Improvements in Means for Preserving and Storing India-rubber or Vulcanized India-rubber Goods and so called Waterproofed Articles.
Year: 1891

page_text: ate of Application, 16th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Preserving and Storing India-rubber
or Vulcanized India-rubber Goods and so called Waterproofed
Articles.
I, HERBERT SAMUEL ELWORTHY of Sujanpur District of Gurdaspur Punjab,
India Analytical Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in means for preserving and storing
india-rubber or vulcanized india rubber goods, and so called waterproofed articles
the object being to store such goods in contact with or immersed in a gas or gases
or mixture of such gases as will prevent the contact of oxygen with the rubber
articles and their being attacked thereby, and to apply this for commercial
purposes.
The action of the oxygen of the air on the india rubber or vulcanized india
rubber is generally believed by chemists to consists in the combination of such
oxygen with the hydrocarbon of which the rubber principally consists and thereby
converting it into an oxidised product or resin or resinous acid.
The invention is carried out by keeping the india rubber, or vulcanized india
rubber or goods made therefrom in a box, receptacle or room such box, receptacle,
or room being filled with a simple gas containing no oxygen sueh for instance as
nitrogen or hydrogen or with a compound gas either containing no oxygen such as
marsh gas or with a compound gas which although containing oxygen does not
readily part with it such as carbon dioxide commonly called carbonic acid gas,
whereby the air is excluded from contact with such goods and therefore no oxidation
takes place and the goods or articles may, so long as they are immersed in
or kept in contact with such gas or a mixture of such gases, be preserved almost
indefinitely.
The utility of my invention consists in rendering it possible or profitable for
dealers in goods such as above mentioned to keep a sufficient stock on hand to supply
demands promptly without the same suffering deterioration.
It is well known that in India, and other tropical countries and in shipment to
such countries this class of goods rapidly deteriorate and become hard and brittle
and therefore almost valueless for the purpose for which they are designed and thus
heavy loss is entailed upon or occasioned to the merchant or dealer and the retail
selling prices of such goods are much increased.
In order that the said invention may be well understood I have hereunto annexed
a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and will refer thereto by figures and letters
in the following more particular description.
Fig. 1. of the drawings represents the lid or side of a box container or chamber
for purpose of this invention with inlet and outlet valves for exhausting the
atmosphere after the box has been hermetically closed and for admission of the
preserving gas.
Fig. 2 represents the exhaust valve,
Fig. 3 the inlet valve,
Fig. 4 a cap for closing the valves exteriorially,
Fig. 5 a like cap but with the tube end of either the atmosphere exhaust or of
the gas force pump or inlet pipe passed through a hole in same,
11

page_text: an increase over the ordinary atmospheric pressure may be maintained within the
box or chamber wherein such goods are stored and preserved.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the casing a is lined (as with tin or
lead) at a and packed jointed at a².
The valves consist of the flanged or collared disc, having the valve disc grid
or seating, with open ways marked by arrows d for the valve disc of rubber or
leather or the like and the spindle e which is assisted by a slight spring as shown
and works through a central opening of the grid seating c.
The top disc will be screwed or bolted to the disc b to make a tight fit. The
collar of the disc is screwed to receive either the cap g or union such as h. It will
be seen that although these twin valves act together one as inlet and the other as
outlet valves the parts are exactly alike but the valve disc d and spindle e are
disposed only in reverse position.
Assuming that the goods have been packed in or stored the air pump nozzle such
as will be screwed to valve Fig. 2. whereupon the atmospheric air within the
container may be exhausted.
Upon unscrewing the nozzle the air pressure will act upon the disc d closing same
upon the grid. The cap g, is now screwed in and down whereupon the pipe from
the source of gas supply, preferably at a pressure in excess of one atmosphere will
be let in from the valve Fig. 3 until the vacuum is filled with the required gas to
preserve the goods.
Packing cases so fitted and filled will be simply made perfectly effective and can
be used over and over again if the lid be carefully and now distructively placed and
secured.
The arrangement is equally applicable to store rooms aboard ship or on shore.
When the goods have to be removed the gas may be saved by applying the nozzle
of a draw off pump to the outlet valve Fig. 2 and then letting in the air either by
removing cap g of valve 3 or by simply unscrewing the lid or opening the cover or
door as the case may be.
In Fig. 6. the means of storing and removing the gas is shown by a chamber
having the two parts A. B. so that when it is desired to remove goods or place them
in the large chamber it can be accomplished without opening the large chamber to
the air.
The smaller chamber B will be fitted with doors such as C. D. manipulated from
the outside so that the intermediate door C, can be opened without opening the
door D to the air. The door E leads to the store chamber and may be fitted air
tight substantially as shown with packing beads such as a².
Both the chambers may be fitted with glass covered sight holes. When it is
desired to remove goods from the large chamber the outside door D. of the smaller
chamber B. is closed and after expelling or drawing off the air from chamber B, by
a jet of gas from the large chamber or by valve such as 2 the inside door C can then
be opened after D has been closed by means of screws, levers, hydraulic plungers
or rods or other device operated from the outside. The goods required having been
removed into the smaller chamber B. by means of a hooked rod (not shown) or
other device working in a gland or stuffing box of a universal joint such as a cup
and ball, the inner door C. is again closed and the goods will be removed by opening
outside door D.
The valves indicated at 2. 3 of chamber A will allow of the gas being drawn off
when full access is required as by door E. or one may be used as a safety
valve. F indicates a revolving frame upon which hooks can be provided and
goods be hung for storage purposes and convenience of accessibility and removal.
Where a single chamber is used the excess of gas over the atmospheric pressure
may be pumped into a strong cylinder or other vessel and where the double chamber
is used the excess of gas in the chamber B may be returned to chamber A. before
opening the smaller chamber B. for purpose of economy.
On account of its great convenience I use by preference carbon dioxide commonly
known as carbonic acid gas, such gas being prepared by any of the well known

page_text: methods such as by the action of acids on metallic carbonates or the action of alums
on the carbonates or bicarbonates of the alkaline metals, but the most convenient of
all methods is to use the liquified carbonic acid gas or the lightly compressed gas
as now commercially obtainable in which case the valves such as 2, 3, would be most
advantageously used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The process of and means for preserving and storing india rubber, vulcanized
india rubber gutta percha or goods made therefrom by carbonic acid gas, hydrogen
gas, nitrogen gas, marsh gas or any other suitable simple or compound gas or a
mixture of two or more of the gases of non oxidising quality or character
substantially as herein set forth.
2. The box, chamber or container with valves such as described for employment
of the compressed or liquified gas as and for the purpose specified.
3. The hermetically closed chamber fitted with valves, safety valves and pressure
gauge and pump or pumps for exhausting air and supplying gas under pressure as
herein set forth.
4. The double chamber A. B with the doors C, D, E arranged and combined
for storing and removal of goods without escape of gas substantially as herein
specified.
5. The inlet and outlet valves constructed combined and arranged in combination
with a receiving or storing and preserving chamber such as a or A. B as and for
the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 16th day of Nozambes 1901
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for Applicant.