IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING CAOUTCHOUC AND CAOUTCHOUC IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING CAOUTCHOUC AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
HANCOCK, of Stratford, in the County of Essex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Ninth day of November, in the seventh year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Walter Hancock, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Walter Hancock, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Walter Hancock, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING CAOUTCHOUC
AND CAOUTCHOUC IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR PREPARING CAOUTCHOUC AND OTHER MATERIALS;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Walter Hancock, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately

page_text: after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Walter Hancock, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say-
The first part of my Invention relates to machinery for cutting, dividing,
or separating india-rubber into small pieces to facilitate and improve the sub-
sequent manufacture of india-rubber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CUTTING, DIVIDING, OR SEPARATING MACHINE.
Figure 1, transverse portion of the machine, shewing the ends of two rollers
and parts of the apparatus combined therewith; Figure 2, transverse view of
the same; Figure 3, longitudinal section of the cistern, and view of one roller
and other parts appertaining; Figure 4 is a plan of the rollers and cistern;
Figure 5 shews portions of the ends of two rollers and cutting bar, drawn to a
larger scale; and Figure 5" shews the manner in which the teeth of the rollers
work in the teeth of the bar b. The same letters refer to like parts in all the
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 5ª. a, a, a pair of cutting, dividing, or separating
rollers, the peripheries of which are toothed, and work nearly up to each other,
as shewn by the direction of the arrows; b, a bar, which I prefer to be of
steel, baving teeth; and the teeth of the rollers work between the teeth of the
bar b, and by these revolutions, press against and cut or work caoutchouc into
small fragments or divisions; c, the hopper or vessel into which the india-
rubber is to be put, and which is pressed down upon or between the rollers a, a,
by the weight w; e, the spindle or shaft to which the power is applied, and
which gives motion to the rollers by means of the pair of cog wheels shewn at
the other end of the said rollers at g, g; f, f, the framing and stays carrying or
bearing the rollers; h, the cistern or vessel into which the ground or divided
material is deposited from the rollers. The projections or indentations on the
rollers a, a, may be formed in any convenient direction.
Figure 5ª represents on an enlarged scale a portion of a roller a, shewing the
transverse section of teeth, and a portion of the top of bar b, which is shewn cut
into teeth at one edge. I prefer corresponding teeth in the bar and rollers, so
that they fit as exactly as may be, and so as to produce the effect of shears as they
pass against the bar b. The bar b may be adjusted up to the rollers a, a, as cir-

page_text: cumstances may require, by means of the adjusting screws d, d. I prefer both
rollers and bar should be rendered hard or tempered after the teeth are cut.
I do not confine myself to two rollers and one bar, as more may be required
for some purposes, whilst one roller only, with a bar, may be found sufficient
for other purposes.
The dividing or cutting apparatus. before described may
sometimes be worked with greater advantage in water. The advantage of
reducing caoutchouc into small pieces is that it is more readily dissolved in
consequence of presenting greater surface to the action of the solvent, the
solution being thereby so much the more speedily effected; and the india-rubber
may be rendered more free from impurities, before applying the solvent, by well
washing the particles, and it also greatly facilitates the manufacture of what is
commonly called block rubber, or caoutchouc mechanically manufactured into
large blocks for the purpose of cutting it into small blocks or sheets.
Figure 6 is a mill or machine for flatting out the mixtures or composition
hereafter described, on to fabrics, as hereafter explained. is a frame sup-
porting a pair of rollers r, r; h a hopper into which the material to be
flatted into sheets is placed, and which is pressed down upon or between the
rollers r, r, by means of the weight d. In carrying out this part of my Inven-
tion, caoutchouc is to be dissolved by suitable solvents, and then mixed with
ground or rasped cork or cork dust; c, c, are two rollers of wood or other
suitable material, upon each of which a length of cloth is wound when the
composition of cork and caoutchouc is to be placed between two fabrics; b is a
drum or wheel; motion is given to the rollers 2, 7; the ends of the two
separate lengths of cloth are brought from the rollers,c, c, between the rollers 7, 7,
and secured around the drum B by one or more turns being taken upon it, or
by.tacking them on, or securing them by any other means. Motion is given
to the drum B by hand or by any other convenient means, and which winds
the cloth with the compound delivered from between the rollers r, 1, until
the whole lengths of cloth are wound off the rollers c, c, on to the drum B,
from which it is removed to be dried. The thickness of the sheets of com-
pound may be varied as wished by adjusting screws, applied to the axles or
spindles of the rollers 7, 7. The rollers may be made of any length to suit the
widths of fabrics or cloths which are to be used. When a very adhesive con-
nection with the cloth or fabric is required, the said fabric or cloth may be first
covered with a thin coat of solution of caoutchouc, before the composition is
milled or pressed between them; or in place of these rollers a guaging apparatus;
hereafter described at Figure 7, may be employed in obtaining a coating of the
composition on a fabric or fabrics, so as to obtain sheets of fabric coated in a

