AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FORMING WATERPROOF FABRICS BY COMBINING PAPER WITH WOVEN OR SPUN FABRICS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Ford, of the Priory, Battersea, in the County of
Surrey, Surgeon, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FORMING
WATERPROOF FABRICS BY COMBINING PAPER WITH WOVEN OR SPUN FABRICS."
Sealed the 1st April 1862, and dated the 8th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Ford at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th October
1861.
I, ALFRED FORD, of the Priory, Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Surgeon,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF FORMING WATERPROOF FABRICS BY COMBINING PAPER WITH WOVEN OR SPUN
FABRICS," to be as follows:-
I unite the surface of paper with the surface of a linen, cotton, silken,
hempen, woollen, or some other woven or spun fabric by means of an adhesive
waterproofing agent placed between them, and by pressure applied by means
of rollers or in some other suitable way 1 intimately join them, and produce
a light waterproof material possessing many of the properties of paper, and all
the properties of the fabric with which it is conjoined.
My object in using the paper is, 1st, that being a non-absorbing surface to
the waterproofing agent, much less of the latter is necessary to render the
fabric water-tight; and 2ndly, that I may produce a material which will admit
of being used either as paper for the purposes of writing or drawing, or for any

page_text: other purpose. to which the surface of paper is applicable, and one side of
which will be protected from the action of water, or as a cloth in all circum-
stances where,a waterproofed fabric is necessary. The waterproofing agent I
employ is india-rubber combined with gutta percha and a gum-resin, but I
do not bind myself to any particular waterproofing agent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by
the said Alfred Ford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th April
1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
FORD, of Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Surgeon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing,date the Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Ford, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Ford, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred
Ford, my.executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, 'should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF FORMING WATERPROOF FABRICS BY COMBINING PAPER WITH WOVEN OR. SPUS
FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Ford,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Ford, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My Invention has for its object, first, the formation of waterproof fabrics
by combining textile fabrics or fibrous substances with paper which has been
previously coated with an adhesive waterproofing agent, so as to render any

page_text: direct application of such an agent to the textile fabrics or fibrous substances
themselves unnecessary, thereby effecting a great saving of waterproofing
material; secondly, the uniting together by means of such paper two or more
textile fabrics or fibrous substances, so as to produce a compound waterproof
fabric; and, lastly, that I may produce a material which will admit of being
used as paper for the purposes to which the surfaces of paper is usually appli-
cable, and I accomplish this in the following manner :-I first take a solution
of india-rubber, made in the ordinary way by dissolving india-rubber in
mineral naptha, turpentine, or some one of the present known and approved
solvents and of a suitable consistence, either alone or in combination with gum'
resin, I prefer gum damar and gutta percha in the proportion of about one
part to four of solid india-rubber, reduced by spirit in the proportion of one
part of solid to eight of fluid; but I do not bind myself to any particular proż
portions (these being determined on by the qualities of the
paper to be
employed), (or to any particular waterproofing agent), and I apply the same to
the surface or surfaces I wish to employ, by passing it through rollers which
are coated with the waterproofing agent, or in some other suitable way.
When both sides of the paper are to be coated at once, I coat both
rollers, when only one side I only coat one, preventing the solution from
getting on the other rollers by means of ears or stops placed at each end of
the width of the paper to be prepared. The rollers must be
very evenly
turned, as any irregularity in them would break the paper. The paper to be
employed must be first rolled very evenly upon a roller fixed directly over the
centre of the waterproofing rollers, so that the paper may be led as nearly as
possible directly down between the latter without previously coming in contact
with their surfaces. By this means the manipulator is enabled to keep up
the supply of the solution necessary to complete the process. When only one
side of the paper employed is to be proofed, an the paper is sufficiently
strong, it may be drawn through under a knife on a revolving roller, or
what is known to manufacturers as a dead, bed, or it may be brushed on or
applied in any suitable way; only I employ the rollers as the best mode of
preparing all delicate papers, especially the paper known as tissue paper.
Having applied the waterproofing agent to the surface or surfaces of the
paper, I then, when only one surface of the paper has been waterproofed,
cause it to pass over the heated surface of a steam chest or some other suitable
apparatus to dissipate the spirit employed in the solution. When both surfaces
of the paper have been waterproofed, I cause it to pass between two steam
chests or heated surfaces, so that both sides may be exposed to their influence.
I then roll the paper up, either with or without what is known as a stripping

page_text: cloth, as necessity requires, to prevent the adhesion of the surfaces to each
other. I then take the paper so prepared and unite it with the surface or
surfaces of tho fabric or fabrics with which it is to be combined in the follow-
ing manner-When I wish to employ the paper as a medium for combining
two or more textile fabrics or fibrous substances together, I place the roll of
prepared paper over the centre of the combining machine (a pair of well
turned rolls I employ, heated by steam), and whilst the textile fabrics or
fibrous substances are led into the rollers from each side in the manner
usually employed, I lead down the paper between them, so as intimately to
conjoin all the surfaces thus brought into contact. If I wish to multiply layers,
I treat the compound fabric thus thus produced as one fabric, and repeat the
process as often as may be necessary. When I wish to employ the paper to
produce a smooth surface to a textile fabric, I simply unite it, previously pre-
pared, with the fabric by passing them both at once through the heated rollers,
and subjecting them to the required pressure, so that they become one. I
then either use the surface of the paper for the purpose of ordinary surface
proofing, japanning, painting, or some other suitable application, or as paper
for drawing, writing, printing, or for some other purpose to which the.
surface of paper is applicable; the paper being protected on one side from
the action of water by the waterproofing agent which combines it with the
fabric.
..In this Invention I do not claim as new the waterproofing of paper; I do
not claim as new the waterproofing agent which I employ, or the machinery
by which it is applied, excepting only as it relates to tissue paper; what I
claim is the formation of compound waterproof fabrics consisting partly of
woven or spun fabrics and partly of paper, the paper alone being directly
coated with a waterproofing agent, and its combination with other substances
being effected subsequently.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Ford, have hereunto set my
hand & seal, this 7th day of April, One thousand eight hundred and
ALFRED FORD, (L.S.)
The Priory, Battersea.