IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLEANSING OF GUTTA PERCHA AND IN THE MORE PERFECT INSULATION OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRE
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Augustin Godefroy, of 3, King's Mead
Cottages, New North Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex,
Operative Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLEANSING
OF GUTTA PERCHA AND IN THE MORE PERFECT INSULATION OF ELECTRIC
TELEGRAPH WIRE."
Sealed the 25th January 1859, and dated the 26th July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Augustin Godefroy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th July 1858.
I, PETER AUGUSTIN GODEFROY, of 3, King's Mead Cottages, New North
Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Operative Chemist, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLEANSING
OF GUTTA PERCHA AND IN THE MORE PERFECT INSULATION OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
WIRE," to be as follows:-
It is a well known fact that with all present ingenious appliances in the
preparation of gutta percha, that most important operation of freeing it from
natural impurities, previous to being masticated, is at present but imperfectly
performed; as, being worked in the cleansing process by a revolving spiked
roller (technically termed a teaser) in water of very high temperature,
however accurately this work may be done, the gutta percha invariably retains
a portion of its original earthy matter, the heat of the water it is so cleansed
in causing a portion of the dirt still to adhere. To remedy this defect, I first

page_text: pare the gutta percha into thin slices, and immerse it in hot water until the
material becomes quite soft, I then compress the gutta percha into a solid mass
in a stout iron trough that will bear hydraulic pressure; the dimensions of this
trough may be about three feet long and one foot wide, and six or eight inches
deep, more or less, according to the quantity to be treated; when thoroughly
cold the gutta percha becomes a hard solid substance or block, which I
submit to what is termed a rasping machine, used to granulate dye woods;
the rasp for this purpose may be revolving or horizontal, but the revolving one
is preferable. While the rasp or anulator is in motion, it is requisite to
have a continuous stream of cold water flowing over it, the rasps being so
constructed that granulation may be effected to the requisite fineness according
to requirement. The granulated substance is allowed to fall into a vessel of
cold water, which should be kept in constant motion; this precipitates the
refuse dirt and leaves the gutta percha floating. The water must be renewed
occasionally until no sediment remains. By this treatment the gutta percha
is freed absolutely from the presence of foreign matter, and when moderately
dried it is ready for the masticator and subsequent operations.
The second part of my Invention relates to the insulation of electric wire.
The present mode of covering telegraph wire is manifestly very imperfect, as
it often appears that the atmosphere is not expelled, but injuriously retained
and lodged between the wire and the gutta percha, moreover it is often found
that the gutta percha does not adhere to the wire, the consequences are a
weakness in the wire and a diminution of conducting power, These serious
defects may be accounted for as follows:-In all operations of coating hitherto,
the wire is delivered to the gauge or covering machine in a cold state, and
thus no means are present to exclude the outward air while insulation is going
on, and the coldness of the wire, when being covered, prevents the gutta percha
from thoroughly adhering. To obviate this defect I adopt a simple but sure
remedy. Previous to submitting the wire to the covering machine it is
consigned to a heated chamber of the temperature of 160° to 180° Fahrenheit,
should a stronger heat be required it is attained by means of a revolving
grooved cylinder to admit proper heaters, over which the wire passes prior to
insulation.
It is immaterial whether a fixed or revolving gauge be used; for single wire
covering, the wire will have need to be less heated, as in this operation gutta
percha is employed in a softer state than in covering several wires combined,
whether twisted or otherwise; when thicker coating being required a greater

page_text: thoroughly adhesive to the wire, many miles may be worked off continuously,
and when made it is sooner fit to be handled for use than wire of the present
manufacture, and thus besides remedying the fatal defects above noticed, the
vast prejudice accruing both as to strength and conductivity by the frequent
joinings of short lengths of the wire, it is here found to be wholly obviated
and done away with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said Peter Augustin Godefroy in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th January 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
AUGUSTIN GODEFROY, of No. 3, King's Mead Cottages, New North Road,
Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Operative Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Peter Augustin Godefroy, Her special licence that I, the
said Peter Augustin Godefroy, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Peter Augustin Godefroy, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time 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 CLEANSING OF GUTTA
PERCHA, AND IN THE MORE PERFECT INSULATION OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRE," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Peter Augustin Godefroy,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, 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 Peter Augustin Godefroy, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the:
following statement thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is the driving end view of the granulating machine; Figure 2,
side view; Figure 3, front view of granulator or rasp; Figure 4, side elevation
of coating or covering machine; and Figure 5, plan view of Figure 4.
Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts at each Figure.
The former part of my Invention relates to the cleansing of gutta percha,
and is described at Figures 1, 2, and 3, where it will be seen that A, A, is a
- case or chamber, wherein is placed the gutta percha, the corners of said
chamber being used only, the centre part not obtaining the same friction,
from thence it is forced by hydraulic, steam, or other power, against the
granulator or rasp B, B, said rasp, reducing the gutta percha to shavings or
small particles, whereby the impurities are separated and washed away,
falling into a tub or tank C, being previously washed and thrown off the
granulator or rasp B by a flow of water issuing from a semicircular pipe D.
The gutta percha as it falls into the tub or tank C is kept in continual com-
motion by means of an agitator E (shewn in dotted lines) within the tub or
tank C worked by bevilled wheels, as shown; the gutta percha is then taken
. from the tub or tank and submitted to the masticator, it is then taken (when
. required for telegraphic purposes) to the machine, shewn at Figures 4 and 5,
where it will be seen that the electric wire F is passed between two cylinders
G, G, (more being used if necessary,) the wire being previously subjected to a
high temperature, this being an essential feature in my mode of insulation.
The cylinders G, G, are filled with gutta percha, and are jacketted or encased
for the purpose of heating the interiors thereof with steam, it is then forced
by hydraulic, steam, or other power, into a cone H placed at the end of the
cylinders G, G, said cone having a die at its end the size of the covering or
coating of gutta percha, it is then passed between grooved rollers I, I, which
compress the gutta percha, at the same time driving the atmospheric air out
..and making the wire adhere firmly to the gutta percha, from thence it passes
into a tank of cold water K, which sets it and renders it perfectly rigid. By

page_text: the means above described many miles may be worked off continuously, the
insulation, strength, and conductivity being more perfect than when worked
off in short lengths.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "Improvements in the Cleansing of Gutta Percha, and in the
more perfect Insulation of Electric Telegraph Wire," I would remark in
conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details herein
described, as many modifications may be made without in any way departing
from the principle of my Invention; t what I claim as my Invention
intended to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent
is,
Firstly, the cleansing of gutta percha and divesting it of its usual impurities
by the means above described, and shewn by the illustrative Sheet of
Drawings.
Secondly, the more perfectly insulating telegraphic wire by the means of
certain machinery, as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Augustin Godefroy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent;
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
PETER A. GODEFROY. (L.S.)