Improvements in or appertaining to Apparatus for and the Art of Treating, Working, and Handling Bituminous or similar Compounds and Articles made therefrom.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1895-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Apparatus for and the Art
of Treating, Working, and Handling Bituminous or similar
Compounds and Articles made therefrom.
We, EUGENE FITCHUE BADGLEY, Pipe Manufacturer of 819 Market Street,
AUGUSTUS RUPERTI GREEN, Gentleman, of 404 Turk Street and ADELAIDE
CROCKETT, Widow, of 417 Larkin Street all of San Francisco, in the State of
California, one of the United States of America, 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 has for its object improvements in the manufacture of articles that
can be made from earthy compounds or mixtures containing a certain proportion of
maltha, asphaltum, bitumen, residuum of black petroleum, or similar substances, said
compounds or mixtures being used either alone or combined with a sheet of paper,
or tissue, or other fabric.
Said improvements are carried out by meaus of the process and apparatus herein-
after described.
The process consists, first, in tempering the compounds by driving out the oily
or lubricating matters, such as the petroleum fats (sometimes called vaseline) or
other greasy portion, wholly or partly as the case may require, so that the
compounds will develop greater tensile strength and resisting power, and stand solar
heat, an advantage not to be had where the oily substances are allowed to remain,
since these substances act as a flux and soften the mixtures containing them when
exposed to the rays of the sun, as is the case with the ordinary mixtures employed
for street use. The tempering is effected by means of dry heat generated and
applied in any suitable manner, and particularly by directing a blast of hot air
through the compounds, while they are being mixed. The petroleum fats being
eliminated, the compounds may be brought to a somewhat higher degree of heat
and combined with other fluxes, so the hydrocarbons may be rendered tough and
hard or otherwise suitable for the various purposes in view. A second part of the
process consists in rendering the compounds more tractable for manipulation and
manufacturing purposes, that is to say preventing their sticking, gathering in
lumps, or forming ill-shapen objects, which is effected by handling and working the
compounds in a hot state in or upon structures and with appliances and tools hotter
than the compounds themselves. A third part of the process is to hasten the
setting and hardening of the articles made with the compounds, which is done by
chilling or cooling the same through the agency of wet implements or water in
suitable receptacles.
The above-mentioned process is carried out by means of the apparatus illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a partly-sectional side elevation;
Fig. 14, a detailed view in elevation illustrating work performed on
the
apparatus;
Fig. 2, a plan;
Fig. 3, a broken side elevation somewhat similar to Fig. 1;
Fig. 34, a broken perspective view of plates used in handling heavy compounds;
Fig. 4, a plan of the construction shown at Fig. 3;
Fig. 5, a broken side elevation ;
1
Th

page_text: Fig.
a perspective view of a scraper used upon the apparatus.;:
Fig. 8, a perspective view of a rotary cutter used with said scraper ;
Fig. 9, a longitudinal section of composition. pipes made on the apparatus;
Fig. 10, a similar view showing a different pipe-joint:
Fig. 11, a perspective view of a composition pipe comprising a wire wrapping;
Fig. 12, a perspective view of a composition pipe formed partly of sheet metal;
Fig. 13, a perspective view of a pin-studded plate used with the apparatus; and
Fig. 14, a side elevation of a tool employed for making composition pipes.
In these figures, A represents a mixer consisting of a closed tank the inside of
which is surrounded with a coil of steam or hot air pipes B and having a central
vertical shaft C provided with blades or stirrers D and rotated through gearing E
by means of a suitable engine. or motor. This mixer is set upon, a furnace F,
which supplies the heat that keeps the various parts of the apparatus hot. The
earthy compounds to be treated and afterwards fashionedi into diverse forms, and
which consist of bituminous or similar substances combined with silicates or other
composite matter in the required proportions, are introduced into the mixing tank
through an opening. G. There they are thoroughly mixed and subjected to. a
comparatively high degree of heat derived both from the surrounding steam or hot
air pipes and from a hot blast of air forced through the compounds by any known
form of blower. The heating is continued until the compounds. have been tempered
to, suit, that is more or less deprived of the oily matters, according to the purpose
for which they are to be utilized. If, for instance, they are to be used, for street
pavements and, therefore soon. to be exposed to solar heat, they may be rid of all
the oil or greasy matter which they contain. If, on the other hand, they are to
form, underground pipes or conduits, it is thought best to use the tempering or
refining process sparingly and let nature perform the work of eliminating the oils,
which it will do by slow. degrees.
