IMPROVEMENTS IN DRIVING BELTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Aitken, of Irwell Vale Mills, in the Township of
Tottington, Higher End, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRIVING BELTS."
ed the 22nd August 1876, and dated the 28th February 1876
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Aitken at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1876.
THOMAS AITKEN, of Irwell Vale Mills, in the Township of Tottington, Higher
End, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRIVING
BELTS."
Heretofore in the construction of driving belts for transmitting motive power of
the class to which this Invention relates, that is to say (belts of woven fabric), have
been made by folding the fabric and securing the same by rows of longitudinal
stitches, but inasmuch as the thread composing the stitches is exposed to friction
on passing over the pulleys, on becoming worn the belts so made are rendered
unserviceable. In others flax composing the body of the belt and a thread or
threads have been woven therewith. Belts so made are dry and hard and do not
bite" well on the pulleys.
In the construction and manufacture of driving belts according to this my
Invention I employ a strong and woven fabric composed of many warps, by
preference of cotton, and treat, temper, and consolidate the same when woven by
means of "boiled oil" and squeezing rollers.
I use four, five, or more warps, according to the strengh and thickness of belt
required. The several warp are operated by ordinary heald mechanism, so that
different "sheds" are presented for the passage of the shuttle and weft thread,
whereby both warp and weft are thoroughly interlaced and woven, and a strong
and closely woven material with perfect selvages is produced. I provide a vessel
containing boiled oil, through which the material so woven is caused to pass and
repass over guide rollers within the vessel until the said material is thoroughly
saturated, and for the purpose of ensuring complete and expeditious saturation and
impregnation I employ within the oil vessel a coiled steam pipe, the heat from
which renders the oil more limpid and fluid. After saturation the belt is passed
between squeezing rollers mounted over the vessel, which rollers expel the super-

page_text: fluous oil, and also condenses and consolidate the woven fibres. On being dried the
material so made, treated, and consolidated is coated with paint, and when "spliced"
or joined is ready for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Aitken in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th August
1876.
THOMAS AITKEN, of Irwell Vale Mills, in the Township of Tottington, Higher
End, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRIVING
BELTS."
Heretofore in the construction of driving belts for transmitting motive power of
the class to which this Invention relates, that is to say (belts of woven fabric), have
been made by folding the fabric and securing the same by rows of longitudinal
stiches, but inasmuch as the thread composing the stiches is exposed to friction on
passing over the pulleys, and on becoming worn the belts so inade are rendered
unserviceable. In others, flax composing the body of the belt and a thread or
threads have been woven therewith. Belts so made are dry and hard and do not
"bite" well on the pulleys....
In the construction and manufacture of driving belts according to this my
Invention I employ a strong and woven fabric composed of many warps, by
preference of cotton, and treat, temper, and consolidate the same when woven
by
ineans of "boiled linseed oil" and squeezing rollers.
I use three, four, five, or more warps, according to the strength and thickness of
belt required. The several warps are operated by ordinary heald mechanism, so that
different "sheds" are presented for the passage of the shuttle and weft thread,
whereby. both warp and weft are thoroughly interlaced and woven; and a strong
and closely woven material with perfect selvages is produced. I provide a vessel
containing boiled oil, through which the material so woven is caused to pass and
repass over guide rollers within the vessel until the said material is thoroughly
saturated, and for the purpose of ensuring complete and expeditious saturation and
impregnation I employ within the oil vessel a coiled steam pipe, the heat from
which renders the oil more limpid and fluid. After saturation the belt is passed
between squeezing rollers mounted over the vessel, which rollers expel the super-
fluous oil, and also condenses and consolidates the woven fibres. On being dried the
material so made, treated, and consolidated is coated with paint, and when "spliced "
or joined is ready for use.
The nature and object of this my Invention being as aforesaid, I will now
proceed to describe the details and particulars thereof.
In the construction and manufucture of driving belts according to this my
Invention I employ a strong and woven fabric composed of many warps (by
preference, cotton warps), and treat, temper, and consolidate the same when woven
by means of boiled linseed oil and squeezing rollers.
"
I use three or more warps, according to the strength and thickness of belt
required (the several warps are taken from one or more "beams"), and the warps
are operated by ordinary heald mechanism in such manner that different." sheds
are presented or open alternatively for the passage of the shuttle and weft threads,
whereby both warp and weft threads are thoroughly interlaced and woven, and a
strong and closely woven material with perfect selvages is produced. The arranging
the several warps, the operating the same by means of healds so as to interlace
the weft therewith, will from the above description and particulars be readily and
fully understood by persons practically acquainted with plain or fancy weaving.
.
When the material is so made I provide an apparatus shewn by Drawing annexed
.hereto. In the vessel A I place ordinary "boiled linseed oil." The material or
belting B passes and repasses over the guide rollers C (in the direction of the arrows)

page_text: until thoroughly saturated, and for the purpose of ensuring complete and expeditious
saturation and impregnation I employ within the vessel A the coiled steam pipe D,
the heat from which renders the oil more limpid and fluid. After being so saturated
the material or belting is to be passed through the squeezing rollers E, F, the
pressure expelling the superfluous oil, and condenses and consolidates the material.
On being dried the material or belting so made, treated, and consolidated is coated
with paint (by preference, common lead) of any desirable color, and when ",
"spliced "
or joined is ready for use.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would have it understood that I claim as my Invention, the
improved driving belts made and treated in the manner herein fully described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Aitken, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
JOHN HINDLE,
Book-keeper,
Edenfield.
THOMAS AITKEN. (L.S.)