Improvements in the Manufacture and Production of Fabrics suitable for use as Floor Coverings, or for other analogous purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture and Production of Fabrics suitable
for use as Floor Coverings, or for other analogous purposes.
We CHARLES FERDINAND DIETRICH of Cromwell Lodge, Feltham, in the
County of Middlesex Civil Engineer and THOMAS JOHN PALMER of Hest Bank
near Lancaster in the County of Lancaster Manufacturer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to manufacture materials suitable for use as floor
coverings, or for other analogous purposes, which materials are stronger, more
durable, and better adapted for the purpose, than ordinary linoleum, or such like
material, and which can be economically manufactured.
According to this invention the fabric is composed of, or contains, fibres (such
for instance as are suitable for paper making) together with ground cork or wood
flour, or both, and there may be mixed with these ingredients a quick drying oil-
varnish, or they may be saturated therewith after they have been formed into
sheets. The fibrous material may be mixed with the other materials in the form of
a pulp to be spread or rolled into sheets or webs or there may be combined with
the materials a "scrim or open canvas or hempen cloth which may be used as a
backing or be incorporated between layers of the other materials. It is preferred
to make the sheets or webs according to this invention by means of a machine,
such, for instance, as is used for making millboard, and if it be desired to introduce
the "scrim," or the like, into the fabric this may be done either between two layers
of pulp before they are joined together under the last cylinder or roll or by bringing
a layer or several layers of pulp upon the "scrim or the like and combining the
layer or layers of pulp and the "scrim into a homogeneous fabric under the
suction boxes and couch rolls. The pulp is composed of any suitable strong fibre
(such as is, or can be, used for making strong papers) ground cork, or wood dust
wood flour or both, such cork and wood dust or flour (preferably without sizing).
When using ground cork the tendency of the cork to float on the top of the liquid
pulp is overcome by heating the pulp to a temperature which will prevent this. A
temperature of 160° to 212° Fahrenheit will answer the purpose.
""
If a
The fabric having been made as described can be dried or partially dried and
then if desired be printed upon. If the printing is to be effected by processes such
as are used in calico printing, the requisite mordant may be mixed with the pulp or
the fabric may be ornamented by the penetration of colours by means which form
the subject of our application for Letters Patent of even date herewith.
waterproofing material or oil varnish is to be used it may be mixed with the pulp
or be applied to the sheet or web after formation but if the ornamentation by the
penetration of colours is to be used, this will be done before the waterproofing is
effected. The waterproofing material or oil varnish may be forced or drawn
through the substance of the fabric for instance it may be drawn therethrough by
suction applied at one side of the fabric so that the said material or varnish is
drawn through the fabric from the other side thereof.
Dated this 28th day of January 1892
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture and Production of Fabrics suitable
for use as Floor Coverings, or for other analogous purposes.
We CHARLES FERDINAND DIETRICH of Cromwell Lodge, Feltham in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and THOMAS JOHN PALMER late of Hest
Bank but now of 1 The Newlands, Bare, both near Lancaster in the County of
Lancaster Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to manufacture materials suitable for use as floor
coverings or for other analogous purposes which materials are stronger, more
durable, and better adapted for the purpose, than ordinary linoleum, or such like
material, and which can be economically manufactured.
According to this invention the fabric is composed of, or contains, fibres (such for
instance as are suitable for paper making) together with ground cork, incorporated
therewith as hereinafter described and with or without wood flour, and the material
may be saturated with a water proofing matter or a quick drying oil varnish after
it has been formed into sheets, or webs. The fibrous material may be mixed with
the other materials in the form of a pulp, to be spread or rolled into sheets or webs
or there may be combined with the materials a
scrim or open canvas or hempen
cloth which may be used as a backing or be incorporated between layers of the
other materials. It is preferred to make the sheets or webs according to this
invention by means of a paper making machine, such for instance, as is used for
making millboard and which is commonly known as an American or cylinder
machine and if it be desired to introduce the "scrim or the like, into the fabric
this may be done either between two layers of pulp before they are joined together
under the last cylinder or roll or by bringing a layer or several layers of pulp upon
the "scrim" or the like and combining the layer or layers of pulp and the "
into a homogeneous fabric under the suction boxes and couch rolls. The pulp is
composed of any suitable strong fibre (such as is or can be used for making strong
papers) and ground cork with or without wood dust or wood flour (preferably
without sizing). We find that in practice about equal parts by measure of the
pulp or fibrous material or materials and of the ground cork give good results.
"
scrim
"
In attempting to incorporate ground cork with the pulp a difficulty arises owing
to the tendency of the ground cork to float on the top of the liquid pulp. We have
discovered that this difficulty is overcome by heating the pulp to a high temperature
which will prevent this floating of the cork and will cause it to become thoroughly
distributed throughout the mass. We find in practice that a temperature of 160°
to 212° Fahrenheit will answer the purpose.
The fabric having been made as described can be dried or partially dried and
then if desired be printed upon. If the printing is to be effected by processes
such as are used in calico printing, the requisite mordant may be mixed with the
pulp or the fabric may be ornamented by the penetration of colours by means
which form the subject of our application for Letters Patent No. 1728 of even date
herewith. If a waterproofing material or oil varnish is to be used it can be applied
to the sheet or web after formation and if the ornamentation by the penetration of
colours is to be used, this will be done before the waterproofing is effected. The
waterproofing material or oil varnish may be forced or drawn through the substance
of the fabric for instance it may be drawn therethrough by suction applied at one
side of the fabric so that the said material or varnish is drawn through the fabric
from the other side thereof.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. A material for covering floors or for like purposes composed of or containing
paper pulp or equivalent fibrous material and ground cork which has been
incorporated therewith as herein before described.
2. In the manufacture of a material composed of or containing paper pulp or
equivalent fibrous material and ground cork heating the pulp as hereinbefore
explained to prevent the cork from floating on the top thereof and cause it to
become thoroughly incorporated with the pulp or fibrous material.
3. A material for covering floors or for like purposes composed of or containing
paper pulp or equivalent fibrous material and ground cork incorporated therewith
as hereinbefore described and with a layer or layers of "scrim or woven material
combined therewith substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. A material for covering floors or for like purposes composed of or containing
paper pulp or equivalent fibrous material and ground cork incorporated therewith
as hereinbefore described and with or without a layer or layers of scrim or woven
material and impregnated with a waterproofing material or oil-varnish substantially
as hereinbefore described.
NT
1.
1003