US1872603A - Method of and apparatus for making strip shingles - Google Patents

Description

1932- F. c. OVERBURY v 1,872,603

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING STRIP SHINGLES Original Filed Aug- 9, 1926 urant.

Patented Aug. 16,, 3132 rannnmcx c. OVERBURY,

OF HILLSDALE, NEW JERSEY, MENTS, TO THE PATENT AND LICENSING CORPORATION,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- OF BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING STRIP SHTNGLES Application filed August 9,

This invention relates to a method of making individual roofing elements, more particularly elements which are formed in the shape of what is commonly known as strip shingles, these elements being usually elongated and having slots cut into the elements from the butt edges to form individual shingle-simulating tabs. It is an object of the invention to provide an effective and economical method for producing such strip shingles in such a way that the finished product will be protected on its exposed edges, as well as its exposed surfaces, by a continuous envelope of waterproof coating material covered by a masking layer of grit or its equivalent.

The type of roofing referred to is usually made of felted fibrous sheet material such as may be produced on a paper-making machine, the sheet being of a porous and bibulous nature so as to be capable of ab sorbing a considerable amount of fluid sat- Sheets of such fibrous roofing base are impregnated with suitable waterproofing a material such for example as low meltingpoint asphalt which is readily reduced to a high state of fluidity at temperatures low enough to avoid injury to the sheet when immersed therein. Heretofore after the sheet has been saturated, a coating of high melting-point or blown asphalt has customarily been applied to oneor both faces thereof to furnish a more durable waterproofing constituent to the material which is less liable to flow or run by the heat of the sun when laid on a roof. In order to protect this outside coating of blown asphalt, it is desirable to cover it with a masking layer of some material which can'protect it from the direct action of the weather. It

has been found convenient to utilize for this purpose comminuted matter, preferably crushed slate, brick, tile, or other kind of mineral granules. These materials are easily applied to the hot sticky asphalt and are rolled or otherwise pressed into intimate contact with the asphalt coating whereby a sufficient amount of the granular material adheres firmly to theface of the asphalt and 'mnVideS not only protection therefor, but a 1926, Serial No. 128,074. Renewed April 21, 1932.

means of producing various artistic effects in the appearance of the finished roofing element. The sheet at this stage, after being cooled, is usually cut into elements of the desired shape and size, these elements thereupon being packaged for shipment. It has been found, however, that the cut edges produced in the course of cutting the elements from the sheet provide undesirable channels for the access of atmospheric moisture to the fibrous sheet material which forms the base of the roofing elements. Moisture enters through the cut exposed ends of the fibers which appear at the butt edges of the elements and in dry weather such moisture evaporates out together with any residual volatile constituents which may have been in the saturant with which the fibrous sheet was impregnated. These efiects of the weather coupled with other deteriorating ef- Q fects, such'as frost, cause the saturated felt to sponge the corners and the edges of the tabs to warp and curl. This permits rain to blow under the elements on the roof and thus decreases the water-tightness of the roof as a whole. themselves is also greatly shortened by these effects of the weather. Consequently, it is desirable to prevent the access of moisture to the fibrous interior of the elements by sealing the cut edges with a coating of asphalt which is preferably protected by a. layer of grit. It is an object of this invention to provide amethod for making slotted strip shingles which are not only coated on their exposed side faces, but are also coated and grit-surfaced on the edges which are exposed to the weather.

The steps by which I my novel process may clearly by reference which propose to carry out be understood more to the drawing, of

The life of the elements Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan of a sheet Figure 3 shows another arrangement of slots and slits whereby the latter pass through an end of each slot instead of the middle as in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 4 and 5 together show a diagrammatic elevation of apparatus which can be used to carry out the steps of my process.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a doctor for spreading coating material on the sheet.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10 indicates a roll of roofing felt of any suitable type. The sheet of felt is led off from this roll and passes through a container 13 of any desired construction in which it is thoroughly impregnated with liquid asphalt or other waterproofing saturant. As it leaves the container, it may be passed through a air of press rolls 14 to remove excess asphalt om the surface of the sheet. The saturant may be partially cooled and dried into the sheet by passing the latter over a series of loopers 15. As the sheet leaves the loopers 15, it is slotted as by slotting rolls 11 which are constructed to cut longitudinal series of transverse slots 12, the slots being equal in length to the height of the tabs to be formed thereby (as in Figure 3) or of double length (as in Figures 1 and 2). The slotting rolls 11 are followed by slitting rolls 16 which are adapted to cut the lines 17 and 18, the former passin through the slots either in the middle as in igures 1 and 2, or adjacent to an end as in Figure 3. If desired, the slotting and slitting may be done simultaneously by a single pair of rolls, the cutting edges of the rolls 11 and 16 being mounted together on a simple roll.

