AN IMPROVED FABRIC AND IMPROVED MEANS FOR COVERING PARTS OF STEAM ENGINES AND OTHER APPARATUSES TO PRESERVE THEM FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE AMBIENT AIR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED FABRIC AND IMPROVED MEANS FOR COVERING PARTS OF STEAM
ENGINES AND OTHER APPARATUSES TO PRESERVE THEM FROM THE EFFECTS OF
THE AMBIENT AIR." A communication from abroad by Charles Gaudefroy,
Fils. of 57. Rue de Nanterre. Asnières (Seine), France.
Sealed the 29th January 1878, and dated the 10th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1877.
"
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent. AN IMPROVED FABRIC AND IMPROVED MEANS FOR
COVERING PARTS OF STEAM ENGINES AND OTHER APPARATUSES TO PRESERVE THEM
FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE AMBIENT AIR." A communication from abroad by
Charles Gaudefroy, Fils, of 57, Rue de Nanterre, Asnières (Seine), France.
This Invention relates to a fabric which may be used with or without spiral metal
springs, according to its particular application.
It is employed without being provided with springs as a covering in steam engines
working at low pressure, but when applied to high-pressure engines, springs are
required to prevent the flock (the hair of oxen or horses or other hair or wool)
of which this improved feit fabric is composed, from rapidly carbonizing by contact
with the apparatuses.
The side of the fabric which is provided with springs being applied upon the
body of the apparatuses which are to be protected from the effects of the ambient air;
these latter are first surrounded with a layer of air and then with the felt fabric,
the anti-radiating qualities of which are thereby increased.
The manufacture is very simple; a more or less thick layer of flock is spread upon
a table, the raised edges of which limit the breadth of the fabric, the woof of this
fabric is then placed; it is composed of a cord of the same material, crossing the table

page_text: in its breadth from side to side, a space of about an inch being left between each
cord. Another layer of flock similar to the first is then placed upon this woof. The
sheet or lap thus formed is then carried to a loom or frame upon which thick threads
of flock have been previously arranged between one and two inches apart lengthwise
of the felt fabric over its entire width. If the felt fabric is to be without springs, it
is then sewn with another similar thick thread in stitches passing perpendicularly
through the sheet of flock, taking the thread placed beneath, then rising to the top
Each stitch of
to pass down again, to again take up the lower thread, and so on.
this seam is preferably at a distance apart equal to that which separates the cords
forming the woof. The sewing therefore tightens the sheet of flock on each side upon
the woof, and gives it sufficient strength for the use for which this felt fabric is
intended.
When springs are to be applied to this felt fabric, they are, previous to the above-
mentioned sewing, laid in the flock lengthwise of the fabric above the thick lower
threads and in.equal number with these latter; the aforesaid sewing then takes place,
each stitch taking on one side the bottom thread, and on the other the spring laid
above it.
As above stated the object of applying the springs is to prevent the felt fabric
from carbonizing, and this application may be made to other matters used to cover
the various machines which it is desired to preserve from the effects of the surrounding
atmospheres. The springs may also be first applied upon the machines, and then
covered either by the felt fabric of this Invention or by other non-conducting
materials.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
February 1878.
"
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent. AN IMPROVED FABRIC AND IMPROVED MEANS FOR
COVERING PARTS OF STEAM ENGINES AND OTHER APPARATUSES TO PRESERVE
THEM FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE AMBIENT AIR." A communication from abroad
by Charles Gaudefroy, Fils, of 57, Rue de Nanterre, Asnières (Seine), France..
No felt or felt fabric, or even wood, cork, cement, or plastic material has hitherto
been found long to resist the action of the caloric disengaged from the apparatuses to
which they have been applied to preserve them from the effects of the ambient air;
placed in immediate contact with these apparatuses, the first layers of the material
soon become carbonized and used up, exposing fresh layers which carbonize in their
turn and so on until the entire covering so to say falls into dust.
