Improved Method of and Apparatus for Coating and Preparing Tarpaulins and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1889
Specification Accepted, 9th Mar., 1889
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Coating and Preparing
Tarpaulins and the like.
We, THOMAS ROCKLIFFE of 12 Northampton Street, Clerkenwell, London, E.C.,
EDWARD CHARLES HORNER, 99 Gresham Street, London, E.C. Civil Engineer,
JOSEPH KENDALL, of Penworthen Birdhurst Rise, Croydon, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, and HUGH RUGG, of 270 East India Road London E. Auctioneer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention relates to the construction of an apparatus for, and a method of,
coating or covering canvas or other cloth with a waterproofing compound or solution;
said process consisting in the perfect saturation of the fabric, and rapid drying
thereof, by means of the device or contrivance according to our invention; whereby
tarpaulins, waterproof covers, floor cloths, oilskins and the like may be manufactured
by the length of material, with great economy in labour and time, relatively to the
systems of such manufacture as hitherto employed.
In order that our Invention may be clearly understood, we have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of the
entire apparatus according to our said Invention, and Figure 2 is a plan of
the same.
Referring to these drawings; in carrying out our invention we employ a bath
or tank, indicated by the dotted lines A A Figure 1; enclosed within and between a
suitable frame B. A bracket C supports the necessary bearings D for a feed drum or
roller E, from which the web of canvas or other fabric required to be coated or

page_text: permeated, is drawn. In order to maintain a suitable tension upon said web of
canvas or the liko, we may employ a screw or gravity brake, or any kind of frictional
gearing for the purpose of retarding the motion of the roller E and rendering the
tension of the fabric uniform during the process of coating or perimention. A roll I',
carried by the rack bearing i G, causes the continuous strip of canvas or other
fabric to descend into the bath or tank A A, the degree of immersion of said roll,
and consequently that of the fabric passing under it, being regulated by the hand-
wheel H, operating the vertical rack bearings G G through the pinions a a¹, which
revolve in unison, because they are both keyed or otherwise attached to the transverse
shaft bb. A couch roll I supported, by bearing brackets ce carries the web from the
bath or tank A. A between the roller brushes d d, the upper of which, ³, may or
may not be provided with a fixod scraper, for the removal of superfluous coating
compound, that may adhere to it during the passage of the continuous web of fabric
as aforesaid. The function of the brushes d d is to equalise the layer of coating or
to render perfect the permeation of the fabric by the compound or solution contained
in the bath or tank A A.
In order that the medium of solution, or liquid component of the coating or
permeating compound may he rapidly evaporated, and the prepared fabric be the more
readily removed from the machine, we provido a framo J J J, carrying transverse
rollers K, K' K" KK, over which the continuous web before referred to,
passes, motion being imparted thereto by means of the drum or roll L, upon which
the finished fabric is wound. For the purpose of inducing rapid evaporation of the
liquid component, as aforesaid, we may employ a fan, or fans, or any form of
centrifugal exhauster, driven from any suitable source of power, so that a current
of dry air may be maintained. Said drying process, or process of evaporation, may
also be carried out by convection, the space under the rolls K K K K K
onclosed by the frame J J J being connected with a flue, or the uptake of a furnace
or stove.
In cases where no volatile solvent or medium is employed in the preparation of the
coating or permeating compound, and the latter becomes solidified at or about the
ordinary temperature of the atmosphere, we may employ a furnace, Figure 1,
the heat of which, being directly in contact with the bath or tank A A, maintains
the contents thereof in a fluid condition, so that the process of coating or permeation
herein before mentioned may be effectively performed. We may also employ the
flame of gas, or that of liquid or vaporised bydrocarbons for the purpose of maintaining
the requisite degree of heat for the above mentioned purpose. When the aforesaid
compound is employed, we dispenso with the drum or roll L, and substitute therefor
a pair of gripping rollers, or other device for imparting motion to the fabric, and
convey the same or cause it to travel, into a suitable drying chamber or open space,
where the coating may dry by superficial exposure.
In this manner, and by the use and application of the apparatus according to our
invention, we are enabled to prepare tarpaulins, wagon or rick cloths, floor cloths,
oilskins and the like in the form of a continuous web, thus obviating the necessity of
hand, spreading and piece drying, as hitherto adopted for effecting this object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
First. A machine or apparatus for coating or permeating cloth or fabric with a
waterproofing compound, the notion of which is continuous and uniform, substantially
as herein described and sot forth.
Second. In a machine or apparatus as described in the preceding claim, the employment
of a bath or tank A. A, Figures 1 and 2, immersed roller F, brushes dd, and drying
rollers K K K K K substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and set forth.
Third. In a machine or apparatus as referred to in the preceding claims, the

page_text: employment of a brakèd feed roll E and a driven gathering roll L substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Fourth. In a machine or apparatus as referred to in the above claims, the method
of liquifying the coating or permeating compound by heat; and also the subsequent
evaporation of superfluous fluid by convection or an induced current of air,
substantially as herein described and set forth.
TL FL
JL1000