Improvements in the Application of Leather in the Manufacture of Power Driving Belts and other Articles having Surfaces Exposed to Wear.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in the Application of Leather in the Manufacture of
Power Driving Belts and other Articles having Surfaces Exposed
to Wear.
BENJAMIN FOSTER, 85, Skinner Lane, Leeds, and WILLIAM FOSTER, of Esholt
House, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, in the County of York, Manufacturing Chemists
and Leather Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to the use of leather edgeways and crossways in the
manufacture of power driving belts, polishing drums, straps, and other wearing
surfaces and the utilization of small pieces of leather cut into oblong form for this
purpose.
Oblong sections of leather any thickness are cut or stamped the required size
in the centre of which is also cut one or more longitudinal slots. Corresponding
with these slot holes is provided a strong plaited or woven band chain or strand
These oblong
constructed of any suitable material and filling the slot holes.
sections are threaded upon the provided strand to any desired length when the
proper length is obtained the strands are overlapped and fastened by any
of the ordinary means. Thus is produced an endless even belt or strap the
strength of same being governed by the number width thickness and quality of the
inclosed strand or chain which can be varied to suit different purposes. This
inmost strand being intirely covered by the leather sections running edgeways
and crossways protects it from all outside wear & tear, & the leather sections being
edgeways & crossways grip the pullies or driving wheels in a simple and perfect
manner presenting an intirely novel and new feature in the manufacture of power
driving belts straps and the like.
For the manufacture of larger sized belts, straps or the like the same principle
is used the sections being simply half lapped over each other as is done in laying
wood pavement, additional strands being added.
This principle is also suitably adapted for utilizing small pieces of leather for
covering wearing surfaces, polishing drums, mats, carpets, covering steps or any
heavily wearing surface always presenting the leather edgeway and crossways
to the strands upon which they are threaded.

page_text: Improvements in the Application of Leather in the Manufacture of
Power Driving Belts and other Articles having Surfaces Exposed
to Wear.
We, BENJAMIN FOSTER, of 85, Skinner Lane, and WILLIAM FOSTER, of Esholt
House, Chapel Allerton, both of Leeds, in the County of York, Manufacturing
Chemists and Leather Merchants, 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:-
This invention has particular reference to power driving belts, and our object
is to construct the said driving belts in such a manner that they are more flexible
and durable than those now in use, whilst at the same time the fiability of the belt
slipping on the pulleys with which it runs in contact is reduced to a minimum.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood, we will proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which similar letters refer
to like parts in all the figures.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a vertical section, front elevation, and side
elevation of a portion of a power driving belt constructed according to our inven-
tion. Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a vertical section and front elevation of a
portion of a power driving belt of a slightly modified construction to that shewn
at Figures 1, 2 and 3. Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sections shewing other forms
of belts.
According to our invention and with particular reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3,
we employ leather of any thickness and cut or stamp out from same oblong
pieces A of a width and depth equal to the cross section of the belt to be produced,
and at or about the centre of the said pieces A we cut or stamp out holes A' at
suitable intervals apart leaving connecting pieces A³ between them, and the
holes A may be formed simultaneously with the cutting or stamping out of the
oblong pieces A. Longitudinal strands B of a number equal to that of the holes A¹
are provided, onto which the said pieces A are threaded as shewn, the strands
being of a form to suit the holes A¹ in the pieces A. The holes A' are preferably
formed by slitting the leather with a single cut, in such a manner that on the
strands B being inserted the holes A' are opened out thus causing the leather to
cling tightly to the strands and obviating the waste that would occur if sections
of leather were removed at the said holes.
The length of the strands B and the number of pieces A threaded thereon, are
in accordance with the length of the belt to be produced; and when the proper length
of belt is obtained, the strands B are overlapped and fastened by any ordinary
means. An endless belt is thus produced, the strength of which is equal to the
strength of the combined strands B, which latter are preferably composed of
plaited or woven bands of any strong material, but if desired we may employ chains
or other suitable mediums for taking the tensional strain.
The strands B are protected from outside wear and tear by being enclosed
within the leather pieces A, and the latter by being threaded on the strands B
at right angles thereto, present their edges as the wearing surface of the belt.
It will be readily understood that a belt constructed as above described will
last for a considerable length of time by reason of both sides of same being wear-
ing surfaces, and the efficiency of the belt is greatly increased by presenting the
edges of the leather pieces A at right angles to the pulleys or drums on which
it is placed. The portions of leather A firmly connect the opposite wearing sur-

page_text: faces of the belt together, and the undulating surfaces produced by the expanding
of the leather by the strands, increase the hold of the belt on the pulleys.
At Figures 4 and 5 we have shewn a portion of a belt having the leather pieces A
made up in sections, otherwise the construction is the same as that above described.
Belts for grooved pulleys may also be built up of leather pieces A threaded on
strands B as shewn at Figures 6 and 7, the connecting portions A2 in these cases
running parallel with the sides of the strands.
In constructing belts in the manner above described, we are enabled to utilize
small and otherwise waste pieces of leather in forming the pieces A, which has
the effect of reducing the cost of production considerably.
Although we have described our invention with particular reference to driving
belts, we would have it understood that it is equally applicable in the construction
of other articles, such as the surfaces of drums and pulleys and other surfaces
exposed to severe wear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A power driving belt composed of longitudinal strands carrying oblong pieces
of leather threaded on same at right angles thereto, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. The strands B carrying leather pieces A having holes A¹ and connecting
portions A³, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The particular arrangement and construction of longitudinal strands B and
leather pieces A, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3
of the accompanying drawing.
4. The particular arrangement and construction of longitudinal strands B and
leather pieces A, substantially as described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of
the accompanying drawing.
5. The particular arrangement and construction of longitudinal strands B and
leather pieces A, substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of
the accompanying drawing.

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