Improvements in Means for Preserving Meat, Fruits, and such like Perishable Articles in Store or in Transit.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Preserving Meat, Fruits, and such like
Perishable Articles in Store or in Transit.
I, HERBERT SAMUEL ELWORTHY of Sujanpur District of Gurdaspur Punjab,
India Analytical Chemist 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:-
This invention is based upon the fact that carbonic acid gas chemically known
as carbon dioxide or CO2 when under pressure and in the presence of moisture acts
as a germicide or disinfectant and by destroying the putrefactive germs present in
the meat from and through its exposure to the air, and by preventing their growth
and multiplication preserves the meat from putrefactive changes.
Sulphurous acid gas may be substituted for the carbonic acid gas, and their
preservative action may be further prolonged by charging the gas with the vapour
of a volatile antiseptic substance, such as kreosote.
or other
To carry out my invention I proceed as follows: A box case
receptacle capable of being closed gas tight under pressure and made of
any suitable material is prepared and the meat or fruit to be preserved is
placed in it.
The receptacle having been properly closed is charged with carbonic acid gas or
sulphurous acid gas to the required pressure, the pressure being indicated by a
pressure gauge or other device.
If it is desired to use the volatile antiseptic substances they may be placed in a
small vessel in the chamber or receptacle or on a sponge or other absorbent
material or a cloth sprinkled with or soaked in the substance may be hung up in the
chamber or the gas in charging the chamber may be caused to pass through a vessel
or pipe containing the volatile antiseptic substance preferably absorbed by a sponge
or cotton wool or asbestos or any other suitable material.
I use for preference liquefied or compressed carbonic acid gas or sulphurous acid
gas but the gas may be produced by any other known means such as in the case
of carbonic acid gas by the action of acids on the alkaline or alkaline earthy
carbonates and in the case of sulphurous acid gas by the addition of acids to
alkaline sulphites or bisulphites or the bisulphite of lime or by burning sulphur or
either gas may be produced by any of the known methods.
In the case of liquefied or compressed gases a reducing valve may be used to
reduce the pressure to the required amount.
In the case of large chambers a device may be used for withdrawing one or more
pieces of meat without opening the main chamber thereby preventing waste of gas.
The device may consist of a second small chamber opening into the larger one and
capable of being hermetically closed off from the large chamber by means of a
valve or door manipulated from the outside, the small chamber remaining at the
same time hermetically sealed to the outside air. A hooked rod or other device
working through a stuffing box can be used for withdrawing from or placing in
the larger chamber the required quantity of meat, poultry game or the like.
In the drawings annexed hereto
Fig. 1 represents partially in section a packing case or container according to
this invention.
Fig. 2 represents in plan the arrangement of double chamber which I employ.
a represents a case which is to be taken as being lined or made so as to be capable
of being hermetically closed. is an inlet valve for gas fitted at the lower part of
the case or container and c is an outlet valve whereby the air may be exhausted before
the gas is introduced or at the same time as the air is being withdrawn, as for

page_text: instance when carbonic acid gas is employed. The outer end of the valve body
has a screw thread turned therein to receive a screw cap or nozzle of the air pump
or vacuum chamber or of the gas reservoir. After the air has been withdrawn the
valve disc, of india rubber or leather (shown in solid block in the drawing) will
close upon its seating and a screw cap be screwed in. The body of valve c, is
prolonged at cl to protect the valve spindle c².
C
In Fig. 2 A is the main store chamber, B the smaller gas saving chamber the
main door of the store room A D the door leading to the small chamber B,
and E the outer door of the said chamber F is the gas union and G, H inlet and
outlet valves respectively for exhausting the air and introducing the I is a
revolving holder upon which the articles to be stored may be hung and be brought
opposite to the intermediate door.
gas.
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
1st. In means for preserving meat, fruit and the like the employment of carbonic
acid gas either at ordinary atmospheric pressure or under increased pressure in a
chamber or container fitted with inlet and outlet valves, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
2nd. The method of preserving meat, fruit and the like by means of sulphurous
acid gas substantially in the manner herein set forth.
3rd. In means for preserving meat the employment of carbonic acid gas and
sulphurous acid gas in mixture in a chamber or container as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
4th. In means as herein described the employment of a volatile antiseptic substance
in combination with one or both of the above specified, gases substantially in the
manner herein described.
5th. In means for preserving meat, fruit game or like perishable articles
an hermetically closed chamber in combination with a smaller hermetically closed
chamber as and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 16th day of November 1891.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.