252 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April i, igog. 



THE USE OF RUBBER IN THE NAVY. 



' I "HE successful completion of the recent around-the-world 

 •* cruise of the American battleship fleet calls particular at- 

 tention to the important part that electricity played in the 

 successful navigation, the means of communication, and in the 

 target practice of the ships. 



Electricity in its various uses on board a modern warship is 

 transmitted to every portion of the vessel through electric con- 

 ductors covered with rubber insulation. There is not a signal 

 exchange, a course altered, or a gun fired without the employ- 

 ment of electricity, and the successful completion of these 

 maneuvers must depend entirely on the perfect quality of the 

 insulated conductors. 



Electricity came into prominence in our new navy with the 

 building of the "White Squadron." Professor Terry, of the 

 Naval Academy, in 1889, first took up the practical side of rub- 

 ber insulations, seeing at that early date the important part 

 they were to play in the navy. 



The original specifications called for a copper conductor in- 

 sulated with first pure and a rubber compound, free from 

 sulphur, known to the trade as "White Core," over which 

 was placed a vulcanized cover protected by a lead sheathing. With 

 the continued advance of electricity for all purposes on board 

 ship, the specifications were gradually changed until now, the 

 navy department calls for three classes of insulated wire, known 

 as "Lighting wire," "Bell wire" and "Cable." The general speci- 

 fications called for first a layer of Para rubber at least 

 98 per cent, pure, over which is placed a vulcanized coat, the 

 compounding of which calls for at least 39 to 44 per cent, of fine 

 Para rubber. To show how important this rubber compound 

 must be, the tests require that pieces of insulation be taken from 

 the wire and subjected to a tensile stress that shall show a break- 

 ing strain of not less than 1,000 pounds per square inch, and that 

 the material shall stretch to at least 3J/2 times its original length. 

 When test pieces as described above are subjected to a stress of 

 900 pounds per square inch for 10 minutes, the compound shall 

 be of such a character as to return to within 50 per cent, in excess 

 of its original length at the end of ten minutes after being re- 

 leased. The insulation of the conductors is further protected 

 by a cotton tape that is thoroughly filled with a rubber insulating 

 compound. Besides being subjected to the mechanical test, the 

 rubber must stand an electrical test of high potential "break- 

 down" current of a maximum of 5,000 volts, after which the 

 conductors are submerged in water and must show an insulation 

 of approximately 1,000 megohms per knot. 



These strict specifications show why many of the rubber 

 manufacturers find it impossible to make high grade insulated 

 wire, irrespective of their experience in other lines of rubber 

 goods manufactured. 



A brief summary of a battleship going into action, showing 

 its dependence on rubber insulated wires, is as follows : The call is 

 received by wireless through the rubber insulated lead, running 

 to the antennae; the message is transmitted to the commanding 

 officer over the interior communication cables; he then signals to 

 the engine room directing the speed of the ship ; the helm is then 

 pointed in the right direction by electrical steering apparatus ; the 

 crews are summoned over telephone wires to their gun stations ; 

 the electrical ammunition hoists bring the projectiles to the guns 

 and they are loaded with electrical rammers. In the meantime, the 

 electric range finders have been searching for the enemy, and the 

 position is transmitted over the telephone to the commanding 

 officer in the conning tower. The guns being loaded are kept con- 

 tinually "on the target" by electrical means, and the commanding 

 officer can, by electric transmission, fire them at will. If the action 

 takes place at night, the electric search lights and "night signal" 

 sets lend their aid. 



It will readily be seen if, during this important time on a ship, 

 any of the electric conductors should fail pnperly to carry the 



current, that a wrong course, a mistake in engine signals or 

 premature firing of the guns, might lead to the destruction of the 

 vessel. 



The great factor in naval training is quick maneuvering, and 

 the speed with which the guns can be loaded and fired. The 

 electrical apparatus gives advantage over the old hand system 

 of loading of over 500 per cent 



The placing of these rubber insulated conductors on the ship 

 must, of course, be given careful consideration. For this purpose 

 steel tubing is used, placed well below the protective armored 

 decks. Wherever the wires are connected with any of the various 

 electrical apparatus, rubber bushings and glands are used to make 

 the fixtures waterproof. A large amount of high grade rubber 

 naturally is used each year in insulating the electrical wires 

 and furnishing hard rubber for all parts of the insulation where 

 flexibility is not required. As none of this rubber is ever "re- 

 covered," as is that used in mechanical goods, and as ships are 

 usually rewired on an average of every three years, it will be seen 

 that the navies of the world are constantly consuming a large 

 amount of rubber which must enter into the consideration of 

 producers of this article. 



American manufacturers of rubber insulations in the field 

 under review have not confined themselves to producing wires for 

 the United States navy. During the late war between Japan and 

 Russia ships on both sides of the conflict were equipped with 

 conductors of American manufacture. The high state of the 

 "art" reached by some of the factories in this country has been 

 reported abroad by the military attaches in Washington and is 

 gradually leading to the building up of foreign business. 



While the application of rubber to electrical insulations is un- 

 doubtedly the most important use to which this material is put 

 on board the modem warship, there is hardly any branch of the 

 industry that is not represented on these floating fortresses. 

 Among the important products, might be mentioned the floor 

 coverings and tilings, and the packing and gaskets of the engine 

 room. 



Another important factor is gutta-percha and India-rubber 

 impression sheets, with which a facsimile of the interior of the 

 bore of the gun is taken to determine if any flaws or cracks 

 have developed during firing. The material being plastic, readily 

 takes an impression and when the sheet is withdrawn, an exami- 

 nation is made of it showing the exact location of flaws and if 

 they are of such a serious nature as to place the gun out of com- 

 mission. 



Having seen how the rubber insulated wire industry and the 

 mechanical rubber goods are represented in the navy, it is well 

 to note that the rubber druggists' sundries also play a very 

 important part in the "sick bay" of the ships, which, of course, 

 is a complete floating hospital, to take care of the injured in 

 case of necessity. 



It has been stated by one of the commanding officers at the 

 battle of Santiago that the use of rubber insulations on a ship 

 during that engagement proved for the first time, in actual 

 warfare, its great value and since then, the equipment bureau of 

 the United States navy department has paid particular attention 

 to various rubber industries' relating to the construction of 

 warships. ira w. henry. 



"WET FEET DONE IT." 



If E was sitting in an electric car, by the side of his best girl, ex- 

 *■ *■ plaining how he caught the cold that gave an added huski- 

 ness to his gruff voice and an added crimson to his broad snub 

 nose. "I believe it's gettin' my feet wet so much," he said. "I 

 never thought of it 'til the other day when I seen an advertizment 

 in one of the L trains that read 'Wet feet done it.' Then there 

 was a spiel about wearin' rubber shoes made in Boston. I read 

 the card two or three times; it just hit my case. 'Wet feet 

 done it.' " 



