IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EMERY, GLASS, OR OTHER ABRASIVE SUBSTANCE IN COMBINATION WITH WOVEN FABRICS OR ROPES, AND IN APPARATUS POR THE APPLICATION OF SUCH ABRASIVE SUBSTANCES SO COM- BINED TO GRINDING OR POLISHING
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard John Edwards, of Shoreditch, in the
County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EMERY, GLASS, OR OTHER ABRASIVE
SUBSTANCE IN COMBINATION WITH WOVEN FABRICS OR ROPES, AND IN
APPARATUS POR THE APPLICATION OF SUCH ABRASIVE SUBSTANCES SO COM-
BINED TO GRINDING OR POLISHING."
Scaled the 5th January 1872, and dated the 6th November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard John Edwards
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th November 1871.
-I, RICHARD JOHN EDWARDS, of Shoreditch, in the County of Middle-
sex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EMERY, GLASS, OR OTHER ABRASIVE
SUBSTANCE IN COMBINATION WITH WOVEN FABRICE OR ROPES, AND IN APPARATUS-
c

page_text: FOR THE APPLICATION OF SUCH ABRASIVE SUBSTANCES SO COMBINED TO GRINDING OR
POLISHING," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to novel methods of applying emery, glass,
or other abrasive substances to the surface of woven fabrics of cotton or
linen (so as to form emery cloth or glass cloth) in such manner that a
less quantity of such emery, glass, or other abrasive substance may be
required, and that it may be more easily attached to the woven fabric by
means of glue or other gelatinous cement.
Second. To applying emery, glass, or other abrasive substance to the
surface of flexible cords or ropes instead of to the surface of woven
fabrics.
Third. To novel methods of arranging drums or pulleys so that
suitable strips of woven fabrics having their surfaces covered with
emery, glass, or other abrasive substance may be attached to the
periphery of such drums or pulleys, and may be readily removed and 1
replaced or changed as may be required.
0
In order to carry out the first part of my Invention I take sheets or
strips of cloth, and instead of covering the whole surface of such cloth
with the emery, glass, or other abrasive substance with which it is to be
coated I apply it in transverse strips of suitable width, which strips are 2
separated from one another by blank spaces upon which no abrasive
substance is placed. In order to do this I lay the glue or cement by
which the abrasive substance is made to adhere to the cloth only upon
those parts which it is intended shall be covered with it, and I then
spread the abrasive substance over the whole cloth, and upon shaking off 2
or removing the surplus the remainder adheres only to the parts which
have been covered with glue or cement and the intervening spaces in
the cloth are left bare. Sometimes I apply this method of manufacture
to cases where paper or other suitable flexible substance is used instead
of cloth as a foundation for the emery, glass, or other abrasive substance. 3
And where cloth is used as a foundation I sometimes attach the abrasive
substance to it by means of gelatinous cement in the following
manner cover the surface of the cloth with glue, and whilst the
glue is still hot and partially liquid I spread over it the abrasive sub-
stanco, and the surplus being shaken off, the remainder adheres to the 8
soft glue, which I then allow to dry and harden. I then subject the
cloth covered with glue to heat either by passing it over or under a.

page_text: heated surface, and the glue being thus partially remelted allows the
abrasive substance to sink in and thus become firmly fixed. Sometimes
I coat the surface of the cloth with glue, which I then allow to dry
and harden, and when it is required to attach the abrasive substance
I make the latter sufficiently hot and then scatter or spread it over the
surface of the glue. The separate grains of the hot abrasive substance
thus partially melt the glue upon which they fall, and as they cool the
glue hardens and retains them firmly fixed.
Secondly. In order to attach emery, glass, or other abrasive substance
to the surface of flexible ropes or cords instead of to flat surfaces I take
ropes or cords of hemp, flax, cotton, or other suitable substance, and
having covered them with melted glue I roll them in or sprinkle them
with emery, glass, or other abrasive substance, and I then allow the glue
to cool and harden; or I cover the ropes or cords with melted glue
which I then allow to cool and harden, and I then cover them with the
abrasive substance heated as already described in my method of similarly
treating woven fabrics. Sometimes I treat tapes or "selvedges in the
same manner, which as well as the cords or ropes so prepared I have
found to be of great use for the purpose of grinding or polishing articles.
having round corners, grooves, or angles.
"
For the purpose of carrying out the third part of my Invention I
make pulleys or drums of metal, wood, or other suitable substance and
of any required diameter and width of periphery, and I mount these
drums upon suitable bearings so that they may be made to revolve upon
their axes with great rapidity by hand or by any other convenient power.
And I cover the peripheries of these drums or pulleys with cloth or
other suitable fabric or material which has been coated with emery,
glass, or other abrasive substance. And in order to attach such cloth or
other fabric to the pulley or drum I make a transverse opening across
the face of the drum parallel with the axis and of sufficient width to
allow two thicknesses of the cloth covered with abrasive substance to
pass readily through it. And I take a strip of the cloth covered with
abrasive substance of the same or nearly the same width as that of the
periphery of the drum, and I attach the two ends of the strip together
so as to form an endless band of such a length as to form a circle of
somewhat greater diameter than that of the drum upon which it is to be
used. And I place this endlass band upon the pulley with the abrasive
substance outwards, and I pass the extra length through the opening in.