page_text: similar manner to that described by the rollers. I sometimes ornament the sur-
faces of the combinations of cork and caoutchouc before described, by embossing
them by means of pressure between plates on which the desired pattern or
design is engraved or otherwise produced, or by passing them between rollers so
prepared in the manner commonly practised in embossing leather and paper. I
color these surfaces by mixing any suitable pigment with a thin solution of
caoutchouc, laying it on either before or after the surfaces are embossed. In
some cases I apply the cork and caoutchouc combination to one or more piles
of cloth, so as to form channels or parts alternately raised and depressed, either
by forming the rollers so as to produce the required surface, or I cut the cork
and caoutchouc combination to the form I wish, and place it on or between
the cloth, or by any other convenient means. If the combination is required
to be very compact, the plates or rollers may be made of a blood heat, but for
general purposes heat will not be necessary. I sometimes unite to the surfaces
of the combinations a sheet or coating of caoutchouc by means of a solution of
that substance.
I would remark that I am aware that india-rubber has before been com-
bined with ground particles of cork, and the same has been spread on
fabrics by hand; and I am aware that india-rubber, when dissolved and
uncombined with cork, has been spread on to fabrics by rollers and by guages,
as herein described, and I mention these matters in order to state that I do
not claim the same.
The object of this part of my Invention is to obtain sheets of fabric covered
evenly with india-rubber combined with cork, which cannot be accomplished
but at great cost by hand, and although I prefer to employ cork only, yet
small particles of leather or wood or other matters may be used therewith
when making up a composition of india-rubber and cork.
Figure 7 represents an apparatus by which the compounds before named are
drawn down to a thickness with only one guaging roller with an extended
apparatus (shewn only in part), by which the spirit or solvent may be extracted
from the solution of the caoutchouc, and condensed and saved during the pro-
cess of drying the fabric or substance. i, i, a frame supporting the rollers and
apparatus; is a roller, around which the cloth or fabric p to be coated is
wound; this cloth is drawn forward in the direction of the arrows. Against
the face of the upright part of the framing i, is secured a straight edge o of
wood or metal; this forms a guage to serve the cloth p with the composition of
any required thickness by raising it from or lowering it nearer to the guage
roller h, over which the cloth p is drawn forward; the straight edge or guage

page_text: o is to be as long as the cloth is wide; k is a steam or heating chamber, sup-
ported on the frame i by bearers c, c, extending from one side of the frame to
the other. Upon this heating chamber or plate is a cover L made with
an aperture or slot A at each end, just the width of the cloth, and of little
more depth or space than the thickness of the cloth, with the solution or com-
position upon it, so that as little of atmospheric air as possible shall pass into
it along with the cloth and composition thereon. This cover L, shewn in pink
lines, is furnished with a pipe m, which leads to an air-pump, fan, or exhauster
of any common construction, and to which motion is given by any convenient
power, so as to remove or draw away the vapour as it rises from the composi-
tion, and forces it into a suitable worm or condenser. wis the solution or com-
pound placed upon the cloth p, and in front of the guage or straight edge o.
DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS SET FORTH BY THIS
FIGURE 7.
p, the cloth to be operated on, is wound round or upon the roller q, passing
under the cover L, and over the heating chamber k, through the slots A (only
one of which is shewn in the Figure), the other end of the cloth or fabric being
made fast to a drum or large roller (not shewn), but as explained in Figure 6.
The guage or straight edge o is adjusted to its proper distance from the guage
roller h, according to the thickness of the composition or fabric required. The
solution or composition w is laid in front of the guage upon the cloth or other
material used, and motion given to the fabric to draw it through the guaging
apparatus and through the machine. During this process the cloth, with
its composition (shewn colored blue), as it moves slowly along the heated
chamber or plate k towards the drum, is deprived of the spirit or solvent by
which the materials have been dissolved, and to facilitate the escape of the
vapour from the cover L through the exit pipe m, an air-pump or an exhauster
is applied and kept in motion, and which exhauster is between the said cover L
and the vessel or apparatus in which such vapour is condensed, and the appa-
ratus I use is more fully set forth in Figures 8, 9, 10. The steam or heated
chamber or plate k should be of considerable length to allow of a greater time
for the passage of the cloth or composition along or over it, and thereby afford
greater time for the drying of it, and consequent extraction of the spirit or
solvent.
I would remark that this apparatus is equally applicable for obtaining back
the solvent of india-rubber when not combined with india-rubber.
Figures 8, 9, 10, exhibit another combination of apparatus for obtaining
back the solvent in manufactures, in which a solution of caoutchouc, either used

