Improved Means of Protecting Timber Structures.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Protecting Timber Structures.
1, WILLIAM SMITH, Civil Engineer, 88 Fountainhall Road, Aberdeen, 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:—
The object of this invention is to protect timber from destruction by sea worms
vermin, damp, dry rot, or any other living or fungoid growths upon the surface.
This is effected by sheathing the timber to be protected in an antiseptic com-
position of asphalte rendered antiseptic with any mineral poison, boracic acid, or
any other suitable antiseptic which is not of a volatile nature like creosote.
The asphalte composition is prepared by melting the asphalte with a proportion
of pitch oil sufficient to make it remain of a firm plastic consistency when cold,
namely one and a half to two gallons of pitch oil to one hundredweight of asphalte
or pitch. The antiseptic, in the proportion of five to ten per cent., is added to the
hot liquid mixture, which may then be used for covering the timber to be protected
by laying it on the timber with a brush or dipping the timber in the hot com-
position or run off into blocks suitable for transport to the place where it is to be
remelted and used for covering the timber.
The antiseptic asphalte composition thus prepared may be used for the protection
of timber, by first passing canvas, felt cloth or paper through it whilst hot, after-
wards cooling, pressing, and covering the canvas, felt cloth or paper with whiting
and water or other suitable material to prevent it from sticking together when
wound into rolls for transport; or alternatively the process may be varied by first
soaking the canvas, felt cloth or paper in the antiseptic mixed with water and
dextrine, farina or any other starchy matter then drying the canvas felt cloth or
paper and afterwards passing it through the hot liquid mixture of asphalte or
pitch and pitch oil and treating in the manner already described.
The antiseptic asphalte composition thus applied may be used for protecting
timber piles or other timber structures from sea worms, vermin, damp, dry rot and
other fungoid growths by cutting the canvas, felt cloth or paper thus prepared
with it, into strips which are laid on or wound round the timber to be protected,
a thin layer of metallic oxide paint, hot coal tar or antiseptic asphalte composi-
tion may be painted on the meeting surfaces of the timber and the prepared
canvas, felt cloth or paper which is then nailed or strapped on with non corrosive
metal nails or straps.
The antiseptic asphalte composition in any of the forms above described is
capable of application to piles, any form of timber or timber structures and to
ships bottoms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A covering for piles, timber and timber structures generally said covering
consisting of asphalte or pitch mixed with pitch oil and any antiseptic mineral
poison or boracic acid not of a volatile nature all substantially as above described.
2. The method of protecting timber and timber structures from sea worms,
vermin, damp, dry rot and any other living or fungoid growths with an antiseptic
asphalte composition applied to the surfaces of the timber all substantially as
described.

page_text: 3. The method of protecting timber and timber structures from sea worms,
vermin, damp, dry rot, and any other living or fungoid growths with an antiseptic
asphalte composition applied to the surfaces of the timber with canvas, felt cloth
or paper all substantially as described.
Dad the 10th fantombo 1902