improvements in the Manufacture of Oxidised or Solidified Oil, and in the Application of the same to Wires and Strands.
Year: 1885

page_text: improvements in the Manufacture of Oxidised or Solidified Oil,
and in the Application of the same to Wires and Strands.
I FREDERICK WALTON of Heatham House Twickenham in the County of
Middlesex Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OXIDISED OR SOLIDIFIED OIL AND IN
THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO WIRES AND STRANDS to be as follows :—
"
"
In the manufacture of solid or oxidized oil as now usually employed the oil is
exposed in thin films on extensive surfaces of cotton fabric of a very light texture
until by a repetition of dried films a thickness of half an inch or so is obtained,
when the whole mass of oil, coating the light fabric is broken up and used for the
manufacture of linoleum and other cements.
This process is open to inconvenience which I propose to remedy. In the first
place I save the expense of the cotton or other fabric, and I obtain oxidized oil
which is free from fibre, the presence of which is very objectionable in the manu-
facture of insulated wire and in other cases it is inconvenient as it is liable to
interfere with the material being spread evenly over surfaces.
Another advantage is that I can first reduce the oil almost to a treacly or
semi-fluid state by well known preparatory processes and afterwards solidify it in
films at a much quicker rate than by the old process formerly patented by me and
now in general use.
As oil cannot by ordinary means be spread over large surfaces evenly unless of a
certain liquidity-and as the thickness of the film that remains to be dried depends
on the thickness or viscidity of the oil it will be seen that great gain is obtained
by the employment of a process which admits of a more viscid and clinging oil
being used which will not run off the surfaces exposed to drying action. Especially
is this the case where the arrangements admit of the application of a current of air
charged with an abundance of oxygen, at any desired temperature or charged with
any other gases or liquids that may be conducive to the solidifying action. My
improved process has also the advantage that the fumes given off can be blown
into a furnace to be consumed and so all cause of nuisance is avoided.
The apparatus which I employ consists of a number of closed metal chambers
connected together by pipes arranged so that the inlet is at the top and the outlet
at the bottom of each; they form a continuous series. Each chamber is filled with
thin sheets of wrought iron or other suitable surfaces about one inch to one inch
Die 071

page_text: and a half apart. The oil previously prepared by boiling and thickened by blowing
air through it or otherwise, is introduced by means of a pump into one or two of
the chambers after which air is forced into the chambers-the air presses forward
the oil out of one chamber into the next and so throughout the series of chambers,
and covers all the sheets in the chambers with a film of oil. So soon as the oil is
forced out of the last chamber air continues to pass amongst the coated surfaces in
the chambers so long as the pump or fan employed is kept working. Such air can
be beated to any desired degree and any volume and pressure may be employed.
The air can be charged with oxygen or other gas or fumes that will tend to oxidize
or produce other desired changes in the oil. The air may be ozonized by passing
it between sheets of glass highly charged with electricity from a Rhumkorffs or
other coil-a process well known.
Chemicals or liquids may be passed through the apparatus to facilitate oxidation
and solidification of the oil-I can thus expose films of oil to any desired action of
liquids or gases which is not possible by the old process.
When the sheets have received a thick coating of oxidized oil by the repeated
application of films they are removed from the apparatus and the oil can then be
stripped off in the following manner.
An endless band of metal preferably brass runs over two pulleys, some distance
apart the band is heated to a temperature of about 400 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
The sheets of iron are passed through wood rollers which force the surface of the
sheet against the heated band.
The heat acts on the oil partially liquifying it at the point of contact and so
enabling it to be removed from the iron without abrading the surface of the metal
itself.
When one side of the sheet is cleaned the plate is reversed.
In covering telegraphic and other wires or strands with the material in a plastic
condition in order to keep the wire or strand truly central within the covering
until it can be hardened or vulcanized by heat or other agents, I receive the wire
as it comes from the covering machinery on to a drum of large diameter which can
be steam heated and having a spiral groove cut upon its periphery. This groove
is of such a form as to admit of the covered wire or strand embedding itself in it
whilst retaining its form and the drum is rotated at a speed corresponding to that
at which the wire or strand is delivered from the covering mechanism.
The dimensions of the drum allow of a great length being thus accumulated
upon it. The drum is contained in a casing to admit of the temperature to which
the material is exposed being conveniently regulated and of its being subject to air
and other agents to complete the hardening.
At first a low temperature only can be safely applied but by degrees a higher
temperature may be used without risk. There may be partitions in the casing to
admit of the material on different parts of the drum being exposed to different
temperatures and treatment. When the coating is sufficiently hard the material is
wound from the first drum on to a second drum and the treatment is continued..
In this way the wire or strand is retained in a central position within the
covering until hardened which cannot be ensured when the covered wire or strand
is immediately wound into comparatively small coils which is the usual practice.
. As there is sometimes a difficulty in in putting on a sufficiently thick coat
at one operation I sometimes apply two or more coats and for such thin coat
I add a solvent to the oxidised oil. The solvent evaporates during the subsequent
treatment.

