Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Preserving Fruit, Vegetable, Grain, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
CUMI LEIE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Preserving Fruit,
Vegetable, Grain, and the like.
We, ALBERT LINDEL LAWTON, of 180, Franklin Street, and ARTHUR WILLIAM LAWTON,
Clarendon Hotel, corner Washington and Johnson Streets, in the City of Brooklyn,
State of New York, United States of America, both Manufacturers of Brick and Tile,
Citizens of the United States, 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 relates to an improved process of and apparatus for treating and
preserving fruits, and other organic substances, or objects, particularly of the fruit,
vegetable, grain, and analogous classes.
The invention has for its principal object to produce a process and means for so
treating the substance or object that the process of ripening or development is made
to continue to maturity after the substance or object has been removed or detached
from the tree, vine, or stalk, upon which the same has grown, while it is also
subjected to a preserving action.
In carrying out our invention, we employ an air-tight receptacle, either a room,
vault, or other storage chamber, such as that of a freight car, vessel, or portable
container, and in the preliminary treatment we inject into this vessel a gaseous
mixture composed mainly of from 1 to 1 per cent. of chlorine, 10 to 12 per cent.of carbonic
oxid (CO), 8 to 10 per cent. of carbonic acid (CO2), and the remainder composed of
hydrogen and nitrogen in variable proportions, the usual proportions being about
1 to 5 per cent. of hydrogen and 75 to 79 per cent. of nitrogen.
It will be understood, however, that the proportions of nitrogen and hydrogen may
be varied within very large limits, as the active agents in this preliminary operation
are the chlorine and carbonic oxid (CO).
The apparatus is so arranged that when this gaseous mixture is blown into the
air-tight receptacle, the air contained therein will be driven out, so that the receptacle
will contain practically nothing but the mixture of the gases specified above, and the
fruit or other articles to be treated, which have been first placed in the receptacle.
This mixture is allowed to remain in the receptacle for about twenty-four hours,
although, in some cases, the time must be extended to thirty-six hours, depending
upon the nature of the articles under treatment.
At the end of this time, moisture will be deposited, and a further object of our
invention is to cause a circulation of the mixture of gases above mentioned through
that part of the apparatus which includes the air-tight receptacle and the apparatus
for removing the moisture. This can generally be accomplished by causing the
gaseous mixture to circulate through these parts of the apparatus for a period of
ordinarily from twenty minutes to one hour, depending entirely upon the size of the
air-tight receptacle or room, and the amount of material under treatment.
This drying process should be repeated from time to time whenever moisture
appears in appreciable quantities in the room, which fact is to be determined by
means of the apparatus which will hereafter be described.

page_text: The subsequent treatment consists in subjecting the articles alternately to the
action of a gaseous mixture composed of nitrogen, carbonic acid (CO2), and carbonic
oxid (CO), and to the action of ordinary air, to keep the fruit, etc. alive. This
treatment with air should occur once in a period varying from three to thirty days,
according to the kind of material treated.
The accompanying drawing is a side view, partly in section, of our complete
apparatus.
A represents a furnace, the interior part of which a flares slightly from the top, for
convenience in charging and cleaning. Beneath the furnace is the usual ash-box a¹.
A swinging door a² is provided, which, under ordinary conditions, is closed. This
door is hinged at one side, and at the other a cam is provided for holding the door
tightly against an asbestos ring a, which is provided at the bottom of the furnace.
At the top of the furnace is arranged a door as of the ordinary construction, mounted
upon a weighted lever a", operated in the usual way. -Connected to the top of the
furnace is a smoke stack a', which is provided with an ordinary valve a³.
B represents a blower, preferably a root blower, provided with an inlet pipe 6 and
an outlet pipe b¹. This pipe b¹ is connected to a pipe bs and to another pipe 62, which
passes through the wall of the furnace and delivers into the bottom thereof. The
pipe b² at its other end is connected with the lower part of a receptacle C, which is
filled with "excelsior" (i.e. shavings or shreds of wood) and into which salt water is
introduced sufficient to keep the "excelsior" saturated. To the upper part of this
receptacle is connected a pipe c, which connects with the pipe 62 just before it enters
the wall of the furnace. This pipe is provided with a valve c². The pipe 62 is provided
with two valves 6 and 65, so that the current of air may be sent either into the furnace
or into the receptacle C.
