IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BLOCKING OR PRESSING HATS, PART OF SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF FLUIDS AND LIQUIDS GENERALLY
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BLOCKING OR PRESSING HATS, PART OF
SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF
FLUIDS AND LIQUIDS GENERALLY."- A communication from abroad by
Désiré Mathurin Legat, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 12th April 1872.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BLOCKING OR PRESSING
HATS, PART OF SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE
PRESSURE OF FLUIDS AND LIQUIDS GENERALLY," to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention, which relates to improved machinery for blocking or
pressing all kinds of hats, is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 being a part sectional elevation of the machine, and Figure 2 a
front view of same.

page_text: This
A, block or mould to receive the hat to be pressed; B, adjustable
cylindro-conical block carrier provided with cones and locking rings;
C, chamber for the fluid used in pressing, preferably water.
chamber may be provided with a central stem operated by a hand
wheel, the enlarged head of which stem presses an india-rubber diaphragm
on or into the block; D, heating chamber secured to the table J by
bolts and nuts v, and by which its position may be adjusted. Steam or
other heating agent may be employed, but I prefer to use the arrange-
ment of steam heating apparatus herein-after described. The heating
chamber D is provided with two steam pipes, the induction pipe S com-
municates with the generator or expander, while the eduction T serves
for the escape of the products of condensation; E, diaphragm of india-
rubber, which may be either flat or convex with radial ribs extending
towards the circumference or in other direction for the escape of air
between the diaphragm and the block or mould, but which in either
case serves for applying an elastic pressure on the hat. The sheet of
rubber is secured by a clamp F and bolts I; G, counterbalance lever of
chamber C carried on a bearing K, and provided with an adjustable
weight H. The parts C, G, H, all pivot on axis a by the aid of handley.
The heads of bolts I are hook-shaped to engage with lugs s on the
movable ring L, and secure the chamber C in the closed position; J,
framing carrying the various parts of the machine; L, ring in which
heating chamber D is received, carried by studs c, and adjustable by
means of handles b, so as to connect or disconnect from hooks I; M,
reservoir containing the pressing fluid; N, pump whose larger piston O
serves for filling the chamber C to a pressure of from 6 to 8 atmospheres,
piston P being employed to produce higher pressures; Q, valve box;
R, safety valve with reservoir and outlet pipe t; U, inlet pipe; V, force
pipe provided with stop-cock X, and branch pipe with cock Y, for
supplying the steam boiler; v, pipe for discharging water into tank M;
Z, hand lever fixed to a cranked shaft d, and connected to rods e of
piston O; x, socket fixed on bearing K for connecting pipe V with a
hollow pivot on pipe u; W, hand lever fixed on a double cranked
shaft f, and connected to piston P by rods g; h, guage cock; i, guage
for indicating the pressure required for the different kinds of hats; j,
spring to prevent shocks to the balance lever G; k, bearing secured at
bottom of chamber D; 1, screwed stem for raising the block in order to
change the same; m, toothed wheel loose on shaft ; n, wheel fixed on
shaft o carried in bearings p; q, hand wheel for operating the gearing.

page_text: Figure 3 shows details in section of another mode of connecting the
balance lever G with its bearing and the pipe communicating with
pressure chamber C in small machines working at low pressures. The
communication between the pump and chamber C and also between
the latter and tank M is obtained by means of flexible tubing. Bear-
ing K may also be connected to framing J by a long vertical socket,
so that chamber C may turn horizontally thereon, by which means two
or more chambers D may be mounted in the same framing J, the
chamber C being brought successively in connection with each, one
being employed in pressing while the pressed hats are removed from
others and applied to the remainder, or while the blocks are being
changed. This arrangement is more especially advantageous for felt or
other hats requiring a longer time in the pressing. The same result may
also be obtained by rotating the table so as to bring each part carrying
a block under chamber C, which in this case would be simply hinged
as before. I employ a metallic shell or casing for each set of blocks,
or for several sets, which casing is adapted to receive any one of the
blocks which may be made very light.
As great regularity is required in the heating of the blocks I combine
with the blocking apparatus herein-before described what I term a
steam expander shown in vertical section in Figure 4 of the Drawing;
Figures 5 and 6 being horizontal sections of same on lines 1-2, 3–4,
of same, while Figure 7 shows a detached section of the cover of the
apparatus.
A, double or equilibrium valve contained in a spherical chamber I
and having passages for the inlet and outlet of the steam; B, cylindrical
casing provided with rectangular orifices a; C, lock nuts for making a
steam-tight joint by the aid of a washer b; D, piston; E, stem con-
necting valve A to piston D; F, sheet of india-rubber forming a joint
at the lower part without interfering with the motion of the piston; G,
base of the apparatus; H, column containing water for protecting the
india-rubber from the heat of the steam. The steam pipe c communi-
cates with the valve casing by a circular channel e made in the part in
which the valve is mounted. The steam after expansion passes out
through one or more orifices d; J, cover closing the upper end of
chamber I on which is placed a guage 9 for indicating the pressure of
the steam after expansion, and also a safety valve; K, perforated
diaphragm for equalizing the pressure of the steam and water and pre-

