IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILLING or FULLING STOCKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cephas Froggatt, of Stockport, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILLING or
FULLING STOCKS."
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 22nd February 1877.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cephas Froggatt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February 1877.
CEPHAS FROGGATT, of Stockport, in the County of Lancaster.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILLING OR FULLING STOCKS."
"
IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention relates to the construction of the machines called milling or fulling
stocks or "bumpers," and used for milling or fulling felt hat bodies or other felted or
woven fabrics made from wool, and the Invention consists principally in dispensing
with the tappet shaft and tappets or cams usually employed for lifting and releasing
the "hammers," and actuating the same by frictional gear only.
In place of the noses of the hammers I fix (or make of one piece therewith)
curved shoes or segments of metal, and a short distance from the latter I mount in
suitable bearings or pedestals a shaft, on which are keyed as many quadrants or
segmental friction pulleys as there are hammers. These quadrants or segmental
friction pulleys are covered with leather or other suitable material, and are so keyed
upon the shaft as to act alternately upon the curved shoes as the shaft revolves, and
it will be evident that each time a quadrant comes round it rolls against the corre-
sponding curved shoes and lifts the hammer by friction of contact; but as soon as
the quadrant quits the shoe, the hammer will immediately fall by its own weight.
In order to insure a sufficient amount of pressure (and consequent friction) between
the surfaces of the shoes and the quadrants to lift the hammers, the pedestals which
support the quadrant shaft are not permanently fixed on the frame which supports
them, but are capable of sliding nearer to the hammers, and through each pedestal
passes the screwed end of a tension rod, the other end of which is fixed to the frame
which supports the hammer shafts. On the screwed end of each rod which passes
through the pedestal is fitted a nut, and by screwing these nuts up the pressure
and friction may be increased when requisite.

page_text: The objects of driving these machines by friction instead of by tappets or cams is
that the shock of the tappets or cams against the noses of the hammers is dispensed
with, and hence the machines can be driven at a greater velocity, at the same time
that the liability to breakages is considerably decreased.
Another advantage is that the hammers will always be lifted to the same height
above the material whatever the quantity of the latter may be in the trough, and
consequently the weight or force of the blow will always remain the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Cephas Froggatt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd August
1877.
CEPHAS FROGGATT, of Stockport, in the County of Lancaster.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILLING OR FULLING STOCKS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention relates to the construction of the machines called milling or fulling
stocks or "bumpers," and used for milling or fulling felt hat bodies or other felted
or woven fabrics made from wool, and the Invention consists principally in dis-
pensing with the tappet shaft and tappets or cams usually employed for lifting and
releasing the "hammers," and actuating the same by frictional gear only.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be carried
into practical effect, and in order that the same may be readily understood I have
annexed hereunto a Drawing illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with
letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof:-
The Drawing represents a longitudinal section (taken vertically) of a milling or
fulling stock constructed according to my Invention, a, a, being the vessel in which
the hat bodies or other articles to be operated on are placed, and b, b, being the
hammers or "bumpers."
In place of the noses of the hammers b, b, I fix (or make of one piece therewith)
curved shoes or segments of metal c, c, and a short distance from the latter I mount
in suitable bearings or pedestals d, d, a shaft e, c, on which are keyed as many
quadrants or segmental friction pulleys f, f, as there are hammers. These quadrants
or segmental friction pulleys are covered with leather or other suitable material, and
are so keyed upon the shaft e, e, as to act alternately upon the curved shoes c, c, as
the shaft revolves, and it will be evident that each time a quadrant f comes round
it rolls against the corresponding curved shoe c, and lifts the hammer or "bumper" b
by friction of contact; but as soon as the quadrant f quits the shoe c, the hammer b
will immediately fall by its own weight.
In order to insure a sufficient amount of pressure (and consequent friction)
between the surfaces of the shoes c and the quadrant fto lift the hammers b, b, the
pedestals d, d, which support the quadrant shaft e, e, are not permanently fixed on
the frame g, g, which carries them, but are capable of sliding nearer to the hammers
b, b, and through each pedestal passes the screwed end of a tension rod h, h, the
other end of which is fixed to the frame which supports the hammer shafts i, i. On
the screwed end of each rod which passes through the pedestal is fitted a nut k, k,
and by screwing these nuts up the pressure and fricton may be increased when
requisite.
The object of driving these machines by friction instead of by tappets or cams is
that the shock of the tappets or cams against the noses of the hammers is dispensed
with, and hence the machines can be driven at a greater velocity, at the same time
that the liability to breakages is considerably decreased.
Another advantage is that the hammer will always be lifted to the same height
above the material, whatever the quantity of the latter may be in the trough, and
consequently the weight or force of the blow will always remain the same.

page_text: Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improve-
ments in the Construction of Milling or Fulling Stocks," together with the manner
in which the same is to be or may be carried into practical effect, I wish it to be
understood that I claim as my Invention, lifting the hammers or "bumpers" of such
machines by the friction of curved surfaces working together instead of by tappets
(as hitherto practised), substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cephas Froggatt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
CEPHAS FROGGATT. (L.S.)