Improvements in and Machinery for the Brushing of Felt Hat Bodies during the Felting or Planking Process
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 2nd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Machinery for the Brushing of Felt Hat
Bodies during the Felting or Planking Process.
We, JOSEPH OLDHAM and ORLANDO OLDHAM, both of Denton, Lancaster.
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows: -
We mount a pair of wooden or metal feed rollers covered with india-rubber or
other suitable yielding material in front of a pair of brush rollers. Each of these
sets of rollers is geared or driven so as to revolve in opposite directions. By passing
the hat bodies between the feed rollers, they are thereby fed to the contrary
revolving brush rollers and in passing between the same are brushed in a more
perfect manner than is possible with hand brushes whilst an important feature of
our invention is that both sides of such hat bodies are by this improved mechanism
brushed simultaneously.
Dated this 18th day of September 1890.
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office, 55, Market Street, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Machinery for the Brushing of Felt Hat
Bodies during the Felting or Planking Process.
We, JOSEPH OLDHAM and ORLANDO OLDHAM, both of Denton, Lancaster,
Engineers, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved method of and arrangement of brushing
machine for brushing felt hat bodies during the felting or planking operation and
after shaving and whereby both sides of the hat bodies in passing through the
machine are brushed simultaneously and in a more perfect manner than is possible
by hand brushing.
On the annexed drawings Fig. 1 represents a front view Fig. 2 a plan and
Fig. 3 an end view of our improved brushing machine. Fig. 4 is a side sectional
view of Fig. 1 on line a-b.
In a framework a constructed of cast iron, wood or other suitable material and
suitably braced together we mount a pair of wooden or metal feed rollers b. b.
(covered with india-rubber or other suitable yielding material). These feed
rollers b. b. are situated in front of a pair of brush rollers c. c. Each of these sets
of rollers is driven so as to revolve in opposite directions.
In the drawing we shew endless belts d and d¹ for driving the brush roller direct
from the driving shaft e whilst one of the feed rollers is driven from an intermediate
pulley mounted on the stud e¹ by a single belt and the other revolves in the contrary
direction by frictional contact.
It will be obvious however that spur gearing might be substituted for the
driving belts.
g is a wooden tank to receive the kemps and dirt falling from the hat bodies
and supporting in front a table or platform h and at the back a similar table h¹.
The bearings of the top brush axle at either end are provided with adjustable
suspension screws i passing through the caps; (see separate view Fig. 5) in order
to adjust the brushes with regard to each other and as they wear away from time
to time. We prefer that these brushes shall be set to run about one eighth of an

page_text: inch into one another and thereby tend to clean and keep the brush surfaces clear
of all impediment.
The action of this improved brushing machine is as follows:-By the operative
passing the hat bodies which can be done two or more at a time-side by side-
between the feed rollers t. b. they are thereby fed to the continuously revolving
brush rollers. c. (which are driven at an accelerated speed over that of the feed
rollers) and in passing between such brushing rollers the said hat bodies become
effectually brushed on both sides simultaneously and in a manner which is practically
improved by hand brushing. The hat bodies are received upon emerging from the
brushing rollers by the attendant at the rear of the machine and by him are placed
upon the table or otherwise disposed of or may be received upon a travelling
creeper.
In some cases and when desiring to withdraw the dirt during the brushing process
we apply a fan or exhauster to act upon and remove the dirt or debris thrown off
by the rapidly revolving brush rollers.
In some cases instead of a single set we employ a combination of similar brushing
rollers between which the hat bodies may be passed successively.
If it be desired to brush the hat bodies on one side only we modify our improved
machine and employ a single brush roller.
It will be obvious that instead of parallel brushes as illustrated that two conical
brushes set in reverse directions might be substituted.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The improved method and arrangement of mechanism for brushing both sides
of felt hat bodies simultaneously during the felting or planking process or after
shaving substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination and arrangement of one or more pairs of brushing rollers
with a set of feeding rollers all mounted and operating substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
3. The employment of a pair of parallel or conical brush rollers driven in con-
trary directions and at an accelerated speed over a pair of india-rubber covered or
other suitable feeding rollers so adapted. as to feed and support the hat bodies
whilst being brushed simultaneously on both sides as hereinbefore described and
illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
4. In a felt hat brushing machine the employment of brushing rollers fitted with
adjustable suspended bearings to the top roller substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
5. In a felt hat brushing machine the employment of a single brush roller in
combination with a pair of feeding rollers for brushing the hat body on one side
only substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 29th day of November 1890.
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office, 55, Market Street, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.