* GB785779 (A)

Description: GB785779 (A) ? 1957-11-06

A process for the continuous production of hydrogels containing silicic acid

Description of GB785779 (A)

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CH341802 (A) FR1140609 (A) US2871099 (A) CH341802 (A) FR1140609 (A) US2871099 (A) less Translate this text into Tooltip

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The EPO does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of data and information originating from other authorities than the EPO; in particular, the EPO does not guarantee that they are complete, up-to-date or fit for specific purposes.

PATENT SPECIFICATION 785; 779 Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: Feb 1, 1956. W N B an No3158/56. Application mode in Germany on Feb 3, 1955. Complete Specification Published: Nov 6, 1957. Index at Acceptance:-Class 1 ( 2), A 13. International Classification:-CO 1 b. COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A Process for the Continuous Production of Hydrogels Containing Silicic Acid. We, BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA-FABRIK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, a Joint Stock Company organised under the laws of Germany, of Ludwigshafen/Rhein, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be

performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to a process for continuously producing elastic hydrogels containing silicic acid in the form of rods having a small diameter. It is known that a silicic acid hydrogel can be prepared by reacting a waterglass solution with an acid, for example sulphuric acid, whereby first unstable silicic acid hydrosol is formed and this hydrosol then solidifies to an elastic jelly upon undisturbed standing Usually this process is carried out discontinuously by stirring waterglass solution into cooled dilute sulphuric acid or another acid until the mixture has a p H-value of about 2 5 to 4 The sol thus formed is then allowed to solidify in shallow troughs When the jelly thus formed has reached its maximum strength, it is broken up into pieces of the size of the fist to the size of walnuts, freed from adherent salts, as for example sodium sulphate, by repeatedly covering it with water, washed out, dried and activated. The said process is troublesome and timeconsuming and permits only small throughputs. It has therefore been proposed to make the process wholly or partly continuous Thus it is known to carry out the intermediate process of sol formation as a flow process, for example by supplying sulphuric acid and waterglass solution to rotatory mixers in which the sol is formed and from which it is continuously removed. It has also been proposed to carry out continuously the whole process of the hydrogel preparation including the comiinution and the washing out of the hydrogel obtained The lPrice 3 tp 6 methods and apparatus hitherto known for this purpose have the disadvantage, however, that the hydrosol has been brought to solidification during its passage through tubes of relatively wide cross-section In this way hydrogel 50 bodies of large diameter are formed and these must be separated in the form of blocks by mechanical means In order to facilitate the movement and comminution of such bodies it has been proposed to move them downwards 55 in the tubes. We have now found that an elastic silica hydrogel can be prepared from an unstable silica sol in a continuous manner while avoiding the said disadavantages by leading the 60 silica sol in parallel through a plurality of tubes having a smooth inner surface, which are preferably arranged vertically and which may be heated, allowing the sol to solidify during its passage through the tubes to the hydrogel 65 in the form of rods and removing the hydrogel in the form of the rods from the tubes The sol may be heated to a temperature of 40 WC to C while passing through the tubes The preferred internal diameter of the tubes 70 amounts to 20 up to 70 millimetres After removal from the

tubes the rods may, if desired, be broken up and purified by immersion in water or another liquid suitable for the removal of salts adhering to the hydrogel, e g a weak 75 acid or base The number of tubes which can be used in the practice of this invention is not confined to any definite figure According to practical requirement any number up to e g. tubes or more can be used 80 The unstable silicic acid sol can be prepared by adding aqueous acid to an aqueous sodium silicate solution, as for example commercial waterglass solution, if desired diluted, the whole being well stirred and preferably cooled 85 in order to prevent a premature solidification of the reaction mixture The reaction is preferably discontinued when a p H-value of the solution of between 2 and 5 has been reached. If it is desired to form a silica sol containing 90 metal oxide in particular a metal of the 3rd or 4th group of the periodic system, an acidified or acid-reacting solution of a salt of the metal is used instead of an acid Thus a silicic acid sol containing aluminium oxide can be prepared by stirring waterglass solution into cooled sulphuric acid containing aluminium sulphate. It is also possible, however, to mix an unstable silicic acid sol with a sol containing a metal oxide and to subject this mixture to the process according to this invention Unstable sols containing silicic acid suitable for carrying out the process can also be obtained by hydrolysis of silicic acid esters; it is also possible to start from chlor or brom-silanes and to hydrolyse these compounds, preferably in the presence of ai substance which does not bind the halogen ionogenically, for example in the presence of an alkylene oxide. For the conversion of the unstable sol containing silicic acid into a hydrogel, the sol in question is preferably passed to a plurality of tubes arranged in a heat exchanger supplied with a hot fluid, e g water The passage of the sol can be effected by a number of conveyer pumps, in particular membrane pumps, arranged in parallel By these pumps, the sol, the conveyed volume of which is adjusted to the prevailing operating conditions, is led from a reservoir into the heated tubes Tubes of thermoplastic materials, e g polystyrene, polyvinyl compounds or polyacrylic compounds, have proved especially suitable However, corrosion-proof metal tubes, enamelled metal tubes or metal tubes coated with stoving enamel, ceramic tubes or glass tubes are also suitable In order to ensure the smoothest possible internal surface of the wall of the tubes it is preferably to use tubes of which the inner surface has been polished The resistance which a tube with a smooth inner surface offers to the passage therethrough of the sol solidifying therein or the hydrogel formed is only slight The heating of the tube arrangement, when heating is

employed, is effected externally, preferably by a liquid led in circulation. The hydrogel can be treated and dried in the usual way It is preferable to arrange for that side of the tube system at which the hydrogel leaves the tubes in the form of hydrogel rods to open into a washing container which is directly attached to the tube system and if desired has a larger cross-section than the tube system After the appearance of the first hydrogel rods after setting the plant in operation, the washing container is filled with water. Since the hydrogel has a specific gravity which is not much higher than that of the surrounding washing water which is more or less enriched with salts, it is possible to work with a considerable height of the washing column without the risk of the hydrogel being crushed by the weight of the layer above it The pure water is preferably introduced at the top of the washing container and the salt-containing water withdrawn at the bottom of the container at such a rate that the level in the washing container remains constant The gel which is slowly conveyed upwards leaves the top of the 70 washing container in purified form and can be taken from thence to the drying plant by means of a conveyer belt Instead of pure water, it is also possible to use for the washing process, in order to obtain predetermined 75 hydrogel properties, acidified water, water containing aluminium salts, or water which has been rendered alkaline, in particular ammoniacal water The washing of the hydrogel can for example be carried out at 80 temperatures between 20 and 1000 C. The following Example will further illustrate this invention but the invention is not restricted to this Example. Example 85 A pressure-resistant cylindrical chromiumnickel steel vessel is filled with unstable silicic acid sol which has been prepared by stirring waterglass solution (d= 1 16) into dilute sulphuric acid (d= 1 23) cooled with ice, the 90 supply of waterglass solution having been discontinued when the mixture has reached a p H-value of 4 0 The vessel is also cooled externally with ice to prevent premature solidification of the unstable sol to the hydrogel 95 The cooled sol is forced, by means of compressed air acting on the gas space of the container (the amount of which is controlled by a valve), in a slow stream upwards through tubes into four internally polished polymethacrylic 100 acid ester tubes, each of a length of 1 metre and an internal width of 34 millimetres and superposed on the container, these also being controlled by valves Each tube is heated by means of a heating jacket of glass through which is 105 pumped in circulation water at 70 'C from a thermostat The unstable sol rising in the tubes at a speed of flow of about 1 centimetre per minute solidifies to a

gel in such a way that the sol is present in the lower part of the 110 tubes still as a liquid, in the transition zone it is present as a viscous intermediate product and in the upper part as an elastic solid jelly. A force corresponding to a pressure of about 0.75 excess atmosphere is amply sufficient to 115 move the contents of the tubes The hydrogel becomes detached somewhat from the wall, slides upwards in the tubes without difficulty and can be withdrawn at the top of the tubes in the form of cylinders Without further com 120 minution-the cylindrical mass breaks up spontaneously into smaller pieces in the direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow-the hydrogel is freed from adherent sodium sulphate by washing and thus worked 125 up to narrow-pored silica gel The product dried at 2000 C has the following grain sizes: below 2 millimetres 6 8 ; from 2 to 6 millimetres 48 5 % above 6 millimetres 44 7 130 785,779 free from salts and can be moved, for example 60 on conveyer belt 26, to the drying apparatus or some other point at which it can be worked up.

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* GB785780 (A)

Description: GB785780 (A) ? 1957-11-06

Metal working lubricating compositions

Description of GB785780 (A)

A high quality text as facsimile in your desired language may be available amongst the following family members:

DE1001794 (B) FR1153087 (A) US2825693 (A) DE1001794 (B) FR1153087 (A) US2825693 (A) less

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The EPO does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of data and information originating from other authorities than the EPO; in particular, the EPO does not guarantee that they are complete, up-to-date or fit for specific purposes.