The oily or greasy matters arising from the mixed and heated compounds are
driven out of the mixer, through a pipe H, into a condenser I where they are
collected. By the use of the condenser one can save the lubricating oils and judge
about the mixture in the mixing tank, that is ascertain its exact state and the
quantity, left.
The condenser may be removed from the position given to it in the drawings. to
some other place, if desired, and the space which it occupies may then be utilized
to heat and dry the silicates or composite matters. before mixing in the tank. This
previous heating of the silicates is desirable, as it has been found from experience
that when so heated they mix with the other ingredients much better than when
they are cold. They are heated in, a drum J arranged, to revolve, on, suitable
supports and discharging into one or more mixers.
An. open mixer A, represented in Figs. 3. to.6, is employed when refined asphalts
are used, for instance in the preparation of cements for pipe-joints. In, such, cases,
the ingredients are first heated in separate kettles and then poured into the mixer,
which is left uncovered and is operated without the hot, air blast. Two. mixing
tanks can be conveniently employed at the same time,, one by the side of the other
as seen in Figs. 4 and 6, the prepared, compounds. being drawn from. one, while the
mixing is going on in the other.
F is an extension of the furnace F, or may be a separate furnace, if preferred.
Over it extends a table or plate. L having, by preference, raised edges; l'and
designed to be heated by the said furnace F underneath,, or by any heating
apparatus that it might be found convenient to substitute for it. It is, upon
this table; that the compounds treated or tempered in the mixing, tank are to be
worked.
The compounds having undergone; the necessary treatment and, being suitably
prepared for the purpose in view, they are transferred from the mixer outo the
table L through a feeder N, which is suitably, supported above said, table.
However, they are allowed to cool down to a suitable condition, before this is done.
The cooled material is let out of the mixing tank through, a, door P into, the

page_text: feeder N, which is heated by hot air or steam pipes O and kept at a temperature
somewhat higher than that of the material. From the feeder the material runs
down by gravity onto the table, which also is maintained at an advanced
temperature, said material passing through an opening controlled by a gate Q.
This gate is so arranged that it can be raised or lowered to permit different
One feeder
thicknesses of material to come out, according to the purpose in view.
only need be used when two mixers are employed. for both tanks can be made 't.
discharge into a single feeder, as represented at Figs. 4 and 6.
Upon the inner end of the table L, under the feeder N, is mounted a reel or
spool R designed to carry a roll of perforated paper, canvas, open-mesh cloth, wire-
cloth, or sheet metal S, which is used in the manufacture of various articles made
out of the bituminous or similar compounds and may be either wound in a continuous
web or cut up in sheets of convenient dimensions. The reel, being located below
the mixer and behind the feeder, is brought very close to the furnace and con-
sequently the material thereon absorbs much of the heat of its surroundings and
through it is freed from moisture, being in good condition, when unwound and'
drawn out from under the feeder, to be worked with the heated compound that is 'to
be spread over it. Were the paper or other sheet of material carried by the reel
wet or damp, the compound would not adhere to it, or only imperfectly so, whereas
by having it dry and hot the compound readily sticks to it and the work may be
done with ease and dispatch.
