Improvements in Drying Apparatus or Chambers, relating to the Drying and Preserving of Animal, Vegetable, and other Substances.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drying Apparatus or Chambers, relating to
the Drying and Preserving of Animal, Vegetable, and other
Substances.
THOMAS CHRISTY Merchant of 25 Lime Street London Middlesex do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improvement relates to exsiccators, preserving chambers, and apparatus for
drying without heat, more especially for drying organic or inorganic substances
containing water and which are likely to decompose when exposed to open air or
to a process of drying by heat. It is preferably constructed in the shape of a case
or chamber of zinc or wood with zinc lining or of other suitable material and the
doors are made airtight by means of indiarubber or other suitable fittings.
The process of drying is by means of water absorbing chemicals or substances
such as sulfuric acid or preferably chloride of lime, unslaked lime, etc. These
substances are contained in specially arranged receptacles in the form of removable
boxes or drawers at the bottom of the apparatus or of special compartments
arranged in a suitable manner at the back of the apparatus or chamber as well as
the sides, top and bottom.
When using unslaked lime or similar chemicals which fall to a fine powder a
covering or screen is provided to prevent the distribution of dust. These coverings
or screens consist of flannel, felt or other suitable material stretched between
two supports such as metal netting, bamboo or such perforated substance as will
in no way impede the action of the chemicals.
A
The receptacle for these chemicals is so arranged that a grating separates it
from the larger space of the apparatus or chamber in which the drying takes
place. In front of the foregoing another permeable but dustproof screen prevents
the distribution of dust, consisting of suitable material as described above.
similar screen may also be fitted to the top of the removable drawer. The
openings which are made to facilitate the filling and emptying of the receptacles.
for the chemicals are preferably fitted with hermetically closing lids.
When using unslaked lime it is advisable to place a slanting grate of iron
or other metal under it so that the powder separates from the lumps of unslaked
lime, the powder collecting under the grating in a seperate movable receptacle.
The action of the apparatus commences as soon as the door is closed. It is
eminently suitable for drying vegetable, animal or other substances from which
only water is removed whereas other volatile substances remain unimpaired.
Dated this 14th day of November 1893.
2
THOS. CHRISTY.
1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drying Apparatus or Chambers, relating to
the Drying and Preserving of Animal, Vegetable, and other
Substances.
.
A communication from abroad by KARL FRIEDRICH. TÖLLNER, of Humboldt
Strasse 44, Bremen, Germany, Merchant.
I THOMAS CHRISTY of 25 Lime Street, London, Merchant, 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:-
-j
The improvement relates to exciccators, preserving chambers and apparatus for

page_text: drying without heat, more especially for drying organic or inorganic substances
containing water and which are likely to decompose when exposed to open air or
to a process of drying by heat. The apparatus or chamber is preferably con-
structed in the shape of a case or chamber of zinc or wood with zinc lining or
other suitable material and the doors are made air tight by means of india-rubber
or other suitable fittings.
The process of drying is by means of water absorbing chemicals or substances
such as sulfuric acid or preferably, chloride of lime, unslaked lime etc. These
substances are contained in specially arranged receptacles in the form of removable
receptacles in the form of removable boxes or drawers at, the bottom of the
apparatus or of special compartments arranged in a suitable manner at the back
of the apparatus or chamber as well as the sides, top and bottom.
When using unslaked lime or similar chemicals which fall to a fine powder, a
covering or screen is provided to prevent the distribution of dust. These coverings
or screens consist of flannel, felt or other suitable material stretched between two
supports such as metal netting or bamboo or such perforated substance as will
in no way impede the action of the chemicals. The receptacle for these chemicals
is so arranged that a grating separates it from the larger space of the apparatus
or chamber in which the drying takes place. In front of the foregoing another
permeable but dust-proof screen prevents the distribution of dust, of suitable
material as described above. A similar screen may also be fitted to the top of the
removable drawer.
