AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRESERVING AND PURI- FYING GRAIN AND SEED
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT.. to Scipion Salaville, of Paris (France), Proprietor,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRESERVING AND PURI-
FYING GRAIN AND SEED."
Sealed the 30th March 1855, and dated the 20th January 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Scipion Salaville at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th January 1855.
I, SCIPION SALAVILLE, of Paris (France), Proprietor, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRESERVING AND
PURIFYING GRAIN AND SEED" to be as follows:-
Beneath the granary or chamber, in which is placed the grain or seed to be
operated upon, is formed an air-tight chamber, the top of the said chamber
forming the floor of the granary. This floor is pierced all over with small holes,
or, which I prefer, has a series of tubes distributed over it, communicating with
the air chamber beneath, and perforated all over their surface with small
holes. The grain is spread over the floor, covering the perforated pipes to any
desired depth, and a current of air is forced through it from the air chamber,
by any suitable means; but I prefer a series of separate rotatory fans set upon
one axis, which is driven by any convenient power. In certain cases I mix
with the current of air certain gases, as hydrogen or sulphurous acid gas, to
insure the destruction of the germs of their parasites, by preventing their
developement by fermentation. The gases must of course be of a kind that will
not be absorbed by the grain or hurt their quality.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Scipion Salaville in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th July 1855.
1
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SCIPION
SALAVILLE, of Paris (France) Proprietor, send greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Scipion Salaville, Her: special licence that I, the said Scipion
Salaville, my executors,-.administrators,-and-assigns, or such others as
I, the said Scipion Salaville, 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. "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF PRESERVING AND PURIFYING GRAIN AND SEED," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Scipion Salaville, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and, seal,. 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 Scipion Salaville, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):-
upon,
My improved method of preserving grain and seed is as follows:-Beneath
the granary or
chamber, in which is placed the grain or seed to be operated
is formed an air-tight chamber, the floor of the granary forming the top
of the chamber. The floor is pierced with small holes, or (which I prefer) has
a series of tubes distributed over. it, communicating with the air chamber
beneath, and perforated all over their surface with small holes. The grain is
spread over the floor, covering the perforated tubes to any desired depth, and
a current of air is forced through it from the air channels by any suitable
means or apparatus; but that which I prefer is a series of separate rotatory
fans set upon one common axis. In certain cases I.mix with the current of
air certain gases, as hydrogen or sulphurous acid gas, to ensure the destruction

page_text: of animalculæ, by preventing their developement by fermentation. The gases
must of course be of a kind that will not be absorbed by the grain nor hurt
their quality.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I claim, in respect thereof, the method of preserving and purifying
grain and seed, herein-before described, videlicet, by placing such grain and
seed in a granary or chamber constructed as herein-before described, and
forcing a current of air, or of air mixed with certain gases, through the air
chamber, and thence through the grain or seed, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Scipion Salaville, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
CHARLES COLE.
S. SALAVILLE. (L.S.)