Improvements in the Manufacture of Compositions for Paving and like Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Compositions for Paving and
like Purposes.
I, JOHN AUGUST JUST, of No. 612 Turtle Street, in the City of Syracuse,
County of Onondaga, and State of New York, United States of America, Chemist,
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:-
My invention has for its object a commercial, practical and effective method of
producing a strong, durable and perfectly waterproof composition for paving and
like uses, and it consists in subjecting the ingredients of the composition to certain
modes of treatment, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described and
pointed out in the claims. My improved process is particularly applicable for use
in the manufacture of a composition which has been previously devised by me.
Two of the principal raw materials used in the manufacture of this composition are
coal-tar and rosin, which, when compounded in a certain way with sulphur and
sulphurized B.S. or any other sulphurized heavy hydrocarbon produce a very
serviceable composition, and when mixed with the requisite quantity of mineral
matter form a compound equal to standard asphalt and entirely waterproof.
The process heretofore used in the manufacture of this composition is as
follows: The temperature of the tar is sufficiently raised to expel water and
volatile constituents, sulphur is added in separate portions to the heated tar, and
the temperature of the entire mass is gradually increased during the additions of
the sulphur. After the addition of all the sulphur, the temperature of the mixture
is greatly raised to secure the expulsion of the gases, whereupon the temperature
of the mixture is lowered and rosin is added. After the incorporation of the rosin
with the hardened tar, the temperature of the mixture is again greatly raised, and
a suitable amount of sulphurized B.S. or other sulphurized heavy hydrocarbon is
added to the hardened tar and rosin, and upon the completion of the addition of
said sulphurized B.S. or other heavy hydrocarbon, the temperature of the mixture
is again greatly raised. This process of producing my improved composition when
commercially carried out in handling large quantities of the ingredients, is more or
less unduly expensive and slow, since, at varions intervals, high temperatures must
be maintained, and considerable time must be consumed in permitting the escape of
the gases formed during the process. Moreover there is more or less liability of
undue heating of the receptacle containing the compound and a greater or less
amount of the gases are liable to remain in the compound and condense therein,
thus spoiling the same. It is also extremely difficult to ascertain when the tar has
been sufficiently treated by the heat and the sulphur.
My present invention has for its object the production of a process which is
practical, commercial and effective for producing this improved compound, and
enables the manufacture of compositions of a uniform grade without any liability'
of injury either to the compound or to the receptacle in which it is treated. In
carrying out this process I proceed as follows: The temperature of the tar is
raised to from 138° C. to 177° C. for expelling water and volatile constituents, or
the tar may be distilled to such a point. The sulphur is gradually added in
separate portions for increasing the initial softening point of the tar in this;
condition, and rendering it tough and susceptible of the subsequent treatments."

page_text: When first adding the sulphur, the temperature of the mass should be raised from
about 138° C. to 155° C., and as the additions of the sulphur continue, the
temperature should be gradually increased to 177° C. When all the sulphur has
been added, the temperature of the mass should be from 177° C. to 193.5° C. and
may be raised to 204.5° C. although it is seldom, if ever, necessary to raise the
temperature to this point. A quantity of rosin, somewhat less than the amount
of tar used, is then added either in a crushed or a melted state, thereby somewhat
reducing the temperature of the compound. After the rosin has been incorporated
with the hardened tar, the mixture is maintained at a temperature of from 138° C.
to 177° C. and a suitable amount of sulphurized B.S. or other sulphurized heavy
hydrocarbon is added to the hardened tar and rosin, in portions at a time, and the
temperature of the mixture is maintained at from 138° C. to 177° C. until the
entire amount of the sulphurized B.S. or other heavy hydrocarbon has been added,
whereupon the temperature of the mixture should be about 177° C. or
higher if
desired. A strong chemical action takes place as the sulphurized heavy hydro-
carbon is added, thus indicating that the ingredients are completely united in a
homogeneous product bearing the nature of none of said ingredients.
During the carrying out of this process, from start to finish, a constant
agitation of the mixture is maintained, thereby liberating the gases, preventing
carbonization of the ingredients, and obviating undue heating of the apparatus.
The liberated gases are withdrawn during the carrying out of this process, by a
natural or an artificial draught or any other suitable means, and, consequently,
there is no liability whatever of said gases remaining in the compound and
condensing therein.
When treating the tar with the sulphur in the first step of this process, the
operator determines as to whether or not the tar is sufficiently sulphurized by
subjecting a sample of the material to a temperature of from 36° to 38° C., and
if this sample is then hard enough to resist impact to the desired degree the tar
is sufficiently treated. By this improved process a uniform grade of the compound
can be commercially manufactured in large quantities. The amounts of the
sulphurized hydrocarbon to be added in the manufacture of this improved
composition varies according to the desired hardness, tenacity or tensile strength
of the final product, and by the addition of amounts thereof equal to from 5 to
12 per cent. by weight, of the gross ingredients, the final compound will be
varied from very hard and tough to soft grades. The sulphurized heavy
hydrocarbon used in the manufacture of my invention is produced by heating
still-bottom or petroleum sediment known as B.S., (or any heavy hydrocarbon with
a boiling point at 148° C. to 204-4° C. after expulsion of water) to a temperature
of from 155° C. to 177° C. and then adding about 1 part by weight, of sulphur to
8 parts of the sediment or B.S. or other heavy hydrocarbon.
The composition produced by my improved process consists of an asphalt-like
material which may possess any desired degree of hardness or softness, accordingly
as the amounts of the ingredients are varied under the above process, and resists
the action of water and general atmospheric influences better than any natural
asphalt. An excellent pavement is produced by mixing 13 to 18 parts by weight,
of the above composition with 87 to 82 parts of mineral matter, as fine sand, and
finely ground common earth free from organic matter. To illustrate: 13 to 18 parts
of paving composition, 12 to 20 parts of "finely ground earth, and 75 to 62 parts of
fine sand; produce a particularly practical and durable pavement. In the
manufacture of this pavement, the sand is heated to from 148-8° C. to 177° C.,
the fine earth is added and thoroughly mixed, and finally the above cementing
composition is added in a liquid state, at a temperature of about 148.8° C.,
whereupon the entire mass is thoroughly mixed in a suitable apparatus,
is spread
upon a suitable foundation, and is then rolled, or handled in the same manner as
asphaltic mixtures for walks, pavements, floors, &c. If desired, part or all of the
finer mineral matter may be incorporated with the cementing composition at the
time of its manufacture.

page_text: My improved process will now be readily understood upon reference to the
foregoing description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described method of producing a composition of matter which
consists in treating tar with sulphur in substantially the proportions specified, at a.
temperature of from 138° C. to 204-5° C., agitating the tar and sulphur and
removing the vapors or gases therefrom, and adding rosin to the sulphurized tar,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The herein described method of producing a composition of matter which.
consists in treating tar with sulphur in substantially the proportions specified, at a.
temperature of from 138° C. to 204.5° C., agitating the tar and sulphur and
removing the vapors or gases therefrom, subjecting a sample of the treated tar to a
temperature of from 36° C. to 38° C., and adding rosin to the sulphurized tar,.
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The herein described method of producing a composition of matter which
consists in treating tar with sulphur in substantially the proportions specified at a
temperature of from 138° C. to 204.5° C., adding rosin to the sulphurized tar,.
adding a sulphurized heavy hydrocarbon, and agitating the mixture and removing
the vapors or gases therefrom during the addition and treatment of the ingredients,.
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 22nd dove of Santomhar 1896
JOHN AUGUST JUST.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.