IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DRIVING BANDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE.
Year: 1860

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DRIVING
BANDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE.—A
communication from abroad by John Haven Cheever, of New York, in
the United States of America.
aled the 13th November 1860; and-dated the 13th August 1860.
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th August 1860.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office, for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said 'Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
DRIVING BANDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE,"
to be as follows
:.
:
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of what is
known as ordinary, and solid belting, the object being to improve the quality
of such belts as well as to facilitate their manufacture. In making the ordi-
nary belting, which consists of india-rubber or gutta percha cemented' cloth
lapped over a strip of strong india-rubber or gutta percha cemented cloth of
DQ77

page_text: the width of the band to be manufactured, it is proposed to use mechanical
instead of hand labour. To this end the covering cloth coated on both sides
with vulcanizable cement is passed between a system of vertical grooved rollers,
which turn up the edges thereof preparatory to folding them over. Before
these rollers come into action a band of filling material of the width of the
band to be made of one, two, or more plies of cloth coated with vulcanizable
cement is brought down from a feed roll and laid upon the covering cloth. The
folding rollers then act and turn the coveing cloth over it. To prevent the
covering cloth closing prematurely upon the filling cloth, guards are suspended
so as to keep up the edges until the cloth in travelling comes near to the bite
of a pair of transverse pressing rollers. These rollers then compress the
overlapping parts of the band upon the filling pièce, and the band then shews
a central seam along its whole length. To cover this scam a narrow strip of
rubber is brought down upon the band and moistened with a solvent during
its descent; the band then passes between callendering rollers, which compress
and solidify it; after this the band passes under the action of brushes rotating
in troughs supplied with soapstone or other powder for the purpose of being
dusted with an absorbent material. The band is then ready for the curing
process.
As an improvement on the Patent of William Edward Newton, dated
December Twenty-ninth 1859, (No. 2978), obtained on behalf of the present
Inventor, it is proposed in the machine used for manufacturing solid bands to
remove the lateral rollers used for spreading the first coating of rubber on the
edges of the band, and in lieu thereof to increase the nip of the pressing rolls
which spread the rubber on the surface of the cloth that is to form the band,
so that the rubber shall accumulate in front of the rollers at either edge of the
passing band. The band will thus, during its passage through the machine be
forced to take up a sufficient coating on its edges by its mere traverse between
the bands of accumulated rubber. When the band has received its second
or outside coat it is requisite to trim the edges. This is effected by sta-
tionary cutters pressed up laterally to their work by suitable springs to allow
of their receiving a slight lateral motion to suit the slight variations in width
of the belt. The superfluous rubber being removed by these cutters (the
draught of the band past them ensuring the action), a series of.rollers also
rendered self-adjusting by means of springs, which keep them up to their work
press against the opposite edges of the passing belt, and work the rubber into
the edges of the woven fabric. To ensure good edges on the finished belt the
belt is in process of curing wound up loosely and set on end on a heated plate
with some smooth surface intervening, as hereafter explained, so that the lower

page_text: edge' will be submitted to heat. The roll is then reversed to cure the other
edge; and when this has been effected the body of the belt is cured, as will be
now explained.
To produce a smooth surface on india-rubber bands of all kinds the bands
when cured are subjected to the grinding and polishing action of emery
wheels. Or the bands, in order to be cured are passed slowly through a
heated chamber over and under heated metal rollers, which impart their
smoothness to the belt during its progress. Or the surface of the uncured band
may be dusted over with soapstone or other substance suitable for destroying
tackiness, and the band then rolled up tightly upon itself and subjected to
stove or steam heat. This removes the difficulty hitherto met in the destruc-
tion of the cloth used to insure the separation of the coils. Or the smooth
surface may be obtained by curing the band in contact with plates of glass.
The curing apparatus is furnished with a steam chest' covered with glass, and
above it is mounted a rising and falling steam chest, the under side of which
is also covered with glass. This chest is brought down on to the length of
band stretched over the glass of the fixed steam chest,, and the heat of this
pressing surface suffices to cure the band. When the portion thus subjected
to heat is cured, a fresh portion is drawn between the glass surfaces and
pressed between them. This shifting of the band between the heated pressing
surfaces is repeated until the whole length of band is cured.
Another plan is to wind up the band (previous to curing) with a strip of
foil composed of lead and tin interposed between the coils. The best pro-
portion for the alloy is equal parts by weight of lead and tin.
The above
described improvements apply to bands made of gutta percha, india-rubber,
and other vulcanizable gums and their compounds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th February 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her. most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,

