IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR PRESERVING TIMBER, AND FOR RENDERING IT NON-INFLAMMABLE."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Robertson Gardner, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR
PRESERVING TIMBER, AND FOR RENDERING IT NON-INFLAMMABLE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Robertson Gardner
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August 1878.
"
DANIEL ROBERTSON GARDNER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain. 'IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR PRESERVING TIMBER, AND FOR RENDERING
IT NON-INFLAMMABLE."
To strengthen, harden, densify, season, preserve against decay and from the
attacks of worms and insects, I merely dissolve and remove the sap, which I do by
placing the timber in a tank, and subjecting it to the action of neutral vapour or to
alkaline vapour, or to acid vapour separately or combined, and in any order, and
may be carried on continuously or intermittently from about 60 hours to 84 hours.
I preferably begin with neutral vapour, then alkaline vapour, then acid vapour,
then neutral vapour or fumes of mercury; the time may be 24 hours for each of
the first three steps, and twelve hours for the last, which should be the fumes of
mercury, if for preservation.
The alkali and acid may be applied by being put into the boiler or otherwise,
and the vapours can be tested by litmus paper as to their neutral, alkaline, or acid
state.
The mercurial fumes are created by mixing equal quantities by weight of mercury
and nitric acid, and allowing then to escape in the tank.
For extreme cases, where timber is wanted to stand against active decay, insects,
sea-worms, or made non-inflammable, it is only necessary to allow it to absorb any
effectual preservative poison or non-inflammable solution or fumes after the first
D

page_text: process; if in a solution when the timber is dense and bulky the solution can be
heated and cooled till it penetrates, or a vacuum may be created, after which
pressure may or may not be used to force the solution in.
When the timber is to be exposed to the action of the weather or water the pre-
servative poison or non-inflammable chemical, after having gone into the timber
either in solution or in fumes, is made insoluble by an affinity or a re-agent of the
chemical or chemicals employed.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the system, mode, or
manner in which the same may be practically carried out, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the Letters Patent is,-
First. The principle of dissolving the sap of timber by vaporising.
Secondly. The application of any preservative poison, inflammable
inflammable chemical, to timber after the pores have been freed from sap.
or non-

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Daniel Robertson Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
February 1879.
DANIEL ROBERTSON GARDNER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain. "IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR PRESERVING TIMBER, AND FOR RENDERING
IT NON-INFLAMMABLE.'
"
To strengthen, harden, densify, season, preserve against decay and from the
attacks of worms and insects, I merely dissolve and remove the sap, which I do by
placing the timber in a tank, and subjecting it to the action of neutral vapour, or
to alkaline vapour, or to acid vapour, separately or combined, and in any order, and
may be carried on continuously or intermittently from about 60 hours to 84 hours.
I preferably begin with neutral vapour, then alkaline vapour, then acid vapour,
then neutral vapour or fumes of mercury; the time may be 24 hours for each of the
first three steps, and 12 hours for the last, which should be the fumes of mercury,
if for preservation.
The alkali and acid may be applied by being put into the boiler or otherwise,
and the vapours can be tested by litmus paper as to their neutral alkaline or acid
state.
The mercurial fumes are created by mixing equal quantities by weight of mercury
and nitric acid, and allowing them to escape in the tank.
For extreme cases, where timber is wanted to stand against active decay, insects,
or sea-worms, or made non-inflammable, it is only necessary to allow it to absorb
any effectual preservative poison or non-inflammable solution or fumes after the
first process; if in a solution when the timber is dense and bulky the solution can
be heated and cooled till it penetrates, or a vacuum may be created, after which
pressure may or may not be used to force the solution in.
When the timber is to be exposed to the action of the weather or water the pre-
servative poison or non-inflammable chemical after having gone into the timbor,
either in solution or in fumes, is made insoluble by an affinity or a re-agent of the
chemical or chemicals employed.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the system, mode, or
manner in which the same may be practically carried out, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the Letters Patent is,―
First. The principle of dissolving the sap of timber by vaporising.
Second. The application of any preservative poison, inflammable
inflammable chemical, to timber after the pores have been freed from sap.
or nou-
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Robertson Gardner, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
זרזזז.
DANIEL ROBERTSON GARDNER.
(L.S.)