IM- PROVEMENTS IN TREATING RAILWAY SLEEPERS, WOOD BLOCKS, AND VEGETABLE FIBRE IN GENERAL, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes and
Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN TREATING RAILWAY SLEEPERS, WOOD BLOCKS, AND VEGETABLE
FIBRE IN GENERAL, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.' A communi-
cation from abroad by John Bennington Blythe, of Bordeaux, France.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th December 1878.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents,
123, Chancery Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING RAILWAY SLEEPERS,
WOOD BLOCKS, AND VEGETABLE FIBRE IN GENERAL, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR," A communication from abroad by John Bennington Blythe, of
Bordeaux, France.
This Invention relates to further improvements upon Letters Patent granted to me
bearing date the 22nd October 1873, No. 3437, and the 27th June 1876, No. 2651
and consists in forming a vacuum in the cylinders or ovens containing the railway
sleepers, wood blocks, or vegetable fibre after their treatment by carburetted steam,
as described in the said Letters Patent, so as to facilitate the absorption of the heavy
oils or other liquid matter used to saturate them, and in the construction of portable
and other apparatus used in the treatment and injection of railway sleepers and
other wood.
On the accompanying Sheets of Drawings Fig. 1, Sheets 1 and 1ª, is a side eleva-
tion (shewn broken away in the middle for convenience of Drawing) of the improved
apparatus used in carrying out this Invention, and Fig. 2, Sheet 2, an end view
thereof (shewn partly broken away on one side) with one of the cylinder doors
removed.
The arrangement is composed firstly, of 4 wrought iron ovens or cylinders A made
of any desired diameter and length, and cach formed with 1 or 2 domes on its upper

page_text: part capable of holding (apart from the cylinders) about 70 gallons. The cylinders A
should be strong enough to resist an internal pressure of, say, 8 atmospheres, and
each is provided on one of its domes with a guage x having its float inside the dome
and a vacuum and pressure guage y.
Secondly, of a cylindrical closed tank B holding about 500 gallons and connected
with each of the cylinders A by separate pipes and stop cocks discharging at the
bottom part of the tank.
Thirdly, of a cylindrical pulverising vessel C connected with each of the cylinders A
at the domes alternately by the pipes h and c and stop cocks o, and at the bottom
part by the pipes and cocks m branching off from the pipes a.
Fourthly, of a cylindrical vessel F, D, comprising the charging vessel F (shewn
by dotted lines in Fig. 2) and the condenser D. The charging vessel F is connected
with the pulverising vessel C by the pipes m, and with the cylinders A by the pipe e.
The condenser D has a pipe and escape valve n leading into it from the top of the
closed tank B.
Fifthly, of an ejector G connected with the upper part of the pulverising vessel C
by the pipe H and with the domes on the cylinders A by the pipes c and h and the
stop cocks o.
Sixthly, of an ejector E connected with the domes of the cylinders A by the
pipes e and h and stop cocks o, and discharging into the closed tank B by a pipe.
Seventhly, of a straining box N containing an ejector which is connected with the
bottom part of each of the cylinders A and with the charging vessel F, and also with
-the bottom of the pulversing vessel C by the pipes m. All these vessels and pipes
except the condenser are covered with non conducting material, and are securely
bolted to an iron frame work T, the whole forming one arrangement, and carried by
two pairs of ordinary railway wheels and axles, as shewn.
Eighthly, of a steam boiler and superheater (not shewn in Drawing). From this
a pipe S is connected with the ejectors E and G, having a stop cock to work either
of them, and which is also connected with the ejector in the box N and with the
pipe e by the two stop cocks P, P. A steam boiler for an apparatus such as here
described should be of say, 25 horse power, and capable of working at from 6 to 10
atmospheres, or at any other desired pressure. This boiler may be mounted in a
separate truck or otherwise, as may be convenient.
The mode of treating railway sleepers or other specified material with an apparatus
of this description is as follows:-
One of the cylinders or ovens A is charged with railway sleepers and the charging
vessel F filled with the quantity of creosote, oil, or other matter containing carbolic
acid necessary for one operation, which is run into it by the pipe a. Steam is let
into the ejectors G and N and the stop cocks leading to the cylinder from the pipe c
through the pipe h, and from the bottom of the cylinder A by the pipe a through
the pipe m are opened, as also the cocks leading to and from the charging vessel F;
the creosote or other matter it contains passes through the pipe m and is divided
and carried into the pulverising vessel C by the ejector in the box N mixed with
gases from the wood and condensed matter; this after being heated and agitated by
the jet of steam escapes from the pulverising vessel in the form of spray into the
ejector G, which carries it on into the cylinder; that which is not immediately
absorbed by the wood falls to the bottom of the cylinder, and is returned to the
pulverising vessel C, and so the circulation is kept up till the pressure in the cylinder
reaches, say, 4 or 5 atmospheres, which is kept up as long as may be found necessary
to thoroughly penetrate the wood.