page_text: the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DRIVING BANDS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE," being a comunication from
abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent relates
to improvements in the manufacture of the belting known as ordinary and
solid belting, the object being to improve the quality of such belts, as well as to
facilitate their manufacture. In making the ordinary belting, which consists
of india-rubber or gutta percha cemented cloth lapped over a strip of strong
india-rubber or gutta percha cemented cloth of the width of the band
to be manufactured, it is proposed instead of hand labor to employ a
novel arrangement of machinery, which constitutes the first head of this
Invention.
In the improved band-making machine the covering cloth (coated on both
sides with vulcanizable cement after the ordinary manner) is passed between
a system of vertical grooved rollers which turn up the edges thereof preparatory
to folding them over. Before these rollers come into action a band of filling
material of the width of the band to be made of one, two, or more plies of
cloth coated with vulcanizable cement is brought down from a feed roll laid
upon the covering cloth. The folding rollers then cut and turn the covering
cloth over it; thus enveloping the filling material. To prevent the covering cloth
closing prematurely upon the filling cloth, a guard is provided for keeping up
.the edges until the cloth in travelling comes near to the bite of a pair of

page_text: transverse pressing rollers. These rollers then compress the overlapping parts
of the band upon the filling piece, and the band then shews a central seam
along its whole length.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of the machine
for manufacturing driving bands or belts of the ordinary construction; Fig. 2
is a longitudinal section through the same; Fig. 3 is a section on the line A, A,
and Fig. 4 a section on the line B, B, of Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 5 to 10
are details to be referred to hereafter.
In preparing this machine for operation, the covering cloth or canvas having
been coated with the adhesive compound as heretofore practised is cut of the
proper width and rolled up with a lining of cotton cloth between each coil to
prevent the different coils from adhering to each other. This cloth is placed in
the machine upon the roll F, which has its bearings in the end framing of the
machine, and it is drawn forward, as shewn at a, between a pair of rollers
G, G. The filling material or cloth b is in like manner wound upon the
roller D.
To render, however, the operations of the machine most evident, I will first
describe the mode of making a two-ply belt from which the filling cloth is
omitted. The strip a is kept in the centre of the machine by means of guides
a', a', which are adjusted laterally by turning a right and left-handed screw
shaft a', which carries them. From the rollers G, the strip a passes to the
folding over rollers c, c¹, c³, which are deeply grooved, and are of the relative
size represented at Fig. 2. These rollers are hung in frames H, which are
caused to approach or recede from each other at either end by the right and
left screw shafts d and e. The pair of rollers c', c, are adjusted to a distance
from each other about equal to the width of the belt to be formed. Entering
between the rolls c, c, the edges of the strip of prepared cloth are bent up, as
shewn at Fig. 6, the bending being effected by the concave form of the groove
in the rolls c', thence the partially bent strip passes under the action of the
rolls c', c', by which it is still further bent and curved over, as shewn at Fig. 7;
the strip now passes between a pair of horizontal rolls f, f, by which the folds
are brought nearer together though not in contact. At this point-of-its
progress the folds of the cloth a are kept from touching each. other by the
anti-adhesive guard or separator T, which is constructed and operated as
follows:-The shank of this guard is secured to a cross timber X of the machine
by screws or otherwise; at its forward end the shank terminates in a thin
blade t, to the bottom of which is secured a thin plate t', which passes between
the folds of the material, and keeps them separated until they are brought into
the required position with respect to each other. The blade t serves to guide

