IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRE- PARATION OF CAUSTIC ALKALI PACKAGES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRE-
PARATION OF CAUSTIC ALKALI PACKAGES."-A communication from abroad
by Benjamin Talbot Babbitt, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
Sealed the 4th August 1874, and dated the 6th May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th May 1874.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
5 Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PREPARATION OF CAUSTIC ALKALI PACKAGES," to be as follows:-
J.
THE
of caustin alkali in suitable

page_text: be effectually preserved from contact with the atmosphere (until required
for use) and will thereby be prevented from deliquescing.
The alkali, whether potash or soda, is first moulded while in a state of
fusion into balls, blocks, slabs, or cakes of suitable form and size for
family and other use.. After solidification, and before cooling, these
balls, blocks, slabs, or cakes are dipped into turpentine or other substance
or composition of which the protecting coating is to be formed while
the coating substance or composition is in a liquid state.
The process of applying the coating is or may be performed in a tank
or vessel furnished with an air-tight removable cover, and in which the
turpentine or other substance or composition of which the coating is to
be composed may be kept melted by heat applied externally, or by steam
pipes arranged internally. The balls, blocks, cakes, or slabs of alkali
are suspended from fine wires and immersed in the liquid substance, and
the air is exhausted from the vessel by an air pump or other suitable
means, and a vacuum thus created between the surface of the liquid
substance or composition and the cover. This facilitates the bringing of
the liquid into positive contact with every portion of the said surfaces,
and the filling of all cavities or irregularities which may exist therein,
so as to leave no air spaces between the surface of the alkali and its
coating. When the alkali has remained for a short time in the liquid
substance or compound in vacuo air is again admitted to the vessel, and
the alkali balls or blocks are removed and allowed to dry.
The process of applying the coating material in vacuo is applicable for
protective coatings of other substances than those which are saponifiable,
as, for instance, coal tar, pitch, asphaltum, and paraffin.
To prevent any external stickiness of the coating in warm weather
the packages in the form of balls, slabs, blocks, or cakes, coated as above
described, may be afterwards coated with a weak solution of glue or
starch.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times. thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PREPARATION OF CAUSTIC ALKALI PACKAGES," being a communication
to me from abroad by Benjamin Talbot Babbitt, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner. the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say) :—
This Invention relates to the packing of caustic alkali in suitable
quantities for family or other use, and in such manner that the alkali
will be effectually preserved from contact with the atmosphere (until
required for use) and will thereby be prevented from deliquescing.

page_text: The Invention consists, firstly, in a solid ball, slab, or cake of caustic
alkali, either soda or potash, hermetically sealed and perfectly protected
from atmospheric influences by means of a coating or envelope made or
composed of turpentine.
The Invention consists, secondly, in a process for putting up or enclosing
the alkali in the coating or envelope of turpentine, or in a coating or
envelope of any other suitable protecting substance or composition which
can be applied while in a liquid state, such process being performed in a
vessel in which a vacuum is obtained above the surface of the liquid
substance or composition, whereby the coating or envelope is brought
into perfect contact with all portions of the surface of the alkali without
any collection or retention of air between them, and deliquescence is
rendered impossible.
In carrying out the Invention the alkali, whether potash or soda, is
first moulded in suitable moulds while in a state of fusion into balls,
blocks, slabs, or cakes, of suitable form and size for family and other
use. After solidification, and before cooling, these balls, blocks, slabs,
or cakes are dipped into turpentine or other substance or composition of
which the protecting coating is to be formed while the coating substance
or composition is in a liquid state.
The process of applying the coating is or may be performed in a tank
or vessel of suitable form and size, which is furnished with an air-tight
removable cover, and in which the turpentine or other substance or
composition of which the coating is to be composed may be kept melted
by heat applied externally or by steam pipes arranged internally. The
balls, blocks, cakes, or slabs of alkali are or may be suspended from the
removable air-tight cover of this tank or vessel by fine wires which have
been cast into them. When the cover is placed on the tank or vessel
the balls sink into the liquid substance or composition until submerged.
The air is then exhausted from the vessel by an air pump or other
suitable means, and a vacuum is thus created above the surface of the
liquid substance or composition. This exhausts the particles of air from
the liquid itself, and also from between it and the surfaces of the balls,
blocks, slabs, or cakes of the alkali, thereby enabling the liquid to be
brought into contact with every portion of the said surfaces and to fill
all cavities or irregularities which may exist therein, so as to leave no air
spaces between the surface of the alkali and its coating. When the

page_text: alkali has remained for a short time in the liquid substance or compound
in vacuo, the air is again admitted to the vessel, the cover of which is
then removed with the balls, blocks, slabs, or cakes of alkali, which are
allowed to remain suspended by the wires until the coating remaining
upon them becomes sufficiently hard and dry to allow of their being
packed for transport or put away for use, when they are cut from their
suspending wires.
The process of applying the coating material in vacuo is applicable for
protective coatings of other substances than those which are saponifiable,
as, for instance, coal tar, pitch, asphaltum, and paraffin.
To prevent any external stickiness of the coating in warm weather
the packages in the form of balls, slabs, blocks, or cakes, coated as above
described, may be afterwards coated with a weak solution of glue or
starch.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements
in the Preparation of Caustic Alkali Packages," as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in
part recited Letters Patent I claim coating balls, slabs, or blocks of
caustic alkali, so as to protect them from atmospheric influence, by the
means substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.