AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CREATING A VACUUM, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS OF APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO INJURY OR CORRUPTION FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE ATMOSPHERE
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street, in
the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF CREATING A VACUUM, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS OF
APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO INJURY OR CORRUPTION
FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE ATMOSPHERE."-A communication from
Dr. Giraud.
Sealed the 12th August 1856, and dated the 6th March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald Brooman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th March 1856.-A communication.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CREATING A VACUUM, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN
ARRANGEMENTS OF APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO INJURY OR
CORRUPTION FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE ATMOSPHERE," (communicated to
me by Dr. Giraud, a foreigner residing abroad,) to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in an improved method of and apparatus for
preserving provisions, by the employment of a vacuum created in the manner

page_text: herein-after described. If one end of a tube, in which a vacuum has been
formed, be inserted into a receiver containing water or other fluid, open to the
air, the fluid will from the pressure of the atmosphere on its top surface rise
in the tube to a height proportional to the density of the fluid. Now, if at a
height above that to which the fluid from the receiver has ascended another
supply of the same fluid be. poured into the tube, the fluid thus newly intro-
duced will descend in the tube to the level of the fluid first admitted, leaving
a vacuum above it in the tube, all excess of fluid falling into the receiver.
My arrangements of apparatus for forming such a vacuum and for preserving
substances are as follows:-I take a tube of greater height than the level to
which water ascends in vacuo, and I insert its lower extremity into a receiver
containing water, an inclined tube leads into the top of this tube, the junction
between the two being perfectly air-tight; (there may be more than one such
inclined tube.) On the inclined tube or tubes are placed or formed a number
of vertical pipes opening into it at bottom, on to which are fitted vessels con-
taining the provisions or other substances to be preserved; water is admitted
through the tops of the vessels, and also through a supply pipe, parallel to
those which support the vessels, but higher than the top of the highest
preserving vessel, and opening at bottom into the inclined tube; this supply
pipe and the provision vessels are then hermetically closed at top, and a cock
at the bottom of the first-mentioned or lowermost tube opened; the water
from the supply pipe, inclined tube, and provisión vessels.descend into the
first-mentioned vertical tube, and through it into the receiver, sufficient water,
however, remaining in the tube to fill it up to the natural water level, i, e, the
height to which water under ordinary atmospheric pressure rises in vacuo, thus
forming a vacuum above such level in the tube, and also in the supply pipe
and provision vessel, the excess of water in the receiver escaping through an
overflow pipe or otherwise; the vessels containing the substances to be pre-
served are then hermetically sealed at bottom; and removed, from off the
vertical pipes. Instead of a number of vertical supporting pipes and preserving
vessels, one only such pipe and vessel may be employed; extra covers may
'be placed on the top and bottom of the vessels when removed from the
ratus, and their exterior surface varnished.
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