To the top of the furnace is connected a pipe D provided with a valve d near the
furnace, and this pipe is connected with the pipe 63. The pipe D is connected to the
bottom of a receptacle E, which is cylindrical in form and provided with sieves e, upon
which is placed partially slacked lime, to remove any sulphuretted hydrogen in the
gas which is delivered to said receptacle. To the top of this receptacle E is connected
a pipe e, which at the other end is connected to the bottom of a receptacle F, which
is filled with dry lump lime in a caustic condition.
To the top of this receptacle is connected a pipe, the other end of which is con-
nected to the bottom of a receptacle G, which is filled with a mixture of dry lump
lime in a caustic condition, and lumps of anhydrous calcium chloride. The caustic
lime in the receptacle F removes a part of the carbonic acid gas (CO₂) and the
Tump lime, and the calcium chloride in the receptacle G removes the last traces of
inoisture.
To the top of the receptacle G is connected a pipe g², which at its other end is
connected to the bottom of the receptacle H, which is filled with iron wool and ferric
hydrate (Fe,HO), to catch sulphur and sulphuretted hydrogen. To the top of this
receptacle is connected a pipe 2, which is connected at its outer end to the bottom of
an air-tight receptacle I in which the articles to be treated are placed. This pipe is
provided with a valve h³. The receptacles C, E, F, G and H are provided with
removable covers c¹, e¹, f¹, g¹ and h¹, so that they may be conveniently emptied and
recharged.
All the pipes used in the apparatus are provided with union joints at convenient
points, such as are shown, for instance, at d³, e³, f³ and g³, although they may be used
in other places if desired.
The receptacle I, at least in the form in which it appears when a large quantity of
material is to be treated, consists of a room provided with air-tight walls, on the out-
side of which are cork slabs i to keep the room at an even temperature. Of course,
it is to be understood that any other packing, either inside or outside the walls, may
be used if desired. This room is provided with a door ¹, which is adapted to be
fastened by wedges firmly against the wall of the receptacle, a rubber packing
being used between the door and the wall. This room is further provided with a

page_text: window ³, through which the goods under treatment may be seen, just inside of
which is located a thermometer it.
Gages and are provided, which are connected to the room by tubes 17, 28, 2º and 210.
Each of these tubes is provided with a valve, which are lettered in the.
drawings 1, 12, 13 and 14. The gages and are composed of glass, and are
provided with screw caps 15, 16, 17 and 18 for convenience in charging and recharging
The gage 5 is intended to be partially filled with lumps of phosphorus (i.e. ordinary
phosphorous or yellow phosphorous) and when the valves and 12 are open, the
phosphorus will smoke when there is only a very small quantity of oxygen present, as low
under certain conditions as one one-hundredth part of one per cent. This gage is for
the purpose of determining whether there is any appreciable amount of oxygen
present in the room.
The gage is intended to be partially filled with lumps of calcium chloride for the
purpose of determining whether there is any appreciable amount of moisture in the
room. When the valves 3 and ¹ are open, these lumps of calcium chloride will show
beads of moisture upon them if there is any trace of moisture in the room.
The room is also provided with a bib i10, which is provided with a valve 20. This
bib is for the purpose of withdrawing a portion of the gaseous mixture from the room
for the purpose of analysis, which is accomplished by fitting a rubber tube over the
bib and drawing it off into a small gasometer.
To the top of the room is connected a pipe J, which at its other end is connected
to the smoke pipe a'. A valve j is provided close to the wall of the receptacle or
room, and another valve is provided close to the smoke pipe. This pipe is also
provided with a branch b, already described, which is connected with the blower B.
This branch is provided with a valve band with a branch pipe 67, which is provided
with a valve 68, the pipe 67 being open to the air.
The pipe 63, which is connected to the pipe b¹ leading from the blower B is provided
with a valve be located in proximity to the pipe D. This pipe 6s delivers into the
pipe 2, which is connected to the lower part of the room or receptacle I. This pipe
is provided with a valve 610, which is located in proximity to the point where the
pipes 63 and 2 join. The pipe 63 is also provided with a valve 611 located beneath
the pipe D.
The operation is as follows:
The articles to be treated being placed in the room I, and the door of the latter
having been tightly closed, fire is started in the furnace A, which is filled with a good
quality of coke or charcoal. The valves b, 60, 611 and c² are closed and the
valves 68 and 65 are opened. The blower (driven by any suitable source of power,
which is not shown) is then started and a blast of air driven into the lower part of
the furnace A. The valve d and the door as at the top of the furnace, are closed and
the valve as in the smoke pipe is open, while the valve j' in the pipe J.is, closed, in
order that there may be a free exit of the smoke, etc. to the chimney. After the fire
is well started, an additional supply of coke or charcoal is put into the furnace until
it is well filled, and the blast is continued until practically the whole mass is heated
to redness.
