An Improved Composition for use as a Non-conductor of Heat, also applicable as a Sound Deadener, and for other uses to which similar products are put.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Composition for use as a Non-conductor of Heat, also
applicable as a Sound Deadener, and for other uses to which
similar products are put.
I, HENRY WARD JOHNS of the Dakota Apartment House, 72nd Street and
8th Avenue, in the City and State of New York, in the United States of America,
Manufacturer and Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a new and useful compound sheet or mass peculiarly adapted
for use as a non-conductor of heat or cold, and as a filling for safes, refrigerators, &c.,
and also as a sound deadening lining for partitions, floors, walls, &c., and for other
uses to which similar products are put, and it consists in a compound or mixture
somewhat resembling that described in United States Letters Patent, No. 385,120
dated June 26th, 1888. In that Patent I recite a discovery made, so far as I am
aware by myself, of the peculiar "adhesive attraction" which exists between the
tentacle-like lashes or barbs of common sponge, and the fine silk like fibres of fibrous
asbestos. And in that invention I avail myself of that peculiar quality in the
manufacture of the products recited in said Patent.
I have found however, that for certain purposes very useful products can be made
which in some respects are as desirable as those made from fibrous asbestos and
sponge, described in that Patent, to wit, by the employment of comminuted sponge in
conjunction with other fibrous minerals or mineral products which either do not have
the peculiar adhesive attraction" before referred to, or which have it in so small a
degree that the resulting products would not be characterized thereby and thus hardly
within the scope of the Patent.
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For example I have found that powdered minerals, such as oxide of zinc, chalk, &c.
and also the bodies hereinafter named when mixed with the disintegrated sponge, with
or without the addition of asbestos or other fibrous minerals, form a desirable filling
or cementing material or compound, which may be used in bulk (dry), or wetted to
form sheets, cylinders, etc., and may also be moulded into such forms as desired.
That is to say, I have discovered that by the use of various substances other than
fibrous asbestos in conjunction with the sponge I can secure the advantages of great
porosity, bulk relative to weight, adhesivej elasticity and fireproof qualities, at much
less cost than by the employment of fibrous asbestos and with much less labour in the
ruanufacture of the products.
I proceed as follows:-I take sponge and either pick it apart, cut or shred it, thus
producing it in fibrous forms or in small pieces, I then take minerals or mineral
products, such as agolite, actinolite, chrysolite, hornblende, mineral wool, and the like
or any two or more of them, if préferred in a fibrous condition; or metallic turnings
or filings, the oxides of the metals, chalk, &c., then I thoroughly mix the comminuted
sponge with these bodies, either by depositing the sponge and the said bodies in
successive layers, thus forming a wadding like mass, or by mechanically mixing them
as by a picker or otherwise. The resulting mass upon being compressed will be found
to have sufficient tenacity to allow it to be handled while being placed in walls, floors,
partitions and for the like uses, and when placed between the walls of safes and in like
places and, preferably, rammed down slightly will maintain its position permanently
filling the space intended to be filled by it because of its elasticity.
It may also be wetted with any suitable sizing or adhesive substance, such as
silicate of soda, rubber solution, starch, glue and the like and then pressed into such
shapes or forms, flat, curved or cylindrical as desired.
The non-inflammable mineral bodies will render the product practically fireproof

page_text: and the sponge will render it exceedingly porous or full of air spaces. The sponge
may be treated with silicate of soda or the like substance to render it additionally fire-
proof if desired and the product, or the sponge alone before mixing with the other
bodies, may be treated with disinfecting or antiseptic substances, whereby it will be
rendered vermin-proof. thus peculiarly adapting it to architectural and other sanitary
purposes. It may also be waterproofed by treatment with oil or its equivalent, thus
repelling moisture and avoiding dampness. I do not limit myself to the specific
mineral substances or products above referred to because there are other substances
which possess the same characteristics, such as the ordinary low grades or brittle
asbestos, also asbestos of such short fibre that the peculiar "adhesive attraction"
between the fibres of asbestos and the fibres of sponge as recited in my said former
Patent, does not obtain.
Another method by which my product may be made is to pulp the comminuted
sponge and the said bodies with water or other suitable liquid, in an ordinary paper-
maker's apparatus, either both together in the same vat, whereby they will be easily
and thoroughly mixed and then being laid out to dry will when dry present a
uniformly mixed mass; or they may be pulped in separate vats and then mixed by
pouring them out and spreading them in superposed layers.
I sometimes, instead of comminuting the sponge dry, prefer to dampen it during or
prior to the disintegrating process whereby its powdering is prevented and its fibrous
characteristics more fully preserved. For certain products, however, it is necessary to
divide the sponge into very small pieces, this I accomplish by grinding in a dry
state, because when subsequently wetted the particles of sponge swell up and attain
and partially or wholly retain their enlarged size.
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 :-
First The herein described composition of matter consisting essentially of fibrous
or comminuted sponge, and hornblende, mineral wool, the oxide of the metals and
like bodies, substantially as set forth.
Second-The herein described composition of matter consisting essentially of
fibrous or comminuted sponge, hornblende, mineral wool, the oxides of the metals and
the like bodies, and antiseptic or disinfecting material, substantially as set forth.
Third-The herein described composition of matter consisting essentially of fire-
proofed sponge and hornblende, mineral wool, the oxides of the metals and like bodies,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth-The herein described composition of matter consisting essentially of
waterproofed sponge and hornblende, mineral wool, the oxides of the metals and the
like bodies, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of October 1890.
HENRY WARD JOHNS.