page_text: the seam to the centre of the belt and the narrow top plate t prevents the
edges from rising out of position. The rolls c³, c³, (Fig. 8) now nearly com-
plete the bending, and the imperfectly formed belt next passes between a pair
of horizontal rolls i, i; a knife edge or point n upon the adjustable frame K
meanwhile entering the joint between the two edges, and thereby ensuring the
placing of the seam in the centre of the belt. By the rolls i, i, the surfaces
are brought together, though not with a 'very great pressure. The belt now
passes between the rolls g, g', the distance between which is gauged by turning
the right and left handed screw shaft, which carries their supports. These
rolls determine with great accuracy the final width of the belt, which then
passes immediately to the horizontal rolls k, k¹, where the two plys are brought
more closely together and caused to adhere. The rolls i, k', have their bearings
in the frame K, which is capable of being raised and lowered by the screws L, L.
And the lower rollers i, k, are mounted on the main framing of the machine.
The belt now passes to the callendering rollers M, M, the nip of which is
determined by the adjusting screws N. By these rolls the belt is subjected to
a heavy pressure to bring the two plys into the closest possible contact and expel
all air bubbles. It now remains to cover the joint between the abutting edges
in the centre of the belt. This is accomplished as follows:-From the callender-
ing rolls M, the belt passes beneath a roll O around the centre of which are
wound a few coils of cloth thread. or other fibrous material which is kept
moistened with camphine from a suitable vessel m placed immediately over
the roller, the drip from this vessel is regulated by a cock or other well known
means. As the belt passes beneath the roll O the saturated strip of cloth
is pressed against the joint in its centre, and the parts are thereby
moistened 'and 'rendered still more adhesive. A narrow strip of india-rubber
is now brought from the reel or' spool P through the trough or tunnel Q
and is laid over the centre of the belt so as to cover the joint upon which it is
firmly pressed by a pair of rolls R between which the belt now passes. To
ensure the placing of the strip of india-rubber upon the centre of the belt,
adjustable guides 9 are employed, which operate like those already described.
The belt now passes between similar guides r, and between another pair of
rolls S, the upper one of which is slightly enlarged in diameter in its centre.
this enlargement being roughened or covered with blank teeth (the size of
which is somewhat exaggerated in Figures I and 2) by which means the strip
of india-rubber is forced to unite still more closely with the surface of the belt.
and the joint between the folds is filled.
The belt now passes down into a
box z of powdered soapstone beneath the rolls s. This dusting of the belt
prevents the contact surfaces from adhering to each other when the belt is

page_text: rolled up. The superfluous dust is removed by a brush upon the revolving
shaft y or other suitable contrivance, and the belt next passes through the last
pair of callendering rolls I, and thence out of the machine, it being wound
upon the drum W. This drum has an inclined longitudinal groove into which
fits a wedge-shape tongue f. Before the winding of the belt upon the drum
takes place the strip is driven into the position represented in Figures 1 and 10,
and when it is desired to remove the roll of belting from the drum the wedge
is driven back, and the roll being. then loose on the drum can be easily
removed. The drum is rotated by a friction pulley, which is adjusted to put
sufficient strain upon the belt to wind it in a compact roll. The belt is carried
through the machine by power applied to the lower calendering roll M, a
band from which drives the lower roll I, the upper rolls M and I being
connected respectively with the lower ones by cog wheels A2, B2. To form a
three-ply belt by means of this machine a strip. of prepared cloth a, of double
the width of the intended belt is passed from the roll F, in between the rolls G
and guides a¹ as before explained and a centre or filling piece b from the roll D
of one-half the width of the other strip is passed between the guides z, and
enters between the rolls G with the other strip, sufficient pressure being here
applied to cement the two closely together; the edges of the strip a are then
turned over upon the filling cloth b by the rolls c, c', c², and the operation
continues as before. For a four-ply belt a filling is formed either by passing
a wide strip through the main machine or upon another set of forming roils
operating in conjunction with the main machine, which filling is afterwards
covered as in the three-ply belt. In this case the joint in the filling strip
should be thrown to one side so that it may break joint with the external seam
of the belt. As the strips of cloth are unrolled from the rolls D and F, their
linings are wound upon the rolls C and E-respectively, which are driven by
bands from some moving part of the machine. To avoid friction and economise
the power necessary to operate the machine the strips of prepared cloth are
caused to run upon rollers, k³, 1. In place of the rolls c, c¹, c³, for the
purpose of bending the prepared cloth and forming the belt,. mould boards, or
curved formers may be employed, the same being arranged in frames similar
to those which carry the rolls c', c, c, and like them adjusted as regards their
distance apart to correspond to the width of the belt to be formed. The
friction of the materials against the curved formers is, however, much greater
than when the rolls are employed, for which reason the latter are to be
preferred.
The above described machine, when the callendering and pressing rolls are
of the proper length, is adapted to making belts of any width, the only part of

