Improvements in the Manufacture of Driving and like Belts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1897
Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1897-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in the Manufacture of Driving and like Belts.
I, LOUIS WILHELM CONRAD LOEWITZ, a member of the Firm of Loewitz & Rohlfs,
of No. 50, Holstentwiete, Ottensen, Altona, in the Empire of Germany, Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of driving-belts
and the like and consists in forming or manufacturing driving belts
and the like from a strong fabric which is rendered impervious to water by
being treated with a solution of Tuno or Juno India-rubber and Balata, various
layers of such fabric or webbing being stuck, and, if considered necessary, also
sewn together so as to form a belt of the required strength.
The object of my said invention is to produce a driving belt suitable both for
driving machinery and for conveying which is not susceptible of being acted upon
by moisture or cold water and is at the same time very flexible, so that even the
thick belts required for the transmission of great power, bend around the smallest
pulleys and impart a large amount of driving power to them, such results being
obtained without resorting to any vulcanizing process, by which the fabric is in-
juriously affected owing to the great heat which it is necessary to employ, whereas
by my process the strength of the fabric is in nowise deteriorated.
I obtain belts having the above mentioned properties by saturating a suitable
fabric formed from flax or cotton, or any other suitable product of the weaving
or textile fabrics industry, with a solution of Tuno India-rubber (a product of
the sterile India rubber tree of Nicaragua, known as the Tuno, or Juno, or male
rubber tree) or of the very nearly allied Chicle India-rubber (from the Achras
sapota tree of Mexico) mixed in proportions which I judge to be suitable with Balata
Caoutchouc (from the Mimusops balata of South America). The fabric so treated,
which is now waterproof, is then cut into strips of suitable breadth, made adhesive
by warming and folded into the number of layers requisite for obtaining the de-
sired strength and stuck together. The band so formed is then (in a heated
calendering machine having a number of cylinders) firmly pressed together and
made uniform, by which operation the belt is formed into an inseparable whole.
When it is intended to use a belt made in this manner in a place which is nor-
mally at a high temperature, I usually sew it together also. If the belt is to be
specially exposed to the action of moisture, I cover one or both sides in addition
with a thicker layer of Tuno or other India-rubber, Balata and gutta-percha,
either separate or mixed after which I impress a pattern thereon.
The method above described is that by which I ordinarily carry out my inven
tion. In certain cases however it may be necessary, instead of coating the flax or
cotton fabric or other product of the weaving or textile fabrics industry, which,
as above stated, forms the basis of my driving belts, with a solution of Tuno or
Chicle India rubber and Balata obtained by use of benzine, naphtha or any
other suitable agent, I cover it on one or both sides with a very thin sheet which
D

page_text: has been previously prepared from an intimately mixed compound of Tuno or
Chicle India rubber and Balata.
I may likewise press this latter composition on to one or both sides of the un-
treated fabric direct in a thin layer, when it has been brought to a highly plastic
condition, by heating by means of a suitable arrangement of rollers, and by this
means also making the fabric impervious to water as well as preparing it for the
subsequent operation of folding and heating.
Belts manufactured as above described, no matter which of the three several ways
referred to have been adopted, possess great flexibility, imperviousness to water
and strength, and this combination of advantages cannot be equalled by belts
manufactured in any other manner. My improved belts are likewise suitable for
almost any method of transmission.
By
In manufacturing these belts I carry out the following successive operations:
Tuno or Chicle India-rubber, which has been thoroughly cleansed by means of
washing cylinders or the like, is dissolved in the known manner in naphtha, ben-
zine or other suitable solvent, it is then placed in a heated mixing vessel in which
it is mechanically mixed with purified Balata caoutchouc, which has been pre-
viously rolled out almost to the thickness of tissue paper, until the Balata
caoutchouc has by the simultaneous action of the heat become completely melted
and intimately mixed or combined with the Tuno or Chicle India-rubber.
means of such a coating or laying on calendering machine as is ordinarily employed
in the manufacture of India-rubber, I apply this mass to the belt fabric and then
hang the fabric which has been coated on one side in this manner upon suitable
When this has
rods or the like in order that the coating substance may set.
taken place I proceed to coat the second side of the fabric in precisely the same
manner, allowing it to set as before described, either in the air or in a steam-
heated chamber. In certain cases however depart from this rule and apply the
substance intended to render the fabric impervious to water and adhesive to the
untreated material in the following manner.
