Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 6th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th Feb., 1887.
I, EMIL FLUSS, of Freiberg, Moravia, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to a machine for washing hats in order to remove any
superfluous dyeing matter or the like therefrom.
The said machine comprises means for "rapidly rotating the hats under water, and
the advantages are that the hats are not only more rapidly, but also much more
thoroughly cleaned than would be possible by hand washing with or without brushes,
and that the pile of the hats is not subjected to the injurious scratching action of the
brushes.
The machine consists essentially of a wooden or iron frame in which a driving shaft
is mounted. On one end of this shaft a bevel wheel is carried which, by friction,
imparts a rapid rotative motion to a small bevel wheel on a vertical spindle.
The vertical spindle is suitably journalled in bearings carried by the frame, and on
its lower screw-threaded end is provided with a hat frame upon which the hat to be
washed is tightly fitted. The hat frame dips into hot or cold water contained in a
suitable tank, so that the hat is entirely submerged, and the frame is very rapidly
revolved with the hat fixed on it.
The vertical spindle can be raised by means of a treadle and lever, whereby it is at
once stopped as it then comes out of gear with the driving shaft. By raising the
spindle, the hat frame is raised above the level of the water contained in the washing
tank, and in this position the hat already washed can be taken off the frame, and a
fresh one placed upon the same.
12.
The hat frame is preferably made of copper or other metal springs. On such frames
the hats fit tightly, and this construction enables the hats to be washed on the inside
as well as on the outside, there being sufficient space between the springs to allow the
water to enter into the hat body.
When only the outside of the hat is to be washed then a single round or oval hat
frame of wood can be used; and on such a frame the hat will be held tight by the
pressure of the water.
Any desired number of such machines can be placed side by side and a single
workman can then attend to two or more of them.
17
10.
HADEITIN, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I EMIL FLUSS, of Freiberg, Moravia, in the Empire of Austria, 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:
This invention relates to a machine for washing hats, and has for its object to effect
the removal of any excess of dyeing matter or other substance adhering to the said
articles.
In the improved machine the washing is effected by the very rapid rotation of the
hats under water, so that not only is the washing more expeditiously performed than
heretofore but also much more thoroughly than is possible by hand with a brush, and
moreover the scratching produced by the brush, and which is so injurious to the
surfaces of the hats is completely obviated.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of a machine constructed according
to this invention, and,
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
The improved machine consists essentially of a frame S of wood, iron or other
suitable material upon which are mounted bearings as carrying the driving shaft. W.
At one end of this shaft is fixed the bevel wheel A which engages by friction with
the corresponding wheel a on the vertical spindle b, and rotates the latter.
The spindle is supported in bearings e and i, and at its lower end is screw threaded
and carries a form or shape c upon which the hats to be washed are stretched.
A tank or tub Z for containing the washing water is arranged under the spindle b.
The form dips, about 30 centimeters, into the hot or cold water contained in this
tank Z, and is rotated in the same with the hat thereon.
The spindle b'is connected with a treadle H through the medium of the lever K and
the rod L. By dépressing the said treadle the friction wheel a is moved out of contact
with the wheel A and the shaft b is thereby caused to stop immediately, the hat form
being simultaneously lifted out of the water.
In this position of the form the article which has been washed can be removed and
the article to be washed, stretched on the form in the easiest manner.
The form e is preferably made of springs of copper or other suitable metal. The
hat can thus be fitted tightly upon the said form and washed on the inside and
outside, the space between the several springs being sufficient to allow the water to act
upon the inside of the hat.

page_text: If it is only required to wash the outside of the hat the form e may be composed of
a simple round or oval piece of wood which need only dip say 10 centimetres under
water. In this case it is unnecessary to fit the hat tightly onto the form the hat being
forced against the form by the pressure of the water.
Several of the improved washing machines can be arranged side by side, and one
workman can attend to two or more machines.
Having now 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 is :-
The improved hat washing machine constructed and arranged substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawing for enabling the rapid rotation
of the hats in the washing water, and the ready removal of the hats from the form or
shape upon which they are placed during the washing operation.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.