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

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Holden, Samuel Turton, and
Joseph Barber at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June
1877.
JOHN HOLDEN, SAMUEL TURTON, and JOSEPH BARBER, all of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RECEPTACLES OR CHAMBERS FOR CONTAINING ACIDS AND CHEMICAL FLUIDS."
Our 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 our Invention we form the said receptacles from wood which has
been treated with paraffine, stearine, or other similar material, and we render the
joints acid-proof, and in some cases we line the receptacles with gutta percha.
When constructing receptacles suitable to contain hydrochloric or acetic acid we
make the said receptacles of a rectangular form, ench receptacle consisting of six
slabs or pieces of wood, connected together and formed with tongue and groove or
dovetailed 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. We have found immersion in the heated paraffin for six hours
to have the desired effect.
If preferred a vacuum 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 cemented together by means of bitumen, stearine, gutta percha, or other
cement which will resist acids.
In the method we have adopted the inner edges of the joints are coated with a
solution of gutta percha in naptha. Melted bitumen is poured into the groove of

page_text: 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 we 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 a liquid-proof joint is formed.
The treatment of the wood with paraffin renders the receptacle less liable to be
injuriously effected by exposure to water, or by atmospheric changes.
Each receptacle is formed with a mouth or orifice, which we 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.
We do not confine ourselves to the aforesaid rectangular form of the receptacles..
A second part of our Invention consists in the employment of the first part of
our Invention in the construction of receptacles and chambers to contain acids and
chemical fluids in apparatus for generating carbonic acid gas, and in the construc-
tion of apparatus for extinguishing fire by the employment of such gas.