Method and Apparatus for Treating Wood for Fireproofing or Preserving the same.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 13h June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method and Apparatus for Treating Wood for Fireproofing or
Preserving the same.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark of
53, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by The Electric Fireproofing Company (Incorporated) of corner of Hudson
and Spring Streets, in the City County and State of New York, United States of
America,) to be as follows:-
This invention relates especially to the art of treating timber, lumber, and wood
in any form in such a manner as to render it non-inflammable or fireproof or to
preserve it from attack by moisture, etc. and has for its object the provision of an
apparatus and method for carrying the invention into effect.
The improved method of saturating wood consists briefly in enclosing the same
within a receptacle creating a partial vacuum therein, applying heat and destroying
the said vacuum, blowing off the steam and gases arising from the wood, delivering
into the receptacle in vapourous condition the wood-saturating material,
condensing the vapours, treating the wood with a saturating liquid, and finally
drawing off said liquid and drying the wood, substantially as hereinafter set
forth.
a
The wood to be treated is placed in position within a cylinder which is tightly
sealed. By means of an air pump a vacuum is formed within the cylinder and
steam is then admitted to coils within the cylinder and the heating of the wood
will vapourize the moisture contained therein, destroying the vacuum and creating
a pressure. The water and fluid products of this treatment flow into pockets at
the bottom of the cylinder and may be drawn off through valves. A vacuum is
again obtained in the cylinder and the pump is started, forcing the treating fluid
through an upper superheating sprayer alone or through a lower superheating
sprayer as well, superheated steam being supplied from any convenient point.
Steam passes through the inner tube and the outer pipe of the superheater and
sprayer while the fluid is supplied to and passes through the annular conduit formed
by the surrounding pipe the steam and fluid combining and escaping through the
constricted opening at the outlet of the device. The result of this peculiar
construction and arrangement is that the steam heats the fluid to a very bigh
degree and forces it into the cylinder in a sprayed or atomized condition thoroughly
commingled with the steam. The pump is combined with the spraying device so
that the treating or wood-saturating liquid is positively forced into and through
the spraying device under pressure by the pump and that the injecting action of
the steam alone is not depended upon to carry the treating fluid into the cylinder.
By increasing or diminishing the pressure produced by the pump a greater or less
relative amount of the treating fluid is carried into the cylinder along with the
steam. As the wood to be saturated is hot and is in a partial vacuum the sprayed
or atomized treating or saturating compound or material readily passes into the
pores aud is absorbed by the wood, the vacuum is destroyed and the steam and
atomized saturating material are forced into the cylinder until a pressure of five
to forty pounds, as required, is obtained causing a thorough impregnation of the
Food.

page_text: Under certain circumstances and for certain purposes the next step is to shut on
the steam and fluid supplying the superheater and sprayer and pass steam through
the heating coils in the cylinder, drawing off the condensation and maintaining the
heat until the wood is thoroughly dried. This will drive off the aqueous vapours
leaving the solid portions of the preserving and fireproofing material in the wood
and upon the surface thereof, producing in a few hours an article which will
effectually resist the action of the elements either fire or moisture or decay in
accordance with the treating material employed.
After the action of the superheater and sprayer has been stopped the cylinder
and its contents are allowed to cool which will create a partial vacuum. This
vacuum is destroyed by forcing air or steam into the cylinder and the condensation
is drawn off. A vacuum is then again obtained which is allowed to stand until the
air is exhausted from the wood. The solution is then admitted to the cylinder
until it is completely filled when pressure is applied by means of the pumps; this
pressure being from fifty to two hundred pounds in accordance with the kind of
wood being treated. Heat is applied by means of the steam coils within the
cylinder. In order to ensure a proper distribution of the heated fluid it is caused
to circulate through the cylinder by means of a pump. When the wood has been
sufficiently impregnated the fluid is driven out of the cylinder and the wood is dried
as hereinabove described.
In expelling the fluid from the cylinder a pump is employed and by forcing air
into the dome the fluid will be driven out of the cylinder back into the tank.
When the superheating sprayers are in use extra strong fluid is supplied thereto
from a special tank as it will be diluted by the steam, but when the cylinder is to
be filled with fluid it is taken from the other tank. The particular fireproofing and
preserving material employed for the saturation of the wood is not an essential
feature of this present invention. As an example of such materials which may be
employed, phosphate of ammonia and sulphate of ammonia are named.
