IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLOORCLOTH
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Walton, of Heatham House, Twickenham, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FLOORCLOTH."
Sealed the 29th December 1877, and dated the 18th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Walton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1877.
FREDERICK WALTON, of Heatham House, Twickenham, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLOORCLOTH."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of floor-
cloth.
Heretofore in manufacturing floorcloth from oxidised oil the canvas on the reverse
side or back of the cloth has been waterproofed with a cement or paint formed by
dissolving the oxidised or solidified oil in naptha and mixing it with a considerable
proportion of gum, resin, and pigment.
Great difficulty has always been found in obtaining a suitable composition which
would both dry rapidly and harden, so as, when the cloth is rolled up, not to stick or
adhere to the face.
The addition of large proportions of gum and resin obviates the difficulty in
regard to sticking, but renders the composition so brittle as to break from the cloth
during the subsequent process of the manufacture. It has also the inconvenience of
making the cloth itself extremely brittle, as it sinks into it and stiffens it.
According to my Invention I adopt the plan of rolling on to the back of the cloth a
film of the material used for the face; this not only enables the production of a
cloth which is entirely free from all danger of adhesion of the face to back, but it
gives a peculiar soft leathery feel to the cloth, and makes the face of the cloth less
liable to be cracked or broken when bent.
Another advantage of this process is that hastere is less strain on the cloth in its

page_text: passage through the rolling machine, a weaker and consequently cheaper cloth can
be used, and the perfect film of waterproof material put on the back obviates the
shrinkage of the floorcloth which occurs under the old system; when from an imper-
fectly waterproof back the jute canvas becomes exposed to the action of wet or
damp, such shrinkage causes bad joints and other defects in the floorcloth after it
has been some time in use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Walton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
April 1878.
FREDERICK WALTON, of Heatham House, Twickenham, in 'the County of
Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLOORCLOTH."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of floor-
cloth.
Heretofore in the manufacture of floorcloth from oxidised oil it has been usual
to employ a pair of steam-heated rollers set at a short distance apart. The canvas
to form the backing has been passed between these rollers; the oxidised oil com-
pound to be spread upon the canvas has been placed in a hopper at the back of the
rollers, and reduced into a sheet as it passes with the canvas through the nip of the
rollers; the canvas on the reverse side or back of the cloth has been waterproofed
with a cement or paint formed by dissolving the oxidised or solidified oil in naptha
and mixing it with a considerable proportion of gum, resin, and pigment.
Great difficulty has always been found in obtaining a suitable composition which
would both dry rapidly and harden, so as, when the cloth is rolled up, not to stick or
adhere to the face.
The addition of large proportions of gum and resin obviates the difficulty in regard
to sticking, but renders the composition so brittle as to break from the cloth during
the subsequent process of the manufacture. It has also the inconvenience of making
the cloth itself extremely brittle, as it sinks into it and stiffens it.
In the ordinary process of spreading, as described above, the canvas is exposed
to a heavy strain, and unless of a strength, which would otherwise be unnecessary,
it is frequently torn.
According to my Invention I adopt the plan of rolling on to the back of the cloth
a film of the material used for the face. I employ two pairs of rollers, and produce
by means of them two films of suitable thicknesses. These films remain adhering to
one of the rollers of each pair, and the canvas is led down between the rollers so
coated and is nipped between them, which causes the films of floorcloth material to
adhere to the canvas and leave the surface of the rollers. This not only enables the
production of a cloth which is entirely free from all danger of adhesion of the face
to the back, but it gives a peculiar soft leathery feel to the cloth and makes the face
of the cloth less liable to be cracked or broken when bent.
Another advantage of this process is, that, as there is less strain on the cloth in its

page_text: passage through the rolling machine, a weaker and consequently cheaper cloth can
be used, and the perfect film of waterproof material put on the back obviates the
shrinkage of the floorcloth which occurs under the old system; when from an
imperfectly waterproof back the jute canvas becomes exposed to the action of wet
or damp, such shrinkage causes bad joints and other defects in the floorcloth after it
has been some time in use.
In order that my Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 is a vertical section of the machinery
which I employ to produce floorcloth from oxidised oil. It consists of a frame
carrying in suitable bearings two pair of rollers a and b, and c and d. These rollers
are all driven by toothed wheels, of which the pitch lines are shown in dots in
Figure 2, and the surface speed of the lower rollers 6 and d is somewhat greater
than that of the upper rollers a and c. All the rollers are heated by the admission
of steam to their interior, and the steam is eo regulated that the upper rollers may
be somewhat hotter than the lower, so that the oxidised oil compound may adhere
to the lower rollers by preference. e is a roller upon which a long length of canvas
is wound; ff, are hoppers which are kept supplied with the material to be spread.
The composition supplied to these two hoppers may be identical, or it may differ in
color or in quality. The two pair of rollers are so set as to produce films of suitable
thicknesses, the one for the face and the other for the back of the floorcloth; the
canvas is led down between the rollers, as the Drawing indicates, and the rollers b
and d are so set as to press the films which their surfaces carry firmly on to the canvass.
The floorcloth thus produced is drawn forward and kept tightly strained by leading
it around a roller covered with wire card and driven at a surface speed slightly
exceeding that of the rollers b and d.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim the manufacture of
oxidised oil floorcloth by applying films of the material to both sides of the canvas,
substantially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Walton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
FRED. WALTON. (L.S.)