IMPROVEMENTS IN VULCANIZING COMPOUNDS AND VULCANIZED FABRICS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Franklin Stevens, of Henrietta Street,
Covent Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VULCANIZING COMPOUNDS AND VULCANIZED
FABRICS." A Communication from abroad by Simon Stevens, of the City,
Sealed the 11th July 1865, and dated the 20th January 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
left by the said Benjamin Franklin
Stevens at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
'on the 20th January 1865.
E, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEVENS, of Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VULCANIZING COMPOUNDS AND VULCANIZED
FAB ICS," a communication to me from abroad by Simon Stevens, of. the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America, to be as
follows:
The object of this Invention is to produce a vulcanized india-rubber com-
pound free from the unpleasant odour and effects of common vulcanized india-
rubber, and which compound, when applied to articles, will render them water-
proof.
The first part of this Invention relates to the preparation of the compound;
and the second part to its application to fabrics to render the same impervious
to air or water.
This Invention consists, first, in employing a concentrated preparation of

page_text: sulphur and linseed or other vegetable oil, instead of free sulphur as generally
used, and combining this concentrated preparation of vulcanizing compound
with india-rubber, oxide or carbonate of lead, lampblack, Paris white, or any
other colouring matter usually employed, avoiding such as have an offensive
odour.
-
Secondly, my Invention consists in the application of the said preparation
to fabrics, thereby rendering them impervious to water or air, also coating
such prepared fabrics with flocks or similar material to give them the appear-
ance of fine woollen goods. To facilitate the preparation of the oil and
sulphur, I first boil the oil to about the consistency of honey, then to each
quart add about one pound of sulphur, carefully subjecting it to a moderate
heat sufficient only to cause the two substances to react upon each other until
they pass from a fluid or semi-fluid state to a semi-hard or elastic spongy
substance. This forms my vulcanizing compound, and when mixed with
rubber, any of its compounds, or mixtures, or with pure rubber, and sub-
jected to a sufficient regulated heat, will cause the same to undergo the change
known as vulcanizing, and produces the substance entirely free from the
disagreeable odour and tarnishing effects of common vulcanization. In the
preparation of the rubber compound to be vulcanized, I find, by experiment,
the following to be about the proper proportions. In curing or preparing by
dry heat about one pound india-rubber, two ounces of my vulcanizing com-
pound, and eight ounces of litharge; if the color desired be black two to three
ounces of lampblack are added; if other colors be desired then the proper
colouring materials are to be added. To reduce the cost of the prepara-
tion, or rather to increase the quantity at a small additional cost, I add about
eight ounces whiting or other substitute, and mix all together in the usual
manner by grinding between warm rolls. If not cured or prepared by a dry heat,
the litharge may be left out. After being thoroughly mixed the com-
pound is then rolled into thin sheets, and subjected to a heat
of about 260° Fahrenheit for twelve hours, more or less. The material thus
produced possesses greater strength and elasticity than when compounded
and vulcanized by the usual process, and is entirely free from all indications
of the presence of sulphur.
The second part of this Invention consists in the application of my com-
pound to fabrics after it has been thoroughly mixed and in a soft state. I
spread it upon fabrics, using for the purpose the machine known as the
"MºIntosh spreader," or other convenient apparatus, applying two or more
coats according to the fabric desired. After being properly coated I subject
the coated fabric to a heat of about 260° Fahrenheit for about twelve hours,

page_text: more or less, which completes and finishes the fabrics, and renders the same
impervious to air or water.
To flock fabrics coated with the improved conipound which forms the
third part of my Invention,. I coat the fabrics in like manner as before
described, and while the last coat is in an adhesive state I apply the flocks
thereto by sifting in excess, rolling or pressing the same, then removing the
excess, or in any other convenient manner to accomplish the same result. I
then subject the flocked fabrics to the temperature and in the manner above
described, which also finishes the fabric.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens, in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th July. 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN STEVENS, of Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did,. for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens. Her special license that I, the said
Benjamin Franklin Stevens, my executors, administrators and assigns, or
such others as I, the said. Benjamin Franklin Stevens, my executors, admini-
strators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN VULCANIZING COMPOUNDS AND VULCANIZED
FABRICS," a communication from Simon Stevens, of the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and scal, or under the
hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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.
.

