IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FELTING HAT BODIES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR FELTING HAT BODIES."-A communication from abroad
by Job William Blackham, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 9th July 1867, and dated the 14th January 1867.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 14th January 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the " Internationl Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR FELTING HAT BODIES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant
unto me, niy executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been communicated
to me from abroad by Job William Blackham, of Brooklyn, New York,
United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully

page_text: describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed in and by the following statement:-
The said Invention relates to that class of machines in which hat bodies are
introduced at one end of the machine in a rolled up condition and delivered at
the other end of the machine in the same condition, except that they are more
or less felted by their passage through the machine, the hat bodies to be sub-
sequently unrolled and rolled up again in the opposite direction, or introduced
anew in the same condition as they leave the machine, and thus treated any
number of times, according as the work requires, to perfect or nearly perfect
the felting process.
Many efforts have been made to attain the proper conditions in felting, or
as it is technically termed " planking" or "hardening," hats by the aid of
machinery. My machine differs substantially from all previously known to me
in its construction and mode of operation. I have felted a sufficient number
of hats on it to know that it is practically successful.
My improved machine contains a bed of rollers, and is adapted to receive
the hats thereon at one end of the machine in a rolled-up condition and to
discharge them at the other end in nearly the same condition, except that the
material is felted and worked in the interim so as to full and harden the stuff.
It is adapted for the direct application of steam and water to the hats during
the operation of felting, and can, by increasing the length and the number of
the rollers treat a large number of hats at the same time.
Such being the object of my Invention, I will proceed to describe more in
detail the manner in which the same is to be performed; and in order that the
method of carrying the said Invention into practical effect may be fully
explained and perfectly understood I have annexed hereunto three Sheets of
illustrative Drawings, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof.
Figures 1 and 2 represent a machine constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on the line S, S, in Figure 2; Figure 2 is a
plan view with a portion of the upper work removed to show the rolls;
Figures 3 and 4 represent certain modifications in the apparatus which involve
some of the features of my Invention which may be preferred under some
circumstances, and in the treatment of some varieties of hat bodies, whether
made from ordinary furs or other material. Figure 3 is a central longitudinal
section on the line T, T, in Figure 4; Figure 4 is a plan view of the entire
machine; Figures 5, 6, and 7 represent another modification in the form and
arrangement of certain parts of the apparatus. Figure 5 is a longitudinal
section through the machine; Figure 6 is a plan view represented with a

page_text: portion broken away to show the work below; Figure 7 is a cross section.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
The materials may be of the kinds used in the previous attempts at adapting
machinery to this purpose.
"
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is a rigid framework; B is a frame adapted
to travel laterally within A; a series of rollers having swells thereon formed
and arranged as represented by b, b, are supported in the frame B, and are
turned continuously all in the same direction and all with equal speed; these
swells alternate in position with each other, that is to say, the swells on one
roller are placed opposite to the depressed or the most contracted points in
the next roller. C is a presser, grooved on its under side, as indicated by c,
and adapted to travel backward and forward longitudinally on the machine.
The hats are treated directly between the bed of slowly revolving rollers B, 6,
and the under surface of the grooved presser C, c. A is an inclined board to
facilitate the introduction of the previously rolled-up hats; A is an inclined
board adapted to facilitate the delivery of the hats after they have been treated
by the machine. The hats are intended to be treated many times in succession,
and to be opened and again rolled up at short intervals, as is practised in
planking" by hand. The machine is actuated by a steam engine or other
convenient power (not represented) acting to give a rotary motion to the
shaft D mounted in bearings on the framing A. Excentrics d¹, d², fixed on
the shaft D by the aid of excentric, straps, and rods e', e, communicate the
proper reciprocating motion to the presser C by taking hold of the cross
bar C, which latter and the corresponding cross bar C² are fixed across the
back of the presser C and overhang at each end, as represented; F, F, are
slotted levers mounted at the points f and adapted to guide the presser C in
its reciprocations by taking hold of the cross bars C, C, immediately adjacent
to the shoulders c¹ without interfering with any vertical motion to which it
may be subjected. G1, G2, G³, G, are springs, which may be coiled steel wire,
as represented, or may be composed of strips of india-rubber or analogous
material, which are looped over the overhanging ends of the cross bars C¹, C²,
and are connected to cords or analogous flexible parts passing under pulleys h
and wound around the shafts I, I, as represented; these shafts I, I, may be
turned by a suitable wrench or other convenient device so as to wind up more
or less of the springs G, and thus increase or diminish their tension. At each
revolution of the shaft D the presser C, c, travels forward and backward, while.
the springs G described hold it down upon the hats with more or less force,.
according as the shafts I, I, are adjusted. A belt J leads over the pulley d
on the shaft D and communicates a slow rotary motion to the wheel b' which

