Improvements in Apparatus for Preserving Food and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Preserving Food and the like.
I ADOLPH ERNECKE, Engineer, of 4 Solmsstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: .
This invention relates to a receptacle for preserving fool and other perishable-
articles, this receptacle being so arranged that the food will be kept fresh and
unchanged for a long time and will be protected especially against putrefaction and
fermentation. This apparatus forms a cheap substitute, occupying little room;,for the
ice boxes which have heretofore been used.
The apparatus comprises a receptacle of cylindrical or other form and, standing on
feet, the said receptacle being closed at the top by a removable cover and being
formed with double sides and bottom the space between being. filied up, with bad
conductors of heat. The cover is of conical shape and is provide i at its apex with a
small outlet pipe having lateral discharge apertures which are adapted to be regulated
by a turning slide made in the form of a handle or knob. At the lower, edge and
within the cover is arranged a channel extending all round and serving for the
reception of the preserving liquid. which consists of the solution of a very cheap
mixture of material suitable for this purpose.
Suitable plugs and cocks are provided for filling and discharging.and a gauge glass
may also be provided for observing the level of the liquid:.
For admitting fresh air, ventilating pipes are provided; passing from the lower edge
of the receptacle upwards in the forin of a semicircle within the doublé walls and
terminating adjacent to the channel for the reception of the cooling: liquid.
Atmospheric air is admitted below through funnel shaped tubes with a regulating flap
valve.
The preserving action of the apparatus is due to the slow, vaporisation of the
preserving liquid. The vapours gradually fill the whole interior of the receptacle
mingling with the air contained therein and also with the exhalations from the food,
and thus by reason of their chemical properties prevent a deleterious actions upon the
food to be preserved. At the same time a continual renewal of this mixture oflair and
vapour takes place as the air passing through the ventilating pipes occasions a slow
but continuous escape of the inixture through the upper discharge apertures so that
the preserving vapours of the liquid can never be super saturated with the injurious
vapours in the preserving room and thereby be rendered ineffective.
The apparatus may be provided with grooves at the sides in which partitions- may
be fitted so that different kinds of foods may be separated from each other in the same
a removable
receptacle. The partitions may be supported in grooves formed on
tubular column placed in the centre and through which air enters from below.
In a modification adapted chiefly for preserving small remainders such as soups &c.
the walls and bottom are not made double. The ventilating pipes are arranged
within the channel for the reception of the cooling liquid in the cover. Trays provided
with handles and with plates arranged one above the other serve for the introduction
and removal of the provisions.
Dated this 26th day of September 1895
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Preserving Food and the like.
I ADOLPH ERNECKE, Engineer, of 4 Solmsstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to a receptacle for preserving food and other perishable
articles, this receptacle being so arranged that the food will be kept fresh and
unchanged for a long time and will be protected especially against putrefaction and
fermentation. This apparatus forms a cheap substitute, occupying little space, for the
ice boxes which have heretofore been used.
The improved apparatus is shown on the accompanying drawing in various forms of
construction.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a preserver with unpartitioned inner or preserving
space, and preferentially of cylindrical shape.
Figs. 2 and 3 represent by vertical and horizontal sections a preserver of right
angled oblong shape the interior or preserving space of which can be divided by
adjustable partitions into two or more parts.
Figs. 4 and 5 as also 6 and 7 show in vertical section and plan each a preserver of
a smaller and simpler construction with removable inner fittings.
The preserver (Fig. 1) consists of a chamber of cylindrical or other shape, resting
on feet, and which is closed at the top by a removably, specially constructed cover b
and is provided with double sides and bottom c filled in with a material forming a bad
conductor of heat. The cover bis cone-shaped and has a small lifting off pipe at the
apex, provided with side outlet openings e. The latter are adjustable by means of a
knob or handle shaped rotating shutter f. At the lower edge and inside the cover b
is arranged a circular trough g to receive the preserving fluid, which consists of
a solution of a very cheap compound suitable for this purpose. To pour this liquid
in or out and to know at what height it stands the stoppered filling tube h, the
outlet cock and the gauge k are fitted to the cover b (see also Figs. 5 and 7).
For the inlet of fresh air the ventilation tubes act by a double or more
numerous arrangement. They commence at the lower edge of the chamber a and
rise circularly within the double jacket c ending by an open outlet at the inside
edge of the trough g. The lower inlet for the atmospheric air is through funnel
shaped projections m with adjusting flaps n.
The preserving action of the apparatus results from the slow evaporation of the
preserving fluid in the trough y. The vapours entirely fill the whole inner space of
the chamber a, mixing with the air contained therein as well as with the gases given
off by the foods, and so prevent by their chemical properties any prejudicial effect on
the stores to be preserved. At the same time there is a continuous renewal of this air
and vapour mixture, due to the air passing through the small ventilating pipe
producing a slow but steady withdrawal of the mixture through the upper outlet
openings e, so that the preserving vapours from the fluid in the cover trough g
are never supercharged with the harmful gases from the preserving chamber and
thereby made ineffective.
The apparatus as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 differs from the one above described
.solely in that it is of oblong shape and has consequently a cover in the form of a
pyramid, and that it is provided in the centre and on the side walls with runners o
in which are inserted any required shape of partition p. In this way various kinds of
edibles can be kept stored separately from each other in this container.
If large
things such a game, poultry &c. is required to be stored then one, two, three or
all the partitions can be removed. In this construction the central runners o are
fitted on a tubular standard which allows air to enter from below. The standard

page_text: is arranged to be removable and is therefore only loosely inserted in an opening
in the bottom of the chamber.
The apparatuses as shown in Fig. 4 to 7 are constructed somewhat more simply and
are principally for keeping smaller dishes. such as soups vegetables, fruit pastry etc.
They are made with one single thickness of side without non-conducting insertion.
The air tubes are fitted, in this type, inside the trough g of the cover. (Figs. 6.)
The inner shelf arrangement with handle q serves for putting in and taking out
the edibles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An edible preserver characterised by the removable cover (b) of the preserving
space (a) having a trough (g) to receive the preserving fluid, and being provided for
the removal of the vapours, with air tubes (1) and with outlet openings (e) and to
which for filling, emptying, or finding the height of the liquid, a stoppered inlet, an
outlet cock and a gauge glass are attached.
2. The arrangement and construction of apparatus for preserving food and the like
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 26th day of June 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.