AN IMPROVED COVERING FOR PREVENTING THE ESCAPE OF HEAT FROM STEAM BOILERS, PIPES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, ALSO APPLICABLE REFRIGERATORS AND THE LIKE, FOR EXCLUDING HEAT THEREFROM
Year: 1878

page_text: то
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED COVERING FOR PREVENTING THE ESCAPE OF HEAT FROM
STEAM BOILERS, PIPES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, ALSO APPLICABLE
REFRIGERATORS AND THE LIKE, FOR EXCLUDING HEAT THEREFROM."
communication from abroad by Benjamin Franklin Smith, of New Orleans,
Louisiana, United States of America.
A
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1878.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. AN IMPROVED COVERING FOR PREVENTING
THE ESCAPE OF HEAT FROM STEAM BOILERS, PIPES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, ALSO
APPLICABLE TO REFRIGERATORS AND THE LIKE, FOR EXCLUDING HEAT THERE-
FROM."
[A communication from abroad by Benjamin Franklin Smith, of New
Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to provide a covering for steam boilers and steam
pipes, which covering can be utilized at a trifling cost, and which by reason of its
qualities as a non-conductor of heat, will afford protection against the loss of
steam by condensation, and so effect a great saving of fuel for the generation of
steam.
I have found that the hulls of rice seed and of cotton seed are very efficient non-
conductors of heat, and that such hulls, when properly applied to steam boilers and
pipes and other heated surfaces, prevent the loss of heat, and are also equally bene-
ficial as non-conductors for the protection of ice chests, refrigerators, ice houses, and
other structures against the influence of external heat. A difficulty has however
heretofore existed, which has prevented the most effective use of the hulls of said

page_text: seeds for the purposes above-named, which I will explain, and which this Invention
obviates.
In the ordinary process of "ginning" cotton, as now practised, it is impossible to
entirely remove the cotton fibre from the hulls of the seed. Hence the hulls of
these seeds being more or less covered with the cotton, there exists in a given mass
of them a lack of compactness, which it is desirable to overcome in applying them
to the purposes specified; there is also a tendency in them to " bunch or form
themselves into masses of unequal thickness when laid upon surfaces to be
protected.
"
With the hulls of rice seed there is this difficulty under the mode of applying
them, as heretofore practised, namely, that they are liable to slide about and lose
the position in which they may have been placed as a covering to steam boilers and
other surfaces, and hence they do not constitute a protecting covering, maintaining
a uniform thickness and permanent position.
To overcome these difficulties I utilize the hulls of said seeds for the purposes
mentioned in the following manner, that is to say :-
I provide a paper tube open at each end. This tube I fill with the hulls of cotton
seed, or the hulls of rice seed, or with a mixture of both, using for such purpose
any suitable instrument for ramming the hulls into the tubes with regularity and
compactness. In practice I make these tubes about two inches in diameter by two
feet in length, and, for convenience, I make them of tubular form, though they may
be made four-sided or square in cross section, or of any other form which will
answer the purpose designed. To make up a section of my improved covering any
desired number of filled tubes are secured side by side upon a backing, either of
cotton cloth or tough paper (cloth known as drilling" preferred), by pasting or
glueing them upon the said backing, and in the act of glueing them upon the backing
they are pressed against each other so as to snugly adjoin, and in such position be
retained when the paste or glue becomes dry. Having thus secured the packed
tubes to the backing, those portions of the cloth which extend beyond the ends and
Bides of the tubes, are then turned up over and upon the ends and sides of the
tubes, and secured by paste or glue upon the tubes.
"
The pressing of the tubes together in the act of securing them upon the cloth
will cause each of them to assume an upwardly bulging form, but when the glue
becomes dry and pressure is applied upon them, they will then assume a flattened
shape and lie compactly against each other. Or this compact condition of the tubes,
when filled with the hulls of said seeds, may be effected simply by binding a section
of this covering directly upon, around, and in contact with a steam pipe or steam
boiler, to be protected against a waste of its heat.
"
The "felting or covering thus made up may in some instances be applied
directly upon a steam pipe or boiler, as just stated, or it may be used so as to form
annular air spaces between it and the object to which it is applied, thus securing an
additional non-conducting medium. To accomplish this I make tubes or bags of
cloth about two inches in diameter, and of lengths sufficient to go around the pipe
or boiler, and pack them with cotton seed hulls. These tubes or bags I place around
the pipe or boiler, say twelve inches apart, and fasten them in place. I then lay on
pasteboard, and thereupon apply the compact covering or "felting" around the
pasteboard, with the tubes extending in the direction of the length of the pipe or
boiler, and secure the same in place in any suitable manner, say by thin metallic
bands. In this manner annular air spaces are formed around the steam pipe or
boiler, and the confined air is perfectly secured against circulation or escape in a
longitudinal direction along the whole, or nearly the whole, length of the pipe or
boiler, as (in case of fracture of either end of the covering) is liable to be the case
when air spaces beneath a non-conducting covering are made to extend lengthwise
of small pipes or boilers.
As above described, I am enabled to secure either a mass of cotton seed hulls or
a mass of rice seed hulls, or a mixture of both, in the condition of a compact

