AN IMPROVED COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING OR RETARDING THE PASSAGE OF HEAT AND MOISTURE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William, Thomas Whiteman of N° 7 Staplo Inn in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING OR RETARDING THE PASSAGE
OF HEAT AND MOISTURE Communicated to him from abroad by Robert
Jerome Eberts and John Lawrence Lee both of the City County and State
of New York in the United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Whiteman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1882.
WILLIAM THOMAS WHITEMAN of N° 7 Staple Inn in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent "AN IMPROVED COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING OR
RETARDING THE PASSAGE OF HEAT AND MOISTURE [Communicated to him
from abroad by Robert Jerome Eberts and John Lawrence Lee both of the City
County and State of New York in the United States of America]
"
The said Invention is thus described by my Foreign correspondents.
We take by preference spent tan bark though cork cuttings saw dust or some
equivalent material may be used
The requirements of this ingredient of our composition are that it should be a
non conductor of heat itself should be capable of fine division and should also be
capable of receiving and retaining a coating of some liquid or semi-liquid material.
When we use tan bark or its substitute we dry the material in a kiln preferably or
in any other desired way the heat employed being sufficient to drive off all
moisture while at the same time the heat must not be so great as to injure the
material. We find it best to use the material in pieces of about the third of an
inch in each dimension though larger or smaller pieces will answer but not so well.
After the spent tan bark or the equivalent material has been thoroughly dried it is
necessary to treat it with some substance which will make it, waterproof and

page_text: preserve it from decay and this treatment is best accomplished by coating the
surface of the pieces of tan bark with tar and asphalt made liquid by heat. We do
not confine ourselves to this particular method or to these materials for rendering
the tan bark waterproof and preventing it from decaying. When we use tar and
asphalt we find that good results are obtained by using in bulk equal parts of tar
and asphalt and in bulk as much tan bark as the two portions of tar and asphalt
combined. We thoroughly incorporate this mixture while hot by stirring the heat
being sufficient to keep the tar and asphalt liquid while it is not sufficient to
injure any of the ingredients of the mixture the result of this mixture will be pieces
of tan bark coated with tar and asphalt. To more certainly prevent the adherence
of the pieces of tan bark a little plaster may be stirred into the composition before
it becomes completely cool sufficient plaster being added merely to deprive each of
the coated particles of tan bark of their adherent qualities.
This mixture when made can be kept in barrels until it is desired to form with
it and with the material which will be further on described, our insulating and
waterproof compound; but it may if desired be immediately mixed with some
material or materials which will cause it to set and become hard. To accomplish
this purpose we have found it best to use hydraulic cement such as Portland or
Rosendale cement clean sharp building sand and evenly ground alabaster or plaster
of paris, together with a sufficient amount of water to give the mass a plastic
condition. We have found the best proportions to be equal parts of cement sand
and alabaster the bulk of the three materials as a whole being about equal to the
bulk of the tan bark tar and asphalt after having been mixed. We however do
not confine ourselves to this particular compound as a setting or binding material
as other materials which will set or bind as will cement and sand or plaster will
give a good result neither do we confine ourselves to the particular amounts of
materials above stated as good results can be obtained even if these amounts aro
varied and it may be under certain circumstances necessary to vary the amounts
for producing articles having conditions suited to different purposes. A sufficient
amount of water is to be used when the tan bark covered with tar and asphalt is
to be mixed with the setting or binding materials to make the mass plastic but
no more water is to be used than is necessary for accomplishing this result.
Even when the tan bark covered with the tar and asphalt is still hot the
mixture may be made with the setting material or materials but we consider
it best to allow the tan bark and asphalt to cool before we mix it with the
materials made plastic by water. Immediately after all the materials are mixed
and incorporated one with the other and before they are given time to set the
compound is ready to apply to the surface to be insulated and protected. Take for
example a steam pipe placed below the ground in this situation a wooden box may
be made which surrounds the steam pipe and of sufficient size to give the required
space between the inside of the box and the surface of the pipe, or pipes to be
insulated for the insulating material and this may be from two to six inches. The
plastic compound is packed in this box around the pipe and is then allowed to set
the superfluous moisture either being evaporated naturally or being driven off by
the beat of the pipe or pipes insulated. In some cases it is advisable to apply
paper or hair felt to the pipe before the insulating and water proof compound is
placed around it. The material is put into the box around the pipe while in its
plastic condition which condition is due to the water as above described the mass
is then well rammed into the box around the pipe precisely as concrete would
be applied in a like situation. The material in a short time sets and becomes hard
when it will be found that it will possess a certain degree of elasticity. If greater
elasticity and tenacity are desired in the resulting article hair fine wire or suitable
fibrous material may be stirred into and thoroughly incorporated with the
compound while plastic and it is well not to use as much hair or fibrous material
as is ordinarily used in the mixing of building mortar and we find it best to use a
better and stronger quality of fibre than is used with mortar. When the material

