Bands, and in the Means or Apparatus Employed.
Year: 1885

page_text: Bands, and in the Means or Apparatus Employed.
I, ROBERT DICK, of the firm of R & J Dick, of Greenhead, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to produce driving ropes or round bands of great
tensile strength and gripping power.
f
This object I attain by forming composite ropes or round bands from hard or
strong woven cotton fabrics by treating the fabric in the web with gutta percha
solution, and folding the fabric if necessary to form the requisite breadth and the
requisite number of-plies or rolls of cloth, with or without the addition of a layer
or layers of gutta percha or gutta percha compounds, which would give to the
whole greater flexibility and gripping power. We apply the gutta percha solution
to the fabrics by brushing or otherwise while it is slowly traversed in a continuous
length over a table and ensure the thorough penetration of the solution into the
pores of the fabric by causing the fabric to travel in front of a fire or other source
of heat which has the effect of driving this adhesive solution of gutta percha into
the fibres and interstices of the cloth. The fabric is thence carried over a series of
spiked rollers for a considerable length to give ample time for the evaporation of the
solvents and drying of the gutta percba solution before being finally wound into a
roll on a reel or beam. The cloth is afterwards unwound and submitted to the same
operation of brushing and coating on the reverse side and is then subjected to the
rays of the fire, and after passing over the series of rollers is wound again into a
roll ready for the next operation. In passing to and from the fire the fabric is
carried through a flame trap which may consist of a shallow box of sheet iron with
a slit at each end large enough merely to permit the free passage through it of the
fabric, the object being to prevent the extension to the main body of the fabric of
the flame in the event of the solution catching fire where exposed to the heating
process. The fabric so treated with gutta percha solution is cut into suitable widths,
either in single, double, or triple plies, preferably folded so as not to expose the
cut edges of the fabric, and passed through a heating chamber, and while the
solution is soft the widths are guided forward over each other through between a
pair of pressing rollers, which are preferably finely corrugated annularly with
sharp ridges and grooves, and pressed together into a band of suitable width and

page_text: thickness to form the rope or round band when rolled longitudinally. One mode
of effecting this for a double layer or thickness of the fabric is by passing it
through an orifice across the middle of which is fitted a pin or tooth which evenly
divides the fabric so that it is delivered to a pair of said rolls with the edges of the
fabric forming a seam or joint in the centre of the width or band. I afterwards
traverse this band so formed through a heated chamber to soften the solution, and
in front of the chamber I fit a series of one, two, or more pairs of compressing
rolls, preferably finely corrugated with sharp annular ridges and grooves upon a
suitable framing. As the band so far formed emerges from the heating chamber it
is carried through between the rolls, while an attendant lays gutta percha or said
gutta percha compound in a heated or soft state on the surface of the band. In
passing through the rolls the gutta percha is pressed out in a thin layer adhering
to the fabric, and after trimming the edges by removing superfluous gutta percha
the composite band so formed is ready for being wound longitudinally into the
circular rope or band form.
To form a driving rope or round band I take a band of the solutionised fabric or
of the composite fabric described, pass it through a heating chamber or spread it
over a heated table and roll it longitudinally or lengthwise while soft into a rope
or round band. I then run it through annularly grooved rolls or rollers or longi-
tudinal dies. to give the rope a uniform circular cross section, and either before or
after rolling I may superadd a thin layer of gutta percha compounds.
The gutta percha or gutta percha compound employed in the manufacture of
these ropes or round bands should be of a flexible and elastic character, such as the
mixture of gutta percha with "Balata" which is the gum of the Bullet tree or
other equivalent which would give the soft flexible and slightly elastic character
desired. The object of introducing the layers of gutta percha compound between
the layers of fabric in the ropes or round bands is to give them the flexibility and
gripping power, which cannot well be obtained by the mere use of layers of gutta
percha or gutta percba solution with the cotton cloth.

page_text: Bands, and in the Means or Apparatus Employed.
I, ROBERT DICK, of the firm of Robert and James Dick of Greenhead, Glasgow,
Lanarkshire, Manufacturer, 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 in writing, reference being had
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and Figures marked
thereon, that is to say:-
The object of my invention is to produce driving ropes or round bands of great
tensile strength and gripping power.
1885,
14 Oct
1885,
This object I attain by forming composite ropes or round bands from cotton
canvas or equivalent strong woven fabrics, by preparing or treating the fabric in
the web with gutta-percha solution on both its surfaces, as described in the
Specification of my Patent No 12254, and folding the fabric if necessary to
form the requisite breadth, and the requisite number of plies or rolls of cloth, with
or without the addition of a layer or layers of a tough elastic selected gutta-
percha or of "Balata," or gutta-percha compounds between the said plies of
solutionised canvas, as also described in the Specification of my said Patent
N° 12254, Oct 14 and which would give to the whole composite rope or round band
BO constructed great tensile strength, gripping power, and flexibility, with little
liability to crack. I apply the gutta-percha solution to the fabric by brushing or
otherwise while it is slowly traversed in a continuous length over a table, and
I ensure the thorough penetration of the solution into the pores of the fabric by
causing the fabric to travel in front of a fire or other source of heat, which has the
effect of driving this adhesive solution of gutta-percha into the fibres and
interstices of the cloth. The fabric is thence carried over a series of spiked rollers
for a considerable length, to give ample time for the evaporation of the solvents
and drying of the gutta percha solution before being finally wound into a roll on a
reel or beam. The cloth is afterwards unwound and submitted to the same
operation of brushing and coating on the reverse side, and is then subjected to the
rays of the fire, and after passing over the series of rollers is wound again into a
roll ready for the next operation. In passing to and from the fire the fabric is
carried through a flame trap, which may consist of a shallow box of sheet iron
with a alit at each end large enough merely to permit the free passage through it
of the fabric, the object being to prevent the extension of the flame to the main
body of the fabric, in the event of the solution catching fire where exposed to the
heating process. The fabric so treated with gutta-percha solution, is cut into
suitable widths, either in single, double, or triple plies, preferably folded, so as not
to expose the cut edges of the fabric, and passed through a heating chamber, and
while the solution is soft the widths are guided forward over each other through
between a pair of pressing rollers, which are preferably tinely corrugated annularly
with sharp ridges and grooves, and pressed together into a band of suitable width