page_text: covering of uniform thickness, which may be applied to surfaces as a non-conductor
of heat, and which, after being applied, will maintain its evenness of surface and
uniformity of compactness. This end I also attain more readily and at less expense
by simply taking the desired quantity of said hulls, and with the use of water mix
them with just sufficient clay to form a body of hulls held or bound together by the
clay, the whole mass, when so mixed, constituting a stiff mortar, which, with the use
of a plastering trowel, may be applied to any surface in the same manner in which
ordinary mortar is applied to the walls of dwellings.
In my selection of clays for this purpose I give preference to those which when
moist have a notable degree of tenacity and plasticity, such as fire-clay, pipe-clay,
and the like. When the hulls are plastered upon a pipe or boiler, the surface may,
if desired, be covered with a thin sheet of metal. This plastic covering may also
be applied in cases where air spaces are utilized by plastering the same upon paste-
board.
The main body of this covering or "felting," and in fact almost the entire body.
thereof, is composed of the hulls of the seeds above specified, while the quantity of
clay used is at such comparative minimum quantity as shall practically only form &
confining element to hold the hulls together, at the time of plastering the same
upon a surface, as well as thereafter; I do not therefore confine myself to any.
specific quantity of clay in combination with the hulls.
It is obvious that where any object or surface requires a large quantity of my.
said improved felting or covering to protect it, any particular portion of it, after
having been applied, may be removed and its place supplied anew without injury to
or disturbance of the whole quantity used to cover the object or surface.

page_text: 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 27th
November 1878.
:
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED COVERING FOR PREVENTING
THE ESCAPE OF HEAT FROM STEAM BOILERS, PIPES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, ALSO
APPLICABLE TO REFRIGERATORS AND THE LIKE, FOR EXCLUDING HEAT THERE-
FROM." A communication from abroad by Benjamin Franklin Smith, of New
Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
$
'
The main object of this Invention is to provide a covering for steam boilers and
steam pipes, which covering can be utilized at a trifling cost, and which, by reason
of its qualities, as a non-conductor of heat, will afford protection against the loss of
steam by condensation, and so effect' a great saving of fuel for the generation of
steam:
.
I have found that the hulls of rice seed and of cotton seed are very efficient non-
conductors of heat; and that such bulls, when properly applied to steam boilers and
pipes, and other heated surfaces, prevent the loss of heat, and are also equally bene-
ficial as non-conductors for the protection of ice chests, refrigerators, ice houses, and
other structures against the influence of external heat. A difficulty bas however
heretofore existed, which difficulty has prevented the most effective use of the hulls
of said seeds for the purposes above named, which difficulty I will explain, and
which this Invention obviates.
"
1
.
+.
th
In the ordinary process of "ginning" cotton as now practised, it is impossible
to entirely remove the cotton fibre from the hulls of the seed. Hence the hulls of
these seeds being more or less covered with the cotton, there exists in a given mass
of them a lack of compactness, which it is desirable to overcome in applying them
to the purposes specified; there is also a tendency in them to "bunch" or form
themselves into masses of unequal thickness when laid upon surfaces to be
protected.
With the hulls of rice seed there is this difficulty under the mode of applying
them as heretofore, namely, their liability to slide about and lose the position in
which they may have been placed as a covering to steam boilers and other surfaces,
and hence they do not constitute a protecting covering that will maintain a uniform
thickness and permanent position.
To overcome these difficulties I utilize the hull of these seeds for the purposes
specified in the following manner :-
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paper tube.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a series of such tubes placed on a backing.
Figure 3 is another perspective view of the same.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 are sectional views, herein-after described.
A indicates a paper tube open at each end. This tube I fill with the hulls of
cotton seed, or the hulls of rice seed, or with a mixture of both, using for such
purpose any suitable instrument for ramming the hulls into the tube with regularity
and compactness. In practice I make these tubes about two inches in diameter by
two feet in length; I prefer to use cylindrical tubes, as shewn, although, if preferred,
they may be made square in cross section, or of any other suitable form. To make
up a section of my improved covering, any desired number of filled tubes are secured
side by side, as indicated in Figure 2, upon a backing b, either of cotton cloth or
tough paper (preferably cloth known as "drilling") by pasting or glueing them
upon the backing b; and in the act of glueing them upon the backing, they are
pressed against each other compactly, and will be retained in such position when
the paste or glue becomes dry. Having thus secured the packed tubes to the
backing b, those portions of the cloth b which extend beyond the ends and sides of
-