page_text: the periphery of the drum so as to form a loop inside it. And I tighten
the band by passing a rod or bar through this loop, and by drawing the bar
towards the centre of the drum. This I do either by means of springs,
which are attached to the bar and to points in the drum nearer to the
centre, or by means of screws, which when they are turned draw the bar
towards the centre of the drum. Sometimes I make two or more
openings across the periphery of, the drum, and I tighten the endless
band, as described, in each of these openings. Sometimes I make the
openings across only a part of the periphery of the drum, leaving the
remainder on each side solid. And sometimes instead of openings I
make recesses or notches in the periphery, which in such case is not cut
completely through. Where it is not convenient to pass an endless
band over the drum I take a strip of cloth of sufficient length covered
with abrasive substance instead of an endless band, and I pass the two
ends of the band (after it has encircled the drum) through the opening,
and I hold one of the ends firmly fixed by means of a fixed clip or
screws, and I attach the other end to a moveable clip or holder, which is
drawn towards the centre of the drum by means of springs or screws, as
already described. Sometimes, where the width of the periphery of the
drum is great as compared with its diameter, I take a narrow slip of
cloth covered with abrasive substance, and I wind it spirally round the
drum, and I attach one end of it to one end of the drum by means of
glue, cement, screws, clips, or wedges, and the other end I attach to the
other end of the drum in a similar way or by means of adjustable clips
Drums prepared in this manner can be applied among other
purposes, to grinding "cards" for carding engines. Drums of greater
diameter, the peripheries of which are covered with cloth, coated with
abrasive substances, in the manner described I sometimes apply to the
purpose of removing the husks from grain, or of grinding seeds. Some-
times two drums may be used, having an endless belt passed round both
of them, to which belt a strip of cloth covered with abrasive substance
is attached. By making the bearings in which one of the drums revolves
moveable, so that it may be capable of approaching to or receding from
the other drum, and by withdrawing it from the latter by means of weights
or springs attached to its bearings, articles having convex surfaces may
be more readily ground or polished by being pressed against the surface
of the endless band between the two rollers.
or screws.
The accompanying Drawing is in illnetration of the third part of my

page_text: Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 a cross section of a pulley or
drum constructed according to my Invention. A is the drum or pulley,
the periphery of which has a transverse opening B across its face and
parallel to the axis of the drum; C is an endless band of cloth covered
with a suitable abrasive substance, and of sufficient length to allow the
loop D to be drawn through the opening B. A rod or bar E is passed
through D and is drawn towards the centre of the drum by means of the
springs F, F, of india-rubber or metal. By this arrangement the endless
band C can be readily replaced when the abrasive substance upon it has
been worn away. The periphery of the drum A may be covered with
leather, india-rubber, or other substance, cemented or otherwise attached
to the drum, and upon which the endless band may be supported.
Figure 3 is a side view, and Figure 4 a cross section of a method
already described, which I adopt to tighten the strip where it cannot be
used as an endless band. A is the drum or pulley, having a transverse
opening B in its periphery, similar to that described in Figure-1; C is
the band of cloth covered with abrasive substance, one end of which is
held fast in the clip D and the other end is held in the moveable clip E,
which is drawn towards the centre of the drum by means of the spring
or springs F, which may be of india-rubber or metal.
Figure 5 shows a screw and nut F attached to the moveable clip E
instead of a spring.
Figure 6 shews a recess or notch B in the periphery of the drum or
pulley, as shown in Figure 1, instead of an opening completely through
it. By this arrangement I obtain greater strength of the drum.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent;
filed by the said Richard John Edwards in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
JOHN EDWARDS, of Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.