T designates a roller which serves to smooth down or iron the compound on 'the
table before, while, and after it is fashioned, moulded, or manufactured. This
roller is hollow and is heated in any approved manner, as by gas jets or by a
wood or charcoal fire made in it. It is mounted in the movable carriage or
standards t adapted to travel over the table. It will be readily understood that
by setting these standards at a greater or less angle, the roller may be adjusted
vertically so as to accommodate any desired thickness of the material on the table.
U is a scraper and cutting appliance consisting of a plate thinned down at the
It'
sides to form two edges and provided with a central longitudinal groove u.
is used for loosening the compounds from the table L and cutting the same into
sheets, blocks, or pieces of suitable dimensions. When employed for the latter
purpose, it is used in conjunction with a rotary cutter or cutting wheel V, as
represented at Figures 1 and 2, the plate U being slipped under the material to
be cut and the cutter run over it along the groove u.
Both the scraper and
cutter are kept hot, like the other parts of the apparatus. The wheel V is held
and worked by means of two detachable bars which are suitably clamped or
hinged together, as indicated at Fig. 8.
Numerous articles can be made from the bituminous or like compounds treated,
worked, and handled upon or with the apparatus herein described according to the
process herein set forth. Among other things may be mentioned pipes or tubing
of all sizes for conducting water, gas, sewerage, drainage, etc.; underground
conduits for telegraph or telephone wires or cables; pile covering or armor; fence
posts; panels for wainscoting; floor-tiles; slabs for various uses; flower pots and
vases; insulators and other electrical appliances; railroad ties; etc., etc., etc.
To make pipes, one has to employ a core or mandrel W, which may be used with
or without the supports wc, as preferred. This core or mandrel may be made of
wood but is preferably formed from nickel, or may be formed of any metal plated
with nickel, as it has been found by experience that the compounds will not cling
to this metal as they do to others. Furthermore, by forming a pipe or the like
upon a core or mandrel formed from nickel or having a nickel surface, the interior
of the pipe is rendered as smooth as if polished and the danger of the pipe being
A metallic
clogged by sediment or filth is consequently reduced to a minimum.
core or mandrel is preferred to a wooden one for the reason that it expands under
the influence of the heat imparted to it by the hot compound from which the pipe
is formed and it can therefore be removed from the pipe more easily. when
afterwards allowed to cool and contract. The core or mandrel should be slightly

page_text: tapering and covered with a suitable paste or wash before forming the pipe
thereon, also to provide for its ready removal subsequently.
When it is desired to make pipes, the sheet S is drawn off the reel-if metal,
by tongs, or if cloth, wire-cloth, or paper, by the pin-covered plate K shown at
Figure 13-and pulled forward under the feeder so that the prepared compound
may be spread over it. As it is drawn out and coated with the mixture coming
from the feeder, it is ironed, that is smoothed and pressed down, by means of the
roller T so that the compound may take through the perforations or meshes or
otherwise cling to the sheet. The sheet is then carried around the rotary mandrel
or core W until the requisite number of layers have been formed, according to the
strength or thickness of pipe desired, when, if not of the exact size wanted, it is
cut by means of the rotary cutter V and cutting plate U. The mandrel or core
can be rotated with either a crank or pulley upon the supports w, at any convenient
-distance from the feeder, or else it may be removed from the supports and rolled
toward the feeder, taking up the sheet and compound from the table. In the
latter case, the pipe is formed by keeping the material under tension, which
increases the pipe's tensile strength to a considerable extent. The sheet in that
case is carried around the mandrel with the tool M, turning them together from a
to x', Fig. 14, when the tool is removed. The mandrel is turned with the sheet
strained tight until the point is reached, where the sheet is cut, after which the
mandrel is slid back to the end of the table and thence unto a plate L'. This plate
is wet or moistened or else covered with a suitable paste and serves to convey the
pipe to chilling rollers X located in a water-box or pan X¹ and upon which the