The essential features of the apparatus employed for saturating wood comprise
the combination of a car for the reception of the wood to be treated, having axles
which project beyond the wheels, and a cylinder provided with rails for the support
of the car wheels and with holding down bracket rails arranged so as to project
immediately over the projecting ends of the car axles to prevent raising or floating
of the car. The cylinder is provided with heating coils arranged upon opposite
sides of the cylinder and close to the shell thereof. The enclosing cylinder is
provided with domes at its top fitted with screw-actuated depressible holding down
plates arranged to be moved either into the said domes or into the body of the
cylinder for the purpose of preventing wood floating off.
The form of atomizer or spraying device is such that the liquid tube is arranged
within a steam pipe and has in turn a steam pipe arranged within it, the openings
from the said pipes and tubes being close together. This form is particularly
advantageous in a construction in which the liquid is forced through the atomize
under pressure because with the ordinary arrangement of spraying device difficulty
is found in thoroughly breaking up and atomizing the stream of liquid, whereas in
the form of atomizer or spraying device which has been devised for this presen
invention the desired result is effectively accomplished.
Dated this 31st day of March 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: Method and Apparatus for Treating Wood for Fireproofing or
Preserving the same.
I ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by The Electric Fireproofing Company (Incorporated) of corner of Hudson
and Spring Streets, in the City, County and State of New York United States of
America) 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 especially to the art of treating timber, lumber and wood
in any form, in such a manner as to render it. non-inflammable or fireproof, or to
preserve it from attack by moisture &c., and it has for its object the provision of
an apparatus and method for carrying the invention into effect.
To attain the desired end the invention consists essentially in certain novel and
useful combinations or arrangements of parts, and peculiarities of construction, and
methods of operation, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described, and then
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and partial section of an apparatus designed to carry
out the invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation, with the front of the cylinder removed,
looking from the left of Fig. 1.
'
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus, looking from the right of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of the superheating spraying
apparatus.
Like numerals of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
1 is a metal cylinder, made of any desired diameter and length. This cylinder
is supported at the front end by timbers, 2, which are fixed in position; to the right
of the vertical broken line in Fig. 1 the supporting timbers are divided, or cut into
sections, and bear metal plates, 3, fixed to their lower faces. Beneath the timbers 2
are planks, 4, supported upon sleepers, said planks also bearing metal plates 3';
the upper and lower plates are separated by means of rollers, 5. This construction
and arrangement holds the front portion of the cylinder against movement, while
permitting a free longitudinal movement of the remaining portion of the cylinder,
when expanding or contracting by reason of the changes of temperature caused by
alternate heating and cooling.
6 is a pocket at the bottom of the front portion of the cylinder 1, provided with
a drain valve 7. Leading from this pocket 6 is a pipe 8, conducting to the bottom
of a tank 9, for holding the solution or fluid with which it is designed to treat the
wood. 10 is a valve in the pipe 8. 11 is a pipe leading from the bottom of the
tank 9 to a pucket 12, fixed to the under side of the cylinder 1. 13 is a drain valve
at the bottom of the pocket 12. 14 and 15 are valves placed in the pipe 11. 16 is
a pipe connected to the pipe 11, by a T 17, and curving over the top of the solution
tank; it is provided with a valve 18.
Leading from the tank 9 is a pipe 19, provided with a valve 20, and communi-
cating with a pump, 21. From the pump 21 a pipe 22 leads to a coil 23 within a
heating chamber 24, provided with a steam supply, 25, and exhaust 26. From the
coil 23 a pipe 27 passes to superheating and spraying devices, said pipe having a
branch 28, particularly shown in Fig. 3. 29, 30 and 31 are valves for regulating
the flow from the pump 21. 32 is a pressure gauge mounted upon the pipe 27.

page_text: 33 is a steam pipe, leading from any desired source of supply. 34 and 35 are
branches from the pipe 33, provided with regulating valves 36 and 37. The steam
pipes 34 and 35 lead each to a T 38, 38' from which branch pipes 39, 39¹ and 40, 40';
said last mentioned pipes being connected to the superheating and spraying devices
for supplying steam and liquid to the cylinder 1. The construction and arrange-
ment of this superheater and sprayer will be best understood by reference to Fig. 4
of the drawings. Pipe 39 communicates with a central tube, 41, having a
constricted opening 42, at its inner extremity. Surrounding this tube 41, is a
liquid tube 43, arranged to receive its supply through a pipe 27. The liquid tube
is open at 44. Outside of this liquid tube is a steam pipe 45 supplied through the
branch pipe 40, and open at 46.
