Year: 1899

page_text: CHARLES ISAAC DICK, a Merchant, No. 803, Canal Street, New Orleans, Parish of
Orleans, State of Louisiana, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly.
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
That by the use of chemicals in mechanical appliances for the generating and dis-
tribution of chemical action, using such chemicals as are not injurious to health,
and by the use also of a fibre or small wood shaving known as "Excelsior," for
packing purpose, the latter (or packing) part of the process being absolutely essential
(as will be explained further on) to the first (or chemical distribution) part of the
said process, for the preservation of fruits or vegetables and more particularly bananas,
and delaying or preventing decay or injuring their natural flavor, by keeping them
from thirty to sixty days longer than if exposed to the action of the existing
atinosphere, thereby enabling the said fruits or vegetables, and more particularly
bananas, to be transported in good condition to local or foreign markets in sea-going
vessels; the same principle may and can be applied to rail-road cars and storage
rooms for the purpose, of retaining fruits or vegetables and more particularly bananas
in a normal and healthy condition.
The manner in which I accomplish this object is by packing the fruit or vegetables
in a crate (see Fig. 5) packed with a fibre or small wood shaving known as
"Excelsior" of sufficient quantity to prevent the fruit or vegetable from moving ;
the said crates are then stored on shelves (marked "C" in Figs. 1 2 and 3) placed
in hold of ship; the crates are placed close together and clamped in so as to render
them immovable.
.
*
The temperature in hold of ship must not rise above "70" degrees "Fahrenheit "
nor go below "60" degrees "Fahrenheit," and to equalize the temperature and keep
it within these mentioned degrees, chemicals, within mechanical appliances are used
for reducing or keeping the temperature down, and steam supplied from boiler of
ship, and circulated through the same pipes as the chemical is used for elevating the
temperature and the supply and quantity of each is regulated by cocks which are
explained later on.
The lowering of the temperature is done in the manner of any refrigerant machine,
where anhydrous ammonia is used; the plans marked in Figs. 1 2 3 and 4 show
how the refrigerant machine (using anhydrous ammonia) and its attending pipes are
placed in the hold of ship (or storage room) I deem it unnecessary to give a lucid
and detailed explanation of the method of producing cold by this machine, as any
engineer conversant with ammonia "ice-making" machine will understand the process
from the plans given.
In order to use the same machinery and its pipes for elevating the temperature
(by the pumping of steam from the steam boiler of ship through them) I proceed as
follows.
Close valves Nos. 16, 10, 1, 2 and 19; then drain the pipes by cocks Nos. 3, 4,
11, 12, 13 and 14; when drained close the last named cocks; open valves
Nos 15.8. 7. 5. 6. 11 and 12 (11 and 12 now act as exhaust for steam...
:

page_text: Pipe "KK" connects pipe "K" with steam boiler of ship and through it steam
is admitted to compressor "I" which forces it through "()" into "M" and thence
through all the pipes to the exhaust cocks 11 and 12."
The steam pressure is regulated by valve No. 15. Thermometers must be placed
throughout the hold about twenty (20) feet apart to denote temperature, which
temperature must not fall below " 60" degrees "F.," nor rise above 70 deg. F.
As this process is devised more particularly for the preservation and transportation
of Central & South American bananas to England; I will use the banana in my
explanations of packing, i.e. ;
Bananas should be cut in bunches of 8 or 9 hands high (but larger or smaller ones
can be used) and must at most be only five-eighths ripe and never less than one-half
ripe.
"They must be packed into a crate (see Fig. 5) with the larger end, stem "R," (the
end of stalk from nearest the trunk of banana bush or tree) exposed or protruding
through end of crate (Fig. 5) "Excelsior" or small wood shaving is then packed
around the bunch inside of crate of sufficient density to prevent the bunch from
moving only.
It is imperative that the "Excelsior" should not be packed around the bunch of
banana any tighter than above mentioned, for the reason that it (the Excelsior) is
used to prevent the bananas from bruising and to protect them from any sudden
change of temperature, and from penetrating moisture which causes mildew.
It is an essential part of this process that "Excelsior" (or small wood shaving) and
"Excelsior" only can be used as a packing, for the reason that it does not deteriorate,
that it keeps the fruit dry, that it does not absorb moisture from the atmosphere,
that it does not retain heat nor cold; and particularly operates as a protection to the
fruit from sudden changes of atinosphere. The crate should be about nineteen. (19)
inches high, and nineteen (19) inches wide; and four and one half (1) fect long;
the strips on ends and sides should be about three (3) inches wide and one-half ()
inch thick; there should be a space of one (1) inch between the strips.
(Figure "1") is cross section of vessel showing shelving, gangways and
pipes.
(Figure 2) (in two pieces) longitudinal sections showing part of boiler and engine
room, compressor and tanks, also connecting pipes and cocks to regulate the
flow.
(Figure 3) is a front view of the coil tank F showing coil tank enclosed and "G"
exposing coil, also pipes and compressor in rear of tanks.
(Figure 4) is a top view of tanks, compressor, boiler and engine rooms and piping
going through vessel fore and aft with connection.
(Figure 5) is a perspective view of crate in which a bunch of bananas is packed
for shipment.
in.
INDEX TO MARKS ON PLANS.
"A" is hull of vessel (outside).
"B" is deck of vessel.
"C" is shelving in hold of vessel in which crates are to be placed and clamped
"D" are pipes through which ammonia flows for reduction of temperature ;
steam is forced through them when the temperature is to be elevated.
"E" is pipe leading from tank "F" connecting with cross pipes "M" to lead a
flow into "D" going through "D" to cross pipes "N" underneath, flowing from
there through "D" into tank "G.”
"F" in coil tank filled with water hot ammonia gas is forced into coil by
compressor I, and from coil is forced in liquid form into pipes "E" and from "E,"
through "M," and through "D" & connections in reservoir tank "G."
("G") is reservoir tank for liquid ammonia receiving same through coil "H."
("H") is coil in tank "G."
(I) is compressor and is operated by any convenient power.

page_text: ("J") is pipe connecting compressor with tank "F.”
("K") is pipe connecting compressor with ammonia boiler.
KK is pipe connecting compressor (through K) with steam boiler.
("L") is boiler and engine room of vessel.
"M") is cross pipes taking flow from (E) leading it into different pipes "D."
N") is lower pipe which takes the flow from pipes "D": thence back through
lower "D," into "H" (the coil) thence into tank "G."
("0") are pipes connecting compressor with pipes M, to lead a flow of steam through
the pipes and in the same direction as the ammonia flows from tank F.
("P") is a perspective view of a crate.
("Q") are ropes or laths which hold crate together.
("R") is stem of bunch of bananas protruding through end of crate.
18 is cock admitting flow of liquid from coil "H" into tank "G."
19 is cock closing coil "H" in tank "G" when steam is used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the sanie is to be performed, I declare what I
claim is:-
First. A distinct novelty in the use of the same pipes, machinery and the like both
in lowering and raising temperature.
Second. A distinct novelty in the use of "Excelsior" (or small wood shavings) as a
packing material for the packing of bananas and other fruits and vegetables.
Third. A distinct novelty in packing bananas in crates, and with "Excelsior" (or
small wood shaving) for the purpose of transportation in sea-going vessels or railroad
or other cars.