Improvements in or relating to the Process of Proofing or Stiffening of Hat Bodies, and in Apparatus employed therein.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1892-Accepted. 6th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Process of Proofing or Stiffening
of Hat Bodies, and in Apparatus employed therein.
We, WILLIAM BEAMONT HART, of Gransmoor, Fairfield, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Chemist, and ADAM ASHWORTH, of Hooley Hill, near
Manchester aforesaid, Hat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the process of proofing or stiffening hat bodies and
consists chiefly in recovering the alcohol or other volatile liquid employed; and in
an arrangement of apparatus for such purpose.
The proofing solution contains as a constituent, alcohol or other volatile liquid
and the usual method of proofing hat bodies consists in applying the-proofing
solution to the hat bodies, allowing them to stand so impregnated for some time in
the open air and then placing the same in a heated chamber or room to drive off or
dissipate the alcohol or other volatile liquid no attempt being made to recover the
evaporated fluid.
In carrying our invention into effect we place the hat bodies after impregnation
with the proofing or stiffening solution in a chamber that can be closed and so shut
off from the outer air. This said chamber can be heated to and maintained at any
required temperature suitable for the volatilization of the said alcohol or other
volatile fluid.
By the aid of a fan, blower, or other suitable means a circulation of the
atmosphere enclosed in the chamber is caused either continuously or intermittently
as required. The enclosed air when at the proper temperature will absorb the
alcohol or other volatile liquid and by circulation is then carried forward to a
condensing arrangement whereby it is cooled to a suitably low temperature so that
the alcohol or other volatile fluid is condensed to a large extent back to a liquid
form and so.recovered. The air is returned from the condenser to the closed
chamber to absorb again a further quantity of the said alcohol or other volatile
liquid and again passed through the coudenser this circulation being continued
until the operation is completed.
In this manner one definite volume of air enclosed in the apparatus is caused to
circulate through the said apparatus and so effect the removal of the vapour of the
alcohol or other volatile liquid to the cooling arrangement where the said vapour
condensed and so recovered.
Dated this 6th day of October 1891.
is
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Process of Proofing or Stiffening
of Hat Bodies and in Apparatus employed therein.
We, WILLIAM BEAMONT HART, of Gransmoor, Fairfield, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Chemist, and ADAM ASHWORTH, of Hooley Hill, ncar
Manchester aforesaid, 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 :-
This invention relates to the process of proofing or stiffening hat bodies, and
consists chiefly in recovering in an improved manner the alcohol or other volatile
**† Price Bit.
Betwe
-

page_text: liquid employed as solvent, and in an improved arrangement of apparatus for the
said purpose.
The proofing solution contains as a constituent alcohol or other volatile liquid,
and the usual method of proofing hat bodies consists in applying the proofing
solution to the hat bodies, allowing them to stand so impregnated for some time in
the workroom exposed to the air, and then placing the same in a heated chamber
or room to drive off or dissipate the alcohol or other volatile liquid, no attempt
being made to recover the evaporated spirit.
And in order that our invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we will describe the accompanying three sheets of drawings reference being
had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation of our improved apparatus showing the heating
arrangement, the heated chambers and condenser.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same and
Fig. 3 a front elevation with door open.
The apparatus consists of a chamber or oven a fitted inside with perforated
shelves b. Round the front of the chamber is a flange c with smooth surface, in
which flange bolts d are inserted at intervals with slots in the ends to allow a
cotter e to be fixed in each; the door f, hung on hinges from one side, has also a
smooth face inside, with holes g corresponding to the bolts in the flange. On
closing the door and fastening it with the bolts and cotters, a tight joint is obtained,
aided by packing in the usual way. Though we describe this method of closing the
chamber, we do not limit ourselves to it, as any other convenient arrangement may
be adopted for the purpose. An outlet h preferably cone shaped or dished, of
suitable size, leads from the top or near the top of the chamber a by a pipe i to an
efficient condenser consisting of coils of pipe ; placed inside an outer cylinder k
through which cylinder a current of cold water flows; but here also we do not
limit ourselves to this arrangement as any other suitable condensing apparatus may
be employed. The lower end of the pipe j is then connected by a pipe / to one
branch m of a T tube or tube consisting of three branches the second branch n
leading to a collecting vessel o which is closed from the air and has a tap p for the
removal of the recovered liquid after the operation; the third brunch q leads to
any blower and gas exhauster r such as a Root's blower, and from thence a pipe s
leads to a heating arrangement.
Below, or in other suitable position near the chamber a, is placed a heating
chamber t, in which is fixed a series of pipes u one end v of which is in communica-
tion with the chamber a, the other end with the pipe s. These pipes u can be
heated by a fire, stove, or any other convenient means.
After impregnation of the hat bodies with the proofing solution we place
them on the shelves b, inside the chamber a, the door f of which is then closed
tightly.
The series of pipes u, fixed in the chamber t, is now heated in the manner
described to a suitable temperature for the volatilization of the said alcohol or
other volatile liquid contained in the hat bodies, and at the same time the blower
or exhauster is set in motion. The air in the pipes u is thus heated and caused to
pass into the chamber a vaporizing and absorbing to a certain extent the spirit in
the hat bodies.
By circulation, the atmosphere in the apparatus passes through the opening / into
the coil j. where the vapour of the alcohol or other volatile liquid is cooled and so
condensed to a liquid form and collected in the vessel o; the cooled air passing by
the pipe g through the exhauster r, returns by the pipes to the series of heated
pipes & to be again heated and circulated through the apparatus.
This circulation is continued until the operation is completed.
When the atmosphere in the apparatus is once set in motion by the exhauster
the latter may be stopped if preferred and the cold air allowed to return from the
outlet pipe of the condenser to the heating arrangement; the cold air may also be
allowed to pass from the condenser outlet direct to the heating arrangement without

page_text: the use of the exhauster in any part of the operation; in each case the air in the
apparatus will circulate through the same but at a slower rate than is the case when
the exhauster is used continuously. In this manner one definite volume of air
enclosed in the apparatus is caused to circulate through the said apparatus and so
effect the removal of the vapour of the alcohol or other volatile liquid to the
cooling arrangement where the vapour is condensed and so recovered. The alcohol
or other volatile liquid so recovered can now be used as required. On removal of
the hat bodies from the chamber the quality of the proofing is found to be superior
to that obtained in the usual manner.
Instead of using perforated shelves, the atmosphere may be caused to pass over
the shelves alternately from one side to the other.
Those portions of the apparatus coming in contact with the hot atmosphere
of air and spirituous vapour are preferably made of tin or tinned iron, since
this metal is least attacked under such conditions; but any other suitable material
may be used.
Any other convenient means for heating the air before its passage into the
chamber or for heating the chamber itself may be employed instead of the
arrangement described and shown in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tior and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In an apparatus for drying hat bodies impregnated with proofing solution
we claim the continuous circulation of the air confined in said apparatus in order
to absorb and remove from the heated chamber the spirituous vapour and by
condensation to recover therefrom a large proportion of the alcohol or other
volatile liquid prior to returning the air to the said chamber.
2. In apparatus for drying hat bodies impregnated with proofing solution and
recovering the spirituous vapour given off during such process we claim the use and
application of an air propeller or exhauster of any convenient form operated either
continuously or intermittently for the purpose of increasing the circulation and
hastening the process.
3. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting our improved
apparatus for recovering the alcohol or other volatile liquid employed in the process
of proofing or stiffening hat bodies substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicants.