April 1, 1917.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



393 



Wlien the trap is empty it returns to its normal position, at 

 the same time operating the switch that stops the motor and 

 pump. \Vhen the trap again tills, the operation of discharg- 

 ing as previously described is automatically repeated. [The 

 American Blower Co., Detroit, Michigan.] 



THE FISHER REDUCING VALVE OR PRESSURE REGULATOR. 



_ iBYgji Steam pressure regulators are of such 



importance in the modern rubber mill 

 ^^aB BIp - ^™*l& >-^ that the following description of a stand- 

 ard type of reducing valve will be of 

 interest : 



The diaphragm-actuated type of valve, 

 controlled by lever and weiglit, has for 

 years been accepted by engineers due to 

 its simplicity and positive action. The 

 ilhistration is that of a valve particularly 

 adapted to low-pressure service, but the 

 type of construction permits the use of 

 different sizes of diaphragms, making it 

 suitable lor various pressures. 



The valve bodies are iron, except 

 smaller sizes, which are bronze, and the 

 inner valve is a semi-balanced, double-seated type with beveled 

 seats and seat rings ground in and tested under practically the 

 same pressure and temperature that the valve would be sub- 

 jected to while in operation. This valve will operate with a 

 comparatively small weight and does not require a dash pot 

 as would be the case with a single-seated valve. .-Vll valves and 

 seat jings are cast from hard phosphor bronze and the stems 

 are all made from Tobin bronze rods. 



In operation the inner valve is normally held by lever and 

 weight. The volume of pressure passing through the valve 

 builds up within the low pressure main and enters the diaphragm 

 chamber through the controlling pipe line. When the low pres- 

 sure reaches the desired point, a balance is formed with lever 

 and weight, and thus the valve opening is regulated according 

 'o the steam consumption and the determined amount of low 

 pressure maintained. [The Fisher Governor Co., Marshalltown, 

 Iowa.] 



FABRIC INSPECTION MACHINE. 



All fabrics used in the manufacture of rubber goods are care- 

 fully insi^ecied. It is, in fact, the first step in their preparation 



finish of the goods. The fabric inspection machine here illus- 

 trated is one of the newest types, and therefore of interest. 



The roll of fabric comes to the machine on a truck and the 

 end is threaded from the back of the machine between the 

 weight roller and top draft roller above the desk, down to the 

 winding roller in the wind-up attachment. The operator sits in 

 front with foot on the treadle which automatically assumes a 

 neutral position by means of springs. The pressure of the foot 

 forward starts the cloth down the table, and removal of pressure 

 stops the cloth, wdiile pressure on the heel of the treadle re- 

 verses the cloth, feeding it up the table. 



The horizontal lever shown at the left of the table shifts tne 

 belt on the tight and loose pulleys. The power drive shown on 

 the left side of the machine may be mounted on the right hand 

 side so that the machine can be put on either the right or left 

 side of the room and the drive come next to the wall. 



The rolling attachment back of the table holds the winding 

 rollers in position with latched levers that can be readily thrown 

 back and the roll of fabric quickly removed. [Parks & Woolson 

 Machine Co., Springfield. Vermont.] 



MACHINERY PATENTS. 



THE HUNTER DRY KILN. 



ACCORDING to this process, the rubber is exposed in humid 

 air that is kept in circulation and provided with a continuous 

 supply of fresh air. The temperature in the dry room is raised as 



high as 160 to 170 degrees 

 F. and the rubber dried 

 in 12 to 14 hours. It is 

 c 1 a im e d that rubber 

 treated by this process, 

 whether it has been pre- 

 viously dried or not, is 

 of a better quality than 

 dried in the usual way. 

 A cross-section of the dryer is here shown. Tlie air enters at 

 A and rises, passing over the steam coils B supplied from pipe C. 

 The heated air then passes through the upper chamber D and 

 downward into the compartment E where the air is deflected 

 downward by the partition F and passes over the humidifier G, 

 into the rubber treating chamber H. From here the air passes 

 out of the dryer through pipe / and header / to the atmosphere, 

 thus creating a constant circulation. 



As the air passes over the surface of the water in the humidi- 

 fier a certain amount of evaporation takes place, depending on 

 the temperature of the water and the humidity of the air. Tlie 

 quantity and temperature of the water supply is automatically 

 controlled so that the air entering the treating chamber is of 

 uniform humidity. The best results are produced most quickly 

 with an air temperature of 140 to 160 degrees F. and a relative 

 humidity of 30 to 3S per cent. 



The long trays containing the rubber to be dried are placed 

 on special trucks and are rolled into the dry room, and it is 

 claimed the relatively moist air and the relatively high tempera- 

 ture produces dried rubber of superior quality in a comparatively 

 short time. [Harry Hunter, assignor to The Hunter Dry Kiln 

 Co. — both of Indianapolis, Indiana. United States patent No. 

 1,218.261.] 



for calendering or spreading. Every inch of fabric is closely 

 scanned to detect defects in the weave and imperfections in the 



FOOTWEAR ROLLING MACHINE. 



The object of this invention is a machine for making rubber- 

 soled footwear irrespective of the construction of the uppers. The 

 illustration is a broken side elevation of the machine and A is an 

 endless motor drawn chain conveyor to which are attached the last 

 holders B. The lining, the inner sole, and a toe-strip are applied 

 to the last, the latter overlapping the lining and inner sole. A rag 

 sole is then applied lengthwise of the bottom of the last, overlap- 



