MENTS IN PRESERVING TIMBER, WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE TIMBERS OF SHIPS OR OTHER MARITIME STRUCTURES
Year: 1862

page_text: MENTS IN PRESERVING TIMBER, WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE
TIMBERS OF SHIPS OR OTHER MARITIME STRUCTURES."-A communication
from abroad by Mr. Henri de Lapparent, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Director of Naval Constructions.
Sealed the 29th July 1862, and dated the 7th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
February 1862.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer & Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING TIMBER, WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE TO THE TIMBERS OF SHIPS OR OTHER MARITIME STRUCTURES," to be
as follows:
This Invention relates to. an improved method of preserving wood, especially
that used in building the hulls of ships, and maritime works, such as quays,
piles, piers, foundations, embankments, and for other purposes. This improved
process consists in a partial and superficial carbonization of the wood, which is
effected by simply charring the parts to be protected; this charring is effected
by bringing one or several jets of gas, carbonated or not, in contact with the
wood. In this manner a slight carbonization of the inner surface takes place,
while the heat penetrates still further into the wood, thus rendering it still
more suitable for repelling the action of exterior agents. For the torre-
faction of the frames before planking, and when the whole is put together

page_text: and in position, I pass one or several jets of gas over the whole surface, which
produces the carbonization; I then commence planking the vessel.
I am aware that the carbonization of wood with a view of preserving it has
been applied to the hulls of ships, but this carbonization was effected (either in
the open air or in sand baths) each part separately, whereas the distinguishing
features of this Invention are, 1st, the employment of gas, and 2ndly, charring
when the whole structure is put together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark, in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the
7th August 1862.
ΤΟ
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Clark, Her special licence, that I, the said William Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING
TIMBER, WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE TIMBERS OF SHIPS OR OTHER
MARITIME STRUCTURES," a com" from abroad from Mr. Henri de Lapparent, of
29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, in the Empire of France, Director of
Naval Constructions, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Clark, my executors or adminstrators, by an instrument. in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be. performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
-the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following:
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,-
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The preservation of wood being a question of great importance, this Inven-
tion is designed to aid in increasing its durability by neutralizing the causes of
deterioration and decay. It is well known that wood from the time it is felled.
contains a great quantity of juices or saps, which in fermenting keep the wood
in a constantly green state, and cause them to decay and lose all the strength
they may possess; this defect is partly compensated by the evaporation of the
sap, that is, when the wood is completely dry, which is principally the case
with hard woods, and that only after a lengthened period of time. Further,..
the woodwork, and especially in marine constructions, drying is insufficient for
the large square balks of timber which sometimes remain in the plaster of the
building or inside the planking of a ship where the stagnant water becomes.
heated by the bilge water; these parts rot with great rapidity, require to.be.
often removed, and also compromise the safety of the ship..
Many methods of preserving wood have been employed, thus 'wood has been
injected with preservative liquids, such as creosote, metallic sulphates, and
chlorides, which are introduced into the pores by pressure or suction, or by the
> ascensional vegetative force; carbonization has also been tried many years ago
and it is applied for many purposes on a small scale for vine props, light
fencing, and otherwise. The ordinary process consists in lighting a. fire, and
burning the parts therein which are to be carbonized, but this process is not
applicable for large blocks of wood, as they require to be turned and moved in
all directions in the fire; on the other hand the wood is never carbonized all
over to an equal extent.
a
This Invention consists in a peculiar arrangement for carbonizing large
wooden constructions, such as the hull of a ship. From what has been before
mentioned, it will be understood that in order to effect the preservation of the
wood in a comparatively short time,. 1st, the wood must be deprived of the
greatest possible amount of sap, and consequently of the fermenting properties
it contains; 2ndly, to submit the wood before the parts are put together to an
artificial desiccation; 3rdly, to singe the face of the wood when the work iş
finished by a slight carbonization..
In order to deprive the wood of its sap, I avail myself of the principle
termed endosmose, that is, I plunge the wood into soft water, which being less
dense than the sap juices forces out the latter, and fills all the fibres of the
wood in its turn..
2ndly; the wood after having thus imbibed the water, and being entirely