PATENT SPECIFICATION :ndex at Acceptance: -Class 9: Index at Acceptance: -Class T. 785,780 Date of Application and filing Complete Specification Feb 1, 1956. No 3227/56. Application made in United States of America on Feb 3, 1955. Complete Specification Published Nov 6, 1957. 1, F 2. International Classification: -Cl Om. COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Metal Working Lubricating Compositions We, N V DE BATAAFSCHE PETROLEUM MAATSCEAPPIJ, a Company organised under the laws of The Netherlands, of 30, Carel van Bylandtlaan, The Hague, The Netherlands, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to aqueous metal working lubricating compositions containing water-soluble non-ionic surface-active polyoxyalkylene compounds, which, as such or after dilution with water, are suitable for use in various metal cutting and fabricating operations. Aqueous metal working fluids containing a water-soluble non-ionic surface-active polyoxyalkylene compound are already known, but in practice they are not satisfactory in all respects. It has now been found that improved aqueous metal working lubricating compositions can be obtained by dispersing in an aqueous base ( 1) a water-soluble compound containing at least one homopolymeric polyoxyalkylene group having a molecular weight of at least 800 and being derived from an alkylene oxide with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and one or more polyoxyethylene groups comprising to 90 % by weight of the molecule, and ( 2) a water-soluble heteric polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene diol having a molecular weight of at least 300, or an ester or ether thereof.

ADDITIVE ( 1). The hoinopolymeric polyoxyalkylene group in Additive ( 1) has a molecular weight of at least 800, and, preferably, of at least 900, and is derived from an alkylene oxide with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably from propylene oxide. Additive ( 1) further contains one or more, generally one or two, polyoxyethylene groups comprising 15 to 90 % by weight, preferably 30 to 60 % by weight, of the molecule. Compounds of this type are commercially available under the trade name " Pluronics " and are marketed by the Wyandotte Chemical Corporation. Compounds of this type can be prepared by the methods described in the United States Specifications Nos 2,674,619 and 2,677,700. The compounds can be prepared by first condensing an alkylene oxide having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, such as propylene oxide, with a low molecular weight organic compound containing one or more reactive hydrogen atoms to form a polyoxyalkylene polymer, such as a polyoxypropylene polymer, containing a homopolymeric polyoxyalkylene group of the desired molecular weight (as indicated above, but preferably at least 1600 and still more preferably at least 2000) and thereafter condensing said polymer with ethylene oxide so as to form thereon polyoxyethylene groups which comprise from 15 % to 90 % by weight of the total polymer. In preparing the polyoxyalkylene polymer, such as a polyoxypropylene polymer, the condensation of the alkylene oxide, such as propylene oxide, with the organic compound containing one or more reactive hydrogen atoms is normally carried out at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, such as a sodium alkoxide, a quaternary ammonium base or sodium hydroxide The condensation reaction may however be carried out in the presence of an acid catalyst as described in United States Specification 2,510,540. Although the reaction may be carried out by simply heating a mixture of the reactants under pressure at a sufficiently high temperature, this procedure is not ordinarily used as the temperature and pressure required are excessive and control of the exothermic reaction is difficult. The preferred method of carrying out the reaction is to add the alkylene oxide, such as propylene oxide, to a stirred, heated mixture of the desired organic compound containing one or more reactive hydrogen atoms and the alkaline catalyst in a sealed reaction vessel By adding the alkylene oxide to the reaction vessel 785,780 at such a rate that it reacts as rapidly as added, an excess of alkylene oxide is avoided and control of the reaction is simplified. The temperature at which the reaction is run will depend upon the

particular system in question and especially upon the catalyst concentration used Generally, at higher catalyst concentrations the reaction can be run at lower temperatures and correspondingly lower pressures The temperature and pressure required for any given reaction will vary with the organic compound containing one or more reactive hydrogen atoms, and the type and concentration of catalyst used. The subsequent condensation of ethylene oxide with the polyoxyalkylene polymer is carried out in an analogous manner. The preparation of an additive of type ( 1) is illustrated in Example I. EXAMPLE I-PART A. In a one-litre 3-neck round-bottom flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, reflux condenser, thermometer and propylene oxide feed inlet, there were placed 57 grams ( O 75 mol) of propylene glycol and 7 5 grams of anhydrous sodium hydroxide The flask was purged with nitrogen to remove air and heated to 1200 C. with stirring until the sodium hydroxide was dissolved Then sufficient propylene oxide was introduced into the mixture as fast as it would react until the product possessed a calculated molecular weight of 2380 The product was cooled under nitrogen, the Na OH catalyst neutralised with sulphuric acid and the product filtered to remove inorganic solids The final product was a water-insoluble polyoxypropylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 1620 as determined by hydroxyl number or acetylation analytical test procedure. EXAMPLE I-PART B. 500 grams ( 0 308 mol) of the foregoing polyoxypropylene glycol, having an average molecular weight of 1620, were placed in the same apparatus as described in Part A of this Example, and 5 grams of anhydrous sodium hydroxide were added 105 grams of ethylene oxide were added at an average temperature of 1200 C, using the same technique as employed in Part A The amount of added ethylene oxide corresponded to 17 4 %C of the total weight of the polyoxypropylene glycol base plus the weight of added ethylene oxide. The function of the organic compound containing one or more reactive hydrogen atoms is to furnish reactive hydrogen atoms which initiate the polymerisation of the alkylene oxide Therefore, the organic compound containing one or more reactive hydrogen atoms will hereinafter be called " an initiator " Since the initiator constitutes only a small proportion of the resulting high molecular weight polyoxyalkylene compounds, it ordinarily does not have an influence on the properties thereof. In other words, the particular initiator employed in preparing the polyoxyalkyiene compounds is not critical and useful polyoxyalkylene compounds are obtained regardless of the particular initiator

employed. Ordinarily it is preferred to employ relatively low molecular weight initiators (molecular weight 200 or lower), preferably polyhydric alcohols, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, glycerol, and similar monomeric substances, although dimers, such as diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol, are also suitable. Example II demonstrates the use of various initiators. EXAMPLE II. Propylene oxide was condensed separately with acetamide, 1,5-pentanediol, glycerine, ethylene diamine, benzene sulphonamide and sucrose to form polyoxypropylene polymers having molecular weights in excess of 900 The general procedure employed was that of Example I, Part A, except for certain minor changes in technique which will be obvious to those skilled in the art Ethylene oxide was then condensed with the resulting polyoxypropylene polymers to prepare various compounds suitable for making compositions of the present invention The compositions of the resulting compounds are set forth in Table I. TABLE L Initiator Molecular weight poly Polyoxyethylene conoxypropylene polymer tent of final compound, (water-insoluble) per cent by weight of compound (water-soluble) Acetamide 974 36 1,5-pentanediol 1372 50 Glycerine 2060 48 Sucrose 5060 49 Ethylene diamine 1850 50 Benzenesulphonamide 1179 50 ADDITIVE ( 2) oxyethylene-polyoxypropylene diol having a Additive ( 2) is a water-soluble heteric poly molecular weight of at least 300, or an ester 785,780 or ether thereof The term " heteric " is used to designate an internal configuration of random distribution of the oxyethylene and oxy1,2-propylene units making up the copolymer. In this respect additive ( 2) is distinguished from additive ( 1), which contains a homopolymeric polyoxyalkylene group having a molecular weight of at least 800 and being derived from an alkylene oxide having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. Compounds of the type of additive ( 2) are commercially available under the Registered Trade Mark " Ucon " and are marketed by the Carbide and Carbon Chemical Corporation. Compounds of this type preferably contain at least one-third part of oxypropylene units for each part of oxyethylene units They are suitably prepared by the methods described in the United States Specification 2425845, as by reacting aliphatic diols or glycols simultaneously with ethylene oxide and 1,2-propylene oxide. The preparation of an additive of type ( 2) is illustrated in Example III in which the parts referred to are parts by weight. EXAMPLE III.

A mixture of 75 parts of ethylene oxide, 25 parts of 1,2-oxypropylene, 20 parts of diethylene glycol and 1 part of sodium hydroxide was heated for 2 to 4 hours at a temperature of 1100 to 125 C, and a pressure of 6 to 40 psi The product was purified by distillation to remove the volatile fraction and by filtration to remove sodium hydroxide and had the following properties: average molecular weight 1108; specific viscosity at 180 C, 0 1811; density, 210 F, 1 0296; refractive index 200 C / D 1 4671; flash temeperature, 4460 F, viscosity, centistokes at 2100 F, 17 5; and was water-soluble in all proportions. Another suitable method for preparing additives of type ( 2) is to charge about 25 to 75 parts of 1,2-propylene glycol and about 10 to parts ethylene oxide into a suitable reactor and react the mixture in the presence of a caustic alkali catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide To the mixture, a diol, such as diethylene glycol, is added and the mix is heated to about 11 O C to 1200 C at from 5 to 75 psi After the reaction is completed, the reaction mixture is neutralised with carbon dioxide and washed with hot water The diol composition phase is dissolved in dichloro diethyl ether and its low-boiling constituents are removed by stripping. Additives of type ( 1) as well as additives of type ( 2) have already been suggested as additives for aqueous metal working lubricating compositions Compositions containing additives of type ( 1) are excellent as far as cutting and load carrying properties are concerned. However, they cause sticking of machine tool ways, resulting in a slow-down, or, under aggravated conditions, even in stoppage, of production The reason for this phenomenon is 65 not understood but it appears that it may be attributable to the presence of the hydrophobic homopolymeric polyoxyalkylene group representing a substantial portion of the molecule. Increasing the water solubility by incorporating 70 a larger proportion of ethylene oxide groups in compounds of this type does not obviate the above undesirable properties. Additives of type ( 2) lack load carrying properties and are therefore relatively useless 75 where extreme pressures, wear and loads are encountered They are also excessively corrosive. We have discovered that the joint use of additive ( 1) and additive ( 2) in an aqueous 80 base provides a composition in which the shortcomings of each additive are overcome by the presence of the other The desirable properties of each are accentuated and the result is an aqueous metal working lubricant which is 85 stable, non-corrosive, does not cause sticking and is capable of carrying loads far in excess of similar compositions but in which either type

