Iм- PROVEMENTS IN FELTING HATS AND OTHER FELTED OTHER FELTED FABRICS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN FELTING HATS AND OTHER FELTED
OTHER FELTED FABRICS, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR THE SAME."-A communication from abroad by Charles
Mossent Merchant of 90 Boulevert St Martin Poxia
Sealed the 28th December 1866, and dated the 25th August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th August 1866.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FELTING HATS AND OTHER FELTED FABRICS, AND IN APPA-
RATUS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for felting bats or
strips of such material by means of which the cones forming the foundation
of the hat material are felted mechanically.
In order to render the Invention better understood I have represented the
apparatus in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 of which shows a vertical
elevation of the front of the machine on the line 1, 2, Figure 2; Figure 2 a

page_text: side elevation on the line 3, 4, Figure 1, while Figure 3 shows a part of the
The same letters
machine separately on which the hat material is wound.
apply to all these Figures.
a, a, framing of the machine consisting of six uprights of any suitable form
supporting a hollow box 6 of cast-iron divided into two equal parts by a par-
tition c, thus forming two compartments c¹, c". The upper part of this box
or table is covered with any suitable fabric, on the surface of which the felting
is operated; d, d¹, movable frames disposed above the compartments c¹, c¹¹, and
furnished with friction rollers e to run on the table or box 6, as will be herein-
after explained. Each of these frames is furnished on two parallel sides with
spaces or cavities f disposed opposite each other at equal distances, and
serving to receive the two ends of rods or spindles round which are passed
the hat cones or strips to be felted. As shown in Figure 3 these rods g are
divided into two semi-cylindrical parts hinged at one end and closed at the
other by a ring h, the hat is secured between the two parts of these rods g
so as to hold it firmly during the to-and-fro motion of the frames d, d'. The
rectilinear to-and-fro motion to the
felting is effected by imparting a
frames d, d', on the table c, the said frames being furnished with a certain
number of rods carrying the hat cones. This motion is effected by the aid of
a mechanical arrangement herein-after described.
Only one of these frames acts at one time, during which the attendant pre-
pares the rods of the frame which is not in action. In order that the felting
may be suitably effected it is of advantage to exert a pressure on the rods g
which constantly varies in proportion to the fulling requisite for each kind of
hat.
This is effected in the following manner :-i is a frame of cast iron carrying
four uprights furnished with friction rollers k running on the edges of the
table b; inside of this frame is disposed a second one m rising and falling in
grooves made in the first frame i. The frame m has on its inner surface on
two parallel sides hollow cylindrical parts n cast thereon; o, through grooves
made in parts n; p, spiral springs in parts n below springs p; these bars are
furnished at bottom throughout their whole width with grooved wooden bars;
the combined parts q, r, constitute what I term the keys for operating by
means of the springs p a pressure on the hat cones mounted on the spindles g.
This pressure may be increased or diminished at pleasure as follows:-Each
of the four uprights j is furnished at its upper part with a screws bearing on
the inner key frame m, and each of these screws is surmounted by a small
It will be readily understood that
pinion t connected by an endless chain u.
by imparting rotary motion to one of these pinions by means of bevil gear the

