IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING TIMBER AND IN RENDERING PIPES AND PIPE JOINTS, WALLS, AND THE LIKE, IMPERVIOUS TO LIQUIDS, DAMP, OR ACID, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREFOR, WHICH APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED FOR THE COATING OF METALLIC SURFACES WITH TAR, OR COMPOUNDS OF TAR, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Year: 1882

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Henry Aitken, of Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, North
Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING TIMBER AND IN
RENDERING PIPES AND PIPE JOINTS, WALLS, AND THE LIKE, IMPERVIOUS TO
LIQUIDS, DAMP, OR ACID, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREFOR,
WHICH APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED FOR THE COATING OF METALLIC
SURFACES WITH TAR, OR COMPOUNDS OF TAR, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Aitken at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd January 1882.
HENRY AITKEN, of Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING TIMBER, AND IN RENDERING PIPES, AND PIPE-
JOINTS, WALLS, AND TRE LIKE, IMPERVIOUS TO LIQUIDS, DAMP, OR ACID, AND
IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREFOR, WHICH APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED
FOR THE COATING OF METALLIC SURFACES WITH TAR, OR COMPOUNDS OF TAR
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Hitherto timber has generally been preserved by the application of creosote
oils in which more or less solid naphthaline usually exists. Instead of employing
such a material I use only dry or powdered naphthaline. When the wood is
placed in this naphthaline in a hot, or boiling, state, it absorbs and permanently
retains a considerable quantity depending upon the kind of timber operated
upon. The naphthaline may be placed in any ordinary receptacle to which heat
is applied by means of a fire, or preferably by means of steam in a pipe, and the
wood is placed among the hot naphthaline where it remains until it has absorbed
as much as it is thought desirable it should.-It is then taken from the tank to be
used. Where large quantities of timber have to be treated I construct a chamber,
preferably of iron, in which I have rails on the top and bottom.-The timber to
be treated is placed in wagons with wheels on the top and bottom and the middle
portion of this chamber being made lower than the ends the wagons descend into
the middle where the hot naphthaline is and after remaining for a sufficient time the

page_text: wagons are drawn up on the other side by means of a steam engine, or its equivalent.
Either end of this chamber has acoinpartiment on which there are doors separating
them from the outside air and the pot or tank, where the hot naphthaline is. When
the wagon with timber is to be put into the naphthaline, it is attached to a continuous
chain, or rope, passing along the tank and placed in one of the outside compart-
ments. The outside door is closed and the inside door opened and the wagon with
its timber is lowered into the hot naphthaline.-The inside door is again closed and
the process is repeated as often as desired.—When timber is to be withdrawn
from the naphthaline the inside door on the other end is opened and the outside
closed and the wagon is drawn up into the compartment at the other end where it
is allowed to cool and the inside door closed and the wagon removed. Both the
centre compartment and the two end compartments are furnished with tubes to a
stalk or chamber where the fumes of naphthaline are allowed to settle or are carried
away by means of a draught, steam jet, or its equivalent, and may be passed
through a flue.-If desired pressure may be used to force the hot naphthaline into
the wood in the same manner as creosote oils are forced in. It is not necessary
that the timber be seasoned or dry before being put into the hot naphthaline.-If
desired for the sake of appearances the timber after being treated may be painted.
This apparatus is also useful for the coating of castings such as pipes and other
metallic bodies avoiding as it does the escape of the fumes into the atmosphere
from the compositions used in coating. If desired the carriages on which the
timber is placed are fixed in a centre and when the wood is in them they or the
centre of the carriage with the timber therein is made to revolve and so the timber
is freed from any superfluous naphthaline on the outside, or the timber may be
lowered into an upright boiler in which hot naphthaline is in the same way as pipes
and castings are coated with tar composition at present. The wood so treated may be
used for any purpose being more particularly suitable for laying streets, water works,
wagons, mining purposes, fencing, sleepers and the like. In place of naphthaline,
chrysene, or what is known in oil and tar works as "slubbers" or gundy" may
be used in the same manner.-When wood for ships or boats is to be treated, I
prefer to use hot naphthaline or paraffin scale, but these may be applied with a spirit
as aftermentioned. The endless chain, or rope, passing through the chamber may
be continued outside the tank and used for moving the wagons round the tank.
