An Improved Process of and Apparatus for Preparing and Seasoning Timber.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of and Apparatus for Preparing and Seasoning
Timber.
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 Leon Rieser,
of No. 2 Robb Street, Essendon, near Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria,
Architect), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The main object of this invention is to provide a process for preparing and
seasoning timber which will prevent same from cracking or warping, whilst at the
same time ensuring that such timber will be more effectually seasoned than has
been possible with the processes hitherto employed.
I find that in order to prevent timber from warping whilst it is undergoing the
process of artificial seasoning, it is necessary to cut the planks in a different manner
to the ordinary one.
Hitherto it has been usual to cut them out of a log or the
trunk of a tree by a series of parallel cuts, the result being that the two planks cut
out of the centre of the log were the only ones in which the circular rings or grain
of the wood ran from front to back.
manner as that each of them has the circular rings or grain extending directly
I provide for cutting these planks in such a
through it from front to back. Perhaps not always in so perfect a degree as in the
central ones, yet sufficiently so to prevent the warping of which I have spoken.
I accomplish this object by first dividing the log or trunk into quarters by two
transverse saw cuts through its centre at right angles to each other, and then by
cutting the planks of the desired thickness from the sides of each of said quarters.
According to my improved process of preparing and seasoning timber, instead of
placing it directly in the drying or seasoning chamber, I first steam it thoroughly
in a separate steaming chamber, and preferably to such an extent as to expel the
whole of the gums or resin which it contains. After submitting it to this steaming
process, I place it in a drying or seasoning house, which then completes the
operation in a much more rapid and effective manner than would otherwise be the
case.
Heretofore, moreover, it has been usual to stack timber for seasoning by placing
the baulks or planks flat one upon the other, small air spaces being left between
the edges of the planks for the circulation of air. There are various objections to
this manner of stacking the timber to be seasoned. I have found that it is far
preferable to place the planks on their edge and to leave a clear space between
them, because they are not then so liable to warp or twist, as when laid flat.
The object of this invention is partly to provide a truck on which the planks or
boards can be more conveniently loaded, so that they rest, as just described, upon
heir edges, and have clear air spaces between each one, whilst being rigidly fixed
r held so that they will not warp or twist, and partly to provide a steaming-house
nto which the truck, together with its load of timber, can be run in order to steam
uch timber.
My invention consists therefore, in addition to the process hereinbefore described,
artly in a truck constructed as follows, and partly in the steaming-house herein-
fter described. The under gear or framing of the truck may consist of longitudinal
-iron girders connected by other cross-bars or girders so as to form a flat frame
table, said longitudinal girders being securely bolted to axle boxes or bearings,
which the axles of flanged or other wheels are arranged to rotate, said wheels
eing preferably adapted to run upon lines of rails leading into the steaming house,
hereafter described. To the centre, as well as to each end of the cross Hiron

page_text: girders above referred to are bolted vertical wooden uprights secured at their upper
ends to distance pieces formed of wooden beams extending across from side to side
of the truck. On the sides of each of these uprights are bolted cast-iron or other
racks having teeth made L-shaped, with a slight upward projection at their outer
ends. These racks are bolted to said uprights by long bolts extending from side to
side thereof; and these bolts also serve as fulcrums for a set of pressure levers
whose outer ends are connected by a bar or rod to a weight, preferably extending
from one end of the truck to the other, whilst their inner ends are provided with
small anti-friction rollers arranged to bear against laterally sliding or travelling
vertical pressure beams, which press against the sides of the planks and serve to
keep the whole of them pressed tightly against the skids, fillets, or distance pieces,
which are inserted between each one. These skids or fillets are preferably threaded
upon a bar or rod whose inner end is secured to the central vertical uprights of the
framing, whilst their outer ends are free to pass through the laterally sliding or
travelling pressure bars just referred to. The planks to be seasoned are supported
edgewise upon stout wooden bearers, which rest upon small brackets having pro-
jections arranged to engage with the L-shaped teeth of the cast-iron racks above
referred to, these said brackets being provided each with a short upwardly pro-
jecting stud adapted to engage with a small hole or recess formed in the underside
of the cross-beams or bearers.
The steaming-house is formed with hollow ceiling walls and floor, all of which
are filled with coal dust or other non-conducting material. The ceiling is arranged
across the house below the struts or rafters used for supporting the roof, thus
leaving a clear space to receive the truck of timber.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1ª and 1B are diagrams illustrating the way I cut
according to this invention, whilst
I
up
the timber
Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section of a timber truck constructed
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of part of said truck.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of part of one of the supporting racks and brackets
drawn to a larger scale the better to illustrate their construction, and
Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof, whilst
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of two of the uprights of the truck, showing the
racks just mentioned secured thereto, and one of the bearer-supporting brackets in
position.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section,
Figure 7 a horizontal section, and
Figure 8 a cross section of the steaming-house in which the truck of timber to
be steamed is placed, as above described.
In the accompanying drawings, Figures 14 and 1 illustrate my improved method
of preparing timber. A-A, B-B represent the two transverse cuts at right angles
to each other, whereby I first divide the log into quarters, whilst C-C represent
the cuts which divide the planks of the desired thickness from the sides of said
quarters, the result being as shown, a number of planks with the circular grain
running through them from front to back.
In submitting timber to the steaming process herein before described prior to
stacking it in the drying-house, it is necessary to place it within a steam-tight
chamber, into which the heat can be fed, as will be well understood. This steam
may be obtained from any convenient source, and it may be the exhaust steam used
for heating the drying-house, whilst said steaning-house may be constructed as
hereinafter described.
