AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING WOOD WATER AND FIRE PROOF
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
-County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING WOOD WATER AND FIRE PROOF."
A communication from abroad by Pierre Folacci, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 25th July 1876, and dated the 28th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th January 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING WOOD
WATER AND FIRE PROOF."
This Invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for rendering wood
incombustible as well as impervious to moisture, more particularly woods used in
ship building, for railway carriages, telegraph posts, and woods used for building
purposes, and for paving.
Wood treated in the manner herein-after described becomes petrified, so to
speak, without undergoing any change in appearance.
When subjected to intense
heat it chars superficially only, and that but slowly without flaming, and by
scraping off the charred surface the body of the wood is found to be uninjured.
It also acquires such a density that its weight is doubled and is inodorous.
The following is the chemical composition by which the above-mentioned results
are obtained, it being understood that the proportion of the ingredients may bo
varied if found desirable.
1. Sulphate of zinc
2. American potash
3. Ammonia alum
4. Oxide of manganese
5. Sulphuric acid at 66°
6. River water
7. Lime
8. Common salt
-
-
-
-
25 parts by weight.
10
"
">
20
"
"
-
10
"
"
-
10
"
"
25
"
"
5
"
"
5
-
-
23
The whole of the solid substance above named, with the exception of the
sulphuric acid, are placed in an iron boiler containing the quantity of water above-
mentioned at 113° Fahr., and when they are dissolved the sulphuric acid is added
[Price Gd.1

page_text: in small quantities at a time, taking care to work up the whole until perfectly
saturated.
The wood is first prepared for treatment in the apparatus illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a detached view of the racks in
which the wood is to be laid; Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section
of the whole apparatus; and Figure 3, a transverse section of same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the three Figures.
A, boiler; B, racks; C, sheet iron covers; D, funnels; E, wood placed in the racks;
F, chimney; G, concrete setting; H, fire-bars; I, furnaces; J, ash-pits. The pieces of
wood of different sizes according to the purpose to which they are to be applied
are placed in the racks, care being taken to leave spaces between them. This done
the chemical composition, before mentioned, is pumped into the apparatus until all
vacant spaces are filled up, after which the temperature is raised and maintained at
boiling point for 3 hours. The wood is then removed from the apparatus and
exposed in the open air in order to harden, after which it is ready for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
July 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING WOOD
WATER AND FIRE PROOF. A communication to me from abroad by. Pierre Folacci,
of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for rendering wood
incombustible, and also impervious to moisture. The Invention is applicable to
all kinds of wood used in the arts, but more particularly to wood used in ship
building, for railway carriages, and telegraph posts, and for building purposes, such
as floors, parquet flooring, and staircases, &c., and wood blocks used for paving
streets and courtyards, and in all situations where the wood, if liable to take fire,
would cause the spread of a conflagration, or where its waterproof qualities are
desirable.
Wood treated in the manner herein-after described becomes petrified, so to speak
without undergoing any change in appearance.
When subjected to intense heat
it chars superficially, and that but slowly and without flaming, and on scraping off
the charred surface the heart of the wood will be found to be uninjured. In cases
of fire there will consequently be no longer any danger of the destruction of "the
floors, doors, and staircases, if the wood has been chemically treated by the process
of this Invention. Wood so treated is not injured by the flame of petroleum. The
wood acquires such a density that its weight is doubled, and it is also rendered
inodorous and almost insonorous.
The following is the chemical composition by which the above-mentioned results
are obtained, it being understood that the proportions of the ingredients given may
be varied if found desirable.
1. Sulphate of zinc
2. American potash
3. Ammonia alum
4. Oxide of manganese
5. Sulphuric acid at 66°
6. River water
7. Lime
8. Common salt
25 parts by weight.
"
-
10 parts
20 parts
">
10' parts
10 parts
25 parts
"
5 parts
5 parts
"
The substances above named, with the exception of the sulphuric acid, are
placed in an iron boiler containing the quantity of water above-mentioned at a

page_text: added in small quantities at a time, taking care to work up the whole until per-
fectly saturated.
The wood is first prepared for treatment in the apparatus illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a detached view of the racks in
which the wood is to be placed; Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section of the
whole apparatus; and Figure 3, a transverse section of same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the three Figures.
A, boiler; B, iron racks; C, sheet iron covers; D, funnels; E, wood placed in the
racks;
F, chimney; G, concrete foundation; H, fire-bars; I, furnaces; J, ash-pits.
The pieces of wood of different sizes, according to the purposes to which they are
to be applied are placed in the racks, care being taken to leave spaces between
them. This done the chemical composition, before referred to, is pumped into the
boiler until it is entirely filled, after which the temperature raised and main-
tained at boiling point for 3 hours. The wood is then removed from the apparatus
and placed in wooden racks and exposed in the open air to harden, after which it is
ready for use.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the process and apparatus herein shown
and described for rendering all kinds of wood incombustible and impervious to
moisture.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and soventy-civ
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)