page_text: venting the rise of the same into the upper part of the apparatus; L,
cross bar connecting the levers M and moving on a fulcrum at h, said
levers being provided with counterbalance weights N, for adjusting
the piston D according to the pressure required; O, lever supporting
rod E and receiving the pressure of the piston jointed at i, and so con-
nected to cross bar L by rod k as to maintain the levers in a parallel
position. The apparatus being thus arranged the weights N may be
so adjusted as to produce a counterpressure on piston D equal to that
which the expanded steam exerts thercon, and the equilibrium valve A
will thus be kept open to a sufficient extent only to allow of the passage
of the required quantity of steam to be expanded for use.
This apparatus may also be applied to regulate the pressure of other
fluids and liquids. In some cases it may be desirable to replace the
piston D and valve A by other known and equivalent mechanism for
effecting the same object, and the levers and counterweights M may be
dispensed with by applying the pressure of compressed air or other
fluid to the piston D. In lieu of piston D and its weighted levers I
may also sometimes employ an elastic diaphragm connected to rod E,
the upper end of which is adjustable in valve A according to the pressure
required.
In some cases springs may be applied to act on the valve in the same
manner as the counterweights, said springs being regulated according to
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal 2
Patent Office on the 11th October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 3
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, admi- 3

page_text: nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BLOCKING OR PRESSING HATS, PART OF SAID
IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF FLUIDS AND
LIQUIDS GENERALLY," a communication to me from abroad by Désiré
Mathurin Legat, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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, reference being had to the three Sheets
of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improved machinery for blocking or pressing
all kinds of hats, which is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 being a part sectional elevation of the machine, and Figure 2
a front view of same.
A, projecting block or hollow mould of any suitable kind to receive
the hat to be pressed; B, adjustable cylindro-conical block carrier pro-
vided with contracting cones and locking rings; C, chamber for the fluid
used in pressing, which is preferably water. This chamber may be.
provided with a central stem operated by a hand wheel and having an
enlarged head which presses an india-rubber membrane on or into the .
block or mould; D, beating chamber secured to the table J by bolts
and nuts v, by which its position may be readily adjusted.
.
Steam or other heating agent may be employed, but I prefer to use.
steam, the pressure as well as the temperature of which is regulated by
what I term an expander, to be herein-after described.
The heating

page_text: chamber D is provided with two pipes, the inlet steam pipe S which
communicates with the generator or expander, and the outlet T; E,
membrane of india-rubber, which may be either flat or convex with
radial grooves or ribs extending towards the circumference or in other
direction for the escape of air between the membrane and the block or
mould, but which in either case serves for applying the desired pressure
on the hat. The sheet of rubber is secured by a clamp or ring F and
bolts I. G, counterbalance lever of chamber C carried on a bearing K
and provided with an adjustable weight H, but this counterpoise may
be replaced by the fluid pressing apparatus herein-after described. The
parts C, G, H, all pivot on axis a and are moved by the aid of handle y.
The heads of bolts I are hook-shaped to engage with lugs & on the
movable ring L and secure the chamber C in the closed position. J,
table and framing carrying the various parts of the machine; L, locking
ring surrounding heating chamber D, carried on plates c and movable
by means of handles 6 so as to connect or disconnect from hooks I; M,
reservoir containing the pressing fluid; N, pump whose larger piston O
serves for filling the chamber C to a pressure of from six to eight
atmospheres, the smaller piston P being employed to produce higher
pressures; Q, valve box provided with suction and delivery valves; R,
safety valve with reservoir and outlet pipe t; U, suction pipe; V, delivery
pipe provided with stop-cock X and branch pipe with cock Y for
supplying the steam boiler; v, pipe for discharging water into tank M;
Z, hand lever fixed to a cranked shaft d connected by rods e to piston O;
x, socket fixed on bearing K for connecting pipe V with a hollow pivot
on pipe u; W, hand lever fixed on a double cranked shaft and connected
to piston P by rods g. One lever only may however be employed for
the two pistons by a suitable modification of the apparatus. h, guage
cock for indicating when the chamber C is filled with the pressing fluid;
i, guage for indicating the pressure required for the different kinds of
hats; j, spring to prevent shocks to the balance lever G; k, bearing
secured at bottom of chamber D, through which passes screwed stem
for raising the block or mould in order to change the same; m, bevel
wheel with screwed socket working on stem 7 to raise the same without
turning it; n, toothed wheel fixed on shaft o, carried in bearings p;
q, hand wheel for operating the gearing, the stem / may also be operated
by a cam or lever suitably disposed.
Figure 3 shows details in section of another mode of connecting the
balance lever G with its bearing and the pipes communicating with