pipe, formed of the compound-covered sheet S, can be dampened or wet and cooled
and the layers thereof caused to cling more closely to one another. Running the
chilling rollers in water (or spraying or pouring water thereon) keeps them wet and
thereby prevents the pipe from adhering to them, it being one of the peculiar
characteristics of the composition of matter entering into the formation of the pipe
that it neither sticks to the appliances which are hotter than itself or to those which
are kept wet. These rollers may be made of metal or wood and, by preference,
are covered with cloth or other absorbent material. The pipe and core can eitber
ride directly upon the rollers X or be carried by a sheet of some suitable material
running from one roller to the other, as preferred. A moving platform could also
be substituted for the rollers, if desired. the purpose being to cool the pipe by
bringing the exterior of the pipe in contact with some wet or moist movable or
rotary surface. The pipe is thus cooled or chilled upon the rollers X, or their
equivalent, and the layers composing it are pressed more closely together. There
also, one may complete the pipe and give it the finishing touches with wet tools or
the hands covered with wet gloves. This done, the pipe and mandrel or core are
ready to be plunged into a bath or tank of water Y where they are allowed to cool
completely. Ropes Z engaging the trunnions of the mandrel or core and passing
over pulleys running along a suitable track above are used to carry the pipe and
keep it suspended in the water, so it may not touch the bottom of the tank and
therefore be exposed to flatten by reason of its weight, which would occur with
large sized pipes, if released before they got sufficiently cold. When cooled enough
to hold its shape, one end of the pipe (the smaller, if a tapering core be used) is
allowed to drop in the water and the mandrel or core is hoisted out, leaving the
pipe in the water until cold enough to roll outside, where it will improve by age
and exposure.
It is preferable to use a tank of sufficient depth to stand the pipe
on end in the water after the mandrel or core is removed. Sometimes it may be
found necessary to chill the hot pipe as it leaves the ironer T, in the water tank Y,
before placing it on the wet rollers, but the process is substantially the same.
will be understood, several mandrels or cores may be used at the same time, so that
when one is removed from the table with the covering S wound around it another
may take its place for forming another pipe. Other parts of the apparatus may be
duplicated in the same manner.
As
In the case of a stiff or low grade mixture, that is one containing a small proportion

page_text: of bitumen or similar matter and therefore not well adapted to readily saturate
or stick to the sheet S or bind the layers thereof closely together, it may be found
advisable at times to first pass the said sheet S through a thin solution of bituminous
substance before covering it with the thicker or lower grade compound. This may
be accomplished by running the sheet S, as it leaves the reel, under a depressing
roller 6 which will cause it to dip into and pass through a basin L' containing the
lighter mixture before reaching the outlet of the feeder. Both the light solution
and the heavy mixture can be prepared in the same mixing tank.
It is not always necessary to run the hot roller T over the material spread on the
sheet S while it lies upon the table, but it is preferable to do so, since the heat draws
the maltha and light waxy portions and softens the material on top, so that in
forming the pipe the layers will more readily adhere to each other. Ironing the
material in this way will also even the pipe.
A permanent metallic core W may sometimes be used with advantage in making
composition pipes, particularly a core made of aluminium, as it is believed there is
no metal to which the bituminous compounds will stick with such tenacity as
aluminium. In such case the core is left in, forming a part of the pipe. It may
then give the benefit of a slip or sort of stove-pipe joint, as illustrated in Fig. 9,
which is safe and regular and made doubly secure by wrapping it with strips
of open-mesh canvas or burlap d dipped in the hot mixture and wound around
the outside where the two ends of pipe come together, thus making a perfect
and strong joint. A ball joint can also be made as represented at Fig. 10.
This form of joint allows adjoining lengths of pipe to be set at various angles,
as indicated in the latter figure. The wrapping d is used with this kind of
joint also.
