Joining of rubberized fabrics by hot vulcanized seams uses weighted caterpillar tractor with hot treatment surface travelling along seam

摘要

Large sheets of rubberized fabric are joined by running a weighted caterpillar tractor (2) with a heated treatment surface over overlapping parts of the sheets to produce a hot vulcanized seam. An Independent claim is also included for a single track, self-propelled caterpillar tractor (2) with a heated treatment surface in contact with the fabrics. The roller track (36) runs over drive wheels (4a,4b) and is covered by a membrane heated by hot oil in an underlying flexible tube. The tractor (2) is weighted (34) to produce about 10 tons per meter.