A METHOD OF PREVENTING ALL SORTS OF CORN AND SEEDS AND VARIOUS OTHER MER- CHANDIZE FROM RECEIVING DAMAGE BY HEAT ON BOARD SHIPS AND IN WAREHOUSES, AND OF IMPROVING ALL SUCH CORN, SEEDS, OR OTHER MERCHANDIZE AS MAY HAVE RECEIVED DAMAGE BY HEAT OR OTHERWISE, AND RENDERING THE CORN AND SEEDS SO DAMAGED MUCH SWEETER AND MORE FIT FOR THE SUSTENANCE OF MAN AND OTHER ANIMALS AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF VEGETATION
Year: 1802

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
GARDINER, of the City of Norwich, Corn Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain and Ireland,
bearing date at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of April, in the forty-second
year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Gardiner, His
special licence that I, the said Henry Gardiner, during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A
METHOD OF PREVENTING ALL SORTS OF CORN AND SEEDS AND VARIOUS OTHER MER-
CHANDIZE FROM RECEIVING DAMAGE BY HEAT ON BOARD SHIPS AND IN WAREHOUSES,
AND OF IMPROVING ALL SUCH CORN, SEEDS, OR OTHER MERCHANDIZE AS MAY HAVE
RECEIVED DAMAGE BY HEAT OR OTHERWISE, AND RENDERING THE CORN AND SEEDS SO
DAMAGED MUCH SWEETER AND MORE FIT FOR THE SUSTENANCE OF MAN AND OTHER
ANIMALS AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF VEGETATION;" in which said Letters Patent
there. is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Henry Gardiner, by an
Instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to cause a particular descrip-
tion of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months after the date of the said recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had) may more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Gardiner, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described in
the annexed Drawing, and the following descriptions thereof, that is to say:-
First, for preserving corn on board ships. In any part of a ship most con-
venient, fix an air-pump, which is to be made as follows:-
Figure 1, A represents a cylinder, made of lead, with a projecting rim at
the top and bottom, under which are collars of iron. Figure 2, B, an iron
plate, to be screwed to the projecting rim at the top of the cylinder, and having
a collar of woollen cloth to make it air-tight. a, a hole in the centre of the
plate, through which the piston rod passes. 6, a circular box on the top of
the plate, in which are collars of leather screwed down by a brass nut, so as to
make the piston rod air tight as it moves up and down. c, a valve of leather
covered with woolen cloth, fixed on the inside of the plate, and opening
downwards to admit air into the cylinder on the descent of the piston. d, a
small spring on the outside of the plate, to assist the return of the valve when
the piston rises. e, a valve. fixed on the outside of the plate, and opening
upwards. Figure 3, c, an iron plate, to be screwed to the projecting rim at the
bottom of the cylinder, having a woollen collar, as Figure 2. f, a valve on
the inside of the plate, the same as c, Figure 2, but opening upwards to admit
air into the cylinder on the ascent of the piston. 9, a valve on the outside of
the plate, but opening downwards, having a small spring for the same purpose
as d, Figure 2.
Figure 4, D, a piston. h, an iron plate, to which two cup leathers
are screwed, and made to exactly fit the inside of the cylinder, and into which
one end of the piston rod k is fixed. k and n, a piston rod, in two parts. m,
a brass cross, having an iron bolt through it horizontally, and into which one
end of the piston rods k and n are screwed.
Figure 5, E, a receiver, made of lead, having a circular end or pipe G, the
end of which is to be screwed to the iron plate, Figure 3, over the valve g.
Figure 6, F, a circular pipe, also of lead, similar to G, one end of which is
to be screwed to the iron plate, Figure 2, over the valve e, the other end being
screwed to the end o of the receiver.
Figure 7 is a front view of the air pump or machine for forcing air into
ships, fixed in a wood frame. Figure 8 is a side view of the same machine.
