US1230597A - Non-skid composition of caoutchouc or rubber and the like. - Google Patents

Description

CARLO PACCHETTI, OF MILAN, ITALY.

NON-SKID COMPOSITION OF CAOUTCHOUC OR RUBBER AND THELIKE.

N 0 Drawing.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CARLO PAOCI'IETTI, a subject of the King of Italy, and residing at Milan, in the Kingdom of Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Non-Skid Composition of Caoutchouc or Rubber and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a non skidcomposition of caoutchouc, india rubber of its substitutes for use in the manufacture of tires, soles of boots and shoes, heels, belts and other articles, which are subject to great wear and tear and where a tendency to skid should be avoided as much as possible. It has been proposed to incorporate as fillers with india-rubber certain animal products, such as horse-hair, bristles, claws, horn, whalebone and the like. The mass was then mixed with sulfur and vulcanized in a well known manner, with a view to pre paring a product that offered greater resistance to friction than the usual vulcanized is mixed with horse-hair, bristles and the ,like a .composition is obtained which, as it were, is permeated with a net-work of hair. The india-rubber mass is thereby strengthened and becomes more resistant to wear and tear. Its non-skid properties are increased, but still its value as a non-skid composition is not great for all that, because the surface has not a great degree of roughness and moreover the roughness gradually becomes;

less and less.

I I have now found that I can attain a most extraordinary increase of the non-skid property of the india-rubber composition compared with other compositions of a similar class by cutting horse-hair and like animal hair into such small lengths as to give rise to the formation of a very large amount of points, which increase the roughness and the frictional surface of the mass to an enormous extent.

The invention therefore consists in cutting animal hair, preferably horse-hair, into very small lengths, which should not exceed more than 0.12 to 0.16 inch (3 to 4 mm.) Those small fibers are well incorporated and mixed with india-rubber while in a. plastic state and sulfur is then added to the mixture, whereupon the mixture is vulcanized. The small lengths of horse hair are not brittle and consequently they do not break and crumble into powder. At the same time Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Application filed November 14, 1916. Serial No. 131,276.

they prevent a large expansion of the indiarubber without depriving it'of its elasticity, whereby its life is lengthened, even if articles made therefrom are subjected to great wear. In using the above composition for tires, it will occur that by the friction of the tires with the pavement some liairwill fall out of the mass, forming small holes or cavities, from which the air escapes, producfrom that, small lengths exhibit far more points than hair of even moderate length and the number of points is here of the greatest importance. Furthermore, when long hairs are pulled out by wear and tear great holes or cavities are formed, whereby tires are rapidly destroyed and made unfit for work. Finally I have found that a vulcanized mixture of india-rubber an long hair by use gradually assumes apo ished appearance and loses its non-skid proper-- ties. It is evident that a composition consisting of a vulcanized mixture of indiarubber and small lengths of animal hair or the like will exhibit a brushlike appearance which is well adapied for tires of motor vehicles, cycles and other conveyances, because a slipping of the wheels even on wet pavement is absolutely prevented, while at the same time the pavement is not injured in any way, as is frequently done by trussed non-slipping wheels of the usual construction. I have even been able to drive with tires according to the present invention on a surface of ice without slipping.

Considering that the composition does not stretch or expand very much, it is very suitable for covers of pneumatic tires. It does not exert a detrimental stress on the layer of woven fabric forming the core of the cover and is strong enough to avoid the necessity of ,.q.ner layer of woven fabric The composition may also be employed as a material for making belts, as-its nonslipping property is here of essential value.

I have also found it very suitable for packing rings of steam and Water pipes and for all articles Where great strength and resistance to friction should be combined and Where the deleterious action of moisture, acids or'gases should be overcome.

The proportion of the components may be varied at Will and must conform to the object in view Without altering the essence of the invention.

Preferably the hair is freed from fat or grease in the customary manner before being mixed With the india-rubber, the cohesion between india-rubber and hair being hereby considerably increased.

Having now particularly described' and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that What I claim is 1. A composition of matter for the purpose specified, comprising a vulcanized mixture of rubber, short lengths of 'relatively stiff animal hair not exceeding 0.12 to 0.16 of an inch in length, and sulfur, the composition being such that the sharp ends in great number of the animal hair tend to protrude through the surface of the vulcanized mixture.

2. A composition of matter for the purpose specified, comprising a vulcanized mixture of rubber, short lengths of relatively stiff animal hair freed from fat and not exceeding 0.12 to 0.16 of an inch in length, and sulfur, the composition being such that the ends of the animal hair tend to protrude through the surface of the vulcanized mixture.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.-

CARLO PACCHETTI.

Witnesses:

RAINIER I. CoMPANI, LUIS J. HERNANDEZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.