Improved Composition for Preventing Formation of Scale or Incrustation in Steam Boilers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Composition for Preventing Formation of Scale or
Incrustation in Steam Boilers.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E. of 62 Saint Vincent Street, in the City of
Glasgow, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(as communicated to me by Austin Walrath of 302 Mongomery Street, San
Francisco, California, United States of America, Gentleman) to be as follows :-
My invention relates to a composition for preventing the formation of scale or
incrustation in steam boilers, and for removing it therefrom when formed.
My composition consists in an extract produced by boiling the external husk of
the cocoa-nut or a part of it. This husk consists of a body of fibre combined with
a cork-like cellulose, which, when separated, are both commercially useful, the fibre
as an artificial hair, and the cellulose as a substitute for cork in various manufactures,
and also as a backing for the armour plating of war ships, for which it is particularly
valuable.
The boiling of the entire husk or of the fibre with part of the cellulose adhering
to it produces a decoction containing tannic acid, which is a solvent for lime, of
which the most common kind of scale is composed. The cellulose contains and
liberates a proportionately much greater quantity of the acid than the fibre; and
I have found that by boiling the fibre with a little of the cellulose adhering to it-
that is, in the condition in which an incomplete mechanical separation leaves it-a
weak solution is produced, which is effective in removing heavy deposits of scale. For
instance, a solution containing only one-fifth (3) of one (1) per cent. of tannic acid, or
two grammes per litre of the solution, has been found very satisfactory in removing
obstinate deposits of scale. A solution of this strength does not dissolve the whole
mass of scale, but loosens it from the metal so that it drops in large fragments easily
removed with a rake; but its solvent action will effectively prevent the formation
of a new deposit. Of course a solution of greater strength can be produced by
boiling a larger proportion of cellulose; but the advantage of producing the
solution of which the proportions have been given is, that it involves absolutely no
expense, being incidental to the process of separation mentioned above, in which
the fibre and cellulose are first treated by mechanical means to effect a partial dry
separation; the boiling of the fibre with what little of the cellulose still adheres to
it being for the purpose of softening the former to make it more suitable for
artificial hair for the use of upholsterers, etc.
Another advantage is that the production of the solution involves no sacrifice of
a valuable product, as in the case where trees or plants are destroyed to produce a
bark from which vegetable extracts are made.
The husk of the cocoa-nut is a waste product excepting for the uses mentioned ;
and boiling is a necessary part of any process for treating it. Hence there is no
waste or destruction of any part of the raw material. The solution has no injurious
effect upon metal, and in using it is only necessary to mix a quantity with the feed
The amount used must, of course, be regulated by the condition and nature
water.

page_text: of the scale in the boiler and by the kind of water employed; the proportions given
will be found effective in all ordinary cases of lime deposit.
Dated this 5th day of February 1894.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Composition for Preventing Formation of Scale or
Incrustation in Steam Boilers.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E., of 62 Saint Vincent Street, in the City of
Glasgow, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a composition for preventing the formation of scale or
incrustation in steam boilers, and for removing it therefrom when formed.
My composition consists in an extract produced by boiling the external husk of
the cocoa-nut or a part of it. This husk consists of a body of fibre combined with
a cork-like cellulose, which, when separated, are both commercially useful, the fibre
as an artificial hair, and the cellulose as a substitute for cork in various inanufactures,
and also as a backing for the armor plating of war ships, for which it is particularly
valuable.
The boiling of the entire husk or of the fibre with part of the cellulose adhering
to it produces a decoction containing tannic acid, which is a solvent for lime, of
which the most common kind of scale is composed. The cellulose contains and
liberates a proportionately much greater quantity of the acid than the fibre; and
I have found that by boiling the fibre with a little of the cellulose adhering to it-
that is, in the condition in which an incomplete mechanical separation leaves it-a
weak solution is produced, which is effective in removing heavy deposits of scale.
For instance, a solution containing only one-fifth (½) of one (1) per cent. of tannic
acid, or two grammes per litre of the solution, has been found very satisfactory in
removing obstinate deposits of scale. A solution of this strength does not
dissolve the whole mass of scale, but loosens it from the metal so that it
drops in large fragments easily removed with a rake; but its solvent action will
effectively prevent the formation of a new deposit. Of course, a solution of
greater strength can be produced by boiling a larger proportion of cellulose ;
but the advantage of producing the solution of which the proportions have been
given is, that it involves absolutely no expense, being incidental to the process
of separation mentioned above, in which the fibre and cellulose are first treated
by mechanical means to effect a partial dry separation; the boiling of the fibre
with what little of the cellulose still adheres to it being for the purpose of
softening the former to make it more suitable for artificial hair for the use of
upholsterers, etc.
Another advantage is that the production of the solution involves no sacrifice
of a valuable product, as in the case where trees or plants are destroyed to
produce a bark from which vegetable extracts are made. The husk of the
cocoa-nut is a waste product excepting for the uses mentioned; and boiling is
a necessary part of any process for treating it. Hence there is no waste or
destruction of any part of the raw material. The solution has no injurious effect
upon metal, and in using it, it is only necessary to mix a quantity with the feed
water. The amount used must, of course, be regulated by the condition and
nature of the scale in the boiler and by the kind of water employed; the
proportions given will be found effective in all ordinary cases of lime deposit.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, (as communicated to me),
I declare that what I claim is
--
The improved composition herein before described for preventing formation of
scale or incrustation in steam boilers, and for removing it therefrom when formed.
Dated this 5th day of November 1894.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.