IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND CONFORMATION OF CERTAIN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS AND PROCESSES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Spencer, of 77, Cannon Street, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND CONFORMATION OF CERTAIN MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS AND PROCESSES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE
SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Scaled the 4th March 1870, and dated the 28th December 1869.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Spencer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 28th December 1869, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. 1, GEORGE
SPENCER, of 77, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS 1 am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION AND CONFORMATION OF CERTAIN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS
AND PROCESSES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES.
[Price 8d.]

page_text: PARTS OF WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Spencer, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:-
These improvements consist in the construction and conformation of
certain machinery and other apparatus and processes for the preservation
of animal and vegetable substances, and in certain additions and im-
provements on similar processes patented by one John Barker, of Petra
House, East Sheen, in the County of Surrey, being a communication
from abroad by Nicolas Valentin Haussmann, of 23, Rue St. George's,
Paris, in the Empire of France, dated 21st November 1866, No. 3062,
and also a Patent applied for and obtained in the name of myself
and the said John Barker, dated the 9th March 1869, No. 727.
The purport and object of the Invention patented by the said John
Barker was for the preservation of corn and other cereals, beans, grains,
and seeds, from heating in bulk, and also from injury caused by vermin
and parasitic insects, by placing the said cereals, beans, grains, or seeds
in an atmosphere of nitrogen (or in other words deoxygenised air), which
is made by the passing of atmospheric air into retorts containing
spongy iron" heated at a low red heat, which in its passage through
the spongy iron is deprived of its oxygen and liberates the nitrogen,
which is passed into the "silos" or vessels containing the grain.
"
.
The other Patent alluded to above, which is in my name and the
name of the said John Barker, is for improvements in preserving
animal substances, fruit, and other substances made from corn, grain,
or other vegetable matter, which Specification sets forth the mode of
preserving animal substances, fruit, and other substances by placing
the substance to be preserved in an air-tight vessel from which the
atmospheric air is withdrawn and then refilled by an atmosphere of
nitrogen.

page_text: Sing and preserving of gam
other improvements in the conformation and construction of certain air-
tight silos or air-tight vessels of metal or other materials for the stowing,
packing, and preserving of animal or vegetable substances which are
liable to decompose on shipboard or transportation by land. And also in
the conformation and mechanical arrangement in such vessels and their
attachments.
Secondly. In the construction and arrangement of certain machines,
furnaces, and other apparatus and their attachments for the deoxy-
genising of atmospheric air and producing of nitrogen therefrom adapted
to each of the purposes herein described, so as to shorten the time and
more effectually carry out the objects hercin specified, as well as to
more effectually control the deoxygenising of the atmosphere, and also
in refrigerating the air when deprived of its oxygen. And further to
the desiccating or abstracting of the aqueous matter from the air before
it goes into the deoxygenising apparatus, thereby to insure the nitrogen
when produced to be perfectly dry. And furthermore in the materials
and in the processes herein specified, and the manner of using them.
Chapter 1. The first part of my improvements consists in the general
construction and arrangement of a "silo" of either cast or wrought iron,
as shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1, which is an elevation of a grain silo or
vessel supported on the columns A, A, A, and a circular girder or
base B, B, shown in section; C. C, the body of the vessel; D, D, the
cover or top of the same; E, E, the man-hole plate similar to those
before patented. It is most important that the delivery aperture and
the valve to close such should be placed in some convenient position to
discharge the grain therefrom. I therefore place the said outlet valve
in the centre of the bottom. F, F, the valve, the outlet aperture
coming through the centre column G, G, the said valve being a slide
valve with an india-rubber face or of any other elastic material, as
shown in detail in Figures 2 & 3, which represent in section and
clevation the seating H, H, for the valve, the elastic seating being
dropped in a groove J, J, on which the face of the valve F, F, works.
In order to make this valve perfectly air-tight when it is closed the
valve is pressed up to its seating against the rubber facing by means of
the screws K, K, or is released by unscrewing the set screws when
the valve is perfectly free, and is lifted up over or passed down to cover

