IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ASBESTOS AND IN ITS APPLICATION TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES IN THE ARTS AND MANUFACTURES.”
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thaddeus Hyatt, of Gloucester Gardens, Hyde
Park, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of “IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ASBESTOS AND IN ITS APPLICATION TO VARIOUS
USEFUL PURPOSES IN THE ARTS AND MANUFACTURES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thaddeus Hyatt at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th December 1878.
I, THADDEUS HYATT, of Gloucester Gardons, Hyde Park, in the
5 County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ASBESTOS AND IN ITS APPLI-
CATION TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES IN THE ARTS ANd Manufactures," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the treatment of
asbestos with a view to its useful application to various purposes in
the arts and manufactures.

page_text: In carrying out my improvements I first cleanse the natural fibre of
asbestos by steeping it in or working it up with a solution of caustic
alkali or other equivalent, after which it is steeped in a bath of diluto
muriatic or other suitable acid, and finally washed in clear water.
Hitherto the long fibres of asbestos have been used for the packing of
steam engines, but as the supply of such long fibres is limited and the
cost thereof is great, I propose to work up the short fibres for the
packing of steam engines and all other purposes where the long and
costly fibres have hitherto been considered necessary, such short fibres
being much cheaper and their supply more abundant. In carrying out
this part of my Invention I make the short fibres into what I call
"asbestos chenille" by securing them after the manner of making
chenille on a foundation of two or more wires, or of stout cords com-
posed of flax, hemp, jute, horsehair, or other like substances, or of
asbestos itself spun into the form of thread or yarn. Any number of
lengths of asbestos chenille may be twisted, braided, or woven together
in any well-known manner, so as to form ropes or woven or braided
fabrics of a more or less open texture, according to the purpose to which
it is to be applied.
Another part of my Invention consists in attaching asbestos to any
suitable backing or support, such as leather, india-rubber, gutta percha,
wood, and metal, either by sewing the asbestos thereon with wire or
other suitable filament, or by cementing the same to the said backing in
a similar manner to that which has been proposed for the manufacture
of pile carpets, the fibres being disposed either in the form of pile or
otherwise, so as to produce a coating or covering to the said backing.
Or the asbestos may be secured to the said backing in tufts, after the
manner employed in brush making. Or a coating of india-rubber
solution or other suitable cement or composition may be applied to one
face of the asbestos when in a matted condition, so as to virtually form
the backing for the same.
°
I also manufacturo bearings and packings for machinery from asbestos
by compressing it, either alone or in combination with any well-known
antifriction metal or alloy, such as "Babbit's metal," into holders to
form the bearings and packings.
I also propose to form a combination or admixture consisting of
molten lead or antifriction metal or alloy and asbestos, the latter being
=

page_text: well worked into the metal whilst it is in its fused state." The said..
composition may either be moulded to the form. required by suitable..
moulds, or it may be run into the form of pigs and reduced to sheets or
bars by rolling, as is well understood in reference to the 'working of
¡ metals. The said sheets and bars may be used for various purposes, as
"for example the lining of steam engine cylinders and the manufacturo
of bearings and packings.
I make packing for steam engines from long or short fibre asbestos in
the form of a rope by enclosing the fibres within an openwork casing of.
fine, wire, hemp, flax, jute, or horsehair or other suitable substances, so
that the asbestos, whilst held or compressed together by the casing, shall
at the same time be in direct contact with the surface to be packed, the
casing being sufficiently open to insure the said immediate contact. I
may either braid or weave the tubular encasement round a core of
5 asbestos, or I may pack or fill in the said casing with asbestos.
CI
If desired, with a view to economy of asbestos, a central core of
cotton, hemp, flax, or other cheap material may be inserted or formed
within the asbestos packing, more particularly when making a rope or
packing of considerable thickness.
I also propose to enclose asbestos, either as ropes, cakes, or blocks of any
form in an envelope or covering of thin metal, such as lead or tin foil,
to render it, merchantable, the said covering being rapidly worn away
when applied as a packing or bearing.
I also make what I call "asbestos wadding.". somewhat after the
5 manner of cotton wadding or "batting," the asbestos being teazed or
corded into fine fibres and afterwards laid to form a thick web, which is
then coated on one or both faces with a protection glaze or skin of rubber
solution, varnish, gelatine, colodion, or other suitable liquid, or any other
skin or glaze obtained from the solution of any suitable vegetable or
animal substance, in what is known as "copperized ammonia" or its
equivalent...
'
I also propose to mix or combine asbestos with animal or vegetable
substances which have been dissolved in copperized ammonia or its
equivalent, so as to form a plastic pulp or paste capable of being shaped
5 or molded to any desired form, and applied either alone or in combi-
nation with plaster of Paris or earthy material or with animal or

