Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 30th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 31st May, 1887.
We ARMAND FLANACHE and ЕMILE PICARD both of Brussels in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Engineers do hereby declare tho nature of this invention to be as follows:—
This invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for rapidly but gradually
desiccating wood and other matters. Hitherto the methods of desiccation employed
are based upon the action of the surrounding air, either heated or deprived of moisture,
or heating stoves or ovens have been employed. These processes have the principal
defert that the desiccation commences at the exterior surface and extends inwards.
The present invention on the contrary has for its object to effect the desiccation
simultaneously at the interior and on the surface of the object, for which purpose we
force into the interior of the pores of the wood or other material, air which takes up
the moisture therefrom and which after becoming perfectly saturated is drawn out
again and replaced by a fresh quantity of air.
This process may be carried out either by subjecting the wood or other material
alternately to vacuum and to air at atmospheric pressure, or alternately to air at
atmospheric pressure and to compressed air.
The apparatus which we employ for this purpose, and which will be presently
described, is so arranged as to allow of the temperature of the air and the duration of
the operation being constantly regulated.
The process may be shortly described as follows:
1-Enclosing the objects to be dried in an apparatus in which a partial vacuum is
formed, so as to expand the aqueous vapour contained in the objects."

page_text: 2-Introducing into the apparatus dry air or the ordinary atmospheric air, the
temperature of which may be increased in the apparatus and which becomes saturated
with moisture.
3-Again producing a partial vacuum.
4-Introducing a fresh quantity of air, and so on, if necessary gradually increasing
the heating of the apparatus according to the nature of the substance treated, the
degree of exhaust and the degree of pressure as also the temperature of the air being
adjusted either together or separately.
For carrying out this method of operating, a great number of apparatus may be
employed we will proceed to describe one fully setting forth the process.
j
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shews an elevation of a wood desiccating
apparatus constructed according to our invention, the door being open. Fig. 2 is a
longitudinal section and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view shewing the arrangement of
the pipes.
A steam generator G is capable of being put in communication by means of a
cock R with an ejector E which exhausts the air from the pipe C leading into the
recipient in which the pieces of wood to be desiccated are placed, and in which it is
formed with a longitudinal perforated extension as shewn. The steain mixed with air
issuing from the ejector is led through a series of pipes T in the drying chamber and
escapes thence into the open air through a cock R.
Between the ejector and the said pipes is placed a three-way cock R", by which
communications can be established firstly, between the ejector and the pipes T, secondly,
between the ejector and the atmosphere, and thirdly, between the pipes T and the
atmosphere.
The communications enable the apparatus to operate as follows:
A. For rapid desiccation. The cock R" being in position for establishing the
communication between E and T, as shewn, tho cocks R and R' are opened causing
the ejector to produce a partial vacuum in C and consequently in the chamber S. The
air will then pass out of the pores of the wood, while at the same time the stoam
passing through the pipes T will effect the heating of the chamber. After a certain
time the cock R is closed, and the air will re-enter through the ejector, passing through
pipes T and becoming heated, and then entering the chamber through the pipe C.
After a certain time, this air is again exhausted, and so on.
B. Desiccating with cold air, the drying chamber being heated. The cock R" being
in the same position as above described, R and R' are again opened. The required
vacuum having been produced, R and R' are closed and is turned so as to put the
ejector and the pipe in direct communication with the atmosphere through the
trumpet mouth B, whereby the chamber S will become filled with cold air. After a
certain time the cocks are again turned into the original position, and so on.
C. Desiccation with cold air, without heating the chamber. The cock R" being
turned into the position establishing a communication between the ejector and the
atmosphero, and R' being closed, R is opened, thereby producing the exhaust in S,
and discharging the mixed steam and air through B. Ris then closed and cold air
enters S through B, E and C, and after a time the operation is repeated.
The combination of the operations A B and C with a greater or less degree of
exhaust, allows of the desiccation being graduated so as to be suited to the conditions
required by the substance under treatment.
The vacuum in the chamber S may be produced and maintained by various means,
such as by pumps directly applied thereto; by a steam ejector as above described; by
a water ejector worked by a supply under pressure or by a current of water produced
by a steam injector; by the condensation by refrigeration of steam or other condensible
vapour, or by the absorption of various gases.
The heating of the desicoating chamber may be effected either by the ejector steam,
as above described, or by a special circulation of hot water, or by a steam jacket, or
by other known means. In like manner the heating of the air introduced can be
effected by circulation through pipes or zig-zag passages heated by the waste steam,
or by the combustion of gases from a gas producer or other apparatus.