of additive is omitted. In many cases the addition of solubilising or 90 coupling agents to compositions of this invention is desirable Solubilising agents which are particularly suitable for use in the compositions of this invention are the watersoluble aliphatic alcohols or ether, particularly 95 the water-soluble alkyl ethers of glycols, such as the monoethyl, monopropyl, mono-n-butyl, mono-isobutyl and mono-tert-butyl ethers of ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol mono-hexylbutyl ether, propylene glycol mono-isoamyl 100 ether, the mono-methyl, mono-ethyl, mono-npropyl, mono-isopropyl, mono-butyl and mono-decyl ethers of di-ethylene glycol, the mono-ethyl, mono-isopropyl and mono-isoamyl ethers of dipropylene glycol, di-isobuty 105 lene glycol mono-isopropyl ether, ethylenepropylene glycol mono-ethyl ether i e: CQHOCH 4 OCQH 6 OH and ethylene-isobutylene glycol mono-isopropyl ether, i e: 110 (CHJ),CHOCH 40 CH 8 OH Ethylene glycol mono-ethers are sold by Carbon and Carbide Chemical Corporation under the registered Trade Mark "Cellosolve", and diethylene glycol mono-ethers under the 115 trade name " Carbitols " Instead of the glycol ethers, various alcohols may be used, such as diols having 6 or more carbon atoms in the molecule, e g hexylene glycol, the decylene glycols and the cetylene glycols, and digly 120 cols, such as dipropylene glycol, dibutylene glycol and diamylene glycol. When necessary, corrosion inhibitors can be used in compositions of this invention of which appreciably water-soluble inorganic or 125 organic nitrites and amines, such as alkylamines or alkanolamines, and mixtures thereof are particularly preferred. The useful nitrites include the metal nitrites, 785,780 such as sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium and barium nitrites, of which the alkali metal nitrites are preferred Nitrites derived from organic bases, preferably from organic nitrogen bases, may also be used Typical of such nittrites are benzyl-trimethyl ammonium nitrite, morpholinium nitrite, dibenzylammonium nitrite, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexylammonium nitrite, cyclohexylammonium nitrite, beta-penyl ethyl ammonium nitrite, methyl isobutyl carbammonium nitrite, i e HC(CH,) (Cl H) NH NQ,, piperidinium nitrite, dicyclohexylammonium nitrite and dicyclohexyl isopropylammonium nitrite. The useful amines include alkylamines and alkanolamines, such as the mono-, di and triethyl-, -propyl-, and -butyl-amines, the mono-, di and tri-ethanol-amines, the dimethylethanolamine, diethvl-ethanol-amine, aminoethylethanolamine, mono-, di-and tri-isopropropylamines, methyl-diethanolamine, N-acetyl ethanolamine, phenylethanolaamine, phenyl-diethanolamine and mixtures thereof. If desired, oiliness or anti-wear agents can be added in minor

proportions to compositions of this invention Fatty acids, and particularly unsaturated fatty acids, are the most suitable Essential additives Additive ( 1) Additive ( 2) Preferred optional additives Corrosion inhibitors, e g nitrites or amines Anti-wear agents, e g fatty acids Other optional Additives Anti-foaming agents, coupling agents germicidal agents, etc. Base Water The following are illustrative examples of concentrated metal working lubricating compositions of the invention, the percentages being by weight:COMPOSITION A. Additive of Example III 10 %,' Additive of Example I 8 % Sodium nitrite 8 % Triethanolamine 8 % Hexylene glycol 10 % Oleic acid 1 %, Sodium mercaptobenzothiazole (in 50 % water) 0 5 % Sodium o-phenylphenate 1 % Sodium alkyl polyphosphate of the formula Na (CQH,,), (P,010)21 l O%. Water Balance COMPOSITION B. Additive of Example III Additive of Example I Sodium nitrite Trisodium phosphate Water _ 10 %l 8 % 8 n/ 8 % Balance of such agents Among such acids are included saturated acids, e g capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic and stearic acids, and unsaturated 30 acids, such as palmitoleic, oleic, recinoleic, erucic, linoleic and linolenic acids, and mixtures thereof. Minor proportions of anti-foaming agents, e.g organic silicone compounds, such as di 35 methyl silicone polymers, organo phosphates, such as tributyl phosphate, alkali metal organo polyphosphates, such as sodium alkyl polyphosphates, and polyglycidylisopropyl ethers having a molecular weight of 500 to 1200, pre 40 ferably 600 to 800, masking agents, e g low molecular weight aldehydes such as acetaldehyde, oil of pines and oil of mirbane, perfuming agents, bactericides, e g alkyl phenols and phenates, such as sodium o-phenyl phenate, 45 and anti-corrosion agents for copper and copper alloys, e g mercaptobenzothiazoles, such as sodium mercaptobenzothiazole, may be added to the compositions of this invention. Effective concentrated metal working lubri 50 cating compositions in accordance with the present invention can be prepared according to the following formulations: Broad range % wt. 5-20 5-20 1-12 0.01 5 0.01-20 Balance COMPOSITION Additive of Example III Additive of Example I Sodium nitrite Ethanolamine Water Preferred range % wt. 6-15 6-15 5-10 0.5 3 0.1-12 Balance C. COMPOSITION D. Additive of Example III Additive of Example I Sodium nitrite Sodium borate Oleic acid Dimethylethanolamine Water COMPOSITION E. Additive of Example III Additives of Example I Sodium nitrite Linoleic acid Triethanolamine Sodium mercaptobenzthiazole (in % water) Water 8 O' jo, 8 % 8 % Balance %h % 8 % 8 % 1 % 8 % Balance % % 8 % 8 ' 0.5 %

Balance 785,780 The concentrated compositions can be used neat or diluted with further quantities of water They may be diluted with, for example, from 1 to 80 parts of water, but the optimum S amount of water is somewhat dependent on the use to which the lubricant is put For example, for cutting of steel, dilutions of 1:20 to 1: 40 are recommended; for cutting of cast iron dilutions of 1:10 to 1: 20; and for grinding operations dilutions of 1:40 to 1:50 are recommended. Compositions of this invention are outstanding metal working lubricants For example, Composition A (at 1: 20 dilution with water) was compared with a similar composition but in which the additive of Example I was omitted (Composition X) Composition A showed an increase of 54 % in drill life over Composition X, and a decrease in sliding friction of from 500 g to 125 g over Composition X Also, Composition A, when used as a coolant on a lathe in a commercial plant, caused no corrosion of metal parts with which it came into contact and the lathe was clean and its working parts were in excellent condition even after weeks of use However, when a similar composition, but in which the additive of Example m, was omitted, was used in the same machine and operation, the sliding parts of the lathe became sticky and after a day the machine had to be stopped and cleaned. Compositions of this invention can be applied with excellent results to general cutting operations where cooling and lubrication of the tool and work piece under adverse conditions are encountered Metals machined with the aid of compositions of this invention have good surface finish, are free from rust and stain, and the total life of machine tools and fluid is excellent.

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* GB785781 (A)

Description: GB785781 (A) ? 1957-11-06

Apparatus for printing surfaces not readily absorptive of printing mediums

Description of GB785781 (A)

PATENT SPECIFICATION 7875,f 781 Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: Feb 7, 1956. : No 3759/56. Application made in United States of America on April 21, 1955. Complete Specification Published: Nov 6, 1957 Index at Acceptance:-Class 100 ( 2), C 10 81 (F: G), C 10 83 (B: C 1 A: C 1 B), C 10 (E 6: U), C 18 (F:K:N 9 '. International Classification:-B 41). COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Apparatus for Printing Surfaces Not Readily Absorptive of Printing Mediums. We, WM WRIGLEY, JR COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, of 400 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, State of Illinois, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to apparatus for printing on surfaces which are not readily absorptive of usual or ordinary printing mediums, such as ink, and more particularly to apparatus for printing of indicia by deposit and adhesion of a thermo-liquefied printing medium on surfaces such as cellulose or wax coated wrappers of packages and the like. The apparatus of this invention will be described with reference to its application to a machine for code-marking packages of chewing gum and the like, which machine is of the general type disclosed in British Patent Specification No 751,389 dated March 5th, 1954, for MECHANISM FOR APPLYING INDICIA TO PACKAGES OR THE LIKE. To present neat attractive appearance and to preserve the moisture content and general freshness of food, confectionery and the like, it is customary to wrap them in protective and moisture retaining wrappers and to package them Wax is often used as an adhesive for the outer wrapper Also, it is common practice to use an outer wrapper of a cellulose or like material which, whether carrying wax on its outer surface or not as a result of the sealing operation, is normally non-absorptive of usual ink and externally applied printing mediums. This is particularly true of packages of chewing gum since chewing gum, if allowed to dry, becomes hard and brittle Despite the presence of the even laminated foil, waxed paper and cellulose wrappers,