page_text: and thickness to form the new or improved rope or round band when rolled
longitudinally, as will hereinafter be described. One mode of effecting this for a
double layer or thickness of the fabric is by passing it through an orifice, across
the middle of which is fitted a pin, disc, or tooth which evenly divides the fabric
so that it is delivered to a pair of said rolls with the edges of the fabric forming a
seam or joint in the centre of the width or band. I afterwards traverse this band
so formed through a heated chamber to soften the solution, and in front of the
chamber I fit a series of one, two, or more pairs of compressing rolls, preferably
finely corrugated with sharp annular ridges and grooves upon a suitable framing.
As the band strip or band, so far formed, emerges from the heating chamber, it is
carried through between the rolls, while an attendant lays said elastic or tough
flexible gutta-percha or gutta-percha compound in a heated or soft state on the
surface of the band. In passing through the rolls the said heated plastic gutta-
percha is pressed out in a thin layer by the rollers so as to adhere to the one side
of the fabric, and after trimming the edges by removing superfluous gutta-percha,
with a blunt hot knife, flush with the edges of the canvas, the composite flat band
so far formed all in accordance with the improvements of my said Patent
N° 12254,
is now ready for being wound longitudinally into the circular
driving rope or band form, all in accordance with the improvements of this
invention, and in the manner, and by the means and apparatus hereinafter more
particularly described.
Oct 14
1885,
And in order that the full nature and novelty of the improvements of this
invention, and the manner of performing the same may be properly understood,
I shall now proceed to describe the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended for that
purpose, the same reference letters indicate corresponding, or like parts in all the
Figures where shown. Figure 1 shows a cross section of the flat strip of single
thickness of canvas or cloth, A, first coated on both sides with the gutta-percha
solution, and preferably afterwards having a thin coating of the tough elastic
gutta-percha mixture or compound a³, rolled on one side, all prepared as berein-
before described, and which I use for the smaller sizes of round driving bands as
from inch to inch in diameter. Figure 2 shows a corresponding cross section
of a prepared strip of canvas A, a', which I use for the larger sizes of round
driving bands, as from inch to 2 inches in diameter, this strip being coated and
prepared the same as Figure 1, but having a portion at a', as doubled up in the
flat form to be rolled up in the central part of the band, while the single thickness a³
forms the outer ring layers to make it more round and uniform at the edge a,
forming the outer longitudinal joint of the completed round band; which in either
case whether made of the single or doubled canvas, have this for all the larger
sized bands alternated and attached by the layer a' of tough mixtures of gutta-
percha, all rolled and compressed in accordance with my present improvements as
will hereinafter be more fully described. Figures 1 A and 2 A, indicate in end
section and side elevation a short portion of a round driving band, as rolled
by hand or otherwise, ready for being compressed out of the single thickness,
and the double thickness of canvas as respectively shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Figures 3 and 4 show a longitudinal section, and an end view, of a metallic
draw "bore" or socket B, as secured in its draw beam or frame F, especially
for drawing and compressing the smaller sizes of said round driving bands A¹
through, after they have been circumferentially rolled, while in long lengths,
by hand
over a long table as shown in Figure 1A, or otherwise rolled
and compressed in front of the draw "bore" B, or other shaping and com-
pressing mechanism, such as round groove rollers; or it may be long round
grooved shaping and compressing boxes or discs made in two halves or parts.
Figures and 6 show a side and end elevation of one arrangement of rolling
machine, suitable for so compressing and shaping the previously prepared and
rolled bands. This machine consists of a pair of rollers C, C, working over each
other with various sized round grooves B¹ in them, and having their spindle