page_text: four screws will turn in the same direction, and raise or lower the framing m
according to the direction of rotation. By this to-and-fro motion of the
frame m, the keys of which rub on the hat cones in position, the movement
of the spindle carrying frame is effected, v, v³, shafts turning at the back
and front of the machine; x, a, toothed wheels keyed on the shafts v, v¹;
, endless chain connected to the two ends of the frame i, and passing round
the toothed wheels x, x¹; y, driving shaft of the machine mounted at the
lower part, on which are the driving pullies 1, 2, and loose pulley 3; 4, end-
less screw on the end of the driving shaft y, and gearing with a wheel 5 keyed
on the cross shaft 6, on which is also keyed a drum 7;.8, 9, stráps trans-
mitting rotary motion in opposite directions to two loose pullies 10, 10',
keyed on the shaft v.
Between these two pullies there is a coupler which,
.by its connection with one or other of the pullies 10, 10¹, turns the shaft v¹
so that the endless chain shall shift the frame from box c¹ to box c³, or
vice versa, for commencing a new operation. The same endless chain also,
serves for giving a limited rectilinear to-and-fro motion to the frame i above
the boxes c¹, c, alternately, according to whether the operation is effected at
the right or left of the machine, that is to say, on the frame d or d¹
11, drum receiving rotary motion from the driving shaft y by bevil gearing
which it transmits to another drum 12 by the aid of a strap 13; 14, 14,
cranks keyed at each end of the drum shaft 12, and transmitting an oscillating
motion to two levers 15 through the connecting rods 16, 16. The levers. 15, 15,
oscillate on pivots 17 on the ends of a bar 18 received in the slots or mortises
made in levers 15%; these levers by the aid of a connecting rod 19 and;
cranks 20 transmit an alternate rotary motion to the shaft v', in which motion
both the wheels x,,, and the racks participate; in this manner the key
carrier frame receives a to-and-fro motion, which is communicated in turn to:
the frame d. The extent of motion of the key frame may be regulated by
two screws 21 entering the part 18 and set in motion by the pinious 22,
23, 24, and thus change the position of the centre of oscillation of levers 15
by raising or lowering the said part 18; the more the latter, is raised the
smaller will be the arc described by the levers 15, and consequently causing a
diminution in the traverse of the key frame, while the more the part 18 is-
lowered the greater will be the arc described and the motion of the frame;
25, reservoirs containing warm acidulated water placed above the apparatus ;:
26, pipe for conveying the water to a horizontal pipe 27 running throughout
the length of the apparatus, and provided with perforations by means of which
the water is discharged in small jets on to an inclined plane or cover for.
protecting the endless chain; this acidulated water passes through the spaces

page_text: between the keys on to the table 6 in contact with the hat cones; 28, 281,
taps on pipe 27 for directing the discharge of the water either on frame d or d
according to whether the operation is being effected at one side or other of
the machine; 29, pipe fitted at the upper part of the reservoir 25, passing
down under the machine, where it branches off into two parts 29¹, 29%, fur-
nished with taps 30, 30¹, for discharging steam into one or other of the
compartments c¹, c, for the purpose of maintaining a suitable degree of heat
in the table b.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the felting is effected by the com-
bined action of, 1st, heat; 2ndly, acidulated water; and 3rdly, by pressure;
and 4thly, by a to-and-fro motion which rolls, unrolls, and rolls on afresh the
felted material on the spindles.
•
The chief features of the Invention are, 1st, the arrangement of a reservoir
and pipes for the supply of warm acidulated water and the hollow box for
discharging steam from the said reservoir.
2ndly, the employment of dividing spindles or rollers g, on which are fixed
the hat cones in such manner as to always bring them under the pressure of
the "keys" as before referred to.
3rdly, the employment of movable or sliding frames d, d¹, carrying the
spindles or rollers, and always preserving their distances apart whatever may
be the extent of to-and-fro motion of the said frames.
4thly, the employment of the keys before described and the movable frame
carrying them, by means of which the keys press equally on the felt although
acting independently one of the other.
5thly, the capability of increasing or diminishing the pressure of the keys.
6thly, the capability of increasing or diminishing the extent of motion of
the key frame, while reserving the right of varying the mechanical combinations
for effecting the several movements without departing from the principle of
the Invention.
For instance, I may use a box made without any divisions, and substitute
two parallel endless chains for the sliding carriage d, d, these chains having
continuous alternating rotary motion, and on which the spindles g would be
carried, while above these would act the key carrier frame; the spindles
being disengaged as the felting proceeds and removed to the other end of the
machine where the hat cones are again secured to the spindles and the felting
operation recommenced on the same hat cones. I also reserve the right of
substituting endless screw or toothed gear for the endless chains, or any other
combination or arrangement for producing the result desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FELTING HATS AND OTHER FELTED FABRICS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE
SAME," a communication to me from abroad by Charles Mossant, Merchant,
of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Clark, my executors 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 William 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 Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
It is well known that in the manufacture of hats of felted fabrics a cone or
shape is first formed of the material to be felted, and this Invention relates.
to improved apparatus for felting hats or strips of such material, by means of
which the cones forming the foundation of the hat material are felted by the.
aid of machinery.
In order to render the Invention better understood I have represented the
apparatus in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 of which shows a vertical

