An Improved Method of Applying Waterproofing Compositions.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Applying Waterproofing Compositions.
I, EDWARD STEPHENS, of 28, High Street, Totnes, in the County of Devon,
Tailor and Outfitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My invention relates to an improved method of applying waterproofing com-
positions. The object is to insure the application of the composition in an even
manner to the whole surface of the material to which it is to be applied. It
is intended primarily for use in connection with the waterproofing of textile
fabrics, but is applicable to any other material which can be similarly treated.
In carrying the invention into effect, I proceed in or in about the following
manner. I keep the composition in a bath and in a fluid state, and in practice
find that a composition of two parts of paraffin wax and one part of hydrocarbon
oil kept at a temperature of about 260-280 Fah. to be a very suitable composition
and very suitable temperature, but I do not confine myself to this composition
or to these particular temperatures, as the invention is applicable to any com-
position which can be similarly employed. A piece of fabric preferably thin
canvas (hereinafter referred to as the web) is passed through this bath and takes
up a certain quantity of the composition. This web is then laid on the material
to be waterproofed (hereinafter referred to as the material) and heat and pressure
applied to the web, by which the composition in or on the web is forced into
the material which thus becomes uniformly waterproofed. The web after leaving
the bath is passed through or round a series of rollers or bars so arranged as
to draw from the web all but the required quantity of the composition, and by
using a greater or lesser number of rollers or bars, more or less of the composition
may be retained on the web. In practice I prefer to retain on the web from two
to five ounces of the composition per yard run of cloth fifty four inches wide,
the quantity depending on the texture of the material, and being varied in
accordance with the degree of waterproofing required. The above mentioned
method of adjusting the quantity of composition in the web may be varied, but
what I have described answers well in practice. The process may be carried
out by hand or by continuous machinery. In the latter case, the web may
be an endless band and may be led from the bath to the surface of the material,
the web and material then passing together through a rotary steam press and
between two steam or otherwise heated surfaces, which, as already mentioned,
will force the composition out of the web and thoroughly impregnate the entire
texture of the material. Any other means of applying the heat and pressure
may be employed.

page_text: An Improved Method of Applying Waterproofing Compositions.
I, EDWARD STEPHENS, of 28, High Street, Totnes, in the County of Devon,
Tailor and Outfitter, 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 an improved method of applying waterproofing com-
positions and the object is to ensure the application of the composition in an
even manner to the material which is to be waterproofed. It is intended
primarily for use in connection with the treatment of textile fabrics but is
applicable to any other material which can be similarly dealt with.
My invention consists essentially in the use of a separate conveying web
(hereinafter called the "web") which after being saturated by passing through
a bath of the molten waterproofing composition is then drained of all but the
required quantity of the composition by being brought into contact with a series
of heated bars (or bars and rollers). By this arrangement a pre-decided upon
quantity of the waterproofing composition is left in the web which is then placed
over the material to be waterproofed (hereinafter called the "material"), and
heat so applied as to transfer all the composition from the web to the material.
This process is applicable to any kind of waterproofing composition which
the conveying web will absorb.
The process can be carried out by hand or by some such arrangement as that
shown in the accompanying drawings which shows it in longitudinal section as
being applied by a rotary steam press such as is used in the finishing of cloth.
As steam presses vary considerably in construction I have only shown the essential
parts, so far as my process is concerned of one well known class of machine.
I do not however confine myself to this one type of press or to any press at all, as
the process can be effectually carried out by heat applied by an ordinary hand iron.
Referring to the drawing (which as before mentioned is a longitudinal section)
A is the bath for holding the waterproofing composition B. The bath A is
heated by steam or other means to between 250° Fah. and 280° Fah. and the
composition can be maintained at a constant level by having A connected with
a supply tank the level being maintained (as long as the supply is kept up)
by a ball-cock or any other suitable means. The relative positions of A and
the hot press are not material.
A series of metal bars C, C, C is so placed that the web D passes in contact
with them all and causes them to become heated by the hot composition brought
from A by D. The bars C drain all the superfluous composition from D and
leave in it only the quantity which it is desired to transfer to the material. This
quantity may be varied as desired but one tenth of the weight of the material
to be treated is a suitable proportion to use. The bars are removable separately,
the greater the number of bars over which the web is drawn, the less the quantity
of composition which will be retained in it. A series of rollers E guides the
web D along its course. When used in connection with continuous rotary
machinery similar to that shown in the drawing the web D will be an endless
band. It may be made of thin French canvas or of "silesia" or other suitable
fabric. F is the steam heated cylinder of the rotary press and it revolves
between the steam-heated wings F2 and F3, which bear against it with adjustable
pressure. G is the material and this is drawn along the course shown. It comes
into contact with the web D at the roller E' and passes with it (D) between the
cylinder F and wings F2 and F3. The combined heat and pressure transfer all

page_text: the composition from the web to the material, which thus becomes thoroughly
and uniformly impregnated. The web after being in contact with the material
leaves it at the roller E³ and passes on to the bath to be recharged with the com-
position.
After being waterproofed the material may be passed through the usual
steaming machine, but the above description gives all essential details of the
process of applying waterproofing compositions.
The invention being capable of considerable variation without departure from
its essential features I do not confine myself to the precise details, relative
proportions or disposition of the parts as mentioned in the above specification
or shown on the drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is;-
-
1. An improved process for applying waterproofing compositions to textile
and other materials the said process consisting essentially in pressing into con-
tact with the said material a web or piece of fabric which has previously been
saturated with or caused to imbibe a sufficient quantity of the waterproofing
composition, the pressure being applied by heated rollers or other means, the
whole substantially as described in the above specification and exemplified in
the accompanying drawing.
2. In carrying into effect the process which is the subject matter of the above
Claim 1 the method of adjusting the quantity of waterproofing composition to
be retained by the web or other fabric, the said method consisting essentially
in passing the said web or fabric over one or more bars or equivalents which
more or less drain from the web or fabric the waterproofing composition which it
has taken up from the bath or receptacle holding the said waterproofing com-
position, the whole substantially as described in the above specification and
exemplified in the accompanying drawing.
3. The improved method of applying waterproofing compositions substantially
as described in the above specification and exemplified in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated th 191 dor of M 1800
HUGHES & YOUNG,
Agents, 23, Coleman Street, E.C.