page_text: The desiccating chamber may also, if necessary, be made to communicate with a
recipient or reservoir charged with hygrometric substances that readily absorb water,
such as quicklime, chloride of calcium, sulphuric acid &c. The communication between
the chamber and the recipient may be established at any desired moment of the
desiccating process, and be discontinued when necessary, any known means being
employed for this purpose.
As hereinbefore stated, we may substituto for the alternate action of vacuum and
atinospheric pressure, the alternate action of air under pressure and the expansion of
this air to atmospheric pressure.
ABEL & IMRAY,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, ARMAND FLAMACHE and EMILE PICARD both of Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Engineers, 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 an improved process, and apparatus for rapidly, but
gradually desiccating wood and other matters. Hitherto the methods of desiccation
employed are based upon the action of the surrounding air, either heated or deprived
of moisture, or heating stoves or ovens have been employed. These processes have
the principal defect that the desiccation commences at the exterior surface, and
extends inwards.
The present invention on the contrary has for its object to effect the desiccation
simultaneously at the interior, and on the surface of the object, for which purpose we
force into the interior of the pores of the wood or other material, air which takes up
the moisture therefrom, and which after becoming perfectly saturated is drawn out
again, and roplaced by a fresh quantity of air. This process may be carried out
either by subjecting the wood or other material alternately to vacuum and to
air at atmospheric pressure, on alternately to air at atmospheric pressure and
to compressed air.
The apparatus which we employ for this purpose, and which will be presently
described, is so arranged as to allow of the temperature of the air and the duration of
the operation being constantly regulated.
The process may be shortly described as follows:-
1. Enclosing the objects to be dried in an apparatus in which a partial vacuum is
formed, so as to expand the aqueous vapour contained in the objects.
2. Introducing into the apparatus dry air or the ordinary atmospheric air, the
temperature of which may be increased in the apparatus, and which becomes saturated
with moisture.
3. Again producing a partial vacuum.
4. Introducing a fresh quantity of air, and so on, if necessary, gradually increasing
the heating of the apparatus, according to the nature of the substance treated, the
degree of exhaust and the degree of pressure as also the temperature of the air being
adjusted either together or separately.
For carrying out this method of operating, a great number of apparatus may be
employed, we will proceed to describe one in fully setting forth the process.

page_text: In the drawings accompanying cur Provisional Specification, Fig. 1 shews an
elevation of a wood desiccating apparatus constructed according to our invention the
door being open. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view
shewing the arrangement of the pipes. A steam generator G is capable of being put
in communication by means of a cock R, with an ejector E which exhausts the air
from the pipe Clealing into the recipient in which the pieces of wood to be desiccated
are placed, and in which it is formed with a longitudinal perforated extension
as shewn.
The steam mixed with air issuing from the ejector is led through a series of pipes T
in the drying chamber, and escapes thence into the open air through a cock R.
Between the ejector, and the said pipes is placed a three way cock R" by which
communications can be established. Firstly, between the ejector and the pipes T,
secondly, between the ejector and atmosphere, and thirdly between the pipes T and
the atmosphere.
The communications enable the apparatus to operate as follows:
A. For rapid desiccation. The cock R" boing in position for establishing the coin-
munication between E and T, as shewn. The cocks R and R' are opened causing the
ejector to produce a partial vacuum in and consequently in the chamber S. The air
will then pass out of the pores of the wood, while at the same time the steam passing
through the pipes T will effect the heating of the chamber. After a certain time the
cock is closed and the air will re-enter through the ejector, passing through pipes T
and becoming heated, and then entering the chamber through the pipe O. After a
certain time, this air is again exhausted and so on.
B. Desiccating with cold air, the drying chamber being heated. The cock R"-being
in the same position as above described, R and R' are again opened. The required
vacuum having been produced It and Rare closed, and R is turned so as to put the
ejector and the pipe C in direct communication with the atmosphere through the
trumpet mouth B, whereby the chamber S will become filled with cold air. After a
certain time the cocks are again turned into the original position and so on.
C. Desiccation with cold air, without heating the chamber. The cock R¹ being
turned into the position establishing a conununication between the ejector and the
atmosphere, and R' being closed, R is opened, thereby producing the exhaust in S,
and discharging the mixed steam and air through B. is then closed, and cold air
enters S through B, E and C, and after a time the operation is repeated.
The combination of the operations A, B, and C with a greater or loss degree of
exhaust, allows of the desiccation being graduated so as to be suited to the conditions
required by the substance under treatment.
The vacuum in the chamber S may be produced, and maintained by various means,
such as by pumps directly applied thereto, by a steam ejector as above described, by a
water ejector worked by a supply under pressure, or by a current of water produced
by a steam injector, by the condensation, by refrigeration of steam or other condensible
vapour, or by the absorption of various gases.
The heating of the desiccating chamber may be effected either by the ejector steam,
as above described or by a special circulation of hot water, or by a steam jacket or by
other known means. In like manner the hoating of the air introduced can be effected
by circulation through pipes or zigzag passages heated by the waste steam, or by the
combustion of gases from a gas producer or other apparatus.
The desiccating chamber may also if necessary be made to communicate with a
recipient or reservoir charged with hygroscopic substances that readily absorb water,
such as quick-lime, chloride of calcium, sulphuric acid &c. The communication between
the chamber and the recipient may be established at any desired moment of the
desiccating process and be discontinued when necessary, any known means being
employed for this purpose.
As hereinbefore stated, we may substitute for the alternate action of vacuum and
atmospheric pressure, the alternate action of air under pressure and the expansion of
this air to atmospheric pressure.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
1. The method substantially as herein described of desiccating wood and other
substances by subjecting the same to the alternate action of exhaust and of air at
atmospheric pressure, either heated or cold, and either deprived of or containing its
natural moisture.
2. The method substantially as herein described of desiccating wood and other
substances by subjecting the same to the alternate action of compressed air, and of the
expansion of such air to atmospheric pressure the air being either heated or cold and
either deprived of or containing its natural moisture.
3. In combination with the method of desiccating wood and other substances by the
alternate action of exhaust and of air at atmospheric pressure the method of absorbing
the moisture from the expanded air of the drying chamber by the use of hygroscopic
substances, substantially as herein described.
4. In apparatus for desiccating wood or other substances, the combination of a
steam generator G, ejector E pipes C and T desiccating chamber S, cocks R. R' R"
and discharge opening B, arranged and operating substantially as heroin described.
Dated this 30th day of April 1887.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants