Improvements in the Manufacture of Cellular Non-conducting Blocks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 8th Nov., 1850
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cellular Non-conducting
Blocks.
I, Louis STERNE, of Victoria Mansions, Westminster, Engineer, 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 manufacture in an improved manner of cellular non-
conducting blocks such as those used in refrigerating chambers or as non-conducting
covering for boilers, stoves and the like, and for other analogous non-conducting
purposes; special objects of the invention being to simplify, expedite and cheapen the,
manufacture of such blocks.
Such blocks have hitherto been manufactured by enclosing successive tiers of
adjacent cells (separately formed by lapping cardboard around a mandril or the like
and glueing all contiguous plies or folds together,) within an enclosing case and
between parallel divisions extending from side to side and from end to end of the case,
the series of loose cells composing each tier, and the said divisions and the said case
baving all adjoining edges and parts glued together to isolate each cell so as to prevent
any circulation of the contained air. Such method of manufacture is tedious and
costly, being disadvantages which, amongst others, it is the object of the present
improvements to remedy.
According to the present invention each tier of cells is inade of a considerably less
number of parts, even if consisting of the same number of cells, and to attain
such result each tier or series of cells is made either of a series of strips (of cardboard
or other suitable material) each extending from side to side or end to end of the block,
or from one continuous strip, or from a strip of any suitable intermediate length,
substantially in the manner bereinafter described, by which means, in addition to the
advantages above referred to, the further advantage is attained of considerable economy
in the quantities of the materials used, with a corresponding lessening of the weight
of the block, while retaining an equal efficiency to the blocks in present use as regards
the nonconductivity of the blocks.
Various modifications embodying the improved method of manufacturing the
cellular blocks are represented in Figs. 1 to 9, of the accompanying drawings, and are
hereinafter further referred to.
In accordance with the modification represented in the plan views Figs. 1, 2 and
sectional elevation Fig. 3, of the accompanying drawings, each of such strips 10, is so
scored, folded or otherwise shaped by rolls, presses or any other suitable mechanical
or manual devico, as that it can be taken and continuously placed in position in the
manufacture of a tier of cells either within an enclosing mould as 11 (vide the plan
view Fig. 4.) conformable in shape and dimensions to the side and end walls of the
case of the block 12, represented by dotted lines in Fig. 3, or within the latter itself,
so as to form in the first traverse across the mould or within the block, say, starting
from a, a series of adjacent half-cells b, c, d, e, in line but opening alternately on the
opposite sides of the strip, and so that in the return traverse, as when starting from f
a like series of half-cells g, h, i j. in line is formed but so that the opposite open half-
cells c, e, firstly formed are closed by the opposite half-cells i, g, of the return traverse
and such cells completed, excepting so far as the tops and bottoms thereof are
concerned, and an alternating series of open half-cells h, j is formed, and so that in
the third traverse, as when starting froin k, these latter half-cells j, h, are likewise
closed and such cells completed excepting as aforesaid, and a further alternating series
of open half-cells l, m, is formed, and so on, until the tier of adjacent cells is completely
formed excepting the tops and bottoms of the cells.
As aforesaid, each such traverse may be made by a separate strip, or the strip inay

page_text: be made sufficiently long to complete two or more of such traverses or as to allow of
the whole series of cells being made therefrom. All adjacent parts, such as where the
backs 13, of the adjacent cells abut against each other, are glued together, or may be
stapled or otherwise secured so as to properly locate them in position and to isolato
each cell (excepting as regards the top and bottom thereof) from all adjacent cells.
The outermost open half or partly formed cells, as b, d, if made in a mould, as afore-
said, may be closed, if required, by a continuous surrounding strip 14, fitting the
inner sides of the mould, or they may be left open to be closed by the side and end
walls of the case 12, when fitted thereinto, the then aljacent parts being glued together
to close and isolate such outer cells as aforesaid.
Each of such strips 10, at the said parts 13, which come into juxtaposition and are
glued or otherwise secured together, may also be so shaped, as at 15, in the rolling,
pressing, or other formation thereof as to cause them to lock or engage with each
other when juxtaposed, side the plan viows Figs. 4 and 5; and as that they may be
entered or nipped together in the proper relative positions as the strip is traversed
across from one side to the other. The juxtaposed parts 13, 15, may be variously
formed for effecting this object as and otherwise than as represented on the accom-
panying drawings. A further example of this formation is represented in the plan
view Fig. 6, wherein the adjoining parts 13, of the scored strip are corrugated, or as
a further variation the strip or strips 10, may be wholly corrugated and scored as
aforesaid. Or the strip or strips 10, may be so shaped in the rolling or other
formation thereof as that at the juxtaposed parts 13, opposite recesses or grooves 16,
will be presented, vide the plan view Fig. 7, and in such event the fixation of the
adjacent parts 13, and the isolation of the respective cells may be effected by
wooden pegs or the like 17, dipped into glue and inserted in the opposite
recesses 16.
The cells may be made as above described, of various formations as represented on
the accompanying drawings, but the square or hexagonal formation there represented
in which the fixation of the cells is effected by correspondingly formed projecting
bends and recesses 15, of the adjacent strips is preferred.
The cells may be made of any suitable material, but cardboard is the most suitable on
account of its comparative cheapness and flexibility. If such material be used, a series
of the strips may advantageously be rolled, pressed ruled or scored at a time in a sheet,
which may subsequently he cut transversely into strips of the required width, simply
requiring in the manufacture of the tiers of cells to be traversed to-and-fro across
within the mould 11, or within the case of the block 12, and to be glued or otherwise
suitably secured at all adjoining parts as aforesaid.
If the cells are formed in separate tiers as above described in moulds of the
dimensions of the case 12, of the block, the latter may be formed by glueing the
interior both of its bottom and sides, then (vide Fig. 3) successively dropping there-
into a tier of cells, a division 18, glued on both sides, a further tier of cells o, a
further division 18, a further tier of cells, p, and so on to the required thickness of
the block, and then closing in the top side of the case glued on its underside, and
enclosing all in a glued covering of packing paper or the like which may be
waterproofed by dipping the formed block into any suitable waterproofing
composition.
Or, in lieu of using such intermediate divisions 18, the cells may be made of such
a length as to reach from one end or side of the block to the other, vide the sectional
elevation Fig. 8, and the perspective view Fig. 9. In the modification represented in
Fig. 8, the cardboard or other material is so scored and bent as that its juxtaposed and
engaging parts 13, 15, are located at the corners of the cells. Cells of this formation
may either be made in tiers as hereinbefore described with reference to the modifications
represented in Figs. 1, to 7, or, as aforesaid, each strip may be made as wide as the
block (as well as as long as required for the purpose aforesaid) so that each layer or
tier of laterally adjoining and superposed cells will extend from end to end of the
block. If the cells are flat sided at their juxtaposed parts 13, successive tiers of
longitudinally disposed cells may be arranged at right angles to the adjoining

page_text: tiers of cells, vide Fig. 9, in which the modification represented is of the same formation
as that represented in Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The manufacture of cellular non-conducting blocks in the improved manner
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of October 1890
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.