page_text: the machine which it is requisite to change for the different widths of belts
being the anti-adhesive guard or separator T.
The second head of this Invention relates to certain improvements in the
manufacture of what is known as solid belting, which fabric is described in the
Specification of a Patent obtained by William Edward Newton on behalf of
the Inventor, and bearing date December Twenty-ninth, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine, (No. 2978). In this belting, which consists of a solid
woven fabric coated with india-rubber or gutta percha, much difficulty has
been experienced in perfectly covering the edges of the belt or band. This
has arisen from the necessity which existed of forcing in upon the edges the
tough composition, and from the fact that the fabric which constitutes the base
or body of the belt is often woven with uneven or wavy edges, and is conse-
quently of irregular or varying widths. To obviate this difficulty the Inventor
proceeds as follows:-A first or friction coat is spread upon the woven band
by means of the machine with three rollers described in the Patent above
referred to, dated December Twenty-ninth, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-nine, or other suitable mechanism. In this machine the woven fabric is
described as passing between a pressure roll C and a lower roll i, whereby the
entire surface of the woven fabric has the india-rubber ground and driven into
it. Now in the improved process the nip of the pressure rolls is increased to
such a degree as to cause the tough mass of rubber composition to accumulate
in front of the rollers at either edge of the passing band, so that the woven
fabric will be forced to take up a thin coating on the edges by its mere
traverse through the accumulated masses of tough india-rubber. By this
simple means the additional cutters and formers are dispensed with in the first
operation. One side of the belt and the edges being thus covered, the belt is
reversed and passed again through the machine, when the other side and edges
will be covered by a similar operation. The object of this first coat is to force
into the woven fabric a very thin coat of the composition and prepare the
band for receiving the second coat. The applying of this coat is performed by
the machine now to be described which covers the edges and both sides of the
belt at one operation, and finishes the edges of the belt with great perfection.
In Sheet II. of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. I represents this improved
machine in plan view; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section, and
Figures 3, 4, and 5, are detail views to be herein-after referred to. a, a,
represent the supporting framework of the machine, which is intended to
make two bands simultaneously; b, c, d, and e, are large pressure rollers, between
which respectively the india-rubber or gutta percha vulcanizable compound
in a soft and tolerably thick mass is fed and rolled into sheets. These sheets

page_text: pass partially around the peripheries of the rollers c and d until they come in
contact with bands of thick closely-woven cotton fabric or duck, f, fed from
a supply roll g, whereby the soft india-rubber or gutta percha is ground and
driven into the upper and lower surfaces of the woven fabrics. The bands of
fabric, f, in their passage from the supply roll to the two pressure rolls c
and d pass over a guide roll between two short levers i, i, bearing upon the
periphery of the same, and serving to place or keep the bands in a straight
position while passing between the pressure rollers c and d. These levers i, i,
are susceptible of lateral adjustment, so as to adapt them to belts of various
widths. The belts or bands thus formed or the strips of woven fabric being
thus covered with one broad sheet of india-rubber or gutta percha upon their
upper and lower surfaces, then pass under the operation of a series of me-
chanical devices, the construction and the operation of which will be best
described by reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5, which are detailed views of the
same. a is a circular roll or "stitcher," turning in a journal b' of a rod c',
which carries a knife or blade d', the whole swinging upon a centre or fulcrum
e of the rod f. This rod f is placed in a box g', in which is also placed a
plate (bent at right angles at each end) and an india-rubber or other clastic
cushion or spring i; j is a screw rod attached to the rod /', by means of
which it can be adjusted or moved out or in, as may be desired.
The arrangement of cutting tool is placed in a rack or frame of the frame-
work a, a, being susceptible of lateral adjustment thereon at pleasure. A
series of these instruments or cutting tools is placed in the said rack, two to
cach band of woven fabric passed between the pressure rollers c and d, but so
placed and adjusted that the circular rollers or stitchers a', a', will bear upon
the edges of the woven fabric. By constructing and arranging the cutting
tools as above described, the elastic cushions or springs i will cause the circular
rollers or "stitchers" a to follow the varying edges of the fabric, and by their
connection with the knives or blades d', d', they will also cause the knives to
follow the lines or grooves which they have formed in the rubber sheets, and
thereby cut the rubber sheets into strips of the required width.
It will be seen that the circular rollers or "stitchers" do not sever or
separate the wide sheets of rubber, but merely form grooves or channels in the
same, and serve as guides to the blades or knives which follow their paths,
that is the wavy edges of the strips of woven fabric. The sheets of rubber or
guita percha being thus driven or forced into the woven fabric and cut into
strips of the requisite width, then pass down under the guide roller, thence
over the roller to the grooved rollers or formers m, m. These rollers serve to
press or squeeze the rubber or gutta percha upon the edges of the belts or

