IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BANDS OR BELTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Briggs, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Tarpaulin Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BANDS OR BELTS."
Sealed the 22nd November, 1878, and dated the 4th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Briggs at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th September 1878.
THOMAS BRIGGS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Tarpaulin Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BANDS OR BELTS."
The object of this Invention is to render bands or belts for driving machinery or
for other purposes, stronger, lighter, more durable, and cheaper than heretofore, also
to prevent them stretching. In making these improved bands or belts I take any
number of strips of steel or iron, or other suitable metal or wires, either separately
or woven together. I then coat these strips or wires with india-rubber, gutta
percha, or compounds of the same, palm or cotton-seed oil, pitch, gums, or resins,
or other suitable adhesive substauces, either separately or combined. I then cause
these strips or wires so prepared to travel by means of suitable machinery in
parallel lines at a little distance apart, and upon theso I place layers of canvas,
paper, leather, or felted fabrics or other suitable materials of any width, prepared
with a similar adhesive substanco to that with which the enclosed strips or wires
had been coated, the whole is afterwards passed between heated rollers to unite the
whole into a solid substance, which is then cut into bands or belts of any required
width.
Or instead of the metal strips or wires passing through the centre layers, they
may be arranged in alternate layers with canvas or other equivalents. I also
employ perforated strips of metal, the holes facilitating the rivetting, Incing, or
sewing of the band, and giving moro points of contact for the adhesive surfaces of
the canvas or paper.

page_text: Or instead of several strips of metal or wire placed between several folds of
canvas or paper, and afterwards cutting them to the required width, I employ webs
or strips of canvas or other material of the width required for the band or belt and
one strip of metal with or without perforations.
Also the metal strips or wires may be employed as the inner warp of canvas
strapping, in place of yarn as now used.
Also the belt may be formed of strips of paper or other materials with yarns,
single or twisted, placed longitudinally between, and with or without the addition
of metal strips or wires, single or woven.
Or the band or belt may be formed by combining and amalgamating strips of
paper by chemical process together with yarns, metal strips, or wires.
Or instead of the strips of metal or wires passing between the layers of canvas
or other material they may be laced through either one or more or all of the layers
of canvas.
Or the canvas, or the canvas and strips of metal, may be sewn through with
strong twine or wire, and the whole coated with vegetable pitch.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Briggs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th March
1879.
THOMAS BRIGGS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Tarpaulin Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BANDS OR BELTS."
The object of this Invention is to render bands or belts for driving machinery or
for other purposes, stronger, lighter, more durable, and cheaper than heretofore, also
to prevent them stretching.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into operation, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
In making these improved bands or belts I take any number of strips of steel or
iron, or other suitable metal or wires, either separately or woven together. I then
coat these strips or wires with india-rubber, gutta percha, or compounds of the
same, palm or cotton-seed oil, pitch, gums, or resins, or other suitable adhesive
substances, either separately or combined. I then cause these strips or wires so
prepared to travel by means of suitable machinery in parallel lines at a little
distance apart; and upon these I place layers of canvas, paper, leather, or felted
fabrics, or other suitable materials of any desired width, coated or prepared with a
similar adhesive substance to that with which the enclosed strips or wires had
been coated, the whole is afterwards passed between heated rollers to unite the
various parts into a solid substance, which is then cut into bands or belts of any
required width.
Fig. 1, of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming part of this Specification
represents a plan, and Fig. 2, a section of a piece of my improved band or belt, in
which I employ a centre strip of tempered steel or other suitablo metal, and three
or other convenient number of layers of canvas on each side of the metal strip, the
whole being united by any of the adhesive substances above referred to, and by
three or other convenient number of rows of rivets or clips, the heads and ends of
which are below the level of the band or belt to prevent it slipping on the pulley
over which the band or belt may be passing.
Instead of the metal strips or wires passing through the centre layers of the
band or belt they may be arranged in alternate layers with canvas or other equiva-
lents. I also employ perforated strips of metal, the holes facilitating the rivetting,
lacing, or sewing of the band, and giving more points of contact for the adhesive
surfaces of the canvas, or paper, or other material.
Or instead of several strips of metal or wire being placed between several folds
of canvas or paper, and afterwards cutting them to the required width, I employ
webs or strips of canvas or other material of the width required for the band or
belt, and one strip of metal with or without perforations.
The metal strips or wires may also be employed as the inner warp of canvas
strapping in place of yarn as now used.
Also bands or belts may be formed of strips of paper or other materials with
yarns, either single or twisted together, placed longitudinally between them, and
with the addition of metal strips or wires, either single or woven.
Or instead of the strips of metal or wires passing between the layers of canvas
or other material they may be laced through either one or more or all of the layers
of canvas, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, in which views I have shown two strips of
metal interlaced in canvas band or belt, the number and size of strips can be
varied.
In all cases the canvas, or the canvas and strips of metal, may be sewn through
with strong twine, or sown or rivetted through with wire or rivets, and the whole
coatod with vegetable pitch or any other suitable substance.
Having thus stated the nature and particulars of my Invention I wish it to be

page_text: understood that I do not claim any of the parts or ingredients composing my
improved bands or belts when taken separately; but what I do claim is the
improved combinations of metal strips or wires with canvas, paper, or other suitable
materials, and with adhesive compounds, and either with or without being sewn,
stitched, or rivetted together, as shewn or as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Briggs, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this First day of March, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
nine.
THOMAS BRIGGS. (L.S.)