I prefer to cut the slots in the sheet after the saturating step where the saturant is liquefied by heat. When the sheet passes through a saturating bath of molten asphalt, such as is frequently used for the purpose, the ermeation of the sheet by the hot asphalt ten s to lubricate the fibers, greatly reducing the tensile strength of the sheet. Hence, if the sheet is slotted before saturation, it is liable to be additionally weakened to such a degree as to render the sheet liable to fre quent breaks in the saturating bath,hence it is advantageous to defer the slotting until after the saturating step. On the other hand, it is advisable to cut the slots before the sheet is coated and slated since the coating is thus made to cover the cut edges and the slotting knives are not subjected to severe treatment incident to cutting through a layer of grit particles. I therefore slot and slit the sheet after the saturation thereof but before the coating has been applied. These slitters cut the sheet into continous strips, each oneof which'has a succession of shingle-simulating tabs along one edge. Since the sheet is still somewhat warm at this stage, it is usually relatively soft and limp so that care must be taken to prevent the tabs from may fall through getting twisted, bent under, or otherwise jammed, or torn loose. In order to support these strips and tabs during the operations of coating and slating I provide an endless traveling belt 19, preferably of open mesh woven wire, which may be led around a roll 20 positioned adjacent to the cutting rolls 16 and another roll 21 suitably spaced therefrom, either or both of which rolls may be driven. After emerging from the slitting roll 16, the sheet is carried by the belt 19 beneath a suitable supply of molten coating asphalt. This may be supplied by a nozzle or series of nozzles 22 which may be arranged to pour a suitable amount of coating asphalt directly upon the surface of the sheet, the asphalt falling on the slots being allowed to drop through the wire belt into a suitable receptacle 23 placed below. In order to distribute the coating of asphalt evenly over the surface of the sheet, I may supply a doctor 24 which may comprise a steam-heated pipe or scraper positioned above the sheet and in close proximity thereto. The doctor is preferably given a zigzag shape as indicated in Figure 2 in order to ride over the tabs of each strip on an angle and thus to avoid catching a side edge of a tab and tearing the sheet. Immediately following the doctor 24, I provide a slate hopper 26 from which a sheet of comminuted grit is dropped on the hot sticky asphalt coating, a receptacle 27 being provided to recover excess grit which the open slots in the sheet. In order to keep the belt 19 free from accumulations of asphalt andgrit, I provide a brush 25 or equivalent device at any c0nvenient point to coat the belt 19 with a nonadhesive liquid such as glycerin, soap water, molten paraffin or the like. When the machine is running for considerable periods, the belt is heated by contact with the warm sheet to such a temperature that the asphalt will not build up thereon, regardless of whether or not the non-sticking coating is applied. The sheet is then passed around a suitable roll 28, a roll 29 being positioned therebeneath to cooperate therewith in pressing the slate into firm engagement with the asphalt coating. As the sheet is carried about the roll 28, it leaves the belt 19. At this point, a coating roll 30 may be provided to contact the reverse side of the sheet and to deposit a coating of molten asphalt thereon, the roll 30 being supplied with asphalt from a container 31 as by a feed roll 32. Above this roll may be positioned a talc or mica box 33 adapted to deposit talc, mica or any pulverulent material on the back face coating to provide this coating with a nonsticking surface, or if preferred a grit hopper may be used to surface the under face with grit. The sheet is thereupon passed over a series of rolls 34 which serve to cool the sheet and to embed the granular material thereof and past a point thoroughly rolls the sheet is led to suitable cutting rolls 35 which sever the individual shingle strips, the latter bein deposited on a suitable ta le 36 or carrier or convenient packaging for shipment.

Having thus described "an embodiment of m invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made therein without de parting from its spirit or scope as defined by the a pended claims.

I c aim:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for cutting a series of transverse slots in a longitudinally movin sheet of roofing felt, means 'for longitu inally slitting said sheet through said slots whereby a pair of strips are formed, each strip having a series of notches in an edge thereof forming rectangular tabs, means for depositing liquid coating on said strips, and a diagonally disposed doctor engaging each strip, the portion of said doctor engaging the notched margin of the strip being eyond the portion engaging theunnotched margin.

2. Steps in a process for making roofing elements which comprise saturating a sheet of fibrous roofing felt with bituminous compound, slotting and slitting the sheet into substantially continuous St IIPS, each having a series of substantially rectangular tabs along one edge thereof, moving the strips past a point of application of 'water proofing coating to-the tabs and exposed edges of application thereto of grit, said gritting point being spaced from said coating point, and supporting the moving strips in substantially the same plane from beneath on a continuous travelin reticulated surface during the passage of sai strips through the coating and grit-applying points.

3. Steps in the process for making roofing" elements, which comprise saturating a sheet of roofing felt of indefinite len h with bituminous compound, slotting an slitting the sheet into substantially continuous strips each having a series of substantially rectan lar shingle-simulating tabs along one edge thereof, moving said strips continuously past two successive spaced treating points, applying waterproofin coating to the tabs and exposed edges 0 the strips as they pass the first said treating point, applying comminuted surfacing material to the coated portions as they pass the second said treating point, and supporting from beneath the traveling strips from their approach to the first treating point to their departure from the second treating point.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

FREDERICK o. OVERBURY.

in the face thereof. From these

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