References to Figures 7 and 8, viz:-a, a wheel; b, a pinion or small
wheel; c, the crank by which the machine is worked, and which is made to
fix on and take off at pleasure; d, d, a double crank, on one end of which the
wheel a is fixed; e, e, two levers, loaded with lead, as counterbalances to the
crank; f, a clasp rod, one end of which receives the double crank, and the

page_text: other ends are fixed to the brass cross,m, Figure 4; g, a bar of iron, having a
hole with a collar of leather in the center, through which the piston rod passes,
and by which it is, kept perpendicular; h, h, two iron stays, fastened to the
frames, and screwed to the top of the cylinder to keep it steady; k, k, &c., four
iron stays; to fasten, the cylinder, to the bottom of the frame, two in front and
two behind, not visible in the Plate.
The capital letters, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, have the same reference in all the
Plates of the air pump, which Plates are all drawn by the scale of twelve
inches annexed...
There must be, a ventilating bottom, formed of hollow perforated frames, as
about to be described, which should lay a little above the keelson, about
eighteen inches from the bottom of the ship, and the width of the ship must be.
measured at that, depth, and the dimensions of the ventilating bottom deter-
mined thereby. The frames should, be of a convenient size for two men to lay
down and take up with ease. Small vessels will require two rows, and larger.
ones three rows of frames.
Figure 9.represents, the bottom of a hollow frame, made of wood, about.
three fourths of an inch thick, the boards of which it is formed being placed
lengthways from A to C, and B to D, by which method the boards will lay
across the ship; and as the frames must be cut to fit the masts and sides of
the, ship, it will be best to prepare all, the bottoms of the frames first, for the
convenience of forming those which, are, to fit the masts and sides. Figure 10.
represents the top of the frame, also of wood, of the same thickness and dimen-
sions, and placed and cut in the same manner and form as the bottom,
Figure 9, but having holes, therein, about nine in every square inch, made with
an augur or gimblet, about one eighth of an inch diameter, but no nearer to
the sides than about two inches; or the holes may be made large, at equal
distances, but not so close as to weaken the frame too much, say about half an
inch, or an inch, or generally. let the distances between the holes be about the
diameter of the holes, but in this case the frames must be covered with coarse
linen or hair cloth before the corn is shipped. Next prepare, a sufficient
number of supporting, pieces of wood, Figure 11, about two inches square, and
of sufficient length; these are to be fastened by nails or screws to the bottom,
Figure 9, about fourteen to eighteen inches from each other, as from S to V,
n.to m, o tor, esto a, and thus being placed in a contrary direction, viz., across
the boards which, form, the frame, they will support them very securely. Let
the ends of the supporting pieces of one frame meet the ends of the supporting
pieces of the adjoining, frame, which may easily be done by measuring the
distances carefully, and in particular let this be attended to in the middle of

page_text: the bottom, so as to form a main channel or passage for the air from one end
of the ship to the other, from which it will diffuse itself on all sides under the
whole bottom of the cargo. Prepare also a sufficient number of pieces of
sound dry wood, about two inches square, which I shall call supporting points;
these are be fastened by nails or screws entered at the bottom of the frame,
and which nails or screws, passing through the supporting pieces, are to enter
the square pieces or supporting points, thereby fastening them to the support-
ing pieces at about fourteen inches distance from each other, see Figure 11, to
form supporting points for the top of the frame, the supporting pieces being
fastened to the bottom of the frame, and the supporting points to the support-
ing pieces, as above directed; the top of the frame is to be laid upon the
supporting points, cach corner to its corresponding letter and corner of the
bottom, and is to be fastened by nails or screws passing through the per-
forated top, and entering the supporting points. All the ends of the frames,
which are to lay next the ends and sides and masts of the ship, are to be
whole, and those side pieces are next to be fastened on, so that the air can rise
only through the perforations in the top of the frames. A sufficient number of
frames being prepared, they should be numbered, for the convenience of laying
them down in regular order. If the edges of the top of the frames be made
angular, so as to fit into each other, it will form a very secure and simple
fastening, which may be further secured by hooks and staples. If the frames, in
consequence of the wood drying, should not unite close enough to prevent the
corn falling into them, there must be a hole in a convenient part of the middle.
