AN IM- PROVED COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTATION IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Robert Meldrum and George Henry Cail, both
of the Town and County of Southampton, for the. Invention of "AN IM-
PROVED COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTATION IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 27th October 1877, and dated the 19th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Robert Meldrum
and George Henry Cail at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
19th May 1877.
DAVID ROBERT MELDRUM and GEORGE HENRY CAIL, both of the Town and
County of Southampton. "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTA-
TION IN STEAM BOILERS."
Our Invention has for its object to prevent incrustation in steam boilers by means
of a liquid composition, which may be prepared as hereafter described, either from
refuse leather, such as old boots, shoes, curriers' shavings, or saddlers' cuttings, or
from vegetable matters containing tannic acid. We first subject the leather to a
temperature of about 400° in an oven or other suitable apparatus, and afterwards
boil it in lime, soda, and water.
The sediment from this composition forms a valuable manure.
The vegetable matter containing tannic acid, such as oak leaves, twigs, or acorn
cups, are simply boiled in water in a sufficient quantity to make a strong liquor.
The liquid or composition is introduced into the steam boiler by means of a feed
pump.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Robert Meldrum and George Henry Cail in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th November 1877.
DAVID ROBERT MELDRUM and GEORGE HENRY CAIL, both of the Town and
County of Southampton. "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTA-
TION IN STEAM BOILERS."
Our Invention relates to a liquid composition for preventing incrustation in steam
boilers, prepared, as hereafter described, either from waste or refuse leather (such as
old boots and shoes, curriers' shavings, or saddlers' cuttings), or from vegetable
matters containing tannic acid, such as oak leaves, twigs, or acorn cups.
In preparing the composition or extract from leather, we proceed as follows:-
The leather if hard is first subjected for about two hours (more or less) to a tem-
perature of 400° Fah. in an oven or other suitable apparatus until it is blistered ;
but this preliminary treatment is only necessary in the case of hard leather, such as
soles of boots and shoes, or harness leather. It is then boiled in a solution of
carbonate of soda or potash, to which lime may be added to increase the solvent
power. For every ton of leather we use 1,250 gallons of water (more or less), four
cwt. soda or potash, and, when lime is used, one quarter hundredweight of unslacked
lime. The liquid is then strained, and the sediment or residue being valuable as
manure is saved.
In preparing the liquid from vegetable matters, they are simply boiled in a solu-
tion of soda or potash (soda being preferred on account of economy) for two hours,
more or less. To 1 cwt. of vegetable matter put one quarter cwt. of soda or potash,
and thirteen gallons of water.
We have found the above-mentioned proportions to answer well, but do not limit
ourselves thereto, as they, may be varied as found desirable.
The liquid or composition is introduced into the steam boiler by means of a feed
pump or otherwise, in the proportion of half a pint per nominal horse-power about
once a fortnight, or as often as water is added or removed.
Having described the nature of our Invention and the manner of performing the
same, we declare that what we claim as our Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the preparation and use of a liquid
composition for preventing incrustation in steam boilers, obtained by treating
waste or refuse leather, or vegetable matter or matters containing tannic acid, as
specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said David Robert Meldrum and George Henry
Cail, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
AAWAN
DAVID ROBERT MELDRUM. (L.S.)
GEORGE HENRY CAIL.
(LS.)