page_text: "
the aperture by the handle L and screw M. If this silo be constructed
of cast iron then I make the several joints necessary in its construction
in the manner shown in Figures 4 & 5. For the joints for all the
covers I construct them as shown in Fig. 4. N, N, the thickness of
metal of cast iron for cover and side flanges O, O. On the cover I
construct a lip or reveille" P, and in the lower flange I turn a
groove Q, into which is placed either soft lead or any flexible or elastic
material, so that by pressure from the several bolts the lip or "reveille"
impinges and makes a proper bedding into the packing, making air-
tight joints which may be made and broken at pleasure, and repeated
with certainty. Figure 5 represents the same manner of making the
joints in case the silo is made in sections. Or if the silo be made of
wrought, iron or other metal then I resort to another similar method
adapted to the thinner metal, as shown in Figures 6 & 7.
Figure 6 represents in section a side and cover. R, the cover; S, the
side; T, the groove, in which is placed the packing U, as before
described. In order to get double surface on this metal I rivet on the
band V, as shown in section, the edge of which is pointed or otherwise,
and on a level with the edge of the silo. Each of these two edges enters
the groove and impinges on the packing by means of the bolts or clamps,
as before described in case of Figures 4 & 5.
Another mode of making a similar joint is shown in Figure 7, wherein
the band Vis rivetted on close to the side, the two combined forming a
greater thickness for the joint, the upper surfaces of which are serrated,
which serrations impinge on the packing as before described.
Another method of constructing a silo or vessel of either wrought
iron or zinc, or any other material or metal is shown in Figure 8.
W, W, W, are the sides, say from to " thick; X, X, the bottom;
Y, Y. the top, which is formed in the manner shown with a recess
struck up in the centre, into which is placed a compound valve Z
having two branches a, a', these two pipes emanating from the valve,
each of which is allotted to its specific object or use. The pipe a is to
lead to the exhausting pump to form a vacuum in the silo, or, in other
words, to extract the atmosphere of the silo, and also from the cellular
tissues of the materials to be preserved. The pipe a' leads to a gas-
holder containing the nitrogen. The body of the valve Z is so contrived
3

page_text: that when it is turned by the square to an angle of 45° the egress.
to the air pump is stopped, and the ingress from the gasholder con-
taining the nitrogen is opened, when the nitrogen will rush into and fill.
the silo at atmospheric pressure charging the cells and tissues of the
material to be preserved, and at the same time surrounding it with an
atmosphere of nitrogen, rendering it impossible that any decomposition:
or change can take place. The valve is turned another 45° stopping off.
both the ingress and egress valves for vacuum and gas.
The square is
then released from these apertures, and another seated valve is screwed
down in the body of the brass valve Z closing the whole silo perfectly
air-tight. To protect these pipes and the body of the valve Z, I con-
struct a metal cover d, d, as shown in plan, Figure 9, having a number
of slots e, e, e, in its periphery for holding down bolts f to pass through.
In the centre of the top cover (or protecting cover) there is a hole ý,
which may be again covered with wood or metal and fastened with
bolts. The object of this is that the valves and pipes may be examined
without disturbing the covers. The holding down bolts f, f, f, are
passed through the T-iron hoops j, j, and thence through the top and
cover plate; the T-iron hoops strengthen and protect the silo or vessel..
The construction of silos or air-tight vessel for grain may also be in
brick and cement, and also be made of wood and lined with zinc or other
metal. The mode of fastening the covers and operating of the valves
will be the same as described for those in metal.
Chapter 2 Another part of my improvements consists in the
arrangement and construction of my new deoxygenising furnaces
employed in producing the nitrogen gas, which are shown in Sheet +2,
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and also in certain new materials used in the
said furnaces for taking up the oxygen from the atmosphere in its²
passage through these furnaces, and also in certain contrivances used
in connection with these furnaces.
Firstly, for the purpose of extracting the aqueous matter from the air
before it enters the furnaces. As the heat and time the aqueous matter is
in the furnace will not be sufficient to decompose it, it must therefore of
necessity enter the silo in the form of steam in combination with the
nitrogen, but if refrigerated it would be carried into the silos in an
aqueous state. I therefore propose the following method, viz., to pass
the air as it is drawn from the silos through an apparatus containing

