An Improved Mode of Treating Hemp, Flax, Jute, and other Fibres, and Employing such Materials for the Manufacture of Tiles, Slabs, Cisterns, Boats, and other Articles or Structures.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 25th Feb., 1890-Accented. 29th Mar
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THOMAS ALFRED COMPERE, of Naples, Italy.]
An Improved Mode of Treating Hemp, Flax, Jute, and other Fibres,
and Employing such Materials for the Manufacture of Tiles,
Slabs, Cisterns, Boats, and other Articles or Structures.
I, BALDWIN WALLACE WEATHERDON of the Firm of Weatherdon & Co. Patent
Agents, 11 and 12 Southampton Buildings in the County of London do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to an improved combination and method of treating
hemp flax, jute and other fibrous materials, and forming the same into slabs or other-
wise, which are absolutely waterproof, and at the same time whilst being of light
weight also possess great strength and durability, so that they can be advantageously
employed and used in the manufacture of many articles at present made from iron,
slate and wood, such as for instance, roofing tiles, panels or slabs for constructing light
waterproof buildings, cisterns, boats, carts, wheels, floorings and various other pur-
poses, and consists as follows, the fibres are first cut into short lengths by any suitable
chopping machine and then put into a cylindrical boiler and boiled from 4 to 6
hours in a strong solution of lime by steam at a pressure of from 20 to 40 lb. to
the square inch, after this operation the fibre is taken to a washing engine to be
cleaned and then to a pulping machine to be reduced to the length of fibre
required, whilst in the pulping machine it is treated with a solution of alum and
in some cases with animal size and in others with oil, it is then sent into receiving
tanks and from which it is formed into slabs of any desired size and thickness, the
slabs are then passed through a press to extract the moisture and are then laid out
separately a cloth being placed between each slab to keep them divided, they are then
pressed by hydraulic power to be solidified and to further extract the liquer, after this
process they are placed in a room to be gradually dried, when dry they are passed
through solid steel rollers from 4 to 12 times as may be required, after this operation
the slabs are again steeped in a warm solution of allum and subject to heavy hydraulic
pressure, after this they are steeped in vegetable oil for 4 or 6 hours and again subject
to pressure and then passed through the steel rollers as many times as may be found
necessary, finally they are taken to a room heated with hot air and thoroughly
dried.
Dated this 27th day of Anril 1980
B. F. WEATHERDON & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of Treating Hemp, Flax, Jute, and other Fibres,
and Employing such Materials for the Manufacture of Tiles,
Slabs, Cisterns, Boats, and other Articles or Structures.
A communication from THOMAS ALFRED COMPERE, of Naples, Italy.
I, BALDWIN WALLACE WEATHERDON of the firm of Weatherdon & Co. Patent
Agents 11 & 12 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane W.C. do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to an improved method of treating hemp, flax, jute
and other fibrous materials, either separately or in combination to render them
suitable for being made into slabs, blocks or otherwise, these said slabs or otherwise
Price 181

page_text: being employed and used for making roofing tiles, and in the construction of all
kinds and parts of temporary or permanent buildings and structures, and also for
the manufacture of cisterns, pipes, boats, vessels, carts and carriages of all kinds,
also for embossed ceilings, panels and decorative construction in general, likewise in
constructing counters, shop fittings and furniture of various kinds, being used for, and
taking the place of mahogany, ebony, walnut and other hard woods usely employed
for these purposes, and it can also be used and manufactured into many and various
useful articles.
The great advantages of this material arc, its light weight whilst possessing great
strength and durability, will neither buckle, expand or contract with heat or cold, is
not effected by any climatic conditions, and is absolutely waterproof and air tight, it
is also practically flameless.
During its manufacture it can be dyed or coloured to represent slate, ebony,
mahogany, walnut and other similar substances, and by reason of its great hardness
and density it takes a natural polish and thus becomes a perfect substitute for the
above mentioned articles, and can therefore be manufactured into many and various
things at present made from the aforesaid ebony, mahogany and similar substances.
And consists as follows, the fibres are first cut (by any suitable cutting machine)
into short lengths generally from 2 to 4 inches long, the cut fibres are then placed in
a cylindrical or other boiler and boiled from 4 to 6 hours in a strong solution of lime
by steam at a pressure of from 20 to 40 lbs. to the square inch.
After this operation the material is taken to a washing machine to be thoroughly
cleaned. It is then passed to a pulping machine or devil to separate and draw the
fibres out to the length required, whilst in these machines it is treated with a solution
of alum about 7 to 14 lbs. to the cwt., and in some cases with animal size and again
in others with vegetable or other oils.
From the pulping machine it is then run into receiving or storing tanks which are
fitted with machinery for keeping the pulp in a state of agitation, and whilst in these
said tanks.can if required be dyed or coloured.
From these receiving tanks the pulp fibre is pumped into vats, and from thence the
pulp fibre is placed into wire moulds of any given size or shape and thus formed into
slabs, blocks or otherwise of any desired thickness, the liquor being extracted from
them by pressure brought to bear upon the aforesaid wire moulds.
The slabs, blocks or otherwise are then taken out of the wire moulds and a given
number packed one upon another, a canvas or woollen cloth being placed between each
slab or otherwise to keep them divided, these are then pressed by hydraulic or other
pressure of sufficient power to extract the liquor still remaining and so solidify them,
after this they are taken to a drying room to be gradually dried by air, when
thoroughly dry they are then separately passed through solid steel rollers from
4 or 12 times as may be found necessary. After this rolling process they are
then steeped in a warm solution of alum and again subject to hydraulic pressure
of from 800 to 1000 tons per square ft.
After this operation they are steeped in a bath of vegetable or other suitable oil for
4 or 6 hours and again subject to hydraulic or other pressure and then passed through
the solid steel rollers as many times as may be found necessary.
They are finally taken to a room specially prepared and heated with hot air to be
thoroughly dried and in some cases to polish or glaze them are passed through the
rollers again.
In conclusion to the foregoing I would here note that I do not claim as new
the exclusive use of fibres in so far as regards the manufacture of roofing and
other materials, but my Invention consists in my improved mode and manner of
operating upon and treating these fibres (either separately or in combination) to
make them suitable and applicable for the purposes above fully set forth and
described.
And I would further note that the details can be varied without departing from the
general principle of this my said Invention in so far as regards the strength of the
chemical and other solutions employed, and also as to the length of time and pressure

page_text: employed, such being varied according to the nature of the fibres to be treated and
the purposes for which it is to be manufactured for.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The use and employment of hemp, flax, Jute and other fibres either separately
or in combination when treated and operated upon by the several solutions and
processes of my said Invention as above severally and fully described.
Second. Employing such materials when so treated, for the purpose of making
roofing tiles, and in the formation of slabs or otherwise to be used wholly or partially
for the construction of all parts and kinds of buildings or structures.
Third. Employing and using the materials so treated for wholly or partially con-
structing tanks, boats, vessels carts and carriages of all kinds.
Fourth. Employing the said materials so treated,dyed or coloured for manufacturing
and making counters, shop fittings, decorative ceilings, panels and furniture of various
kinds, in place of mahogany, ebony, walnut and other similar substances usely
employed for these purposes.
Fifth. Employing and using the said materials so treated, to manufacture the
same into many and various useful articles for which it may be found applicable
the whole substantially in the manner and for the purposes as above fully set forth
and described.
Dated this 25th day of February 1890.
B. F. WEATHERDON & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.