row of frames, in which one end of air pipe or trunk is to be fixed in a sloping
position towards the place where the air pump is suspended or fixed, so that
the other end may enter the case of the air pump, and the spout of the
receiver E inserted into it. If this air pipe is made of tin or lead it will be
easy to give it any direction required. The air pump, being inclosed with
boards on all sides, and at the bottom, is to be fixed or suspended in any
convenient part of the hold, near the top, having only so much of it's upper
part above deck as is necessary for turning the crank.
large enough to admit a person to go into it, to fix the
the air pipe, and secure it so that no air can escape.
part above deck must have a door on one side for an entrance into the lower.
case, and which door should be open when the machine is worked, to furnish a
supply of air. Previous to shipping the cargo, make every part of the inside.
of the ship, where the corn is to be put, air-tight, which may soon be done.
with a little pitch. If the cargo is to be shipped in bulk, without any parti-
tions, the bottom of the hold is to be filled with corn to the intended height,
The case should be
spout of the receiver to
The case of the upper

page_text: just above the keelson, wlien the ventilating bottom is to be laid down, and the
air pipe or tube fixed therein, communicating with the receiver of the air
pump as before directed, and the remainder of the cargo shipped; which being
done, turn the crank c of the air pump and the contents of the cylinder will be
forced into the air pipe, and thence under the bottom of the cargo at every
stroke of the piston. In a cargo of wheat of one thousand quarters, containing
eight thousand Winchester bushels, the interstices are about one seventh, or
one thousand one hundred and forty-three bushels; consequently, in working
an air pump whose cylinder contains only two Winchester bushels of air, fifty
strokes in a minute, which may be done with great ease for four hours, the.
one thousand one hundred and forty-three bushels of confined air will be
expelled, and twenty-four thousand bushels of fresh air will be forced through
the cargo. The longer the air pump is worked at a time the more complete
will be the effect, because the resistance occasioned by the weight and compact-
ness of the corn compels the air to diffuse itself under the whole cargo with a
sufficiently equal degree of compression in all parts, and is therefore soon
compelled to rise through the corn.
Having described my method of ventilating whole cargoes, I now proceed to
describe my method of ventilating any part of a cargo, or one part more than
another.
It is common in coasting vessels to have parting boards (which it is there-
fore unnecessary to describe) for the convenience of separating different
persons' corn and also different qualities and sorts of grain; such vessels also
carry different sorts of grain in the same room. Such cargoes are to be thus
shipped: Prepare a sufficient number of perforated frames, but with this
variation, that there must be a set of frames for each room or partition, having
those sides whole which are to lay next the partition boards and the ends or
sides of the ship, thus forming a seperate ventilating bottom for each room or
partition. Each room must have a lead or tin tube; or series of tubes or air
pipes, one end of which to be inserted into the perforated bottom, and the other
end rising to the top of the hold, and thence into the case of the air pump.
The lower partition boards should rise only so much above the keelson as the
ventilating bottom is intended to lay from the bottom of the hold, which,
being made air-tight, the room is to be filled with corn level with the top
of the lower partition boards; the perforated frames are then to be laid down
and the air pipe fixed in its place. The upper partition boards are next to
be fixed up, and the remainder of the corn intended for that room put on
board; the other rooms are to be filled in the same manner, till the cargo
is completed. If two different qualities or sorts of grain are to be shipped

page_text: in one room, they must be separated by coarse cloth or mats, not, however,.
to be laid double; sail cloth, which is commonly used, will: not do, as it's close
textere obstructs the air. I have before observed that there must be a lead
or or tin tube, or series of tubes, leading from the perforated bottom of cach
room to the top, and from thence to the case of the air pump; the latter parts.
of them are to be affixed as the rooms are completed, and are to run horizon-
tally on the top of the cargo, immediately under the deck, in such a manner
that one end of a short tube may easily be adapted to the spout of the receiver,
and the other end to the tube, or series of tubes, communicating with the room
it is intended to ventilate; these tubes should fit into each other very exactly..
