IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RECEPTACLES OR CHAMBERS FOR CONTAINING AND TRANSPORTING ACIDS AND CHEMICAL FLUIDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Holden, of the City of Manchester, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RECEPTACLES OR
CHAMBERS FOR CONTAINING AND TRANSPORTING ACIDS AND CHEMICAL
FLUIDS."
Sealed the 22nd February 1878, and dated the 13th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Holden at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1877.
JOHN HOLDEN, of the City of Manchester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RECEPTACLES OR CHAMBERS FOR CONTAINING AND TRANSPORT-
ING ACIDS AND CHEMICAL FLUIDS."
My Invention relates in the first place principally to receptacles suitable to be
employed in the storage and conveyance of liquid acids, such, for example, as hydro-
chloric, acetic, and hydrofluoric acids; but may also be wholly or partially applicable
to receptacles for containing other chemical fluids.
According to my Invention, I form the said receptacles from wood which has
been treated with paraffin, stearine, or other similar material, and I render the joints
acid-proof, and in some cases I line the receptacles with gutta percha.
When constructing receptacles suitable to contain hydrochloric or acetic acid, I
make the said receptacles of a rectangular form, each receptacle consisting of six
slabs or pieces of wood connected together and formed with tongue and groove or
dovetail joints, or partly with one form of joint, and partly with the other form of
joint or otherwise, so suitably formed as that the parts can be securely jointed
together.
The pieces which are to form a receptacle are treated with paraffin either before
or after having been shaped and fitted. The said pieces are placed in a stove or
heated chamber, and are kept therein until perfectly dry throughout their substance,
as nearly as can be ascertained. They are then immersed immediately on removal
from the stove in melted paraffin, and are kept therein until the paraffin has penetrated
throughout the substance of the wood, the paraffin being heated during the process.
Die AJI

page_text: I have found immersion in the heated paraffin for six hours to have the desired
effect.
If preferred, a vacuum or hydraulic pressure may be employed to facilitate the
penetration of the paraffin.
The pieces of wood, if not previously finished in form, are then completed and are
connected together by means of bitumen, stearine, gutta percha, or other cement
which will resist acids.
In the method I have adopted, the inner edges of the joints are coated with a
solution consisting of gutta perclia dissolved in naptha. Melted bitumer is poured
into the groove of one part. The gutta percha applied as aforesaid is softened by
means of heat, and the bitumen being at the same time in a softened or melted
state, the parts are put together and the joints are firmly forced home, the parts
being screwed or clamped. together. Before removing the clamps or relieving the
parts from pressure, bands are forced on to the receptacles, or corner pieces are
screwed thereon, or screws are inserted into the substance of the sides, or other
means are adopted for affording additional security and stability. The intention is
that when so put together the gutta percha shall prevent the access of the acid to
the bitumen.
When constructing receptacles for containing hydrofluoric acid, I coat or line the
inner surface of each part with sheet gutta percha. The gutta percha is caused to
adhere to the surface of the wood which has been coated with a solution of gutta
percha. When the parts are put together the meeting portions of the gutta percha
are softened by means of heat, so that liquid-proof joints are formed.
The treatment of the wood with paraffin renders the receptacles less liable to be
injuriously affected by exposure to water or atmospheric changes.
Each receptacle is formed with a mouth or orifice, which I prefer to close with a
screw plug formed of vulcanite, gutta percha, or other acid-proof material. When the
receptacles are lined with gutta percha the said orifice is lined with the same
material, and the screwed bush is cemented into the lined orifice. A spout or cock
may be formed to screw into the said bush when the plug is removed for greater
convenience when pouring out the contents of the receptacle.
When constructing large receptacles or chambers, or in some cases it may be
necessary or advisable to employ two or more pieces of wood cemented and jointed
together to form one side of the receptacle or chamber.
I do not confine myself to the aforesaid rectangular form of the receptacles.
A second part of my Invention consists in the employment of the first
part of my Invention in the construction of receptacles and chambers to contain
acids and chemical fluids in apparatus for generating carbonic acid gas, and
in the construction of apparatus for extinguishing fire by the employment of
such gas.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Holden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th April
1878.
"
JOHN HOLDEN, of the City of Manchester. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RECEPTACLES OR CHAMBERS FOR CONTAINING AND TRANS-
PORTING ACIDS AND CHEMICAL FLUIDS."