The Tuno or Chicle India-rubber, which has been previously prepared, is in-
timately mixed in proportions which I judge to be suitable, with Balata caout-
chouc by means of mixing rollers, and then rolled out into very thin sheets.
These sheets are then passed between heated rollers simultaneously with the
fabric, whereby the adhesive substance forms a coating which is firm and at the
same time impervious to water, and fabric which has been prepared in this manner
can be further treated in the same way as that prepared in the manner first des-
cribed. A further method by means of which the Tuno or Chicle India-rubber
composition may be applied to the untreated fabric, consists in bringing the com-
position into a highly plastic condition in a kneading machine by the use of heat,
and laying it on the fabric in thin layers by means of cylinders heated as highly
as possible by high-pressure steam, whereby an impervious and readily adhering
coating is formed for the purpose specified.
From impervious belt fabric which has been prepared in one or other of the
three methods above described, strips are cut by means of a cutting machine
having either stationery or rotating blades, such strips being of a width appro-
priate for the belt which it is desired to produce. Thus, should it be desired to
manufacture a belt 6 inches wide and having a thickness of three layers, the belting
fabric should be cut 18 inches wide because each one of the three layers must have
a width of 6 inches; if the belt is to consist of a greater number of layers the fabric
is of course cut into proportionately wider strips.
These strips of fabric are then laid upon a plate or table heated either by means
of steam, boiling water or in any other suitable manner or by causing the strips
to pass through a chamber heated by means of steam, hot air or the like, where-
upon the side or sides which have been coated with the solution become highly
adhesive and they are then folded so as to form the required number of layers, in
the manner usually employed and known in the manufacture of canvas or similar
belting.

page_text: The belting so prepared is then passed through a calendering machine compris
ing a number of rollers arranged one above the other, by which means the band
is made uniform and is strongly compressed and at the same time stretched to such
an extent that, the belt, which is now ready for use, will be found to hardly stretch
at all when in use, whilst wear does not take place or is at all events reduced to a
minimum.
If it is intended to use a belt where it will be exposed to the sun or in any
special way to heat, the belt may advantageously sewn together in the direction of
its length in the manner generally employed and known in the manufacture of
canvas or similar belting.
When the belt is to be specially exposed to moisture, is should be coated by
means of a coating or laying on machine or calender also generally employed in
the manufacture of India-rubber, on one or both sides with a substantial layer of
a solution having great resistance, and which should be harder than the solution
with which the fabric is coated; by this means the belt is also enabled to offer
greater resistance to outside pressure. This subsequently applied solution con-
sists of Tuno or other India-rubber, Balata and Gutta-percha either separate or
mixed.
The belting is then caused to slowly traverse a heated iron boiler, whereby the
coating well melted on to the belting whilst the residue of the solvent which is
still present is vaporised.
The said coating is then finally pressed by means of rollers which are kept cold
and moist and a pattern is impressed thereon, in order to impart a uniform appear-
ance to the surface.
1007
Improvements in the Manufacture of Driving and like Belts.
I, LOUIS WILHELM CONRAD LOEWITZ, a member of the Firm of Loewitz & Rohlfs,
of No. 50, Holstentwiete, Ottensen, Altona, in the Empire of Germany, Manufac-
turer, 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 fol-
lowing statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of driving belts
and the like and consists In forming or manufacturing driving belts
and the like from a strong fabric which is rendered impervious to water by
being treated with a solution of Tuno India-rubber, derived from what is known
as the "male rubber tree" and Balata, various layers of such fabric or webbing
being stuck and if considered necessary, also sewn together so as to form a belt
of the required strength.
