Obtaining Products from the Pith of Cornstalks and Utilizing same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1898-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Obtaining Products from the Pith of Cornstalks and Utilizing same.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of 52, Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Lazarus Silverman, of 261 Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States of America, Banker), 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 obtain from the pith of cornstalks a light,
cellular substance for absorptive purposes and, with the substance obtained, present
various useful products and articles, such as the light, cellular substance, itself,
to absorb, take up, or abstract and hold any liquid; a surgical dressing, a pad
or bandage, or a catamenial sack, wherein the light, cellular substance is enveloped
in suitable covering or coverings of appropriate shape; and a practically-dry,
oleaginous composition, adapted for lubricating, heating, and lighting purposes,
and which presents great facility for the handling, packing, transportation, and
storage of oil.
Heretofore, corn-pith, both whole, that is, in lengths or pieces, and ground up,
has been employed for various purposes; but I wish, at the outset, to have it
clearly understood that my invention does not reside, merely, in the application.
of corn-pith, as such, alone, to any purpose whatever; but resides in the obtain-
ment from corn-pith, that is, in the separation out, in comminuted or granular
form, from corn-pith, of a light, cellular substance, in the corn-pith contained; in
the treatment of this to make it still lighter and more expanded, or cellular;
and in the application of this light, cellular, comminuted substance to the pro-
duction of various articles; as well, in the light,, cellular substance thus obtained,
itself, and in the products and articles from it made.
Corn-pith, that is to say, the rounded, rod-like pith-body, which is within
the outer shell, body, and fibrous mat, constituting the cornstalk proper,-con-
sists of a very light kind of cellulose, or pith proper, and of fibers which run
lengthwise through it.
Now, the point is to obtain this light cellulose without having the same mixed
with these fibers, and I have found that, alone, it presents a mass. which is much
more highly absorbent than when, for equal bulk, it has the fiber mixed with it
and, being, thus, soft and non-irritating, non-frictional, or non-abradant; affords
a substance from which useful products or articles can be made, which are im-
possible of production if the fiber be present.
Heretofore, many attempts have been made to free the light, cellular substance
of corn-pith from the fibers, among which may be mentioned a procedure in
which the corn-pith was first ground and then subjected to. a blast of air to blow
off the lighter pith; but all attempts, previous to my invention, have proved
abortive, as, after the pith is once ground, that is,. after the light, cellular sub-
stance and the fibers have once been ground together, the fiber or fiber-particles
can never be completely removed or left behind,

page_text: To prepare my absorptive substance, take ordinary cornstalks and first remove
the outer portion or cortical, leaving the pith in lengths; then, in any convenient
manner, as by brushing, or carding, lengthwise of the fibers, by fine wire brushes,
cards, or endless belts provided with fine teeth, remove the light, cellular tissues
from the fibers, obtaining the light, cellular substance in finely-divided, com-
minuted, or granular form, free from the fibers that run lengthwise through
the pith; and, then, preferably, subject the substance, thus obtained, freed from
the fibers, to a light steaming, not wetting or soaking if, by which the granules
are swollen and the cells are expanded, or opened, thereby greatly increasing
the bulk or volume of a given quantity of substance, and rendering it more
absorptive. After steaming, it will soon dry of itself, though it may be artificially
dried.
The substance free from the fiber presents numerous cells. In small particles,
before steaming, it has much the appearance of yellow maize-meal, while, after
steaming, it is more white and is light and fluffy, and, under the microscope,
the particles have an arachnoid appearance.
The substance, with or without previous steaming and, if desired, antisepticised,
Cr scented, or both, may now be used, by itself, as a new article of manufacture
for various purposes, such as an absorbent, for surgical dressings, etc., or it may
be put up in envelopes of absorbent material, or material partly absorbent and
partly waterproof, for surgical pads, catamenial sacks or bandages, etc., and,
triturated, with co-action of a suitable hard substance, such as sulfate of potassa.
or sugar of milk, it makes a very fine, dust-like powder and may, then, be employed
as a face-powder, or as a scent-powder in sachets, etc.
For a lubricant, which I term my "Dry Oil Lubricant," the substance is charged
with oil, preferably in about the proportions, by weight, of from 90 to 98 per cent.
of oil to from 10 to 2 per cent. of the substance. In other words, the substance
is generally charged with as much oil as it will take up and hold, that is to say,
it is preferably saturated with oil without leaving any oil in a free or fluent
condition.
The substance, prepared as described, being of a light, cellular, and highly-
absorbent nature and taking and supplying liquid by capillary attraction, the oil-
composition will not cake and become hard, and the substance impervious to oil
on exposure or use, but will continue as a perfect cleaner and lubricator, the
substance remaining pervious to the free passage of oil and, while the oil will
be given up, as required, to a journal, or to other use, thus making the oiling
automatic and obviating the necessity of frequent supply of oil, whereby oil may
be supplied once a week, once a month, or at any other regulated period, as
desirable, according to the size of the casing or holder for the material, composi-
tion, or mass, it will escape from the mass only as requisite, and waste is thereby
obviated, and the machinery or other structure to which oil is supplied, as also
the surroundings and floors, will remain clear and clean of oil; that is to say,
the composition is of a loose, granular nature, and is in a practically-dry condition,
or emulsive, that is to say, dry but yielding oil by expression, like certain seeds,
as each division or particle constitutes an oil-holding vehicle separate from and
independent of each other division or particle; so that, while the mass, as a whole,
will, under proper conditions in use, yield its contained oil, as requisite, yet,
under normal conditions, there will be no yield of oil and, consequently, no waste;
and the oil not being immediately free, the composition or mixture, when supplied
to hot-boxes, will not cause a burst of flame, or an explosion.
The relation existing between the particles of the mass, when in situ, is so
close that a practically solid and unbroken surface may be presented to a journal;
so that thorough and effective lubrication will result at all times, while any
accumulation of gummy matter will be prevented, thereby keeping the journal
thoroughly clean and polished, and reducing friction to a minimum, the absence
from the mass of fiber, which is always silicious, obviating injurious attrition to
the journal or bearing: and the mass, also, giving such protection from without

