Improvements in the Spreading and Treating of India Rubber Waterproof Fabrics.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1893-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Spreading and Treating of India Rubber
Waterproof Fabrics.
1, ISIDOR FRANKENBURG, of Greengate Rubber and Leather Works, Salford,
in the County of Lancaster, India-rubber Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
In the machines at present used for spreading the rubber upon the fabric, a long
steam heated chest, table or drum is employed for drying the fabric and vaporizing
and driving off the naphtha solvents. This invention is designed with the object
of dispensing with the use of this drying chest or table and providing a machine-
of simpler construction and in which the drying process can be more effectually
carried out.
In carrying out the invention I construct the apparatus with a gauge for spreading
the rubber in the usual way with a roller over which it passes. Behind this roller
is placed a second roller or back drum similar to that at present in use without
however any intermediate drying apparatus. Below this drum or in any other
suitable position there is placed an enclosed chamber into which the fabric as it
passes from spreading roller, can enter. This chamber is fitted with a series of
rollers or bars over which the fabric can pass in a zig-zag manner so that in a
comparatively small chamber a long length of the fabric can be treated at the
same time. A slot or slit is formed through which the fabric enters, and a second
slot may be made for the fabric to leave the chamber. The chamber is heated to.
the required degree for drying the fabric and driving off the naphtha or other
solvent say to about 180° F. and as the cloth is passed through, all the naphtha is
evaporated and the rubber left dry. Another roller then receives the cloth and
it is then ready for another coat of rubber. To the chamber may be connected
one or more pipes through which the vaporized naphtha can pass away.
It may be
drawn off by means of a fan and into a refrigerator or other appliance for recovering
it, or it may pass off direct into the atmosphere.
The machine may also be used for vulcanising the material after the last coat
of rubber has been applied, in which case the heat of the chamber would be raised
to the necessary heat for the purpose, say to about 250° F. When used for
vulcanising, the farina may be applied to the fabric after it leaves the spreader
before it enters the chamber and for this purpose a farina spreader may be attached
to the back drum.
By this invention the fabric passes direct from the spreader to a drying chamber,
and I obtain a more complete and continuous process of spreading and drying the
fabric in the first instance, and afterwards a continuous process of spreading and
vulcanising the fabric, the drying and evaporation of the solvent being so complete
that the finished fabric is left devoid of any odour arising therefrom.
I consider that by this invention I gain the following advantages over the
present system.
(a) The machine can be worked at a higher speed thus increasing the production
from each machine.
(b) The proofing is rendered odourless coat by coat by the complete evaporation
of the solvents used with the proofing.
(c) No noxious vapours arise in the spreading room the vapours being given off
in the chamber whence they escape into the atmosphere or may be drawn off and
recovered.
Dated this 20th day of April 1902.
Paine 827
WM. F. THOMPSON & CO.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Spreading and Treating of India Rubber
Waterproof Fabrics.
I, ISIDOR FRANKENBURG, of Greengate Rubber and Leather Works, Salford,
in the County of Lancaster, India-rubber Manufacturer, 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 :-
In the machines at present used for spreading the rubber upon the fabric, a long
steam heated chest, table or drum is employed for drying the fabric and vaporising
and driving off the naphtha solvents. This invention is designed with the object
of dispensing with the use of this drying chest or table and providing a machine
of simpler construction and in which the drying and deodorising process can be
more effectually carried out.
It consists essentially in the construction of a spreading machine preferably
without a steam heated chest, table or drum and in the combination therewith of
an enclosed chamber into which the fabric is passed for the purpose of drying and
deodorising it after it leaves the spreading machine and before a second or sub-
sequent coat is spread upon it.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which
a sectional elevation of the apparatus is shown.
I construct the apparatus with a gauge A of ordinary construction at one end
for spreading the rubber onto the fabric and a roller B over which the fabric
passes. Behind the roller B I place a second roller C to carry off the proofed
fabric and preferably remove or dispense altogether with the steam heated drying
table which has hitherto been used between the spreading gauge A and the
delivery roller C to drive off the naphtha or other solvent.
Underneath the machine I place or construct an enclosed chamber D into
which the proofed fabric as it passes from the machine is caused to enter.
This
chamber is fitted with a number of rollers or bars E over which the fabric can pass
in a zig-zag manner so that in a comparatively small chamber a long length of the
fabric can be treated at the same time. A slot or slit e is formed through which
the fabric passes into, and a second slot e' through which the fabric passes out of
the chamber. The rollers E are mounted in any convenient form of bearings and
some of them E¹ may be journalled to move up and down in suitable bearings to
take up the slack or keep the fabric tight.
The chamber is heated to the required degree for drying the fabric and driving
off the naphtha or other solvent say to about 180° F. and as the cloth is passed
through all the naphtha is evaporated and the rubber left dry. To the chamber
may be connected one or more pipes through which the vaporized naphtha can pass
away. It may be drawn off by means of a fan and into a refrigerator or other
appliance for recovering it, or it may pass off direct into the atmosphere.
Although I prefer to place the heated chamber D below the machine as shown
(as I consider that the most convenient position) it may be placed behind the
machine or above it or in any other convenient position.
The cloth passes up from the chamber D to a roller F or it may be passed con-
tinuously through the machine until it has received the required number of coats
of rubber proofing. In order to provide for the fabric being reversed and the
rubber proofing being spread from both ends a second gauge may be applied to the
roller C so that the machine may be driven in either direction.
The machine can be used for vulcanising one or more of the coats of rubber as
they are applied (if prepared with sulphur for the purpose) by raising the
temperature of the chamber D to the necessary degree say from 210° to 280° F.
When used for vulcanising the farina may be applied to the fabric after it leaves

page_text: the spreader before it enters the chamber and for this purpose a farina spreader
may be attached to the back roller C.
By this invention the fabric passes direct from the spreading machine to a drying
chamber, and I obtain a more complete and continuous process of spreading, drying
and deodorising the fabric in the first instance, and afterwards a continuous
process of spreading and vulcanising the fabric, the drying and evaporation of
the solvent being so complete that the finished fabric is left devoid of any odour
arising therefrom.
I consider that by this invention I gain the following advantages over the
present system.
(a) The machine can be worked at a higher speed thus increasing the production
from each machine.
(b) The proofing is rendered odourless coat by coat by the complete evaporation
of the solvents used with the proofing.
(c) No noxious vapours arise in the spreading room the vapours being given off
in the chamber whence they escape into the atmosphere or may be drawn off and
recovered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In apparatus for proofing waterproof fabrics the combination of the spreading
gauge and rollers over which the fabric passes (preferably arranged without a
steam heated table) and a heated drying chamber substantially as and for the
purpose described.
2. The process of proofing waterproof fabric which consists in spreading the
rubber upon the fabric and then passing the proofed fabric direct into a heated
chamber in its moist state for the purpose of driving off the solvent or vulcanising
the rubber substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of January 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.