Improvements in the Manufacture and Application of Waterproof Fabrics.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1889
Improvements in the Manufacture and Application of Waterproof
Fabrics.
I, DONALD NICOLL, of the National Liberal Club, Whitehall, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
On woven fibrous substances I cause to adhere a coating of one, or more than one,
of the insulating ingredients described in the Specifications to my Patents No. 480,
dated 5th Feby. 1866. No. 694, dated 11th March 1867. No. 2,480, dated 31st August
1867. No. 1,199 dated 25th January 1887. No. 6,933 dated 11th May 1887. I
now prefer to use the substance therein described as asphalte (but now commercially
known as Trinidad Epurée) also bitumen, (now known as cotton foots pitch) to these,
or either of the aforesaid ingredients, I add anthracene, and in such proportions,
as may adapt the fabric to the objects to which it is applied, viz.: a double tissue
fabric is produced by an additional layer of a fibrous substance being made to
adhere to the waterproof coating, alternate layers of these coatings and fibrous
substances will produce any required thickness or strength, for dry walls, floors,
or ceilings, floatable tubes, ship mattrasses, or other similar and useful objects.
1
1000

page_text: I, DONALD NICOLL of the National Liberal Club, Whitehall, Civil Engineer, 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:
"
27
My invention relates to an improvement whereby certain bituminous ingredients
used by me for insulating electrical conductors can through the addition of another
ingredient hitherto not so used he made to adhere to woven fibrous substances and
to produce a pliable and inexpensive waterproof fabric to cover various objects
required to be kept waterproof by non-conductive materials in order to prevent
decay oxidation or loss of electrical value. I find that my present object can be
secured by combining anthracene or hydrocarbon I obtain from the less volatile parts
of coal tar with two of the ingredients described by me as waterproof and non-
conducting materials" in my Patent No. 2,480 dated 31st August A.D. 1867—the
said ingredients are therein called bitumen and asphalte the first however is now
better known as cotton foots pitch and the second is also better known as purified
pitch or Épurée of Trinidad in 300 parts "in measure of my completed
compound I have 200 of cotton foots pitch 85 of purified pitch or Epurée of
Trinidad and 15 of anthracene-My method of manufacturing waterproof fabrics with
these substances is carried into effect-in the following way-I blend by any suitable.
method the aforesaid ingredients so as to be capable of being spread over and to per-
manently adhere to woven fibrous substances which are then in a condition to be
used for the purposes required but for such as need a strong and thickened fabric
I provide for same by applying an additional layer or layers of compound or of woven
fibrous substances several layers of either or both will be necessary in certain applica-
tions of the fabric especially when used as sheathing for the prevention of leakage in
navigable vessels or for tubes or troughs or to cause floors, ceilings and walls to
be made waterproof also as a sub-stratum beneath wooden pavements or for forming
huts rafts pontoons or targets for military purposes or as a substitute for the thick
coverings of lead now used for electrical accumulators lighter fabrics I also manu-
facture by the same method to form fishing boots or tennis shoes floatable ropes
life buoys linoleum mattrasses trunks capes knapsacks tarpaulin waterproof carpeting
or matting and for other and similar purposes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I state that I do not limit
myself to the exact proportions of either of the ingredients hereinbefore described
as such may jointly or severally be required to vary to suit temperatures or Climates
but I declare that what I claim is substantially
The blending of anthracene with purified pitch or Épurée of Trinidad and cotton
foots pitch for the manufacture of a fabric capable of being applied in the manner
described and to the various objects required to be protected by waterproofing and
non-conductive materials.
Dated this Twenty fourth of December One thousand eight hundred and sight
DONALD NICOLL.