page_text: deprived of sap, is placed in the open air to be dried, which may be effected in.
a short time, according to the size of the, wood blocks, either completely or
artificially. The wood may be, artificial, dried: by means of an apparatus of:
Messrs. Légé & Henry Pironnets': Invention, for, injecting poplar and beech
woods with sulphate of copper; this apparatus consists of a cylinder, in which
after having introduced the wood and hermetically closing. the end, a jet of
steam is passed through the wood, in order to heat it and dilate the. pores,
after which I obtain a vacuum by establishing communication between the
cylinder and a cold water condenser at the same that the air pump is worked..
The. wood is then ready to receive. a current of heated air with which a
certain quantity of sulphuric acid is mixed; in. order to prevent any formation
of fungi on the ship's bottom. I may also apply, a paint below: the..water line
composed of flour of sulphur 200 parts, linseed oil 135 parts, boiled oil and
manganese 30 parts. This paint by its sulphurous odour. will prevent all
incrustation forming on the bottoms of ships.
3rdly, the wood having been subjected to the above-mentioned treatment, is
then finished, and put together in the usual manner; there now only remains
to char the entire surface in order to preserve the wood: This operation, as
I have before-mentioned, cannot be effected by the ordinary. means.
"
According to this. Invention .I. obtain. the. desired result.by..means of a jet of
gas, which I cause to impinge on the surfaces to. be. charred, lighting gas,
whether in a state of compression or not, may be used with advantage for the
purpose; but if this is not to be had, I may employ: hydrogen, or still better;
oxide of carbon, which is easily produced:.
The apparatus I employ for applying the gas are represented in the
Drawings annexed, in which Fig. 1 shows an apparatus for the production of
gaseous oxide of carbon; Fig. 2 shows a second arrangement also. for producing
gaseous oxide of carbon for charring railway sleepers. a, ordinary, blowing
apparatus; b, chamber, provided with. fire-bars forming the. furnace; c, coal,
serving for the production of the gas; d, tubes leading to the gasometer; e,
gasometer; f, nozzle, whence the jet of lighted gas escapes, which I'direct.on
the surfaces of the wood to be carbonized, like as if using a jet of water;
9, cupola of refractory clay or metal, filled with crushed coke.in. small pieces,
and carried by a grating h; i, tube for the supply of air forming a blowing
apparatus; g, opening for cleansing the ash-pit; k; opening made at the upper
part of the cupola for the passage of a piece of timber. l, which is made.to
slide slowly, in order to effect the carbonizing operation. When a ship's
bottom is to be carbonized in this manner, the charred surface is slightly
roughened, when it may then be painted in the ordinary way. I may also

page_text: superficially carbonize wood by employing inflammable liquids or pastes, which
are first spread over the surfaces, and then lighted. When constructing hulls
of ships in ordinary an error is committed in so enclosing the frame of the
vessel as to prevent any communication with the exterior air. A good method
would be to place the shell of the vessel in communication with the exterior
air by making small holes in the sides, which would not weaken the parts to
any great degree.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the method of extracting the sap from wood, as herein-before
described, dissolving it by the action of endosmose.
Secondly, the methods of artificially or naturally drying wood, as herein
described.
Thirdly, I claim the method of carbonizing wood by the aid of a jet of
inflammable gas of any suitable nature, which is projected on the wood in
position, which process is especially applicable to the hulls of ships. And,
further, the preservation of the hulls of such ships by the application of a
sulphurous paint, herein-before described, in order to prevent the formation of
incrustations, said paint being applied on the carbonized parts.
Fourthly, I also claim constructing the shells of vessels so as to admit of air
passing along inside the framing, in order to prevent the stagnated heated air
decomposing the timbers.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Sixth day of. August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
53, Chancery Lane, W.C.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)