As soon as this part of the operation is sufficiently advanced in the first cylinder
its gases and steam are let off into the second cylinder, which is treated in the same
manner as the first with another charge of creosote, oil, or other matter let into the
charging vessel F, the stop cocks to the second cylinder having been opened to the
pipes m and c, and the stop cock o of the first cylinder closed on the pipe c and
opened to the pipe e. The gases from the first cylinder passing through the cockl
into the charging vessel force out its contents into the pipe m, and when it is empty

page_text: these cocks are shut off and the rest of the steam and the gases from the first cylinder
are allowed to escape into the closed tank B which is always kept full of the
residues of other operations, to which is added the quantity of coal tar, creosote, oil,
or other matter intended to be used in the injection of the sleepers when all has not
passed into the pulverising vessel C through the charging vessel F. This steam and
gas heats and agitates the liquid in the tank B, and the steam and gases given off
from the latter pass through the escape valve n into the condenser D, the cscape
going on till no pressure exists in the first cylinder; then the cock a is closed and
the steam cock S is opened on the ejector E, which draws out the air and gases
from the first cylinder and discharges them into the tank B, the excess escaping as
before into the condenser D.
As soon as a sufficient vacuum is shewn upon the vacuum guage the cock a is
reopened, and the liquid heated and agitated by the escaping gases and steam from
the ejector E rapidly fills the cylinder up to the top of the domes. The cock a is
then shut off and also the steam and stop cocks of the ejector E, and steam pressure
is admitted by the cock p through the pipes e and h above the liquid matter in the
cylinder which is rapidly absorbed by the sleepers. As it is absorbed the height of
the liquid in the dome diminishes, and the quantity is shewn on the scale of
the float x, which indicates the number of gallons absorbed per sleeper in the
cylinder.
When a sufficient quantity of absorbed matter is indicated the steam cock P is
shut off and the cock a is opened to empty it into the tank B, air being admitted to
the cylinder by the cock z.
The supply of liquid in the closed tank is kept up by an overflow from the pul-
verising vessel escaping into the tank through a cock and pipe (not shewn in
Drawing) and as soon as the liquid matter has run from the first cylinder the cock a
leading from that cylinder is shut, and the process of filling and pressing in the oily
matter above described goes in with the sleepers in the second cylinder, and so on
with all the four cylinders, one being under the carburetted steam treatment, while
the next is blowing off its steam or is under vacuum, and the next following it with
its sleepers in the liquid matter under pressure, while the fourth is open to be
recharged with fresh sleepers.
Although only a series of four cylinders is here described any number of cylinders
may be used, and they may be made of any dimensions.
This arrangement of apparatus may also be applied to injecting solutions of
mineral salts after a preliminary treatment by carburetted steam.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
June 1879.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents,
123, Chancery Lane, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING RAILWAY SLEEPERS,
WOOD BLOCKS, AND VEGETABLE FIBRE IN GENERAL, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR," A communication from abroad by John Bennington Blythe, of
Bordeaux, France.
This Invention relates to further improvements upon Letters Patent granted to
me, bearing date the 22nd October 1873, No. 3437, and the 27th June 1876, No.
2651, and consists in forming a vacuum in the cylinders or ovens containing the
railway sleepers, wood blocks, and vegetable fibre after their treatment by carbu-
retted steam, as described in the said Letters Patent, so as to facilitate the absorp-
tion of the heavy oils or other liquid matter used to saturate them, and in the con-
struction of portable and other apparatus used in the treatment and injection of
railway sleepers and other wood.
And in order that the said Invention may be well understood reference is made
to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, like letters of reference indicating cor-
responding parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of the apparatus used in carrying out this
Invention, and Fig. 2, Sheet 2, an end view thereof with one of the cylinder doors
removed.
The arrangement is composed, firstly, of 4 wrought iron ovens or cylinders A
made of any desired diameter and length, and each formed with 1 or 2 domes on its
upper part capable of holding (apart from the cylinders) about 70 gallons. The
cylinders A should be strong enough to resist an internal pressure of, say, 8 atmo-
spheres, and each is provided on one of its domes with a gauge x having its float
inside the dome, and a vacuum and pressure gauge y.
Secondly, of a cylindrical closed tank B holding about 500 gallons and connected
with each of the cylinders A by separate pipes and stop cocks discharging at the
bottom part of the tank.
Thirdly, of a cylindrical pulverising vessel C connected with each of the cylinders A
at their domes alternately by the pipes h and c and stop cocks o, and at the bottom
part by the pipes and cocks m branching off from the pipes a.
Fourthly, of a cylindrical vessel F, D, comprising the charging vessel F (shown
by dotted lines in Fig. 2) and the condenser D. The charging vessel F is connected
with the pulverising vessel C by the pipes m, and with the cylinders A by the pipe e.
The condenser D has a pipe and escape valve n leading into it from the top of the
closed tank B.
Fifthly, of an ejector G connected with the upper part of the pulverising vessel C
by the pipe H, and with the domes on the cylinders A by the pipes c and h and the
stops cocks o.
Sixthly, of an ejector E connected with the domes of the cylinder A by the pipes e
and h and stop cocks o, and discharging into the closed tank B by a pipe r.
