AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING WOOD CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF RAILWAY SLEEPERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING
WOOD CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF RAILWAY SLEEPERS" and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating wood to preserve
it from decay and the ravages of insects, and is especially adapted for treating
railway sleepers or ties as their life, or the extent of time during which they are
available for use is prolonged, The said invention has particular reference to those
modes of treatment wherein the wood is first steamed to dissolve its resinous
ingredients and to coagulate its albuminous matters, and then subjected to the
action of coal tar or other antiseptic.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a typical form of apparatus for carrying this
invention into practice.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3, is a transverse section and
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views illustrating modifications.
A represents a steam boiler or equivalent device having a steam pipe a with a
valve a¹, and branches b, bi, 6 having cocks c, c', c² respectively.
D is an air and steam tight chamber or receptacle having a sealed door d, and a
track support d for trucks d² containing wood or sleepers d³ to be treated.
Within the chamber D, and preferably below the track d¹ is placed a radiator E,
the coils of which may be longitudinally arranged as shown in Figure 2 or arranged
transversely to the chamber D, as indicated in Figure 4.
The radiator E at one end connects with the branch b¹, and at its other has a
cock e for drawing off condensed steam.
Instead of using a coil or convoluted form of radiator, jackets or chambers may
be substituted, as shown in Figure 5. The branch b leads to the upper part of

page_text: chamber D which has at its bottom a series of pockets or chambers F, as indicated
in Figures 1 and 2, or, one large receptacle may be substituted as illustrated in
Figure 4.
The pockets F have valved pipe connections f with a reservoir G suitably
placed and containing a supply of coal tar or other antiseptic material for said
pockets.
In the latter are located coiled pipes or radiators H, connected by pipes and
into which leads the branch b².
If desired the chamber D may have a sealed outlet pipe I by using a tank K
having a water supply pipe k and an overflow pipe k, but a valve, damper
or other device may be employed for the pipe I, to act as a safety valve
therefor.
The operation or process is as follows:
Steam is first admitted to the chamber D by opening the cocks a¹ and c, the
cocks c¹ and c¹ being then closed. The steam filling the chamber D acts upon the
wood therein to dissolve its resinous matter and cook or coagulate its albumen.
Any excess of pressure in the said chamber is relieved by the exit of steam
through the safety valve in the pipe I.
When the wood is thorougly cooked the cock c is closed and the cock c¹ opened,
thereby cutting off the supply of steam to the chamber D and admitting it to the
radiator E. The heat therefrom gradually vaporizes the moisture in the chamber D
and in or on the wood, until the latter is thoroughly dried or seasoned with its
pores well opened.
The vapors pass out of the chamber D by way of the pipe I.
The advantages of using the radiated heat from the coil E are, that the employ-
ment of super-heated steam or hot gases from furnaces as heretofore used and the
consequent danger of ignition of the wood being treated is avoided; and that the
process of drying and seasoning the wood is more slowly effected, hence its quality
is not deteriorated and its pores are more fully opened for the reception of the
antiseptic material.
When the drying operation above described is completed the cock c¹ is closed,
and the pockets F are then supplied with coal-tar or other antiseptic by opening
the cocks in the pipes f, The cock c² is then opened to admit steam to the radia-
tors H in said pockets, The heat from the radiators H vaporizes the coal-tar in
pockets F, which vapor ascends to, and penetrates, the pores of the wood d³
seasoned or dried as above set forth.
These pores being fully opened and their walls thoroughly dried, they greedily
absorb or take up sufficient vaporized antiseptic material to cause it to thoroughly
saturate the wood undergoing treatment.
When the latter is fully impregnated with the coal-tar vapors, it is removed and
a fresh charge is placed in chamber D in any suitable manner, the operation
being repeated as described.
If desired, the pockets F may be provided with cocks f³ for drawing off the
surplus antiseptic after each charge of wood is treated, and the radiators H with
an outlet or condensed water cock h¹.
The surplus vapors of coal-tar escaping from the chamber D through the pipe I
pass into, and are condensed in, the tank K when used, and as said preservative
material is vaporized by radiated heat, the boiler A and its furnace may be situated
at any desired distance from the treating chamber D to avoid danger of explosion
by the commingling or contact of such vapors with the boiler-furnace or other
direct source of heat.
If desired, the pockets F and their radiators H may be constructed as shown in
Figure 6 and instead of having separate cocks for the branches b, 61, 62, a single
three way cock may be substituted, I therefore, do not limit myself to the general
or detail construction of parts comprising the apparatus herein shown and described,
as it is obvious that the same may be greatly varied without departing from the
nature of this invention.

page_text: 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
First. The process of treating wood to preserve it from decay, which process
consists in first steaming or cooking the wood, then drying it by radiated heat, and
then subjecting it to the action of an antiseptic material vaporized by radiated
heat, as set forth.
Second. The method or process of treating wood, as herein described.
Third. The treating chamber D having radiators E, and chambers F having
radiators H, as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. In combination with a treating chamber, a radiator, pockets or chambers
for holding a supply of antiseptic material, radiators for said pockets, and steam or
other pipe connection for said chamber and radiators, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The treating chamber D having a steam pipe connection, a radiator E,
and pockets or receptacles F having radiators H.
Sixth. The treating chamber D having a steam-pipe connection, a sealed outlet
pipe, a radiator, and pockets or receptacles with radiators, substantially as set
forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.