page_text: separately or in combination with other substances herein-before mentioned,
and which are in some respects before referred to in describing Figures 7.
Figure 8 shews a drying oven partly in section, to give a view of the interior.
This oven should be as air-tight as possible; I prefer iron for its construction,
but it may be of any other suitable material. The oven contains a number or
series of pipes P, P, heated to a temperature of one hundred and twenty
or one hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit, or such other temperature as
may be found requisite by the agency of steam, hot water, hot air, or other
means. A door N is shewn at front hinged at e, with an eye O to take a look
to pull it up or open by; S is an inlet pipe, by which the pipes P are supplied
with steam from a boiler, or with such other heating medium as may be
approved. Y is the lower end of the series of pipes, and from which the con-
densed steam or water escapes. The form of oven, together with its size and
the requisite or proportionate heating surface of the pipes, must be determined
by the quantity and nature of the work to be carried on. K is a pipe com-
municating with one or more exhausters W, to be placed either in the situation
shewn, or any other convenient situation, and motion given by any suitable
power. The manufactured articles containing dissolved india-rubber are put
into this oven, the door tightly closed with proper luting, and the steam or
other heating power let into the pipes P, when the vapour arising during the
process of drying the fabric in the oven passes up to the pipe K, to the
exhauster or air pump W, which creates a partial vacuum in the oven and
forces the vapour into the condenser, which is shewn at Figure 9, as a common
worm V in its tub or vat H. The spirit or solvent thus condensed flows into
the receiver Figure 10, which has a tube T at top, with a light valve q to
allow the air to escape, which might draw through the joint of the door of the
oven or from the apertures A of the oven.L, Figure 7, and which are formed for
the purpose of letting the fabric pass along the heated surface or chamber k;
in the said Figure 7, c is a glass tube to indicate the height of the saved spirit
or solvent in the receiver; and a a cock to draw the spirit off, when necessary
to empty such receiver in order to its receiving further supplies of spirit from
the condenser.
Figure 11 represents a means of softening or dissolving caoutchouc or
india-rubber more readily than by use of the "masticator," or any other means
at present used by those engaged in the manufacture of blocks or sheets of
india-rubber. A is a cylindrical vessel of iron, or other suitable material or
shape, capable of sustaining pressure; C is a lid or cover, which is easily
removed and refixed by bolts and nuts, or other means, as occasion requires.
India-rubber cut into small fragments (as shewn by the machine at Figures

page_text: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or any other approved means), is put into this vessel and the lid
C secured. The solvent, whether it be æther, spirits of turpentine, coal-tar,
oil, naptha, or any other solvent, is now introduced in the state of vapour to
and amongst the india-rubber through the pipe P, which leads from another
vessel or boiler, not shewn, and in which vessel or boiler the solvent used is to
be converted by heat into vapour. 6 is a stop-cock, to regulate the quantity of
vapour passing through the pipe P to the vessel A, and to shut it off during
the time of taking out the manufactured, or dissolved, or partially dissolved
caoutchouc or india-rubber. E is a pipe leading to an air-pump by which the
vessel A is exhausted of its air after the fragments of india-rubber are put into
it and the lid C secured, and previous to the admission of the vapourised
solvent through the vapour pipe P. The vessel A should be kept hot by its
being enclosed in another vessel, and the space between such vessels being
kept supplied with hot water, steam, or hot air; or any suitable means may be
adopted for keeping it heated. The rubber thus acted upon and taken out of
the vessel is to be worked in any of the present well-known masticators, and
thence into sheets or otherwise. The process of dissolving or partially dis-
solving india-rubber by these means of saturating it by the solvent in the state
of vapour, instead of using the solvent in its liquid form, quickens the process
of dissolving the india-rubber.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is, first, the mode of arranging a cutting machine, as before
described, for the purpose of reducing india-rubber into small particles.
Secondly, I claim the manufacturing sheets of any required thickness
from a combination of the solution of caoutchouc or india-rubber mixed with
ground or pulverized cork, by causing fabrics of cotton or other fibrous material
to be passed with such combination of materials through between pressing
rollers or guages.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of obtaining the solvent of india-rubber after the
dissolved india-rubber has been spread on to fabrics, by employing an exhausting
apparatus and condenser with other suitable apparatus, as above explained.
And, fourthly, I claim the mode of dissolving or partially dissolving india-
rubber by using a solvent in the state of vapour.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Hancock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
WALTER (L.S.) HANCOCK.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirteenth day of April,
in the year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid Walter Hancock came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.