Method and Apparatus for Heating the Cutting Tools of Machines for Outting Unvulcanised Caoutchouc Slabs.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1896-4ccepted, 17th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method and Apparatus for Heating the Cutting Tools of Machines
for Outting Unvulcanised Caoutchouc Slabs.
J, GUSTAV LOUIS HILLE, of The Hille India Rubber Co. Ld., of Eccles,
near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to a machine for cutting unvulcanised caoutchouc slabs.
In experimenting with such machines constructed. by me, I have found that the
cutting tools are not maintained at the requisite temperature under the action of
steam or gas alone.
Thus it happens, in particular when the machine has been standing still for a
short time, that the cutting tools become heated to too high a degree, and that
consequently the caoutchouc adheres to them. According to my present invention
this disadvantage is obviated by heating the cutting tools simultaneously by means
of both steam and water; the steam is in this case made to act directly or
indirectly upon a cutter plate connected with the cutting tools, while the water is
made to act either upon the cutting tools or upon the caoutchouc slabs to he cut
or upon both. The action of the water is such, that when the cutting tools have
become heated to the necessary temperature for their proper action, the heated
water brought in contact therewith will take up any additional heat supplied to
them so that any farther rise of temperature of the tools is prevented. On the
other hand the water also exercises a lubricating action upon the tools, and thus
mechanically prevents any adhesion of the caoutchouc.
On the accompanying drawing is shewn an apparatus for carrying out this
method of operating. The bearer G carrying the cutting tools R is a hollow box
which is moved up and down in the same manner as described in British Patent
No. 9770 of 1892; this hollow box is divided into two compartments G³ and G
by means of a diagonal partition g. The compartment Gis heated in any suitable
manner either by steam or gas, and transmits its heat by conduction to the base
of the box and consequently to the moveable plate in contact therewith with
which are combined the cutters R. Into the other compartment G is introduced
water through a cock 9' connected to a flexible tube. This water runs down the
diagonal partition 9, and consequently takes up hent imparted thereto by the
steam or gas in G. The heated water then runs off through the opening g' at
the front side of the bearer G, and flows in contact both with the caoutchouc
elab passing underneath the cutters, and with the cutters themselves. The cutters
are fixed to the plate which is slid in between guides on the box. This
arrangement has the advantage that the plate g³ can be readily withdrawn together
with the cutters, and be replaced by another plate with differently formed
cutters.
Having now particularly described aud ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be. performed, I declare that what I
olaim is:-
1. The method of heating the cutting tools of machines for cutting unvulcanised
caoutchouc slabs, consisting in heating the cutters by any suitable means and at
the same time moistening the same with water, either directly, or indirectly through
the material to be cut, in order to maintain the cutting tools at a comparatively

page_text: constant temperature, so as to prevent the overheating thereof, substantially as
described.
2. An apparatus for carrying out the method referred to in the first claim
consisting of a bearer for the cutting tools which is divided by a partition g into
two compartments of which the lower one G is heated by means of steam or gas,
while water is led through the other, so as to become heated, and in flowing off
through an opening g effects the moistening of the cutting tools and the caoutchouc
slab to be cnt, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus such as is referred to in the second claim, the arrangement of
guides on the bearer G in combination with a plate g' carrying the cutting
tools R, which slides between such guides, so as to enable the cutting tools to be
changed, substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of August 1896
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.