Thus the appli-
cation as anti-radiating coverings of felts and of felt fabrics, excellent in itself,
becomes by reason of the little time they last, somewhat expensive, especially when
applied to machines working at high pressure, and the object of this Invention is
to remedy this serious defect, firstly, by improving the manufacture of felt fabrics,
and then by applying thereto spiral springs which are also applicable to other
kinds of coverings for steam, ice, and other machines, to keep them at the desired
temperature.
To manufacture the fabric of this Invention, which not being absolutely woven,
although having a warp and a woof, and not being a real felt, is herein termed the
"felt fabric" (in French "tissu-feutre"). I spread, firstly, a more or less thick.
layer of flock, cowhair, horsehair, or other hair or shag upon a table, the raised edges
of which limit the breadth of the fabric; I then place the woof, which is composed
of a cord of the same material passing from one side to the other of the table in its.
breadth, leaving a space of about an inch between each cord; then I place a fresh
layer of flock similar to the first, I carry the sheet, fleece, or lap thus obtained to a
loom or frame upon which I have previously arranged thick threads of flock in the
direction of the length of the fabric and placed at between one and two inches apart
or thereabout, which threads form the warp of the felt fabric. Then with another
similar thread I make a seam or stitching which passes through the sheet of flock,
comes out underneath at the side of the warp thread, then passes over this thread
and rises perpendicularly to the surface; to descend again in the same manner, take
another warp thread, and so on. Each stitch of the sewing is at the same
distance from the other as that which separates the cords of the woof. This sewing
therefore tightens the sheet of flock from each side against the woof, and gives it
sufficient strength for the use for which this felt fabric is intended.
The felt fabric thus manufactured is an improvement upon the felt fabrics
previously intended by the communicator of this Invention, but it still remains
subject to the defect which I have mentioned at the commencement of this Specifi-
cation.
To obviate this serious defect, spiral springs are applied to this felt fabric, these
springs running in any direction, but preferably in that of the length of the fabric,
and being placed side by side in its entire breadth. These springs are attached to
the felt fabric by any available means; the simplest of these means consists in laying
the spiral springs on the sheet of flock before the above-mentioned sewing operation
exactly above the threads placed beneath on the frame, and to tie them to these
threads in the same manner as I have above described for the sewing, by taking at
each stitch one or two threads of the spiral formed by these springs. They are thus
firmly and securely fastened to the felt fabric.
I have stated at the commencement of this Specification that the contact of the
apparatuses and of the materials or coverings which are to guard or protect them
from the effects of the ambient air, was the cause of their rapid destruction,

page_text: Now, the felt fabric of this Invention being furnished on one side with spiral
springs, by placing this side upon the apparatuses they are surrounded by a layer or
bed of air, which while preserving the felt fabric, increases the anti-radiating property
of the covering.
The spiral springs may be round, oval, square, or flat, and be laid in any direction.
They may also be first placed upon the machine or apparatus to be covered, and be
then covered with the anti-radiating material or fabric chosen; or the springs may
be fastened to this material or fabric before the operation of covering the machine
or apparatuses.
In the case of apparatuses presenting very large surfaces to be covered, I may
replace the spiral springs by metal bands, either solid or pierced with holes. and
laid edgewise at such distance apart as may be found most suitable in each particular
case.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention communicated
to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed; I would
have it understood that the application of the spiral springs may be made not only
to the felt fabric of this Invention, but also to all other materials used for the same
purpose, such for example, as felt, wood, straw, cork, and cements, and that I claim
as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,―
Firstly. The use of the fabric above designated, the felt fabric made substantially
as herein-before described, and with or without the addition of spiral or other springs,
for the purpose specified.
Secondly. The application of spiral springs or other means for the purpose of
isolating the felt fabric or any other covering or coating material from the apparatus
which it is intended to preserve from the effects of the ambient air, and thereby
prevent the rapid carbonization of such covering, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)