A New or Improved Machine for Veluring Felt Hats.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 19th May, 1894
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Machine for Veluring Felt Hats.
I, HENRY JOHN WHYATT, of Union Street and North Street, Bristol, Hatter,.
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 :-
My invention relates to new or improved appliances for use in veluring felt
bats, whereby a block made in sections is attached to a bed-plate in such a manner
that it may be instantaneously adjusted to fit hats of any size, and the. bed-plate.
being secured to a shaft so that it may be rapidly rotated, a ready means is
provided for holding hats firm and rigid during the operation of veluring.
The means employed for carrying my invention into effect will be fully described
and illustrated in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the machine complete, in position with a platform
attached carrying a heating appliance for the veluring pads; in this figure, the
block is shown expanded to its full size, one of the sections being broken to show
the interior arrangements;
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, but with the sectional blocks drawn together and
covered by the crown plate;
Fig. 3 is a plan of the bed-plate and the bases of the sections resting thereon,
the vertical parts of the blocks being indicated by cross section lines; and
Fig. 4 is a view of the underside of the bed-plate, showing the diagonal slots and
sliding carriers by which the block is expanded and contracted, with the spring
and clutch arrangements for operating the same.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate the same parts in all the
figures.
:
A is a supporting column or bearer, of which only the upper portion is shown,
to which a platform B having a heating appliance at one end is attached; C is the
heating chamber, in which an atmospheric gas or other burner can be placed,
D is a hot plate fitting over the heating chamber, on which the veluring pads are
warmed before using; E is a vertical shaft, secured by bearings e to the column A,
and rotated by a treadle and spur-wheels or other suitable appliances attached to
the base supporting the column; F is a bed-plate bearing on a shoulder of and
fastened to the rotating shaft E by a pin or cottar, so that as the shaft revolves,
the plate and any parts placed thereon revolve therewith resting on the bed-
plate are a number of sectional blocks G, preferably four, made to form, when in
combination, one block the shape of the hats to be placed thereon; the bases of
these blocks are fastened to sliding carriers which move to and fro in the diagonal
slots H; on the top of the blocks and covering their upper surface, is a thin metal
dome shaped plate I forming a crown, this dome fits closely on the sections, whether
expanded or contracted, and thus forms a continuous support for the hat; a
cylinder Jis attached to the crown, fitting over the shaft E which is continued
nearly to the top of the blocks; a check spring jis attached to a hook on the
cylinder and to a pin projecting from the central shaft, this keeps the crown fitting
closely on the upper parts of the blocks, and from the arched shape of these upper
surfaces, it will be seen that any expansion or contraction of the blocks will cause.
the crown to rise and fall accordingly when the blocks are expanded to their full
extent, there will be a considerable gap or opening between their adjacent edges, as
shown in Figs. 1 and 3; this may at times be a disadvantage, especially when the
sides of a hat are being velured; to remedy this, the inner and outer surface of
adjacent edges may be chamfered; so that when contracted they may overlap each
:

page_text: other, and when expanded will be practically edge to edge; or by another method,
which appears preferable. and which is shown in the drawings; pieces of thin
metal, K, of sufficient width to overlap the gaps referred to, are shaped to fit the
blocks, and have bases formed at their lower ends to rest on the bed-plate and
slide in the grooves made thereon the bases & are attached to a collar L'by check
springs, the collar is placed round the central shaft after the bed-plate is in
position; the check springs keep the plates firmly against the blocks whether
expanded or contracted, and the crown I enclosing the upper parts will hold them
in place at the top; if preferred, thin recesses g may be made near the vertical
edges of the blocks, so that the metal plates K may fit in them, and form a more
even surface; Fig. 4, which shows the under side of the bed-plate, illustrates more
fully the appliances for attaching the blocks and adjusting them to the required
size when the hat is put on the machine; in the diagonal slots H, grooved carriers M
are inserted, these are fastened by screws or bolts m to the bases of the sectional
blocks G and also to connecting rods N, which are attached to studs n on a collar O
attached to the central shaft; an arm is formed on the collar, and a cranked
lever pivotted thereto, a hook or draw-bar Q operating in a slot R rotates the
collar in which the studs n are placed, these studs being connected to the
carriers M, draw them along the diagonal slots towards the centre; the sectional
blocks on the other side of the bed-plate being attached to the carriers, the whole
of the blocks will be drawn together when the hook Q is pulled; a powerful check
spring S attached to the arm o of the collar O keeps the carriers and blocks
extended when not under the influence of the hook Q, and as soon as this is with-
drawn, the blocks will be expanded to their full size, or to such a size as the hat
placed thereon will permit, by which means the crown and sides of a felt
hat will present a uniform and rigid surface for the operation thereon of the
veluring pad.
The various parts of my machine being provided and fitted as described, their
operation is as follows:-The stand with the treadle or other attachment for
rotating the central shaft is first firmly fixed to the floor or counter to give a
solid bearing for the shaft while it is being rapidly rotated; if other means for
warming the pads are at hand, the platform containing the heating chamber may be
dispensed with. The action of the spring S will keep the sectional parts extended
to their limit, while the spring j and the springs will keep the crown and side
plates tight against the outer surface of the blocks, covering the top and the
intervals at the sides. To place a hat on the machine, it will be necessary to pull
the hook or bar Q, and the blocks will be contracted so that the smallest hat can
be put on the hook being released, the spring will draw the arm of the collar O,
and thus extend the block to fill the hat, thereby holding it firm, and filling
every part of the hat when the several sections are made of the shape required for
the purpose the central shaft being rotated, all parts of the hat will readily be
brought under the operation of the pad, and the veluring be quickly done; when
one hat is finished, by drawing the hook, the blocks are loosened, and the hat
taken off and replaced by another as required.
As before mentioned, the block may be made in any number of sections, and
blocks of different shaped crowns may be provided, as by means of screws, one
block or set of blocks can be easily substituted for another, four sections appear
to be the most suitable number for the purpose, especially when the slots are placed
diagonally, as shown in the drawings.
When it is required to stretch a hat, an auxiliary lever or screw may be placed
alongside the spring S and attached to the arm of the collar O, and thus an
additional strain be put on the sectional blocks, brow pieces being attached to the
blocks where necessary:
I am aware that sectional blocks are used in the manufacture of felt and other
hats, but my object is to provide a machine, specially adapted for retail hatters,
so that when felt hats have become dull from exposure in the window or other
causes, they may be readily freshened by veluring.

page_text: 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 :-
1. The construction of a machine, consisting of blocks made in sections attached
to a bed plate, which may be instantaneously compressed or expanded to fit any
felt hat, and then rapidly rotated by a treadle or other means, for the purpose
of veluring, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In veluring machines for felt hats as herein described, the construction of
grooved carriers operating in diagonal slots for the purpose of compressing or
extending the sectional blocks, with the draw bar and cranked lever to counteract
the tension of the spring, substantially as described and shown.
3. In veluring machines as herein described, the construction of a crown piece
and side plates to cover the intervening spaces between the blocks when extended
so as to form a continuous bearing for the hat while being velured, substantially as
herein described and shown.
4. In veluring machines for felt hats as described, the attachment and combination
of a heating apparatus for warming the veluring pads, substantially as described
and shown.
Dated this 6th day of Decambar 1902
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.