page_text: pressure chamber C; G¹, boss of balance lever G; K', heads of bearing K,
each provided with lugs O¹; Y', pivot secured in boss G by set screws K',
the ends of pivot Y¹ projecting slightly beyond the bearings K¹; A',
hollow socket through which the pressing fluid is supplied, fixed to
lugs C by tie bolts I¹, the axis of socket A' being in a line with pivot Y¹;
x, pivot pipe having a projection b against which the end of pivot Y¹ abuts.
to hold the pipe in its socket against the pressure of the fluid; it is
connected to a pipe u in communication with pressure chamber C; y, cup
leather for preventing the escape of fluid around pipe x.
In small machines working at low pressures the communication
between the pump and chamber C and also between the latter and
tank M may be by means of flexible tubing. Bearing K may also be
connected to framing J by a long vertical socket, so that chamber C may
turn horizontally thereon, by which means two or more chambers D may
be mounted in the same framing J, the chamber C being brought
successively in connection with each one being employed in pressing,
while the pressed hats are removed from and others applied to the
remainder or while the blocks are being changed.
This arrangement is
more especially advantageous for felt or other hats requiring a longer
time in the pressing. The same result may also be attained by rotating
the table so as to bring each part carrying a block under chamber C,
which in this case would be simply hinged as before.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The hat to be blocked is
first placed on or in the heated former, chamber C is then brought in
contact with chamber D and locked by ring L. The pressing fluid is
then injected by the larger piston until a pressure of from 6 to 8 atmo-
spheres is obtained, and the smaller piston then worked until the guage
indicates the pressure required for each description of hat, some of which
require to be covered with leather or other material. The pressure is
then relieved by opening a cock, and the hat which is pressed on all
In connection
parts of its surface and having a high finish is removed.
with the use of metallic blocks or moulds I employ a shell or inter-
mediate lining to fit in the mould carrier B, and so adapt it to receive
any one of a set of moulds used for the various sizes of a certain kind of
hat, which moulds may consequently be made very light. The shell is
made of the same kind of metal as the moulds, zinc, for example. As
great regularity is required in the heating of the blocks or moulds I
combine with the blocking apparatus herein-before described what I term

page_text: a steam expander for regulating the pressure and temperature, and
which is capable of being applied in other cases for regulating the pres-
sure of fluids, and especially steam, whether employed as a motive power
or heating agent. This apparatus is shown in vertical section in Figure 4
of the Drawings, Figures 5 and 6 being horizontal sections of same on
lines 1, 2, 3, 4, of same, while Figure 7 shows a detached section of the
cover of the apparatus. A, double or equilibrium valve contained in a
spherical chamber I having passages for the inlet and outlet of the
steam, the passage of the live steam to the chamber being controlled
by said valve; B, cylindrical valve socket provided with rectangular
orifices a; C, ring nut for making a steam-tight joint by the aid of
a washer 6; D, regulating piston; E, stem connecting valve A to
piston D; F, membrane of india-rubber forming a joint at the base G
of the apparatus without interfering with the motion of the piston;
H, column containing water for protecting the india-rubber from the
heat of the steam. The steam nozzle c communicates with the valve
socket by a circular channel e made in the casing in which the valve
socket is fitted. The steam after expansion passes out through one or
more of orifices a. J, cover closing the upper end of chamber I on
which is placed a guage g for indicating the pressure of the steam after
expansion, and also a safety valve; K, perforated diaphragm for equalizing
the pressure of the steam and water and preventing the rise of the same
into the upper part of the apparatus; L, cross bar connecting the
levers M and moving on a fulcrum at h, said levers being provided with
counterbalance weights N for loading the piston D according to the
steam pressure required; O, lever supporting rod E and sustaining the
pressure on the piston. It is mounted on a fulcrum at i, and so con-
nected to cross bar L by rod K as to maintain the levers in a parallel
position. .
The apparatus being thus arranged for the purpose of regulating
the supply of steam to the drying cylinders of paper-making machines,
for example, the live steam coming direct from the boiler will act with
equal effect in opposite directions on the two valves A, which are of
equal area, so that whatever may be the pressure of the live steam it
will have no effect on the valve. Thus if the weights N be so adjusted
as to produce a counterpressure on piston D equal to that which the
expanded steam exerts thereon the piston will also be in equilibrium,

