IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING HIDES, AND IN CUTTING THEM INTO STRAPS POR DRIVING MACHINERY
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Turner, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Leather Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING
HIDES, AND IN CUTTING THEM INTO STRAPS POR DRIVING MACHINERY.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Turner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
August 1854.
1, ENRY TURNER, of Leeds, in the County of York, Leather Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRE-
PARING HIDES, AND IN CUTTING THEM INTO STRAPS FOR DRIVING MACHINERY," to be
as follows:-
My improvements in preparing hides consist in submitting them to the
action of Irish moss and palm oil after they have been unhaired in the usual
The Irish moss is first boiled to convert it into gluten, and then
mixed with the palm oil; when the bides have been smeared over with these
improved ingredients, they are submitted to the action of fulling stocks, as is
now customary. The hides thus operated upon are fit for being made into
driving straps for machinery in a few days, whereas by all ordinary processes
a much longer period is required. The straps made by the above improved
processes are not liable to stretch, as is the case when the hides are prepared
in the manner now known- and in use.

page_text: My improvements in cutting hides into straps for driving machinery consist
in cutting the hide in a spiral line, from the circumference to the centre or
the reverse, either by hand or by suitable machinery, whereby straps of any
convenient breadth and of considerable lengths may be obtained without
piecing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
February 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
TURNER, of Leeds, in the County of York, Leather Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Turner, IIer special licence that I, the said Henry Turner,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Turner, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRE-
PARING HIDES, AND IN CUTTING THEM INTO STRAPS FOR DRIVING MACHINERY," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Turner, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Turner, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
The nature of my Invention consists, first, in submitting hides to the action
of a compound, formed of a preparation of Irish moss and palm oil; and,
secondly, in improvements in cutting hides into straps for driving machinery.

page_text: And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
When the hair has been removed in the usual manner, the hide is washed
to remove the lime or other impurities that may adhere to it; the hide is then
in a fit state to be operated upon with my improved compound, which is
prepared in the following manner:-The Irish moss, having been boiled to
convert it into gluten, is mixed with the palm oil, in the proportion of one
pound of Irish moss (before it is boiled) to twelve pounds of palm oil; the
compound thus prepared is smeared over both sides of the hide. The abovo
proportion of Irish moss and palm oil are suitable for preparing straps to be
used for driving machinery in a warm room, or in any other situation exposed
to heat. If the straps are intended to be used in the open air or in cold
situations, the gluten produced by boiling one pound of Irish moss may be
mixed with twenty-four pounds of palm oil. After the hides have been
smeared over, they are subjected to the action of fulling, stocks, similar to
those employed in the manufacture of woollen cloth; the requisite amount
of fulling occupies generally sixteen hours. The hides, having been operated
upon in the manner above described, are in a fit state for being cut into
straps, either in the ordinary manner or according to my improved mode,
which will be better understood with reference to the accompanying Drawing,
in which Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 a plan view. a is the hide
to be cut into straps; b, a circular table, on which the hide is distended and
secured at its edges. The table is supported by and swivels on a vertical
spindle c. To the table 6 is fixed a change spur pinion d, gearing into a rack e,
to which is attached the cutting instrument f; the rack e slides through a
guide frame, supported in the centre of the table.
The mode of operation is as follows:-When the cutter has been inserted
into the hide, near the centre thereof, motion is given to the table b, and as
the pinion d is connected to the table, the rotary motion of the table imparts
a traverse motion to the rack e, and to the cutting instrument f. The amount
of traverse must be calculated according to the width of strap required. The
circumference of the pinion d must at all times be equal to the width of the
strap, as each revolution of the table moves the cutter a distance equal to the
circumference of the pinion; consequently, a larger or smaller pinion must be
substituted for the one marked d, when a wider or narrower strap is to be cut.
When the hide has been cut into a long strap, in the manner above described,
or by hand, the strap is stretched into a straight line and pinned down until
it is dry. The drying may be effected by artificial means, or by exposure to the
atmosphere; the strap is then ready for use. By preparing and cutting hides

page_text: into straps in the manner above described, it is evident that straps of consider-
able length may be obtained without piecing; consequently, not only much
labour and expense is saved, but the straps, being more pliant, take better hold
of the pulleys to be driven, thereby effecting a considerable saving in motive
power. The straps thus produced are not liable to stretch or elongate, as is the
case in straps prepared in the ordinary manner.
Having thus stated the nature and particulars of my Invention, I wish it to
be understood that I do not limit myself to the details set forth, as the pro-
portions of the ingredients for preparing the hides may be varied, according to
the quality of the hides under operation, and the object for which the straps
ȧre to be used; the machinery for cutting the straps may also be modified
without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention. But what I
claim is,―
First, the application and use of a compound of Irish moss and palm oil for
preparing hides.
And, secondly, the improvements in cutting hides into straps, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Turner, have hereunto set my
hand and, seal, this Seventh day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
Witness to the signature of Henry Turner,
H. B. BARLOW,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
HENRY TURNER. (L.B.)