Improvements in Dyeing and Veneering Felt Hat Bodies and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 10th Aug., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dyeing and Veneering Felt Hat Bodies and in
Apparatus therefor.
I ROBERT LEES HILTON of 147 Back Lane Hyde in the County of Chester Boiler
Coverer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
What is known as Veneering" felt hat bodies is the coating or plating of the
woollen felt body with a covering or face of fur or fur waste, and one of the principal
objects of my invention is to dye and veneer the felt hat bodies at the same time and
by one operation, but the two operations can be performed separately if preferred.
If the two operations are to be performed at once I mix the fur or fur waste with
the hot dye liquor, but if the " veneering" is to be performed separately I mix the
fur waste with hot water merely.
In either case it forms a kind of emulsion.
The apparatus consists of a large open cistern or trough to contain the heated dye
liquor or hot water as the case may be.
In this cistern is placed a barrel mounted upon a horizontal axle supported by
standards placed outside the cistern.
The barrel is divided into compartments in which the felt hat bodies to be treated
are to be placed and in which I also place a number of balls of wood or other suitable
material either plain or covered with india rubber or other substance.
On the outer periphery of the barrel are a number of buckets similar to those of a
water wheel which as the barrel revolves scoop up the hot liquor and veneering
material out of the cistern or trough and pour the same through holes near the bottom
of the buckets into the compartments (containing the felt bodies and the balls) whence
it flows out through a number of holes in the sides of the barrel back again into the
cistern or trough and thus a constant circulation is kept up.
I do not wish to bind myself to use a circular revolving motion but if preferred I
can impart to the above named barrel an excentric motion by. placing the axle of the
machine as much out of the centre of the barrel as may be required.

page_text: If the operation to be performed is dyeing merely the balls can be dispensed with,
and if the operation is "veneering" only, the dye liquor is left out and only hot water
employed.
The object attained by the use of the balls is to cause the "veneering" material to
adhere to the "proof" in the hat bodies by means of the percussion and friction
caused by their rolling about amongst the hat bodies by the revolution of the barrel.
The water or dye liquor in the cistern is to be kept heated by means of steam or
otherwise.
After the felt hat bodies have been "veneered
I then pass them through a pair of
calender rollers heated by steam or other suitable means which consolidates and fastens
the "veneering" material and "proof" together so as to make the "veneering" per-
manent and improve the surface thereof.
Dated this 10th day of Antahn- 1007
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dyeing and "Veneering" Felt Hat Bodies and in
Apparatus therefor.
I ROBERT LEES HILTON of 147 Back Lane Hyde in the County of Chester Boiler
Coverer 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:
"
What is known as "Veneering" felt hat bodies is the coating or plaiting of the
woollen felt body with a covering or face of fur, or fur waste, and one of the principal
objects of my invention is to dye and " veneer the felt hat bodies at the same
time and by one operation, but the two operations can be performed separately if
preferred.
If the two operations are to be performed at once I mix the fur, or fur waste, with
the hot dye liquor, but if the "veneering" is to be performed separately I mix the
fur waste with hot water merely. In either case it forms a kind of emulsion.
The apparatus which I propose to employ will be readily understood on reference to
the two annexed sheets of drawings and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. (Sheet 1.) is a side elevation shown partly in section and Fig. 2 (Sheet 2)
is a front elevation of the same.
The apparatus consists of a large open cistern or trough a to contain the heated dye
liquor or hot water as the case may be.
In this cistern is placed a barrel b mounted upon a horizontal axle c supported by
standards & placed outside the cistern. The barrel bis separated by divisions e into
compartments in which the felt hat bodies to be treated are to be placed and in which
I also place a number of balls f of wood or other suitable material either plain or
covered with india rubber or other substance.
On the outer periphery of the barrel b are a number of buckets g similar to those
of a water wheel, which as the barrel b revolves scoop up the hot liquor and veneering
material out of the cistern or trough a and pour the same through holes h near the
bottom of the buckets into the compartments (containing the felt bodies and the balls)
whence it flows out through a number of holes i in the sides of the barrel b back again
into the cistern or trough a and thus a constant circulation is kept up.
To keep the liquor in circulation in the trough horizontally I apply thereto a
I
midfeather k similar to that employed in a rag engine for the same purpose.
I do not wish to bind myself to use a circular revolving motion but if preferred
I can impart to the above named barrel an excentric motion by placing the axle
of the machine as much out of the centre of the barrel as may be required.
If the operation to be performed is dyeing merely the balls can be dispensed
with, and if the operation is "veneering" only, the dye liquor is left out and only hot
water employed.

page_text: دو
The object attained by the use of the balls f is to cause the "veneering'
material to adhere to the "proof" in the hat bodies by means of the percussion and
friction caused by their rolling about amongst the hat bodies by the revolution of
the barrel a.
The water or dye liquor in the cistern is to be kept heated by means of steam
or otherwise.
After the felt hat bodies have been "veneered" I then pass them through a pair
of calender rollers heated by steam or other suitable means and suitably mounted
which consolidates and fastens the "veneering" material and "proof" together so as
to make the "veneering" permanent and improve the surface thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The process of dyeing and "veneering" felt hat bodies by enclosing them in
a barrel divided into compartments and containing balls of wood or other material,
the said barrel being perforated and kept revolving in a trough containing hot liquor
or dye and fur waste or "veneering" material substantially as herein before described.
Secondly. I claim the apparatus for dyeing and "veneering" felt hat bodies con-
sisting of a barrel divided into compartments and furnished with buckets and
perforations, the said barrel revolving in a trough containing hot water or dye
liquor and waste fur or " veneering" material substantially as herein described and
illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Thirdly. I claim the use of calendering rollers heated or otherwise for consolidating
or fastening the "veneering" material and proof together so as to improve the surface
and make the "veneering" more permanent substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of July 1888.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.