IMPROVEMENTS IN DESICCATING WOOD
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel of N° 28 Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN DESICCATING WOOD communicated to him from abroad
«
"
by Jacob. A. Koch of Galveston, Texas, in the United States of America and
Wilhelm Herre of the Firm of W. Herre and Company, of Berlin in the
German Empire
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Oharles Denton Abel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd December 1883.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN DESICCATING WOOD" [communicated
to him from abroad by Jacob. A. Koch of Galveston, Texas, in the United States
of America and Wilhelm Herre of the Firm of W. Herre and Company, of Berlin
in the German Empire]
This invention consists mainly in effecting the desiccation of wood, whether cut
or uncut, by surrounding the same with a hygroscopic substance that will readily
absorb moisture, the timber being subjected for such a length of time to the action
of such substance as is necessary to enable the moisture or sap of the timber to be
in great part absorbed thereby, after which the timber may, if necessary, be further
subjected to the ordinary air drying process, or any other known processes for
expelling the remaining moisture therefrom. The hygroscopic materials may be
of such a nature as to act at the same time as antiseptics, or they may be mixed
with antiseptic substances.
In carrying out the invention, the timber is placed in a receptacle that may be
either open or closed, and is therein surrounded with the hygroscopic substance,
taking care to surround each piece separately therewith. The hygroscopic
substances which are employed by preference are chloride of sodium or common
salt, chloride of calcium, and the like, the description of substance employed being
determined according to the nature of the wood to be acted upon. Or mixtures of
these substances with each other or with antiseptic materials, such as alum,
carbolic acid and the like may be used
The wood so dried may either be used directly for any purpose, or it may be
subsequently treated by any known preservative process.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Denton Abel in the Patent Office on the 21st June
1884.
"
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN DESICCATING WOOD A communication
to me from Abroad by Jacob. A. Koch of Galveston, Texas, in the United States
of America and Wilhelm Herre of the firm of W. Herre and Company, of Berlin in
the German Empire
This invention consists mainly in effecting the desiccation of wood whether cut
or uncut, by surrounding the same with a hygroscopic substance that will readily
absorb moisture, the timber being subject for such a length of time to the action
of such substance as is necessary to enable the moisture or sap of the timber to be
in great part absorbed thereby, after which the timber may if necessary be further
subjected to the ordinary air drying process, or any other known processes for
expelling the remaining moisture therefrom.
The hygroscopic materials may be of such a nature as to act at the same time as
antiseptics, or they may be mixed with antiseptic substances.
In carrying out the invention, the timber is placed in a receptacle that may be
either open or closed, and is therein surrounded with the hygroscopic substance,
taking care to surround each piece separately therewith. The hygroscopic
substances which are employed by preference are chloride of sodium or common
salt, chloride of calcium, and the like, the description of substance employed being
determined according to the nature of the wood to be acted upon. Or mixtures
of these substances with each other or with antiseptic materials, such as alum,
carbolic acid, and the like may be used.
The wood so dried may either be used directly for any purpose, or it may be
subsequently treated by any known preservative process.
As above stated, common salt is by preference employed for the purpose, the
wood being imbedded therein for a period of from 10 to 20 days.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents,
I claim :-
First. The method of desiccating wood by imbedding the same for a longer or
shorter period in a hygroscopic substance, such as chloride of sodium or chloride of
calcium, or of mixtures of such substances, substantially as herein described.
Second. In treating wood with hygroscopic substances as referred to in the
preceding claim, the method of mixing with the said hygroscopic substances
antiseptic materials, whereby the wood so treated is rendered the better able to
resist the action of moisture and other atmospheric influences, substantially as
herein described.
In Witness whereof I the said Charles Denton Abel have hereunto set my
band and seal this twenty first day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-four.