The form of atomizer or spraying device just described, wherein the liquid
tube, 43, is arranged within a steam pipe, 45, and has in turn a steam pipe, 41,
arranged within it, the openings from the said pipes and tubes being close together,
is particularly advantageous in a construction in which the liquid is forced through
the atomizer under pressure because, with the ordinary arrangement of spraying
device, difficulty is found in thoroughly breaking up and atomizing the stream of
liquid; whereas in the form of atomizer or spraying device which has been devised,
the desired result is effectively accomplished. The pipe 45 passes through a boss 47,
into the cylinder 1. The pipe 45¹ of the lower spraying device passes into the
cylinder near its bottom, and is connected to a longitudinal pipe 48, provided at
intervals throughout its length with spraying nozzles, 49. 50 is a drain tube at the
end of the pipe 48.
51 is a tank for holding treating liquid, of greater strength than that contained in
the tank 9. 52 is a pipe provided with a regulating valve, 53, said pipe leading
from the tank 51, to the pipe 19 which supplies the pump 21.
Connected to the bottom of the cylinder 1, and shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,
is a pipe, 54, communicating with a pump 55; from this pump leads a pipe, 56,
entering the cylinder 1 at the top. A branch pipe 57 leads from the tank 9 to the
pipe 54, and the connection to the bottom of the cylinder 1 may be cut out, when
desired, by means of a valve 58. 59 is an air pump, connected to a dome 6), upon
the cylinder 1 by a pipe 61, wherein is a valve 62. This pump is employed for
creating a vacuum, or pressure within the cylinder at pleasure, and as required.
63 is a pressure gauge, mounted upon a pipe 64, from which extends a tube, 65,
communicating with a column, 67 having a tube, 66 leading back into the bottom
of the cylinder. 68 is a sight glass, connected to the column 67.
69 is a hand hole, located at the bottom of the cylinder 1, for reaching the interior
of the cylinder for attaching a rope to the car, in drawing it into the cylinder, or
for any other use.
70 is a car, supported upon axles 71, bearing wheels 72, which run upon rails 73,
fixed to the sides of the cylinder. The inner ends of the rails 73 are turned upward,
as at 74, to limit the inward movement of the car when it is drawn or pushed into
place in the cylinder. The outer extremities of the car axles 71 project beyond the
wheels, and pass beneath bracket rails 75, secured to the inner walls of the cylinder,
preventing the raising or floating of the car.
76 are domes mounted upon the top of the cylinder 1, each dome being
provided with a stuffing box 77, through which passes a screw, 78, bearing upon its
lower end a disk, 79, and upon its upper extremity a manipulating hand wheel, 80.
The object of this arrangement is to firmly hold the wood or timber, 61, carried by
the car in place, preventing its floating when surrounded by the impregnating liquid.
82 are blow-off cocks for releasing air, &c., from the domes 76. 83 is a vacuum
gauge.
84 and 85 are steam pipes, leading from any convenient source of supply to
coils 100 within the cylinder 1, for the purpose of heating said cylinder and its
contents, said coils being preferably arranged upon opposite sides of the cylinder
and close to the shell thereof. 86 and 87 are exhaust pipes leading from the coils.
When constructed and arranged in accordance with the foregoing description, the

page_text: operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The wood to be treated is placed in
position within the cylinder, which is tightly sealed. By means of the air 59.
pump
a vacuum is formed within the cylinder. Steam is now admitted to the coils within
the-cylinder, and the heating of the wood will vaporize the moisture contained
therein, destroying the vacuum and creating a pressure. The water and fluid
products of this treatment will flow into the pockets 6 and 12, at the bottom of the
cylinder, and may be drawn off through the valves 7 and 13. A vacuum is again
obtained in the cylinder and the pump 21 is started, forcing the treating fluid
through the upper superheating sprayer alone, or through the lower superheating
sprayer as well, superheated steam being supplied from any convenient point. It
will be observed that steam passes through the inner tube 41, and the outer pipe 45,.
