IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TREATING WOOD FOR SEASONING, HARDENING, AND PRESERVING.THE SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: “LETTERS PATENT to John Bennington Blythe of Bordeaux in the Republic of
France for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TREATING
WOOD FOR SEASONING, HARDENING, AND PRESERVING.THE SAME
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bennington Blythe at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1883.
JOHN BENNINGTON BLYTHE of Bordeaux in the Republic of France
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TREATING WOOD FOR THE
HARDENING OR PRESERVING THE SAME
"
" IMPROVE-
PURPOSE OF SEASONING
My Invention relates to apparatus for treating wood for the purpose of seasoning
hardening or preserving the same and has reference more especially to my previous
inventions for which Letters Patent were granted to Edward Thomas Hughes as
communications from me and Numbered and dated as follows:-the 27th day of
June A.D. 1876 N° 2651 the 20th day of December A.D. 1878 N° 5222 and
the 6th day of June A.D. 1879 N° 2242-My present improvements consist as
follows:-
I construct the Ovens or closed chambers or vessels in which the wood is to be
treated of any suitable form (but preferably cylindrical) and with a dome or domes
at top and a perforated partition at a short distance from the bottom-A bent
pipe is fixed at the lower part of the chamber opening into the space beneath the
perforated partition and being provided with a stop valve for discharging outside
the said chamber A small tube dips into the said pipe the said tube at its other
end forming one of the nozzles of an injector the other or surrounding nozzle being
in communication with a source of steam supply. This injector arrangement is
continued by a pipe which opens into the space beneath the perforated partition
another pipe or pipes (which is or are in communication with the interior of the
dome or domes) opening into the chamber of the injector arrangement-The liquid
hydro-Carbon with which the wood is to be treated is introduced into the space
beneath the perforated partition and passes into the aforesaid bent pipe-When

page_text: steam is turned on to the Injector the said liquid hydro Carbon is drawn through
the aforesaid small tube and the said liquid is forced by the steam into the chamber
or vessel (in which the wood to be treated has been previously placed) At the
same time the air and gases are drawn from the upper part of the chamber or
Ivessel by the action of the Injector and thus are mixed with and dilute the steam
and hydro Carbon liquid coming through the nozzle of the injector. By this means
a constant circulation is kept up through the chamber or vessel and the wood
contained therein is submitted very thoroughly to the hydro-carbon with which it
is treated I place regulating cocks on the small tube for the hydro-carbon liquid
and also on the steam pipe and on the pipe leading into the oven a two way cock
discharging when in one position into the chamber and when in the other position
into the air.
The ovens, chambers or vessels are provided with doors which can be closed gas
tight and which can be opened so that several Ovens chambers or vessels can be
placed and secured together to form one oven chamber or vessel-Each separate
oven is carried on two pairs of wheels so as to be readily moved about on lines of
Railway for bringing them together or separating them or moving them to one side
to allow the wood to cool slowly
A convenient arrangement of the apparatus consists of a long railway Truck on
two sets of bogie wheels the said truck carrying at its centre a steam boiler
preferably tubulous and with two or more of, the before described ovens chambers
or vessels on each side of the said boiler-The superheater for the steam is
preferably carried inside the boiler furnace.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Bennington Blythe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th November 1883.
JOHN BENNINGTON BLYTHE of Bordeaux in the Republic of France "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TREATING WOOD FOR SEASONING HARDENING AND
PRESERVING THE SAME
"
My Invention relates to apparatus for treating wood for the purpose of seasoning
hardening preserving and imprégnating the same and has reference more especially
to my previous Inventions for which Letters Patent were granted to Edward
Thomas Hughes as communications from me and numbered and dated as follows:-
the Twenty seventh day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy six N° 2651, the Twentieth day of December in the year of
our Lord One.thousand eight hundred and seventy eight N° 5222, and the Sixth
day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy
nine N° 2242. My present improvements have for their object to effect a constant
circulation of the seasoning, impregnating hardening or preserving agent or agents
through the chamber or vessel or chambers or vessels in which the wood to be
treated is contained by which means the said wood is very thoroughly submitted
to the action of a current of the said agent or agents reduced to and suspended in
a state of extreme division forming part of a current of superheated or other steam
mixed with air and gases obtained from or contained in the wood under treatment
I will describe my Invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which
represent apparatus constructed or arranged according to my Invention Figure 1
is an elevation partly in section and Figure 2 is a plan of half the apparatus
mounted upon a bogie for travelling on Railways as hereinafter explained.
Figure 3 is a section of the injecting apparatus on an enlarged scale, Figure 4
is a transverse section. Figure 5 is a plan and Figure 6 a side elevation of a
modified form of the apparatus as hereinafter explained shewing two single
chambers or vessels combined to form a long compound chamber or vessel for
containing longer pieces of wood and Figure 7. is a plan shewing four of such
single chambers or vessels combined to form a still longer compound chamber for
treating long planks or the like all as hereinafter more fully described.