page_text: elevation of the front of the machine on the line 1, 2, Figure 2; Figure 2 a side
elevation on the line 3, 4, Figure 1, while Figure 3 shows a part of the machine
separately, on which the hat material is wound. The same letters of reference
apply to all the Figures.
a, a, framing of the machine consisting of six uprights of any suitable form
supporting a hollow box 6 of cast iron divided into two equal parts by a
partition c, thus forming two compartments c¹, c³. The upper part of this
box or table is covered with any suitable fabric, on the surface of which the
felting is operated. d, d, movable frames disposed above the compartments c¹, c³,
and furnished with friction rollers e to run on the table or box b, as will be
berein-after explained. Each of these frames is furnished on two parallel
sides with spaces or cavities f disposed opposite each other at equal distances
and serving to receive the two ends of rods or spindles round which are passed
the hat, cones, or strips to be felted. These rods g, as shown in Figure 3, are
divided into two semi-cylindrical parts hinged at one end and closed at the
other by a ring h, while the hat is secured between the two parts of these
ȧods g so as to hold it firmly during the to-and-fro motion of the frames d; d'
The felting is effected by imparting a rectilinear to-and-fro motion to
the frames d, d, on the table b, the said frames being furnished with a
number of rods carrying the, hat cones. This motion is effected by the
aid of a mechanical arrangement herein-after described. Only one of these
frames acts at one time, during which the attendant prepares the rods of the
frame which is not in action. In order that the felting may be suitably
effected it is of advantage to exert a pressure on the rods g, which constantly
varies in proportion to the fulling requisite for each kind of hat; this is
effected in the following manner:-i is a frame of cast iron carrying four
uprights furnished with friction rollers k running on edges of the table b;
inside of this frame is disposed a second one m rising and falling in grooves
made in the first frame i; the frame m has on its inner surface on two parallel
sides hollow cylindrical parts n cast thereon; o, through grooves made in parts n;
p, spiral spring in parts n; q, metal bars, the ends of which are received in
grooves o of parts n below springs p. These bars are furnished at bottom
tbroughout their whole width with grooved wooden bars. The combined
parts 9, r, constitute what I term the keys for operating by means of the
springs pa pressure on the hats mounted on the spindles g; this pressure may
be increased or diminished at pleasure as follows: -Each of the four uprightsj
is furnished at its upper part with a screws bearing on the inner key frame m;
and each of these screws is surmounted by a small pinion t connected by an
endless chain u. It will be readily understood that by imparting rotary

