An Improved Bellows.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Bellows.
I RICHARD RUSSELL GUBBINS of 62, Woolwich Road Belvedere, Kent
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 :-
My invention relates to a bellows made of the knitted fabric known as
stockinette which being first stretched on a forming block of proper shape, as will
hereinafter be described, is held in form and rendered impervious to air by being
coated inside and out with a flexible air tight solution of glue or gum.
I construct the bellows in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1, shows a bellows and a forming block, in section, with the stockinette
expanded by hoops and compressed by bands at the proper places.
Fig. 2, is a part section and plan of same similar letters refer to similar parts
throughout the views.
The forming block shown in Fig. 1, is made of a number of thick staves, A, A,
which have been fastened together as in a barrel and turned with grooves, J, J,
and ridges, i, i, corresponding to the folds of a bellows. It can be taken to pieces
and withdrawn after the bellows has been made on it. It is also divided in two
parts horizontally, and on one of these the upper chamber of the bellows is formed,
and the lower part or "feeder" is formed upon the other one.
The two parts of the block are united firmly together by the bolt, H, and nut as
shown, and the plates, C, C, keep the staves, A, A, from falling inwards, and the
hoops, i, i, placed in the semi-circular grooves in the ridges of the blocks keep
them from falling outwards.
The "pan" consisting of a disc, F, surrounded by a rim, G, both of wood, is
placed between the parts of the forming block in the position it is to occupy
subsequently in the bellows.
The forming block being thus made ready, the stockinette, which should be a
tubular fabric of the right size for stretching over the block, is then drawn on.
It expands over the ridges and contracts into the grooves of the block and is
secured therein by cords or bands, J¹, J', as shown in section Fig. 1.
The stockinette is then coated with glue and glycerine mixed together with
water to the consistency of pattern maker's glue. This composition must be well
worked in with a brush so as to permeate the fabric, in order to make it adhere to
the "pan," G, and hoops, i, i, as well as to render it air tight. As soon as the glue
has set it must receive a wash of bichromate of potash and water. The action of
this is to tan the glue and make it to a great extent unaffected by damp, and also
to cause it to take paint satisfactorily.
When quite dry the bolt, H, is unfastened and the forming block removed in
pieces. A glance at its construction in the figures clearly shows this.
The bellows is next hung up and the inside receives a coating and washing the
same as the outside.
The heads, E, E, are of the same section as the ends of the forming block, and
take their place as shown on the left hand side of Figures 1 and 2. The valves, Q,
are put in and the blast pipe and other fittings screwed on.
The cast iron plates, M, are removable, and afford access to the valves, Q.
They also serve as weights to help the down stroke of the "feeder," and to
regulate the force of the blast.

page_text: Having now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is :-
First. A bellows made of uncoated stockinette folded in bellows shape, and
afterwards coated and held in form by flexible and air tight material.
Second. A. bellows made of stockinette cloth, moulded on a removable forming
block, expanded by hoops or their equivalents, and coated with glue and glycerine,
and bichromate of potash.
Dated this 30th November 1892
R. R. GUBBINS.