An Improved Apparatus for Hardening Wood.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Hardening Wood.
I, GEORG FRIEDRICH SEBIODA, of 50, Rue St. Didier, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement;-
--
This invention relates to an apparatus for hardening wood in which the latter
is clamped in an iron frame casing and exposed to very high pressure. In this
manner the wood is reduced in volume about 10%-30% and receives great solidity
and durability. In this method soft wood can be converted into hard wood and
the wood thus hardened utilised as a new article of commerce.
For this hardening of the wood special presses are required which allow of an
extremely high pressure with a rapid and easy handling and a simultaneous
treatment of a large quantity of wood. Especially is it a question of each separate
wood block being covered with a metallic sheathing itself so that the separate
wood blocks do not press mutually one against the other which would cause a
very irregular pressing action and a mutual influence of the wood one on the
other. The presses hitherto employed are not applicable for the object intended
by the present invention because on the one hand they do not allow for the above
points and on the other hand they require after the treatment of each separate
charge an inconvenient taking-apart and re-erection or putting-together again.
The present invention provides a press which is particularly suitable for work-
ing on the large scale required in practice. The separate parts also do not require
to be taken apart and put together again for the purpose of recharging. The
separate parts are reliably held together in their actual position and also the device
for approaching and separating or moving apart the separate plates so arranged
that the wood blocks are in no way obstructed in being inserted and withdrawn.
A few movements of the hand suffice to convey the treated wood out of the press
and to introduce fresh wood in order that it may be in turn treated.
The object of the application is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is an elevation in partial section;
Figure 2, a side view corresponding therewith; and
Figure 3, a plan view of half the press.
Four columns are mounted on the press table c, which columns carry hydraulic
presses and o. On the two plungers m of the press n a pressure plate k is sus-
pended by means of which a very strong downward pressure can be exerted. Two
side plates e mounted on slide rollers f are arranged mutually adjustable on the
press table C and the wood blocks a having horizontal plates 6 and vertical plates
laid between them are stacked in the manner shown in Figure 1. The horizontal
plates are provided with grooves for the engagement of the vertical plates d in
such a way that the wood is compressed in the necessary manner by the hydraulic
presses n and yet cannot expand laterally. The depth of the grooves is so calcu-
lated that the compression can take place to the necessary extent and that any fall-

page_text: ing over of the vertical plates d is excluded when the plates b are drawn apart in
order to discharge the wood which has been treated.
The latter takes place automatically as soon as the press plate k has been raised
by means of the small press o. For this object the separate plates 6 are provided
with pins and connected together by hinged or pivoted arms s in the manner
of lazy-tongs. The uppermost plate 6 is attached to the press plate k and the
lowermost plate b is connected by lazy-tongs to suitable projections of the press
In this manner the raising of the press plate k causes a perfectly even and
simultaneous separation of the separate plates to the amount always necessary
and corresponding to the compression. The extent of the separation may be
easily limited either by means of suitable projections on the lazy-tongs s or stop
rings mounted on the plungers m or small chains inserted between the separate
plates b.
table c.
The side plates e which are adjustable on slide rollers serve as lateral resistances
during the pressing and are supported by adjustable supports t, four of which are
arranged on each side of the press and are made dependent on one another in their
adjustment to allow of their easier operation.
The supports t are provided with screws u so that the separate points of support
of each plate e may be at any time easily adjusted once for all. The four supports
travel in suitable tracks and are each connected by a crossbar with one another.
Projections w extend from the crossbars downwards and serve for receiving screwed
spindles provided with right and left hand threads and these latter are so mounted
in the press table c, that, when handwheels jare rotated, the supports are approached
and removed from one another respectively. Preferably measures are taken either
by screws or chains or hooks so that the plates e even on the return of the supports
are carried along with them.
The handling and mode of working of the press herein before described is
extremely simple. On the hydraulic presses n being depressed the plates 6 descend
in the necessary manner whilst the plates e afford a thoroughly reliable support
by reason of the supports adjusted by the handwheel j and each separate wood block
is surrounded on all sides by an iron casing; moreover the hollow spaces of the
plates 6 and d afford simultaneously an extremely convenient means for heating
the intermediate plates by means of steam or electricity.
On raising the press plate k, the separate plates 6 are moved evenly apart so far
that the wood blocks may be withdrawn and fresh ones inserted without the vertical
plates being liable to fall down. By means of the handwheel j the side plates e
may easily be loosened so far that no lateral pressure any longer exists and after
the press has been supplied with fresh wood they may be adjusted again in the
necessary manner. An adjustment of the screws is only necessary once where
the wood is of the same size. The screws provided with right and left hand
threads which merely serve for adjusting the supports, no longer prevent the
insertion and withdrawal of the blocks of wood as they are arranged entirely
beneath the wood feed level. The devices for separating the plates 6 do not inter-
fere in the least with the charging and discharging of the wood.
The wood to be treated is merely conveyed to one side of the press by means of a
suitable trolley, the separate compartments of which correspond to the distance
apart of the plates b, and the finished wood is carried away from the other side of
the press by means of a similar trolley. The separate compartments of the trolleys
correspond to the actual height of the wood blocks before and after the pressing.
These compartments may be easily made adjustable so that they may at any
time be adjusted to correspond with the various thicknesses of wood employed.
In order to accelerate the working, it is preferable to warm the wood before
insertion in the press and to maintain it under pressure a short time after the
withdrawal in order that it cannot warp after having been taken out of the press.
This pressing may easily take place in the above mentioned compartment trolley
by making the separate compartments movable, and keeping them pressed together

page_text: by mechanical means until warping of the wood is no longer to be feared. In this
manner the actual operation of the press may be considerably shortened and thus
with one press the work can be carried out much more rapidly than when the wood
remains in the press until subsequent warping is no longer to be feared.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. An apparatus for hardening wood, characterised by the arrangement of
horizontal plates (b) dependent on one another as to their distances apart, and a
number of vertical plates (d) engaging in suitable grooves in the said horizontal
plates (b) between which vertical and horizontal plates forming a solid casing the
blocks of wood to be treated are exposed to pressure between a presser plate (k)
operated by hydraulic presses and the press table (c), side plates (e) being also pro-
vided which are supported by two sets of supports (t) which allow of an exact
adjustment of the points of support and may be adjusted against one another
simultaneously by means of screwed spindles (a) which are provided with right
and left hand threads substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In an apparatus such as described for hardening wood, the connecting
together of the horizontal plates (b) by linked arms (s) resembling lazy-tongs and
pins (r) in such a way that when the press plate (k) which is screwed to the upper-
most plate (b) is lifted an even separation or movement apart of the horizontal
plates (b) is automatically effected without the vertical plates (d) being liable to
fall over, substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus such as described for hardening wood, the combination of
the side plates (e) with two sets of supports (t), the adjustable screws (u) of which
allow of an exact adjustment of the points of support, whilst they may be at any
time mutually and easily adjusted in common by means of screwed spindles, sub-
stantially as described.
D
1011 1
CT
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.