If care be taken to work the air pump regularly when the corn is first:
shipped, it will be the most effectual means to prevent damage; as any disposi-
tion to heat will be thereby speedily counteracted by the cool fresh air rising.
through the corn: Care must be taken to let out as well as to force in thé àir;
for which purpose a few small apertures, in convenient places; near the hatch-
ways, will be proper. Any single room may thus be most effectually ventilated;.
and by ventilating each room successively, I am very sure it is quite prac
ticable to carry a cargo of corn round the world in good condition.
To preserve corn in granaries the air pump herein described, or the ventilat-
ing machines invented by Dr. Hales may be used, a description of which may
be found in most cyclopedias, and to which it' is not meant by me to make any
pretensions, but rather to recommend the same, except for ships, for which
they are very cumbersome and inconvenient; the priviledge claimed by this
Patent extending only to the construction of the floors and to the use of the
air pump herein described. In all cases the granary to be fitted up with a
ventilating floor must be made air-tight.
The following is a description of a granary fitted up with a ventilating
floor :-
Figure 12, A, B, C, D, represents the granary; E, the entrance; S, S,
a space of sufficient width for the purpose of carrying corn to and from the
partitions; G, G, G, G, a line of boards to support the corn_in_the_partitions;
a to e, lines of boards having-posts therein, as at o, &c., to form partitions for
different qualities or sorts of grain; the lower boards should be made to fit
the floor of the granary so as to be air-tight, which may be done by stuffing
the bottom carefully with tow, to prevent any air escaping to the adjoining
partitions; a, a, a, where posts are to be fixed, have groves on the side
toward e to receive the ends of the line of boards a to e; e, e, e, e, e, where
posts are to be fixed, having groves on the side towards a to receive the other
ends, of the line of boards a to e, &c., and also on the sides, in a line with the

page_text: line of boards G, G, G, G, into which' the ends of the boards which form
the ends of the partitions or. the. line G, G, G, G, are to be inserted;
0, 0, 0,. &c., 'where posts are to be fixt, having groves on the sides towards
a.and e to receive the ends of the boards which form the partitions; 1, 2, 3;.4;
four partitions.to receive' as many different qualities or sorts of grain; H; H,
an air trunk to convey: air to any or all 'the partitions P and V, where the
air pump or ventilators may be placed; if. worked by hand there must be a
communicating pipe. or series of pipes leading from the receiver of the air.
pump or ventilator to the partition intended to be ventilated. If the ventila-
tors are placed in the attics, or above the floor to be ventilated, there must be
pipes leading from them and uniting with the communicating pipe above
mentioned, as at K or K; prepare a sufficient number of perforated squares
of convenient size for two men to lay down or take up with ease.
Figure 13, a, b, c, d, represents a perforated square made of wood, about
three fourths of an inch thick, the boards of which it is formed are to be
placed lengthways from a to b, the ends and sides of the squares which are to
join the ends and sides of other squares are to be formed in an angular
manner so as to fit each other, which will prevent their rising up by any
unequal pressure upon them, and form no obstruction to the shovels in
working the corn; make the' holes' exactly, as described for Figure 10. The
form of the granary to be fitted up with a ventilating floor is not material,
care being taken to form the squares. so as to fit the posts and inequalities;
whether projections or recesses, of the ends and sides, and that the ends of
the squares. on the side G, G; G, G, &c., extend even with the outside of
the posts in the line 'G, G, G, G: Prepare also a sufficient number of
supporting pieces of wood, Figure 14, about two inches square, and of suffi
cient length to be fastened across the boards of the. perforated squares, as
from a to c, b to D, &c, about fourteen to eighteen inches from each other,
care. being taken that the ends of the supporting pieces of one square mect
the ends, of the supporting pieces of the adjoining square, so as to form
regular channels for the air, as described for ships. Prepare also a sufficient
number of pieces of sound dry wood for supporting points, about two inches
square, Figure 15, which are to be fastened about twelve or fourteen inches
distance to the supporting pieces, see Figure 16, for the perforated squares to
rest upon, so as to elevate them sufficiently above the floor of the granary!