In order to render stone, brick, cement, and other walls, or the foundations of
buildings, cisterns, or the like, impervious to water, or damp, or to prevent liquids
acting on the vessel holding them, I mix up wax, or scale paraffin with shale or
other spirit and paint the outside of the walls with the same, and the inside of
vessels or buildings for containing liquids, and the top of foundations. The paraffin
scale however may be used with a slight admixture of ordinary mineral, or other,
oils, and applied to the walls by means of a brush, or its equivalent. The paraffin
scale not being affected by almost anything in air or water remains as a permanent
conting and effectually prevents water from getting through it into the wall and so
preserves the stone, brick, cement and others against water, atmospheric
influences, or frost.-Or the paraflin scale may be applied to the buildings and
rubbed in.
In place of using paraflin scale I use chrysene, or naphthaline mixed with
benzole, or spirit, or mixtures of all may be used.
Where very ornate work is desired to be treated the stones or other building
material may be placed before being built in a receptacle full of the hot paraflin
scale, or naphthaline, or chrysene, and afterwards built in.-In like manner terra-
cotta work may be so treated and such articles as vases and ornamental work of
that kind so as to be uninjured by frost.-In place of using boiled paraffin scale,
hot naphthaline, or chrysene, may be used.
When desired to dye or colour the subject being treated with any particular colour,
or dye, I mix these with the hot paraffin wax, naphthaline, or chrysene, and so
colour the stone or wood, or other material as desired.
When desired to coat the inside of pipes with parafiin scale to prevent water or

page_text: other liquids or gases acting on the metal, or to make terra-cotta and other pipes
tight I either dip them in hot paraflin scale, chrysene, or naphthaline, as is desired,
or I heat up the pipes with hot air, steam, or water, and fill them with hot paraffin
scale and when full run off the superfluous scale.-This may be done pipe by pipe,
or after the pipes are laid if the levels of the pipes are suitable, or force may be
applied to push the superfluous matter along the pipes.
In making joints of pipes for carrying gas or water I mix the gasket hemp,
asbestos, or other fibrous material, or cork dust or pieces, with paraffin scale which
I prefer to be hot.-Chrysene may be used in liko manuer but regard must be had
to the kind of material to be used on the pipes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Aitken in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st July 1882.
88
HENRY AITKEN, of Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, North Britain.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING TIMBER AND IN RENDERING PIPES AND PIPE
JOINTS, WALLS, AND THE LIKE, IMPERVIOUS TO LIQUIDS, DAMP, OR ACID, AND
IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREFOR, WHICH APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED
FOR THE COATING OF METALLIC SURFACES WITH TAR, OR COMPOUNDS OF TAR,
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My said Invention relates to improvements in treating timber, pipes and pipe
joints, walls, and the like, as well as other articles, or substances, for the purposes
hereinafter mentioned by employing the materials hereinafter mentioned in the
manner described and in apparatus to be used therefor In treating timber
according to my Invention, the timber is immersed in hot, that is to say, melted
naphthaline, or chrysene, or pyrene ;-I here explain that by the terin naphthaline,
I mean the naphthaline series of hydrocarbons which corresponds or approaches to
the formula C, H, and by chrysene the series of hydrocarbons which corresponds
to the formula C₁s H or that which is very approximately of the same con-
stitution namely pyrene and which is generally named in oil and tar works
"slubbers" or "gundy" having the formula C₁, H₁, and which (chrysene and
pyrene) are not usually distinguished for commercial purposes from each other, as
they (chrysene and pyrene) pass off in distillation together at practically the same
temperature. The timber is allowed to remain in the said substance or mixture
of substances in a heated state for such time as will enable it to absorb as much of
the melted naphthaline, or chrysene, or pyrene, or mixture thereof as is necessary.-
The temperature at which the liquified substance is maintained is regulated
according to the object for which the wood so treated is intended to be used.-
Where it is important that the fibre, or cohesive strength, or tenacity of wood, so
treated should not be impaired, the temperature is kept low and the time during
which it is immersed in the said liquified substance or substances is lengthened.—
Where it is not an object to preserve the fibre, or cohesive strength, or tenacity of the
timber, the temperature of the naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene, may be increased,
and the process thereby hastened. The vessel into which the naphthaline, chrysene,
or pyrene, is placed may be made of timber, and the heat applied to its contents
by means of steam pipes placed in the bottom and sidos of the vessel, or the tank
may be made of iron, or steel, or other metal, and the heat applied in like manner,
or by means of a steam jacket enclosing the bottom and sides of the tank.-In
some cases a furnace may be used, the heat of which either comes in direct contact
with the plates, or passes through a body of sand or other refractory substance
placed between the flame and the bottom of the tank.-Suitable weights are
placed upon the timber, so that it may be sunk in, and covered by the liquified
substance, or substances. In place of using steam for liquifying the naphthaline,
chrysene, pyrene, heated air may be forced or drawn through the pipes, and the
vessel or tank may be built or inade of stone, brick, or concrete.