page_text: of the passage of the required quantity of steam to be expanded
for use.
It has been seen that the pressure of the live steam may vary without
producing any effect on the valve, but the expanded steam exerts a
constant pressure in opposite directions on the outer faces of the two
valves, and the latter being of different areas there would be a slight
tendency to keep the valve closed, varying with the pressure of the
expanded steam, and which would affect the regular action of the
apparatus were it not counteracted by the regulating piston. Thus the
valve being operated by the piston and the latter receiving on the one
hand the pressure of the expanded steam which tends to close the valve,
and on the other that of the counterbalance lever, which exerts an
unvarying pressure in the contrary direction (equal to the pressure to
be obtained) and tends to open the valve, a perfect equilibrium is ensured.
This equilibrium, however, is liable to be destroyed by the least variation
in the pressure of the expanded steam, the tendency increasing with the
size of the piston, and this variation in the equilibrium is at once utilized
for regulating the opening of the valve in the direction desired. If the
pressure on the piston increases it overcomes that of the counterbalance
and closes the valve, while on the contrary if the pressure decreases
the counterbalance tends to open the valve. To give an example of
the degree of sensitiveness which may be obtained it is enough to say
that a difference of pressure of th of an atmosphere on a piston
having an area of 4 inches produces in round numbers an effect equal
to 4 lbs. per atmosphere or 10 lbs. assuming the pressure of the expanded
steam to equal 2 atmospheres, and that the movement of the valve
as also the levers (which may be mounted on knife edges) can in all
cases be obtained by a force not exceeding one-tenth of the power
available for use in working. Thus the degree of sensitiveness. is such
that variation of pressure in the expanded steam are rendered practi-
cably impossible, whatever may be the quantity of steam employed and
the variations of pressure of the live steam.
I have described the apparatus applied to regulate steam pressure as
being most difficult of application, but it will be readily understood
that the apparatus may be still more easily applied for regulating the
pressure of fluids and liquids generally in a variety of cases.
In ordinary cases the motion of the valve will rarely exceed a
maximum of th of an inch, which cannot impair the elasticity of the

page_text: rubber membrane fixed to the piston. D, but where a greater motion
is desired to be given to the valve I substitute for the piston D an
arrangement of cylindrical pistons working without friction. The valve
may also be of any other arrangement, or a cock may be used for the
same purpose.
In certain cases also the levers and counterbalance
may be replaced by a reservoir of air or other fluid, which is compressed
to a degree to suit the requirements, and communicating by means of
an intermediate membrane with the under side of piston D. The piston D
and levers and counterbalance may also in cases where a moderately
regular action is sufficient be replaced by a thick membrane of india-
rubber with a base of cupped form and attached to a large head on the
bottom end of stem E, the upper part of said stem being screw threaded
and screwed into the valve for stretching the membrane more or less
according to the pressure required. The variation in the length of the
stem is effected by turning the valve by means of a hand wheel outside
the casing whose stem terminates inside in a flat part entering freely
in a rectangular socket pivoted at the upper part of the valve.
I may also in similar cases substitute for the counterbalances, levers,
and piston, one or more springs the action of which on the valve is
regulated by compressing the same more or less according to the
pressure desired by means of a hand wheel.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the
Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1st. The general arrangement of the apparatus for blocking or
pressing hats as herein-before described and shown in the Drawings.
2ndly. The locking ring provided with lugs engaging with hook-
shaped bolts, substantially as shown and described, for securing the
pressing chamber in the closed position.
3rdly. The method of adjusting the position of heating chamber D
by means of bolts and double nuts, substantially as shown and
described.
4thly. The various means shown and described of raising the blocks
or moulds.
5thly. The various methods of mounting the counterbalance lever
in its bearings as and for the purpose shown and described..

page_text: 6thly. The means of establishing communication between the pressing
chamber, the interior of the apparatus, and the reservoir of pressing
fluid, substantially as shown and described.
7thly. The combination and arrangement of force pump substantially
as shown and described..
8thly. The arrangement of machine described in which but one
pressing chamber is employed for several mould or block carriers placed
on the same table.
9thly. The rubber membrane, provided with ribs or grooves for the
escape of air, as described.
10thly. The combination with moulds made of thin metal of an
intermediate shell or lining for adapting them to a universal block
carrier, as described.
11thly. The arrangement of expander for regulating the pressure
and temperature of the steam used for heating the moulds or blocks.
12thly. The combination of parts of the machine together with any
modifications in the same.
13thly. The employment of an equilibrium valve in combination with
a regulating piston also equilibrated by means of any convenient
external force, the whole arranged and operating automatically as set
forth without the use of stuffing boxes for the working parts.
14thly. The application of the apparatus or expander so constructed
for regulating and expanding steam employed as a motive power or for
heating purposes as also its application for regulating the pressure of
fluids generally.
15thly. I claim the combination and arrangement of the various
parts of the expander together with any modifications in the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two