional pressure which is attained by the
arrangement and construction of apparatus for effecting the various motions,
which arrangement of apparatus we also claim as herein-before described,
set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Taylor, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES,
Office for Patents,
Manchester.
JOHN TAYLOR. (L.s.)