page_text: year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Richard John Edwards, Her special
licence that I, the said Richard John Edwards, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard John
Edwards, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EMERY, GLASS, OR
OTHER ABRASIVE SUBSTANCE IN COMBINATION WITH WOVEN FABRICS OR ROPES,
AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION OF SUCH ABRASIVE SUBSTANCES SO
COMBINED TO GRINDING OR POLISHING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Richard John Edwards, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Richard John Edwards, 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, and accompanying Drawing:-
The first part of my Invention relates to new and improved methods
of applying emery, glass, pumice stone, or other abrasive substance in
the form of powder to the surface of woven fabrics formed of cotton,
linen, wool, silk, or other suitable material or of a combination of two
or more such materials (so as to form emery cloth, glass cloth, &c.) in
such a manner that a less quantity of such powdered emery, glass, or
other abrasive substance (which I call the abrasive powder) may be
required, and that it may be more easily attached to the woven fabric
described by means of glue or other suitable gelatinous or other
cement.
'
For the purpose of carrying out this part of my Invention I take
sheets or strips of cloth, made of a suitable material as already described,

page_text: and instead of covering the whole surface of such cloth with the abrasive
powder with which it is to be coated I apply the abrasive powder to the
cloth in transverse or diagonal strips only, which may be of a width
varied to suit different requirements, and which are separated from one
another by blank spaces upon the cloth to which no abrasive powder is
attached. To do this I lay the glue or other cement by which the
abrasive powder is made to adhere to the cloth only upon those parts
(transverse or diagonal strips) which it is intended shall be covered with
it, and I then spread or scatter the abrasive powder over the whole cloth
(whilst the glue or cement is still adhesive) and I then shake off the
surplus abrasive powder and the remainder adheres only to the parts
which have been covered with glue or cement, the intervening spaces on
the cloth being left bare. Sometimes I apply this method of manufac-
ture where paper or other flexible substance (not woven) is used instead
of cloth as a foundation for the abrasive powder.
Where cloth, as described, is used as a foundation for the abrasive
powder I sometimes attach the latter to it by means of glue or gelatinous
cement in the following manner :-I cover the surface of the cloth with
glue, and whilst the glue is still hot and partially fluid or adhesivo I
spread or scatter over it the abrasive powder, and I then shake off
the surplus powder, leaving the remainder adhering (in the manner well
understood and practised). I then allow the glue to dry and harden. I
then subject the cloth covered with glue to heat by passing that side of
it which is coated with glue either over or under a heated surface, and
the gluc being thus partially remelted allows the abrasive powder to
sink in and thus become firmly fixed.
Sometimes I coat the surface of the cloth with glue, which I then
allow to dry and harden, or partially harden, and when it is required to
attach the abrasive powḍer I make the latter sufficiently hot and I then
spread or scatter it over the surface of the glue. The separate grains of
the hot abrasive powder partially melt the glue upon which they fall,
and as they cool the glue hardens and retains them firmly fixed.
I claim as my Invention the application of an abrasive powder to
cloth or other suitable substance in transverse or diagonal strips, leaving
blank spaces between them, by which economy is effected in the
quantity of abrasive powder used, and the material is less likely to
clog" when in use. Also the methods of attaching the abrasive powder
to the glue by passing the glued surface of the cloth under or over a
<

page_text: heated surface, or by using the abrasive powder in a heated state,
substantially as described.
The second part of my Invention consists in applying abrasive powder
to the surface of flexible ropes or cords instead of to flat surfaces, as has
heretofore been done. For this purpose I take ropes or cords of hemp, 5
flax, cotton, wool, silk, or other suitable material, or a combination of
two or more such materials, and I cover or coat them with melted glue by
means of brushes or by passing them through cisterns of melted glue, or
in any other convenient way, and I then roll them in or sprinkle them
with the abrasive powder, and I then allow the glue to cool and 1
harden.
Sometimes I cover the ropes or cords with melted gluc, as described,
which I allow to cool or harden or to partially cool or harden, and I then
cover them with the abrasive powder heated, as already described, for
similarly treating flat surfaces. Tapes or "selvedges" may be prepared 1
in the same manner.
I claim as my Invention the preparation of flexible cords or ropes
with a suitable abrasive powder, substantially as described.
The third part of my Invention relates to novel methods of arranging
wheels, drums, pulleys, or platos for the purpose of grinding so that 2
suitable strips of woven fabrics or other flexible materials having their
surface covered with an abrasive powder may be attached to the
peripheries of such drums or pullies, and may be readily and quickly
removed and replaced or changed as required.
In order to carry out this part of my Invention I make wheels, 2
pullies, or drums of metal, wood, or other suitable material or com-
bination of materials, and of any required diameter and width of
periphery. I mount these wheels upon suitable bearings so that they
may be made to revolve upon their axes with great velocity by hand,
steam, or other convenient power. I cover the peripheries of the wheels a
described with cloth, or other suitable woven fabric, or other flexible
material which has been coated with abrasive powder in the methods
already described or in other suitable methods. And in order to
attach such cloth or other material to the periphery of the wheel,
I make a transverse opening across the face of the wheel parallel
with its axis, and of sufficient width to allow two thicknesses of the
cloth covered with abrasive powder to pass readily through it. And I