however, a slow drying and hardening takes place in the chewing gum as lPrice 3 s 6 d l it ages, so that the mere presence of such 45 wrappings is not always sufficient guarantee of the softness and freshness of the material therein. One way in which the freshness of wrapped and packaged chewing gum can be assured is 50 by marking each package with a code number at the time the package is made up, the code number providing an indication of the date on which the package left the packaging machine. An inspection of similar packages offered for 55 sale by retail outlets would then reveal which of the packages are over age and should be withdrawn from sale. Since the wrappers which enclose the chewing gum packages usually have an outer 60 wrapper of cellulose or like material folded at the ends and sealed with wax, in addition to laminated inner foil and waxed paper wrappings, and since the end of the package is a convenient place to apply a code number or 65 suitable indicia indicating a date or other information, it is necessary to apply the mark to a non-absorptive surface which may have a coating of wax thereon as a result of the wax sealing of folds It is difficult to apply a code 70 marking to the package end surface without having the mark smear when applied or in subsequent handling of the package. It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for placing a coloured mark on a 75 non-absorbent surface, which mark will not be smeared, or, otherwise erased or distorted by such abrasion as is encountered during the ordinary handling of a package. A more specific object of this invention is 80 the provision of appar 4 tus for printing numbers or the like upon a moving surface of smooth and non-absorbent material, the printed numbers being sufficiently hard and adequately adhered to the surface to resist being smeared 85 by contact with other similar surfaces, or by ordinary handling. A further specific object of this invention is the provision of apparatus for automatically printing a code number in wax upon a moving surface. A feature of this invention is a means for continuously impregnating a porous roller with coloured wax or other thermo-liquefied printing medium, so that such printing medium may be transferred from a tank or vessel containing the printing medium in liquid form to the raised characters of the printing roller in a uniform and satisfactory manner. The features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken together with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:Fig 1 is a top plan view of the printing apparatus of this invention shown in an application to the printing of indicia on the ends of a moving

stream of pre-arranged packages of chewing gum; Fig 2 is a side sectional view of the printing apparatus of Fig 1, the view being taken substantially on a line 2-2 of Fig 1, and in the direction of the accompanying arrows; Fig 3 is another side sectional view of the printing apparatus of Fig 1, wherein the section is taken substantially on a line 3-3 of Fig 1 and in the direction of the arrows; Fig 4, 5 and 6 are side elevational views of certain of the parts of an applicator mechanism for the printing medium as used in our printing apparatus; Fig 7 is a fragmentary end sectional view of our printing apparatus, the view being taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig 2 and in the direction of the associated arrows; Fig 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the printing mechanism utilized in the disclosed printing apparatus; and Fig 9 is a perspective view of a typical package with which the printing apparatus of this invention may be used. The means for driving the printing mechanism of this invention is described and claimed in detail in the aforesaid British Specification, and hence will be described herein only in sufficient detail for an understanding of its structure and operation in association with the invention disclosed and claimed herein Referring to Figs 1, 2 and 7, there is shown a continuous stream 10 of packages 12 of chewing gum or the like as it is forcibly propelled along a chute 11 connected to the output of a wrapping machine (not shown), the force for the movement of the stream of packages being derived from said wrapping machine The packages chosen for illustration are of rectangular section and elongated form and may contain the usual five sticks of chewing gum As shown in Fig 9, each package 12 is completely wrapped in a laminated wrapper having an inner foil layer, an intermediate layer of waxed paper and an outer layer of a cellulose sheet or the like, which outer layer is smooth, glossy and non-absorptive of ordinary printing mediums, such as ink A composite laminated wrapper 13 is folded and overlapped at the ends of the package to form trapezoidal flaps 14, 15, 16 and 17 having the cellulose layer 70 exposed The flaps are held in place and sealed by wax, some of which may squeeze out onto the exposed end surface of the package, thereby presenting additional resistance to the adhesion of ordinary printing mediums The 75 last flap to be folded is flap 17 and it presents the greatest area to the exterior of the package. Flap 17, therefore, is utilized to receive the printed code number indicating the date on which the package passed through the code 80 printing apparatus The code number is shown in Fig 9 as letter " X ", but it is understood that any suitable number, letter or mark may be used for this purpose. The packages 12 pass along chute 11 in 85 engaging side-by-side

relation, each package pushing the one ahead of it, and the last package to leave the wrapping machine propelling all those between it and the printing apparatus hereinafter to be described 90 The motive power for the printing apparatus is derived from the forced movements of the packages themselves and is translated through a pair of spaced wheels 18 secured to, and adapted to drive, a shaft 19 supported in de 95 pending journals 20 on a frame 21 of the printing apparatus. The outer periphery of each wheel 18 is serrated to form spaced teeth 22, with the adjacent teeth spaced to receive therebetween 100 a package 12 as measured along chute 11 in the direction of travel of said package Teeth 22 project through suitable openings 23 and 24 in chute 11, and the outer projecting regions of the teeth have peripheral dimensions such that 105 they are contacted by the forward edge of alternate ones of the engaged moving packages and are moved longitudinally of chute 11 with the packages This movement is similar to that produced in a sprocket wheel and results in a 110 rotation of the wheels 18. The rotation of the wheels 18 is transmitted to an adjacent shaft 25 by sprockets 26 and 27 connected together by a driving chain 28 Said shaft 25 is disposed transversely of chute 11115 and substantially parallel to shaft 19, and is also and similarly suitably journaled in the frame 21 To equalise the forces on the moving packages resulting from the endwise printing operation, two printing devices are used, 120, one at each end of a package and they are synchronized to perform their printing operations simultaneously Since the two printing devices are substantially the same except that they are left-and-right-hand devices, this de 125 scription will be confined to just one of the devices, which will be the one depicted in more detail in Figs 1, 2 and 3, with only a passing reference to the portion of the other device, shown in detail for completeness in Figs 7 130 785,781 coloured wax 54 which functions, in the present instance, as the printing medium and which is held in a container 55 which, iri the disclosed structure, is integral with frame 21. Although the lower end of felt cylinder 53 70 is immersed in wax 54, it has been found that the wax will not readily work its way upward through the felt to the vicinity of the printing roller by capillary action as some printing mediums, such as ink, would do The upward 75 movement is therefore given impetus by a simple pump comprising a spiral groove 56 (Fig 4) in the outer cylindrical surface of a stationary sleeve 57 having an eccentric attaching flange 58 at the lower end thereof 80 through, which the sleeve 57 is secured to the bottom of the container 55 by a pair of screws 59. Sleeve 57 and its groove 56 extend upwardly into the counterbore 46 of the spool 45, 85 and the counterbored portion of said spool is

provided at the region adjacent the upper end of counterbore 46 with a plurality of radial openings 60 (Fig 5) arranged in a double row. A clearance of between 0 005 to 0 010 inch is 90 provided between the outer surface of sleeve 57 and the interior surface of counterbore 46. Spiral groove 56 also extends downwardly beyond the lower end of spool 45 in free communication with the printing medium, so that 95 the liquid printing medium may readily enter the groove. It may be apparent that when the described mechanism is in operation, the movement of packages 12 on chute 11 causes rotation of 100 wheels 18 which, in turn, causes rotation of shaft 19, and then, through sprockets 26, chain 28 and sprocket 27, causes rotation of shaft 25 This, in turn, results in a rotation of gear 29 which drives bevel gear 30 and its 105 associated shaft 31 Shaft 31 drives gear 41, and this results in a rotation of pinion 43 and its associated spool 45 It may be observed that there is a speed multiplication between sprockets 26 and 27 and a further speed multiplica 110 tion between gear 41 and gear 43 due to the relative sizes of these sprockets and gears. Spool 45 therefore will be driven at a rate which is proportional to the amount of coloured printing medium required for 115 printing purposes, and this rotation will cause printing mediums, such as liquefied wax, to be picked up by the interior surface of counterbore 46 and urged upwardly along spiral groove 56 and into the openings 60 120 There it is confined by shoulder 47 and a slight pressure will thus be developed in the printing medium picked up which will cause the printing medium, even though more viscous than some liquids, to flow through the openings 60 125. into the felt cylinder 53, and then through said cylinder to the upper region thereof which is contacted by the indicia 37 on the printing roller 36 A continuous supply of printing medium at the printing roller is thus assured 130 and 8. Referring to Fig 3, there is shown mounted on the end of shaft 25 a bevel, gear 29 which meshes with a bevel gear 30 pinned to a vertical shaft 31 for rotation therewith Said shaft 31 is mounted in anti-friction bearings 32 and 33, and the upper end 34 thereof is made of larger diameter to form a shoulder 35 by which the shaft is suspended in bearing 33. :10 Keyed to the upper end 34 of the shaft 31 is a narrow printing roller 36 having a series of equally spaced code numbers or letters designated by reference numerals 37 and which are formed on the outer periphery of the printing roller Immediately adjacent the printing roller 36 and similarly keyed to upper end 34 of the shaft 31 is a gripper wheel 38 having a series of relatively widely spaced pairs of serrated grippers 39 formed on the :20 outer periphery thereof It may be noted (Fig 8) that the spacing between adjacent grippers 39 is