page_text: is used upon pipes having flanges or other projecting parts which are liable to
move by reason of the expansion of the pipes sufficient room must be left between
the material and the pipes to allow for this movement and in the case of plain
smoth pipes it is well to use a paper or hair felt which will furnish a sufficient
space between the pipe and the insulating material to allow of the motions of
expansion and contraction and should the paper or felt be burned away an air
spaco will be left. Our material while still plastic may be compressed in hydraulic
or other presses and may then after being removed from the mould be allowed to
set or it may be allowed to set while under compression. In this way very
compact durable heat insulating and non absorbent compositions will be produced
incapable of igniting and suitable for lining walls partitions and the like or for
paving cellars and the like in which latter event it is desirable to set the blocks of
compressed composition in asphalt
The leading features of our composition are the spent tan bark or its equivalent
dried and coated with a waterproof and preserving coating and then the mixing of
this compound with a material capable of setting which will enable it to be placed
around the article to be insulated and then hardened while in position.
'

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Thomas Whiteman in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th April 1883.
•
WILLIAM THOMAS WHITEMAN of N° 7 Staple Inn in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING OR 5
RETARDING THE PASSAGE OF HEAT AND MOISTURE." A communication to me
from abroad by Robert Jerome Eberts and John Lawrence Lee both of the City
County and State of New York in the United States of America.
The said Invention is thus described by my Foreign correspondents
We take by preference spent tan bark though cork cuttings sawdust or some 1
equivalent material may be used.
The requirements of this ingredient of our composition are that it should be a
non conductor of heat itself should be capable of fine division and should also be
capable of receiving and retaining a coating of some liquid or semi liquid material.
When we use tan bark or its substitute we dry the material in a kiln preferably 1
or in any other. desired way the heat employed being sufficient to drive off all
moisture while at the same time the heat must not be so great as to injure the-
material. We find it best to use the material in pieces of about the third of an
inch in each dimension though larger or smaller pieces will answer but not so well.
After the spent tan bark or the equivalent material has been thoroughly dried 2
it is necessary to treat it with some substance which will make it waterproof and
_preserve it from decay and this treatment is best accomplished by coating the
surface of the pieces of tan bark with tar and asphalt made liquid by heat.-Wo-
do not confine ourselves to this particular method or to these materials for rendering
the tan bark waterproof and preventing it from decaying. When we use tar and 2
asphalt we find that good results are obtained by using in bulk equal parts of tar
and asphalt and in bulk as much tan bark as the two portions of tar and asphalt
combined. We thoroughly incorporate this mixture while hot by stirring the
heat being sufficient to keep the tar and asphalt liquid while it is not sufficient to
injure any of the ingredients of the mixture, the result of this mixture will be 3
pieces of tan bark coated with tar and asphalt. To more certainly prevent the
adherence of the pieces of tan bark a little plaster may be stirred into the
composition before it becomes completely cool sufficient plaster being added
merely to deprive each of the coated particles of tan bark of their adherent
qualities.
This mixture when made can be kept in barrels until it is desired to form with
it and with the material which will be further on described our insulating and
water proof compound but it may if desired be immediately mixed with some
material or materials which will cause it to set and become hard. To accomplish
this purpose we have found it best to use hydraulic cement such as Portland or
Rosendale cement clean sharp building sand and evenly ground alabaster or plaster
of paris. together with a sufficient amount of water to give the mass a plastic
condition. We have found the best proportions to be equal parts of cement sand
and alabaster the bulk of the three materials as a whole being about equal to the
bulk of the tan bark tar and asphalt after having been mixed. We however do
not confine ourselves to this particular compound as a setting or binding material
as other materials which will set or bind as will cement and sand or plaster will
give a good result neither do we confine ourselves to the particular amounts of
materials above stated as good results can be obtained even if these amounts are
varied and it may be under certain circumstances necessary to vary the amounts
for producing articles having conditions suited to different purposes. A sufficient

