IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PERCHA, IN ORDER TO RENDER THE SAME IMPERMEABLE TO ILLUMINATING AND OTHER GASES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughboro' Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TREATING INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PERCHA, IN ORDER TO RENDER THE
SAME IMPERMEABLE TO ILLUMINATING AND OTHER GASES."-A communication.
Sealed the 2nd June 1857, and dated the 6th April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tomlinson Bous-
field at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th April 1857.
I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughboro' Park, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN TREATING INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PERCHA, IN ORDER TO BENDER
THE SAME IMPERMEABLE TO ILLUMINATING AND OTHER GASES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in treating india-rubber
and gutta percha, in order to render the same impermeable to illuminating
and other gases; and consists in applying linseed oil or other siccative oil

page_text: in a heated state to the surfaces of tubes or vessels of vulcanized india-rubber
or gutta percha,, when in a heated state, or to the surfaces of tubes or vessels
of india-rubber or gutta percha combined with sulphur.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd October 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughboro' Park, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Tomlinson Bousfield, Her special licence that I, the said George
Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PERCHA, IN ORDER TO
RENDER THE SAME IMPERMEABLE TO ILLUMINATING AND OTHER GASES," (a com-
munication), upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
<describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in treating india-rubber

page_text: and gutta percha, in order to render the same impermeable to illuminating
and other gases; and consists in applying linseed oil or other siccative oil
in a heated state to the surfaces of tubes or vessels of vulcanized india-rubber
or gutta percha, when in a heated state, or to the surfaces of tubes or vessels
of india-rubber or gutta percha combined with sulphur.
It is well known that pipes and articles formed of vulcanized india-rubber
or gutta percha permit illuminating gas to escape through their substance.
It is found that linseed or other siccative oil, heated to the boiling point of
water or higher, not only enters the pores but combines chemically with the
sulphur, and the resulting compound is elastic and free from tackiness when
dry. It is also insoluble in illuminating gas, hydrogen gas, and mixtures of
carbonic oxyde with these gases. Hence, pipes and vessels impregnated with
these oils become not only useful, but the offensive odour of sulphur and
india-rubber which they previously had is neutralized or destroyed in the
combination of oil and sulphur. It is also found that it is essential that
sulphur be present for the oil to combine with, for although oil in which
sulphur has been heated may be used to protect india-rubber pipe and fabrics
which have not been vulcanized, it is better that the compound of oil and
sulphur should be formed by heat in the fabric containing sulphur.
To enable others to carry out this Invention, I will proceed to describe
the mode of preparing vulcanized india-rubber or gutta percha pipe or fabrics.
Sufficient linseed oil or other siccative oil must be heated in a vessel by
steam or fire, so that its temperature shall be above 212° Fahrenheit, and
not above 550° Fahrenheit, and through this by immersion the pipes or fabrics
are slowly drawn. In the case of a pipe, its end is immersed and passed
slowly through the heated oil, and if bubbles appear the pipe is retained
until they rise from it. Both inside and outside are thus exposed to the oil,
which penetrates in and seizes the sulphur. Fabrics are to be treated in the
same way. The excess of oil being drained or wiped off, the goods must be
hung up in a warm atmosphere until their surfaces cease to be tacky. Thin
goods in this way are rendered very permanent, for the compound formed of oil
and sulphur prevents the after destructive effect of the sulphur on the rubber
or gutta percha, and gas bags and other articles are thus protected. I am
aware that varnishes and lacquers have been applied to rubber goods to
produce a glossy surface by laying on solutions of bitumens, resins, and
metallic or oxyde paints; these I disclaim, and confine myself to the use
of oils known as siccative oils, applied so as to combine with the sulphur

page_text: present in vulcanized india-rubber and gutta percha goods, or by first com-
bining sulphur with siccative oils for goods not vulcanized, so as to prevent
the escape or penetration of gases into or through the fabrics.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
W. S. HARRISON,
New Court, St. Swithin's Lane,
London.
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.S.)