Certain Improvements in the Preservation of Wood.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in the Preservation of Wood.
ALFRED AUGUSTUS HELY, of No. 10, Grosvenor Road, Westminster,
London, S.W., Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
This invention has reference to the preservation of wood by rendering the same
thoroughly and permanently antiseptic, with special application to such ligneous
structures as are liable to be prejudicially affected in their use, or rendered useless,
by the development of fungoid growths and germs, and the ravages of insects and
parasites.
This important object I effect by impregnating the wood, through the pores
thereof (under pressure, or vacuum) with a powerful antiseptic, which, although
perfectly innocuous to the human subject, is absolutely antagonistic to, and
destructive of all fungoid vegetation, and insect and infusorial life.
The chemical agents which I preferably employ are a solution of calcium
bi-sulphite, to be followed by a second impregnation, consisting of a solution of
caustic lime. The caustic lime, combining with the calcium bi-sulphite forms a
mono-sulphite, which, being less soluble, becomes, by the action of the atmosphere
oxidized into calcium-sulphate, effecting a perfectly insoluble combination,-
practically, part of the ligneous structure itself.
Dated the 14th day of February 1893.
ALFRED A. HELY.
Certain Improvements in the Preservation of Wood.
I, ALFRED AUGUSTUS HELY, of No. 10, Grosvenor Road, in the City of
Westminster, and County of Middlesex, Gentleman 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:-
My invention has reference to the preservation of wood-whether in the natural
or manufactured state-by rendering the same thoroughly and permanently anti-
septic, with special application to such ligneous structures as are liable to be
prejudicially affected in their use, or to become useless, by the development of
fungoid germs or growths, as well as by the ravages of insects and parasites.
This twofold object is attained by impregnating the wood through its pores,-
under any well known process of mechanical pressure, with or without vacuum,-by
means of a powerful antiseptic, which, although perfectly innocuous to the human
subject, is absolutely preventive and destructive of all fungoid vegetation and
wood-boring insect life.
The chemical agents which I preferably employ for this impregnation are of a
calcareous nature, and consist of two consecutive injections the first being a strong
solution of calcium bi-sulphite, and the second a corresponding solution of caustic
lime. The caustic lime, combining with the calcium bi-sulphite, forms a mono-
sulphite, which, being less soluble, becomes oxydized, by the subsequent action of
the atmosphere, into calcium sulphate, effecting a perfectly insoluble combination,
practically part of the ligneous structure itself.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what. I
claim is :
The method of preserving wood by impregnating its pores with an insoluble
calcareous compound, the product-subsequently oxydized by atmospheric action-
of the chemical combination of two antiseptic calcareous solutious, consecutively
injected, of the character, in the manner, and for the purpose herein before set forth
and described.
Dated this 15th day of November 1893