page_text: amount of water is to be used when the tan bark covered with tar and asphalt is
to be mixed with the setting or binding materials to make the mass plastic but no
more water is to be used than is necessary for accomplishing this result. Even when
the tan bark covored with the tar and asphalt is still hot the mixture may be made
with the setting material or materials but we consider it best to allow the tan bark
coated with the tar and asphalt to cool before we mix it with the materials made
plastic by water. Immediately after all the materials are mixed and incorporated
one with the other and before they are given time to set the compound is ready
to apply to the surface to be insulated and protected Take for examplo a steam
pipe placed below the ground. In this situation a wooden box may be made
which surrounds the steam pipe and of sufficient size to give the required space
between the inside of the box and the surface of the pipe or pipes to be insulated
for the insulating material and this may be from two to six inches. The plastic
compound is packed in this box around the pipe and is then allowed to set the
superfluous moisture either being evaporated naturally or being driven off by the
heat of the pipe or pipes insulated. In some cases it is advisable to apply paper
or hair felt to the pipe before the insulating and water proof compound is placed
around it. The material is put into the box around the pipe while in its plastic
condition which condition is due to the water as above described the mass is then
well rammed into the box around the pipe precisely as concrete would be appliod
in a like situation. The material in a short time sets and becomes hard when it
will be found that it will possess a certain degree of elasticity. If greater elasticity
and tenacity are desired in the resulting article hair fine wire or suitable fibrous
material may be stirred into and thoroughly incorporated with the compound
while plastic and it is well not to use as much hair or fibrous material as is
ordinarily used in the mixing of building mortar and we find it best to use a better
and stronger quality of fibre than is used with mortar. When the material is used
upon pipes having flanges or other projecting parts which are liable to move by
reason of the expansion of the pipes sufficient room must be left between the
material and the pipes to allow for this movement and in the case of plain smooth
pipes it is well to use a paper or hair felt which will furnish a sufficient space
between the pipe and the insulating material to allow of the motions of expansion
and contraction and should the paper or felt be burned away an air spaco will be
left. Our material while still plastic may be compressed in hydraulic or other
presses and may then after being removed from the mould be allowed to set or it
may be allowed to set while under compression. In this way very compact durable
heat insulating and non-absorbent compositions will be produced incapable of
igniting and suitable for lining walls partitions and the like or for paving cellars
and the like in which latter case it is desirable to set the blocks of compressed
composition in asphalt.
The leading features of our composition are the spent tan bark or its equivalent
dried and coated with a water proof and preserving coating and then the mixing
of this compound with a material capable of setting which will enable it to be
placed around the article to be insulated and then hardened while in position.
Having thus described the said invention of "An improved compound or com-
position for preventing or retarding the passage of heat and moisture " I wish it
to be understood that I claim as the said invention.
First The heat insulating and water repelling material herein before described
consisting of finely divided tan bark dried and coated with a suitable water
proofing material and mixed with cement sand and the like or other material or
materials capable of setting
Secondly The process of making the heat insulating and water repelling
material hereinbefore described which consists of first drying finely divided tan
bark then second coating it with a water proof material then third mixing the
prepared tan bark with a suitable mass formed of materials capable of setting
and lastly permitting the mass to set around the article to be insulated and
protected

page_text: Thirdly-A heat insulating and water repellant material for packing steam
pipes and for similar purposes consisting of finely divided tan bark or its specified
equivalent embedded in cement substantially as described.
Fourthly-A concrete for encasing steam or hot water mains or for similar uses
composed of finely divided tan bark having the individual particles coated with a
water proof material compacted into a solid mass with cement by means of com-
pression substantially as described.
Fifthly A heat insulating water repellant material consisting of a mixture
of tan bark and cement and hair or other fibre substantially as described
In witness whereof I the said William Thomas Whiteman have hereunto set
my hand and seal this thirtieth day of April in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
W. T. WHITEMAN (L.S.)