Method and apparatus for laying elongated mat

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR LAYING DOWN AN ELONGATED STRIP OF FELT ON A SUPPORTING SURFACE COMPRISING A TUB FOR HOLDING LIQUID BINDING MATERIAL FOR THE FELT AND WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED ON THE APPARATUS ADJACENT THE TUB FOR SUPPORTING THE TUB FOR MOVEMENT OVER SAID SURFACE, DISPENSING MEANS ADJACENT THE BASE OF THE TUB FOR DISPENSING LIQUID BINDING MATERIAL FROM SAID TUB ONTO SAID SURFACE, ROLL SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF FELT MOUNTED ON THE APPARATUS ADJACENT THE TUB IN AN ELEVATED POSITION OVER SUCH SUPPORTING SURFACE, AND FELT-RECEIVING MEANS DISPOSED UNDER SAID ROLL SUPPORT MEANS, BUT ELEVATED ABOVE TO RECEIVE FELT EXTENDING FROM A ROLL OF SUCH FELT SUPPORTED ON SAID ROLL SUPPORT MEANS, AND TO SUPPORT SUCH FELT OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE WHILE STRETCHING THE FELT ALONG THE CENTER ZONE THEREOF, UPON THE FELT BEING PULLED OFF TO ONE SIDE OF THE APPARATUS FROM SAID FELT-RECEIVING MEANS, SAID FELT-RECEIVING MEANS INCLUDING TWO CONICAL PORTIONS HAVING LARGER DIAMETER ENDS JOINED TOGETHER PROVIDING A GUIDE SURFACE THAT GUIDES THE FELT BY DEFINING PATHS OF TRAVEL FOR SAID CENTER ZONE OF THE FELT AND THE FELT EDGES, SAID CENTER ZONE OF THE FELT HAVING A PATH OF TRAVEL DEFINED THEREFOR TO SAID ONE SIDE OF THE APPARATUS WHICH IS OF GREATER LENGTH THAN THE PATHS OF TRAVEL DEFINED FOR THE FELT EDGES, SAID FELT-RECEIVING MEANS BEING LOCATED TO SAID ONE SIDE OF APPARATUS FROM SAID DISPENSING MEANS WITH ITS GUIDE SURFACE ADAPTED TO PASS OVER LIQUID BINDING MATERIAL DISPENSED ONTO A SUPPORTING SURFACE FROM SAID DISPENSING MEANS.