while the fluid is supplied to, and passes through the annular conduit formed by the
pipe 43, the steam and fluid combining and escaping through the constricted opening
at the outlet of the device. The result of this peculiar construction and arrangement
is, that the steam heats the fluid to a very high degree, and forces it into the cylinder
in a sprayed or atomized condition, thoroughly commingled with the steam. It will be
observed that the pump 21, is combined with the spraying device so that the
treating or wood-saturating liquid is positively forced into and through the spraying
device under pressure, by the pump, and that the injecting action of the steam alone
is not depended upon to carry the treating fluid into the cylinder. By increasing
or diminishing the pressure produced by the pump, a greater or less relative amount.
of the treating fluid is carried into the cylinder along with the steam. As the wood
to be saturated is hot, and is in a partial vacuum, the sprayed or atomized treating
or saturating compound or material readily passes into the pores, and is absorbed by
the wood; the vacuum is destroyed, and the steam and atomized saturating material
are forced into the cylinder until a pressure of to 40 pounds, as required, is.
obtained, causing a thorough impregnation of the wood.
Under certain circumstances, and for certain purposes, the next step is to shut off
the steam and fluid supplying the superheater and sprayer, and pass steam through
the heating coils in the cylinder, drawing off the condensation and maintaining the
heat until the wood is thoroughly dried. This will drive off the aqueous vapors,
leaving the solid portions of the preserving and fireproofing material in the wood,
and upon the surface thereof; producing in a few hours an article which will
effectually resist the action of the elements, either fire or moisture, or decay, in
accordance with the treating material employed.
This
After the action of the superheater and sprayer has been stopped, the cylinder
and its contents are allowed to cool, which will create a partial vacuum.
vacuum is destroyed by forcing air or steam into the cylinder, and the condensation
is drawn off. Again a vacuum is obtained, which is allowed to stand until the air is
exhausted from the wood. Then solution is admitted to the cylinder until it is
completely filled, when pressure is applied by means of the pumps; this pressure
being from 50 to 200 pounds, in accordance with the kind of wood being treated.
Heat is applied by means of the steam coils within the cylinder. In order to insure
a proper distribution of the heated fluid, it is caused to circulate through the
cylinder by means of the pump 55. When the wood has been sufficiently impreg-
nated, the fluid is driven out of the cylinder, and the wood is dried, as hereinabove
described.
In expelling the fluid from the cylinder, the pump 59 is employed; and by forcing
air into the dome 60 the fluid will be driven out of the cylinder through the pipe 16,
back into the tank 9. When the superheating sprayers are in use the fluid is
supplied thereto from the tank 51, as it will be diluted by the steam; but when the
cylinder is to be filled with fluid, it is taken from the tank 9. The particular
fireproofing and preserving material employed for the saturation of the wood is not
an essential feature of this present invention. As an example of such materials
which may be employed phosphate of ammonia and sulphate of ammonia are named
when used in about the proportions mentioned in U.S. Patent No. 502,867 of
Aug. 8, 1893, to Lina Schuler, viz. about three parts by weight of phosphate

page_text: of ammonia and about one part by weight of sulphate of ammonia, in a solidined
form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for saturating wood, the combination of a car for the
reception of the wood to be treated having axles which project beyoud the wheels,
and a cylinder provided with rails for the support of the car wheels, and with fixed
projecting bracket rails arranged so as to project immediately over the projecting
ends of the car axles, substantially as set forth.
2. In an apparatus for saturating wood, the combination of a car having axles
which project beyond the wheels, a cylinder provided with rails for the car wheels
and with fixed bracket rails arranged immediately above the projecting ends of the
car axles, and the steam pipes 100, arranged upon opposite sides of the cylinder,
and close to the shell thereof, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of an enclosing cylinder having domes, 76, at its top,
depressible holding down plates arranged to be moved either into the said domes or
into the body of the cylinder, and means for raising and lowering the said plates
from the exterior of the cylinder, substantially as set forth.
4. The herein described method of saturating wood, which consists in enclosing
the same within a receptacle, creating a partial vacuum therein, applying heat, and
destroying the said vacuum, blowing off the steam and gases arising from the wood,
delivering into the receptacle in a vaporous condition the wood saturating material,
condensing the vapors, treating the wood with a saturating liquid, and finally
drawing off said liquid, and drying the wood, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of April 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.