AN IMPROVED FAERIC FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MACHINE BELTING AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FAERIC
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MACHINE BELTING AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."-A
communication from abroad by Zenas Marshall Crane and James Brewer
Crane, both of Dalton, Berkshire County, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd May 1867.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED FABRIC FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MACHINE BELTING AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new material from which to manufacture
belting, and which is adapted to all or nearly all the various uses to which
leather is applicable at the present time, and it consists in forming a fabric
for belting of all kinds (whether light or heavy) and for other purposes of
paper pulp, the primary process being the same, and the paper being actually

page_text: .
formed before I commence forming the fabric above mentioned; and it will be
understood that the strength and tenacity of the material which I manufacture
as a substitute for leather depends upon the quality of the fibrous material
from which the paper is made, the same as in the formation of ordinary
paper. A superior article is produced from superior stock.
In carrying out the Invention I take the paper as it comes from what is
called by paper makers the first press rollers of the machine, and pass it by
means of an apron or by any other means over other rollers which are placed
at such distances from the first rollers as may be necessary to give-the
required length of belt or piece of the fabric.
By referring to the Drawing accompanying this Specification the main
features of one arrangement for the manufacture of this article will be seen
as an example only.
A, A, represents the first press rollers; B is the felting which conveys
the paper from the paper machine; C, C, C, are rollers over which the fabric
passes; D is the fabric itself; E, E, are rolls which may be used for
keeping the piece smooth and even on the rollers C, but these rollers may
be dispensed with if desired. As before stated the paper is taken from the
press rollers A and passed over the supporting rollers C, and back to the
press rollers A again, between which it passes and continues to revolve over the
rollers C in an endless belt or piece, but taking up an additional thickness
of paper at each revolution; this operation is repeated until the required
thickness is attained, when the forming of the paper is discontinued, but the
press rollers and rollers C are kept in motion a sufficient length of time to
give the belt now formed a thorough and continuous pressing while in its wet
state to solidify and harden it. If the piece thus formed is intended for an
endless belt to be used for propelling machinery it is taken from the rollers
whole, the press rollers being so constructed as to be temporarily separated
for this purpose, otherwise the piece is severed and taken away to dry. After
leaving the press rollers in the first stages of the process the fabric may be
supported by an apron if considered necessary.
This fabric when formed of the proper fibrous material possesses all the
strength and tenacity of the best quality of leather; is of perfectly even
thickness and uniform texture throughout, and does not stretch in using; it is
admirably suited for belting as well as for various other purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence that I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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 Invention for "AN IMPROVED FABRIC FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
MACHINE BELTING AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," a communication to me from
abroad by Zenas Marshall Crane and James Brewer Crane, both of Dalton,
Berkshire County, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly 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 thin six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to a new material from which to manufacture belting,
and which is adapted to all or nearly all the various uses to which leather is
applicable at the present time, and it consists in forming a fabric for belting
of all kinds (whether light or heavy) and for other purposes of paper pulp,

page_text: the primary process being the same, and the paper being actually formed
before I commence forming the fabric above mentioned; and it will be under-
stood that the strength and tenacity of the material which I manufacture as a
substitute for leather depends upon the quality of the fibrous material from
which the paper is made, the same as in the formation of ordinary paper. A
superior article is produced from superior stock.
In carrying out the Invention I take the paper as it comes from what is
called by paper makers the first press rollers of the machine, and pass it by
means of an apron or by any other means over other rollers which are placed
at such distances from the first rollers as may be necessary to give the required
length of belt or piece of the fabric.
By referring to the Drawing accompanying this Specification the main
features of one arrangement for the manufacture of this article will be seen.
A, A, represent the first press rollers; B is the felting which conveys the
paper from the paper machine; C, C, C, are rollers over which the fabric
passes; D is the fabric itself, E, E, are rolls which may be used for keeping the
piece smooth and even on the rollers C, but these rollers may be dispensed
with if desired, as before stated the paper is taken from the press rollers A,
and passed over the supporting rollers C, and back to the press rollers A
again, between which it passes and continues to revolve over the rollers C
in an endless belt or piece, but taking up an additional thickness of paper
at each revolution; this operation is repeated until the required thickness
is attained, when the forming of the paper is discontinued, but the press rollers
and rollers C are kept in motion a sufficient length of time to give the
belt now formed a thorough and continuous pressing while in its wet state
to solidify and harden it. If the piece thus formed is intended for an endless
belt to be used for propelling machinery it is taken from the rollers whole, the
press rollers being so constructed as to be temporarily separated for this
purpose, otherwise the piece is severed and taken away to dry. After leaving
the press rollers in the first stages of the process the fabric may be supported
by an apron if considered necessary.
This fabric when formed of the proper fibrous material possesses all
the strength and tenacity of the best quality of leather; is of perfectly
even thickness and uniform texture throughout, and does not stretch
in using; it is admirably suited for belting as well as for various other
purposes.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of perform-
ing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―

page_text: First, the fabric D formed of paper substantially as herein described for
the purposes set forth, that is to say, making belts for driving machinery and
for the other purposes to which leather is applied.
Secondly, I claim the use of paper belting for propelling machinery
however it may be made.
First, the fabric D formed of paper substantially as herein described for
the purposes set forth, that is to say, making belts for driving machinery and
for the other purposes to which leather is applied.
Secondly, I claim the use of paper belting for propelling machinery
however it may be made.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto
set my band and seal, this Fifteenth of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)