The truck is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, wherein A represents the longitudinal
H-iron girders constituting part of the under gear or framing of the truck. These
longitudinal girders are fitted with bearings b in which rotate the journals of the
flanged or other wheels B adapted to run on the rails leading into a steaming-
. house, such as is illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Inese longitudinal girders A are connected by cross bars or girders a which are
securely bolted or rivetted to the girders A, and thus form a strong framing or
under-carriage for the truck. To each end of these cross H-iron girders a are
secured two vertical wooden uprights C, one on each side, to which, as well as to
the centre uprights, are bolted cast-iron or other racks c formed with teeth c¹
provided with a small upward extension at their ends, as clearly illustrated in
Figures 3 and 4, said teeth being thus arranged in order that a small bracket c³
may be supported upon said teeth, as illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5. Each of
these brackets is fitted with a small upward projection or pin c which engages in
a small hole or recess formed for the purpose in the underside of wooden bearers c
on which the planks of timber to be seasoned are placed edgewise, as illustrated at D
in Figure 1. Between the planks are arranged skids, fillets or distance pieces.d
supported upon bars or bolts d' extending from the centre of the truck to near the
outside thereof. The outer ends of these rods are passed through vertical
pressure beams E which are arranged to slide to and fro towards the centre of the
truck, being guided at their upper and lower ends, as illustrated in Figure 1.
These said upper and lower ends are each provided with a small anti-friction wheel
or roller e, arranged to revolve against a guide which may either be secured to the
framing of the truck, as illustrated at 2 in Figure 1, or may be formed of the
cross-bars a. Side bars e on the pressure beams E project so as to extend on
either side of said guide & or of said cross-bar in order to guide said beams.
F-F represent a series of levers which are arranged on either side of the truck,
and are fulcrummed upon the bolts passing through the iron racks c as well as
through the uprights C of the framework of the truck. The inner ends of these
levers are provided with anti-friction rollers f, whilst their outer ends are connected
together by a rod f³. f³ represents a heavy iron bar constituting a weight, to
which the various lever connecting rods f' are attached, the effect being to force
the inner ends of the levers F (that is, the ends carrying the anti-friction rollers f¹)
against the travelling pressure beams E, so as to keep the planks perfectly flat, and
thus prevent them from warping or twisting. The travelling pressure beams E
may be retained in their inoperative position by means of hooks e¹ secured to the
uprights C and arranged to engage with an eye fitted into said beams, as illustrated
in Figure 1.
The truck having been loaded with the timber required to be seasoned is first
run into a steam house, such as is illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, the rails b¹
being laid along the floor of said house for this purpose. The building is provided
with a hollow ceiling G as well as with hollow walls H and floor I, said ceiling,
walls and floor being filled with coal dust or other non-conducting material. The
hollow ceiling extends across the chamber beneath the struts and rafters which
serve to support the roof, thus leaving a clear space into which the truck of timber
can be run, as will be well understood. The floor I is sloped towards the centre of
the building, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 in order to carry off any moisture
which may trickle down from the timber.
J represents a series of steam pipes extending around the interior of the steaming-
house, and having smaller pipes extending from them so as to conduct the steam
into all parts of the building. order to regulate the temperature of this steam,
I conduct a supply of cold water through a pipe j₁ into said steam pipe, so that
more or less cold water may be allowed to mix with the steam, and thus reduce its
temperature to any required extent.
In constructing the hollow walls of the steaming-house, I make the inner and
outer casings of two thicknesses of boards with distance pieces and non-conducting
illing between said casings and battens over the joints, and in order to still further
trengthen the walls and prevent them warping, I arrange stout cross beams over
he inside and outside of them, and connect said cross beams together by means of
ron bolts.
I would have it understood that I do not claim broadly the operation of steaming
imber, as I am aware that this has been done before.

page_text: After the timber has been treated as described in the steaming-house, the truck
carrying same can then be run into a drying or seasoning chamber of ordinary or
any approved construction, where it is dried and seasoned in the usual manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is
First. The herein described process of preparing timber to be artificially seasoned,
consisting essentially in first cutting logs or trunks of trees into quarters by means
of two transverse cuts (such as A-A, B-B) passing through the centre of said
logs or trunks and then in cutting planks from the sides of said quarters by means
of cuts (such as C-C) in such a manner as that the circular grain of the timber
will pass through such planks from front to back, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in my drawings.
Second. The herein described method of seasoning timber, consisting essentially
in first exposing it to the direct action of steam within a steam-tight chamber, and
then drying it in a drying chamber, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained and as illustrated in my drawings.
Third. A truck for supporting timber to be seasoned, having a rack (such as c)
securely bolted to the framing of said truck, said rack having teeth (such as c¹)
each provided with a small upward projection at its end, in combination with a
bracket (such as c³) adapted to be supported by said teeth, and fitted with a small
pin or upward projection (such as c*) the whole being constructed and arranged
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In a truck for supporting timber to be seasoned, the combination with a
beam or bearer (such as e) upon which the planks to be seasoned can be placed
edgewise, of a series of skids, fillets or distance pieces (such as d) each supported
upon a rod (such as d¹) extending across the truck, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Fifth. In a truck for supporting timber to be seasoned, the combination with
laterally travelling pressure beams (such as E) working in guides at the top and
bottom in the framing of the truck, of a series of levers (such as F) fulcrummed on
the side of said truck and arranged to bear against said travelling pressure beams,
a weight (such as f³) being supported on the outer ends of said levers, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Sixth. A truck for supporting timber to be seasoned constructed and arranged
substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Seventh. The combination with a truck or trucks supporting timber to be
seasoned of a steaming chamber, having hollow walls, ceiling and floor, said hollow
ceiling being arranged across the building below the struts or other timbers
supporting the roof, the whole being constructed and arranged as to leave a clear
space for such truck, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained and as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of September One thousand eight hundred and ninety-
throo
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.