Improvements in or relating to the Preservation of Meat and Fatty Matters.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Preservation of Meat and Fatty
Matters.
I, JEAN FALCIMAGNE, of 40 Rue Richelieu, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Doctor, 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 :—
The improved method of preserving meat, fats, and the like is based on the trans-
formation of carbonate of lime or of soda into sulphite under the influence of
sulphurous acid fumes produced by the burning of sulphur, and it consists in
exposing the meat, fats, etc., to be preserved by means of suitable apparatus in a
chamber above a tray of the carbonate aforesaid under which sulphur is burnt so
that the fumes of the latter drawn through the bed of carbonate pass in contact
with the matters to be preserved on their way to the outlet at or near which suction
is produced to induce a current through the apparatus.
The accompanying drawing illustrates apparatus constructed to carry out the
above process.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation part in section of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line y Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3 is a central vertical cross section of the lower part of the apparatus.
The chamber A in which the sulphur is burnt is separated from the chamber B,
in which the meat etc., to be preserved is arranged, by a frame C which forms the
floor of the chamber B and consists for the most part of a grating, perforated plate,
wire gauze, or the like d on which a layer L of carbonate as aforesaid is
sprinkled.
In the chamber A is a tray or drawer F to receive a number of saucers H on
which are stands I carrying grids J on which the sulphur pastiles or the like are
burnt. In the chamber B are shelves to receive trays Q preferably arranged
alternately against the back and front as shown in Fig. 3 so that the fumes passing
through the chamber B must pursue a zigzag course and so come in contact with
the meat etc., on the trays Q. The interior of the chamber B may be faced with
marble, cement, porcelain or enamelled or galvanised iron M, the door N is likewise
similarly faced on its interior.
Outside of the inner facing is any suitable layer of a non-conductor of heat P and
wood lagging O. R R R are windows by which the action in the chamber B may
be watched. G is a window for observing the burning of the sulphur in the
chamber A. a are handles to the trays Q or removable floor C. V is a catch to
secure the door N.
The suction is produced as follows: The chamber B terminates above in a
conical roof D narrowing into a steep open conical chimney D' in which is a butter-
fly regulator C'.
Around the conical chimney D' is a stove E or brazier over which is the conical
hood S suspended by cords or chains with counter-weights U and leading to a fixed
flue T into which the conical chimney D' also projects.
The fire in E which may be damped more or less by lowering or raising the
hood S causes a suction of air in the chimney T which draws the gases from the
chimney D. The door N is closed hermetically by felt packing strips b.
Having placed the meat or fat etc., to be preserved on the trays in the chamber B
and recharged the floor C with carbonate, the chamber B is closed and the sulphur
in the tray F is lighted, suction is produced in the chimney as aforesaid and the
gases from the sulphur rise through the layer of carbonate and pass through the
chamber B. This action is continued for a quarter of an hour, when the meat, etc.,

page_text: may be withdrawn and replaced by other meat, etc., to be preserved the carbonate
being also renewed for each operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
For the preserving of meats, fats and the-like
1. The method consisting in exposing said matters to be preserved to the fumes
from burning sulphur, said fumes having previously been passed through an alcaline
carbonate.
2. The method consisting in exposing said matters to be preserved in a closed
chamber to the fumes from burning sulphur, said fumes having previously been
passed through a bed of alcaline carbonate.
3. The method consisting in exposing said matters to be preserved in a closed
chamber to the fumes from burning sulphur drawn into and through said chamber
by suction, said fumes having previously been passed through a bed of alcaline
carbonate.
4. An apparatus comprising in combination a chamber B a perforated floor C
thereto adapted to receive a layer of an alcaline carbonate, a combustion chamber A
and burners therein adapted to burn sulphur, whereby the fumes from the burning
sulphur are adapted to pass into the chamber B through said perforated floor.
5. An apparatus comprising in combination a chamber B, a perforated floor C
thereto, a sulphur combustion chamber A. beneath said floor, a chimney D' to said
chamber B, a stove E hood S and flue T adapted to exert a suction in the
chamber B substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1892
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.