IMPROVEMENTS IN ASBESTOS CLOTHS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt of Sutton in the County of Surrey for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ASBESTOS CLOTHS" communicated to
him from abroad by Henry W. Johns of the City County and State of New
York United States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1883.
SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ASBESTOS CLOTHS " communicated to me from abroad by Henry W. Johns of the
City County and State of New York United States of America
Figure 1 is a face view of the fabric Figure 2 a cross section through the loose
rolls or rope. Figure 3 a cross section of the same through the loose rolls or ropes
showing the binding thread. Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a modification
of the rope. Figure 5 a section of a modification.
This invention consists in making from fibrous asbestos loose strands, ropes or
rolls, by twisting or rolling the same into the form of rolls, making said rolls into
a fabric by weaving, sewing or knitting the same within their strands of fibrous
material, preferably asbestos or with wire.
In carrying out this invention the asbestos is broken into fibre, and this fibre
rolled or twisted into rolls or ropes so as to be loose and compressible and these
loose ropes are woven with an asbestos cord or metallic wire, or other suitable
fibrous cord. The loose roll or rope forming the weft, and the cord or wire forming
the warp. Instead of weaving the fabric the same may be knitted, the loose rolls
or ropes and the fine thread being combined in substantially the same manner.
The fabric may be made by placing the rolls or ropes alongside one another and
sewing across them so that they are firmly held together. This may be done by

page_text: sewing machine for which purpose several machines may be worked in gangs so as
to form a sewing at short intervals of the length of the roll.
The thread or cord with which the loose roll or rope is woven, knitted, or sewed
is formed of cotton, wire or asbestos or cotton or wire covered with asbestos or
rendered fire proof in any manner, as by coating or saturating with non-combustible
solutions, or it may be made of pure asbestos.
In the same fabric, some of the weft, and some of the lines of sewing or
knitting may be made with wire and some with thread of either cotton, asbestos
or both.
To prevent ravelling and produce a firm and strong fabric the thread, cord or
wire may be coated with a solution of india rubber or other adhesive substance
whereby the loose roll or rope may be more firmly held.
A very firm fabric may be made by mixing or coating the loose roll or rope with
a thin solution of india-rubber or other adhesive substance, or coating the finished
fabric therewith.
In making the loose rolls or ropes for this fabric, the short fibre of asbestos may
be mixed with and used in the material put in them, as it will be sufficiently held
together by the weaving, knitting and sewing by which they are severally fastened
to one another.
The rolls or ropes have been described as made of fibrous asbestos alone, they
may contain hair and fibrous asbestos mixed together, and when the hair is not
more than thirty three per cent of the whole will be nearly as fire proof as when
pure asbestos is used.
The finished sheets may be used alone or attached to other sheets, such as
cloth, asbestos sheathing, wire cloth, sheet metal, wood or like material as shown
in Figure 5.
The fabric may be napped on either or both surfaces, which will give it greater
powers as a non-conductor of heat; the napping may be accomplished by passing
a picker over the surface, whereby a portion of the asbestos is pulled up, and
formed into a nap.
The nap thus made may be coated with sizing, silicate of soda or like material,
as cotton batting is coated and a good surface given to the fabric.
The fabric made as above set forth may be compressed and treated or saturated
with silicate of soda or other suitable material so that it will be rendered compact
and held in a firm and compact form, it which form it may be used for blinds doors
or partitions either with or without holding frames or other suitable supporting
devices.
What I claim as hew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
First, The process of making a loose and compressible fabric, by uniting loose
and compressible rolls or ropes of asbestos (alone or with fibre) by weaving,
sewing or knitting them to one another by cord or wire, substantially as specified.
Second. The loose and compressible fabric consisting of the loose and com-
pressible rolls or ropes, united to one another by weaving, knitting or sewing them
with cords or wire substantially as specified.
Third. The process of making fabric, consisting in uniting loose and com-
pressible rolls or ropes of asbestos, by weaving, sewing, or knitting them to one
another by cord or wire coated with an adhesive substance,
Fourth. The fabric consisting of loose and compressible rolls or ropes united by
weaving, knitting or sewing them to one another by cords or wires coated with an
adhesive substance.
Fifth. The combination of a loose and compressible cord or rope and small
strands uniting the same into a fabric, the surface thereof being napped as specified
and set forth.
Sixth. The combination of a loose and compressible cord or rope, and small
strands uniting the fabric the surface thereof being coated with an adhesive
substance as specified and set forth.

page_text: Seventh. The combination of a loose and compressible cord or rope, and small
strands uniting the same into a fabric and coated with a solution of india rubber
or like compound substantially as specified.
Eighth. The combination of the herein described fabric, and other sheets
united by cementing them face to face as specified and set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Sydney Pitt have hereunto set my hand and seal
this fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
SYDNEY PITT
(L.S.)