I construct the ovens or closed chambers or vessels A in which the wood is to be
treated of any suitable form (but preferably cylindrical as shewn in the Drawings)
and they may each be provided with a dome or domes (a) at top and they have
false bottoms or perforated partitions a³ at a short distance from the bottom. A
pipe as is fixed at the lower part of each chamber A the said pipe opening into the
space beneath the perforated partition a² and being provided with a stop valve a*.
for charging and discharging the matter used when it is considered necessary to
complete the process by the injection of mineral or vegetable oils metallic solutions
or other matters used for preserving or coloring wood. This pipe a³ is shewn in
Figures 1 and 2 as being arranged to communicate between the two chambers A
the valve a and pipe as giving communication when required with the tank X.
In figures 4 and 5 the pipe a³ communicates only with one chamber and the
tank X is arranged in a different position for it will be evident that the position of
these parts does not affect the nature of my Invention In figure 7 two tanks X
are shewn as connected with the lengthened apparatus. A small tube 6 dips into
the said pipe as the said tube b at its other end forming one of the nozzles of an
injector c the other or surrounding nozzle c* being in communication by the pipe ¿³
with a source of steam supply. This injector arrangement is continued by &

page_text: pipe, d, which opens into the space beneath the perforated partition, a²; another
pipe or pipes, e, is or are in communication with the interior of the vessels, A,
either directly, or through the dome or domes (where such are used), the said pipe
or pipes e also opening into the chamber of the injector arrangement. Figure 3
shews clearly the construction of this injector arrangement.
In figures 1 and 2 the same injector arrangement c is shewn for working the
chambers A alternately, and in Figures 4, 5 and 6 one injector is shewn attached to
one of the vessels A forming one of the parts of the lengthened chamber; for it
will be evident that the said injector arrangements may be used in any number
suited to the requirements of the apparatus. The liquid hydrocarbon with which
the wood is to be treated is introduced into the space beneath the perforated
partition and passes into the aforesaid pipe as When steam is turned on to the
injector by the pipe c³ the said liquid hydrocarbon is drawn through the aforesaid
small tube b and the said liquid is forced through the pipe or pipes & by the steam
into the chamber or vessel (in which the wood to be treated has been previously
placed) At the same time the air and gases are drawn through the pipe or pipes e
from the upper part of the chamber or vessel A by the action of the injector
arrangement and thus are mixed, in the pipes d, with, and dilute the steam and
divide into spray the hydrocarbon liquid coming through the nozzle of the injector.
By this means a constant pulverisation and circulation is kept up through the
chamber or vessel A and the wood_contained therein is submitted very thoroughly
to the finely pulverised hydrocarbon with which it is treated. I place regulating
cocks on the pipes where necessary to regulate the quantities of the several matters
passing into the injector c or to stop or divert the currents; for example I place them
on the small tube or tubes for the hydrocarbon liquid and also on the steam pipe c³
and on the pipe e On the pipe d leading into the vessels, A, a two way cock f is
placed which cock when in one position opens into the said vessels A for maintaining
the circulation as hereinbefore described and when in the other position opens into
the air or into any suitable vessel for condensation as for example through the pipe
y into the upper part of the vessel ✗ so that the pressure escaping from the
injector c can be utilized to force oil or other liquid (when required for an injection
after the process) into the chamber or chambers A.
The ovens chambers or vessels A are provided with doors g which can be closed
gas-tight and which can be opened and swung aside so that several ovens, chambers,
or vessels, can be jointed and secured together to form one oven chamber or vessel
as shewn in Figures 5. 6 and 7.
Each separate oven chamber or vessel A may be carried on wheels (preferably on
two pairs) so as to be readily moved about as trollies on lines of Railway for
bringing them together or separating them for discharging and refilling with fresh
wood or moving them to one side to allow the wood to cool slowly, when necessary,
in the Chamber in which it has been treated.
In order to carry out conveniently the system of making the chambers A capable
of use either singly as small chambers or in combination as long chambers the pipes
which lead into the said chamber or chambers are provided with detachable
junctions by means of which either the single chambers can be attached to the
vessels for supplying the hydrocarbon and steam or when several chambers are
combined the said vessels can be put into communication with one or other or
more of the said chambers and the respective pipes be then joined up as branches
to open into the other chambers so as to constitute the whole, in effect one large
chamber In figure 6 is shewn a convenient junction piece j by which the pipes e
can be joined The end of each pipe has a flanged socket piece (which fits into the
flanged surface of 3) and also a hinged forked piece 2 provided with a screw j³ which
pieces can each be turned over the piece and the screws 3 being tightened up
secure the said piece j firmly in place-In the said Figure 6 is also shewn a con-
venient means for securing either the said covers or doors g to the chambers or the
chambers end to end-The one part of the said fastening consists of a bolt k hinged
at one end to the door or the end of the chamber (as the case may be) its other end

page_text: being turned to engage between bracket pieces on the end of the chamber or on
the door (as the case may be) a nut k² being screwed up to secure the cover or
door to the Chamber or the one chamber to the other as the case may be.