page_text: vegetable fibre or paper pulp to any purpose to which ordinary papier
maché or similar substance is applicable.
I also propose to unite or consolidate and bind together asbestos fibre
by mixing therewith metallic fibres, such as fine wire, in varying lengths,
whether straight or curled or both, the said metallic fibre acting as a
bond to hold the asbestos together when compressed. If desired, spun
glass may be substituted for or used along with the metallic fibre.
5
I also manufacture what I call "asbestos stone" by mixing or com-
bining asbestos, when in combination with some or all of the materials
herein-before last referred to, with an additional proportion of any earthy 1
base capable of forming an artificial stone similar to what is known as
the "Ransome" stone or "Victoria" stone when treated with soluble
silica or its equivalent, the mass being moulded under pressure or other-
wise in suitable moulds.
I also make asbestos burnt brick and tiles by combining fibrous 1
asbestos with fire or other clays, so as to form a bond for the clay.
These asbestos burnt bricks and tiles may be used for roofs, floors, and
pavements, and when light is required these bricks and tiles may be set
with glass.
i pursuance of MIC COMUTIONS of the Letters Futent, 20
filed by the said Thaddeus Hyatt in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THADDEUS
HYATT, of Gloucester Gardens, Hydo Park, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
25
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, Her 30
special license that I, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thaddeus
Hyatt, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time

page_text: 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 THE TREATMENT OF ASBESTOS AND IN ITS APPLICATION TO
VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES IN THE ARTS AND MANUFACTURES,” upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 Thaddeus Hyatt, do hereby declare
5 the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say:→
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the treatment of
asbestos with a view to its useful application to various purposes in the
O arts and manufactures.
In carrying out my improvements I first cleanse the natural fibre of
asbestos by steeping it in or working it up with a solution of caustic
alkali or other equivalent, after which it is steeped in a bath of dilute
muriatic or other suitable acid, and finally well washed in clean water.
Hitherto the long fibres of asbestos have been used for the packing of
steam engines, but as the supply of such long fibres is limited, and the
cost thereof is great, I propose to work up the short fibres for the
packing of steam engines and all other purposes where the long and
costly fibres have hitherto been considered necessary, such short fibres
being much cheaper and the supply more abundant. In carrying out
this part of my Invention I make the short fibres into what I call
"asbestos chenille" by securing them, after the manner of making
chenille, on a foundation of two or more wires or of stout cords com-
posed of flax, hemp, jute, horsehair, or other like substances, or of
asbestos itself spun into the form of thread or yarn. Any number of
lengths of asbestos chenille may be twisted, braided, or woven together
any well-known manner, so as to form ropes or woven or braided
in

page_text: fabrics of a more or less open texture, according to the purpose to which
it is to be applied.
Another part of my Invention consists in attaching asbestos to any
suitable backing or support, such as leather, india-rubber, gutta percha,
wood and metal, either by sewing the asbestos thereon with wire or other 5
suitable filament, or by cementing the same to the said backing in a
similar manner to that which has been proposed for the manufacture of
pile carpet, the fibres being disposed either in the form of pile or other-
wise, so as to produce a coating or covering to the said backing. Or
the asbestos may be secured to the said backing in tufts, after the 1
manner employed in brush making. Or a coating of india-rubber
solution or other suitable cement or composition may be applied to one
face of the asbestos when in a matted condition, so as to virtually form
the backing for the same.
I also manufacture bearings and packings for machinery from asbestos 1
by compressing it, either alone or in combination with any well-known
antifriction metal or alloy, such as "Babbits' metal," into holders' to
form the bearings or packings.
I also propose to form a combination or admixturo consisting of
molten lead or of antifriction metal or alloy and asbestos, the latter being
well worked into the metal whilst it is in its fused state. The said
composition may either be moulded to the form required by suitable
moulds, or it may be run into the form of pigs and reduced to sheets or
bars by rolling, as is well understood in reference to the working of
metals. The said.sheets and bars may be used for various purposes, as 2
for example the lining of steam engine cylinders and the manufacturo of
bearings and packings.
"
I make packing for steam engines from long or short fibre asbestos
in the form of a rope by enclosing the fibres within an openwork casing
of fine wire, hemp, flax, jute, horschair, or other suitable substance, so 3
that the asbestos, whilst held or compressed together by the casing, shall
at the same time be in direct contact with the surface to be packed, the
casing being sufficiently open to ensure the said immediate contact. I
may either braid or weave the tubular encasement round a core of
asbestos, or I may pack or fill in the said casing with asbestos.
"
If desired, with a view to economy of asbestos, a central core of
cotton, hemp, flax, or other cheap material may be inserted or formed
3

