AN IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL COMPOUND CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR INDIA- RUBBER OR CAOUTCHOUC
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent:
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
ARTIFICIAL COMPOUND CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR INDIA-
RUBBER OR CAOUTCHOUC."-A communication from abroad by Austin
Goodyear Day, of Seymour, Connecticut, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake'
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th November 1867.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL COMPOUND CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE
FOR INDIA-RUBBER OR CAOUTCHOUC," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in compounding or combining together in proper
proportions and in any suitable manner certain classes or groups of cheap and
easily obtained ingredients, which when united may be mixed with a small
proportion of caoutchouc or gutta percha or their equivalents, and in then
subjecting the mixture to vulcanization in the modes in which india-rubber
and gutta percha or ordinarily vulcanized. An entirely new product or
article of manufacture is thus formed which is adapted to take the place of
Price 8d1

page_text: products composed wholly or almost wholly of caoutchoucand other analagous
gums, and also to answer many purposes to which these last-mentioned sub-
stances are inapplicable. By these means I am enabled to provide at a small
expense and in a convenient manner any desired amount of the raw material
required for the manufacture of the various articles known as india-rubber
goods, and I thus effect a very important saving in the amount of rubber
demanded for these manufactures. I take vegetable and mineral oil or oils,
one or more resins, and alkalies or alkaline earths, or mixtures of two or more
of the same and sulphur; I then first mix in a large iron or other suitable
vessel the vegetable and mineral oils, and heat the mixture to about two
hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit; I next add the resins to the heated
liquid and carry the temperature of the whole up to about three hundred
degrees Fahrenheit; the alkalies are then introduced into the mixture, and
the temperature raised to three hundred and fifteen or three hundred and
twenty degrees Fahrenheit, or thereabouts; I next, before adding any portion
of the sulphur, suffer the temperature of the mass to decline to about two
hundred and seventy-five, or two hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, at
about which point the liquid may, if needful, be strained to remove mechanical
impurities; I then add the sulphur (preferably in rolls) commencing with a
quantity equal to about one-tenth of the total weight of the materials
employed, and gradually raise the temperature during two or three hours to
two hundred and ninety degrees Fahrenheit, or thereabouts, or until all of this
first quantity of sulphur has been combined. After this combination has taken
place I further, during about one hour, gradually raise the temperature to
about three hundred and fifteen degrees; I then begin cautiously to add the
remainder of the sulphur, while suffering the temperature to again decline to
about three hundred degrees, where it may be kept until all the required
sulphur is combined. The mass may then be retained at a temperature of from
about three hundred to two hundred and ninety-five degrees until it com-
mences to thicken, and then its temperature may be permitted to fall to about
two hundred and sixty degrees, when the mass may be transferred to proper
moulds and formed into cakes or blocks of from about ten to fifty pounds in
weight. When the compound has been thus prepared these cakes or blocks
may be incorporated with the proper proportion of rubber by grinding in the
usual manner, and the whole should then be subjected to vulcanization by the
means and in the modes well known to india-rubber manufacturers. I some-
times add to the combination of the compound and the caoutchouc before
vulcanization takes place, especially in the case of the hard product herein-
after described, a certain quantity of sulphur beyond that already contained in

page_text: the compound; this addition and the amount of it depending upon the degree
of hardness required in the article to be manufactured. But as a general rule
I prefer when it is practicable, and convenient to put into the compound in the
first instance all the sulphur which is needed.
The proportions in which the ingredients I have mentioned can be combined
together to produce my artificial substitute for caoutchouc may be greatly
varied according to the particular members of the classes or groups of
elements referred to which are employed, and according to the particular
purpose for which the product is designed, and according to the precise result
which is sought to be attained.
When it is desired to make elastic or soft goods, I prefer to take eighteen
pounds of cotton seed oil, eighteen pounds of linseed oil, nine pounds of coal
oil, nine pounds of heavy petroleum or coal tar, five pounds of spirits of
turpentine, two pounds of resin, one pound of carbonate of soda (or in lieu of
the carbonate of soda about one-third of one pound of caustic soda or potash),
and eighteen pounds of sulphur, and compound the whole together in the
manner above described; I then combine this compound with caoutchouc by
grinding in the proportion of from one half-pound to two pounds, or there-
abouts, of the compound to one pound of caoutchouc, according to the kind
of elastic goods required. For instance, for thin sheet rubber goods, and for
products to beemployed for general elastic purposes, I use from one half-pound
to one pound of the compound to one pound ofcaoutchouc,and for cloths, belting,
or shoes from one to two pounds of the compound to one pound of caoutchouc.
And, as already indicated, if still further hardness should be required in the
product than will be given by the above proportions, a further suitable quantity
of sulphur, say, from one half ounce to two ounces to a pound of the above-
mentioned combined compound and caoutchouc may be added. But for most
of the ordinary classes of elastic goods the proportions here given willanswer
without the further addition of sulphur. After the compound and the
caoutchouc have been thus united I vulcanize the whole in any suitable
manner.
To make a product which may be employed instead of the usual hard
vulcanized india-rubber I may retain either the same, or substantially the
same ingredients and proportions, but after they are compounded together I
prefer to unite them with the caoutchouc in the proportion of one half pound
of the compound to one half pound of caoutchouc, and then to make to this
inixture a further addition ofsulphur to the amount of six ounces, or there-
abouts; or I sometimes unite them with the caoutchouc in the proportion of
one half pound of the compound to three-quarters of a pound of caoutchouc,