alternately different and such. that the larger spacing provides contact at spaced positions on the ends of adjacent packages near the front and rear edges thereof as they pass along the chute Identical gripper wheels are used at the two ends of the package so that said ends are held by the grippers while the printing rollers operate thereon, thereby preventing sliding of the packages past the printing rollers, as fully set forth in the aforesaid British Specification It may also be noted that a portion 40 of the end of a package held between adjacent grippers is caused by such grippers to bow outwardly, thereby insuring contact between the end of the package and the printing roller adjacent thereto during the printing operation. A gear 41 is secured to gripper wheel 38 and printing roller 36 by a pair of machine screws 42 in such manner that these three elements are constrained to rotate together Gear 41 meshes with a pinion 43 mounted on a shaft 44 which is rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 31 Also mounted on the shaft 44 and in proximity to the pinion 43 is a spool 45, said spool having a counterbore 46 forming a shoulder 47 which abuts on a snap ring 48 disposed in a peripheral groove in the shaft 44 A machine screw 49 threaded in the end of shaft 44, and a washer 50, serve to clamp the pinion 43 and spool 45 against the snap ring 48 to compel rotation of the spool 45 with pinion 43. A flange 51 at the top of the spool is integral with the spool body 45 and a snap ring 52 is mounted in a peripheral groove near the lower end of the spool to provide a removable support for a porous cylinder 53 of felt or the like -and of a size to, be slipped over and carried by the spool 45 The upper end of cylinder 53 is disposed at a position to be contacted by the code numbers 37 as the printing roller and felt cylinder 53 are rotated, The lower end of cylinder 53 is immersed in liquid 785,7811 1 1 '1 The printing mediuin, as utilized in my disclosed structure, being a thermo-liquefied medium, such as a wax having a colour contrasting with that of the surfaces to which it is to be applied, must be kept hot in order to remain sufficiently fluid to function as a printing medium The bottom of container 55 is therefore bored out at 61 (Fig 2) to receive a cylindrical electrical heating element 62 which is supplied with electricity through lead wires 63 from a suitable source of electrical energy Adjacent one of said heating elements, as seen in Fig: 7, is a second bore 64 in which a thermostat 65 is mounted, which thermostat is electrically connected in the circuit of the heating elements 62 and functions to maintain the temperature of the heated printing medium within predetermined limits Only one such thermostat is necessary since both heating elements may be controlled from the one thermostat.

It has been found that the printing medium will harden very quickly after it is applied to the relatively cool surface of the package, and therefore there is little or no danger that the code number or symbol applied to the ends of the packages will be smeared after the application Furthermore, it may be observed that the printing roller actually indents the ends of the packages and the code number therefore is placed upon a portion of the end which is concave; that is, it is placed inwardly of the edges of the end regions and therefore there is little or no likelihood that the code number or symbol will contact the sides of the chute as the packages leave the printing station. It may be apparent from the foregoing description that an entirely automatic means has been provided for applying code numbers or symbols adhesively to the ends of packages wrapped with a smooth, glossy and nonabsorptive outer wrapping material which, in some instances, may have a surface coating of was therein, the code number or symbol adhering readily to the surface and hardening sufficiently to prevent smearing or distortion thereof through subsequent manipulation or handling of the packages A relatively soft wick-like material is used as the applicator for supplying an adequate coating of printing medium to the printing roller despite the fact that the printing medium is of a type which does not flow readily through such material by capillary action However, this characteristic of the thermo-liquefied wax printing medium is readily nullified by the simple pump provided on the interior of the applicator. It is understood that the foregoing description is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention and that the scope of the invention therefore is not to be limited thereto but is to be determined by the appended claims.

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* GB785782 (A)

Description: GB785782 (A) ? 1957-11-06

Improvements in or relating to dial gauges for measuring differences indimensions

Description of GB785782 (A)

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to Dial Gauges for Measuring Differences in Dimensions. We, RENE DROZ, of 13, Chemin de Bellerive, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland, and HANS MEYER of Le Bugnon 24, Renens, Vaud, Switzerland, both Swiss citizens, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Dial gauges for measuring differences in dimensions are known, which contain a cam disc rotatably mounted in a measuring casing. Under the influence of a spiral spring acting thereon the latter bears against a roller mounted on a measuring rod so that the position of this roller determines the angle of rotation of the cam disc. Mechanisms of this character may be suitable for rough measurements, but are unsatisfactory for more accurate requirements. As the measuring roller is freely mounted for rotation on its spindle, a point on its periphery may be brought into register with a suitable point of the cam disc. A noncircular rotation of the roller thus acts directly in a defective manner on the measured result. In gears of the type described above a positive rolling, one on the other, of the parts (roller and cam disc) partaking in the measurement, does not occur, but at the same time some sliding friction occurs, which in turn limits the sensitiveness of the measuring system. Gears are also known wherein toothed sectors co-operate in such a manner that a variation of their axial spacing produces a disengagement thereof. In this case the sectors then act as a transmission member with variable transmission. A gear of this character is not suitable for use in measuring appliances as it is not possible with known means to produce the teeth so accurately that they satisfy the necessary requirements for this particular field. In order to obviate the aforesaid disadvantages, the dial gauge,

according to the invention, contains in a casing two hingedly mounted co-operating rolling bodies provided with smooth rolling tracks which are so actuated by the measuring bolt against a spring force, that a variation in their hinge spacing produces a swinging out of the rolling bodies, and is characterised in that means co-operating with the rolling bodies are provided which produce a positive relative movement of the rolling bodies. A few methods of construction of the subject of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein : - Fig. 1 is a view of the appliance with the cover removed, in section on the line I-I of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a section of the appliance on the line II--II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows, to a larger scale and in section, the contact point of the rolling bodies. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the method of operation of the appliance. Fig. 5 is a partial view of a second form of construction. Fig. 6 is a view of a third form of construction with the upper part of the casing removed and sectioned on the line VI-VI of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a section on the line VII--VII of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration. According to Figs. 1 and 2, the casing of the measuring appliance consists of two casing halves 1 and 2 secured together by means of screws 3. In this casing are two rolling bodies 4 and 5, of which the rolling tracks 6 and 7 roll on one another, which are mounted for oscillation. These rolling bodies have the general shape of sectors of a circle. The rolling body 4 is seated on a spindle 8, which turns in two ball bearings 9 and 10, which in turn are secured in corresponding bores of the casing parts 1 and 2. The rolling body 5 is connected adjustably by means of two screws 14 and 15 to a bearing part 13 carried by two ball bearings 11 and 12. For this purpose the part 13 is provided with a slot tSa in which the screw 15 can slide. After relative adjustment of the parts 5 and 13 the screws 14 and 15 are tightened. A spindle 16 mounted in the ball bearings 11 and 12 is in turn securely connected to a lever 17 which can turn on a pin 18 fitted into the casing part 1. To the rolling body 4 is secured, by two screws 19, a toothed segment 20 of which the teeth engage with a pinion 21 of which the spindle 22 carries a pointer 24 moving over a dial 23. On a part 25 of the spindle 22 acts a spiral spring 26 which is anchored to the casing 2 in a manner not shown. A transparent disc 28, firmly held on the casing part 1 by a spring ring 27, is arranged over the dial 23. In order to obtain a positive relative movement of the rolling bodies

4 and 5, these are connected together by bands 29 and 30, one end of each band being secured to one of the rolling bodies, so that they cross at the contact point of the rolling bodies. In the example illustrated the bands are formed as double bands. The band 29 is at one end secured to the rolling body 4 by a screw 31, whilst its other end is suspended on a tensioning spring 33 secured to the rolling body 5 by a screw 32. The band 30 passes from the rolling body 5, to which it is secured by a screw 34, in the same manner, to a tension spring 25 which is secured to the rolling body 4 by a screw 36. As shown in Fig. 3, the two rolling tracks 6 and 7 can roll directly on one another, whereas the two double bands 29 and 30 are guided in lateral recesses of the rolling bodies 4 and 5. Variable thickness of the bands 29 and 30, which may sometimes occur, is thus prevented from influencing the measuring result. From Fig. 3 it will further be seen that the two bands 29, forming the double band, are mounted symmetrically between the rolling tracks 6 and 7, on the one hand, and the two bands 30, on the other hand. In this manner the tension forces of the bands are compensated and no torque movement can be produced which would be liable to produce additional friction forces in the bearings of the rolling bodies 4 and 5. The rolling track 6 of the rolling body 4 is arcuate with the radius R1. Its centre coincides with the axis of rotation of the rolling body 4. The rolling track 7 of the rolling body 5 is also circular with the radius R2. Its centre is located by an amount e eccentric to the turning point A of the rolling body 5. The eccentricity e can be adjusted by adjusting the bearing member 13. The selected curved shape of the rolling tracks 6 and 7, in the example shown, produces a transmission which is not strictly linear. When this becomes necessary it is advisable to construct one of the two rolling tracks as a so-called Archimedean screw (r=a. a), of which the origin coincides with the hinge centre point. It is obvious that the rolling bodies may have a suitably selected track curve corresponding with the transmission ratios. A spring 37, suspended and supported on bolts 38 and 39 of the casing 1, acts on the lever 17, so that the torque produced thereby counteracts that produced by the spiral spring 26. As a result the mechanism can operate free from play. The mechanism described is shown in the drawing (Fig. 1) in a central setting position. The two end positions are determined by stops with which the rolling body 4 can come into contact. One of these stops is formed by the bolt 38 and the other bv the bolt 42. In Fig. 4 is shown diagrammatically the method of operation of the mechanism described. Under the action of a force P acting on the

rolling bodies 4 and 5 these carry out an oscillating movement in the direction of the arrow by reason of the shape and arrangement of their rolling tracks The ratio between the magnitude of movement of the force P and the oscillation of the rolling bodies 4 and 5 thus depends on the shape of the rolling bodies and their rolling tracks. In order to reduce friction influences to a minimum, the rolling bodies 4 and 5, in the example shown, are mounted in roller bearings 9, 10 and 11, 12 respectively. They may also be mounted in knife bearings or may be connected hingedly by means of springs on the casing or on the lever 17. For smaller transmissions it is also possible to provide carefully constructed plain bearings, for example jewel bearings. The amount of angular movement of the rolling bodies 4 and 5 may also be made directly visible by the fact that one of the two bodies, preferably the rolling body 4, is provided with a pointer. In the example illustrated the indication of the angular movement of the rolling bodies is magnified by the provision of the toothed segment '0 and the pinion 21, which acts on the pointer 24. The transmission or indication of the measuring result may also be effected in the known manner by another method, such as mechanical, electrical, optical and so forth. In the example illustrated the rolling tracks are flat in cross-section, so that the rolling bodies 4 and 5 make linear contact, that is to say, the rolling tracks 6 and 7 are simply curved smooth surfaces. The contact may, however, also be point contact, which can be obtained by suitable shaping of the rolling tracks. In principle the measuring force as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, can, operate directly in a direction determined by the connecting line of the two links. In the arrangement described this is effected by the lever 17. The advantage of such a construction resides in the fact that the rolling bodies 4 and 5, on the occurrence of a measuring force on the measuring bolt 41, are relieved of load and thereby the entire- mechanism is protected against the undesirable action of shocks on the measuring keys. In Fig. 5 is shown a modification. The rolling bodies 4 and 5 in this case 'are not in direct contact but a roller 47 is located between them which rotates on a spindle 48 mounted in the casing part 1. In this construction two bands are also provided, which are passed from one rolling body to the other over the roller 47. A band 43- is secured by means of a screw 51 to the rolling body 5, passes halfway around the roller 47 and is suspended from the spring 45 secured to the rolling body 4 by the screw 53. In a corresponding manner a band 44, secured to the rolling body 5 by the screw 52, passes over the roller 47 to the spring 46, which is secured to the rolling body 4 by

the screw 54. On the spindle of the roller 47 is mounted a pointer 49 which moves in front of a dial 50. Both bands cross one another at the contact points of the roller 47 with the rolling bodies 4 and 5 The positive opposite movement of the rolling bodies can also be obtained thereby that they are provided with relatively interengaging teeth, of which the pitch curves suitably corresponding with the rolling tracks. The measuring operation takes- place in such a manner that when pressing the measuring bolt 41 into the casing, the bearing A of the lever 17 is moved away from the centre of the casing. The two rolling bodies 4 and 5 are thus relieved of load and can move upwardly under the action of the spiral spring 26 (Fig. 1). The extent of this movement is rendered visible on the dial 23 through the segment 20, the pinion 21 and the pointer 24. On the return movement of the measuring bolt 41 the parts again return to their initial position under the action of the spring 37 and the rolling body. 4 bears against the stop 42. In Figs. 6 to & is shown a further example of construction according to the invention. In a casing formed by two parts held together by screws 62, are located two rolling bodies 63 and 64. The rolling body 63.is seated firmly on a spindle 65, which is mounted in ball bearings 66 and 67. The latter are held in the two casing halves 60 and 61. The rolling body .64 is provided with two ball bearings 69 and- 70, in which rotates a shaft 71 pressed into a measuring bolt 68. To. the rolling bodies 63 and 64 toothed segments 74 and 75 are -secured 'by screws 72, 73 respectkely, which ensure the positive rolling of the rolling tracks 76 and 77 on one another. The centre of curvature of the rolling track 76 of the rolling body 64 coincides with its axis of rotation 71. The centre of curvature of the rolling track 77 of the rolling body 63, however, is located outside its axis of rotation 65i so that the point of -contact of the two. rolling tracks is located- outside the plane passing through the axes of rotation 65 and 71. The rolling circles of the teeth 78 and 79 correspond in their course with the rolling tracks 76 and .77. The rolling body 64 is provided with a flat rolling track 76, whilst the rolling track of the rolling body 63 is formed by a flat resistance wire 82 wound around a core 81. For the reception of the resistance wire the rolling body is provided with a hollow portion of semi-circular cross-section, which is coated with an electrical insulating layer 80. The two ends of the resistance 82 are passed over springs 83 and 98 of good electrically conducting material to two terminals 86 and 88, provided with eyes 89 and 91, insulated from the casing. The terminals

are in turn fitted into an insulating plate 92 secured to the casing by screws 93. The rolling body 64 is connected electrically through a spring 95, suspended in a ring 94 of the toothed segment 75, and through. the supporting point 96, insulated from the casing to a connection 87 and to a loop 90. In Fig. 6 the measuring appliance is shown in its normal position. As the sum of the tension forces of the springs 95 and 98 exceeds the tension force of the spring 83, the rolling bodies63 and 64 are drawn upwardly until the rolling body 64 bears against a stop 97. When moving the measuring bolt 68 into the casing the. rolling bodies receive a turning movement about their axes (downwards in Fig. 6) by reason of the above described arrangement, and the track 76 rolls over the resistance 82. Between the connections 87 and 88 (Fig. 8) the electrical resistance is therefore increased when the rolling bodies 63 and 64 move in the direction of the arrows, whereas at the same time it is reduced between the connections 86 and 87. The movement of the measuring bolt thus produces a variation in the electrical resistances, ,which. in the known manner, can be used for actuating indicating instruments, relays and so -forth. In this manner it is possible to separate in space the measuring and the indicating member. .The rolling body 64 is connected electricalmly to thp casing through the ball bearings 69 nd 70, the pin 71 and the measuring bolt 68. It may prove necessary to insulate it from the casing. In order to effect- this it is possible for example for a part of the rolling body to consist of insulating material or the balls of the bearings 69 and 70 may be of insulating material. Instead of a wound wire resistance 82 it is also possible to use a resistance of wire or band form. It is also possible to construct the-rolling body -63, at least in part, of insulating material and to spray or steam the resistance in the known manner. Both rolling bodies may, in so far as this is necessary for electrical purposes, be pro- vided with resistances. It is further possible to provide at least one of the two rolling tracks with one or more contacts which when unrolling the two tracks are actuated successively. What we claim is 1. A dial gauge for measuring linear dimensions; with two co-operating rolling bodies -hingedly mounted in a casing and provided with smooth rolling tracks, said rolling bodies being so actuated by a measuring bolt against spring action, that a modification of their hinge spacing produces a swinging out of the rolling bodies, characterised in that with the rolling bodies cooperating means are provided which produce a positive relative movement of the rolling bodies. 2. A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that

the positive, relative mdvement of the rolling bodies is produced by crosswise arranged pulling members. 3. A measuring appliance according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the pulling members are arranged symmetrically to the rolling bodies so that the forces applied by the pulling members relatively overcome one another and do not apply any additional forces produced thereby on the bearing points of the rolling bodies. 4. A measuring appliance according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that each of the pulling members each firmly engage with one of the rolling members, whilst they are also secured elastically to the other roll ing member. 5. A measuring apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the positive, relative movement of the rolling bodies is produced by inter-engaging teeth provided thereon. 6. A measuring apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the hinges is mounted in plain bearings. 7. A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the hinges is mounted in roller bearings. 8. A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the hinges is mounted in knife bearings. 9. A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the hinges is formed as a resilient element. 10. A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the rolling bodies are flat in cross-section- and are in line contact with one another. 11: A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the rolling tracks of the rolling bodies are so constructed that they make point contact with one another. 12. A measuring appliance according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least one of the rolling tracks has the shape of an arc of a circle. 13. A measuring appliance according to claims 1 and 12, characterised in that the centre of the rolling track shaped as an arc of a circle coincides with the hinge centre. 14. A measuring appliance according to claims 1 and 12, characterised in that the centre of the rolling track is located outside the hinge centre. 15. A measuring appliance according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least one of the rolling tracks has the shape of a spiral of an Archimedes, of which the beginning coincides with the hinge centre. 16. A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the rolling bodies is constructed of two parts, one of the parts carrying the rolling track. the other the hinge, and that the two parts can be adjusted relatively

to one another. 17. A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the rolling bodies are subjected to the action of a spring which tends to return them to their initial position. 18. A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that an intermediate member is provided between the rolling bodies. 19. A measuring appliance according to claims 1 and 18, characterised in that the intermediate member is formed as a roller mounted in the casing. 20. A measuring appliance according to claims 1, 18 and 19, characterised in that an indicating member is actuated by the intermediate member. 21. A measuring appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the rolling bodies is provided with a resistance electrically insulated from the rolling body, the rolling track of the other rolling body rolling on said resistance. 22. A measuring appliance according to claims 1 and 21, characterised in that the ends of the resistance are carried by connections electrically insulated from the casing. 23. A measuring appliance according to claims 1, 21 and 22, characterised in that

* GB785783 (A)

Description: GB785783 (A) ? 1957-11-06

An improved method and machine for the production of rubber and like rings

Description of GB785783 (A)

