Improvements in Construction of Non-conducting Mats for Covering Boilers and Steam Pipes, applicable also as Breach-mats or Life-buoys and as Protectives against Fire.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Construction of Non-conducting Mats for Covering
Boilers and Steam Pipes, applicable also as Breach-mats or
Life-buoys and as Protectives against Fire.
I, ALFRED HENRY SMITH of 101 Leadenhall Street London E.C. Asbestos
Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
These mats are simply flat bags of asbestos cloth, or other suitable material, or,
the side coming into contact with the heated surface may be of asbestos cloth whilst
the outer surface may be of other material.
They are filled with non-conducting material such as asbestos, silicate-cotton,
fossil meal, charcoal, cement, cork, or any material or mixture that may be found
to give the best results in preventing radiation of heat.
In the interior are chains or cords linked together in the centre & radiating to
the sides & corners of the bags whence they issue through eyeletted holes in the
upper surface & end in rings or hooks.
Or, the chains may be outside the bags running through rings attached to the
outer cover.
By this arrangement any number of mats can be readily linked or fastened
together, so as to cover the surface of a boiler. They can be as readily detached
& are at once available for other purposes.
In case of accident by which a vessel's hull is perforated below water, one or
more of these mats could be immediately removed from the boiler and used to
temporarily stop the leak.
The bight of a rope or light chain being passed under the vessel's bottom & the
ends brought up on either side. One end is hooked to the attachment already
on the mat, & another rope, or chain, similarly fastened to the other end of the
mat. It is passed overboard & pulled over the leak, where the rush of water
would force it into the aperture.
In case of fire these mats being incombustible would also prove useful.
if stuffed with cork they would answer as life-buoys.
I claim for novelty in this invention
:
Whilst
Firstly The idea of covering steam boilers to prevent loss of heat with a
removable material which on an emergency can be employed for other purposes,
such as to stop a leak.
Secondly For the attachment with chains, or cords, as described, by which any
number of mats can be linked together to cover the surface of a boiler, and by
means of which the use of the mats for secondary purposes, such as on an
emergency to stop a leak,-is facilitated & rendered practicable.
June 8th 1891
A. H. SMITH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Construction of Non-conducting Mats for Covering
Boilers and Steam Pipes, applicable also as Breach-mats or
Life-buoys and as Protectives against Fire.
I, ALFRED HENRY SMITH of 101 Leadenhall Street London E.C. Asbestos
Merchant, 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 :-
These mats are simply flat bags or mattresses of asbestos cloth, or other suitable

page_text: material, or, the side in contact with the heated surface may be of asbestos cloth,
whilst the outer side may be of other material, canvas for instance, or whatever
may be found most suitable.
They are filled with non-conducting material, such as asbestos, or silicate-cottou, or
fossil-meal, or charcoal, or cork, or cement, or any material, or mixture of materials,
that may be found to give the best results in preventing radiation of heat.
In the interior, beneath the outer cover, are chains or cords linked together in
the centre and radiating to the sides & corners of the mats, whence they issue
through eyeletted holes in the upper surface and end in rings or hooks.
Or, the chains may be outside the mats running through rings attached to
the mats.
Or, dispensing with sets of chains or cords provided for each separate mat.
These may have simply fixed to them at the sides, ends, corners, in the centre,
or wherever deemed necessary, metal, or other fasteners furnished with hooks or
rings, to which attachments can be made.
By these arrangements any number of mats can be readily linked or fastened
together so as to cover the surface of a boiler. They can be as readily detached
and removed should it be necessary to examine or repair the shell of the boiler.
Or, should the mats be required for other purposes.
In case of accident by which a vessel's hull is perforated below water, one or
more of these mats could be immediately removed from the boiler and used as a
breach-mat to temporarily stop the leak. By means of light chains or ropes,
fastened to the rings or hooks already on the mat, it could be passed over the ship's
side and pulled over the leak where the inrush of water would force it into the
aperture.
If these mats be made entirely of asbestos, being incombustible they might be of
*service in case of fire.
If made of suitable size and packed with cork (which is an excellent non-conductor
of heat), they might be serviceable as life-buoys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
1. For the covering, of steam boilers, or other heated surfaces with removable
non-conducting mats which on emergency can be employed for other purposes.
2. For the construction of these mats with systems of chains, or cords, or
fasteners as described, by which any number of the mats can be linked together
and held securely upon the surface of a boiler; and by means of which the use of
the mats for other purposes, such as breach-mats to stop leaks lifebuoys &c. is
facilitated and rendered practicable.
Dated this 50th 1.
Decem1901