page_text: NOW KNOW Y, that 1, the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, that is to say:-
The said Invention has for its object the production of a vulcanized india-
rubber, gutta percha, or other similar compound, free from the unpleasant
odour and effects of common vulcanized india-rubber, and which compound,
when applied to articles, will render them waterproof.
The first part of this Invention relates to the preparation of the compound;
and the second part to its application to fabrics to render the same impervious
to air or water.
This Invention consists, firstly, in employing a concentrated preparation
of sulphur and linseed, or other similar vegetable oil, instead of free sulphur,
as generally used, and combining this concentrated preparation or vulcanizing
compound with india rubber, gutta percha, or other similar gums, oxide or
carbonate of lead, lampblack, Paris white, or any other coloring matter
usually employed, avoiding such as have an offensive odour.
Secondly, this Invention consists in the application of the said preparation
or compound to fabrics, thereby rendering them impervious to water or air,
also in coating such prepared fabrics with flocks or similar material to give
them the appearance of fine woollen goods. To facilitate the preparation of
the oil and sulphur I first boil the oil to about the consistency of honey, then
to each quart of oil so boiled I add about one pound of sulphur carefully sub-
jecting it to a moderate heat sufficient only to cause the two substances to
react upon each other until they pass from a fluid or semi-fluid state to a
semi-hard or elastic spungy substance; this forms the novel vulcanizing com-
pound when mixed with rubber or any of its compounds or mixtures, or with
pure rubber, and subjected to a sufficient regulated heat will cause the same
to undergo the change known as vulcanizing, and produces the substance
entirely free from the disagreeable odour and tarnishing effects of common
vulcanization. In the preparation of the rubber compound to be vulcanized
I find, by experiment, the following to be about the proper proportions. In
curing or preparing for dry heat I take about one pound of
india-rubber, two ounces of the peculiar vulcanizing compounds, and eight
ounces of litharge, and if the color desired be black from two to three ounces
of lampblack are added; if other colors be desired then the proper and suit-
able coloring materials are to be added. To reduce the cost of the prepara-
tion, or rather to increase the quantity at a small additional cost, I add about
eight ounces of whitening or other substitute, and mix all together in the

page_text: usual manner by grinding between warm rolls. If not intended for curing
or preparing by dry heat the litharge may be left out. After being thoroughly
mixed the compound is then rolled into thin sheets and subjected
to a heat of about 260° Fahrenheit for twelve hours, more or less. The
material thus produced possesses greater strength and elasticity than when
compounded and vulcanized by the usual process, and is entirely free from
all indications of the presence of sulphur. In preparing india-rubber for the
manufacture of hose, belting, packing and the like, intended to be cured by
the application of steam heat, I add to one pound of the rubber from two to four
ounces of the improved vulcanizing compound; about five to six ounces of
litharge or white lead and a little zinc or other coloring matter. If intended
for manufacture into hard rubber ten ounces of the improved vulcanizing com-
pound are added to one pound of rubber, but the greater the proportion of the
compound the harder will be the rubber. The mixture is then subjected to
steam heat at a temperature of 320° Fahrenheit for about four or five
hours.
The second part of this Invention consists in the application of the said
compound or material to fabrics after it has been thoroughly mixed and in a
soft state. I spread it upon fabrics, using for the purpose the machine
known as the "McIntosh spreader," or other convenient apparatus, applying
two or more coats according to the nature of the fabric to which it is applied.
For thin goods, such as silk or light cotton, two coats are sufficient; for
heavy cotton, Canton flannels, and the like, three or more coats are better.
After being properly coated I subject the coated fabric to a heat of about 260°
to 270° Fahrenheit for about twelve hours, more or less, which completes
and finishes the fabrics, and renders the same impervious to air or water.
To flock fabrics coated with the improved compound, which operation forms
the third part of this Invention, I coat the fabrics in the manner herein-
before described, and while the last coat is in an adhesive state I apply the
flocks thereto by sifting in excess, rolling or pressing the same, then removing
the excess; or in any other convenient manner to accomplish the same result;
I then subject and treat the flocked fabrics to the temperature and in the
manner above described, which also finishes the fabrics.
It will thus be seen that this Invention is applicable to all the uses for
which vulcanized compounds or goods are adapted, as well as to many more,
owing to the absence of sulphurous effects.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried.
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel

page_text: and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the herein-before described vulcanizing compound of vegetable oil
and sulphur prepared substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second, the vulcanized preparation or compound prepared by combining
the within-described vulcanizing compound of vegetable oil and sulphur with
india-rubber, gutta percha, or other similar gums, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
Third, the production of waterproof fabrics by applying the herein-described
vulcanized preparation or compound to fabrics.
Fourth, the application of a coat of flocks to fabrics first prepared and
made waterproof in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five...
B. F. STEVENS. (L.S.)