Improvements in the Method of and Means for Disinfecting and Preserving Grain, Seeds, and other Vegetable Substances.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Disinfecting and
Preserving Grain, Seeds, and other Vegetable Substances.
I, MARTIN CLAJUS of Ober-Altwaltersdorf near Habelswendt, in the German
Empire, Lauded Proprietor, 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 the method of and means for disinfecting and for
exercising a preservative action on grain, seeds, and other vegetable matters,.
and will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:-
Figure 1 represents a transverse and
Figure 2, a longitudinal vertical section.
The method which employ for the purpose of my invention consists in
subjecting the grain, seeds and other vegetable substances to the action of disin--
fecting vapours For example, the vapours of burning sulphur are particularly
useful in the prevention of the growth of fungus and germs, and for destroying
them if they are already in existence. This, and analogous treatments proves a
very effective protection against diseases in the grain and the attacks of vermin
thereon. If the grain is sound when treated it will not afterwards smell damp: or,.
if the damp smell should exist before treatment it will be entirely removed. The
treatment with sulphur fumes gives grain a bright golden colour and at the same
time gives it greater germinatory power. The time required for the sulphur
treatment according to this invention is in any case very short and in many cases.
will not exceed a few minutes. The apparatus which I employ consists essentially
of a rotary drum a, the walls of which are composed of wire gauze, perforated
sheet metal or the like. It is provided with the door or opening and may be-
rotated by hand or power. The drum is mounted in a closed casing in which there
is a horizontal sliding door c dividing the lower part of the casing f from the upper
part in which the drum is contained. In the lower part there is a tray d in which.
the disinfecting vapours or fumes are generated. If sulphur be used, it is only
necessary to place it in the tray and ignite it and in this case the tray should be
composed of stoneware or of some material which will not be acted on by the
burning sulphur. Or, an indifferent vessel to contain the sulphur may be placed
in a tray. The fumes or vapours, after having acted on the material in the drum,."
are led away through the outlet e. The drum may be withdrawn from the casing
and be emptied and refilled through the opening b. After the drum has been.
introduced into the casing with its contents, and the casing has been closed, the
fumes or vapours are generated in the tray d by heat or ignition. The sliding.
door c is then withdrawn and the fumes or vapours at once surround and enter the
drum in which there are arranged longitudinally strips g, which lift the contents of
the drum as it rotates, and turns them over thus exposing every part to action of
the disinfectant. When the contents of the drum has been exposed for a sufficient-
time, the door c is reclosed and the fumes or vapours are thereby shut off from the
drum. There may then be passed through the upper part of the drum, if thought
desirable, a current of air from a fan, in order to dissipate any remaining vapour
or fume. The casing is then opened, the drum is removed and emptied, then
re-filled and replaced when the operation is repeated. It may be arranged by-

page_text: known means, that the drum may be emptied and refilled without removing it from
the casing as herein before described.
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 :-
1. The herein before described process for the disinfection of grain seeds and
other vegetable matters which consists in exposing them to the action of sulphur
fumes substantially in the manner and by the means set forth.
2. Apparatus whereby grain seeds and other vegetable matters may be disin-
fected, constructed arranged and operated substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.