A convenient arrangement of the apparatus consists of a long railway truck on
two sets of bogie wheels the said truck carrying at its centre a steam boiler
preferably tubulous and with two or more of the before described ovens chambers
or vessels on each side of the said boiler-The superheater for the steam is
preferably carried inside the boiler furnace--Figures 1 and 2 illustrate such an
arrangement for this purpose but any suitable arrangement of Steam Boiler and
Superheater will answer the purpose-In these figures a part of the truck and one
set of the bogie wheels are shewn but it will be understood that the truck is
continued to the right hand of the boiler H and there provided with another set of
bogie wheels over which are carried vessels A resembling those shewn at the left
hand side of the said figures-In operating with this apparatus the chamber A is
filled with the wood to be treated which is placed upon the perforated partition a³
and the doors are then closed and liquid hydro carbon is introduced into the
bottom of the chamber by any suitable opening such as by the tube b.-
Z. z', Figure 1, shews a forcing apparatus for this purpose but it may be simply
thrown into the bottom of the chamber by hand
The strength of this hydrocarbon in carbolic acid may be varied according to
the effects required to be produced upon the wood-Steam is then turned on by
the pipe leading from the superheater (I have found steam at 100 lbs per square
inch superheated to a temperature of from 750 degrees to 800 degrees Fahrenheit
most effective) which steam passes into the injector arrangement (Figure 3) and
discharges, by the nozzle c², liquid hydrocarbon drawn in by the tube b, which it.
heats and vaporizes and forces into the Chamber A by the pipe d-At the same
time the air and gases from the upper part of the Chamber A are drawn rapidly,
through the pipe e and are redischarged (mixed with the heated steam and hydro-
carbon vapor) back into the Chamber A-This operation is continued until 'the'
wood is sufficiently treated which is shewn by the rise of the pressure in the
Chamber to 30 or 40 lbs on the square inch in which time the wood will have
acquired an average temperature in the middle of the pieces of from 140 degrees
to 150 degrees Fahrenheit which in the case of ordinary Railway sleepers takes
about half an hour, or longer if the wood is very wet-For ordinary purposes
(except where the wood is to be used under water or underground) no further
treatment is necessary to preserve and harden it In that case the steam pipe is
detached and the chamber A wheeled away for the wood to be discharged or put
aside to cool gradually, and another chamber is brought up to supply its place-
When however wood requires the subsequent injection of either preservative or
coloring matters, (whether what is ordinarily called creosote oil or solutions of
mineral salts are used) the liquid is contained in a tank (as at X), and after the
treatment as first mentioned, the cock f will be turned so as to admit the steam
from the chamber A, by the pipe y, above the liquid in the said tank X, whereby
the said liquid is forced through the pipe a³ into the chamber A, and when the
chamber is full the cock a' is closed-The cock x is opened and a part of the
liquid held in the interior space, X, admitted by a valve opening inwards (not
shewn), is forced into A through the pipe leading into the pipe a³, steam being
turned on by the branch steam pipe x to effect the necessary pressure-The
float indicates the quantity of liquid so pressed in. Colouring matters may be
forced in by the same means.
.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my 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 Apparatus for seasoning, hardening, preserving, or impregnating wood,
consisting of a vessel or chamber, or vessels or chambers, provided with a perforated

page_text: false bottom or partition, upon which the wood rests, and with pipes or passages
opening into the said vessel or chamber, or vessels or chambers, above and beneath
the said false bottom or. partition, and provided with an injecting arrangement
by means of which a continuous pulverization and circulation of the treating
Agent or Agents is obtained through the said vessel or chamber, or vessels or
chambers, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings
Second-In apparatus for seasoning, hardening, preserving, or impregnating
wood, arranged for obtaining a continuous pulverisation and circulation of the
treating Agent or Agents, substantially as claimed by the preceding claiming
clause, providing each single vessel or chamber, in which the wood is treated, with
doors, or covers, and fastenings, so arranged that the said Vessels or chambers can
be used singly or in combination, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings
Third Apparatus for seasoning, hardening, preserving, or impregnating wood,
arranged for obtaining a continuous pulverisation and circulation of the treating
Agent or Agents, and for being moved from place to place on lines of rails, and for
being combined and separated, substantially as herein before described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Fourth In apparatus for seasoning, hardening, preserving, or impregnating
wood, the employment of the injector arrangement shewn more particularly in
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, for the purpose described
Fifth-The various arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the
several apparatus for seasoning, hardening, preserving, or impregnating wood, as
.hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
İn witness whereof I the said John Bennington Blythe have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this tenth day of November One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
TATTAR
JOHN DENNINGTON BLYTHE (L.S.)