ApBn. 1, 1917.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



391 



New Machines and Appliances. 



THE CHAPMAN NEUTEALIZER. 



IT is claimed that the elimination of fire risk in rubber mills 

 due to static sparks, imminent in the operation of spreaders, 

 cement churns and other machines where naphtha is used, 

 may be accomplished by the apparatus shown in the accompany- 

 ing illustration. It comprises an electric transformer located on 

 some convenient wall and connected by heavily insulated wires 

 to the inductor bars that are attached to the machines to be 

 protected. Briefly stated, the principle is as follows: A di- 

 rect static charge spontaneously selects from a neighboring 



alternating charge the exact quantity and kind to neutralize it. 

 The charge in the material may be positive, or it may be 

 negative, it makes no difference, for the alternating charge has 

 both kinds to select from. The choice is unwavering as Na- 

 ture's law, and the result is perfect neutralization. 



The alternating charge is distributed to the charged material 

 by means of a bar called the inductor placed near the material. 

 The air around the inductor for a distance of a few inches 

 becomes filled with positive and negative charges which are 

 entirely imperceptible to the senses, but which are extremely 

 forceful in killing any other charges that come within the field 

 of their influence. 



In the application of this device to a spreading machine, two 

 inductors, extending across- the machine and over the fabric, 

 are usually recommended. One is placed just back of the 

 spreading knife and the other is located near the point where 

 the proofed fabric is wound up. 



These inductors are placed so that the fabric passes them 

 at a distance of from two to four inches. The influence of 

 the inductors extends through the air for several inches around 

 them, and every portion of the fabric as fast as it comes within 

 this region of influence is imperceptibly but instantly deprived 

 of any electric charge. The result of this action is that the 

 inductor at the head end of the spreader instantly and com- 

 pletely neutralizes every part of the fabric as fast as it leaves 

 the spreading knife, before any charge imparted to the fabric 



or pipes in the form of a spark. The object of the other in- 

 ductor, treating the fabric just before it is rolled up, is to re- 

 move any slight charge redeveloped by the other rolls over 

 which the fabric passes before winding up. 



When successive coatings are being applied, it is often 

 necessary to place an inductor near the unwinding roll and 

 on the under side of the web as it is unrolling. This inductor 

 is mounted on a hinged frame having a roller resting on the 

 roll of cloth, thus keeping the inductor always in the most 

 effective position whether the roll of cloth is large or small. 

 After the cloth has received two or three coatings it is quite 

 likely to generate considerable electricity at the point of separa- 

 tion of the web from the unwinding roll, the web assuming 

 a negative charge and the roll a positive charge, and an in- 

 ductor so placed will instantly and completely neutralize both 

 charges at the same time. Recent installations have proved 

 that this is the most effective position for an inductor on a 

 spreading machine. [The Chapman Electric Neutralizer Co., 

 Portland, Maine.] 



THE T. & W. TIRE WRAPPING MACHINE. 



A tire packa,ging machine that is guaranteed by the makers 

 to wrap at least 50 bundles per hour and make a tight, compact, 

 evenly wrapped bundle, is here shown. It will wrap bundles 36 

 inches high, if desired, with paper or burlap, the tires being all 

 of the same size or of different sizes as the case may be. 



The machine is operated as follows : A roll 20 inches in 

 diameter and 6 inches wide is placed between two endless chains, 



of the noiseless type, and is carried down through the inside of 

 the bale and upward around the outside of the bale, thus wrap- 

 ping the strip of burlap or paper around the bale as it is ro- 

 tated by the revolving cones upon which it rests. Two other 



accumulate sufficiently to discharge to the roll, knife, frame revolving cones over the bale are so arranged that by tu.rning 



