IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING ARTICLES OF FOOD APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DISINFECTING AND CLEANSING OF GARMENTS RAGS OR THE LIKE ted.
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman-for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING ARTICLES OF FOOD
APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DISINFECTING AND CLEANSING OF GARMENTS RAGS
OR THE LIKE communicated to him from Messieurs Liautand and Company
residing at Nice in the Republic of France.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1883.
-
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING
ARTICLES OF FOOD APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DISINFECTING AND CLEANSING OF
GARMENTS RAGS OR THE LIKE "
a communication to me from Mess Liautand
& Company residing at Nice in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to a process of preserving alimentary substances by the
employment of a mixture of sulphurous, acid and nitrogen acting in apparatus of
special construction as hereinafter described.
The apparatus consists of a case or chamber protected internally if required by
a coating proof against the action of sulphurous acid. The upper edge of this case
presents a seat for the reception of a tightly fitting cover a layer of caoutchouc or
equivalent packing being interposed between the seat and the cover in order to
prevent leakage, a ring or annular trough running round the upper edge of the
case may be employed to enable a bydraulic joint to be made round the cover if
required. The cover is provided with a cock.
A basket preferably of wire gauze rests upon supports inside the chamber so as
to be elevated a certain distance from the bottom. This basket is provided with
racks or bars and hooks for receiving or suspending the articles to be treated such
as meat, fish; game, eggs, vegetables and the like.
A dish for the reception of burning sulphur is provided in a close cell at the
lower part of the chamber and communicates with the interior of the latter by
means of a pipe which conducts the vapours evolved by the combustion of the
"
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page_text: sulphur to the centre of the chamber. Access is obtained to the interior of this
cell by means of a valve provided with a screw.
In working this apparatus the articles to be preserved are placed in the basket
in the chamber and the dish in the cell herein before described is filled with sulphur
which is ignited and the cell is then closed by the screwed plug or valve. The
sulphur continues to burn and consumes the oxygen-in the chamber until this gas
disappears and the chamber has become filled with a compound of sulphurous
acid and nitrogen. The sulphurous acid acts upon the substances to be preserved
such as meat for example and penetrates them to a depth varying according to the
duration of the exposure. The period is regulated according to the size of the
articles under treatment and the time for which they are to be kept before being
used.
The combustion of the sulphur in the chamber and its conversion into sulphurous
acid at the expense of the oxygen of the air contained in the chamber produces a
partial vacuum or rather an attenuation which has the effect of firmly pressing the
cover on its seat. On the conclusion of the operation the cock in the cover is
opened and admits air to the chamber. The cover can then be removed and after
allowing the sulphurous vapours to escape the basket with its contents may now
be lifted out of the chamber.
The articles thus treated may be exposed to the air without injury for a period
varying according to the duration of the treatment in the apparatus hereinbefore
described. In the case of meat for example the outer parts will be found to be
somewhat dried and blackened but the interior preserves all its original freshness
and flavour.
For treating large quantities of meat or other organic matter the chamber is
provided with a door in the side for the purpose of introducing or removing the
articles and dishes containing burning sulphur are placed upon the floor of the
chamber.
When the operation of exposure to the action of sulphurous acid as hereinbefore
described is over two cocks are opened and the chamber is cleared of the sulphurous
vapours by means of a current of air so that men may enter by the door and
remove the articles which have been treated.
In certain cases when treating large carcases for example or large quantities of
meat or other products which require to be preserved for a considerable period, the
proportion of sulphurous acid supplied by the oxygen of the air contained in the
chamber is not sufficient to obtain the desired result. Under these circumstances
in place of an attenuation compression is resorted to. A current of sulphurous
acid is introduced so as to expel the air from the chamber the outlet cock is
afterwards closed and the sulphurous acid is still forced in until the desired degree
of compression is attained.
For this purpose it is simply necessary to employ in combination with the
chamber hereinbefore described a suitable furnace for burning the sulphur and a
suitable pump or blowing apparatus for driving the vapours into the chamber. By
preference the sulphurous acid thus introduced is washed and cooled before entering
the chamber.
This apparatus and method of treatment owing to the peculiar properties of the
sulphurous acid may also be employed for the destruction of vermin and insects or
objectionable organisms present in woollen fabrics or garments, rags and the like
the apparatus thus being capable of acting as a disinfecting chamber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th November 1883.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING
ARTICLES OF FOOD APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DISINFECTING AND CLEANSING OF
GARMENTS RAGS OR THE LIKE," A communication to me from Messieurs Liautand
and Company residing at Nice in the Republic of France
This Invention relates to preserving articles of food by the employment of
sulphurous acid or a mixture of Sulphurous acid and nitrogen produced and acting
in apparatus constructed as herein after explained. The said Invention is also
applicable to the disinfecting or cleansing of garments rags and the like.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now.
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of Drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a transverse section of a
small portable apparatus constructed according to this Invention and figures 2
and 3 show modifications of details hereinafter explained. Figure 4 is a section
(drawn to a smaller scale) of an apparatus arranged on similar principles for
treating large quantities of provisions.
The apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 is constructed as follows: A case or
chamber A (by preference cylindrical and composed of sheet .iron which may be
enamelled or protected internally by a coating proof against the action of sulphurous
acid is formed at its upper edge with a seat a for the reception of a cover B, a
layer of caoutchouc or equivalent packing being interposed between the seat and
the cover in order to prevent leakage. An annular trough C running round the
upper edge of the case A may also be employed to enable a hydraulic joint to be
made. The said cover B is provided with a cock D. Figure 2 represents a
modified form wherein the said cover B is pressed against its seat by a screw V
working in a clamping bar B' having hooked ends engaging with the underside of
the ring C containing packing material upon which the edge of the cover bears:
A cylindrical basket E the sides of which are formed of wire gauze is supported
by legs or supports at a short distance from the bottom of the said chamber A.
The said basket E is provided with racks or bars F for receiving hooks upon
which to hang the articles to be treated
A dish G for the reception of burning sulphur is provided in a close box or
cell H at the lower part of the chamber. The box H communicates with the.
interior of the chamber A by means of a suitable hole in the side of the chamber A
which in some cases may be provided with a pipe I for conducting the vapours
evolved by the combustion of the sulphur to the centre of the said chamber.
Access is obtained to the interior of the box H by means of a valve g provided
with a screw g₁ or by means of a hinged lid or cover g³ as shewn in figure 3.
The box or cell H is provided with a cock as shewn at D' figure 3 which is used
to enable the gas to escape when the treatment is concluded.
In working this apparatus the articles to be preserved are placed in the basket E
in the chamber A and the dish G in the cell is supplied with sulphur which is
ignited and the cell is then closed by the screwed plug or valve g or by securing
the lid g figure 3 when the latter arrangement is employed. The burning sulphur
consumes the oxygen in the chamber A until this gas disappears and the chamber

page_text: has become filled with a compound of sulphurous acid and nitrogen. The
sulphurous acid acts upon the substance under treatment (such as meat for
example) and penetrates it to a depth varying according to the duration of the
exposure. This period is regulated according to the size or thickness of the
articles under treatment and the time for which they are to be kept before being
used.
! The combustion of the sulphur and its conversion into sulphurous acid by
combining with the oxygen of the air contained in the chamber A produces a
partial vacuum and a reduction of internal pressure in the said chamber which has
the effect of causing the cover B to be firmly pressed against its seat by the
pressure of the external air. On the conclusion of the operation the cock D in the
cover B is opened and external air is thereby allowed to enter the chamber A
until the equilibrium of internal and external pressure is established. The cover E
can then be removed and after allowing the sulphurous vapours to escape the
basket E with its contents may be lifted out of the chamber A.
The articles thus treated may be exposed to the air without injury for a period
varying in accordance with the duration of the treatment in the apparatus herein-
before described. In the case of meat for example the outer parts will be found
to be somewhat dried and blackened but the interior preserves its original freshness
and flavour.
The apparatus illustrated in figure 4 is constructed for treating large quantities
of meat or entire carcasses and consists of a chamber L with sides preferably of
metal provided with strong angle irons M for the support of cross bars N carrying
suitable hooks O for suspending the meat or articles to be treated. Access is
obtained to the interior of the chamber by means of a door P for the purpose of
introducing or removing the articles. Air is admitted when required by means of
a cock Q. Dishes containing burning sulphur are placed upon the floor of the
chamber being introduced through small doors not shown on the drawing which
doors as well as the door P are caused to shut closely by means of strips of india
rubber packing or by other suitable means.
When the operation of exposure to the action of sulphurous acid as hereinbefore
described is concluded the cock Q and a cock R¹ at the lower part of the apparatus
are opened and air is forced in by a pump or blower through a pipe R. The
chamber is thus cleared of the sulphurous vapours so that men may enter by the
door P and remove the articles which have been treated.
In certain cases when treating large carcasses for example or large quantities
of meat or other products which require to be preserved for a considerable period,
the proportion of sulphurous acid obtained by the combustion of the oxygen of the
air contained in the chamber is not sufficient to produce the desired effect. Under
these circumstances compression is resorted to in place of the attenuation or
reduction of internal pressure produced by proceeding as hereinbefore described.
The cock Qis opened and a current of sulphurous acid is introduced through the
pipe R and expels the air from the chamber; the cock Q is afterwards closed and
the sulphurous acid is still forced in until the desired degree of compression is
attained.
For this purpose it is simply necessary to employ in combination with the
apparatus illustrated in figure 4 a suitable furnace for burning the sulphur and a
suitable pump or blowing apparatus for driving the vapours into the chamber L.
By preference the sulphurous acid thus introduced is washed and cooled before
entering the said chamber.
The improved apparatus hereinbefore described is applicable to the preservation
of organic substances of all descriptions such for example as meat, fish, game, eggs,
vegetables and the like. This apparatus and method of treatment owing to the
peculiar properties of the sulphurous acid and the conditions under which the
contents of the chamber are exposed to its action may also be very conveniently
employed for the destruction of vermin or other objectionable organisms or germs

page_text: present in woollen or other textile fabrics or clothing rags and the like, the
apparatus thus being capable of acting as a purifying and disinfecting chamber.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is:
First-Preserving articles of food and disinfecting or cleansing garments rags
or the like by the employment of sulphurous acid or of Sulphurous acid and
nitrogen obtained and applied by means of apparatus constructed and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second: The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the several
apparatus for preserving articles of food and disinfecting or cleansing garments
rags or the like the said apparatus being constructed and operating substantially as
herein before described and illustrated under various modifications in the accom-
panying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of November One thousand eight hundred
and eighty three.