Improvements in the Method of and Means for Making Compressed Elastic Indiarubber Bands.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Making Compressed
Elastic Indiarubber Bands.
I, WILLIAM BOWDEN of 18 Victoria Buildings Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Secretary, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the method of and means for
obtaining forcible compression of elastic vulcanised india rubber, and the permanent
retention of the compression thus obtained in a more effective manner and with
greater facility than has hitherto been done.
The compressed material is chiefly applicable in the construction of flexible
pneumatic tubes for wheel tyres, in order to secure the immediate closing up of a
puncture or opening accidentally made therein, and so prevent the escape of the
confined air under pressure. It is however applicable in the case of tubes for
containing and conveying gases and liquids.
Hitherto the compressed state of the material has been produced in several
ways giving more or less imperfect results and being slow and crude as processes,
chiefly however by the aid of elastic vulcanised india rubber in tension, which by
its contraction when released compressed indiarubber sheeting cemented in its
normal state thereto. In other cases compression was obtained in a tube or
transversely curved strip by cementing inextensible material or fabric backing on
the concave surface, then reversing the curvature by which the outer peripheral
surface was compressed into smaller compass.
My improvements consist in feeding the material in its normal state between
moving surfaces decreasing in speed so that the output in length of material is
impeded relatively to the intake by which the material is longitudinally compressed,
the compression being retained between the intake and the output surfaces by
facing one side (or both sides) of the material with prepared adhesive inextensible
material or fabric.
The invention may be carried out in the following way :—In a suitable frame is
mounted a pair of intake rollers one above the other.
At a suitable distance
therefrom is mounted a pair of output rollers. Between the two pairs of rollers
are arranged feeding rollers which convey the prepared adhesive inextensible fabric
to the output rollers. The intake rollers are arranged to rotate at a higher speed
than the output rollers the relative speeds being determined by gearing, and may
be varied to obtain a greater or less amount of compression in the material.
Between the intake and output rollers may be disposed guiding surfaces for the
material to traverse in order to prevent choking in the machine.
In some cases the intake and output may consist instead of single pairs of
rollers, of rollers in series or travelling bands arranged in any suitable manner.
The traverse of the material through the machine may be along a curved path by
a suitable arrangement of the guiding surfaces, and a roller may be arranged to
take of the material as it leaves the out put rollers.

page_text: The gearing may be so arranged that the relative speeds of the intake and output
surfaces may be readily varied and the driving of the machine effected by hand or
belt power.
Dated this 20th day of August 1895.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.
improvements in the method of and Means for Making Compressed
.Elastic Indiarubber Bands.
I, WILLIAM BOWDEN of 18 Victoria Buildings, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Secretary, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 has for its object improvements in the method of and means for
obtaining forcible compression of elastic vulcanised india rubber, and the permanent
retention of the compression thus obtained in a more effective manner and with
greater facility than has hitherto been done.
The compressed material is chiefly applicable in the construction of flexible
pneumatic tubes for wheel tyres, in order to insure the immediate closing up of a
puncture or opening accidentally made therein, and so prevent the escape of the
confined air under pressure. It is however applicable in the case of tubes for
containing and conveying gases and liquids.
Hitherto the compressed state of the material has been produced in several ways
giving more or less imperfect results and being slow and crude as processes, chiefly
however by the aid of elastic vulcanised indiarubber in tension, which by its
contraction, when released, compressed indiarubber sheeting cemented in its normal
state thereto. In other cases compression was obtained in a tube or transversely
curved strip by cementing inextensible material or fabric backing on the concave
surface, then reversing the curvature by which the outer peripheral surface was
compressed into smaller compass.
My improvements consist in feeding the material in its normal state between
moving surfaces decreasing in speed so that the output in length of material is
impeded relatively to the intake by which the material is longitudinally compressed,
the compression being retained between the intake and the out put surfaces by
facing one side (or both sides) of the material with prepared adhesive inextensible
material or fabric.
The invention inay be carried out in the following way :-In a suitable frame is
mounted a pair of intake rollers one above the other. At a suitable distance
therefrom is mounted a pair of out put rollers. Between the two pairs of rollers
are arranged feeding rollers, which convey the prepared adhesive inextensible
fabric to the out put rollers. The intake rollers are arranged to rotate at a higher
speed than the out put rollers the relative speeds being determined by gearing,
and may be varied to obtain a greater or less amount of compression in the
material. Between the intake and out put rollers may be disposed guiding surfaces
for the material to traverse in order to prevent choking in the machine.
The
In some cases the intake and out put may consist instead of single pairs of rollers,
of rollers in series or travelling bands arranged in any suitable manner.
traverse of the material through the machine may be along a curved path by a
suitable arrangement of the guiding surfaces, and a roller may be arranged to take
off the material as it leaves the out put rollers.

