IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR PROCESSES EMPLOYED FOR PRESERVING TIMBER FROM DECAY OR DESTRUCTION
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Birkbeck, of the Firm of Tongue
& Birkbeck, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agents and Engineers; for the Invention.
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR PROCESSES EMPLOYED FOR PRESERVING
TIMBER FROM DECAY OR DESTRUCTION."-A communication from abroad
by George Huwitz, Gas Engineer, of Copenhagen, in the Kingdom of
Denmark.
Sealed the 23rd January 1863, and dated the 30th July 1862...
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Birkbeck
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th July 1862.
I, GEORGE HENRY BIRKBECK, of the Firm of Tongue & Birkbeck, of 34,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent*
Agents and Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR PROCESSES EMPLOYED FOR PRESERVING TIMBER
FROM DECAY OR DESTRUCTION," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in impregnating timber with certain materials to
preserve it from decay or dry rot, and also to prevent its injury or destruction
by the "teredo navalis" insects, or other causes. For this purpose a compound
resembling soap is prepared by combining a solution of sulphur, or metallic
oxides, or both combined, with fatty acids which are insoluble in water, but

page_text: are readily dissolved in rough naptha or in American or Canadian petroleum
in the state in which it is obtained from the oil wells of those countries.
The method which is preferred of preparing the compound consists in
boiling "elaine" or "margaric" acids" (residual products obtained from the
manufacture of stearine or other similar description of candles) with a metallic
oxide, which may be that of iron, copper, zinc, or lead. A little water is
introduced into the vessel in which the mixture is boiled to form the salts in
order to prevent the decomposition of the fatty matters. The formation of the
soapy compound is readily and quickly accomplished in an open metal vessel,
the mass being constantly stirred or kept in motion in any convenient manner.
The soapy compound thus prepared is then dissolved in rough naptha or
petroleum in a closed boiler (by preference of wrought iron or copper)
provided with a bent tube or "worm" connected with an ordinary condensing
apparatus so that the fine naptha which is distilled over by boiling the soap
into the rough naptha or petroleum is thus preserved and is a valuable product
resulting from the process. The solution thus prepared' may be forced into
the wood by pressure in various ways as is well 'understood in impregnating
timber with other solutions, or the timber may be impregnated by boiling.'it in
the solution-contained in a closed boiler.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Henry Birkbeck in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HENRY BIRKBECK, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, of. 34, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent. Agents:and
Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing. date, the Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,.
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Henry Birkbeck, Her special licence, that .I, the said George Henry
Birkbeck, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Henry Birkbeck, 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

page_text: "
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MEANS OR PROCESSES EMPLOYED FOR PRESERVING TIMBER PROM DECAY
OB DESTRUCTION," a communication to me from abroad by George Huwitz,
Gas Engineer, of Copenhagen, in the Kingdom of Denmark, upon the
condition, (amongst others) that I, the said George Henry Birkbeck, 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 George Henry Birkbeck, 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 thereof, that is to say:
'
This Invention consists in impregnating timber with certain materials to
preserve it from decay. or dry rot, and also to prevent its injury or destruction
by the "teredo navalis," insects, or other causes. For this purpose a com-
pound resembling.soap is prepared by combining a solution of sulphur, or
metallic oxides, or both combined with fatty acids which are insoluble in water,
but are readily dissolved in rough naptha or in American or Canadian petroleum
in the state in which it is obtained from the oil wells of those countries.
The method which is preferred of preparing the compound consists in
boiling " elaine " $5
or margaric acids" (residual products obtained from the
manufacture of stearine or other similar description of candles) with a metallic
oxide which may be that of iron, copper, zinc, or lead; a little water is
introduced into the vessel, in which the mixture is boiled to form the salts, in
order to prevent the decomposition of the fatty matters. The formation of
the soapy compound is readily and quickly accomplished in an open metal
vessel, the mass being.constantly stirred or kept in motion in any convenient
manner, the soapy compound thus prepared is then dissolved in rough naptha
or petroleum in a closed boiler (by preference of wrought iron or copper)
provided with a bent tube or "worm" connected with an ordinary condensing
apparatus so that the fine naptha which is distilled over by boiling the soap
into the rough, naptha or petroleum is thus preserved and is a valuble product
resulting from the process.. The solution thus prepared may be forced into
the wood by pressure in various ways'as is well understood in impregnating
timber with other solutions, or the timber may be impregnated by boiling it
n the solution contained in a closed boiler.

