Improvements in Chemical Chimney Cleansers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 4th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1900
I, THOMAS HUSON, of 13, Batavia Buildings, Hackins Hey, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Analytical and Consulting Chemist and Assayer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the improvement of chemical chimney cleansing
compounds which act by partly consuming and partly dissipating in fine particles
the soot in the chimney or flue.
In all of these chimney cleansers, a strongly oxidizing salt, such as nitrate of
potash, is used, also a somewhat volatilizable salt as a diluent, so as to prevent
the possibility of explosion when the mixture of the highly oxidising salt and
sulphur or other highly combustible material in a fine state of division is burnt.
Now the use of common salt for this purpose, such as is almost universal, is
very deleterious, as it is hygroscopic, and the shop keepers object to keeping
packages of a material which from its hygroscopic nature is very liable to rapid
deterioration.
Now we have found that there is no necessity for using a volatilizable diluent
at all, but that other finely comminuted salts that are not hygroscopic, are much
superior.
The salt we prefer to use is sulphate of soda, but we have found that the
sulphates of nearly all the alkalies and alkaline earths and sulphate of iron can
be substituted for sulphate of soda, and that other non-hygroscopic salts, non-
volatile or slightly volatile at the heat of combustion of the said cleaner, such
as for instance finely precipitated carbonate of lime, can be used, though these
are not as good as the sulphate.
1000
Improvements in Chemical Chimney Cleansers.
I, THOMAS HUSON, of 13, Batavia Buildings, Hackins Hey, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Analytical and Consulting Chemist and Assayer, 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:
whinst the improrament of chemical chimney sween.

page_text: ing compounds, which act by partly consuming and partly dissipating in fine
particles the soot in the chimney or flue.
In nearly all these chimney cleansers, a strongly oxidizing salt such as nitrate
of potash, and a highly combustible material such as sulphur, is used. With
this a somewhat volatilizable salt as a diluent is mixed, so as to prevent the
possibility of a violent explosion when the mixture of the highly oxidizing salt
and sulphur or other highly combustible material in a fine state of division is
burnt. Now the use of common salt which is usually employed for this purpose,
is very disadvantageous, as it is highly hygroscopic, and the shopkeepers object
to keeping packages of a mixture which by its hygroscopic nature is very liable
to rapid deterioration, and (if the weather be damp) to staining, and otherwise
damaging surrounding goods. The package also being covered with efflorescence
or with moist salt unpleasant to handle and unsightly to the eye.
Now I have found that there is no necessity for using a volatilizable diluent
at all, but that other finely comminuted salts or even earths or sands, that are
not hygroscopic can be substituted with great advantage.
The salt I actually prefer to use in practice is sulphate of soda, but I have
found that the sulphates of nearly all the alkalies and alkaline earths and the
sulphates of iron can be substituted for sulphate of soda, and that other non-
hygroscopic salts, non-volatile or but slightly volatile at the heat of combustion
of the said cleaner, such for instance as finely precipitated carbonate of lime or
other finely divided earth or silica can be used, though these are not as good for
the purpose as sulphates. A very good formula for making these chemical
chimney cleansers is as follows:-
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:
-
1. The improvement in chemical chimney cleansers which consists in forming
them of a highly oxidizing salt, a highly combustible material, and a non-
volatile or but slightly volatile diluent which is non-hygroscopic substantially as
herein described, the whole in a very fine state of admixture.
2. In the manufacture of chimney cleansers formed of a highly oxidizing salt,
a strongly combustible material and a diluent, using a sulphate such as described
for making the diluent, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1900
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham & London.