The valves a³, 65 and 611 are closed, and the valves b and c² are opened, and a
blast of air from the blower then passes through the pipe 62 through the receptacle C
where it is charged with water containing common salt or chloride of sodium, and
the air thus saturated passes through the pipe c into the bottom of the furnace A
where it comes in contact with the red hot coke and heated bricks. Decomposition
at once takes place.
The chloride of sodium is separated into its elements, and the chlorine gas passes
on, while the sodium is taken up by the bricks. The water is also separated into
hydrogen and oxygen, the oxygen combining with the coke or charcoal to form
carbonic oxid, or carbonic acid gas, while the hydrogen remains unchanged. In
passing up through the heated coke, a quantity of carbonic acid gas is reduced,
forming carbonic oxid, although a quantity of carbonic acid gas (CO2) is left.

page_text: The mixture of nitrogen, hydrogen, carbonic oxid (CO), carbonic acid gas (CO2),
and chlorine then passes through the pipe D, the valves d, d², d³, j and j¹ being
open, and the valves 69, 610 and 611 being closed. The gaseous mixture then passes
through the receptacles E, F, G and I respectively, and into the room I, the air
contained in said room at the same time passing out through the pipe J and through
the smoke pipe a into the chimney. The partially slacked lime in the receptacle E
removes almost all the sulphur and sulphuretted hydrogen. The lime in the.
réceptacle F removes the larger part of the moisture and some of the carbonic acid
gas (CO), and the caustic lime and calcium chloride in the receptacle G removes
the last traces of moisture. The iron wool and ferric hydrate in the receptacle H
removes the last traces of sulphur and sulphuretted hydrogen.
After this operation has been continued for fifteen minutes to half an hour, the
time depending upon the size of the room, said room has become completely filled'
with the gaseous mixture already described. The valves j, 610 and h³ are then kept
closed, and the room allowed to remain undisturbed for a period varying from twelve
to thirty-six hours, the usual period being about twenty-four hours. Care must be
taken, especially when the room I is filled with juicy fruits and fluid, not to use a
gaseous mixture containing too large a percentage of chlorine, as this would bleach
the fruit, &c. After standing for about twenty-four hours, an analysis of the gases
in the room I will show, if juicy fruits or some other fluids are under treatment, that'
carbonic acid gas (CO,) and moisture have developed.
The next step in the treatment, is to remove these objectionable ingredients by
circulating the gaseous mixture through the receptacles E, F, G and H, and the
room I.
This is effected as follows: The valves ¹, 4, 65, c², 6º, d, 68 and 610 are
closed, and the valves j, bo, b1, d2 and h³ are opened. The blower B is then started
and the gaseous mixture flows from the room I through the pipes J and b, the
blower B, the pipes 61 and D, the receptacles E, F, G and H, and their connecting
pipes e, f, g, h² into the room I. The caustic lime and the calcium chloride will
remove all traces of moisture.
This drying process should be done whenever an appreciable amount of moisture
(ascertained by the use of the gage ", or by an observation of the window upon
which the moisture is apt to be deposited) appears in the room I, until the articles:
under treatment give off very little moisture. The fruits or other articles under
treatment are then subjected to the action of the second gaseous mixture, composed
of nitrogen, carbonic oxid, and carbonic acid. This is obtained in the following way:
The furnace is charged with coke or charcoal, and a blast of air blown through until
the contents of the furnace are heated nearly to redness. The valves bo, b, c, as, bo,
11 and 10 are closed, and the valves 18, 15, d, d2, 3, j and jare opened. By running
the blower B, air is drawn through the pipes 67 and b, and passes through the
pipes 61, 62 through the furnace, thence through the pipe D, the receptacles E, F, G.
and H, and pipes e², f2, g² and he into the room 1, the gases already contained in said
room being driven out by the incoming gases through the pipe J into the smoke
pipe a7 and thence into the chimney. As soon as the room is filled with this second
gaseous mixture, the valves j, b10 and h³ are closed, and the articles under treatment
allowed to remain in the air tight room I subject to the gaseous mixture therein con- 4
tained, from three to thirty days before treating the fruit or fluids to common air,
which treatment gives another chance to absorb oxygen so as to keep alive the life
principle in the fruits. By experiment we find the fruit so treated are better
flavored and sweeter.
The treatment with air is effected in the following manner: The valves j, j¹, 68, 5
11, 60 and 610 are opened, the valves 66, 64, 65, d, d² and h³ are closed; the blower is
then started. Air is then drawn in through the pipe and passes downwardly
through the pipe b through the blower B, and thence through the pipes b¹, be and h²
into the room I, the gases contained in said room being driven by the incoming
air out through the pipe J into the smoke pipe a', and thence into the chimney.