page_text: or
And in order that the Invention may be most fully understood,. I will
proceed to describe more fully the manner of carrying the same into practice.
The soapy compounds containing metallic oxides are prepared in a cheap
and simple manner according to this Invention by boiling. "elaine".
"margaric acids" in combination with a metallic oxide either of iron, copper,
zinc, or lead in an open pan or vessel, the oxide being by preference gradually
introduced and stirred into the fatty matter until it has taken up as much of
the oxide as to form a soapy compound of suitable consistence. The materials
thus combined are kept in a state of ebullition and are constantly stirred or
agitated in any convenient manner until a soapy compound is produced which
in a short time is thus very readily accomplished, a.little water being used as
required in order to prevent the decomposition of the highly heated fatty matters
so treated. The soapy compound containing metallic oxide thus prepared.
when required for use in the process of preserving. timber is dissolved in rough
naptha or petroleum in a closed boiler (by preference made of wrought iron.
or copper) and furnished with a bent tube or "worm" connected with a
suitable condensing apparatus such as is well known and understood in other
distilling processes, so that the fine naptha or spirit which is evoled by boiling
the soapy compound with rough naptha or petroleum is condensed and preserved,.
thus forming a valuable product which results from the process of forming the
soapy compound into a solution suitable for being forced into timber for the
purpose of preserving the same. When it is intended to force the solution
prepared as previously described into the timber by pressure it is desirable not
to boil it more than is necessary to dissolve the soapy compound, or the solution
may be rendered too thick for the purpose. When pressure is employed
to force the solution into the timber, the timber may be enclosed in a cylinder
or vessel of suitable form having a stand pipe not less than thirty feet high with
a reservoir at the top into which the solution is poured, and which is forced
into the timber by the hydrostatic pressure of the column of liquid contained
in the stand pipe. Or in place of enclosing the timber in a cylinder or vessel
one end thereof may be placed in connection with the bottom of the stand
pipe in the manner well understood in forcing other solutions into timber for
the purpose of preserving the same. If it be preferred to impregnate the
timber with the solution prepared as previously described, according to this
Invention by a boiling process, then the timber is introduced into a closed
boiler about thirty feet long or of other suitable length, the timber being
covered with the solution, heat is applied until the solution is raised considerably
above the boiling point of water. After being for a sufficiently long time
kept at a high temperature, pressure may be applied to the boiler in the

page_text: or
manner well known and practised in the process of "creosoting"
bethelizing" timber when a considerable portion of the solution will be
forced into the pores of the timber. The water contained in the timber is by
this means evaporated and its space is occupied by the solution or its component
parts, causing the timber to increase considerably in weight, with some
descriptions of wood as much as from twenty to twenty-five per cent. By
this process a large proportion of the naptha contained in the solution is
distilled over at the commencement of the boiling, and before the pressure is
applied, and made available for sale, part of the residuum, together with the
metallic oxide, being left in the timber. It should also be observed that by
reason of the high temperature to which the timber is thus subjected the
vegetable matters which contain nitrogen will be partially decomposed, and the
pores of the wood will be hermetically closed so as to preserve and protect
the fibres. Apparatus such as previously described may be constructed at a
trifling cost for the purpose of preparing timber as herein specified, and it will
be found that owing to the arrangement for condensing or distilling the naptha
the sale of the naptha produced will amount to nearly or quite seventy or
seventy-five per cent. on the cost of the material used to make the soapy com-
pounds and from which the naptha distils during the operation.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Birkbeck, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.