page_text: OLDSMID, MAYDIEU, AND DE LAPPARENT'S DISCLAIMER
AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION.
iled 22nd June 1863.
(CLARK'S PATENT.)
In the Datter of a Patent granted to WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING TIMBER, WHICH ARE
PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE TIMBERS OF SHIPS OR OTHER MARITIME
STRUCTURES, bearing date 7th February 1862, and which Letters
Patent, and all interest therein, bave been duly assigned to and are
now vested in Edmund Goldsmid, of 2, Royal Exchange Buildings,
City of London, Adrien Maydieu, of 9, Rue Mogador, Paris, Gen-
tleman, and Henri de Lapparent, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, Director of Naval Constructions.
ISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION, proposed to be
entered by the said Edmund Goldsmid, Adrien Maydieu, and Henri de
Lapparent as such assignees as aforesaid, pursuant to the Statutes in
the case made and provided.
WHEREAS since the filing of the Specification to the said Letters Patent,
has been found that parts of the said Specification describe refer to or
laim methods or processes which do not possess such an amount of novelty
nd practical utility as to render it desirable to retain them as parts of the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: said Letters Patent, your petitioners for that reason wish to disclaim all those
parts of the said Specification, that is to say, the words following:
:-
"Further, the woodwork, and especially in marine constructions, drying
" is insufficient for the large square balks of timber, which sometimes
"remain in the plaster of the building, or inside the planking of a ship
"where the stagnant water becomes heated by the bilge water; these parts
rot with great rapidity, require to be often removed, and also compromise
"the safety of the ship.
61
Also the words,-
"I may also apply a paint below the water line composed of flour of sulphur
"200 parts, linseed oil 135 parts, boiled oil and manganese 30 parts. This
paint by its sulphurous odour will prevent all incrustations forming on
"the bottoms of ships..
Also the words,-
I may also superficially carbonize wood by employing inflammable liquids
"or pastes, which are first spread over the surfaces and then lighted. When
"constructing hulls of ships in ordinary an error is committed in so enclosing
the frame of the vessel as to,prevent any communication with the exterior
"air. A good method would be to place the shell of the vessel in communi-
"cation with the exterior air by making small holes in the sides, which would
"not weaken the parts to any great degree.
66
Also the words, -
"First, the method of extracting the sap from wood, as herein-before
described,dissolving it bythe action of endosmose; Secondly, the methods of
artificially or naturally drying wood, as herein described. Thirdly, I claim.
Also the words,-
66
<<
And further, the preservation of the hulls of such ships by the application
of a sulphurous paint, hereiu-before described, in order to prevent the
"formation of incrustations, said paint being applied on the carbonized parts.
Fourthly, I also claim constructing the shells of vessels so as to admit of
"air passing along inside the framing, in order to prevent the stagnated
"heated air decomposing the timbers.
6:
And that since the filing of the said Specification it has also been dis-
covered that certain clerical errors occur in the description of the Drawings
of said Specification, we are desirous of altering the word "forming" into
"froin," and to alter the letter "g" into the letter j.
And in order that the effect of the Disclaimer and Memorandum of Altera-
tion may be better understood, we annex a copy of the Specification as it will

