IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FIBROUS PACKING FOR CAR AXLE BOXES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt of Sutton in the County of Surrey for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FIBROUS PACKING FOR
CAR AXLE BOXES" communicated to him from abroad by William. H. Perrine'
of the City County and State of New York United States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
. the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August 1883.
"
SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FIBROUS PACKING FOR CAR AXLE BOXES communicated to me
from abroad by William H. Perrine of the City County and State of New York
United States of America
The special object of the invention is to prepare a fibrous product of bamboo
that is peculiarly adapted for use as packing for car axle boxes and for like
purposes
It is well known that large quantities of what is commercially known as
"waste" are used for packing car axle boxes and that much trouble arises from
the imperfections of this substance although it was the best known for the purpose
previous to this invention and for that reason is now in general use.
It has been discovered that the fibres of the plant variously termed bamboo,
cane or reed when properly prepared possess all the properties requisite for the
very best packing for car axle boxes; and after, many experiments it has been
demonstrated that "waste" from bamboo, cane or reed can be manufactured of a
very superior quality and possessing advantages over any previously known; such
as requiring much less oil wearing longer holding moisture better, lying lighter in
the box and thus keeping up to the journals, and not becoming hard or caked as
the "waste" commonly used is liable to do
The fibres of bamboo, cane or reed have been successfully prepared by the
following process, viz, Passing the bamboo, cane or reed between heavy rollers for
the purpose of crushing or splitting it longitudinally which separates the fibres to
such an extent as admits of the silicious or resinous matter being rapidly and
thoroughly removed by subsequent treatment then removing the knots or joints
Price 2d71

page_text: and placing the lengths between the knots or joints in a suitable boiler and boiling
the same from eight to twelve hours in an aqueous solution of caustic alkali termed
caustic soda of a strength of from 6° to 10° Beaumé or until the resinous or silicious
matter is dissolved. This operation may be performed under pressure or in open
kettles but it is preferred to boil under a pressure of forty to one hundred pounds
to the square inch. After the boiling has been completed the plant is thoroughly
washed and then passed between rollers for the purpose of expelling the water and
so much of the silicious or resinous matter as may be held in solution or contained
in the fibres and to disintegrate them so that they may be more readily separated.
After being dried it is then passed through a set of corrugated rolls for the purpose
of softening it and rendering it pliable and then through a willow or beater for the
purpose of beating it and opening it up thus insuring length of fibro and removing
any foreign matter it may contain and preparing it for the subsequent process of
carding which is performed by passing it through the necessary card or cards to
bring it to a proper condition for the purpose required, that is to a light natty
mass somewhat like tow for.example which may be used alone or mixed with the
ordinary waste of commerce now in use in such proportions as desired. It will
grently improve ordinary wasto to mix with it a portion of this improved "waste"
or fibrous product of bamboo.
Although I have herein described a process which has been found suitable for
the preparation of "waste" from bamboo, cane or reed I do not wish to be under-
stood as limiting my claim to the said process as other processes may be devised
suitable for the purpose.
What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-—
The use of the fibrous product of bamboo, cane or reed either separately or in
combination with other materials as packing for car axle boxes substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Sydney Pitt have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
Ymen