US933145A - Composition of material for and process of manufacture of railroad-ties, posts, and similar articles. - Google Patents

Description

P. WEGKERLY. COMPOSITION OI' MATERIAL POR AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE 0I' RAILROAD TIES, POSTS,

'AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1907.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK WECKERLY, OF ST. DAVIDS, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPOSITION F MATERIAL FOR AND PROCESS 0F MANUFACTURE (5F RAILROAD-TIES,

POSTS, ANDsIMILAn ARTICLES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

. Patented Sept?, 1909.

Application led May 25,y 1907. Serial No. 375,618.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I. FRANK WECKERLY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Davids, county of Delaware, and State of' Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Composition of Material for and Process of Manufacture of Railroad-Ties, Posts, Pipes, and Similar Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to manufacture of railroad ties, posts, pipes and similar articles, of comparatively long, coarsely separated vegetable fibers, bound together as hereinafter more fully described, and consists (l) of the novel composition of binding or cementing material for such fibers; and (2) of the process of compounding the binding or cementing material and the process of manufacture of such articles. Thevegetablev fibers employed for the manufacture of such ties, posts, pipes and similar articles according to my invention, are obtained of roughly crushed (not broken) stems and eaves of coarse grass, preferably such as 'grows in salt marshes, palmettos, straw, cornstalks, reeds and the like. The fibers may be prepared in any suitable manner, bearing in mind, that it is not necessary to free the fibers from the incrusting substances and that it is desirable to preserve, as much as possible, their longitudinal continuity. The best way of preparing such fibers is by passing the stems, reeds, etc., lengthwise between compressing rollers having somewhat roughened surfaces.

The binding or cementing material is made up of coal-tar, approximately 26 parts measured by volume, hard pitch, approximately 26 parts, and dead oil. approximately 10 parts, combined in suitable proportions with a dry filler such as brickmeal, crushed slag, finely crushed siliceous slate and other similarly composed substances. The object of combining coal tar and hard pitch with the stated siliceous substances for this binding or cementin material, is to obtain the preservative action of the higher phenols, contained in the dead oil, upon the vegetable bers, while producing a binding medium of such quality as is required for the intended use of the composition. If the vegetable fibers,

permanent consistency and yieldingI used in the composition would not be reserved so as to protect them against rotting, the material produced would not be capable of such use, as it would not be durable. And again, if the cementing compound would not be made of the requisite and permanent consistency and yet yielding, the resulting material could not be used for its intended purposes, because it would not be capable of eing worked by tools, would notermit driving of nails, spikes into it or hol them against the strains. Such lmaterial would also be subjectto` changes by variations in temperature and atmospheric influences. The preservative eifect u on the vegetable is obtained by the action ofP the higher phenols contained in dead oil in free state. This condition of these higher phenols', and their reservative capacity upon the avegetable Ebers, are preserved by combining hard pitch, itself a product of coal tar,and nearly always containing some dead oil itself, but not having any chemical iniuence u on the constituents of dead oil, and partlcularly upon the higher phenols, and by the use of such siliceous material as slag, brickmeal or slate as the filler, which has no effect whatever upon the'higher phenols contained in the viscous components of the cement. Such siliceous material is therefore eminently suitable to be used to effect the necessary thickening of the cement, besides `having the capacity of effecting this thickening of the cement so that the consistency of the resulting product is permanent, well capable of being regulated according to the mean temperature of the locality where such material is to be used, and not liable to be changed by ordinary variations in temperature as occur by chan es in season or climate. The proportion of cording to whether brickmeal, crushed slag or finely crushed slate is used. Crushed slag is best suitable owing to its capacity to unite more intimately with the other ingredients of the cement and owing to its possessing nearly the same specific gravity. The use of crushed sla results in producing a greater bulk by less weight and what is more important a much more homogeneous mass than either of the other dry filler materials. Brlckmeal 1snearly equally well suitable, though 1t s specific gravity is greater and lts capacity to parts should be used. The

Aio

on railroad ties by the running of trains,

which render it particularly -available for use in manufacture of such railroad ties and similar articles. The compounding of the binding or cementing material of the substances hereinbefore enumerated, and in the stated proportions, results also in imparting to such materials about the same specific gravity as`\ the kind ofwoods used for such mixed with the dry filler.

v heated tar and dead oil maybe conveyed be-` tween them. By these means the ingredients purposes, when impre ated with creosote compounds, and in addition thereto a greater degree of resistance to decay or disintegrating under atmospheric influence, and greater durability in such use, than wood treated with any preservative compound known to me.

