Improvements in Felt Hat Body Presses.
Year: 1894

page_text: Improvements in Felt Hat Body Presses.
I, WILLIAM HENERY BLACKWELL of Manor Street, Hooley Hill, near
Manchester, Patentee, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
My invention refers to felt hat body presses in which the body or crown of
a felt hat is given its final shape under the pressure of water or other compressed
Huid in an iron dish or mould. At present this dish is made of considerable
thickness so as to withstand the pressure and as a consequence such dish is very
heavy and unwieldy to lift or handle. Unless very evenly and correctly made
and if very much worn such dish sometimes cracks or breaks under the strain.
Now my invention has for its object to provide means for enabling the dish
to be relieved of all strain and therefore permit of its being made of less thickness
and weight than heretofore, and consists in permitting the water or other fluid
which enters the interior of the moulding dish (or moulding bag which fits inside
the dish) for moulding the hat body to simultaneously act upon the exterior of
the dish and thereby render the dish neutral to both pressures, the pressure
on the outside of the dish being equal to the pressure on the inside of the dish.
By thus equalising the pressures the dish may be made very much thinner and
lighter than heretofore. The external pressure can be readily applied by using
a tank or vessel fixed beneath the table of the press and directly beneath the
dish into which the water may enter through a suitable pipe communicating with
the accumulator, pump or other apparatus supplying the water under pressure.
The moulding dish requiring to be changed for dishes of other sizes the opening
into which it fits is provided with a suitable water tight joint.
The external pressure may be obtained from a source independent of that from
which the internal pressure is obtained and may be obtained by filling the tank
with water to a certain extent before the dish is placed in position and then forcing
the dish down, the pressures being equal when the dish is at its lowest point.
It will be obvious that air or gas may be substituted for water.
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C L... L001
Improvements in Felt Hat Body Presses.
i, WILLIAM HENERY BLACKWELL, of Manor Street, Hooley Hill, near
Manchester, Patentee, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-

page_text: a felt hat is given its final shape under the pressure of water or other compressed
fluid in an iron dish or mould. At present this dish is made of considerable
thickness so as to withstand the pressure and as a consequence such dish is very
heavy and unwieldy to lift or handle. Unless very evenly and correctly made
and if very much worn said dish is also liable to crack or break under the strain.
Now my invention has for its object to provide means for enabling the dish
to be relieved of all strain and therefore permit of its being made of less thickness
and weight than heretofore, and consists essentially in permitting the water or
other fluid which enters and acts upon the interior of the moulding dish (or
moulding bag which fits inside the dish) for moulding the hat body, to simul-
taneously act upon the exterior of the dish and thereby render the dish neutral
to both pressures, the pressure on the outside of the dish being equal to the
pressure on the inside of the dish.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will
now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and
letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front view (partly in section and partly in elevation) of a hydraulic
hat press with my improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2 illustrates parts of such press made in accordance with a modification of
my invention.
In carrying out my invention I form a well or pocket (A) in the table top (B)
of the machine, and into this well introduce an india-rubber bag (C) the edges
of which lie on the table top and are clamped by an annular ring or plate (D).
Within this bag the hat mould or dish (E) is placed, and the several parts occupy
the position shewn in Fig. 1.
Between the bag (C) and the bottom of the well (A) is a space (F) into which
the water from the accumulator or pump is admitted through pipes (G) and (H).
Water from the same source enters through the flexible pipe (1) in the ordinary
manner into the cover of the hat press and into the bag (J).
The hat to be pressed being dropped into the hat mould (E) the cover is lowered
on to the table and locked thereon in the usual way, the india-rubber bag (JJ)
being inside the hat body.
Water under pressure from the accumulator or pump being now turned on by
a cock or valve common to the pipes (G) (H) and (1) it enters the space (F)
beneath the dish (E), and simultaneously enters the interior of the bng (J) ns
indiented by the arrows. The pressure being practically equal upon the interior
and exterior of the hat mould, the said dish is free from strain and consequently it
may be made of very light section.
femploy the bag (C) to keep a permanent water tight joint with the table
top, and to avoid the necessity of making such joint every time the dish is changed.
The bag however may be dispensed with and the joint made by clamping the hat
dish flange onto a rubber or similar packing ring each time the dish is changed.
The external pressure may be obtained from a source independent of that from
which the internal pressure is obtained, but the arrangement would not be so
convenient or reliable. The pressures may vary slightly if desired (say to allow
for difference in superficial areas) and reducing or proportioning valves may be
employed for effecting the variation.
In Fig. 2 I show a modification of my invention, in which the external pressure
is obtained by the dish being forced into the well (A) which is more or less filled
with water and the sides of which (or the sides of the dish) are provided with
a U shaped packing ring or cup leather (K) to make the water tight joint and to
retain the pressure.
In this modification the external pressure is designed to equal
the internal pressure when the flange of the mould comes to rest on the table top.
The dish is forced down by a screw or lever acting directly on the dish, or by the
action of the pressure in the cover.
It will be obvious that air or gas or other fluid may be substituted for water.

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In hydraulic hat presses the application of means whereby the pressure may
be caused to simultaneously act upon the interior and exterior of the hat mould
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. In hydraulic hat presses the use of a well (A) connected by pipe (H) to
the pressure supply, rubber bag (C) and clamping ring (D) all mounted and
arranged as and for the purposes set forth.
3rd. In hydraulic hat presses the use of the dish (F), well (A) and cup
leather (K) as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 19th day of March 1895.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.