IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR MILLING OR FULLING AND PLANKING PROALATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Southworth and William Hamnett both of
Stockport in the County of Chester for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR MILLING OR FULLING AND PLANKING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Southworth and
William Hamnett at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
12th June 1883.
JOSEPH SOUTHWORTH and WILLIAM HAMNETT both of Stockport in the County
of Chester "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR MILLING
OR FULLING AND PLANKING FELT HAT BODIES AND OTHER MATERIALS
"
This invention relates to the construction of a machine known in the hat trade
as a "Bumper" which is applicable to the milling, fulling and planking of felt hat
bodies made of either wool or fur, also of felt carpets and other woollen goods either
felted or woven, as well as in the treatment of hides and skins in the manufacture
of washleathers and for other similar purposes.
The apparatus consists principally of two or more milling or fulling blocks (by
preference two) attached to levers and rising and falling alternately in à Chest or
cistern in which the goods to be treated are placed.
The levers are supported at one end by brackets or standards fixed to or cast
with the chest, and the other end is curved upwards and provided with a friction
bowl. These bowls work upon two curved cams which are fixed to or cast with a
wheel or disc keyed upon a revolving shaft. The form of these cams is such that
in revolving they come beneath the bowl on the curved end of the lever and raise
it (and the milling or fulling blocks with it) and then let it fall upon the goods.
D

page_text: The lever works in a slot at the lower end of which is a buffer of india rubber or
other suitable material to deaden the shock and that part of the cam whereon the
bowl falls is made with a tongue which is recessed into the cam and is provided
with an india rubber or other spring so as to act as a spring buffer and lessen the
shock on the machine as the levers fall.
The shaft on which the wheel or disc is keyed may be either driven direct or it
may be made in the form of a spur wheel and driven by means of a spur pinion
keyed upon a counter shaft.
The whole machine is portable and self contained, all the parts being above the
ground line and enclosed in a suitable framework.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Southworth and William Hamnett in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 12th December 1883.
JOSEPH SOUTHWORTH and WILLIAM HAMNETT both of Stockport in the County.
of Chester "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR MILLING
OR FULLING AND PLANKING FELTED HAT BODIES AND OTHER MATERIALS
"
This invention relates to the construction of a machine known to the hat trade
as a "Bumper" which is applicable to the milling fulling, and planking of felted
hat bodies made of either wool or fur, also of felt carpets and other woollen goods
either felted or woven as well as in the treatment of hides and skins in the
manufacture of washleathers and for other similar purposes and also for softening
down silks.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention we will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect and in order that the same may be clearly understood
we have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those
in the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. is a vertical section of our improved "Bumper" and Fig. 2. is a similar
view of a modification of the same hereinafter referred to.
The apparatus consists principally of one two, or more milling or fulling
blocks a, a (by preference two) attached to levers b, 6 and rising and falling
alternately in a chest or cistern c, c in which the goods to be treated are placed.
The levers b, b¹ are supported at one end by brackets or standards d, à fixod to
or cast with the chest c, c and the other end is curved upwards and provided with
a friction bowl e, e¹. These bowls e, e¹ work upon curved cams ƒ, ƒ ƒ¹, ƒ¹ (two to
each lever) which are fixed to or cast with a wheel or disc g, g keyed upon a
revolving shaft h, h.
The form of these cams is such that in revolving they come beneath the bowl e,
or e' on the curved end of the lever b, or b¹ and raise it (and the milling or fulling
blocks a, a¹ with it) and then let it fall upon the goods. The lever works in a
slotted guide i, i at the lower end of which is a buffer k of india rubber or other
suitable material to deaden the shock (or the buffer may be on the lever) and that
part of the cam f, or f¹ whereon the bowl e, or e¹ falls may be made with a tongue
which is recessed into the cam and is provided with an india rubber or other
spring so as to act as a spring buffer and lessen the shock on the machine as the
levers fall.
The shaft h, h on which the wheel or disc is keyed may be either driven direct
or the wheel or rim g, g may be made in the form of a spur wheel and driven by
means of a spur pinion keyed upon a counter shaft.
The whole machine is portable and self contained all the parts being above the
ground line and enclosed in a suitable frame-work.
In Fig. 2 the bowls e, e¹ are attached to the levers b, b' at a point between the
fulcrum and the milling or fulling blocks a, a¹; and in this case only two cams
(one to each lever) are employed. This arrangement makes the machine shorter
and more compact.
In other cases (for example in milling some kinds of leathers) we propose to
employ steam heated chests, either corrugated or smooth on the inside and
corrugated or smooth blocks

page_text: Having now described the nature and object of our said invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect we wish it to be understood that we claim as our invention the
general construction and arrangement of the apparatus substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the drawings annexed; and more especially
we claim the form of the arms or levers and the curved Cams for actuating the
same.
In witness whereof I the said William Hamnett (on behalf of myself and the
said Joseph Southworth) have hereunto my hand seal this Eleventh day of
December in the year of our Lord One thousand' eight hundred and Eighty three
WILLIAM HAMNETT (L.S.)