An Improved Buoyant Compound.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Buoyant Compound.
I, FRANCIS WENTWORTH BREWSTER, of Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer of Life-Saving Appliances, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, to be as follows:-
-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of an improved compound of cork
intended to be used for purposes of flotation in the manufacture of flotable
contrivances and devices of all kinds, the special object of the Invention being to
make an unabsorbent or water-repellent compound of cork which amongst other
advantages can be readily moulded into any required form, and can be more readily
manipulated than ordinary cork for the purposes for which it is intended to be
applied.
The improved compound consists essentially of cork which has been disintegrated
torn or broken asunder or cut or otherwise reduced to small pieces (hereinafter
referred to as cork pieces,") or of cork pieces which have also been more or less
charred, roasted or carbonized (not, however, to the extent of being reduced to a
cinder or ash) either previously or subsequently to being reduced as aforesaid, and
which cork pieces are compounded or caused to adhere together in a cellular mass
by being cemented and consolidated or moulded under suitable pressure.
The cork may be disintegrated, torn or broken asunder or cut or otherwise reduced
to cork pieces in any convenient or suitable manner and by any convenient or
suitable means, and it or such cork pieces may be charred, roasted or carbonized by
the application of heat in any convenient or suitable manner and by any convenient
or suitable means and the cork pieces may be of any suitable sizes but I find cork
pieces of from an inch to 1 inch diameter to be very generally serviceable ; and
such pieces may be cemented or caused to adhere together by dipping them into,

page_text: coating or otherwise treating. them with any suitable water-repellent or non-
absorbent cementing or adhesive substance which may be applied in a heated liquid
condition, the compound being subsequently moulded under suitable pressure while
hot in a mould of suitable form, or may be applied to and mixed with the cork pieces
in a powdered condition, the compound being compressed in a mould under suitable
pressure and subjected therein to a sufficient heat to cause the adhesion of
the mass.
The improved compound after cooling may be used in such moulded condition in
suitable means of enclosure, or it may be cut up into such forms as may be required,
depending upon its intended application.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1888.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, FRANCIS WENTWORTH BREWSTER, of Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer of Life-Saving Appliances, 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:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of an improved preparation or compound
of cork intended to be used for purposes of flotation in the manufacture of, flotable
contrivances and devices of all kinds, the special object of the Invention being to
make a non-absorbent or water-repellent preparation or compound of cork of lower
specific gravity than that of natural cork, and which amongst other advantages
can be readily moulded into any required form, and can be more readily manipulated
than ordinary cork for the purposes for which it is intended to be applied.
The improved compound is prepared from cork which is firstly granulated,
disintegrated torn or broken asunder or cut or otherwise reduced to small pieces
(hereinafter referred to as "cork pieces") which are then charred or roasted until
the specific gravity thereof is greatly reduced below that of the natural substance,
and are then compounded or caused to adhere together in a compacted cellular
mass of any required form by being cemented and moulded under suitable pressure.
The reduction of the cork to cork pieces may be effected in any convenient or
suitable manner and by any convenient or suitable means. The size of the cork
pieces I prefer to be of about from of an inch to 1 inch in diameter as such sized
pieces I find to be the most generally serviceable, but the cork pieces may be of any
suitable larger or smaller sizes according to the purpose for which the concrete
substance is intended to be used.
The roasting or charring of the cork pieces may also be effected in any convenient
or suitable manner and by any convenient or suitable means.
The charred or roasted cork pieces may be cemented or caused to adhere together
in a compacted cellular mass of any required form as aforesaid by variously treating
them with suitable water repellent or non absorbent cementing or adhesive substances
and by moulding the mass under suitable pressure according to the purpose for
which the concrete substance is intended to be used.
If I desire to produce a cork compound of considerably less specific gravity than
that of the natural cork wood say in the ratio of about 1 to 4 or 1 to 3, I prefer to use
as the cementing agent volatile adhesive liquids such for instance as shellac dissolved
in spirit and to mould the concrete substance in blocks or slabs of such thickness as
will allow of the evaporation of the spirit, after which a concrete mass of any
required shape or size may be formed by building the blocks or slabs together in
any suitable way depending upon the purpose for which the same are required.
If, however, a cork compound of about one half to about two fifths the specific
gravity of the natural cork wood is required, 1 prefer to use as the cementing agent
such ordinarily solid adhesive substances as are readily liquefiable by heat such for

page_text: instance as adhesive waxes alone or in combination with resin or pitch or analogous
adhesive material, and in such event the concrete mass may be moulded of any
required size and shape as it sets as soon as cool.
In any of such cases the moulding of the mass may be effected in any suitable
manner and by any suitable means; the pressure should in all cases be sufficient to
cause the adherence of the cork pieces under treatment and the closure of the
interstices between the external cork pieces.
I may also use as the cementing agent solutions of gum or paste, in such cases
rendering the concrete mass water repellent or non absorbent by carefully coating
its outer surface with paint, wax or other suitable material.
The cork pieces may be treated with the adhesive agent by dipping them thereinto,
mixing, coating, or otherwise treating them therewith, and the same may be applied
in a heated liquid condition, the compound being subsequently moulded under
suitable pressure while hot in a mould of suitable form, or may be applied to and
mixed with the cork pieces in a powdered condition, the compound being compressed
in a mould under suitable pressure and subjected therein to a sufficient heat to cause
the adhesion of the mass.
In all cases it is most desirable that only the smallest necessary amount of the
adhesive agent should be used in the formation of the concrete compound, and when
liquid I prefer to apply it by means of a rose or spreader in connection with a pump
or syringe.
The improved compound may be used in such moulded condition in suitable means
of enclosure, or it may be cut up into such forms as may be required, depending upon
its intended application.
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. The bereinbefore described improved buoyant compound.
2. The manufacture of the hereinbefore described improved buoyant compound
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The application and use of the hereinbefore described improved buoyant
compound for purposes of flotation in the manufacture of flotable contrivances and
devices of all kinds.
L
_ 1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.