' The ingredients, composing the cement, are prepared and mixedv as follows :e-The tar is heated to about 165 F.,\the dead oil is added thereto and thoroughly mixed; the hard pitch is piilvertized and thoroughly The heating of the tar, and the mixing therewith of the dead oil, is done in a vat set upon a suitably constructed furnace, and so arranged that the liquid mass may be continuously drawn therefrom in such wide and thin flow as the process of manufacture of such railroad ties, posts, pipes and similar articles requires. The pulverized pitch and the'dry filler are mixed by a mechanical apparatus set in a trough provided with means for continuously discharging two substantially even layers of the mixture, one layer upon each of two rollers, set underneath quite closely together and slowly revolving toward each other. These rollers must be set in such position, that the flow ofthe liquid mixture ofthe of the binding composition are com ounded together and simultaneously forme into a moving continuous. layer. This layer of the binder or cementing material as it emerges from between the rollers, is conveyed continuously toward another set of compressing rollers, and while thus in transit, the fibers, stems, straw, cornstalks, etc., whichever of these materials lare used, are laid thereon" across thewidth of the layer and so as to intersect with eachother, but never at right machine employed for angles with each other, orpwith the layer; the idea being that the stem reeds or stalks while they should intersect Wit-h each other sli'ould never lie parallel to the line Lof motion of the layer ofthe cementing material, and this intersecting is to be effected by alternately slightly deviating from a line at right angles to the line of motion of the moving layer. The layer of the binding composition with the fibers thus laid thereon is then again run between slowly revolving compressing rollers, upon which there is also constantly being deposited a thin layer ofthe dry filler, inely pulverized to prevent the material from 'adhering thereto. In this manner, there is formed a continuous layer of my improved material for manufacture of railroad ties, posts, pi es and the like, and this layer is preferab y formed slightly wider than the desired length of the ties, posts, etc. This layer is formed while vet flexible, into such ties, osts, etc., by Winding it upon a mandrel until the coil attains the requisite thickness. Then it is cut off, its ends trimmed andthe roll compressed in forms as may be required to give to it any desired shape.A Insteadof winding the continuous layer upon, a mandrel, it may be folded upon itself and then compressed. Such method is preferable when the product is to be used in sheets or strips.

The arrangement of the mechanical devices for carrying on my improved process is'shown, conventionally illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figurel is a sectional elevation of a diagram of such a machine as may be usedfor carrying on this process; Fig. 2 is an end view,'partly sectional (looking'toward the rightof Fig. 1), showing the parts of the v reparing and rolling the binding layer; ig. 3 is a sectional view of the dry mixing trou h taken on line :1i-, indicated in Fig. 2; F

the conveyer showing, in the first fraction, the rolled layer of the binding composition, i the second fraction, the reeds or other simi ar material deposited thereon before being compressed to ther with the binding layer, and in the thir fraction, the sheet compressed; and Figs. 5 and view of a part of ig. 4 is a plan 'ilo 6 are illustrations of such products manun' factured according to `my improved process. The machine comprises a' vat a having ax narrow opening b, extending the entire*y width of Jthe length of its bottom. The opening is made adjustable by the hinged dro or gate c and adjusting screws d. A

mec anical stirrer or mixer e is mounted in the vat. Its shaft f is extended outside of the vat and a driving 'pulley g is keyed to A stirrer or esegua shaft projects from the trough and a pulley y is set thereon for drivingit. A chute m is arranged above this trough and at one end of it for conveying into 1t the materials to be mixed therein, and on the other end of the trough three outletl chutes n, o, p are connected to suitable openings in its bottom. These chutes lead 'to sieves g, r, s respectively. The sieves `are arranged above troughs t, u, fu, and are secured at one end to the troughs by pivotal connections w. The pivots pass through elongated holes'or slots formed in the end of the troughs t, u, o, to permit a slight oscillating motion of the sieves, and an agitator y is secured to the other ends of the troughs t, u, fv, tol give to them a short and comparatively rapid oscillating motlon. The troughs are V- shaped at the bottom, and have a narrow opening extending the entire length of their bottoms. Troughs t, u, are located above and a little within the center lines of the rollers L-L, and trough v is at the rear of the rollers above the rear end of the apron z' described farther on. 'Underneath the vat a and at a suitable distance below it, two compressing rollers L-L are mounted, one. on each side of the opening b, and provided with suitable driving gear. Below these rollers an endless apron i is stretched upon two rollers j, j, and driven to move in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. l. Apron z' is supported on platform z" to prevent its sagging underneath the weight of the material carried thereon and'to facilitate the manipulations thereof.