COMPLETE SPEMFI4JATION An improved method and Machine for the Production of Rubber and like Rings I, PIERRE FRANCOIS JOSEPH DUFOUR, Of 21, bis Rue Saint Nicolas, Neauphie-le-Chateau, France, of French Nationality, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by

the following statement: This invention relates to the production of rings of rubber or like elastomers and provides a method and a machine for subjecting rubber or like elastomeric material to a rolling process whereby the material will he transformed into a toroidal ring. In my Application No. 13358/53 (Specification No. 780122) of even date, I have describbed and claimed a process and machines for carrying out molecular ordering of material comprising a high-polymer, which includes rubber and like elastomers, and such application includes the production of rings having a defined molecular structure. The present application is concerned solely with the production of rings by my rolling method without reference to the molecular structure of the material in the rings. According to the present invention, a machine for producing a rubber or like elastomer or high polymer precision toric ring comprises a mandrel, a sleeve co-axially surrounding the mandrel and defining therewith an annular space having a radial dimension appreciably less than the radial cross-sectional diameter of rings to be produced, means for feeding blanks into the annular space, means for effecting relative axial reciprocation of the mandrel and sleeve and means for effecting adjustable heating of the mandrel and sleeve. The invention also consists in a method of producing a rubber or like elastomer or high polymer precision toric ring, which compri & es feeding one or more blanks constituting a measured amount of an elastomer or high polymer material in its plastic state into an annular space between a mandrel and a sleeve co-axially surrounding the mandrel, the radial dimension of the annular space being appreciably less than the radial cross-sectional diameter of the ring to be produced, and effecting relative axial movement of the mandrel and sleeve to cause multi-calendering of the blank or blanks into a continuous mass having the form of a jointless ring radially compressed and flattened in the annular space until, on ejection from the annular space, the ring assumes toric shape. The invention further consists in an article of manufacture comprising a toric ring which is produced, either thermo-plastic or thermofixed, seamless, without burrs, i.e. spew or flash-lines, and has a regular, smooth and polished surface. In order that the present invention may be readily understood, a preferred embodiment thereof is described below by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 'Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate, respectively, a partial axial section and a plan view of one form of machine for the production of toric rings; and Figs. 3 and 4 show partial axial sections of this machine at different

stages of its operation. The machine illustrated serves to effect the production of toroidal rings from cylindrical blanks. 1 and 2 are two surfaces of revolution for effecting the rolling. They are coaxial and their axis XX is vertical in the illustrated example. They are provided by a sleeve 3 and a mandrel 4, respectively. Each of them is heated by means of a circulating fluid arriving at 5 in the sleeve 3 and leaving at 6 for the surface 1, and similarly arriving at 7 in the mandrel 4 and leaving at 8 for the surface 2 (Fig. 1). The sleeve 3 is rigidly secured at its top part to a table 9 integral with a frame 10. The mandrel 4 is fixed to a slide 11 adapted to be reciprocated in a rectilinear and regular manner along the axis XX. The machine is completed by means for feeding blanks and ejecting the manufactured toroids. The first of these means comprises a distributor-bender for the blanks, placed flat on the table 9 either side of the surface 2 (Figs. 1 and 2). The distributor. includes two channels 12 for feeding the blanks in pairs as shown at 13. Each channel 12 leads to a slide member 14 laterally guided by slide blocks 15 and whose side 16 facing the axis XX is machined in the shape of a segment of a torus. The segment 16 is symm;etrical about axis ZZ (Fig. 2) and extends by 1800 in each of its planes perpendicular to the axis XX and in each axial radial plane along an arc of about 1200, starting from the upper end of the vertical diameter (Fig. 19. The slides 14 are arranged to be pushed against the surface 2 in the directions of the arrows fl and f and returned to their initial positions by means of rods 17 actuated by hand or mechanically. The means for ejecting the produced toroids are constituted by the very shape of the surface of revolution 2. This surface 2 is conical in the portion effecting the rolling which is comprised between its lower free end 18 and its section X near the slide 11 (Fig. 1). The section aa, which is the large base of the cone, is so positioned that, when the slide 11 is at the bottom of the downward stroke, it lies in the same plane as the axis ZZ of the slides 14. The axial length of the surface 1 and the travel of the surface 2 depend on operating factors hereinafter explained. The surface 2 has a length equal to that of the surface 1 plus about one half of the length of the travel of the surface 2. The surface 1 is cylindrical except for its upper part where there is a slight chamfer 19 at the intersection of this surface and the table 9.

To carry out the method in accordance with the invention, using the machine abovedescribed, the procedure is as follows. The surfaces 1 and 2 are first brought to the temperature suitable for the elastomer employed, by circulating hot fluid through them. The cylindrical blanks 13, Figs. 1 and 2, are disposed one behind the other in the channels 12. The mobile surface 2 being in the top position and the slides 14 in the starting position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a half-blank 13 is pushed by hand or any other means out of each channel 12 on to the table 9. The two first cylindrical blanks 13a are positioned in front of each slide lA, respectively (Figs. 1 and 2). The slides 14 are then displaced in the directions of the arrows fl, f2. Each black, bearing against the surface 2 in the direction of the axis ZZ and pushed at its two ends by the leading edges of the slides 14, wraps round the surface 2. The length of each blank should be at the most equal to 180 of the directrix circumference of the surface 2; it could be much less and, according to experience, less than an arc of 90" of the circumference. At the end of the travel of the slides 14, the two blanks 13a, symmetrically wrapped round the surface 2 and pressed thereagainst by the slides 14, constitute a ring blank formed from two sectors of an unjoined ring. This wrapping was effected at the moment when the slide 11 was at the top of its stroke. The slide 11 is then put into operation and the surface 2, commencing its downward stroke, drives by adherence the ring blank whose two sectors rotate transversely on themselves in moving in opposite directions along the surface 1 and the surface 2. All the axial radial sections of each half-blank 13a are compressed and flattened, the compression and flattening increasing with the penetration of the conical surface 2 into the cylindrical surface 1 in the downward stroke and diminishing during the upward stroke of the surface 2, and so on, the surface 2 driven by the slide 11 continuing its reciprocatory motion. This rolling of the two sectors alternately in one direction and then in the other causes their rapid lengthening in a mobile plane constantly perpendicular to the axis XX. The ends of the sectors rapidly join in the mobile plane and thus form an annular continuous blank 13b (Fig. 3). Under the action of the rolling and the movements which the rolling provokes in the entire mass of the blank 13b, the joined ends of the two sectors brought to the annular shape interpenetrate and the blank, becoming a continuous mass, is transformed into a jointless toroidal ring.

The thickness of the ring 13b (Fig. 3) is reduced with respect to its width in a proportion varying with the materials worked, and may exceed 2/1 and even 3/1 when this material is rubber. Simultaneously, its zones of contact with the rolling surfaces 1 and 2 are considerably increased, which accelerates the heat exchange between the surfaces and the ring, whose zones of contact are constantly renewed due to the rolling. This renewing as well as the internal agitation of the entire mass aids the heating as well as the regular distribution of heat throughout the ring, which also undergoes alternating circumferential stretchings and compressions owing to its movement along the conical surface 2 in one direction and then in the other. The physico-chemical fixation treatment of the toroidal ring formed as just described is carried out in the following way: The surfaces 1 and 2 are maintained constantly at a temperature determined by experience and suitable for the fixation or vulcaniz ation of the material employed. Under the influence of the rolling, the two sectors provided by the half-blanks 13e, then the annular blank they form and then the jointless ring which the blank transforms into, are continually in external and internal movement and flattened between the two hot surfaces of the coaxial mill and heat rapidly. The ring, once formed - by the machine, continuing to be rolled and progressively heated, very quickly attains its fixation and vulcanization temperatures. Of course, the temperatures of the surfaces 1 and 2 have been so regulated that the treatm.Tnt is effected rapidly, while leaving the ring tin to perfect itself before its physics chemical fixation occurs. Each given time the mandrel reaches the top of its alternating stroke, the distributor brings to the surface 2 one pair of rough blanks 13 which take up the position 13a (Figs. 1 and 2). They are immediately gripped by the benders, i.e. slide members 14 and wrapped on to the surface 2 which passes them into the multi-calendering gap. Compression and flattening of the axial-radial sections of the rough blanks, then of the ring, continue to increase commensurate with the downward movement, on the inside of the surface 1, of the surface 2 whose diameter continues to increase from 18 to Gu. The flattening continues to diminish on the other hand, during the upward stroke of the surface 2, and so on, the surface 2 continuing steadily its alternating motion. The path covered by the multi-calendered ring 13b being longer, for a fixed axial displacement, over the surface 2 than over the surface 1, which is cylindrical in the example depicted in the drawing and the depth of multi-calendering increasing on the downward path to

diminish on the upward stroke, it follows, as experience shows, that the rough blanks, then the ring, are borne progressively in the course of the multi-calendering treatment towards the end of the tubular casing, and that a ring occupies successively positions 13b, 13c, . . . 13n, depicted in Fig. 1, at the inception of each fresh given series of downward strokes of the surface 2. The travel and conicity of the surface 2, as well as the series of strokes, are so solected that this offset b (Fig. 1) is such that at the top ring 13 leaves sufficient free space in the direction of the axis XX for the insertion and multi-calendering of a fresh rough blank. It is seen that by this means n rings can be multi-calendered simultaneously, the last ring 13n coming, at each given series of strokes, off the surface 1, as Fig. 4 shows. The ring 13n thus emerged, after its re-ascent with the surface 2, is ejected by the lower face 18 of the tubular casing and it drops on to a conveyor 21, which takes it off. It is understood that the length of the surface 1, and, if necessary, those of its different zones, are selected so that their distance covered by the rings is sufficient, both from length and duration, to allow the manufacture of tori, including their thermo-fixation treatment. Instead of joined annular blanks such as those utilized in the machine just described, continuous annular blanks may be utilized. The ensuing advantages of the present invention are worthy of note : - The production of rings results in no loss of material which occurs in known processes such as in the form of runners, surplus, fins, burrs, shavings and scrap. The difficult removal of shavings has not to be effected, since the rings leaving the rolling mill have an even surface of smooth and finished appearance. The amount of material for each ring fed to the rolling mill is transformed completely into a geometrically exact ring. A simple weighing or measuring out of the unit mass of the blanks mathematically ensures, therefore, an extreme precision in the mass and the dimensions of the finished ring which is impossible to obtain with known processes. By its very nature and of the devices employed, multi-calendering is particularly suitable for the manufacture of tori of highpolymers, and enables them to be produced in the course of the multi-calenden.ng

