Improvements in Apparatus for Steaming Felt Hats and Felt Hat Bodies.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Steaming Felt Hats and Felt
Hat Bodies.
We, BERNHARD HERZBERG, and LEO HERZBERG, of 10 and 11, Chiswell
Street, London, Hat Manufacturers, 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 :-
our
Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for carrying out
improved process of steaming felt hats and felt hat bodies, for which Letters
Patent No. 3,802 of 1887 have been granted to us, and has for its object to
facilitate such operation, and ensure a more certain result.
°
We attain such object by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus when closed, taken on the
line A. B Figure 5.
Figure 2 is a similar view thereof when open with the tray drawn out as presently
described.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section thereof taken on the line C. D. Figure 5 ;-and
Figure 4 is a transverse section thereof taken on the line E. F. Figure 1 and 3.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the apparatus shewing the steam tight door
closed.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
Such apparatus consists of a steam jacket, which encloses a steam chest h.
The space between the two marked c, forms a steam chamber. A perforated
sliding tray d, furnished with a suitable handle d', is fitted in the bottom of the
steam chest, and is mounted on grooved rollers e, and supports e¹, which travel on
rails, and so allow the tray to be run in and drawn out as required. The rails
fit into the grooves in the rollers and supports, and so keep the tray in position.
The tray is likewise fitted with a folding bracket, furnished with grooved
rollers, so that when it is desired to draw out the tray, such folding bracket is
turned down to support the front of the tray, and facilitate its easy travel as shewn
in Figure 2. When so turned down the rollers, travel on rails ³, laid on the
ground or floor. Fitted to the tray are standards y, which carry coiled pipes h,
arranged in any convenient number of tiers. These coiled pipes, together with the
sliding tray, serve to carry the articles which are to be steamed. Steam is
admitted into the coiled pipes through an inlet pipe i, valve, and steam pipe k,
which latter is fitted with cocks 1, and screw nuts m. When steam is so admitted,
it circulates through the coiled pipes, which are heated before placing the hats
and hat bodies thereon and the steam is thence conveyed through a pipe a into the
steam chamber c between the steam jacket and steam chest. Steam is also
simultaneously admitted into such steam chamber through a valves, and pipe s¹ so
as to raise the temperature of such chamber to the required degree. The apparatus
is then allowed to stand awhile for the pipes and steam chamber e to become
thoroughly heated. The steam is then shut off by closing the valvej after which
the cock and screw nuts m are disconnected and the perforated tray d whereon
the coiled pipes are mounted is drawn out. The articles to be steamed are
then placed upon such coiled pipes after which the tray is run in the screw nuts m
are reconnected and the cock reopened and the door closed. The valve is then
reopened thus readmitting steam to the coiled pipes and steam is then admitted
into the steam chest b, through a valve o, and pipe o¹, leading to a perforated inlet.
pipe p, through which latter the steam passes, and diffuses itself through the

page_text: interior of the steam chest, and so penetrates and permeates the fabric of the
articles contained therein.
The steam employed is dry steam so that little, if any, condensation occurs, thus
keeping the articles under treatment dry. q' are waste pipes through which any
condensed steam that may be in the steam chamber and steam chest escapes, and
is conducted to any suitable outlet or receptacle.
After the steam has circulated through the apparatus in the manner already
described it may if desired he reutilised for superheating the coils and steam
chamber. To effect this the valvej is closed and a second inlet valve t together
with a suitable injector apparatus t₁ are fitted to the inlet pipe i. Connected with
such injector is a pipe u, through which the used steam is drawn off, and after
being mixed with fresh steam, which is admitted through the valve t into the
injector ', it is again conveyed through a branch pipe e, into the steam pipe A, and
thence into the coiled pipes, and steam chamber c. Such re-utilising apparatus
is not however an essential feature of our invention and may be dispensed with if
.desired.
After the articles contained in the steam chest have been steamed the steam is
shut off by closing the valves j. o. and t, and also the valve s, if the apparatus is not
then required for further use, the door w of the apparatus is opened; the cocks
turned off, and the coiled pipes h disconnected from the steam pipe k, by unscrewing
the nuts m; the folding bracket is then lowered, and the tray and coiled pipes are
-drawn out by the handle d', and the articles under treatment are removed. When
so removed the tray is again run in and the apparatus is closed-the nuts m are
screwed up and the cocks / reopened so that steam at discretion can again be
admitted if required through the valve j, into the steam pipe k, in order to keep both
the steam chest and steam chamber at a proper temperature to treat the next batch
of goods.
When the apparatus is shut the door is closed against the flange, Figure 4 so
as to be steam tight and secured by folding clamps w each of which are bolted
nutted and screwed as shewn in Figure 5. is the hinge of the door.
A cold air cock, Figures 3, 4, is fitted to the apparatus in any convenient
position. When steam is admitted to the steam chamber c in the manner already
described such cold air cock is opened and the cold air contained in such steam
chamber is allowed to escape after which the cold air cock is again closed. kare
supports carrying the rails whereon the perforated sliding tray travels.
The steam jacket a, and steam chest b, are fitted with suitable steam pressure
gauges,, and safety valves y, y', and the apparatus is carried on suitable
standards or supports z.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
The general arrangement and combination of parts, constituting the improved
apparatus for carrying out our improved process of steaming felt hats and felt hat
bodies, all substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn."
Dated this 2nd day of October 1893.
ELT & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for Applicants.