page_text: bands as they pass forward to the callender rolls o, o. By the callender rollers
the top and under surfaces of the belts are smoothed and finished, and the
belts finally pass through a similar set of formers p, p, to those first described,
the whole serving to encase the woven fabric in a coating of india-rubber or
gutta percha in the most effective nianner.
The formers in, m, and p, p, admit of being adjusted to suit belts of different
widths, and it will be seen that the second set of formers p, p, serve to press
what little rubber or gutta percha may be squeezed from the top surfaces of
the belts or bands smoothly over the edges of the same, and thus give them a
perfect finish. The belts or bands are finally wound upon a mandril q in a
condition suitable for vulcanization. Any of the vulcanizing processes here-
after described in this Specification may be used, but a convenient process for
this particular kind of belt is the following:-The belt is dusted over with
powdered soapstone, or any suitable powder that will prevent the contact
surfaces of the belt from adhering, and it is then rolled into a coil. While
thus coiled the belt is placed on end upon a metal plate heated by steam or
otherwise. The heat will melt and partially vulcanize the rubber, and the
weight of the roll will bring the edge to a smooth square surface. When this
is effected the belt is turned upon the other end, and the edge now in contact
with the plate will be heated and moulded in the same manner; the whole
body of the belt is then to be vulcanized in any suitable manner.
This Invention relates, thirdly, to certain means of finishing or surfacing the
bands made after either of the plans above described. This may be effected
either after or during the "curing" or vulcanizing opération. It is well
known that belts or bands having a surface covered partly or wholly with
india-rubber or gutta percha, and vulcanized by any method ordinarily used,
say by exposure to the action of steam in long steam boilers, will by such
process be left with a rough and uneven surface, the cloths laid between the
surfaces of the belts previous to vulcanization forming indentations or ridges
thereon. To remove these ridges or inequalities, in whatever manner produced,
and thus to accomplish the manufacture of belts with a smooth friction surface
(by which, among other advantages, motive power is saved) is the object of
the third head of this Invention. These inequalities or ridges it is now
proposed to remove by grinding or polishing down the surface of the belts,
either by hand or by machinery, but preferably by machinery. The belt is
smoothed by grinding rollers covered with emery, or by grinding wheels such
as are now in use, and made of emery and rubber. The belt is to be fed up
to the action of the emery wheels by suitable and well known machinery, and
the form, size, and position of the wheels may be determined according to the