Adjoining roller j an inclined platform a is arranged forminga take-olf for the layer of the material and a bridge for conveying it to the compressing rollers c, lo. These rollers are arranged one above the other, the lower roller 7c, being mounted in fixed bearings while the upper roller lc', is mounted in bearings set in slideways and suspended upon tackle by which it may be raised and lowered and, if need be, partly balanced toV regulate the pressure upon the sheet rolled between them. Beyond rollers c and le there may be a winding mechanism or a platform w as shown in the drawin s for folding the sheet upon itself. This wi l be governed by the requirement of the manufacture for which the sheet,is to be used. v

By this process' of manufacture the fibers embedded in the bituminous cement impart Y to the product such tensile strength and elasticity as natural wood of the kind, used for the manufacture of such articles. possesses, while the cementing mixture absolutely protects the fibers against the deteriorating influence of moisture and atmospheric air and also against insects, fungus and other parasitic growth.

The product resulting` from this process is 'somewhat heavier than wood, but equally if duce its weight;

mixing paring (l) heating the tar,

-not more resistant against crushing or comeven if'made hollow, which it may whenever desirable to re- The material willV safely withstand as high temperature as wuod, used for such purpose, and willnot softenwhen once hardened or set. It lis most suitable also for manufacture of water and sewer pipes, gas mains and electrical conduits and particularly for manufacture ,of conduits and for constructing or lining of tanks used pressin be ma e, safely,

for storing and conveying of corrosive chemicals.

I claim as my invention 1. A binding or cementing material compounded of coal-tar, dead oil, hard pitch and crushed siliceous material, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A binding or cementing material compounded of coal-tar, dead oil, hard pitchv and crushed slag, substantially as herein set fort-h.

3. A binding or cementing material compounded of approximately 26parts, measured by volume, of coal-tar, 1() parts of dead oil, 26 parts ofhard pitch vand of a suitable quantit stantial y as herein set forth.

of'crushed siliceous material, sub- 4. A binding or cementing material coml Apounded of approximately 26 parts, meas- 10 parts of dead 95 uredby volume, of coal-tar, oil, 26 parts of hard pitch and 65 to 75 parts of crushed slag, substantially as herein set forth. f 5. Therprocess of compounding and preparing for use'a binding or cement-ing material of coal-tar, dead oil, hard pitch and of adry filler, consisting of following stepsz (l) heating the tar, adding thereto of the deadl oil and thoroughly mixing. the compo` sition; (2) pulverizing the hard pitch and it with the dry filler; (3)v forming the mlxtures ofthe liquid and of the pulverulent ingredients into alternating layers, and (4) compressing the layers together.

6. The process of compounding and prefor use a binding or cementing material of coal-tar, dead oil, hard pitch and a dry filler, consisting of following steps:- adding thereto of the dead oil and thoroughly mixing the/,composition; (2) pulverizin'g the hard,pitch and mixing it with the dry filler; 4(3) forming the mixture of the dry ingredients in substantially evenly thin and continuous layers; (4) conveying the heated mixture of the liquid ingredients ina substantially continuous and evenly thin flow between the layers of the dry ingredients, and (5) compressing the layers together. y, 7. Material for making articles of manufacture composed of oarsely'separated vegetable fibers and acompositin of coal-tar,' dead oil, hard pitch and tially as herein set forth.

` 8. Material for making articles of manu-- a dry filler, substanfacture composed of coarsely separated Vegetable fibers and a composition of coal-tar, dead oil, hard pitch and a siliceous material, substantially as herein set forth.

9. Material for making articles of manufacture composed of coarsely separated vegetable fibers and a composition consisting of i coal-tar, dead oil, hard pitch and crushed slag compounded substantially as herein set forth.

FRANK VVEGKERLY.

Witnesses: f Y e EDGAR C. VAN DYKE, MARY F. SMITH.

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