page_text: take a strip of the cloth covered with abrasive powder of the same or
nearly the same width as that of the periphery of the wheel, and I
attach the two ends of the strip together so as to form an endless band
of such a length as to form a circle of somewhat greater circumference
than that of the wheel upon which it is to be used. And I place this
endless band round the wheel with the abrasive powder outwards, and
I pass the loose part through the opening in the periphery of the wheel
so as to form a loop inside the latter. And in order to tighten the band
I pass a rod or bar through the loop so formed, and I draw the bar
towards the centre of the wheel by means of springs of india-rubber,
metal, or other suitable material, which are attached to the ends of the
bar and to points nearer to the centre of the wheel, or by means of
screws, which when they are tightened draw the bar towards the centre
of the wheel.
Sometimes I make two or more openings across the periphery of the
wheel, and I tighten the band by the methods described in each of these
openings; and sometimes I make the openings across only a part of the
periphery of the wheel, leaving the remainder of such periphery on each
side solid; and sometimes I make notches or recesses in the periphery
of the wheel sufliciently large to allow the band to be tightened in
them, as described, instead of making the openings completely through
the periphery.
In cases where it is not convenient to pass an endless band over the
wheel in the manner described I take a strip of sufficient length and
width of cloth covered with abrasive powder and I pass the two ends of
such strip (after it has been placed round the wheel instead of the endless
band already described) through the opening, and I hold one of the ends
firmly fixed by means of a fixed clip or screws, and I attach the other
end to a moveable clip or buckle, which is drawn towards a point nearer
to the centre of the wheel by means of suitable springs or screws.
Sometimes I attach both ends of the strip to a moveable clip or
buckle, which is drawn towards the centre of the wheel as described.
Where the width of the wheel is great as compared with its diameter,
so that it forms a cylinder or bar, I take a narrow slip of cloth or
suitable material covered with abrasive powder, and I wind it spirally
round such bar from end to end, and I attach one end of it to one end
of the bar by means of glue, cement, screws, clips, wedges, or springs,

page_text: and I attach the other end to the other end of the bar in a similar way
or by means of adjustable clips, screws, or springs. Cylinders or bars
prepared in this way can be applied to grinding "cards" for carding
engines and to many other analogous purposes.
Wheels or drums of large diameter, the peripheries of which are
covered in the manner described with cloth coated with abrasive powder,
I sometimes apply to the purpose of removing the husks from grain or
of grinding seeds.
I sometimes make the wheel upon which a band of cloth covered with
abrasive powder is placed flexible and elastic, and this I do by making
the arms and the periphery of the wheel of thin sheet steel. In this way
by pressing the article to be ground forcibly against the wheel the latter
is flattened and a greater part of its periphery comes into operation at
once than if it were to remain always rigidly circular.
For some purposes I use two drums or pullies arranged at a sufficient
distance from one another in the samo plane, and having an endless belt
or band passed round them and connecting them together. I form
this endless band of leather, metal, cloth, or other suitable material
sufficiently flexible, and I attach by cement or other convenient means a
strip of cloth covered with abrasive powder. But I prefer to make the
endless band of steel, to which I attach the cloth covered with abrasive
powder by means of glue or other cement, and I double the edges of the
cloth (which may have notches cut in it for the purpose) under the
flexible band of steel, so that the edges as well as the surface may be
used for grinding. I make one of the drums or pullies revolve by 2
means of steam or other convenient power, and I sometimes make the
other drum or pulley moveable so that it can approach to or recede
from the first pulley, from which latter I keep it separated by means
of weights or springs.
By this arrangement articles having convex surfaces may be readily 3
ground or polished by being pressed against the surface of the endless.
band between the two drums or pullies.
Sometimes I apply the cloth or other suitable material coated with
abrasive powder as described to the faces of revolving plates, which
I make flat or slightly convex. For this purpose I so construct the 3
edge of the revolving plate that a ring or other fastening may be screwed