page_text: The gearing may be so arranged that the relative speeds of the i take and
out put surfaces may be readily varied and the driving of the machine effected by
hand or belt power.
On the sheet of drawings appended hereunto a machine suitable for carrying
out my invention is represented by Fig. 1 in sectional elevation and Fig. 2 in plan.
Upon the machine frame, which consists of two side frames a connected by cross
rails a', a series of brackets b 61 62 and c c¹ c² are mounted on each side, containing
bearings for four set of rollers respectively marked d d¹ d² e e¹ e³, ƒ ƒ³ ƒ³
and g 9 g, with a driving band d³, e³, f3 and 93 round each set. The bearings for
the end rollers d², e, f, and g² are preferably made adjustable in the longitudinal
direction of the machine as shown to tighten the bands. The bearings for the
lower rollers f. f¹ and g. gl are preferably fixed to or formed in the brackets b b¹ c
and c', while the bearings for the upper rollers d d¹e and e¹ are formed in blocks
sliding in the said brackets and adjustable by means of screws, so as to be able to
adjust the distance between the upper and lower bands.
The blocks for the
rollers d and e are formed with extensions at the top in which are mounted adjust-
able sliding blocks forming bearings for the rollers d and e, which by means of
the adjusting screws can be pressed downwards so as to grip the bands d³ and eª
between them and rollers d and e and assure their driving.
The roller is driven from the driving pulley h through a pinion i and
spurwheel and a wheel / fixed in the spindle of the roller f drives through a
carrier the wheel fixed on the spindle of the roller g.
The wheel 2 is smaller
in diameter than the wheel and consequently the roller g and band g³ are driven
at a greater speed than the roller f and band f³. The upper roller d is driven
from the lower roller f and the upper roller e from the lower roller g through a
pair of equal sized spur wheels k and the rollers being of the same diameter on
their driving parts, the band d³ will travel at the same speed as the band ³, and
the band at the same speed as the band g³.
The arrangements for driving the two pairs of bands on each end of the machine
at different speeds and the two bands composing each pair at the same speed may
obviously be varied and I do not confine myself to the arrangement shewn but may
replace it by any other equivalent arrangement.
Between the rollers the lengths of the bands facing each other are supported on
plates between which they slide. The band 93 is supported by a plate m carried
by brackets m' fixed to the frame sides, and a plate m² the distance of which
relatively to the plate m can be adjusted, backs the upper band e³. At the other
end the band is supported preferably by a box n which can be heated by steam
or gas, and the band d backed by a plate n¹ the distance of which from the box n
can be adjusted. The plates are provided with lateral guides for the bands which
also serve to confine the india rubber band.
Between the rollers d¹ f' on one side and the rollers el g₁ on the other are
arranged two guide plates or sets of smaller rollers o and o¹ bridging over the space
hetween these rollers.
At the bottom of the machine or on the floor a trough p is arranged containing
india-rubber solution, with a dipping roller p', taking off roller p² and guide
roller p. Brackets fixed to the end of the machine support a roller q on which a
strip of canvas or equivalent unstretchable material is enrolled, which may be
previously coated with india-rubber, and a brake band q¹ passing over part of the
roller q holds back the roller and prevents it from over running when the strip of
canvas is pulled off it.
The action of this apparatus is as follows: The bands of indiarubber to be
compressed are fed in between the rollers e and g² and the bands e³ and g³ and pass
between the rollers e and f, and e¹ and f¹. The distance between these rollers and
the plates m and m³ is so adjusted that the
held between the travelling bands and 9
elongated in eutering between the bands.
between the guide plates or rollers o and o¹
indiarubber band is firmly gripped and
without being compressed so as to be
The india rubber is pushed forward
and the travelling bands d³ and f³. As

page_text: these bands travel at a slower speed than the bands & and g³, the indiarubber band
is longitudinally compressed in the space between the guide rollers o and o'. The
canvas band or tape s is taken from the roller q under the guide roller p³ and over
the taking off roller p² and thereby is coated with india rubber solution. It then
passes under the guide roller p and round the roller f between the bands ƒ³ d³
with the coated side upwards underneath the india rubber band, and travels along
with it to the end of the machine. The upper rollers and plate n' are so adjusted
that the combined canvas and rubber band is firmly held so that the latter cannot
expand forward and loose the compression imparted to it. While passing over the
box n or equivalent heated plate, the rubber solution on the band is dried and the
rubber firmly cemented to the canvas, which being inextensible holds the rubber
in its compressed state after leaving the machine.
The band is made of woven material like cotton belting or printers blanket
capable of supporting the heat and somewhat porous. The other bands de³ and 9*
may be of similar material or leather. Instead thereof however metal bands formed
.of jointed plates roughened to impart a good grip may be used, and the rollers
driving them arranged suitably thereto.
The details of the apparatus or machine may be varied and replaced by their
equivalents serving the same purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :
1. The method of compressing and retaining in a compressed state an elastic
india rubber band, substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purpose set
forth.
2. The method of making a compressed india rubber band by pushing up each
succeeding part of the band towards the preceding part and cementing the band to an
inextensible material while in the pushed up or compressed state, substantially as
berein before described and for the purpose set forth.
3. The method of making a compressed indiarubber band by feeding an elastic
indiarubber band in its normal state between moving rollers, bands or their
equivalent which forward the india rubber band to or between other rollers,
bands or their equivalent moving at a slower speed, and drawing in a band of
solutioned canvas or equivalent material along with the indiarubber band into
said other rollers bands or their equivalent and drying the solution during the
progress of the combined band between them, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
4. In a machine for making compressed india rubber bands the arrangement of
two pairs of travelling bands each pair travelling at a different speed from the
other and the two bands in each pair travelling at the same speed, the more quickly
travelling band delivering an indiarubber band to the more slowly travelling bands,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
5. The general construction of a machine for making bands of compressed india
rubber substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated the 27th day of June 1896.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 6, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.