page_text: journal bushes fitted in vertical slotted guides supporting side frames D, secured
together by transverse stays, and to a suitable foundation or frame at a con-
venient height for the workmen to feed or guide the previously rolled band as A*
Figures 1 A and 2-A, while yet hot and plastic, into the suitable sized grooves B³,
as indicated by the arrows, over a guide table D1, D1, or it might be a travelling
baud or rollers at a convenient level on the entering and delivery side of the
rollers C, C. The upper and lower rollers. C, C', are geared together by spur
wheels C, and the lower one C, would be driven by a pulley C₁, and a belt 0³,
past round it from any convenient over head motive power driving shaft and
pulley as arranged. Figures 7 and 8 show an end and front elevation of one
construction of long round grooved compressing and shaping box or die G, G¹, and
its compressing screw press H. The box die is preferably made of hard wood, and
in two halves, with the internal compressing grooved parts B¹ made of metallic
tubing in two halves also, but cut and jointed on a slightly different horizontal
plane from the box frame parts G and G₁, so as to freely admit of the insertion of
the previously rolled band A¹, Figure 2A, either by hand, or further shaped in the
rolling machine, Figures 5 and 6; and also ensure the perfect coincidence of the
two parts of the pressing tube B¹ when put together, to prevent it making a ridge
or joint fin in the round driving band A¹, while being compressed in the two
parts B¹. Figure 9 shows a plan of the lower half of the pressing box G, ready
for inserting the rolled band, and showing its shaping tube B¹, as fitted and, screwed
in the centre of the wood part G, preferably with an outer bedding of cloth
between the wood box G, G, and the metallic tube B', to allow of a little yielding
to insure the true adjustment of the two halves of the tube parts B¹, B¹, when
their guide edges are pressed together in the screw press H, of which there would
be as many ranged along the table and compressing box G, G', as are found
necessary according to the length of the box or that of the round band being
compressed at one time.
over
Referring to these Drawings, to form a driving rope or round hand, I take
a strip or flat band of one thickness of the canvas or fabric A, solutionised on both
sides, or of the composite fabric described, having the layer a, a, of the elastic or
tough flexible gutta-percha or gutta-percha compound, as described in reference to
and shown in Figure 1, and pass it through a heating chamber, or spread
a heated table, and roll it longitudinally or lengthwise by hand or otherwise,
while soft, into a rope or round band, as shown in Figure 1A, but of the full
length of the band if possible, that is for the smaller sizes of driving ropes or round
bands. I then pull it through one, two or more draw bores or dies B, with proper
sized drawing holes B¹ to compress and shape it, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, or
it might be run through annularly grooved drawing rolls or rollers C, C¹, as shown
in Figures 5 and 6, to give the rope an uniform circular cross section. For shaping
and compressing the larger sized round bands A³, as shown in Figure 2 A, these
would preferably be rolled while the band was hot and the gutta-percha plastic as
before described through the annular grooves B¹ of suitable size in the rollers C, C¹³,
as indicated in the rolling machine shown in Figures 5 and 6. Or otherwise these
bands A¹ might be laid in the lower half of the tubular pressing box G Figure 9,
and have the upper half G³ placed over it, and the two put into the screw presses H,
as indicated in Figures 7 and 8, and compressed into the true circular shape of the
band. In some cases, when a fin or mark is formed along the sides of the band by
either the joints of the rollers C, C¹, or the joints of the two parts of the com-
pressing mould or die G, G³, the band may be passed through the roller twice with
the fin in the up and down direction to have it completely rolled out and smooth;
or vertical rollers might be mounted in front of the horizontal rollers, which would
take out all marks of the fin, during the first rolling through the machine; and in
like manner the band could be turned round in the moulds G, G¹, and get a second
pressure to make them even and smooth, and remove the mark of the joint of the
mould before cooling. Either before or after rolling I may superadd a thin layer
of gutta-percha compound on the outer surface,

page_text: Different thicknesses of canvas or cloth A would be used for making the different
strengths or sizes of round bands A¹, A'; and they would preferably be rolled as
shown in Figures 1A and 2A, with a hole in the centre, or it might be with a
flexible cord of hemp or cotton; or for the larger sizes as A in Figure 2 A, it
might be a central round core of india-rubber or small tube of india-rubber to give
greater flexibility and elasticity to the finished round bands.
The gutta-percha or gutta-percha compound, employed in layers a³, a³, between
the thicknesses of canvas A in the manufacture of these ropes or round bands A¹,
should be of a flexible and elastic tough character, such as the mixture of selected
tough gutta-percha or of "Balata," which is the gum of the Bullet Tree, or other
equivalent mixtures or compounds of gutta-percha which would give the slightly
flexible and tough elastic character desired,
The object of introducing the layers of gutta-percha compound a³, between the
single or double layers of canvas or fabric A in the ropes or round bands A¹, is to
give them flexibility and gripping power, which cannot well be obtained by the
mere use of layers of gutta-percha or gutta-percha solution with the cotton cloth.
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 :-
First. The manufacture, or rolling and compressing, of driving ropes or round
bands, out of single or double prepared flat bands of gutta-percha solutionised
canvas or fabric, either with or without intermediate layers of elastic gutta-percha
or gutta-percha compound, substantially as herein described, in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The mode of, and means, apparatus, or arrangement of devices for
rolling and compressing driving ropes or round bands, out of prepared flat bands of
canvas or fabric, either with or without intermediate layers of elastic gutta-percha
or gutta-percha compound, substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
1006