page_text: is keyed on a shaft 62 carrying a gear wheel 63 which meshes into the first of
the train of gearing 6, 5, and thus imparts a slow rotary motion to the rollers b,
all in the same direction, as above premised. The hats are rolled up in the
direction indicated by the heavy volute line marked H. At each forward
movement of the presser C each hat is carried forward by the joint action of
the presser and the rolls, both tending to move it forward. At each backward
movement of the presser each hat remains in the recess between two of the
rolls b, simply turning without moving either forward or backward. The
motion of the rolls 6 tends to carry each hat forward, but the motion of the
presser in the opposite direction tends to work it backward. The speed of the
movement of the presser is considerably greater than that of the surfaces of the
rolls; this tends to cause a movement of the hat backwards, but is not sufficient
to actually induce such a movement; the tendency to do so tends to induce a
very tight rolling up of the hat, and the said hat is thus rolled tighter and tighter
as it progresses through the machine. I ascribe much importance to this pro-
perty of my machine. Each forward movement of the presser C in carrying
the hat forward and changing its position slightly unrolls the hat, but each
backward movement of the presser holds the hat in a V-shaped recess and
rolls it up again tighter than before. A connection K leads from a crank d'
on the end of the shaft D to one arm of the bell-crank lever L' which is
pivoted at the point to the framing A; the revolution of the shaft D gives a
reciprocating motion to this lever; L' is a similar lever pivoted on the point
and connected by the rod K¹ to the lever L¹, so as to move in conformity
therewith. M¹, M³, are connections from the other arms of the levers L'; L,
to the carriage B which supports the rollers 6 and their connections before
described. At each revolution of the shaft D the crank d' and its connected
mechanism gives a reciprocating motion to the carriage B and its connections,
the notion being across the machine or in the direction parallel to the axes
of the rollers b. The action induced on the hats by the combination of the
longitudinal reciprocating motion of the platform C, c, with the continued
rotary motion of the rollers 6 is sufficiently severe for the treatment of the bat
bodies while they are in the soft state in the early stages of the bardening
process, and it is therefore desirable that in being treated at that stage each
lot of bats be relieved from the cross motion due to the action of the levers.
L', L, and their connections; I therefore provide for the disconnection of
this latter mechanism and throw it out of use at will; I effect this by removing
the pin which is inserted through the crank pin d' and slipping the con-
nection K off from the latter, allowing it to remain idle; this position of this
part is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. In this condition of the machine

page_text: the hats are felted by the reciprocation of C, c, and the rolling of 6; they are
rolled up and introduced at one end of the machine as they are dropped out
at the other end and opened and re-rolled and again introduced as many times
as is required to induce the proper extent of the hardening operation. When
they have been hardened to a moderate degree by this mode of treatment I
then stop the machine, slip the connection K upon the crank d', insert the
pin do, and again start the machine, introducing and removing the hats as
before. In this new condition of the machine the bats are more severely
treated by the combination of the cross motion of the rollers & with the several
motions before described. It will be observed that the belt J and its con-
nections are adapted to impart the proper rotary motion to the several rollers b
in every position of the reciprocating carriage B. After the bats have been
treated a sufficient number of times in this more severe manner they will
become fully hardened. Toward the close of the operation the workmen may
observe the progress at each unrolling and re-rolling of each hat, and may
leave out those which are sufficiently hardened, until the whole of the lot is
completed, and the machine may then be changed back to the simple condition
by again removing the connection K from the crank d', and another lot of
soft hat bodies may be commenced on. I do not confine myself to the special
means represented of stopping and again starting the cross motion of the
rollers ; many well-known mechanical devices may be substituted which
will be obvious to good mechanics. The employment of a proper counter-
shaft with fast and loose pulleys, or a suitable clutch, as a means of stopping
and starting the cross motion will enable this to be effected without stopping
the other parts of the machinery. If the platform C and its attachments be
made very heavy it may be necessary instead of increasing the load upon
itself by the action of the springs G to relax the force of these springs
entirely, and also to relieve the hats of a portion of the weight of the presser
and its connections. I can do this by introducing another series of springs
acting in the opposite direction mounted parallel to the springs G, or by
introducing suspending springs extending down from the ceiling of the apart-
ment, or from a suitable framing above. P represents the lower end of a
spring made adjustable by turning the shaft Q, to which it is connected, and
adapted to lift on the centre of gravity of the presser as nearly as possible. I
have found such to be successful in practice. I propose in all cases to support
a shallow tank of water N under the bed of rolls b, and to introduce therein
steam pipes having perforations or nozzles on their upper sides and connected
to a steam boiler (not represented), so as to throw up jets of steam and
water against and between the rollers 6 to heat and wet the hats as the work