The openings which are made to facilitate the filling and emptying of the
receptacles for the chemicals are preferably fitted with hermetically closing lids.
When using unslaked lime it is advisable to place a slanting grate of iron or
other metal under it so that the powder separates from the lumps of unslaked lime,
the powder collecting under the grating in a separate moveable receptacle. The
action of the apparatus commences as soon as the door is closed.
suitable for drying vegetable, animal, or other substances from which only. water is
It is eminently
removed, whereas other volatile substances remain unimpaired.
The upper part of my case is fitted with brackets upon which supports may be
placed, and hooks, trays and drawers may also be fitted, consisting partly of
perforated tin, or other suitable impervious substance or material.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention for drying and preserving
organic and inorganic substances containing water, Fig. 1. represents a longitudinal
section, and Fig. 2. a vertical section of a simple form of apparatus for drying
without heat. Fig. 3. represents another form of the same.
Referring to the letters upon Figs. 1 & 2 of these drawings, A indicates a
cabinet-shaped case of zinc-lined wood, with a door C. Fig. 2. closing air-tight by
means of india-rubber or other suitable fittings. B. indicates a removable drawer
at the bottom of the cabinet. This drawer is filled with water-absorbing substances,
such as sulphuric acid or preferably chloride of limė, uuslaked lime etc. This latter
substance falls to fine powder after use, and to prevent the powder from being
dispersed in the form of dust, the drawer B. is fitted with a lid 6 consisting of flannel
or other suitable material, stretched between two sheets of wire netting, and thus in
no way impeding the action of the contents of the drawer.
a & a' in Figs. 1, 2, 3 represent supports on brackets, trays, hocks & drawers.
Referring to Fig. 3. this shows the transverse section of my cabinet, according
to above description but without drawer or removable box for the water-absorbing
material. In place of this, a special compartment, B' may be arranged in a suitable
manner for the whole of the back of the cabinet, as well as the sides, top and
bottom, forming a receptacle for the water-absorbing material. The drying-
space A. with hermetically-closing door C. is separated from space B₁ by means of
a grating b³, in front of which another permeable screen, b. is placed to prevent
escape or distribution of dust. S. is a removeable drawer to catch the powdered
lime or dust. K is an opening with hermetically closing lid for charging, & lan
opening for emptying space B!

page_text: My drying apparatus may be used for the purpose of preventing show-windows
becoming wet in cold weather; the back and side of the walls of the casement can
be fitted with receptacles made of tin or other suitable material preferably wood
with zinc-lining, and windows can be fitted in a suitable manner, as also doors, all
of which are made to close as air-tight as possible. Then the receptacles are filled
with unslaked lime, and to prevent dust, the above-mentioned dust-proof screens
are arranged, consisting of dust-proof material such as asbestos, etc., laid between
two sheets of zinc or wire netting, which serves to counteract the pressure of
the lime. Such receptacles may be placed or hung up in any suitable position,
and the filling and emptying of the receptacles should be done as far as possible
outside the casement of the window to prevent dust.
My apparatus may also be used for surgical instruments or other metal goods,
by protecting them from moisture on board ship, or in damp situations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is constructed, as indicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The herein described drying apparatus, consisting of storage space, hermeti-
cally enclosed and fitted with supports, and hooks, or with trays, for the purpose
of supporting or receiving the matter to be dried, and special receptacles for the
water-absorbing substances or chemicals in direct combination therewith.
2. The utilisation of dry chemicals in a drying chamber or apparatus as
described, and the insertion of dust-proof permeable coverings or screens between
the space of the cabinet and the receptacles for the water-absorbing substance.
3. The application of the hereinbefore-described apparatus to the purposes of
preventing moisture from condensing on show-windows, and of preserving and
keeping surgical instruments and other manufactures of metal free from humidity.
Dated this 4th day of April 1894.
THOS. CHRISTY.