208 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[January 1, 1914. 



being closed. The solution commonly used for each 100 pounds 

 of rubber is 600 pounds of water, 21 pounds of sodium hydrate 

 or potassium hydrate, and one pound of ferric sulphate. The 

 solution is kept heated by steam surrounding the tank and is 

 subjected to the action of an electric current supplied from a 

 generator or battery L, one wire being insulated at T and at- 

 tached to the zinc cylinder while the other is attached to any 

 metal part of the apparatus, such as the cylinder at W. The 

 steam is introduced under a pressure of from 95 to 160 pounds 

 while the current supplied is about "800 amperes at 4.6 volts. The 

 material is circulated through the pipe H by means of the pro- 

 peller / so that the electric current acts upon every particle of 

 the solution as it passes up around the zinc cylinder. This 

 process is continued from 10 to 24 hours, after which the valve 

 F is raised, allowing the solution to run down through the 

 pipe M into the washing cylinder N. This washing tank is filled 

 with hot water to remove the chemicals, especially the caustic 

 alkalies. In order to assist in cleansing the rubber, steam is 

 introduced from the pipe surrounding the tank through the 

 perforated pipes P. This agitates the solution and allows the 

 rubber to sink to the bottom. The hollow screened body Q is 

 then lowered into the solution above the rubber so that the 

 waste water and chemicals are drained oflf through the pipe R. 

 This washing process is repeated, fresh water being introduced 

 through the pipe V, until all foreign materials are washed away 



Heller's Machine for Reclaiming Waste Rltbber. 

 from the rubber, after which the pure water and rubber are 

 allowed to run out through the pipe 5. [U. S. Patent, Reissue 

 No. 13,613. C. S. Heller.] 



A NEW METHOD OF COATING FABRICS. 



Among the newer machines designed for use in connection 

 with the manufacture of rubber goods is one recently invented 

 by Louis P. Destribats of Trenton, New Jersey. The object of 

 the invention is to provide an improved means of exhausting the 

 air from the fabric and coating the material with rubber before 



the fabric comes into contact with the external atmosphere. The 

 fabric is also heated by means of steam coils at the same time 

 that the air is exhausted so that it is in a perfectly dry condition 

 when it reaches the rubber. 



Referring to the drawing herewith, which shows a cross sec- 



Destribats' New Vacuum Machine for Impregnating Fabrics. 



tion looking toward the end of the machine, the roll of fabric A 

 to be treated is mounted upon the shaft B in the frame C. This 

 frame is set upon rollers D, which run upon a track E in the bot- 

 tom of the cylinder F. This cylinder has a removable door to 

 allow the roll of fabric to be run in and out of the cylinder. The 

 air is exhausted from the cylinder by means of an ordinary 

 vacuum pump. Surrounding the roll of fabric is a series of 

 steam pipes / with inlet and outlet at the rear end of the cylinder. 

 On top of the cylinder is a trough L provided with a long slot 

 M and a pair of flaps N, which prevent the liquid rubber from 

 being drawn into the cylinder when the air is exhausted. 



A roll of fabric which is to be impregnated with rubber is 

 placed in the frame C and run into the cylinder. The end of the 

 cloth A is then carried around the steam pipes / and under the 

 roller P, and then vertically through the slot M into the rubber. 

 Before the cloth passes into the rubber, however, the air is ex- 

 hausted from the cylinder and likewise from the interstices of 

 the fabric, so that when the cloth enters the liquid rubber the 

 latter will be drawn into the spaces between the threads and 

 the cloth become thoroughly impregnated. The coated fabric then 

 passes between a pair of rollers R and over a heater H, after 

 which the coated and dried fabric is wound up on the roller S. 



WESTERN CITIES PASS FENDER ORDINANCES. 



A bill has recently been introduced in the city council of 

 Cleveland, Ohio, providing for safety bumper equipment on 

 all motor trucks operated in that city. In Detroit, Michigan, 

 where a similar ordinance was passed some time ago, the 

 police commissioner has extended the time of enforcement 

 from December 1 to January 1, in view of the fact that "the 

 truck fender business is still in its infancy and no perfect 

 type of fender has yet been developed." Cleveland is much 

 interested in the outcome of the Detroit enactment, Chicago 

 is considering the adoption of a similar regulation, and other 

 cities will no doubt take steps in the same direction in the 

 near future ; and a rubber bumper will probably be duly con- 

 sidered and adopted in the production of a "perfect type" of 

 fender such as will meet the requirements of this new law, 

 one of which is that the front bar of the fender shall not be 

 more than six inches from the ground when in operation. 