The object of my said invention is to produce a driving belt suitable both for
driving machinery and for conveying which is not susceptible of being acted upon
by moisture or cold water and is at the same time very flexible, so that even the
thick belts required for the transmission of great power, bend around the smallest
pulleys and impart a large amount of driving power to them, such results being
obtained without resorting to any vulcanizing process, by which the fabric is in-
juriously affected owing to the great heat which it is necessary to employ, whereas
by my process the strength of the fabric is in nowise deteriorated.

page_text: I obtain belts having the above mentioned properties by saturating a suitable
fabric formed from flax or cotton, or any other suitable product of the weaving
or textile fabrics industry, with a solution of Tuno India-rubber (a product of
the sterile India-rubber tree of Nicaragua) or of the very nearly allied Chicle
India-rubber (from the Achras sapota tree of Mexico) mixed with Balata Caout-
chouc (from the Mimusops balata of South America). The fabric so treated,
which is now waterproof, is then cut into strips of suitable breadth, made adhesive
by warming and folded into the number of layers requisite for obtaining the de-
sired strength and stuck together. The band so formed is then (in a heated
calendering machine having a number of cylinders) firmly pressed together and
made uniform, by which operation the belt is formed into an inseparable whole.
When it is intended to use a belt made in this manner in a place which is nor-
mally at a high temperature, I usually sew it together also. If the belt is to: be
specially, exposed to the action of moisture, I cover one or both sides in addition
with a thicker layer of Tuno or other India-rubber, Balata and gutta-percha,
either separate or mixed, after which I impress a pattern thereon.
.
The method above described is that by which I ordinarily carry out my inven-
tion. In certain cases however it may be necessary instead of coating the flax or
cotton fabric or other product of the weaving or textile industry, which,
'as above stated, forms the basis of my driving-belts, with a solution of Tuno or
Chicle India-rubber and Balata obtained by the use of benzine, naphtha or any
other suitable agent, I cover it on one or both sides with a very thin sheet which
has been previously prepared from an intimately mixed compound of Tuno or
Chicle India-rubber and Balata.
I may likewise press this latter composition on to one or both sides of the un-
treated fabric direct in a thin layer when it has been brought to a highly plastic
condition by heating by means of a suitable arrangement of rollers, and by this
means also making the fabric impervious to water as well as preparing it for the
subsequent operation of folding and heating.
Belts manufactured as above described, no matter which of the several ways
referred to have been adopted, possess great flexibility, imperviousness to water
and strength, and this combination of advantages cannot be equalled by belts
manufactured in any other manner. My improved belts are likewise suitable for
almost any method of transmission.
In manufacturing these belts I carry out the following successive operations:
Tuno or Chicle India-rubber, which has been thoroughly cleansed by means of
washing cylinders or the like, is dissolved in the known manner in naphtha, ben-
zine or other suitable solvent, it is then placed in a heated mixing vessel in which
it is mechanically mixed with purified Balata caoutchouc, which has been pre-
viously rolled out almost to the thickness of tissue paper,, until the Balata
caoutchouc has by the simultaneous action of the heat become completely melted
and intimately mixed or combined with the Tuno or Chicle India-rubber. By
means of such a coating or laying on calendering machine as is ordinarily employed
in the manufacture of India-rubber, I apply this mass to the belt fabric and then
hang the fabric which has been coated on one side in this manner upon suitable
rods or the like in order that the coating substance may set. When this has
taken place I proceed to coat the second side of the fabric in precisely the same
manner, allowing it to set as before described, either in the air or in a steam-
heated chamber. In certain cases however I depart from this rule and apply the
substance intended to render the fabric impervious to water and adhesive to the
untreated material in the following manner.
The. Tuno or Chicle India-rubber, which has been previously prepared, is in-
timately mixed in proportions which I judge to be suitable, with Balata caout-
chouc by means of mixing rollers, and then rolled out into very thin sheets.
The proportion of the mixture which I usually employ is:
50% Balata caoutchouc

page_text: For the better class of belts the amount of Tuno India-rubber may
be increased while for belts of inferior quality it may be reduced.
