AN IMPROVED ELASTIC COMPOUND
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Austin Goodyear Day, of Seymour, Con-
necticut, United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, London, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ELASTIC
COMPOUND."
Scaled the 12th September 1871, and dated the 15th April 1871.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Austin Goodyear Day
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th April 1871.
I, AUSTIN GOODYEAR DAY, of Seymour, Connecticut, United States
of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ELASTIC
COMPOUND," to be as follows :—
The object of this Invention is the production of an elastic compound
which in its general appearance and consistency somewhat resembles
caoutchouc, and which to some extent may be used as a substitute
therefor, but which is chiefly designed for mixing with caoutchouc
partly to form a substitute for the ordinary india-rubber compounds

page_text: heretofore used for various manufacturing purposes, and partly for other
purposes for which such compounds are not well adapted.
My improved compound is made by mixing together cotton seed oil,
linseed oil, asphaltum (or some similar bituminous substance), coal tar,
and sulphur. These substances are combined together in about the
following proportions, namely, 14 pounds of cotton seed oil, 14 pounds
of linseed oil, 8 pounds of asphaltum, 8 pounds of coal tar, and 10
pounds of sulphur. The asphaltum contains a large proportion of
carbon in such a condition that it will readily combine with the other
ingredients of my improved compound, and as carbon is the substance
which gives durability and hardness to the compound the asphaltum is
obviously naturally well fitted for the purpose. This substance, however,
as it is usually obtained in the market requires to be thinned and
softcued, and for this purpose and to otherwise improve the com-
pound I add the coal tar to the same. And in some cases I further
thin the asphaltum with a small quantity of coal oil or heavy
petroleum oil.
It may be sometimes difficult to obtain the asphaltum, and I may
then use an additional quantity of coal tar, which also contains a large
proportion of carbon. The mixture of the asphaltum and tar is how-
ever preferable for the purpose of my Invention, as this mixture, besides
affording the required quantity of carbon, possesses mechanical propertics
which allow it to be very easily worked in the process of manufacturing
the compound. The cotton sced and linseed oils are fitted for the
purpose of my Invention partly by reason of the elasticity which these
oils naturally possess when dried. The linseed oil might be used with-
out the cotton seed oil, but by itself is not so easily worked, and the
compound without the cotton seed oil would be somewhat "short" or
brittle, and therefore not so tough and durable as it is when the cotton
seed oil is used with the linseed oil. These oils morcover combine
readily with the asphaltum and tar, and the oils and tars together form
a compound which possesses the properties of all of them combined. I
also prefer to add to this compound about one half pound of camphor
as I consider the use of this substance beneficial in the mixing together
of the above substances, but it is not essential to my Invention. The
purpose of the sulphur is to change the condition of the above ingre-
dients from a liquid mixture to a solid clastic substance wherein all

page_text: of the said ingredients will be chemically combined, and this purpose is
effected by the application of heat, as herein-after described.
I first mix the tar or asphaltum and cotton seed oil together in a
suitable kettle or boiler under a sufficient heat to cause the same to
mix freely. The temperature required will be about three hundred
degrees Fahrenheit. I then combine with them the linseed oil, and
then add the sulphur. I prefer to commence the addition of the
sulphur to the compound when the temperature of the same is about
two hundred and seventy degrees Fahrenheit. The sulphur is put in
gradually, and as it combines with the other substances of the compound
the temperature is raised to about three hundred and ten, or from that
to three hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit, more or less, according
to the quality of the materials used or the precise effect to be produced.
The heating of the compound may be continued for from three to five
hours or a little longer. The compound is then poured into suitable
moulds or pans, and allowed to cool preferably in the form of sheets or
cakes of about fifty pounds weight, or in other forms convenient for the
market.
I wish it understood that although the proportions above given will
be found to answer well for the purposes of my Invention they may be
varied within certain limits without destroying the peculiar character of
my compound. For instance, for a soft compound a smaller quantity
of sulphur would be necessary, and the compound would not be sub-
jected to such a high temperature or heated for so long a time as
herein-before specified, while for a hard compound more sulphur would
be used, and the heat would be carried to a higher degree and continued
for a longer time. I may also increase or diminish the quantity of any
of the other ingredients of the compound according as I find it necessary
that the same should possess more or less of the particular property due
to either of the said ingredients.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Austin Goodyear Day in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUSTIN
5 GOODYEAR DAY, of Seymour, Connecticut, United States of America,
now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Austin Goodyear Day, Her special
licence that I, the said Austin Goodyear Day, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Austin Goodycar
Day, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED ELASTIC COMPOUND," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Austin Goodyear Day, 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 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 Austin Goodyear Day, 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 object of this Invention is the production of an elastic compound
which somewhat resembles caoutchouc, and to some extent may be used
as a substitute therefor, but which is chiefly designed for mixing with
caoutchouc partly to form a substitute for the ordinary india-rubber
compounds heretofore used for various manufacturing purposes, and
partly for other purposes for which such compounds are not well
adapted.
My improved compound is made by mixing together cotton seed oil,
linseed oil, asphaltum (or some similar bituminous substance), coal tar,
and sulphur. These substances are combined together in about the
following proportions, namely, 14 pounds of cotton seed oil, 14 pounds
of linseed oil, 8 pounds of asphaltum, 8 pounds of coal tar, and 10 pounds
of sulphur. Each of these substances gives a distinct and peculiar
property to the compound, and except as hercin-after specified none of