When it is desired that the timber should be thoroughly saturated, and covered
on the outside with the substance, or substances, hereinbefore mentioned, the
timber is not withdrawn until the temperature of the said substance or substances
in the tank has been lowered to about their melting point.
On the other hand when it is desired that the timber should be as free as
possible on the outside from the substance, or substances, herein before mentioned,

page_text: the timber is withdrawn while the said substance, or substances, is, or are,
still hot.
When it is desired that the timber should be rendered as dense as possible, and
at the same time that a coating of the said substance, or substances, should be
maintained upon the outside thereof, the timber having been fully treated by
immersion for a sufficient length of time, then taken from the tank, when it is
compressed by means of screws, hydraulic, or other power, and again dipped into
the liquefied substance, or substances, when they are at a temperature slightly
above their melting point. In this way timber to be used as insulators for carrying
conductors of electricity, such for example as for electric railways, telegraph, or
telephone lines, or magnetism, is rendered more dense and less capable of absorbing
damp.
Where large quantities of timber have to be treated, I find it advantageous to
construct a chamber, preferably of iron, in which I place rails both on the top and
at the bottom of the inside thereof. The timber to be treated is placed in wagons
having wheels on both the top and the bottom, and the middle portion of this
chamber being made lower than the ends, the wagons descend down an incline,
into the middle part which constitutes a pot, or tank, wherein the hot naphthaline,
chrysene, or pyrene, is contained, and after remaining for a sufficient time therein,
the wagons are drawn up on the incline at the other side by means of a steam
engine, or its equivalent. Either end of this chamber has a compartment, whereon
there are two doors separating the outside air from the pot, or tank, wherein the
hot naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene, is contained.
•
When the wagon with the timber is to be put into the liquified naphthaline,
chrysene, or pyrene, it is attached to a continuous chain or rope, passing through
the incline space leading to the tank and drawn into the entrance portion of one of
their inclined outside compartiments.-The outside door of this compartment is then
closed, and the inside door thereof opened, so that the wagon with its timber is
lowered into the said liquefied substance, or substances, after which the inside door
is again closed, and this process repeated as often as is necessary.-When timber is
to be withdrawn from the melted naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene, the inside door
on the other inclined end of the chamber, is opened, and the outside closed, when
the wagon is drawn up into the exit compartment at this end of the chamber,
wherein it is allowed to cool down. The inside door is then closed, and the
outside door opened, so that the wagon may be removed.-Both the central com-
partment and the two end compartments of this apparatus, are furnished with
tubes leading to a chimney or chamber wherein the fumes of the naphthaline,
chrysene, or pyrene, are allowed to settle, and thereafter collected and utilized, or
these fumes are passed through liquids such as spirit, or oils, or tar, in order that
they may be all absorbed, and made available for future use, or they are carried
away by means of a draught, steam jet, or its equivalent, and may be passed
through a fire.
If desired the chamber in which the hot naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene, is
contained may have a vacuum created in it, so as to deprive the wood being
treated of air, and the wood may then be placed in the aforesaid hot or liquefied
substance or substances.
If desired pressure may be used to force the hot naphthaline, chrysene, or pyreno
into the wood in the same mauner as creosote oils are at present forced into
timber. It is not necessary but better that the timber be seasoned or dry before
being put into the hot naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene.
When it is desired to render the treated timber less liable to burn I dip the
same in sulphuric acid or other substance to make it less liable to catch fire, or
this object may be also accomplished by passing hot water or steam rapidly over
the surface of the timber.
