Improvements in the Method of and in Means and Appliances for Preserving Meat, Butter, Cheese, and other Animal and Vegetable Substances.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and in Means and Appliances
for Preserving Meat, Butter, Cheese, and other Animal and
Vegetable Substances.
I, JOHN HIPWOOD FITTER, of 8, 9 and 15 Grand Avenue, Leadenhall Market,
London, E.C., Meat Salesman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
--
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the preservation of
animal matter, butter, cheese, vegetable and other substances, and in means and
appliances for effecting the same; my invention being more particularly (but not
exclusively) applicable to the preservation of animal food on board ship.
According to my invention, I store the animal food (hein after called "meat")
in an air-tight room, of sufficient strength to sustain a acuum, more or less
perfect. The internal surface of the room is formed of metal (preferably iron)
and the external surfaces of the walls, including the door, are protected against
the conduction of caloric, by means of charcoal, asbestos, or any other well-known
non-conducting substance or substances.
The room is also fitted internally with refrigerating pipes for reducing the
temperature, and for conveying ammoniacal or other gas or liquid, and for
withdrawing air from the room to produce a vacuum.
Previously to storing the meat, the temperature of the room is reduced and
rendered perfectly dry and free from snow, &c. The meat is first cooled and
then inserted and the door closed and rendered air-tight. A more or less perfect
vacuum is then produced, by means of an air pump, after which ammoniacal or
other gas or liquid is introduced into the pipes to reduce the temperature.
According to my invention the meat is not allowed to freeze, and is preserved
without the deteriorating consequences arising from the low temperatures. now
usually adopted in the cold rooms on board ship.
The usual vacuum gauges and electrical thermometers are also fitted to my
storage rooms, for ascertaining leakage of air thereinto and any alteration of
temperature.
Although I have described my invention as applied to the preservation of meat,
it is obvious that my invention is equally applicable to the preservation of butter,
cheese, and other animal and vegetable substances.
Dated 5th July 1805
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and in Means and Appliances
for Preserving Meat, Butter, Cheese, and other Animal and
Vegetable Substances.
I, JOHN HIPWOOD FITTER, of 8, 9 and 15 Grand Avenue, Leadenhall Market,
London, E.C., Meat Salesman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manuer the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the preservation of
animal matter, butter, cheese, vegetable and other substances, and in means and
appliances for effecting the same; my invention being more particularly (but not
exclusively) applicable to the preservation of animal food on board ship.
65
According to my invention, I store the meat, butter, cheese, and other animal
and vegetable substances (all herein after intended to be included in the word
meat") in an air-tight room, or other suitable structure, of sufficient strength to
sustain a vacuum, more or less perfect. This room is encased or surrounded by an
external chamber or hollow wall which is filled with charcoal, asbestos, or any
other well-known non-conducting substance or substances.
The inner room or chamber is also fitted internally with refrigerating pipes for
reducing the temperature, and for conveying ammoniacal or other gas or liquid;
also a pipe for withdrawing air from the chamber to produce a vacuum.
In some cases an intermediate hollow wall or chamber may be fitted, in which
refrigerating materials or substances, pipes and the like are placed. This chamber
occupies a space between the non-conducting chamber and the storage chamber,
the latter being thus encased in two hollow walls or chambers.
Previously to storing the meat, the temperature is reduced and rendered
perfectly dry and free from snow &c. The meat is first cooled and then inserted
and the door closed and rendered air-tight. A more or less perfect vacuum is
then produced by an air pump, or other suitable means, after which ammoniacal or
other gas or liquid is introduced into the pipes of the inner chamber, and also
into those in the intermediate chamber (when used) in order to reduce and retain
the temperature to and at 32° Fahr. or thereabouts."
According to my invention the meat is not allowed to freeze, and is preserved
without the deteriorating consequences arising from the low temperatures now
usually adopted in cold rooms on board ship.
The usual vacuum gauges and electrical thermometers are also fitted to my
storage rooms, for ascertaining any leakage of air thereinto, and any alteration of
temperature.
By means of the vacuum in the inner or store chamber, in combination with the
refrigerating pipes fitted in the same chamber: and (in some cases) the refrigerating
pipes in the intermediate chamber; and the non-conducting material in the outer
chamber, the passage of caloric is entirely prevented, and an equable low
temperature is readily maintained in the inner (storage) chamber; and the meat,
butter, cheese, and other animal and vegetable substances are preserved in a state
suitable for consumption.
The door to the inner chamber is well lagged with nonconducting material, and
fitted so as to make an air-tight joint, when closed.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 a vertical section, and Fig. 3 a horizontal
section, on a line a 6 of Fig. 2.

page_text: In the drawings an inner chamber c, an intermediate chamber d, and an external
chamber or hollow wall e are shown.
The inner chamber c in which the meat is stored, is fitted with refrigerating
pipes f, for reducing the temperature, as before described. Other pipes, not shown
in the drawings, are fitted for withdrawing air and producing a vacuum in the
inner chamber. is the door to the chamber, which is well lagged with non-
conducting material and fitted so as to close air-tight.
g
The intermediate chamber d is fitted with a stout layer of non-conducting
material h, held in position by T or L iron, or other suitable means, between the
walls; or this chamber may be otherwise fitted as hereinbefore mentioned.
The walls of the external chamber e are spaced by means of battens k as shown,
and the intermediate spaces between the battens are filled with charcoal, asbestos,
or other suitable non-conducting substance or substances.
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
olaim is:-
The improvements in the method of and in means and appliances for preserving
meat, butter, cheese, and other animal and vegetable substances substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
1920
GEO. DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.