Ventilating floors may also be supported simply by fastening pieces of wood
for supporting points at about twelve or fourteen inches from each other, to
the bottom of the perforated squares. The situation of the partition posts
in the line G, G, G, G, must be determined by the size of the partitions;

page_text: which being fixed upon, they are to be placed at the ends of the partitions;
as at e, c, e, e, e; and if the partitions are so large as to require it, there may
be supporting posts in the line G, G, G, G, made to fix and take .down at
pleasure at convenient places, to support the weight of the corn on the line
G, G, G, G; the method of fixing the lower partition boards in the line
G, G, G, G, must be determined by the manner in which it is proposed to
convey air under the floor; if it is intended to ventilate the partitions
separately, the lower partition boards are to be fixed exactly as described
for the lines a to e, having a hole about the middle of the end of each
partition, into which one end of the communicating tube or air pipe is to be
inserted during the ventilation; and in this case it will save trouble if all the
lower partition boards are fixed permanently so as to be air-tight, and they
need not be much higher than the perforated floor. If an air trunk H, H,
is used, there must not be any lower partition boards, as above described in
the line G, G, G, G, but the lowest partition boards in that line are to rest
edgeways upon the end of the perforated floor, and not having any holes in
them. The partition boards should be numbered for the convenience of fixing
them up in regular order, and should be of convenient size to fix up and
take down with ease. The lower partition boards being fixed up and made
air-tight, the perforated squares are to be laid down, stuffing tow in such
places as may be necessary if they should not be perfectly close in all parts:
which done, the floor is ready for the reception of corn for ventilating,
observing to cover it as mentioned for Figure 10, if the holes are large. If
it is intended to work the ventilator by a wind mill fixed upon the top of
the granary, the most convenient place to fix them in is the upper floor, or
a convenience made in the attics immediately under the roof, where they
will be no incumbrance. If it is intended to work them by hand, an air
pump or small ventilator may be placed at either end of the space S, S, as
at P or V, of a commodious size to remove to any other floor if required.
If it is intended to work them by horses or steam they may be fixed under
the lower floor in a place formed for the purpose, or in any adjoining building.
In all mills worked by wind, water, or steam, it is easy-to-work-any-number
of ventilators desired, and whichever way is chosen small bells may be
adapted in such a manner as to tell when the ventilation is suspended. In
large granaries it will be necessary to have several pairs of large double
ventilators fixed so as to work one or more at a time, with pipes leading to
the respective floors which they are intended to ventilate. Wherever the
ventilators are fixed there must be a pipe or series of pipes leading from
the receiver to the floor of the granary to be ventilated, and there united

page_text: to another pipe or series of pipes, to convey the air under the partition to be
ventilated. If the granary is fitted up without partitions, the air may be
forced under the ventilating floor at either of the sides at the ends of the
supporting pieces. Another method may be adopted to convey air under
the corn, when partitions are used, viz, by an air trunk H, H, to be placed
outside the posts in the line G, G, G, G, the whole length of the granary;
the trunk H, H, is to be square, about six inches diameter and closed at both
ends, made of stout boards with holes on the side next the partitions about
two inches diameter in the middle of each space, between the ends of tho
supporting pieces or channels formed under the floor by the supporting points
and having plugs to fit the holes very exactly. Immediately opposite to the
above-mentioned holes, on the side of the air trunk towards the space S,+S,
are to be other holes sufficiently large to put a hand in for the purpose of
fixing the plugs in the holes towards the partitions, and having also plugs
to fit them exactly. The heads of the small plugs should not project much
within the air trunk, and the small end of the large plugs should not enter
far into it, thus leaving as little obstruction to the air as possible. The air
may be forced into the air trunk H, H, at either end, or at both ends. If