page_text: judgment of the operator, due regard being had to the eflicient carrying out of
the grinding operation.
Another mode of giving to belts a smooth friction surface consists in so
modifying the vulcanizing process that the smooth surface will be imparted to
them during the process of vulcanization, the belt or band being fed into the
vulcanizing chamber directly from the machine in which it is made, when
found convenient to do so.
In Sheet II., Fig. 1 is a plan or top view of the vulcanizing or curing
chamber, suitably provided for carrying out the object of this part of the
Invention, the top casing being removed to shew the interior, and Fig. 2 a
central longitudinal vertical section of the same.
a, a, a, is a casing or box enclosing a series of smooth hollow rolls b, b, b,
and c, c, c, which are internally heated by steam, or in any other proper manner,
to the desired temperature, and made to revolve, the rollers c, c, being placed
in a lower position than the rollers b, b. The belt or band d, d, d. (formed in
any proper manner) is fed in the green or uncured state between two small
hollow rolls e, e, which are heated by steam or in any other suitable manner.
These rolls e, e, heat the edges of the belt or band, which is then passed
over and under the heated rolls b, b, and c, c, respectively, and finally the
belt passes between small rollers, f, which finish the vulcanization of the
edges of the belt. By thus passing the belt or band between the series of
smooth heated rollers the vulcanization will be completed without the necessity
of rolling up the belt or band and placing it in ovens or heaters as ordinarily
practised, while at the same tine, a smooth friction surface will be imparted
to the band. The air in the chamber can be heated by steam or otherwise to
add to the heat naturally given off by the rolls.
D
Another method of producing the smooth friction surface on driving bands
is as follows:-The band made in any proper manner and previous to vulcan-
izing is dusted over with some non-adhesive substance, like soapstone, and
then rolled, up tightly. The band is then vulcanized by placing it in a steam
heater, or by subjecting it to a dry heater, or in any other proper manner.
By thus securing the close contact of the coils of the belt with a non-adhesive
substance interposed between to prevent the surfaces sticking together during
the curing process, the desired result of imparting a smooth and finished
The winding or
friction surface to the belt or band is successfully attained.
rolling up of the belt or band can be effected either by hand labor or by
machinery. The belt should be made up in such a manner as to present a
smooth friction surface before it is heated, and the powder or other substance.
placed between the coils should be made as fine and smooth as possible. in

page_text: belt.
In place of either of the above plans of vulcanizing to obtain the smooth
surface the belt. in its green or uncured state, whether of the ordinary
manufacture or of a kind now called solid belting, is, for convenience, wound
upon a roller and placed upon a suitable frame to allow of its being fed by an
intermittent movement as the vulcanizing operation progresses. The band is
passed, in portions, into a heating chamber fitted with slabs or plates of glass
between which the portion passed into the chamber is held while 'under the
action of the heat. These plates are to be annealed properly to enable them
to resist the heat to which they are exposed. One of these glass slabs forms
the bed plate, and rests upon a hollow metal chamber, which is supplied with
steam for the purpose of heating the plate. Above this is suspended another
and similar glass plate, it being fitted to the inder side of a similar hollow
metal chamber. This plate with its chamber is moveable vertically, so that
when a section of the belt is placed upon the lower plate the upper plate may
be let down upon it. Steam being admitted into both the chambers of the
heater the two plates of glass will be heated, and the rubber melted sufficiently
to enable it to take the smooth surface of the glass, at the same time the
vulcanizing operation will be proceeding. When one portion of the belt is
sufficiently vulcanized the upper plate is raised, the band is shifted forward,
and another portion is brought under the curing operation of the heated glass
surfaces. This proceeding is repeated again and again until the whole surface
of the band is passed through the heating chamber and cured or vulcanized.
The last improvement which I will describe in the vulcanizing process for
imparting a smooth surface to driving. bands, consists in the use of flexible
sheet metal composed of an alloy of tin and lead interposed between the coils
of the bands before it is submitted to heat. This sheet can be made of the
width of a single belt, or it can be wide enough to roll up several belts side by
side in it. The thickness may vary, but it should be thin enough to make it
flexible, and thick enough to give it strength. In heating the belt the
vulcanization chemically changes the nature and properties of the rubber, and
the alloy of tin and lead in the process has a very marked effect upon the
rubber, giving the rubber a softness and toughness not produced by any other
process. This also affects the alloy itself, so that after it has been used for a
number of times it becomes stiff and loses its power to affect the rubber.
The relative properties of this alloy may be changed, but it is preferred to use
equal proportions of lead and tin.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in the

page_text: Manufacture of Driving Bands, and in the Machinery to be employed in such
Manufacture," and having explained in detail the manner of carrying out the
several improvements, I would remark that the vulcanizable compounds
employed being similar to those well known and commonly used in the rubber
trade, I have not thought it necessary to enter into their composition, nor have
I thought it necessary to refer more than generally to the well known curing
or vulcanizing process, except in so far as that process is modified by the
present improvements; what I claim under the above in part recited Letters
Patent as the Invention communicated to me by my foreign correspondent
is,-
First, the several improvements above specified for improving the quality of
driving bands having a woven fabric for their base.
And, secondly, the improved machinery above described for facilitating the
manufacture and curing of such driving bands.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
)
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)