page_text: proceeds. The water is applied in a more highly heated condition by these
than by any ordinary means, and the direct contact of the steam with the
hats I believe to be highly favorable to the object sought.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the tank with its contents is suspended on
springs U, U, U, U, which are adjustable by nuts u, so as to raise and lower
the tank, or increase and diminish the force with which the tank is held up or
supported. There is a deep part of the tank at the end of the machine in
which the hat bodies may be conveniently dipped by the operator in the work
of unrolling and re-rolling. Thero are longitudinal grooves on each side of
the presser C, c, as indicated in Figure 4; V, V, are bell-crank levers mounted
on the framing A; the lower arm of each carries a pin which enters the
aforesaid grooves in the sides of the presser or rubbing board C, c.
The upper
arm is connected by rods to a lever W, which is pivoted to the framing A
at its lower end; W₁ is a spring attached to A and to W, and which pulls the
lever W and its connections towards the front of the machine. X is a cam
carried on the revolving shaft D; it pushes the levers V and their connections
backward and holds them back during a portion of each revolution. There
are cranks carried on the ends of the shaft D; Y, Y, are connecting rods
which connect these cranks to a cross bar on the rubbing board C, c; the
shaft D is rotated by gearing from any convenient power not represented.
The cranks cause the rubbing board C, c, to travel forward and backward.
The cams X and springs Walternately elevate and depress C, c, by the aid
of the levers V, so that the motion of C, c, is peculiar; it maintains always a
position parallel to the bottom of the tank, and consequently parallel to the
axes of the rollers, in other words, all the rollers lie level and the rubber C, c,
stands always level above them, but the latter has four motions; first, it
comes down nearly to the upper surface of the rollers b; second, it moves
along backwards, rolling the hat bodies which are between it and the rollers;
third, it rises; and, fourth, it moves forward to again sink to its work.
will be seen that the depth which the rubber C, c, is allowed to sink may vary
according to circumstances; thus if the hat bodies are thick, or if any foreign
substance gets between C, c, and the rollers the springs Ware held partially
extended, or are not allowed to contract to the same extent as usual, and no
breakage of any part occurs. The swells or bulges on the rollers act on every
part of the material; a hat body rarely, if ever, rolls through the machine
exactly in a strictly straight line, and the said swells or bulges distribute their
action over every part; the boiling water constantly thrown up by the jets of
steam keeps the material wet and hot.
It
I propose generally, in either form of my apparatus, to place two of these

page_text: machines side by side in reverse positions, and employ two attendants, one at
each end; each attendant receives the hats which fall from the discharging
end of one machine, and after re-rolling them, if necessary, introduces them
into the receiving end of the associated machine. The rollers 6 may be
geared in any convenient manner, and revolved either in a direction to
promote or retard the travel of the hats. I propose in this form of the
machine to give them such a motion backwards as shall retard the hat to a
very great extent, and thus prolong the period during which each hat body is
treated in the machine, but care must be taken not to prolong the action too
much without re-rolling the material. I propose to substitute rollers either
geared or free for the ribs on the under surface of the rubber C, c. It is not
essential that these four motions be obtained by the cranks, connections, and
levers exactly as here described, for many other ways of securing such motion
will readily suggest themselves to good mechanics; but I deem it important
that the work shall be yielding, that is, either that the descending motion of
the part C, c, shall be induced only by a spring W₁ or the like, or that the
rollers & shall yield by the extension of the springs U, or otherwise; I prefer
the construction represented. I introduce a steam cock or screw valve in the
pipe which brings the steam from the boiler, by adjusting which the pressure
of the steam in the steam pipe, and consequently the force with which the
clastic fluid will issue from the orifices therein, may be varied as the work
shall require. In all cases I propose to throw up enough steam and water to
keep the rollers and hat bodies not only thoroughly wet but heated nearly or
quite to the temperature of steam at the atmospheric pressure. I make the
spring W of such force as will, under ordinary circumstances hold the lever W
firmly back against the driving shaft D or the cam X thereon, and I make
the tension of the springs U which sustain the tank adjustable by the nuts u,
so as to allow the tank and its contents, the roller, etcs. to yield to a greater
or less force as may be required so as to roll the hats with more or less
pressure as each point in each hat body passes over the swells on the
rollers. Some furs and some stages of the work require more pressure than
others. It will be obvious that the hat bodies may be rolled and introduced
by the attendant in such a manner as to give either a right or left roll to the
material without changing the action of the machine.
Referring to Figures 5, 6, and 7, the rollers are all free to turn, and the
bed of rollers forms a lower surface, along which the hats travel in the act of
passing through the machine. Z is an endless apron formed of wooden slats
grooved longitudinally as represented, and attached together by iron links or
otherwise, so as to be sufficiently flexible; it is carried on two drums, and is