page_text: 1
them can be dispensed with or replaced by other substances. The
asphaltum contains a large proportion of carbon in such a condition
that it will readily combine with the other ingredients of my improved
compound, and as carbon is the substance which gives durability and
hardness to the compound the asphaltum is obviously naturally well
fitted for the purpose. This substance, however, as it is usually obtained
in the market requires to be thinned and softened, and for this purpose,
and to otherwise improve the compound, I add the coal tar to the same.
And in some cases I further thin the asphaltum with a small quantity
of coal oil or heavy petroleum oil.
«
It may be sometimes difficult to obtain the asphaltum, and I may
then use an additional quantity of coal tar, which also contains a large
proportion of carbon. The mixture of the asphaltum and tar is however
preferable for the purpose of my Invention, as this mixture besides
affording the required quantity of carbon possesses mechanical properties
which allow it to be very easily worked in the process of manufacturing
the compound. The cotton seed and linseed oils are fitted for tho
purpose of my Invention partly by reason of the elasticity which theso
oils naturally possess when dried. The linseed oil might be used without
the cotton seed oil, but by itself is not so casily worked, and the com-
pound without the cotton seed oil would be somewhat
short" or
brittle, and therefore not so well fitted for its destined use, or so durable
as it is when the cotton seed oil is used with the linseed oil. These oils,
moreover, combine readily with the asphaltum and tar, and the oils and
tars together form a compound which possesses the properties of all of
them combined. I also prefer to add to this compound about one-half
pound of camphor, as I consider the use of this substance beneficial in
the mixing together of the above substances, but it is not essential to
my Invention. The purpose of the sulphur is to change the condition
of the above ingredients from a liquid mixture to a solid elastic
substance, wherein all of the said ingredients will be chemically com-
bined; and this purpose is effected by the application of heat as herein-
after described.
I first mix the tar or asphaltum and cotton seed oil together in a
suitable kettle or boiler under a sufficient heat to cause the same to mix
freely. The temperature required will be about three hundred degrees
Fahrenheit. I then combine with them the linseed oil and add the
sulphur. I prefer to commence the addition of the sulphur to the

page_text: compound when the temperature of the same is about two hundred and
seventy degrees Fahrenheit. The sulphur is put in gradually, and as it
combines with the other substances of the compound the temperature is
raised to about three hundred and ten, or from that to three hundred
and thirty degrees Fahrenheit, more or less, according to the quality of
the materials used or the purpose to which the compound is to be
applied. The heating of the compound may be continued for from three
to five hours, or a little longer. The compound is then poured into
suitable moulds or pans and allowed to cool preferably in the form of
sheets or cakes of about fifty pounds weight, or in other forms
convenient for the market.
I wish it understood that although the proportions above given will be
found to answer well for the purposes of my Invention they may be
varied within certain limits without destroying the peculiar character of
my compound. For instance, for a soft compound a smaller quantity
of sulphur than that above given would be necessary, and the compound
would not be subjected to such a high temperature or heated for so long
a time as hercin-before specified, while for a hard compound more
sulphur would be used, and the heat would be carried to a higher
degree and continued for a longer time. I may also increase or diminish
the quantity of any of the other ingredients of the compound according
as I find it necessary that the same should possess moro or less of tho
particular property due to either of the said ingredients.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I
claim, the improved elastic compound consisting of the materials herein
specified combined together in or nearly in the proportions and in the
manner specified for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Austin Goodyear Day, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
AUSTIN G. DAY. (L.S.)
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.