Improved Method of and Means for treating Felt Hat Bodies with Stiffening or Proofing Solution.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Means for treating Felt Hat Bodies with
Stiffening or Proofing Solution.
I, THOMAS ROBINSON, of Gee Cross, near Hyde, Cheshire, Hat Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
-
In applying stiffening or proofing solution to felt hats previous to shaping it
is at present the custom to use a brush or scrubber dipped into the solution and
then rubbed over the lower parts of the hat whilst held flat upon a stone or table-
first upon the outside and then upon the inside, with some eight changes of position
in order that all the parts shall be equally treated. Or, it is the custom to dip the
hat in its folded or flattened cone form into the solution to the desired extent, and
then repeatedly squeeze out the superfluous liquor by a brush or 'bat.' Such modes
of treatment are tediously slow, and do not ensure of even treatment, or provide
for the quick drying of the hat.
Now my invention has for its object to provide means whereby the hats can be
evenly, expeditiously and simultaneously treated on both sides, and then rapidly
dried or relieved of all the superfluous solution, and to that end my invention
consists, first of means for dipping the hats into the proofing liquor in their
extended or conical form and applying the solution in even quantities and simul-
taneously on both sides, and secondly of means for drying them and causing the
solution to permeate the felt, with means for collecting the superfluous liquor. By
my invention about 4 times the quantity of hats can be treated and in a better
manner, than is possible in the same time by existing methods.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the letters and figures of reference marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation (partly in section) of the means I employ for mechani-
cally applying the solution, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the apparatus I employ
for removing the surplus liquor from the hat bodies after being dipped into the
solution. Fig. 3 is a part plan of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 illustrates a detail of Fig. 1
separately.
In accordance with my invention (A) is the trough or tank for containing the
proofing solution, sustained at a height suited to the operator's reach upon a
table (B). Over said tank I suspend the frame or holder (C) by rod (D) from
cord (E) connected to counter-balance weight (F), and running over pulleys (FI)
on the wooden structure (G).
Carried by said frame (C) is a tube (H) cranked or shaped in the manner shewn
more clearly in Fig. 4, and the shorter arm of such tube terminates, by preference,
in a funnel or hopper (1). This shorter arm is placed in the centre of the
frame (C), and lies directly beneath the rod (D), whilst its longer arm lies alongside
one of the vertical members of the frame and terminates at (J) (see Fig. 1).
Frame (C) and its tube and rods just about balance the weight (F), hence it

page_text: .
will be seen that by grasping the rod (D), or the handle (D¹) placed upon it, the
frame (C) may be readily lowered into the tank (A).
The hat body to be treated lies over the funnel (I), and rests upon the bottom
of the frame, and the purpose of tube (H) is, that as the frame is lowered and
the hat is lowered with it, the air which is inside the hat may escape, and so enable
the hat to sink into the liquor. Similarly, as the hat is raised out of the liquor the
tube allows the air to re-enter the hat body and so prevent suction, or permit of
the ready withdrawal of the hat-body.
In so lowering the hat body the operator may make a momentary pause to allow
the solution to soak through, and it will be observed that in so dipping the hat in
its extended form, both inside and outside are in contact with the solution, and
receive an equal coating or share of the liquor, and to the same height or depth,
which the operator can regulate to any desired extent, and cause all hats of one
size and quality to be uniformally treated.
After being so treated the hat body is immediately transferred to the machine
shewn in Fig. 2, and is placed upon a block or 'whirler' adapted to receive it, and
when in position the end of lever (K) is switched over the apex or 'tip' of the hat
body to retain it on the block when the latter is set whirling or rotating by the
shaft (L), receiving motion from driving shaft (M), through bevel friction
wheels (N), (N¹). When the hat is about to be placed on the block the operator
places his foot on treadle (0), and raising the bevel wheel (N¹) out of contact
with bevil wheel (N), stops the movement of the block, but with the hat on the
block, and the lever (K) switched into position, the operator removes his foot, and
thus allows the bevil (N¹) to fall, and receive the motion of the continuously
driven bevil wheel (N), and so rapidly rotate the hat body. The solution then
becomes dried on the hat by contact with the air, and any surplus liquor on the
exterior of the hat body, under centrifugal action, flies off, and impinging against
the sides of the tank (P) is collected and retained for further use. Simultane-
ously, any surplus liquor on the interior of the hat body is caused to penetrate or
'filter' through the hat material to the outer circumference, and thus thoroughly
permeate the same. To facilitate removal of the hat body, the hat block has one
or more slight vents. To readily remove the surplus liquor from the tank (P) I
prefer to provide it with a conical false bottom for draining the liquor into an
outlet pipe from whence it may run into a small portable and, by preference,
closed receptacle, as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 2.
.
By the time the operator has passed another hat body through the dipping
machine, the hat body on the whirler' is ready for removal, and thus a rapid and
continuous operation is obtained which enables about 4 times the quantity of hat
bodies to be treated than is possible in the same period with existing methods.
Moreover, the hats are more uniformally treated and the methylated spirits, of which
the solution is chiefly composed, are more economically used.
Whilst I prefer the arrangement of parts to be as herein described and shewn
on the accompanying drawing, may mount, operate and form the frame (C) in
any suitable way and I may combine the two machines in one, or on one table or
support. Similarly, I may arrange two or more hats to be dipped or dried at the
same time by means of two or more frames or blocks (with suitable partitions if
desired between each) in one tank. I may also provide means for limiting the
downward movement of the frame (C) to set depths by suitable stops on rod (D) or
cord (E) or means for maintaining the liquor at a constant level. I may also
arrange for the frame to be stationary, and the tank (A) to be raised, and I may
fix the pipe (H) in the tank with the funnel end just above the liquor and directly
beneath the descending hat.
Similarly, I may utilise the frame (C), or a block, for both dipping and whirling
the hat bodies, but I prefer the two functions to be separately performed. Lastly,
I may counter-balance the frame (C) in any convenient way, and may vary, or
dispense with the framing (G), and substitute other means for carrying the cords
or pulleys, or counter-balancing the frame (C).

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-
1. In a process for applying stiffening or proofing solution or the like to hat
bodies, and then removing the surplus liquor, first dipping the hat in stiffening
or proofing liquor, and then transferring the hat to a whirler,' as set forth.
2. In means for applying stiffening or proofing solution to felt hat bodies, and
afterwards removing the surplus liquor, the use of a dipping trough, balanced
dipping frame and air vent, in combination with a 'whirler' and collecting tank,
mounted and operating, as set forth.
3. A dipping trough containing stiffening or proofing solution, in combination
with a dipping frame or holder and vent pipe, and said frame sustained by balance-
weight, as and for the purposes set forth.
6
4. A whirler' or revolving hat block, mounted upon a vertical shaft, and driven
by suitable gearing, by preference, under control of a foot-lever, and separate, or
in combination with a tank and switch lever, as set forth.
5. The air vent pipe (H), or its equivalent, as and for the purposes set forth.
THOMAS ROBINSON,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents, 55, Market Street, Manchester.
THOMAS ROBINSON,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents, 55, Market Street, Manchester.