page_text: motion to one of these pinions by means of two bevil pinions the four screws
will turn in the same direction and raise or lower the framing m according to
the direction of rotation. By this to-and-fro movement of the frame m, the
keys of which rub on the hats in position, the movement of the spindle'
carrying frame is effected; v, v¹ shaft turning in bearings at the back and front
of the machine; x, x¹, toothed wheels keyed on the shafts v, v²; x³, endless
chain connected to the two ends of the frame i, and passing round the toothed
wheels x, 21 ;y, driving shaft of the machine mounted at the lower part, on
which are the driving pullies 1, 2, and loose pulley 3; 4, endless screw on the
end of the driving shaft y, and gearing with a wheel 5 keyed on the cross
shaft 6, on which is also keyed a drum 7; 8, 9, straps transmitting rotary
motion in opposite directions to two loose pullies 10, 10', keyed on the shaft v¹..
Between these two pullies there is a coupler, which when connected with one
or other of the pullies 10, 10¹, turns the shaft so that the endless chain as
shall shift the frame i from box c¹ to box c, or vice versa, for commencing a
new operation. The same endless chain also serves for giving a limited
rectilinear to-and-fro motion to the frame i above the boxes c', c³, alternately,
according to whether the operation is effected at the right or left of the
machine, that is to say, on the frame d or d¹; 11, drum receiving rotary
motion from the driving shaft y by bevil gearing, which it transmits to another
drum 12 by the aid of a strap 13; 14, 14, crauks keyed at each end of the.
drum shaft 12, and transmitting an oscillating motion to two levers -15
through the connecting rods 16, 16. The levers 15, 15, oscillate on pivots 17:
on the ends of a bar 18 received in the slot or mortices made in levers 15.
These levers, by the aid of connecting rods 19 and cranks 20, transmit an alter-
nate rotary motion to the shaft v¹, in which motion both the wheels x, x¹ and
the endless chain participate; in this manner the key carrier frame receives a
to-and-fro motion, which is communicated in turn to the frame d. The extent
of motion of the key frame may be regulated by two screws 21 entering the
part 18, and set in motion by the pinions 22, 23, 24, and thus change
the position of the centres of oscillation of levers 15, by raising or lowering
the said part 18; the more the latter is raised the smaller will be the arc
described by the levers 15, and causing a consequent diminution in the traverse
of the key frame, while the more the part 18 is lowered the greater will be
the are described and the motion of the frame; 25, reservoirs containing
warm acidulated water placed above the apparatus; 26, pipe for conveying
the water to a horizontal pipe 27 ruuning throughout the length of the
apparatus and provided with perforations by means of which the water is
discharged in small jets on to an inclined plane or cover for protecting the

page_text: endless chain. This acidulated water passes through the spaces between the
keys on to the table 6 in contact with the hat cones; 28, 281, taps on pipe 27
for directing the discharge of the water either on frame d or d', according to
whether the operation is being effected at one side or other of the machine;
29, pipe fitted at the upper part of the reservoir 25, passing down under the
machine, where it branches off into two parts 291, 293, furnished with taps
30, 30¹, for discharging steam into one or other of the compartments c¹, c³, for
the purpose of maintaining a suitable degree of heat in the table b.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the felting is effected by the
combined action of 1st, heat; 2ndly, acidulated water; and 3rdly, by pressure,
and 4thly, by a to-and-fro motion which rolls, unrolls, and rolls on afresh
the felt material on the spindles.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same,
I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the arrangement of a reservoir and pipes for the supply of warm
acidulated water and the hollow box for discharging steam from the said
reservoir.
Secondly, the employment of dividing spindles or rollers g, on which are
fixed the hat cones in such manner as to always bring them under the
pressure of the "keys," as before referred to.
Thirdly, the employment of movable or sliding frames d, d', carrying the
spindles or rollers, and always preserving their distances apart whatever may
be the extent of to-and-fro motion of the said frames.
-
Fourthly, the employment of the keys before described and the movable
frame carrying them, by means of which the keys press equally on the felt,
although acting independently one of the other.
Fifthly, the capability of increasing or diminishing the pressure of the
keys.
Sixthly, the capability of increasing or diminishing the extent of motion of
the key frame, while reserving the right of varying the mechanical combina-
tions for effecting the several movements without departing from the principle
of the Invention. For instance, I may use a box made without any divisions
and substitute two parallel endless chains for the sliding carriage d, d', these
chains having continuous alternating rotary motion, and on which the spindles g
would be carried, while above these would act the key carrier frame; the
spindles being disengaged and removed to the other end of the machine,
where the hat cones are again secured to the spindles, and the felting operation
recommenced on the same hat cones.

page_text: I also reserve the right of substituting endless screw or toothed gear for the
endless chains or any other combination or arrangement for producing the
result desired.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)