page_text: and make a further addition of sulphur to the amount of one half pound, or
thereabouts, and then subject the whole to proper vulcanization.
To make an article which I call semi-hard rubber I may retain either the
same or substantially the same ingredients and proportions as in the two
preceding examples, but after they are compounded together I prefer to unite
them with the. caoutchouc in the proportion of from one to one and one half
pounds of the compound to one pound ofcaoutchouc ; and then to make to this
mixture a further addition of sulphur to the amount of four ounces, or there-
abouts, and subject the whole to vulcanization for a length of time, preferably
about midway between the period employed for vulcanizing soft rubber and
the period employed for vulcanizing hard rubber.
It will be found in practice that in the manufacture of goods which are to
be vulcanized by steam heat less alkali will be required than when the vulca-
nization is performed with dry heat, and that generally (though not always)
when working with dry heat a little carbonate or oxide of lead will be
necessary to be used in the same manner as is at present practised in the
ordinary manufacture of rubber goods. When in either of the examples I
have given coal tar is used a better product will be obtained by precipitating
in the oils as much as possible of the carbon of the coal tar, which carbon
does not combine with the oils, and may be separated from them by straining.
Alkaline sulphurets may, if desired, be employed in place of the alkali.
Although I have in the above examples mentioned by preference two
ingredients of most of the classes referred to it is not indispensible to so
employ them, as a good result can be obtained by using only one ingredient
in each class.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed'
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. S, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of November,in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said

page_text: William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns; should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL COMPOUND CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR
INDIA-RUBBER FOR CAOUTCHOUC," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should part-
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 William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
The nature of this Invention consists in compounding and combining
together in certain proportions and in any suitable manner one or more
vegetable fats or oils, one or more mineral oils or resins, one or more gum
resins, one or more essential or volatile oils, either with or without resins, or
one or more alkalies and sulphur, and in the uniting or combining this com-
pound with a small proportion of caoutchouc or india-rubber or gutta percha,
or their equivalents, and vulcanizing the same by any mode adapted for that
purpose, whereby I am enabled to obtain a product which is characterized by
the possession of the leading qualities of vulcanized caoutchouc, and also
other very important qualities, and which can be manufactured in any
desirable quantity and at much less cost than the ordinary vulcanized
caoutchouc.
The proportions in which these elements can be combined together as above
may be greatly varied according to the particular ingredients of the groups
mentioned which are employed, and according to the purpose for which the pro-
duct is designed, and according to the precise grade of result which is sought
to be obtained. I however ascertained that the following ingredients and pro-
portions will produce a good article, that is to say, I take eighteen pounds of
cotton seed oil, eighteen pounds of linseed oil, eighteen pounds of heavy
petroleum, four pounds of spirits of turpentine, two pounds of resin (the latter