page_text: or fixed to it holding the edge of the sheet of cloth described below the
plane of the surface of the revolving plate.
Where the part of my Invention is to be applied to grinding or
polishing with flat surfaces by hand I use a stick or frame of convenient
length, width, and thickness, and at one end I make a notch or recess,
into which I pass the loop formed by the surplus length of an endless
band of cloth (covered with abrasive powder) which is placed round the
stick or frame in a way similar to that used in the wheel or pulley
already described. And I fix the endless band in the notch by means
of wedges, springs, or screws, so that a fresh band may be readily
substituted when required. Sometimes instead of an endless band. I use
a strip of suitable length, the ends of which I fix by means of wedges,
springs, or screws, as described.
I sometimes use wheels constructed according to my Invention, and
covered with cloth coated with abrasive powder, by mounting them upon
a spindle which works in bearings held in the hand of the operator, and
fitted with a pulley driven by an elastic band or rope. The operator is
thus able to move the grinding wheel into any suitable position and
apply it as required without any alteration or re-adjustment of the
driving apparatus. The peripheries of the wheels, pullies, or revolving
plates described in the third part of my Invention may be covered with
wood, leather, india-rubber, or other suitable soft material, which is
cemented, rivetted, or otherwise attached to the wheels or pullics,
and upon which the bands coated with abrasive powder may be
supported.
The accompanying Drawings are in illustration of my Invention.
Figure 1 shews a grinding wheel constructed according to my Inven-
tion, and Figure 2 a section of the same through the line X, Y. A is
the wheel, having a transverse opening B across the face of its periphery
and parallel to its axis. C is an endless band covered with abrasive
powder, and of sufficient length to allow the loop D to be drawn through
the 'opening B. A rod or bar E is passed through the loop D and is
drawn towards the centre of the wheel by means of springs F, F, of
india-rubber or metal.
Figure 3 shews a similar arrangement of the wheel A (which is shewn
broken off the transverse opening B, the endless band C with the
loop D, the bar E, and the springs F, F. The periphery of the wheel

page_text: is not cut completely through, but is formed into a notch G, within
which the bar E and the loop D work.
Figure 4 shews a method of tightening the strip coated with abrasive
powder when it cannot conveniently be used in the form of an endless
band. A is the wheel (shewn broken off) having a transverse opening B,
as already described. O is the band or strip coated with abrasive
powder, one end of which is held by the clip or buckle D and the other
end is held by the moveable clip or buckle E, which is drawn towards
the centre of the wheel by means of a spring or springs F of india-rubber
or metal.
Figure 5 shews an arrangement for the same purpose, in which a
screw F is used instead of a spring to tighten the moveable clip E.
Figure 6 shews a similar grinding wheel, in which both ends of the
strip or band coated with abrasive powder are tightened by being drawn
towards the centre of the wheel. B is the transverse opening in the
periphery. C is the band, the ends of which are held between the
pieces M, N, which are embraced by the tube P, the ends of which are
attached to springs F, which draw it towards the centre of the wheel.
Figure 7 shows another method which I use for covering a cylinder
of small diameter with a band coated with abrasive powder. A is the
cylinder round which the band B is wound spirally, the ends being held
by wedges or other fastenings C, C.
Figure 8 shews a wheel made of thin metal in the periphery A and
arms B, B, B, and covered with a band C coated with abrasive powder.
Figure 9 shews two wheels A and B, round which passes the endless
band C, coated with abrasive powder. The band C is kept stretched by
means of the moveable bearing D, acted upon by the weight E. By
this arrangement articles having a convex surface can be readily ground
or polished, as already described.
Figure 10 shews one form of arrangement which I use where the
cloth covered with abrasive powder is to be attached to a flat surface
instead of to a wheel or drum. A is a flat plate or disc attached to the
shaft B, which works in suitable bearings C, C, in the frame D, and is
driven by the driving pulley E (shewn in dotted lines) or by suitable
toothed wheels. F is a sheet of flexible material coated with abrasive
powder and attached to the plate A by means of the ring G and the

page_text: bolts H, H. The plate is recessed, as shewn, so that the ring G may be
below the level of the surface of the abrasive powder F, which may be
arranged in a vertical, horizontal, or any other suitable position.
Figure 11 shews a plan and edge view of an arrangement of a flat
surface for polishing by hand. A is a stick or frame having a recess B
at one end, into which is passed the ends of a flexible strip C, coated with
abrasive powder, which is placed round the stick A. The wedge D holds
the ends of the strip O firmly in the recess or notch B.
I claim as my Invention the construction and arrangement of wheels,
drums, or plates for the purpose of grinding and polishing so that strips
or bands of flexible material coated with abrasive powder may be readily
attached or removed, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard John Edwards, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
RICHARD JOHN EDWARDS. (L.S.)