I
My Invention relates in the first place principally to receptacles suitable to be
employed in the storage and conveyance of liquid acids, such, for example, as hydro-
chloric, acetic, and hydrofluoric acids, but may also be wholly or partially applicable
to receptacles for containing other chemical fluids.
According to my Invention, I form the said receptacles from wood which has been
treated with paraffin; stearine, or other similar material, and I render the joints acid-
proof, and in some cases I line the receptacles with gutta perchia.
When constructing receptacles suitable to contain hydrochloric or acetic acid I
make the said receptacle of a rectangular form, each receptacle consisting of six
slabs or pieces of wood connected together and formed with a tongue and groove or
dovetail joints, or partly with one form of joint, and partly with the other form of
joint or otherwise, so suitably formed as that the parts can be securely jointed
together.
The pieces which are to form a receptacle are treated with paraffin, either before
or after having been shaped and fitted. The said pieces are placed in a stove or
heated chamber, and are kept therein until perfectly dry throughout their substance,
as nearly as can be ascertained. They are then immersed immediately on removal
from the stove in melted paraffin wax, and are kept therein until the paraffin has
penetrated throughout the substance of the wood, the paraffin being heated during
the process; I have found immersion in the heated paraffin for six hours to have the
desired effect.
If preferred, a vacuum or hydraulic pressure may be employed to facilitate the
penetration of the paraffin.
The pieces of wood, if not previously finished in form, are then completed, and
are connected together by means of bitumen, stearine, gutta percha, or other cement
which will resist acids.
In the method I have adopted the inner edges of the joints are coated with a
solution consisting of gutta percha dissolved in naptha; melted bitumen is poured
into the groove of one part. The gutta percha applied as aforesaid is softened by
means of heat, and the bitumen being at the same time in a softened or melted
state, the parts are put together and the joints are firmly forced home, the parts
being screwed or clamped together. Before removing the clamps or relieving the
parts from pressure, bands are forced on to the receptacles, or corner pieces are
screwed thereon, or screws are inserted into the substance of the sides, or other
means are adopted for affording additional security and stability. The intention is
that when so put together the gutta percha shall prevent the access of the acid to
the bitumen.
When constructing receptacles for containing hydrofluoric acid, I coat or
line the inner surface of each part with sheet gutta purcha. The gutta percha
is caused to adhere to the surface of the wood which has been coated with a
solution of gutta percha. When the parts are put together the meeting portions
of the gutta percha are softened by means of heat, so that liquid-proof joints are
formed.
Instead of saturating the wood of which the receptacles are made with melted
paraffin wax, as herein-before described, such receptacles may be jointed and put
together, and the joints made liquid-proof in the manner herein-before described,
and then filled with or immersed in paraffin oil, and allowed to stand therein for

page_text: some time, say, from four to six weeks, more or less, in order to become sufficiently
saturated or impregnated with the paraffin.
The treatment of the wood with paraffin also renders the receptacles less liable to
be injuriously effected by exposure to water or atmospheric changes.
Each receptacle is formed with a mouth or orifice which I prefer to close with a
screw plug formed of vulcanite gutta percha, or other acid-proof material. When
the receptacles are lined with gutta percha, the said orifice is lined with the same
material, and the screwed bush is cemented into the lined orifice. A spout or
cock may be formed to screw into the said bush when the plug is removed for
greater convenience when pouring out the contents of the receptacle.
When constructing large receptacles or chambers, or in some cases, it may be
necessary or advisable to employ two or more pieces of wood cemented and jointed
together in the manner herein-before described to form such receptacles or
chambers.
A second part of my Invention consists in the employment of the first
part of my Invention in the construction of receptacles and chambers to contain
acids and chemical fluids in apparatus for generating carbonic acid gas, and
in the construction of apparatus for extinguishing fire by the employment of
such gas.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details, or to the rectangular form of receptacles
herein-before described, as the same may be varied without departing from my
Invention, and that I claim,-
1st. The construction of receptacles or chambers of wood saturated with paraffin,
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
2nd. The method of and materials employed in jointing receptacles or chambers,
and rendering the same liquid and acid proof, as and for the purposes herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Holden, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this 12th day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.