These sheets are then passed between heated rollers simultaneously with the
fabric, whereby the adhesive substances forms a coating which is firm and at the
same time impervious to water, and fabric which has been prepared in this manner
can be further treated in the same way as that prepared in the manner first des-
cribed. A further method by means of which the Tuno or Chicle India-rubber
composition may be applied to the untreated fabric, consists in bringing the com-
position into a highly plastic condition in a kneading machine by the use of heat,
and laying it on the fabric in thin layers by means of cylinders heated as highly
as possible by high pressure steam, whereby an impervious and readily adhering
coating is formed for the purpose specified.
From impervious belt fabric which has been prepared in one or other of the
three methods above described, strips are cut by means of a cutting machine
having either stationery or rotating blades, such strips being of a width appro-
priate for the belt which it is desired to produce. Thus, should it be desired to
manipulate a belt 6 inches wide and having a thickness of three layers, the belting
fabric should be cut 18 inches wide because each one of the three layers must have
a width of 6 inches; if the belt is to consist of a greater number of layers the fabric
is of course cut into proportionately wider strips.
These strips of fabric are then placed upon a plate or table heated either by means
of steam, boiling water or in any other suitable manner or by causing the strips
to pass through a chamber heated by means of steam, hot air or the like, where-
upon the side or sides which have been coated with the solution become highly
adhesive and they are then folded so as to form the required number of layers, in
the manner usually employed and known in the manufacture of canvas or similar
belting
The belting so prepared is then passed through a calendering machine compris-
ing a number of rollers arranged one above the other, by which means the band
is made uniform and is strongly compressed and at the same time stretched to such
an extent that the belt, which is now ready for use, will be found to hardly stretch
at all when in use, whilst wear does not take place or is at all events reduced to a
minimum.
If it is intended to use a belt where it will be exposed to the sun or in any
special way to heat, the belt may advantageously sewn together in the direction of
its length in the manner generally employed and known in the manufacture of
canvas or similar belting.
When the belt is to be specially exposed to moisture, is should be coated by
means of a coating or laying on machine or calender also generally employed in
the manufacture of India-rubber, on one or both sides with a substantial layer of
a solution having great resistance, and which should be harder than the solution
with which the fabric is coated; by this means the belt is also enabled to offer
greater resistance to outside pressure. This subsequently applied solution con-
sists of Tuno or other India-rubber, Balata and Gutta-percha either separate or
mixed.
The belting is then caused to slowly traverse a heated iron boiler, whereby the
coating is well melted on to the belting whilst the residue of the solvent which is
still present is vaporised.
The said coating is then finally pressed by means of rollers which are kept cold
and moist and a pattern is impressed thereon, in order to impart a uniform appear-
ance to the surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The herein described improvements in the manufacture of driving belts and
the like consisting in forming or constructing such belts of a textile fabric which

page_text: is rendered impervious to water by being treated with a solution of Tuno India
rubber (or of the very nearly allied Chicle India rubber) mixed in suitable proportion
with Balata caoutchouc, and is stuck together in various layers, which, if con-
sidered necessary, are sewn together or covered on one or both sides with a layer
of Tuno or other India rubber, Balata and gutta-percha, either separate or mixed,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The manufacture of driving belts or the like of a textile fabric covered or
coated on one or both sides with a layer or layers of an intimately mixed Tuno
India rubber (or Chicle India rubber) and Balata compound, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
3. The manufacture of driving belts and the like consisting in pressing a Tuno
India rubber (or Chicle India rubber) and Balata composition on to one or both
sides of a suitable textile industry fabric direct in a thin layer or layers, when it
has been brought to a highly plastic condition by heating, by means of suitable
rollers or the like, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a driving belt or the like the combination of a suitable textile industry fabric,
folded together in layers, with a mixture or composition of Tuno India rubber (or
the allied Chicle India-rubber) and Balata caoutchouc, which mixture or com-
position may be applied to the said fabric either on one or on both of its sides as
à solution or in the form of sheets or coatings, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Tatad this 92nd day of October 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.