page_text: calcined salts that are most deliquescent, namely, common salt, or
chloride of sodium, or chloride of calcium, or any other of the deliquescent
salts that are equally cheap and have an affinity for moisture. I pro-
pose to place these calcined salts into various cells or chambers of such
a form so as to insure that the air in its passage from the silo to the
pump and furnace or from the atmosphere to the pump or furnace shall
pass through and impinge on these calcined salts, so that it will extract
all moisture and the air be perfectly dry before it is deoxygenised in the
furnace and that pure dry nitrogen will be the result.
Before I describe the construction of my improved furnaces, I will
describe the means by which the nitrogen may be refrigerated before it
enters the silos or vessels containing the materials to be preserved, and
also the apparatus to be used for the purpose of refrigeration. After
the nitrogen leaves the furnace and in its passage to the silos it may be
found to be of a higher temperature than necessary. I therefore in such
a case place between the furnace and silos a refrigerator of any of the
best known forms surrounded with water and ice or water alone, or ice
alone, to abstract the superfluous caloric from the nitrogen. By these
two before mentioned processes the nitrogen will be dry and cold, two
great essentials that have not before been sufficiently attended to in
similar onerations

page_text: ends forming four compartments. The partition M' projects below the
bottom of the cage and passes into a groove from the bottom to the top
nearly, leaving a passage above between it and the cover O.
partition M" passes from the top to the bottom.
The
The partition M",
passes again from the bottom nearly to the top, as in the case M' just
described. The bottom of each of those four chambers have holes in
them in any number, as in Figure 5, or they may have bars in each for
the gas to pass up and down between the bottom of the retort E and the
bottom of the cage G by the passage or space P, P. These cages are so
constructed and are dropped down into the retort, and the top edges of
the retorts drop into a groove and sand joint Q all around each retort.
The two covers O and O' of the cage are fastened with bolts and made
air-tight. The air from the force pumps enters the first retort through
the ingress pipe R, thence by the arrows as directed first under the cage,
then up through space No. 1 containing spongy iron or wrought iron
turnings or borings, or filings, thence over the partition M", down
through the iron in the chamber No. 2. and thence by the space P up
through the spongy iron in the chamber No. 3, down through the
chamber No. 4, through the perforated bottom, and out through the exit
pipe S by the bend T into the ingress pipe shown in plan through the
second retort, traversing through the various chambers as beforc
described, and out through the exit U and by the bend V with the
ingress pipe W for the third retort, and thence through all the four
chambers in the same manner described, and thence out through the
egress pipe X to the refrigerator, and thence to the silo or to a gas
holder to be stored for use.
One great element in the deoxygenising of atmospheric air by this
process is an equal and uniform heat at all times during the process;
that is, the spongy iron or iron borings or turnings should be kept at a
low red heat. To do this with an ordinary fire from whatever fuel used
it is necessary to construct the fire-grates that they can be passed in a
body containing the incandescent fuel up and down at pleasure, so as to
be either nearer to or further off from the retorts to control the heat.
This I accomplish by means of four racks a, a, a, a, which are each
fastened into the grate bars at their lower ends, and are operated on by
the four pinions b, b, b, b, attached to the shafts c and c', on the ends of
which are two wheels d and 2' into which work two pinions e and e¹,

