Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
section on the line 3, 4, of Fig. 2.
A A are the outer walls of the air chamber. B is the door, which is hung in the
centre at on doubly articulated hinges C. This arrangement of hinge is devised for
the purpose of enabling the door B to be closed square on its seat. The door, the
seat, or both, should be packed or lined in any convenient and efficient manner, so as
to render the joint thus formed, perfectly air-tight. The door is secured on its seat
preferably by means of one or more curved bars or bows D, the ends of which take
under lugs d d secured to the front wall of the chamber outside the door seat (sce
Figs. 1 and 2).-At the centre of the curved bar or bow D, is a tapped boss E,
through which passes a tightening screw F, the point of which bears against the
centre of the door. As the screw F is screwed down, the bow E is forced outwards,
pressing against the lugs d, while the door B is forced inwards tight against its
seat. Gis the air pump (shown in the drawing at Figs. 1 and 2, at the right hand
side of the air chamber), which may be of any construction found to be the best
adapted for the purpose. The high pressure induction valves or cocks J are shown
in the drawing placed on the opposite side of the chamber to the air pump.
In Figs. 2 and 3 may be seen the arrangement of internal perforated air tubes H,
which are intended to distribute the air that is admitted to the interior of the chamber
through the induction valves or cocks J. The perforations j are turned outwards
towards the walls or angles of the chamber against which the air tubes may be placed,
thus causing the strength of the current of air, as it rushes from the tubes into the
chamber, to be broken against the sides and angles of the chamber, and he thus more
evenly distributed throughout.-I is the vacuum gauge that may be placed in a
convenient position near the air pump G (see Fig. 1).
The air chamber may be constructed of any capacity, varying from 2 cubic feet, for
the use of private families, to 500 cubic feet for wholesale dealers. It is considered
advisable not to construct the chamber of a greater capacity than 500 cubic feet, but

page_text: when suitable exhausting appliances are available, there is no reason why the capacity
of the chamber should not be increased.
In chambers of tho dimensions of an ordinary meat safe, angle irons K (see Fig. 3),
the webs of which are turned inwards, are rivetted to the sides of the air chamber, so
as to form supports for shelves or trays that will carry the perishable contents of the
chamber. If, on the other hand, the dimensions of the chamber are such that the
chamber shall be capable of containing carcases, then the angle irons should be
rivetted to the sides of the chamber, but near the roof or ceiling, so as to afford
supports for the cross beams upon which the carcases are hung. On the chamber
being filled with the articles to be preserved, the door is closed, and screwed up or
otherwise fixed, until it forms a hermetically close joint. The air pump is then
worked by the attendant, until the vacuum gauge indicates that the required vacuum
is obtained. When it is desired to draw the contents of the safe, one or more of the
induction valves are slightly opened; the outer air will then rush with force into
the internal perforated air tubes, and be projected towards the angles or sides of the
chamber, where the force of the current of air will be broken, and the air distributed
more evenly throughout the chamber.
In very large chambers, where the atmospheric pressure would be very great, the
walls of the chamber may be strengthened either internally or externally by stays.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to ine
by my Foreign Correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Temporarily storing articles of food in a vessel or chamber in which a vacuum is
produced mechanically, as set forth.
2. In apparatus for temporarily storing food, the combination with an air tight
chamber, having a hermetically closing door, and means for producing a vacuum,
of perforated air tubes, the perforations of which are turned towards the angles or
sides of the chamber, the said tubes being in communication with the outer atmo-
sphere by means of high pressure cocks or valves, as and for the purposes hercin set
forth.
3. In apparatus for temporarily storing food, the combination with an air tight
chamber having a hermetically closing door, of an air pump and vacuum gauge,
as shown and described.
4. Apparatus as herein shown and described for temporarily storing articles
of food.
Dated this 26th day of September 1889
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.