page_text: and in the Application of the same to Wires and Strands.
I, FREDERICK WALTON of Heatham House Twickenham in the County of
Middlesex Manufacturer 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 following statement:-
In the manufacture of solid or oxidised oil as now usually employed the oil is
exposed in thin films on extensive surfaces of cotton fabric of a very light texture
until by a repetition of dried films a thickness of half an inch or so is obtained,
when the whole mass of oil, coating the light fabric is broken up and used for the
manufacture of linoleum and other cements.
This process is open to inconvenience, which propose to remedy. In the first
place I save the expense of the cotton or other fabric, and I obtain oxidised oil
which is free from fibre, the presence of which is very objectionable in the manu-
facture of insulated wire and in other cases it is inconvenient as it is liable to
interfere with the material being spread evenly over surfaces.
Another advantage of the process which I now employ is that I can first reduce
the oil almost to a treacly or semi-fluid.state by well known preparatory processes
and afterwards solidify it in films at a much quicker rate than by the old process
formerly patented by me and now in general use.
As oil cannot by ordinary means be spread over large surfaces evenly unless of a
certain liquidity and as the thickness of the film that remains to be dried depends
on the thickness or viscidity of the oil it will be seen that great gain is obtained
by the employment of a process which admits of a more viscid and clinging oil
being used which will not run off the surfaces exposed to drying action. Especially
is this the case where as with the mechanism which I provide the arrangements
admit of the application of a current of air charged with an abundance of oxygen,
at any desired temperature or charged with any other gases or liquids that may be
conducive to the solidifying action. My improved process has also 'the advantage
that the fumes given off can be blown into a furnace to be consumed and so all
cause of nuisance is avoided.
The apparatus which I employ consists of a number of closed metal chambers
connected together by pipes arranged so that the inlet is at the top and the outlet
at the bottom of each; they form a continuous series. Each chamber is filled with
thin sheets of wrought iron or other suitable surfaces about one inch to one inch
and a half apart. The oil previously prepared by boiling.and thickened by blowing
air through it or otherwise, is introduced by means of a pump into one or two of
the chambers-after which air is forced into the chambers-the air presses forward
the oil out of one chamber into the next and so throughout the series of chambers
and covers all the sheets in the chambers with a film of oil. So soon as the oil is,
forced out of the last chamber air continues to pass amongst the coated surfaces in
the chambers so long as the pump or fan employed is kept working.
Figure I shows an elevation partly in section of the oxidising apparatus.
Figure II shows a plan of the some

page_text: A A¹ A² are cast or wrought iron-chambers of any convenient size, their number
depends on the quantity of oxidised oil to be produced in a given time.
These chambers A are connected by pipes H in such a way that the inlet is at
the upper part of each chamber and the outlet at the bottom; which bottom has
the shape of a square funnel. At the bottom of this funnel is an inward lifting
..valve G, a cock may be substituted for this valve.
.
The lids B of the chambers A are provided with hooks c for lifting them they
are also provided with air valves D.
Inside each chamber A is an iron frame E carrying a number of iron or other
sheets these sheets are set in a distance one from the other of about one inch.
The lids B and the frames E are lifted out and set in place by a travelling crane
not shown in the drawing.
The chambers A have at F a manhole to enable the attendant to observe from
time to time the process of oxidation.
The pipe H is the delivery pipe for the oil and the bot air, also passes through
it, it has two sluice valves K and K'. K is connected by the pipe L with an hot air
blower delivering between 3000 to 4000 cubic feet of air per minute. K¹ is con-
nected with the oil delivering pipe M which is connected with a rotary pump.
M is the suction pipe for the same pump. This pipe. descends nearly to the
bottom of the oil tank R.
The hot air blower is likewise connected with the pipe L' so that the air can be
driven either through the chambers A finding its outlet by the pipe N near the
bottom of the tank or it can be driven direct into the tank through pipe L¹ or
through both pipes at the same time.
At the top of pipe H2 is the pipe J with a cock. This pipe is connected with an
air compressor.
Qis a coil of pipes heated by steam. Q¹ is the outlet branch of this pipe.
The hot air driven through the oil finds its outlet by pipe P which discharges
the air and gases into a flue O from whence it is led under a furnace; this furnace
is used for heating the air for the blowing fan. The heating of the air is
effected by a coil of pipes which are in contact with the fire.
On the top of the tank R is a manhole S.
The working of the apparatus is as follows:-
The tank R is kept about three quarters full of boiled oil. The valve K' is
opened as also the valve D on the lid of vessel A³. The pump is now set in
motion, and oil is discharged into the vessel A¹ and when this box is full the
valve D on the chamber A¹ is shut and D on A³ is opened. The pump is now put
out of action, the valve K¹ is shut, the cock on pipe J is opened and compressed
air is driven into A². The oil is forced by this out of A into A¹. The valve D
on this chamber is then shut and D on A opened. The oil is now driven
from A' to A, when A is full the oil is discharged through H and N into the
tank R.
The air compressor is now put out of action, the cock on the pipe J is shut, the
valves K opened and the hot air blower is put in motion. Hot air is now driven
in great volume through the pipe L and through all the chambers; it oxidises the
oil adhering to the sheets inside the boxes A. At the same time hot air may be
driven through the pipe L' into the oil in the tank by which process the oil is
thickened and rendered more adhesive.
The oxidising and solidifying of the films of oil upon the plates takes place in
one to two hours according to the quantity and temperature of the air driven
through the chambers and the oil in the tank. From 120 to 180 degrees will be
found suitable temperatures to which to heat the air.
The air can however be heated to any desired degree and any volume and pressure
may be employed. The air can be charged with oxygen or other gas or fumes that
will tend to oxidise or produce other desired changes in the oil. The air may be
ozonized by passing it between sheets of glass highly charged with electricity from
a Rhumkorff's or other coil-a process well known.

