IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR VESSELS FOR PACKING CAUSTIC ALKALIES, ACIDS, SALTS, AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR VESSELS FOR PACKING
CAUSTIC ALKALIES, ACIDS, SALTS, AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME."-A communication from abroad
by Jacob Hermann Seibert, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
Sealed the 24th May 1872, and dated the 17th February 1872.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 17th February 1872, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.

page_text: MATERIALS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME," and have petitioned
Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that it has been communicated to
abroad by Jacob Hermann Seibert, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
me from
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming
a part of this Specification.
This Invention relates to a package for putting up caustic and other
alkalies, acids, salts, or other materials, the said package being made
from plaster of Paris or other material capable of withstanding the
action of the said chemicals.
The plaster of Paris or other equivalent material is cast or moulded
in a protecting medium in such a manner as to form a package of the
desired form or shape, which will be cheap, light, and easily constructed,
and which will possess all requisite firmness and strength, and be
capable of protecting its contents against mechanical injury in handling
and transportation, and also against the influence of moisture and
external air.
Another essential feature of the said Invention is the formation of
the package by casting or moulding it, and so uniting the head with
the body that the same will be hermetically sealed, and form as it were a
solid homogeneous mass for containing the caustic or other alkalis, acids,
or salts, such as caustic soda, blue and white vitriol, potash, condensed
lye, and so forth. By this means packages of any uniform size and
weight are produced for sale in the market and for safe transportation,
the protecting medium retaining the alkalies, acids, or salts in a pure
state, and in fact enhancing such chemicals in value.
Another important feature of my Invention is the arrangement of
one or more discs or partition plates made of any desired material, and
covered with a protecting compound within the packages as the same
are being filled with chemicals, so that each compartment produced

page_text: Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of the mould which I use
in forming the body of the said improved package for caustic and other
alkalies, acids, and salts. Figure 2 is a section of the body of the
package as formed on the mould. Figure 3 is a similar section of the
said body with the bottom inserted therein. Figure 4 is a section of
the package when complete. The same letters indicate corresponding
parts in the several Figures.
In forming the body of the package I employ calcined plaster of
Paris or any other equivalent substance, and add thereto about one-
tenth part of flour (preferably rye flour), marble dust, or other substance
that will act and harmonize with calcined plaster. To these ingredients is
applied sufficient water or other liquid substance to render the mass plastic
when all are thoroughly mixed together. The mould which I use in
forming the body of the package consists of a bed plate A provided with
a projection B, on which is placed a cylinder C of sheet metal or other
suitable material held in a concentric portion with the projection B by
any desirable means, the diameter of the said projection being somewhat
larger than that of the cylinder.
The paper, pasteboard, muslin, or other fabric E is wrapped around
the projection B to form the chamber D, one or more shects being used,
and if desired arranged so as to break joints. The plastic mass I cast in
the space or chamber D, so that the same will adhere to the protecting
medium and form a solid compact body as in Figure 1. After the
plastic mass has "set" or become indurated the mould is withdrawn,
and the cylinder or roll H removed from the projection B, the body of
the package being left formed as shewn in Figure 2.
When the body is thus formed it is ready to receive the bottom G,
which I prefer to combine with the body by dipping the same into a
plastic mass of the required depth made of a compound the same as
that of which the body is formed, so that the two will unite and be
hermetically sealed. Instead of dipping the body into a plastic mass I
can form the bottom by placing the said body upon a stand or tray, and

page_text: pour plastic material down into it, so that the same will combine with
and form the bottom of the body, leaving no joint, but being hermetically
sealed so as to effect absolute exclusion of air or moisture.
When the package is thus produced as in Figure 3, I coat its interior
surface with one or more layers of a solution of resin, sealing wax, or
other suitable material well adapted for the purpose. The package is
now charged with the caustic or other alkali, acid, or salt, or other
chemicals to be packed, when a previously prepared or coated disk or
plate of any material is placed upon the contents, leaving a small space
between the said disk and the top of the cylinder, into which space is
cast the head G', the compound employed being the same as that com-
posing the cylinder. The head is thus combined with and in fact adheres
to the inner surface of the cylinder, so as to form a homogeneous part
of the same, leaving no perceptible joint. Over the top G¹ may also
be secured a disc J of wood or other suitable material (see Figure 4).
When packages containing alkalies, acids, or salts are once opened the
condensed portion thereof will deliquesce, and unless all is immediately
used the portion remaining in the package is rendered useless. To
overcome this defect in such packages I arrange discs or partitions I, I,
within the chamber or cavity of the packages as the same are being
filled with chemicals, the discs or partitions being first coated with
resin, sealing wax, or other suitable protecting medium. By these
means compartments are formed in the packages, so that when one
compartment is opened to permit access to the chemicals contained
therein these chemicals can be used without disturbing or injuring the
contents of the next compartment. This contrivance allows the con-
sumer to use any given quantity, as each compartment can be graduated
in capacity.
By these means a package is produced which is fireproof, and protects
the alkali and other materials against injury from the influence of
moisture and of the atmosphere, and also against all danger from being
spilled or lost by careless handling in transportation or otherwise, and
at the same time the said package can be made cheap and with great
facility.
I do not confine myself to calcined plaster of Paris and flour, or to
any definite proportions, for I intend to employ any powdered substance
that can be reduced to a plastic state for casting or moulding the carrier

page_text: or body, and combining it with paper or other fabric as a protecting
medium.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A package for alkalies, acids, salts, or other chemicals made of
a plastic compound by casting the same in a protecting wrapper of paper
or other suitable material for the purpose set forth.
Second. The within-described process of forming packages for
alkalies or other chemicals by means of a mould C, a protecting
wrapper E, and a bed A with a projection B, substantially in the
manner specified.
Third. Casting the heads of packages for containing alkalies, acids, or
salts, so that the said heads will combine with the package and form a
solid mass leaving no joint, as set forth.
Fourth. Partitions I, I, arranged within packages for putting up
alkalies, acids, or salts for the purpose of forming compartments, as
herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
W". ROB. LAKE.
(L.S.)