page_text: appear when the said Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration have been
made, as aforesaid.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say): -
.
The preservation of wood being a question of great importance, this Inven-
tion is designed to aid in increasing its durability by neutralizing the causes of
deterioration and decay. It is well known that wood from the time it is felled
contains a great quantity of juices or saps,which in fermenting keep the wood
in a constantly green state, and cause them to decay and lose all the strength
they may possess ; this defect is partially compensated by the evaporation of
the sap, that is, when the wood is completely dry, which is principally the
case with hard woods, and that only after a lengthened period of time.
Many methods of preserving wood have been employed, thus wood has
been injected with preservative liquids, such as creosote, metallic sulphates,
and chlorides, which are introduced into the pores by pressure or suction, or
by the ascensional vegetative force; carbonization has also been tried many
years ago, and it is applied for many purposes on a small scale for vine props,
light fencing, and otherwise. The ordinary process consists in lighting a fire
and burning the parts therein which are to be carbonized; but this process is
not applicable for large blocks of wood, as they require to be turned and moved
in all directions in the fire; on the other hand the wood is never carbonized
all over to an equal extent.
This Invention consists in a peculiar arrangement for carbonizing large
wooden constructions, such as the hull of a ship. From what has been before
mentioned it will be understood, that in order to effect the preservation of the
wood in a comparatively short time, 1st, the wood must be deprived of the
greatest possible amount of sap,and consequently of the fermenting properties
it contains. 2ndly, to submit the wood before the parts are put together to
an artificial desiccation. 3rdly, to singe the face of the wood when the work
is finished by a slight carbonization.
In order to deprive the wood of its sap, I avail myself of the principle
termed endosmose, that is, I punge the wood into soft water, which being less
dense than the sap juices forces out the latter, and fills all the fibres of the
wood in its turn.
2ndly, the wood after having thus imbibed the water, and being entirely

page_text: deprived of
sap is placed in the open air to be dried, which may be effected in
a short time, according to the size of the wood blocks, either completely or
artificially. The wood may be artificially dried by means of an apparatus of
Messrs. Légé & Henry Pironnet's Invention for injecting poplar and beech
woods with sulphate of copper; this apparatus consists of a cylinder, in which,
after having introduced the wood and hermetically closing the end, a jet of
steam is passed through the wood in order to heat it and dilate the pores, after
which I obtain a vacuum by establishing communication between the cylinder
and a cold water condenser at the same that the air pump is worked. The
wood is then ready to receive a current of heated air, with which a certain
quantity of sulphuric acid is mixed, in order to prevent any formation of
fungi on the ship's bottom.
3rdly, the wood having been subjected to the above-mentioned treatment
is then finished and put together in the usual manner; there now only remains
to char the entire surface in order to preserve the wood. This operation,
as I have before mentioned, cannot be effected by the ordinary means.
According to this Invention I obtain the desired result by means of a jet of
gas, which I cause to impinge on the surfaces to be charred; lighting gas,
whether in a state of compression on not, may be used with advantage for the
purpose, but if this is not to be had I may employ hydrogen, or still better,
oxide of carbon, which is easily produced.
The apparatus I employ for applying the gas are represented in the Draw-
ings annexed, in which Fig. 1 shows an apparatus for the production of
gaseous oxide of carbon; Fig. 2 shows a second arrangement, also for pro-
ducing gaseous oxide of carbon for charring railway sleepers. a, ordinary
blowing apparatus; b, chamber provided with fire-bars forming the furnace;
c, coal serving for the production of the gas; d, tubes leading to the gaso-
meter; e, gasometer; /, nozzle, whence the jet of lighted gas escapes, which
I direct on the surfaces of the wood to be carbonize:l, like as if using a jet of
water; g, cupola of refractory clay or metal filled with crushed coke in small
pieces, and carried by a grating h; i, tube for the supply of air from a blowing
apparatus; j, opening for cleansing the ash-pit; k,opening made at the upper
part of the cupola for the passage of a piece of timber, which is made to
slide slowly, in order to effect the carbonizing operation. When a ship's
bottom is to be carbonized in this manner the charred surface is slightly
roughened, when it may then be painted in the ordinary way.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, we declare that what we claim as our Invention to be

page_text: protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the method of
carbonizing wood by the aid of a jet of inflammable gas of any suitable
nature which is projected on the wood in position, which process is especially
applicable to the hulls of ships.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edmund Goldsmid, Adrien Maydieu,and
Henri de Lapparent, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.
To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat giving leave to the above-mentioned Edmund
Goldsmid, Adrien Maydieu, and Henri de Lapparent, assignees of the said
Letters Patent, to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification
to which the same relates, the above written Disclaimer and Memorandum
of Alteration.
ROUNDELL PALMER.