The apparatus herein before described may be also used for coating pipes and
castings with tar, or other compounds, as it entirely avoids the escape of fumes
into the atmosphere.

page_text: The endless chain, or rope, passing through the chamber may be continued
outside the tank, and used for moving the wagons, or carriages, round the outside
thereof.
When it is desired to move the timber in the wagon so as to expose the timber
to the liquids when in the tank, the centre of the carriage with the timber in it is
made to revolve by connecting the outside of the same to the wheels or axles of
the carriages with wheel gearing, or chains, or friction gearing, or the like, so that
when the carriage moves, the centre revolves.
The timber may be seasoned or treated in any known way for extracting the
sap or damp, and thereafter treated as herein before mentioned.
If desired the timber before being placed in the hot materials may be placed
above the same and the air extracted and thereafter plunged into the hot materials.
In place of applying naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene, to timber in the manner
herein before described the same may be applied to timber with a brush after the
said substance, or substances, have been mixed with spirit such as benzole, shale
spirit, petroleum spirit, or other spirit, which is a solvent of naphthaline, or other
material used as above mentioned.-I find that the best solvent of chrysene is
benzole spirit or crude benzole.
Wood so treated is more particularly suitable for laying streets, water reservoirs,
tanks, wagons for mining purposes, or for fencing, sleepers, and the like. It is also
useful for wood to be used as insulators for conductors of electricity or magnetism,
and in this case I prefer to re-dip the wood treated in hot chrysene or pyrene,
which has been previously boiled down so as to make the same stiff.
The wood may be treated by placing the same in in solution of spirit and
naphthaline, chrysene or pyrene, and allowed to remain therein until it shall have
absorbed as much solution of the said substance or substances as is desirable for
the purpose to which it is to be applied.-Or wood may be treated with the sub-
stances named in the same manner as hercinbefore stated to be used when the said
substances are liquefied by means of heat with this difference that I prefer when
exhausting the air from the timber to do so in a separate chamber and then open a
valve connecting with a pipe to the liquid solution and by opening the valve
when the air has been extracted allow the solution to get into the chamber
where the timber is.
Where wood is to be used for railway chair keys or the like I treat the
wood in the same way as I have described, where the same is to be used as
insulators for electric or magnetic purposes.
In all cases when the fibre of the wood is desired to be maintained the timber
should be heated up slowly, and when statuary or other articles of marble or
stone are to be so treated they are also heated up slowly before they are
placed in the hot substance.
Timber that is to be used for bearings for the revolving shafts or sliding
surfaces of machinery should be treated in like manner, care being taken that,
before it has been placed in the materials, it shall have been dried slowly in
the most careful manner, so as to make the wood as dense as possible.
Aly said Invention also consists in treating stone, brick, cement, or other
walls, or the foundations of buildings, cisterns, or the like, so as to render the
materials treated impervious to water, or damp, or to prevent liquids acting on
vessels in which they are contained.-I mix up naphthaline, chrysene, or
pyrene, with benzole, shale, or other spirit, and apply the saine to the subject
to be treated after the manner of applying paint to surfaces.
In order that the treatment may be effectually used, I apply the same when the
subject is dry and preferably when the weather is warm, and if convenient when
the sun is shining on the subject.
In place of using paraffine scale I use chrysene, pyrene, or naphthaline, mixed
with benzole or shale spirit, or nixtures of all these may be used.-Where very
ornate work is desired to be treated according to my Invention the stone or other
building material may be placed before being built or erected in a receptacle

page_text: full of hot naphthaline, chrysene or pyrene.-In like manner terra-cotta work,
marble, statuary tablets, such as grave stones, monuments, and the like may
be so treated.
The chamber into which the liquefied naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene, is, may
be provided with means for creating a vacuum, so that the articles before being
placed in the hot substances are deprived of the air and thereafter immersed in the
said liquefied substance or substances or pressure may be used to force the liquefied
substance or substances thereinto.
Parafline scale may be caused to spread over and get absorbed by the materials
of which buildings are composed or by objects to be treated thereby by means of a
hot jet of air after the said scale, or wax, has been rubbed on the walls, or objects,
and liquified by means of the hot jet of air, or the walls, or objects, to be treated
may be heated and the parafine rubbed thereon.