page_text: the tubes, are then turned up, over, and upon the ends and sides of the tubes, and
secured by paste or glue upon the tubes A, as indicated in Figure 3.
The pressing of the tubes together in the act of securing them upon the cloth b
will cause each of them to assume an upwardly bulging form, but when the glue
becomes dry and pressure is applied upon them, they will then assume a flattened
shape, and will lie compactly against each other, as represented in Figure 3. Or
this compact condition of the tubes, when filled with the hulls of said seeds, may be
effected simply by binding a section of this covering, made up as in Figure 3, directly
upon, around, and in contact with a steam pipe or steam boiler to be protected
against a waste of its heat.
"
The "felting or covering thus made up (as shown in Figure 3).may in some
instances be applied directly upon a steam pipe or boiler as just stated, or it may be
used as to form annular air spaces between it and the object to which it is applied,
thus securing an additional non-conducting medium, as indicated in Figure 4 To
accomplish this object I make tubes or bags of cloth about two inches in diameter,
and of lengths sufficient to go around the pipe or boiler, and pack them with cotton
Beed hulls. These tubes or bags, as shewn at a, I place around the pipe or boiler C,
represented in Figure 4, say twelve inches apart, and fasten them in place. I then
lay on pasteboard d, and thereupon apply the covering or "felting," shown in
Figure 3, around the pasteboard with the tubes A extending in the direction of
the length of the pipe or boiler, and secure the same in place in any suitable manner,
say by thin metallic bands. In this manner annular air spaces, as at e, are formed
around the steam pipe or boiler, and the confined air is secured along the whole, or
nearly the whole length of the pipe or boiler against circulation or escape, which in
case of fracture of either end of the covering is liable to occur when air spaces
beneath a non-conducting covering are made to extend along such pipes or
boilers.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of Figure 4 on the line x, x, of the latter Figure,
and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on the line y, y, of Figure 5.
As above described I am enabled to secure either a mass of cotton seed hulls, or a
mass of rice seed hulls, or a mixture of both, in the condition of a compact covering
of uniform thickness, which may be applied to surfaces as a non-conductor of heat,
and which, after being applied, will maintain its evenness of surface and uniformity
of compactness. This object I also attain more readily and at a diminished cost by
simply taking the desired quantity of such hulls, and with the use of water mixing
them with just sufficient clay to form a body of hulls held or bound together by the
clay; the whole mass, when so mixed, constitutes a stiff mortar, which, by the aid
of a plastering trowel, may be applied to any surface in the same manner in which
ordinary mortar is applied to the walls of dwellings.
In the selection of clay for this purpose I give preference to those which when
moist have a notable degree of tenacity and plasticity, such as fire-clay, pipe-clay,
and the like.
Figure 6 represents in longitudinal section a pipe or boiler C, having a felting or
covering A so plastered upon it as to form an enveloping jacket of the desired
uniform thickness and surface, and composed of the hulls of cotton seed, or the hulls
of rice seed, or a mixture of both, combined with clay as a binding element to hold
the hulls in place, and Figure 7 is a cross section thereof on the line a¹, a¹, of Figure 6.
When the hulls are plastered upon a pipe or boiler (as indicated by these Figures),
the surface may, if desired, be covered with a thin sheet of metal, as at f. This
plastic covering may also be applied in cases where air spaces are utilized, as indi-
cated in Figure 4, by plastering the same upon the paste board d.
The main body of this covering or "felting," and, in fact, almost the entire body
thereof, is composed of the hulls of the seeds above specified, while the quantity of
clay used is of such comparative minimum quantity as shall practically only form a
confining element to hold the hulls together at the time of plastering the same upon
a surface as well as thereafter. I do not therefore confine myself to any specific
quantity of clay in combination with the hulls.

page_text: It is obvious, that where any object or surface requires a large quantity of the
said improved felting or covering to protect it, any particular portion of the same,
after having been applied, may be removed, and its place supplied anew without
injury to or disturbance of the whole quantity used to cover the said object or
surface.
Having thus described what I believe to be some of the best modes of carrying
my Invention into practice, I wish it understood that my object is to so apply the
hulls of the said seeds to any surface desired, that they will be held in a determined
fixed condition, and will constitute a non-conductor of heat of uniform density not
liable to casual displacement, whether the same be applied in the condition indicated
in Figure 3 of the Drawing, or as a plastic compound, and that I claim, a covering
for steam boilers, steam pipes, refrigerators, ice chests, and other objects or apparatus,
which is composed of the hulls of either cotton Beed or rice seed, or a mixture of
both, confined in a determined fixed condition, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set, my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W ROB™, LAKE. (LS)