page_text: two articles being products from the white turpentine), one pound of camphor,
one pound of carbonate of soda, and sixteen pounds of sulphur, and compound
these together, and then combine them with caoutchouc in the proportion of
one and one half pounds of the compound to one pound of caoutchouc, varying
the proportions of rubber less or more according to the quality of goods to be
made, and then vulcanize in any suitable manner. The article. thus obtained
will be found to be well adapted to the uses for which vulcanized soft rubber
is employed.
F
To make an article which may be used instead of hard rubber I retain
substantially the above-mentioned ingredients, but vary their proportions
somewhat, as for instance, eighteen pounds of cotton seed oil, eighteen pounds
of linseed oil, nine pounds of coal oil, nine pounds of coal tar or heavy petroleum,
five pounds of spirits of turpentine, one pound of camphor, one pound of
carbonate of soda or somewhat less of potash, and sixty pounds of sulphur,
and when they are compounded together I prefer to unite them with the
rubber in the proportion of one pound of the compound to one half or three-
quarters of a pound of rubber, the whole being then subjected to vulcanization.
To make an article which I call semi-hard rubber, and which is adapted to
many new and useful purposes, I retain substantially the same ingredients,
again changing their proportions somewhat as follows:-Eighteen pounds of
cotton seed oil, eighteen pounds of linseed oil, twelve pounds of coal oil, nine
pounds of coal tar or heavy petroleum, five pounds of spirits of white
turpentine, one half pound of camphor, one pound of carbonate of soda or
half a pound of caustic soda or potash, and thirty-six pounds of sulphur, and
when they are compounded together I unite them with the rubber in the pro-
portion of one pound of the compound to one half to three-quarters of a pound
of rubber, and subject the whole to vulcanization for a length of time,
preferably about midway between the period employed for vulcanizing soft
rubber and the period employed for vulcanizing hard rubber..
These examples are onlyillustrations of combinations which I have practised
with success, but have obtained excellent results with a great number of
other combinations of the classes of ingredients above mentioned in many
different proportions respectively, and it would be impossible as well as useless
to attempt to enumerate all the different proportions of those classes of
ingredients which may be employed if desired, but the experience of the
operator will soon teach him what proportions and what particular materials
of the classes mentioned will best answer the specific purpose he may have
in view.
may add that it will be found in practice that in the manufacture of
'

page_text: goods which are to be vulcanized by steam that less alkali will be required.
than when the vulcanization is performed with dry heat, and that generally,
though not always, when working with dry heat a little carbonate or oxideoflead
will be necessary to be used in the same manner as at present practised in the
ordinary manufacture of rubber goods; and I may further remark that when
in either of the examples I have given coal tar is used a better product.
will be obtained by precipitating in the oils as much as possible of the carbon
of the cold tar, which carbon does not combine with the oils, and may be
separated from them by straining.
I wish it to be observed that, although I have in the above examples
mentioned by preference two ingredients of most of the classes referred to, it
is not indispensable to so employ them, as a good result can be obtained by
using only one ingredient in each class, and I consider that my Invention will
be practised whether one or more ingredients of these different classes are
combined together.
When desired the oxides and carbonates of metals and earths and colours
may be mixed in small proportions with the other ingredients of my artificial
compound before vulcanization, in the manner and for the purposes well
known to those familiar with the manufacture of caoutchouc goods. I may
also combine with my artificial compound cotton or other vegetable fibre,
either in the natural state or ground to a fine powder, and either with or
without the carbonates or oxides of metals, earths, and colors.
By means of my Invention I am enabled by properly varying the foregoing
combinations, and by also varying the time and degree of the vulcanizing heat
in accordance with the character of the article to be produced, as is ordinarily
practised by india-rubber manufacturers, to obtain the following three distinct
classes of articles, namely:-First, elastic goods, such as clothing, boots,
shoes, belting, and car springs; second, semi-hard goods, such as covering for
telegraph wire and cable, gas and water tubing, and articles adapted to many
uses for which leather is now employed; third, hard goods, such as the various
articles now so extensively manufactured from hard rubber.
It will be seen that my Invention enables me to dispense with a very large
proportion of the caoutchouc which would be required in manufacturing
similar articles in the present modes. It will also be found that the products
which I obtain possess many highly useful qualities which are not found at
all in ordinary rubber goods, and practical experience will show that my
processes may with very great advantage be substituted for the ordinary
methods of rubber manufacture.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by

page_text: my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First. The compound for hard rubber articles, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Second. The compound for semi-hard rubber articles, substantially
for the purposes set forth.
Third. The compound for soft rubber articles, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth. ..
Fourth. The process of making hard rubber articles by combining the said
compound for hard rubber with india-rubber, gutta percha, or their equivalents,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The process of making semi-hard rubber articles, combining the said
compounds for semi-hard rubber with india-rubber, gutta percha, or their
equivalents, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. The process of making soft rubber articles by combining the said
compound for soft rubber with india-rubber, gutta percha, or their equivalents,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Seventh. The new product resulting from the combination of the above-
described compound for hard rubber with india-rubber, gutta percha, or their
equivalent, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The new product resulting from the combination of the above-
described compound for semi-hard rubber with india-rubber, gutta percha, or
their equivalent, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The new product resulting from the combination of the above-
described compound for soft rubber with india-rubber, gutta percha, or their
equivalent, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
THO. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.