Improvements in or relating to Felt Hat Planking, Settling and Stumping Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 25th Sept., 1897
Improvements in or relating to Felt Hat Planking, Settling and
Stumping Machines.
I, CHARLES HAROLD BATTERSBY of Offerton Hat Works, Offerton, Stockport, in the
County of Chester, Hat Manufacturer, 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:—
My invention relates to machines used in the manufacture of felt hats for effecting
what is known in hatting as the planking, settling and stumping operations. In such
machines the hat bodies are acted upon by sliding and rotating rollers or other
appliances by which they are subjected to alternate squeezing, rolling and pressing,
and whilst so acted upon are kept saturated with boiling water in order to effect the.
desired shrinkage.
The boiling water so used is obtained from a tank or pan placed beneath the rollers,
and heated by steam, and such water is led through a pipe or pipes to a point above
the rollers, where it is sprayed or distributed over the rollers, and consequently on to
the hats as they pass between, and out of which it is eventually squeezed and
collected in the tank beneath. The means heretofore, and at present, employed for
so lifting the boiling water is an injector, fitted in the line of the pipe, which has
proved a very unsatisfactory appliance for raising boiling water, and owing to the
kemps' or 'stucken' which come off the hats, and get mixed with the water, the
apparatus very frequently gets choked up and ceases to work, and under the best of
conditions works very badly.
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Now my invention has for its object to provide better ineans for elevating the
boiling water, and to prevent all 'kemps' or 'stucken,' getting into the aforesaid
circulating pipe, and therefore of overcoming the various drawbacks at present
existing.
To such end my invention consists in dispensing with the injector, and employing
the rotary pump hereinafter described, and a perforated tray or plate within the box
or cover which usually lies over the planking rollers.
And in order that my said invention may be 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 figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is the general outline of one type of planking machine with my
improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front (or side) view, and Fig. 3 a
transverse vertical section of the rotary pump aforesaid, and Fig. 4 illustrates a
detail on a larger scale.
In accordance with my invention I employ a perforated sheet copper plate or
partition (A), which I fix within the box or frame (B), near the lower side thereof,
and directly over the planking rollers (C) as shewn in Fig. 1. The pipe (D) through
which the hot water is raised extends into the box near the centre and being closed
at its extreme end delivers the water through saw cuts or slits (E) (see Fig. 4), at
different angles over the plate (A). The water thus sprayed, and filtered by the plate
is freed of all kemps' or heavy matters carried by it, which are retained on the plate
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page_text: and periodically removed by the attendant. After filtering through the plate the
water falls on to the rollers and hat bodies beneath, and eventually falls into the tank
or pan (F) there to be reheated, and from whence it again flows into pipe (D) and
under the action of my improved rotary pump is again elevated and delivered on to
the perforated plate.
In addition to the plate (A) I may arrange a similar plate in the tank or plan (F).
The improved pump consists of a body made or composed of stone or earthen-
ware (G) in order to withstand the acid contained in the water, and such body is so
shaped and proportioned as to expose as little of the metal fittings to the water as is
conveniently possible,--the only portion exposed being the cover plate (H), which
forms one side of the chamber or recess for the fan (I), and which is made of brass
and is easily removable. The fan also is made of brass and its arms are cast in one
piece with the nave or hub. It is also fixed on a brass or gun-metal shaft (J), which
passes out through one side of the pump body only, and through a stuffing box and
bearing, and is fitted with fast & loose pulleys (K¹) & (K¹).
To strengthen the stoneware body and effect the connection of pipe (D) I pass
bolts (L) through the several corners, and through plates (H) and (H'), and clamp or
yoke (M). The water from the tank flows in at the centre, and is impelled or forced
through an opening in the pump body tangentially disposed to the periphery of
the fan.
In practice I find the aforesaid construction of pump highly effective and reliable
in raising boiling water, and in conjunction with filter plate (A) renders the flow and
return of the water perfect.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
. I wish it to be understood that although I have described my improvements as applied
to what is known as a roller planking machine they may be applied to other types of
machines used for the planking, settling and stumping of felt hats, and what I claim
and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1. In felt hat planking, settling and stumping machines the combination therewith
of a rotary pump, and filter plate (or plates) mounted, arranged & operating as set
forth & illustrated.
2. A rotary pump constructed & arranged as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The filter plate (A), or its equivalent, as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 11th day of August 1897
CHARLES HAROLD BATTERSBY,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.