page_text: that a bearing will be dust-proof. The oil will be expressed and liberated when
the composition or mass is subjected to even a moderate pressure, and, in the
act of being expressed, is filtered in passing from or through the substance, so
that any impurity contained in the oil will be retained by the substance, and
the liberated oil will be pure and free from grit or other matter that would detract
from its purity. and be injurious in use, as to a bearing. As a result of this
filtration, I am enabled, if desired, to employ a very low-grade of oil and obtain
therefrom results as satisfactory as those attendant upon the employment of high-
grade oil. Of course, in some purposes, such as heating, to which my charged
substance or composition may be applied, the very impurities of the oil are
adjunctive in use.
For lubricating purposes, where there is a box beneath the journal, the composi-
tion is put into the box, itself, in manner and quantity to insure the requisite
lubrication of the journal, without waste by dripping of oil. When the journal
has no box underneath, a suitable casing, tube, or holder, filled with the composi-
tion, supplies oil to the journal from above. A. light weight, corresponding to
the shape of the casing, is placed in the same and, bearing upon the mass, operates
to express the oil and supply it to the journal in the required quantity, thus
constituting an automatic feed. In lieu of the weight, a spring-pressed fol-
lower may be employed.
As above stated, I term my composition, when used for purposes of lubrication,
"Dry Oil Lubricant." By this term, I mean the light, cellular substance, above-
described, charged with oil, and practically dry, the oil being in it, non-fluent,
not free to run, but, under conditions herein before-set-forth, capable of presenta-
tion, as required, for thorough and requisite lubrication, without waste, and being
filtered and capable of automatic supply.
The composition may be packed, stored, handled, and shipped like ordinary mer-
chandise in boxes or packages, without leakage or waste. It is non-explosive,
may be shipped in receptacles as ordinary freight, and, in case of fire, as in a
factory, boat, or elsewhere, it will not explode and scatter fire, but will burn in
a body in the same manner as other non-explosive substances.
.
Where the mixture of my new substance and oil is used for lighting, as in an
ordinary lamp, the supply of oil to the wick will be the same as if none of the
substance were present, and possesses the great advantage of rendering the lamp
non-explosive by keeping all space in the same entirely filled up, leaving no
room for accumulation of free vapor, and, as the substance is a non-conductor,
obviating heating of the interior from the sides and top of the lamp. The sub-
stance is so light and so highly absorbent that, even after filling a lamp full with
it, almost the same quantity of oil can be filled into the lamp as if none of the
substance were present.
The use of this oleaginous lubricator will lessen the danger of fires, as there
will be no drip of oil to the floor of a building, or ship, to render it oil-soaked,
and, consequently, dangerously inflammable. With less risk of fire, the cost of
insurance will be reduced.
The mixture of pith and oil may be used for heating purposes, as a fuel, and
for kindling, etc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The method of producing a light, cellular substance from the pith of corn-
stalks, as an absorbent for liquids, which consists in subjecting the pith, as taken
from the cornstalks, to a brushing or carding action, lengthwise of the contained
fibers, separating out the soft or cellular portion of the pith, leaving the fibers
behind, as set forth.
2. The method of producing a light, cellular substance from the pith of corn-
stalks, as an absorbent for liquids, which consists in subjecting the pith, as taken

page_text: from the cornstalks, to a brushing or carding. action, lengthwise of the contained
fibers, separating out the soft or cellular portion of the pith, leaving the fibers
behind, and then rendering this substance lighter by steaming, all substantially
as, set forth.
3. As a new article of manufacture, an absorbent for liquids, consisting of the
light, cellular substance separated out in finely-divided. condition from the fibers
in cornstalk-pith, the same being applicable for the taking up and holding of
liquids, substantially as described.
4. As a new article of manufacture, an absorbent for liquids consisting of the
light, cellular substance separated out in finely-divided condition from the fibers
in cornstalk-pith, the same being applicable for the taking up and holding of
liquids, and having been lightened by steaming, substantially as described.
5. A pad, bandage, or sack, for surgical and other purposes, consisting of the
light, cellular substance of cornstalk-pith, in, comminuted form, free from fiber;.
and contained in a suitable envelope, substantially as set forth.
6. A composition for a powder for application to the face, or for other purposes,
consisting of the light, cellular substance separated out from corn-pith and free
from fibers, the same being triturated with a suitable hard substance, such as
sulfate of potassa, or sugar of milk, substantially as described.
7. The method of preparing a composition for lubricating purposes, which
consists in separating the soft or cellular portion of the pith of cornstalks from
the fibers, steaming the soft portion thus separated; and charging it with oil;
substantially as described.
8. A composition for lubricating, heating, or lighting purposes, consisting of
the light, cellular substance separated out from cornstalk-pith and free from fibers,
the same being charged with oil, substantially as described.
101
T
1000
SPECI
19th day of July
1000
OCOL
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.