several ventilators are worked at a time, the air trunk H, H, must go per-
fectly close to the ends of the partitions and posts in the line G, G, G, G, so
as to be air-tight; the ends of the perforated floor resting on the air trunk,'
as before observed, which may be fastened to its place by a few iron hooks
or otherwise. There must also be a pipe or series of pipes communicating:
from the receiver of the ventilators to the air trunk, similar to what have:
already been described. If it is intended to ventilate all the partitions at:
one, take out all the plugs on the sides next the partitions, and fix in all the:
plugs on the side S, S, and work the ventilators, previously spreading the
corn as equal in depth as possible, in all parts of the granary; but where
there are partitions it will generally be best to ventilate them seperately;:
for which purpose let the corn be laid an equal depth in all parts, then close:
all the holes towards the partitions except of that to be ventilated, and all:
the holes on the side S, S, and work the ventilators.
The plugs may:
always be made to fit exactly by being bound with a little tow if necessary.
Ventilating floors may also be formed of wire, perforated iron, tin, or bricks,
supported by another floor, as described in this Specification. Stale, and
fusty corn being spread thin, and ventilated as herein described, will be
rendered much sweeter, and more fit for the sustenance of man and the
purposes of vegetation, and all cold and damp corn or seeds which have
been harvested in bad condition may be much improved, and its natural

page_text: colour preserved, by drying it upon a perforated wood floor (such as described
in this Specification, covered with tin, soldered so securely as to be air-
tight in all parts, by means of steam or heated air conveyed under the
same; but it is not here meant to claim any exclusive right to any par-
ticular method of conveying steam or heated air under such perforated
covered floor, but only to the construction of the floor itself. And I do
hereby declare that 'any person making or using a perforated wood floor
such as is. described in this Specification, and. covering the same with tin
for the purpose of drying corn, .seeds, or other merchandize thereon, by
means of steam or heated air conveyed under the same,-any person doing
so without my consent, is deemed to encroach upon my Patent.
Having described my method of ventilating corn on board ships and in
granaries, and improving stale, fusty and damp corn, seeds, and other mer-
chandize, in the most exact manner I could, and. so,. I think, as is easy
to be understood and practised by any person, I now proceed further to
describe the rights granted by this Patent as follows, that is to say
Any, person making or using a perforated wood floor, in any of the ways
or forms described in this Specification, so as to be applicable to the purpose
of ventilation, or forming, or adapting any wire, perforated .wood, iron, tin,
or, brick floor, to, with,, or upon any other floor or materials, for the purpose
of ventilation, or other purposes herein: mentioned, by supporting the same
as herein, described, or conveying air for the purpose of, ventilation by an
air trunk and communicating pipes: formed and placed as herein described,
any person doing, so; without my permission, is deemed to encroach upon
my Patent. Also any person making or using a ventilating.bottom for ships
formed of hollow frames, as herein described, or shall make or use a
ventilating machine or air pump, similar to the one describéd in this
Specification, is deemed to encroach upon my Patent. But it is not here.
meant to, claim an exclusive right to the use of wood, wire,.iron, tin, or other.
floors, in the,, manner in which the same have been used before, but to a
new method of constructing them, and of affixing, adapting, uniting, or.con-
necting them to or with any other floor or materials for the purpose of
ventilation and other; purposes herein mentioned in any of the ways or forms.
described in, this Specification..
In-witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gardiner, hath hereunto set my
hand and seal, this- Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and two.
HENRY GARDINER. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Fifteenth day of October,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Henry Gardiner came before
our Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Fifteenth day of October, in the year above written. .

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