,
In Figure 11 is illustrated another form of pipe, which, in addition to the
compound described and the sheet S, comprises a wrapping S¹ of wire that serves
to render the pipe very strong and capable of resisting great pressure. In making
this form of pipe, it is taken when only half made on the mandrel or core W, and
after plunging it into the cold bath or chilling it on the wet rollers it is wrapped
from one end to the other with the wire S', after which the mandrel or core is
remounted in its bearings in the supports w, upon the table L, and one or more
layers of the compound-covered sheet, according to strength wanted, are wrapped
around the wire, so as to cover, protect, and preserve the same.
Other ways of
wrapping the wire may be resorted to, if desired, but whichever mode is followed,
the wire should be always cut shorter than the compound-covered sheet, so that it
may be fully imbedded in the pipe and hermetically sealed.
A sheet of metal $2 may be substituted for the wire wrapping S₁ in certain cases,
as shown in Fig. 12. The sheet S2 is then placed between the layers of the sheet S
while forming the pipe on the core or mandrel W, inserting it and making it a part
of the pipe. The composition sticks to it and preserves it from oxidation. It is
also hermetically sealed by lapping the sheet S coated with mixture over and
beyond its edge. Said sheet S may be cut in various lengths for one or more
wraps, according to the strength of pipe needed. It helps form a pipe of light
weight and which can stand a high pressure.
In making panels, blocks, slabs, or tiles, for floors, wainscoting, and other com-
mercial or industrial uses, the sheet S is drawn outward over the table L, as when
making pipes, and the compound fed to it to such thickness as may be desired by
raising the gate of the feeder to suit. The material having been smoothed and
ironed with the hot roller, it is cut into strips, squares, or any other requisite form,
as a, and made into the desired articles, which are afterwards transferred onto a
board or table a' suspended from a rope Z¹ or the arm of a derrick Z and carried
over to the cooling bath. The derrick Z should be as high as circumstances will
allow, so that it may be swung above the table L and thus facilitate the removal of
the articles therefrom.
When heavy slabs are made, or similar articles that necessitate the spreading of
the compound to a considerable thickness over the sheet S, which is therefore

page_text: exposed to be torn owing to the excess of weight 'bearing thereon, it is thought best
in such cases to employ auxiliary plates e, which are made of sheet-iron of suitable
strength and adapted to support the sheet 'S as it is passed under the feeder and
while the compound is poured on it. These plates are coupled to one another by
pins projecting upwardly from one of their edges and entering corresponding
holes g in the adjoining edge of the next plate as shown in Figures 3 and 4.. The
plates e are slid under the feeder, hack of the reel R, and thence passed under the
roll of paper or other material so the sheet S will bear on them. The sheet and
plates supporting it can then be run under the roller into the basin L2, which is
made larger for this kind of work, and from the basin onto the table I. Once
upon the table and covered with the compound, the sheet can be ironed in the
usual manner and ent up into slabs as shown. The slabs having been transferred
to the cooling bath by the derrick, the auxiliary plates are removed from them and
used over again as many times as desired.
The effect of the cooling or chilling is to hasten the setting and hardening of the
pipes and other articles so cooled or chilled. It assists in tightening the cloth,
paper, canvas, or other fabric worked with the bituminous compounds and helps
preserve the articles in as good a form as when they leave the ironer.
When making slabs with paper or cloth underneath, one can lay on top of the
compound a thin sheet of aluminium, which readily adheres to it, thus making
a strong slab with aluminium plating.
For moulding or casting vases, flower-pots, basins, and burial caskets, the com-
pound is allowed to run out on the hot plate or table L, as in the other cases.
There, by keeping the table hotter than the compound and using hot tools, one
can fashion or make articles of any desired shape or form. The moulded articles
may be left to cool with or without the wet chilling process, as may be deemed
best. One may for this class of work dispense with the feeder and reel, by setting
the mixer on a level with the hot table or plate, and remove also the roller and
mandrel.
It has been found that 'bituminous compounds undergoing the above-described
treatment and manipulation are particularly serviceable in making coverings for
ordinary metallic pipes. Wrapping a metallic pipe or tube in this way with a sheet
of flexible material impregnated or coated with a bituminous compound will keep
it from denting and afford it protection when handling it or laying it in rough or
rocky ground, thus improving, strengthening and preserving it, and making it
possible to have a metal pipe or tube of great strength without waste of material
and at a small expense.