page_text: within the asbestos packing, more particularly when making a rope or
packing of considerable thickness.
I also propose to enclose asbestos, either as ropes, cakes, or blocks of
any form, in an envelope or covering of thin metal, such as lead or tin
foil, to render it merchantable, the said covering being rapidly worn away
when applied as a packing or bearing.
I also make what I call "asbestos wadding," somewhat after the
manner of cotton wadding or "batting," the asbestos being teazed or
carded into fine fibres and afterwards laid to form a thick web, which is
then coated on one or both faces with a protection glaze or skin of rubber
solution, varnish, gelatine, collodion, or other suitable liquid, or any other
skin or glaze obtained from the solution of any suitable vegetable or
animal substance in what is known as copperized ammonia" or its
equivalent.
I also propose to mix or combino asbestos with animal or vegetable
substances which have been dissolved in copperized ammonia or its
equivalent, so as to form a plastic pulp or paste capable of being shaped
or moulded to any desired form and applied, either alone or in com-
bination with plaster of Paris or earthy material, or with animal or
vegetable fibre, or paper pulp, to any purpose to which ordinary papier
maché, or similar substance is applicable.
I also propose to unite or consolidate and bind together asbestos fibre
by mixing therewith metallic fibres, such as fine wire, in varying
lengths, whether straight or curled or both, the said metallic fibre acting
as a bond to hold the asbestos together when compressed. If desired,
spun glass may be substituted for or used along with the metallic fibre
for some purposes.
I also manufacture what I call "asbestos stone" by mixing or com-
bining asbestos, when in combination with some or all of the materials
herein-before last referred to, with an additional proportion of any earthy
base, capable of forming an artificial stone similar to what is known as
the "Ransome stone or "Victoria" stone when treated with soluble
silica or its equivalent, the mass being moulded under pressure or other-
wise in suitable moulds.
"
I also make asbestos burnt or dried brick and tiles by combining fibrous
asbestos with fire or other clays so as to form a bond for the clay. These

page_text: asbestos burnt or dried bricks and tiles and the asbestos stone suitably
shaped may be used for roofs, floors, and pavements, and where light is
required these bricks and tiles and stone may be set with glass.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may bo used or 5
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to bo novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is,―
First. The manufacturo of "asbestos chenillo" from asbestos in com- 10
bination with a foundation of wire or its equivalents, or with strands or
threads of other material, such as hemp, cotton, or their equivalents, or
asbestos itself in the form of thread or yarn, substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described.
Second. Attaching asbestos to any suitable backing or support com- 18
posed of leather, wood, metal or their equivalents, or of a coating of
india-rubber solution or other suitable cement or composition, substan- ·
tially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Third. The manufacture of bearings and packings for machinery from
asbestos in combination with lead or other equivalent antifriction metal 20
or alloy, substantially as herein-before described.
Fourth. The combination or admixture of asbestos with molten lead
or equivalent antifriction metal for manufacture into blocks, sheets, and
bars, substantially as herein-before described.
Fifth. The manufacture of packing in the form of rope for steam 25
engines and other machinery from long or short fibre asbestos by
enclosing it within an openwork casing of wire or its equivalent,
or made of vegetable or animal fibro or asbestos, and combined or
not with a central core of cotton or its equivalent, substantially as
herein-before described.
Sixth. Enclosing asbestos in an envelope or covering of thin metal,
such as lead or tin foil, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Seventh. The manufacture of wadding or "batting" from asbestos
coated on one or both faces with a protection glaze or skin of rubber.
30

page_text: herein-before described.
Twelfth. The shaping and setting asbestos stone, brick, and tiles
with glass for illuminating purposes, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day
of June, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.