operation in a thermo-fixed condition, equally as well with elastomers as with plastomers. It is essential to observe that in multicalendering of high-polymers it is not their micromokcules throughout their entire length which are ordered, oriented and aligned. They are so only at one, or a plurality, of points along their length by one, or a plurality, of their rigid segments which have just participated in a crystalline node, that is to say, aligning itself symmetrically in an ordered arrangement in relation to one, or a plurality, of segments belonging to other molecules, the same molecule being capable of passing successively, by participating therewith, in several crystalline nodes belonging to one or other of the directions of the threeaimen- sional system of alignments. For, in highpolymers, the molecules are caternary, that is to say formed of rigid segments capable of rotating one in relation to the other, and giant, that is to say comprising up to several thousands of such segments, and form btetwet-n them entanglements, particularly disordered in elastomers, the knots of which are more or less compact and irregular. It will be visualized that entanglements of this nature, subjected to series of simultan eous, oscillatory, molecular and intermole cular and three-dimensionally ordered motions conform to the impulses of these motions and fall into the pattern of three-dimensioned net works, with regular meshes more or less widely opened according to the ordering of the threedimensional system of motions, and with knots first graded, then crystalline. The stout and flexible armature constituted by the three-dimensional networks manifests itself only slightly while it is submerged in the liquid part of the high-polymer; but it is there in a permanent state, and for plastomers is amply apparent when, cooling off, they pass out of the plastic state, or when thermo-fixed. For plasticized elastomers which retain to a greater or lesser degree a plastic state after cooling off, the foundation armature remains more or less latent in them until thermo-fixing processing, such as, for example, vulcanization, reduces their plastic flow by creating complementary linking between their molecules. This fresh, or finer or more compact network is then directed in accordance with the three-dimensional network of basic foundation which has been created and developed by the multi-calendering operation, the fresh molecular or intermolecular linking forming at the beginning of, and around, the foundation armature. Thus thermo-fixing processing ensues more regularly, more easily and more fully, and the foundation becomes

mechanically perceptible. When processing or vulcanizing ensues while the three-dimensional armature is under stress the resulting object has its alignments or fibres under strain. Thus, in accordance with a current but to a slight extent inaccurate expression, it can be ' pre-stressed" in relation to the mechanical stresses to which it will be subjected in use. It will be shown quite easily that when fibres are prestrained in this manner, in part compressed and in part stretched, the position of the neutral fibre or fibres varies with the temperature, and the extent and the speed of this variation is a function of the resistances to compression and extension of the high-polymet, as well as of the temperature at which the vulcanization, or other thermo-fixing processing, has taken place. A very simple multi-calendering machine based on the invention for the quick and economic manufacture of precision tori of high-polymer base, or plastomer or elastomer, is comprised of a fixed tubular casing bearing one of the multi-calendering surfaces, and a longitudinally moving mandrel bearing the second surface, and capable of penetrating the interior of the tubular casing reducing in it the multi-calendering gap, moving longitudinally in it and retracting from it. The tubular casing and the mandrel are fitted with an adjustable heating device. For small dimensional tori, it is sufficient to heat the tubular casing only. A motor device enables the alternating motion necessary for the multi-calendering of the torical ring inside the casing to be transmitted to the mandrel, as well as a motion of greater amplitude for retracting the mandrel from the tubular casing to enable the material under processing to be fed into it, and the finished torus to be extracted. A groove arranged on surface of the mandrel serves as a guide for feeding the material into multi-calendering gap; this guiding by the groove is finished off at the entrance of the gap by a sloping ramp arranged on the surface of tubular casing. The material, a high-polymer, or a irux with high-polymer base, is fed into the machine in rough blank form, which may either be circular sectional rings or polygonal sectional rings, or cylindrical or prismatic shaped. They are placed on the mandrel, and preferably on its groove; the rough annular blanks hold their position on their own; the cylindrical or prismatic shaped blanks are held there, bent, either by hand or otherwise, until they are drawn into the multi-calendering gap. The rough blank, of either cylindrical or prismatic shape, can encircle once, or make a plurality of turns in the groove. It may

occupy less than 360" around this groove, or may be constituted of a plurality of fractions of rough blanks occupying less than 360 around the groove; as has already been explained, multi-calendering elongates these annular sectors and joins them together in one single homogeneous ring in which it is impossible to discover, even under the most powerful microscope, the least trace of interrupted sequence. 'The rough blanks can consist of high-polymers, or mixes, having been previously plasticized or mixed by mastication. But it is obviously preferable to use products obtained by the process of multi-calendering, as based on the present invention, which, having undergon no degradation, produce tori of the highest quality and stability. The rough blank, drawn through the multicalendering gap by grip, is rapidly transformed into a toroidal ring of which the microstructure is three-dimensionally ordered, and assumes a permanent state of balance corresponding to a circular generatrix torus, just as has already been explained. The maximum flattening proportion of the ring section, that is to say the multi-calendering depth, varies with the nature of the material. Compression almost up to maximum ensures the rapid expulsion of all air in the rough blank, then vapours or gases which heating develops therein. Speed of movement of the mandrel likewise varies according to the nature of the material of which the rough blanks are composed; although reaching as much as one metre, or higher, per second which mixes without fillers, or with very slight filling incidence, it is reduced to less than a few centimetres per second with highly filled mixes, the fillers constituting a brake which considerably slows down molecular shiftings. By multi-calendering at shallow depth, it is possible to retain within the structure of the rough blanks, then in the torus, a certain volume of gas and obtain therefrom a honeycomb pattern torus. The size of the cells is controlled by the speed and duration of multi-calendering, which together lead to the merging of several cells into a single. By sufficiently prolonging the duration all the cells merge together into a single gaseous annular mass, and a hollow torus is obtained from it. To obtain a honeycomb-pattern torus of little density, or a thin wall hollow torus, a substance can be fed into the rough blanks which releases gases at a given temperature. Regarding hollow tori, to ensure obtaining specifically accurate dimensions, it is preferable to feed a liquid into the rough blanks. Hollow tori, and honeycombpattern tori, have as in the case of a compact torus a continuous and polished surface, and assume on leaving the machine the permanent, stable, torical balance shape which they

retain after cooling off. All these tori, when their high-polymer or mix base is thermosetting, are obviously capable of undergoing thermofixing processing after their multi-calendering, such as, for example, vulcanization or polymerisation. The process based on the invention enables the tori to be thermo-fixed in the machine in which they have been subjected to multicalendering operations, and this in the course of the multicalendering. This thermo-fixation during their flattened state does not tnodify the state of three-dimensional balance 9f the network of oriented alignments produced by the multi-calendering operation as, apart from the fact that the multi-calendering operation does not cease, the new intermolecular linking responsible for the thermo-fixing aligns itself, as has already been stated, over the said network and participates in its torical balance. To carry out thermo-fixing in this way, which will be assumed is one of vulcanizing, of torus manufactured in the machine, the multi-calendering surfaces are brought up to the temperature indicated by experience and suitable for vulcanizing the material used. The heat exchange is very rapid between the said surfaces and the ring whose zones of contact change constantly. This changing coupled with the continuous external and internal motions of the entire structure promotes heating as well as uniform distribution thereof. It must be observd that the process based on the instant invention enables materials brought to a quasi-fluid state, at a given moment, to be processed between surfaces 1 and 2, as their compression, their transverse rotation, and their multi-calendering between these two surfaces maintain and equalize the even ring shape. It is seen that the elimination of the gases can be absolutely ensured by virtue of plasticization of as searching a character as desired, and of the accompanying multi-calendering. It must also be observed that the heating, rapid and evenly convected throughout the entire structure under animation, can be raisedl, without the least trouble, to higher temperatures than with usual vulcanizing processes in static state. The result is a more rapid, a more searching and a more homogeneous vulcanization. It has been seen that multicalendering operations effected at a greater depth expel gases contained, or generated, in the ring instead of confining them as is generally the case. It is seen that tori based on the present invention possess immense stability from the aspect of their volume, which is the most important of their dimensions, and the most variable with usual tori. Their mass as weU as their other dimensions can be equally easily achieved with precision as, for a specific multi-calendering gap, they depend solely

on the accuracy of proportioning, either volumetrically or by weight, of the mass of the rough blank as the said rough blank fed into the machine is integrally transformed into a physically and geometrically inflexible torus. The simple machine just described can be fitted with automatic devices for feeding in the rough blanks, and for taking off the finished tori. The rough blanks can be produced in the machine by injections on to the mandrel. The operations of ring shaping, multi-calendering, complete elimination of gases, of thermo-fixing, can be sub-divided over various zones of the tubular casing and of the mandrel, or over a plurality of tubular casings, the mandrel passing successively through one to the other, or vice verso; successive operations can be carried out in spaces of varying temperatures; the machine can comprise several tubular casings. In a multi-calendering gap fixed by one and the same tubular casing and one and the same mandrel the passing of tori from one zone to the other, as well as their discharge from the machine, can be automatically provided by increasing the radial width of the multi-calendering gap between ingress and egress. The invention is not limited to the details of construction illustrated and described, which have been given solely by way of example. What I claim is : - 1. A machine for producing a rubber or like elastomer or high polymer precision toric ring, comprising a mandrel, a sleeve co-axially surrounding the mandrel and defining therewith an annular space having a radial dimension appreciably less than the radial cross-sectional