Seventhly, of a straining box N containing an ejector which is connected with
the bottom part of each of the cylinders A and with the charging vessel F, and also
with the bottom of the pulverising vessel C by the pipes m; all these vessels and
pipes except the condenser are covered with non-conducting material, and are
securely bolted to an iron frame work T carried by two pairs of ordinary railway
wheels and axles, as shown.
Eighthly, of a steam boiler and superheater (not shown in Drawing); from this
a pipe 8 is connected with the ejectors E and G having a stop cock to work either of
them, and which is also connected with the ejector in the box N and with the
pipe e by the two stop cocks p, p. A steam boiler for an apparatus such as

page_text: here described should be of, say, 25 horse power, and capable of working at
from 6 to 10 atmospheres, or at any other desired pressure.
This boiler may
The
be mounted on a separate truck, or otherwise, as may be convenient.
mode of treating railway sleepers or other specified material with an apparatus
of this description is as follows:-
One of the cylinders or ovens A is charged with railway sleepers and the
charging vessel F filled with the quantity of creosote, oil, or other matter con-
taining carbolic acid necessary for one operation, which is run into it by the
pipe u. Steam is let into the ejectors G and N and the stop cocks leading to
the cylinder from the pipe c through the pipe h, and from the bottom of the
cylinder A by the pipe a through the pipe m are opened, as also the cocks leading
to and from the charging vessel F; the creosote or other matter it contains passes
through the pipe m and is divided and carried into the pulverising vessel c by the
ejector in the box n mixed with gases from the wood and condensed matter; this
after being treated and agitated by the jet of steam escapes from the pulverising
vessel in the form of spray into the ejector G, which carries it on into the cylinder;
that which is not immediately absorbed by the wood falls to the bottom of the
cylinder and is returned to the pulverising vessel c, and so the circulation is kept
up till the pressure in the cylinder reaches, say, 4 or 5 atmospheres, which is kept
up as long as may be found necessary to thoroughly penetrate the wood.
As soon as this part of the operation is sufficiently advanced in the first cylinder
its gases and steam are let off into the second cylinder, which is treated in the
same manner as the first with another charge of creosote, oil, or other matter let
into the charging vessel F, the stop cocks to the second cylinder having been opened
to the pipes m and c, and the stop cock o of the first cylinder closed on the pipe c
and opened to the pipe e, the gases from the first cylinder passing through the
cock into the charging vessel, force out its contents into the pipe m, and when it is
empty these cocks are shut off and the rest of the steam and gases from the first
cylinder are allowed to escape into the closed tank B which is always kept full of
the residues of other operations, to which is added the quantity of coal tar, creosote,
oil, or other matter intended to be used in the injections of the sleepers when all has
not passed into the pulverising vessel c through the charging vessel F. This steam
and gas heats and agitates the liquid in the tank B, and the steam and gases given
off from the latter pass through the escape valve n into the condenser D, the escape
going on till no pressure exists in the first cylinder; then the cock a is closed and the
steam cock 8 is opened on the ejector E, which draws out the air and gases from the
first cylinder and discharges them into the tank B, the excess escaping as before
into the condenser D. As soon as a sufficient vacuum is shown upon the vacuum
gauge the cock a is reopened and the liquid heated and agitated by the escaping
gases, and steam from the ejector E rapidly fills the cylinder up to the top of the
domes. The cock a is then shut off, and also the steam and stop cocks of the
ejector E, and steam pressure is admitted by the cock p through the pipes e and h
above the liquid matter in the cylinder which is rapidly absorbed by the sleepers.
As it is absorbed the height of the liquid in the dome diminishes, and the quantity
is shown on the scale of the float x, which indicates the number of gallons absorbed
per sleeper in the cylinder.
When a sufficient quantity of absorbed matter is indicated the steam cock p is
shut off and the cock a is opened to empty it into the tank B, air being admitted
to the cylinder by the cock z. The supply of liquid in the closed tank is kept up
by an overflow from the pulverising vessel escaping into the tank through a cock
and pipe (not shown in Drawing) and as soon as the liquid matter has run from the
first cylinder the cock a leading from that cylinder is shut and the process of filling
and pressing in the oily matter above described goes in with the sleepers in the
second cylinder, and so on with all the four cylinders, one being under the car-
buretted steam treatment, while the next is blowing off its steam or is under
vacuum, and the next following it with its sleepers in the liquid matter under
pressure, while the fourth is open to be recharged with fresh sleepers.

page_text: Although only a series of four cylinders is here described as the weight for a full
charge of an ordinary 10 ton railway truck on its wheels, any number of cylinders
may be used, and they may be made of any dimensions.
This arrangement of apparatus may also be applied to injecting solutions of
mineral salts after a preliminary treatment by carburetted steam.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
desire it to be understood that no claim is made to forming a vacuum in injection
cylinders by jets of steam, nor to the steaming of railway sleepers before making
the vacuum, but what is claimed as the Invention is,―
1. The treatment of railway sleepers, wood blocks, and vegetable fibre in general
by the process, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The special combination and arrangement of apparatus for treating railway
sleepers, wood blocks, and vegetable fibre in general, substantially as herein before
described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 20th day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
E. T. HUGHES. (L.S.)