page_text: Chemicals or liquids may be passed through the apparatus to facilitate oxidation
and solidification of the oil-I can thus expose films of oil to any desired action of
liquids or gases which is not possible by the old process.
When the sheets have received a thick coating of oxidized oil by the repeated
application of films they are removed from the apparatus and the oil can then be
stripped off in the following manner.
An endless band of metal preferably brass runs over two pulleys, some distance
apart-the band is heated to a temperature of about 400 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
The sheets of iron are passed through wood rollers which force the surface of the.
sheet against the heated band.
The heat acts on the oil partially liquifying it at the point of contact, and so
enabling it to be removed from the iron without abrading the surface of the metal
itself.
When one side of the sheet is cleaned the plate is reversed.
In covering telegraphic and other wires or strands with the material in a plastic
condition in order to keep the wire or strand truly central within the covering until
it can be hardened or vulcanized by heat or other agents I receive the wire as it
comes from the covering machinery on to a drum of large diameter having a spiral
groove cut upon its periphery. This groove is of such a form as to admit of the
covered wire or strand embedding itself in it whilst retaining its form and the
drum is rotated at a speed corresponding to that at which the wire or strand is
delivered from the covering mechanism. The drum as it revolves also receives an
end wise motion corresponding to the pitch of the spiral.
The dimensions of the drum allow of a great length being thus accumulated
upon it. The drum is contained in a casing to admit of the temperature to which
the material is exposed being conveniently regulated and of its being subject to
air and other agents to complete the hardening.
At first a low temperature only can be safely applied but by degrees a higher
temperature may be used without risk.
The covered wire or strand before it reaches the drum should be dressed with
French chalk. The drum is so driven as to wind up the covered wire or strand
with but little tension only sufficient to make it sink down into the grooves.
When the drum is fully wound I pass warın air through the casing commencing
say at a temperature of 110 and by slow degrees and as the coating will bear it
I raise the temperature of the air until at the end of the operation when the
hardening is found to be nearly complete I use a temperature of say 170 degrees.
The covered wire or strand should be thoroughly cooled before it is unwound from
the drum.
In this way the wire or strand is retained in a central position within the
covering until hardened which cannot be ensured when the covered wire or strand
is immediately wound into comparatively small coils which is the usual practice.
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. My improvement in the manufacture of oxidised or solidified oil consisting in
causing the same to be spread in films upon plates or sheets of metal or other
suitable material contained in closed chambers through which a current of hot air
is forced by means of a blowing apparatus substantially as described.
2. My improvement in the manufacture of oxidised or solidified oil consisting
in employing chambers containing plates or sheets of metal or other material; in
filling such chambers with oil; then emptying the saune so as to leave a film of oil
on the surfaces; and forcing a current of air through the chambers substantially
as described.
3. My improved apparatus for the manufacture of oxidised or solidified oil
substantially as described.

page_text: 4. My improvement in covering telegraphic and other wires or strands with
oxidised or solidified oil compositions consisting in receiving the covered wire or
strand as it comes from the covering machine on to a drum of large diameter with
ȧ spiral groove on its surface and there retaining it whilst the covering is hardened
whereby the covering is kept in form and the core central within it substantially as
described.
"