Among other advantages offered by the process and apparatus hereinbefore
described is that by the use of the hot table or plate one is enabled to work and
handle the bituminous compounds irrespective of their consistency. It has been
found that a thick strong mixture, such as is calculated to give the best and most
satisfactory results for certain purposes, cannot well be taken up from a kettle by
a sheet of paper, cloth, and the like, run through from a reel to a mandrel, pipe-
former, or core, as is done in other apparatuses, since the heavier portions tend
always to separate from the lighter ones and settle at the bottom of the kettle,
whereas by having the paper or other material and the mixture on a table or plate,
as in the above-described apparatus, the mixture remains practically the same
throughout and the paper or other material is properly charged, the compound
being dropped upon the sheet that receives it instead of the sheet being dipped
into the compound. It follows that the sheet gets the benefit of both the heavy
and the light portions, the work is uniform and the best results are obtained, the
articles made with the compounds being harder, more durable, and better finished
than it is possible to make them otherwise. Another advantage is to be found in
the uniform spreading of the paper or other sheet of material, which is not subject
to sagging or so liable to shrinkage upon the table or plate as it is when passed
through the compound in a kettle. Composition pipes, especially, that have been
made according to the process and with the apparatus above-described will be

page_text: ound to be strong and durable, though comparatively light, and not liable to state
r peel, nor to be affected by climatic changes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
ion, and in what manuer the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
laim is :-
:-
1. The combination of a furnace having a lateral extension or table, a mixer
rranged over the furnace, a feeder at the end of the table adjacent to the furnace
and receiving compound from the mixer, and a reel placed in rear of the feeder and
below the mixer whereby it is brought close to the furnace and source of heat, said
eel carrying a roll of suitable material adapted to pass under the feeder and receive
the plastic compound therefrom.
2. The combination of a table, a feeder arranged over the table and discharging
onto the same, a mixer located at the end of the table and above and discharging
into the feeder, and a vertically adjustable ironing roller movable over the table to
compress the compound thereon.
3. The combination of a table, a feeder arranged above the table, a mixer
located at the end of the table above the feeder and discharging into said feeder, a
reel located in rear of the feeder and carrying a roll of suitable material adapted
to pass under the feeder and receive plastic compound therefrom, a mandrel at the
opposite end of the table upon which said material and the compound deposited.
thereon is wound, an ironing roller mounted upon and movable over the table.
between the feeder and the mandrel, and means for heating the table, the mixer
and the feeder.
4. The combination of a table upon which compounds may be spread, a grooved
scraper placed on said table, and a rotary cutter adapted to co-act with said scraper
to cut the compounds.
5. The combination of a mixer, a hot table, a feeder receiving a compound from.
the mixer and discharging it onto the table, a mandrel for forming articles from
the compound, a water-pan, and an absorbent roller arranged in the water-pan and
adapted to receive moisture and transmit it to the article on the mandrel.
6. The combination of a hot table, a feeder, a sheet of suitable material adapted
to pass under the feeder and to receive a plastic compound therefrom over the table,
and an intermediate basin containing a lighter compound through which the material
is passed.
7. The combination of a hot table, a feeder, a roll of material adapted to pass
under the feeder and to receive a plastic compound therefrom over the table, an
intermediate basin also containing a plastic compound through which said material
is passed, and auxiliary plates supporting the material through the compound in
the basin and onto the table.
8. The herein-described mode of treating, working, and handling bituminous or
similar compounds and articles made therefrom, as carried out by the apparatus.
herein described, or any equivalent thereof.
9. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming the
apparatus for treating, working, and handling bituminous or similar compounds and
articles made therefrom, substantially as described.
1L 10+1 day of July 1895.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants..