IMPROVE- MENTS IN PREPARING SOLVENTS FOR INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PEROHA, AND IN RENDERING WATERPROOF FABRICS FREE FROM ODOUR
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Fry, of 19, Cannon Street West, in
the City of London, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PREPARING SOLVENTS FOR INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PEROHA,
AND IN RENDERING WATERPROOF FABRICS FREE FROM ODOUR."
Sealed the 25th January 1854, and dated the 15th November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Fry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th November 1853.
I, JOSEPH FRY, of 19, Cannon Street West, in the City of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN PREPARING SOLVENTS FOR INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PERCHA,
AND IN RENDERING WATERPROOF FABRICS FREE FROM ODOUR," to be as
follows:-
Heretofore the solvents employed for india-rubber and gutta percha
have been distilled and rectified, but I have found that these solvents
are improved if india-rubber or gutta percha be combined therewith
before or be present when distilling and rectifying them; and my In-
vention consists of dissolving india-rubber or gutta percha in solvents
before, and of introducing india-rubber or gutta percha into the still
when distilling or rectifying the solvents. And in order to deprive
waterproof fabrics of the odour consequent on the use of solvent the
fabrics are placed in a steam chest and subjected to the action of free

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Fry in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOSEPH FRY, of 19, Cannon Street West, in the City of London, Mer-
chant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three,
in the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs
and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Fry, Her
special licence that I, the said Joseph Fry, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Fry, my
executors, administrators, and 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 Inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING SOLVENTS FOR INDIA-RUBBER AND
GUTTA PERCHA, AND IN RENDERING WATERPROOF FABRICS FREE FROM
ODOUR," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph
Fry, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Fry, 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 following statement thereof (that is to say):
Heretofore the solvents employed for india-rubber and gutta percha
have been distilled and rectified, but I have found that these solvents

page_text: are improved if india-rubber or gutta percha be combined therewith
before, or be present when, distilling and rectifying them; and my
In-
vention consists of dissolving india-rubber or gutta percha in solvents
before, and of introducing india-rubber or gutta percha into the still
when, distilling or rectifying the solvents. And in order to deprive
waterproof fabrics of the odour consequent on the use of solvents the
fabrics are placed in a steam chest and subjected to the action of free
steam, the upper parts of the steam chest being coated with layers of
flannel to prevent condensation.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I will pro-
ceed to describe the manner of performing the same.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention I introduce india-
rubber or gutta percha with the solvent into a still and then distil over
the solvent, and I find that from four to six ounces of india-rubber or
gutta percha (according to the state of impurity of the solvent) dis-
solved in each gallon is sufficient for the purpose. The distillation in
other respects is carried on in the ordinary manner and as is well
understood, by which the product distilled over will be found materially
improved for the purpose of its use in dissolving india-rubber or gutta
percha, and the residue in the still will be found useful for fabricating
common or inferior articles and for waterproofing coarser and lower
class cloths. The solvents usually employed for such purposes are tur-
pentine and coal, naptha or coal oil, and either of these may be taken
in the crude state and have dissolved therein india-rubber or gutta
percha and then distilled; or the crude solvent may be distilled first
without india rubber or gutta percha being present, and afterwards be
combined with india-rubber or gutta percha, and again distilled or
rectified. The latter mode of treatment, it is believed, produces the
best result. I will now proceed to describe the second part of my
Invention, which has for its object the removal of the odour of articles
fabricated of india-rubber or gutta percha in which solvents have been
used. For this purpose I employ a close chamber of a size depending
on the quantity of goods or articles fabricated of india-rubber or gutta
percha in which solvents have been used, to be subjected to the process
at one time. And I would state that it is desirable that the waterproof
cloths, whether before or after being made up into garments or other

page_text: articles and other forms of waterproof fabrics, should be kept as open
and separate as may be. In order to admit as much as possible of the
full and free action of the steam on all parts of the surfaces, I prefer
that the steam chest or chamber should be of iron (but do not confine
myself thereto) with convenient doors at one end or side for the
passage of persons to suspend or otherwise place the articles therein.
The upper part of the chamber is open but coated over with one or
more coverings or layers of flannel to partially restrain the passage of
steam and to absorb any steam which may condense thereon, and it is
desirable also to line the whole interior with flannel, which I prefer to
be dry at the commencement of the process. The steam is introduced
at the bottom of the steam chest or chamber by means of perforated
steam pipes, and the pressure of steam which I employ is only slightly
above that of the atmosphere, but higher pressure steam may be used.
I have, however, not found it necessary to do so. By thus subjecting
articles (whether made by the use of india-rubber or gutta percha) to
the action of free steam, the odour of the solvent used-will be removed
in a longer or shorter time depending on the quantity of the odour of
the solvent which remains in the articles.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim
is, first, the distilling solvents of india-rubber and gutta percha with
those matters present or combined therewith; and, secondly, I claim
the subjecting waterproof fabrics to the action of free steam to remove
the odour thereof, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Fry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
E. BARKER,
Lincolan's Inn.
JOSEPH FRY. (L.S.)