Improvements in Treating Timber, more Particularly such Timber as is used for Mining Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating Timber, more Particularly such Timber
as is used for Mining Purposes.
I, HENRY AITKEN of Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, North Britain, Coalmaster,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The great number of fires which have of late occurred in mines and the serious loss
of life as well as loss of property which have resulted render it necessary if possible
to find and adopt some means of treating timber so as to make it absorb watery
vapour and thus render it non-combustible, or as nearly so as possible. The
substances to be used for this purpose should be of a non-combustible nature, not
injurious to life, of small cost, easy of application, and further if possible they should
be of a preservative nature, and not injurious to the timber.
In order to make timber absorb moisture from the atmosphere I treat it with
substances which absorb moisture from the atmosphere, such as chloride of magnesium,
calcium, sodium aluminium, caustics of soda, potash, carbonate of potash, nitrates of
soda, lime, magnesia, or such acids as sulphuric or bydro-chloric acids, chlorides of
zine and copper, bichromate of soda. These three last I prefer to use only for special
purposes as they are of a poisonous character. In this list I do not give all the
substances which absorb vapour, but there are sufficient substances mentioned' to
enable any one to make a selection.
It would be a waste of time to describe in detail the different methods of application
of each of these substances, some of which may be applied in the solid liquid or
gascons state, and may be applied hot or cold, or with other substances. It will be
sufficient if I describe how to treat timber for the object here specified, by two of the
substances, common salt, chloride of sodium, and sulphuric acid. I take common salt
because it is cheap, easy of application, and acts as a preserver, or strong sca-water
brine, which I prefer owing to the presence of chloride of magnesium, or natural salt
water or brines. I prefer to have the timber dry, well-seasoned, and free from bark.
I place the brine or salt in a chamber or vessel, adding to the salt water to make a
strong solution. The chamber or vessel should be made of material which the salt
will not affect. place the timber in the solution and allow it to lie sufficiently long
for the salt to get into the timber as far as desired. The time required is regulated
by the kind of timber, its size, and the amount of salt it is desired it should take up.
I prefer to heat the solution so as to hasten the application as well as to render the
timber more enduring. I have found that a temperature of about 205 degrees
Fahrenheit gives good results but higher temperatures or lower temperatures may be
used when it is desired to harden the timber. When sea salt water is to be got
cheaply 1 boil it down and use it. In this case I prefer to place the timber in the
solution when it has been concentrated by boiling. In place of so treating the timber
the solution may be applied with a brush or jet. This can be done to timber fixed in
its place. The chamber or vessel may be of any form; such a chamber as that
described in the specification of the said Henry Aitken, No. 2 dated 1882 may be used
with or without a top or cover. Vacuum or pressure or both may be used when the
timber is in the chamber in such manner as they are applied when creosoting
timber.
any
In applying sulphuric acid I place the timber into it, making the acid desired
strength. The timber is allowed to remain sufficiently long to effect the purpose
desired and then taken out; or the acid may be applied with a brush made of asbestos
or other acid-resisting material, or the acid may be applied with a pump.

page_text: When the materials are applied in a gaseous form the timber is placed in a chamber
into which the gases are poured, or the timber may be put into a chamber where the
gas is.
Dated this 30th day of August 1889
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Petitioner's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating Timber, more Particularly such Timber
as is used for Mining Purposes.
I, HENRY AITKEN, of Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, Coalmaster, 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 great number of fires which have of late occurred in mines, and the serious loss
of life as well as loss of property which have resulted, render it necessary, if possible
to find and adopt some means of treating timber so as to make it absorb watery
vapor, and thus render it non-combustible, or as nearly so as possible. The substances
to be used for this purpose should be of a non-combustible nature, not injurious to
life, of small cost, casy of application, and further if possible they should be of a
preservative nature and not injurious to the timber.
In order to make timber absorb moisture from the atmosphere I treat it with
substances which absorb moisture from the atmosphere, such as chloride of magnesium,
calcium, sodium, aluminium, caustics of soda, potash, carbonate of potash, nitrates of
soda, lime, magnesia, or such acids as sulphuric, or hydro-chloric acids, chlorides of
zinc and copper, bichromate of soda. These three last I prefer to use only for special
purposes, as they are of a poisonous character. In this list I do not give all the
substances which absorb vapour, but there are sufficient substances mentioned to
enable anyone to make a selection.
It would be a waste of time to describe in detail the different methods of application
of each of these substances, some of which may be applied in the solid liquid or
gaseous state, and may be applied hot or cold, or with other substances. It will be
sufficient if I describe how to treat timber for the object here specified, by two of the
substances, common salt, (chloride of sodium,) and sulphuric acid. I take common
salt because it is cheap, easy of application, and acts as a preserver; or strong sea-
water brine, which I prefer owing to the presence of chloride of magnesium; or
natural salt water, or brines. When using common salt I prefer to add from 10 to
20 per cent. of chloride of magnesium. The timber should be dry, well-seasoned, and
free from bark. I place the brine or salt in a chamber or vessel, adding to the salt
water to make a strong solution. I prefer to have an over saturated solution. The
chamber or vessel should be made of material which the salt will not affect. 1 place
the timber in the solution, and allow it to lie sufficiently long for the salt to get into
the timber as far as desired. The time required is regulated by the kind of timber,
its size, and the amount of salt it is desired it should take up. I prefer to heat the
solution so as to hasten the application, as well as to render the timber more enduring.
I have found that a temperature of about 205 degrees Farenheit gives good results,
but higher temperatures or lower temperatures may be used. Any kind of chamber
or vessel or tank may be used, but I have found that an iron vessel into and through
which a copper pipe is passed for carrying the steam or hot water to heat the liquid
does very well. A vessel made of brick should be avoided, as the salts are apt to
burst the same to pieces. Wood is a suitable substance to use for the vessel or tank
when vacuum or pressure or both are applied. I prefer an iron chamber. When sea
salt water is to be got cheaply I boil it down and use it. In this case I prefer to

page_text: place the timber in the solution when it has been concentrated by boiling. In place
of so treating the timber, the solution may be applied with a brush or jet. This can
be done to timber fixed in its place. The chamber or vessel may be of any form;
such a chamber as that described in the specification of the said Henry Aitken No. 2,
dated 1882 may be used with or without a top or cover. Vacuum or pressure or both
may be used when the timber is in the chamber in such manner as they are applied
when creosoting timber.
In applying sulphuric acid, I place the timber into it, making the acid any desired
strength. The timber is allowed to remain sufficiently long to effect the purpose
desired, and then taken out; and vacuum and pressure may also be applied; or the
acid may be applied with a brush made of asbestos or other acid-resisting material,
or the acid may be applied with a pump.
When the materials are applied in a gaseous form, the timber is placed in a
chamber into which the gases are forced or drawn, or the timber may be put into a
chamber where the gas is; but I prefer to place the timber in the chamber and create
a vacuum or partial vacuum, and then admit the gas, and if desired, pressure may
also be used.
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 treatment of timber in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein-
before described.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.