Improvements in and connected with the Sterilisation and Preservation of Milk, Cream, and other Fluids.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1895-Accepted, 17th Aug.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Sterilisation and
Preservation of Milk, Cream, and other Fluids.
THOMAS ROBINSON MASON, of 16 Russell Terrace, Leamington, in the County
of Warwick, Fancy Stationery Manufacturer, and GUSTAV VALENTINE ALSING,
of Blythswood Chambers 180 West Regent Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanarkshire, Scotland, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the sterilising and preserving of milk, cream, and other
fluids and consists of the use of an electric current, combined with heat, at a
temperature of about 168 degrees, Fahrenheit, for that purpose, and of apparatus
therefor. We construct two cylindrical vessels of different sizes, the larger one,
wholly or partially of copper, and the smaller one, wholly or partially of zinc, and
placing the smaller one inside the larger, we secure it, in such a way that a space
is left all round between the vessels. This space, we fill with water, mixed by
preference with salt, either by itself, or in combination with other chemicals. A
wire, by preference of platinum, is fixed and connected with the copper side of the
outer vessel, thus forming a positive pole, and a similar wire to the zinc side of
the inner vessel, forming a negative pole, and they reach from each point of
connection, towards the bottom of the inner vessel into which the milk, or other
fluid is placed, thus constituting a kind of galvanic battery. The outer vessel is
provided with a handle for suspending it over a burner, or with feet, or means of
support, to enable it to be raised above a table or place of support, so as to introduce
gas burners, or other heating appliances, below the bottom. By heating the outer
vessel, and thereby the solution, between the two vessels, to the requisite degree,
for a time varying from 20 to 30 minutes, or by repeated heatings, the milk in the
inner vessel becomes sterilised, and through the action of the positive current of
electricity, a portion of the oxygen in the milk is eliminated, and the milk is
thereby rendered less liable to turn sour or curdle. In addition to the above
treatment, we place, when thought necessary a screening and filtering arrangement
consisting of porous plates, and an intermediate layer of filtering material, by
preference of cotton, through which the milk, or other fluid, is properly filtered.
By this new process of heating, combined with electric currents, we claim that
milk and other fluids, are more effectually sterilised and preserved, than by any
system previously used.
The vessels used, whilst by preference cylindrical, may be of any other shape,
and of any other material, provided the needful and proper electrical action be set
up and made to co-operate with the heating of the milk, or other Huids, to the
requisite degree for perfect sterilisation.
Dated this 10th day April 1895.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with the Sterilisation and
Preservation of Milk, Cream, and other Fluids.
.
We THOMAS ROBINSON MASON, of 16 Russell Terrace Leamington, in the
County of Warwick, Fancy Stationery Manufacturer, and GUSTAV VALENTINE
ALSING, of Blythswood Chambers 180 West Regent Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanarkshire, Scotland, Civil Engineer 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:-
This invention relates to the sterilising and preserving of milk, cream, and
other fluids, and consists in the use of an electric current, combined with heat, at
a temperature of about 168 degrees Fahrenheit, for that purpose, and in apparatus
therefor.
We construct two cylindrical vessels of different sizes, the larger one, wholly or
partially of copper, and the smaller one, wholly or partially of zinc, and placing
the smaller one inside the larger, we secure it, in such a way, that a space is left all
round between the vessels. This space we fill with water, mixed, by preference
with salt, either by itself, or, in combination with other chemicals. A wire, by
preference of platinum, is fixed and connected with the copper side of the outer
vessel, thus forming a positive pole, and a similar wire to the zinc side of the inner
vessel, forming a negative pole and they reach from each point of connection,
towards the bottom of the inner vessel, into which the milk or other fluid is placed,
thus constituting a kind of galvanic battery. The outer vessel is provided with
a handle for suspending it over a burner, or with feet, or other means of support,
to enable it to be raised above a table, or place of support, so as to introduce gas
burners or other heating appliances below the bottom. By heating the outer
vessel, and thereby the solution, between the two vessels, to the requisite degree,
for a sufficiently long time, viz. 20 to 30 minutes, or by repeated heatings, the milk
or other fluid in the inuer vessel is also heated and sterilised, and the microbes
which may have lodged and multiplied in the fluid are all destroyed, so that the
milk or other fluid is rendered much more fit for human food; and through the
action of the positive current of electricity a portion of the oxygen in the milk
or other fluid is eliminated, and the milk is thereby rendered less liable to turn
sour or curdle. In addition to the above treatment, we place, when thought
necessary, a screening and filtering arrangement consisting of porous plates, and an
intermediate layer of filtering material, by preference of cotton, through which
the milk, or other fluid is properly filtered.
The vessel used, whilst by preference cylindrical, may be of any other shape,
and of any other material, provided the needful and proper electric current be set
up and made to co-operate with the heating of the fluids to the requisite degree
for perfect sterilisation.
In order that our said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the drawings hereto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, is an elevation of apparatus, arranged in accordance with our
invention.
Figure 2, is a transverse vertical section; and Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
The apparatus as here shown is suitable for the sterilisation and preservation of
milk or cream by an electric current, combined with heat; and for filtering the

page_text: same; and like apparatus may also be employed for a similar purpose for other
fluids.
A and B are two cylindrical vessels of different sizes, the larger one A is wholly
or partially made of copper, and the smaller one B, wholly or partially of zinc.
The smaller vessel B is placed inside the larger one A, and suspended in it by
studs "a. a," fixed to vessel B, and resting on the upper edge of the vessel A,
thus leaving a space all round between the vessels, as shown in the drawing, or the
smaller vessel may be placed inside the larger one, on an insulated stool, so as to
provide space between the vessels. To the upper edge of the vessels A and B
conducting strips "b, 6" are fixed and provided with terminals ", c. c," from which
the conducting wires "d. d," pass through the lid "e" of the vessel B towards the
bottom of the same. "C" is a stand for the vessel A, with feet to enable it to
be raised above a table, or other support. "f" is a filter cloth held between
perforated plates within the vessel B..
The apparatus may be used as follows:
The space between the vessels A and B is filled with water containing salt,
either by itself or in combination with other chemicals. This is heated by means
of burners, below the vessel A, and communicates its heat to the milk, cream, or
other fluids, contained in the vessel B, whilst the chemical action of the water, on
the vessels A and B, produce an electric current, which is conducted by means of
the wires "d. d" into the contents of the vessel B which thereby, and together
with the heat, become sterilised and preserved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1st. Our improvement in sterilising and preserving milk, cream, and other fluids
by means of an electric current combined with heat.
2. The apparatus for sterilising and preserving milk, cream, and other fluids,
substantially as herein described and represented by the annexed drawings.
Dated this Eighth day of July 1895.
THOMAS ROBINSON MASON.
GUSTAV VALENTINE ALSING.