After the articles under treatment in the room I have been subjected to the action.
of air for some time, the room is again filled with the gaseous mixture composed of

page_text: nitrogen, carbonic oxid, and carbonic acid, and this alternate treatment with the
second gaseous mixture and with air may be repeated as often as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The process for treating fruit, vegetable, and analogous organic substances in a
closed room, whereby the development thereof, is continued, and the organic properties
preserved, as herein set forth.
2. The process of preserving organic substances, which consists in subjecting them
to the action of a gaseous mixture composed of chlorine, carbonic oxid, carbonic
acid, hydrogen and nitrogen, and then to the action of a gaseous mixture composed
of nitrogen, carbonic oxid and carbonic acid, as herein set forth.
3. The process of preserving organic substances, which consists in subjecting them
to the action of a gaseous mixture composed of chlorine, carbonic oxid, carbonic acid,
hydrogen and nitrogen, removing the deposited moisture, and subjecting the articles
under treatment to the action of a gaseous mixture composed of nitrogen, carbonic
oxid and carbonic acid, as herein set forth.
4. In the process of preserving organic substances, the step of subjecting said
substances to the action of a gaseous mixture composed of chlorine, carbonic oxid,
carbonic acid, hydrogen and nitrogen, as herein set forth.
5. The process of preserving organic substances, which consists in subjecting thiem
to the action of a gaseous mixture composed of chlorine, carbonic oxid, carbonic acid,
hydrogen, and nitrogen, removing the deposited moisture from the gasecus mixture
from time to time, subjecting said substances to the action of a gaseous mixture
composed of nitrogen, carbonic oxid.and carbonic acid, and subjecting them to the
action of ordinary atmospheric air, as herein set forth.
6. The apparatus for carrying into effect the herein described process for treating
and preserving organic substances, as herein set forth and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
7. An apparatus for preserving organic substances, consisting of a closed room,
means for producing and delivering to said room chlorine, carbonic oxid, carbonic
acid, hydrogen and nitrogen, means for removing moisture and other impurities from
said gases, and valved pipes connecting the different parts of the apparatus, substan-
tially as herein set forth, and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
8. An apparatus for preserving organic substances, consisting of a closed room, a
furnace, receptacles adapted to contain purifying agents, valved pipes connecting said
furnace and receptacles with said room, a blower, a receptacle adapted to hold salt
water, valved pipes connecting said blower and salt water receptacle with said furnace,
and valved pipes directly connecting said blower with said room, one of said pipes
being also connected to the smoke pipe, the arrangement being such that air may be
blown directly into the furnace, or the air may be blown through the salt water
receptacle thence into the receptacles containing purifying agents into the furnace,
thence into the closed room, and thence into the smoke stack; or whereby the gases
may be withdrawn from the closed room, passed through the receptacles containing
the purifying agents, and back again into the room; or whereby air may be taken
from the atmosphere and blown directly into the room, as herein set forth and shewn
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
9. In an apparatus for preserving organic substances, the combination of a closed
room, a furnace provided with a valved smoke pipe, a valved pipe connecting said
smoke pipe and said room, a blower, a receptacle adapted to contain salt water,
valved pipes connecting said furnace, blower, and salt water receptacle together,
receptacles containing purifying agents, and valved pipes connecting said furnace,
receptacles containing purifying agents and room together, whereby air may be blown
through the receptacle containing salt water, thence through the furnace, the gaseous
mixture thus obtained passing thence through the pipes and receptacles containing

page_text: the purifying agents into the closed room, and driving out the air originally present
therein, as herein set forth and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
10. In an apparatus for preserving fruits, the combination of a closed room, a
blower, valved pipes connecting said room with said blower, receptacles containing
purifying agents, valved pipes connecting the blower, the receptacles containing
purifying agents, and the closed room together, whereby the action of the blower
will draw the gases out of the closed room and cause them to pass through the
receptacles containing purifying agents, and back again into said closed room, as
herein set forth and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
11. In an apparatus for preserving fruit, a closed room, a pipe J leading therefrom
provided with pipes j and j', a pipe b provided with a valve 66, a pipe 67 provided with
a valve 6s, a blower B, a pipe 61 connected to said blower, a pipe 63 connected to the
pipe ¹, and a pipe h² connected to the pipe 63 and passing into the room I, as shewn
and described.
Dated this 5th dow of Tan
1000