Where stone or earthenware has to be treated for being used for insulators
for electric or magnetic purposes the same must be carefully and well
dried before being placed in the said liquefied substanco or substances, and if
desired the same may be exposed to vacuum and pressure as hereinbefore
described.
It is well known that insects and animal life have a great dislike to naphthaline
and this should be kept in view in treating timber for piers and maritime purposes
and also for wood to be used in hot countries such as India.
In treating telegraph insulators made of terra-cotta, or chinaware, when the
same are unglazed I prefer to exhaust the air and press in the hot substances as
herein before described so as to effectually prevent any damp from getting into
them. I prefer also to treat insulators by dipping them in chrysene, which is not
too hot so as to make a considerable layer of this substance upon the insulators
which in this case may be either glazed or unglazed. The insulators so treated
may also be made of stone such as slate, steatite, soap stone, or preference is given
to any stone that will work cheaply and which is not a conductor of electricity.
When I desire to make the substances thick or firm I mix with them hot limeshells
or plaster of Paris, or ironstone dust or iron oxide.
When desired to coat the inside of pipes with paraffine scale to prevent water,
or liquids, or gases, acting on them or to make terra cotta or other pipes tight I either
dip them in hot naphthaline chrysene, or pyrene, or paraffine scale, or wax, as is
desired, or I heat up the pipes with hot air, steam or water, and fill them with the
hot substance or substances and when full drain off the superfluous naphthaline,
chrysene, pyrene, or paraffine scale, or wax, care being taken to maintain the pipes
at such temperature that only as much of the said substance, or substances, will be
left behind as is thought desirable should be.
In so treating canvas, or cloth, hose pipes, according to this Invention, I prefer
to dip them in hot or liquefied naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene, or paraffine scale
mixed with the said naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene, kept a very little above the
melting point and allowing them to remain therein, until they shall have absorbed
as much as they will take up.-The durability, tightness, and flexibility of such
hose pipes, is much improved by being treated in hot paraffine scale which I prefer,
but any or all of the said substances may be so used. Or the said hose pipes may
be painted with or dipped in a mixture of parafline scale, and spirit and chrysene
or pyrene, and spirit and to prevent insects or animals from destroying the said
hose pipes I mix a little naphthaline therein.
In making the joints of pipes for carrying gas, or water, I mix the gasket of
hemp, asbestos, cloth, paper, pasteboard or other material, or cork dust or pieces,
with paraffine scale which I prefer to be hot. Chrysene, or pyrene or naphthaline
may be used in like manner, but regard must be had to the kind of material to be
used on the joints, for instance chrysene is not suitable for being applied in the
joints of pipes carrying illuminating gas as the gas liquities the chrysene.--It is
however very suitable for making joints for carrying water.
Parafine scale is an excellent substance for making the joints of gas pipes tight

page_text: as it has the property of absorbing a substance which I at present believe
is naphthaline from the gas so that if a joint leaks a little from any cause, the
paraffine sale will absorb the naphthaline, and so gradually close the hole.
When pipes have to be coated for carrying acid or other destructive material I
prefer to fill the pipes after being laid with hot paraffine scale, and thereafter force
the superfluous material out.-By this means I ensure the pipes being completely
covered with the paraffine scale.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is, or may be, used, or carried into
practical effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is-
First. The treating of timber, or stone, with naphthaline or chrysene or pyrenc,
or mixtures thereof substantially as herein before described.
Second. The treatment of terra-cotta, or articles composed thereof with
naphthaline, chrysene or pyrene, or with mixtures thereof substantially as
herein before described.
Third. The apparatus consisting of a central pot, or chamber, and with duplex
entrance and exit doors, and provided with tanks wherein the timber or other
substances or articles are treated with the said liquified substance or substances,
substantially as herein before described.
Fourth. Treating pipes or analogous articles with naphthaline or chrysene or
pyrene, in the manner herein before described.
Fifth. Treating the surface of buildings, or of articles or materials used in
buildings, or foundations with naphthaline, chrysene, or pyrene, in order to preserve
the same and to render the same incapable of absorbing damp, or inoisture,
substantially as herein before described.
Sixth Treating packing for joints substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described.
Seventh. The treating of canvas hose pipes substantially in the manner
herein before described.
In witness whereof I, the said Henry Aitken, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twenty sixth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.