page_text: caused to travel slowly by the rotation of these drums, driven by gearing or
otherwise, in the direction indicated by the arrows; cross planks forming a
platform Z serve to hold the lower portion of the apron Z in position and
prevent it from yielding upwards; in other words, the endless apron travels in
a straight line the path from the lower side of the drum at the back to the
lower side of the drum at the front; the under face of the portion of the
apron travelling between these wheels in this manner forms the upper surfaco
for felting the hats. Links Z are jointed to the frame which carries the
rollers and extend to the cranks or excentrics represented on the shaft, which
is impelled by gearing or otherwise in the direction of the arrows; the effect
of this rotation is to reciprocate the link Z³, and consequently to move
the entire frame with its rollers backward and forward. The hats aro
introduced properly rolled up in a fabric or otherwise at the right side of the
machine; they are drawn in by the slow motion of the endless apron Z and
gradually travel through the machine, but in doing so their motion is not
continuous, or if it is in any case continuously forward for any portion of its
route the rollers below being reciprocated backward and forward under them
each roller is presented many times to the hat instead of only once. In practice
the hats are liable to move either backward or forward according to the
motion of the lower surface, or to move steadily forward according to the
motion of the upper surface, or to partake of the motion of each and move
irregularly. The rollers may be turned by a positive motion forward and
backward instead of leaving them free, if preferred. Very slight variations in
the motions to which the stock is subjected make important differences in the
result. The stock as ordinarily treated in machines is "deadened" by reason
of the peculiar motions to which it is subjected. My theory is that the
motion in my apparatus in its several forms keeps it "alive" like hand
felting. I believe that the fibres are crowded upon each other endwise by my
mode of working, and matted together with a tendency to project the ends of
the fibres to the outside of the stock, or in other words, to leave the ends of a
great portion of the fibres free on the surface of the bat. The intermittent
pressure on the hats may be obtained in the first form of my apparatus
(represented in Figures 1 and 2) by making the spring P so stiff as to nearly
or quite lift the presser at each extremity of its motion. Where the presser
is light, so that no lifting force from the spring P is ordinarily required, it is
sufficient to extend the cord represented as attached to the spring P and
attach it directly to the presser C, giving it so much slack by properly setting
the shaft that it shall become effective only at and near the extreme ends
of the motion. Thus adjusted the presser C will press on the hats during the

page_text: middle portion of its motion in both directions, but will be lifted off for a
period at each end of the motion.
Having now fully described my Invention, what I claim as new and desire
to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:-
First, I claim the combination and arrangement of the reciprocating
presser C, c, with the bed of rollers b, so as to treat the hats by the surfaces of
the presser and the rollers, substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
Second, I claim in connection with the above so proportioning the extent
and velocity of the motion of the presser C to the size and velocity of rotation
of the rollers 6 that the hats shall tighten in the roll and tend to stand and
roll with only a rotary motion during a great portion of the return movement
of the part C, and shall tend to advance to an extent equal to the diameter.
of one of the rollers 6 during each forward movement, substantially as and for
the
purpose herein set forth.
Third, I claim in combination with the presser C and rollers 6 the springs
G1, G, etc. or their equivalents, arranged as herein specified for increasing
the force with which the hat is treated, as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
Fourth, I claim in combination with the presser C and rollers & the shaft I
and cords g, or their equivalents, arranged as specified for graduating the
effect of the force in holding down the presser C, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
Fifth, I claim the spring P, or its equivalent, arranged to operate in
opposition to the gravity of the presser C, so as to reduce the pressure on the
hats, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Sixth, I claim the devices, substantially as berein shown and described, for
putting into and out of action the lateral motion of the bed of rollers b.
Seventh, I claim the within described swells on the rollers b, arranged
relatively to each other and to the other parts, substantially as herein
specified.
Eighth, I claim ejecting steam and heated water upon hat bodies while in
the process of felting, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein
specified.
Ninth, I claim the periodic intermission of the action on the hat bodies by
the increased separation of the upper part from the rollers to allow the fibres
to assume their easiest position, as above specified.
Tentb, 1 claim giving to the bed of rollers b, arranged as specified, a
longitudinally reciprocating movement while the hat is caused to travel

page_text: slowly along and acted on by the endless apron Z, arranged to operate in
relation thereto, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
W. ROB. LAKE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)