page_text: which are fixed on a transverse shaft f, f, on the end of which is a wheel
and handle g and g' and by and through which the whole of the fuel and
the grates are operated upon. It will also be necessary to have a damper
in the flue D, so that by means of this damper and the advancing or
receding of the fire to or from the retorts a uniform heat can be main-
tained. I also if necessary in some cases use gas under these retorts and
regulate the intensity and quantity of the flame in the ordinary way.
Another construction of furnace is represented in Figures 6 and 7.
Figure 7 is a plan of the same and is composed of vertical retorts (one
or more combined), which are dropped through the top of the furnace
and immediately over the fuel. A, A, the casing of the furnace; B, B,
the fire-brick; C, C, represents two retorts in section, which are each
passed through holes in the top plate D. The cover E of the retorts
have each an ingress pipe F, down through and into the centre of each
retort nearly to the bottom. The covers have also an exit pipe G passing
out through each and lead to the next ingress pipe of No. 2 retort
in plan, and so on from one to the other in any number. The air to be
decomposed is forced down through the ingress pipe in No. 1 retort;
thence it ascends through the spongy iron or borings in the retort and
out through the exit pipe G, and thence by the bend to the next ingress
pipe F, and so on from any number of retorts. This method is quite
equal to the one previously described, and may be adopted in especial
cases to advantage. The grate recedes and advances by the same
means as before described in the previous case shown in Figures 1, 2,
and 3.
Chapter 4. I now come to my newly contrived air pumps for the
exhausting of air from silos and forcing the same through my improved
decomposing furnace as previously described; and when the air is
deprived of its oxygen it is forced by the same through the refrigerator,
and thence to the silo or vessel containing the substances to be
preserved. It is necessary in the operations herein-before described
to have a uniform and steady passage of air passing from the silos or
vessels into and through, firstly, the desiccating apparatus as described,
then to deprive it of its aqueous matter, thence through the decomposing
furnace to be deprived of its oxygen, and thence into the refrigerator
to be there deprived of the superfluous caloric before entering the silos
or receivers. For this purpose I have constructed certain new double-

page_text: acting force pumps, which are shown in Sheet 3. Figure 1 represents
a general elevation of the pumps showing the frame and other con-
nections; Figure 2, a plan of the same; Figure 3, a section of one of
the pumps showing its internal arrangements. A, A, A, the two frames,
which are tied together by the bolts B, B, and B', B'; on the latter
tie bolts which project through the frame are four small truck wheels
C, C, C, C, on which the whole machine is carried so as to be rolled
closed to each silo if necessary; D, D, the crank affixed to the pinion
shaft E; F, a pinion; G, the fly wheel; H, the crank shaft with cranks
at right angles (one for each pump). On the end of this shaft is a
wheel I which is twice that of the pinion in diameter, which causes
the motion of the pumps to make one stroke each to one revolution
of the pinion shaft E; J, the connecting; K, parallel motion; L, the
body of the pumps; M, the ingress pipes to each retort, and N, the
egress pipes from each retort. It will be seen in reference to Figure 3
(in section) that the barrel O of the pump is affixed to the partition P
which divides the ingress and egress valves for each stroke, which are
marked Q, R, S, T, respectively. When the piston U is passed down
it lifts the egress valve Q passing the air out, and opens the ingress
valve R drawing air in for the next stroke, and when the piston is
drawn up the ingress valve S and egress valve T are opened, and so
alternately at each double stroke of the piston. By thus contriving the
pump the faces of the ingress valves S and R are cast on to the circular
nozzle W, and the faces of the egress valves Q and T will be cast on
to the body of the pump L. The egress nozzle X fastens on with the
flanges Y, Y, which has a "reveille" or circular cup Z passing into
a groove a which contains a packing ring on which the lip impinges.
The novelty in this pump being the partition P intervening between the
ingress and egress valves for each stroke, and also in the general con-
formation of the various parts so that the pump can be made altogether
in the lathe, and forming a pump or pumps, as the case may be, to
exhaust and force a steady and uniform stream of air at the same time.
Or I use this pump for the purpose of refrigerating, as the best-known
methods can or may be applied in the process, but the one I prefer
(although I do not confine myself to any specific arrangement) is by
passing the nitrogen through a coil or coils or through a series of
pipes arranged in the best possible form and manner to increase and
expose the surface to the action and transmission of the caloric and

page_text: also in the best manner in taking away the caloric after it is transmitted
through the surface. This I propose to accomplish by placing the
transmitting surfaces of coils or other forms before mentioned in a
tank of water, and in passing water through such tank at a very
rapid rate by means of improved force pump, the same precisely as
the one described for the exhausting of air, with this difference, that
I add on to the egress passages an air chamber to keep up a continuous
and rapid stream of water in its passage through and around the trans-
mitting surfaces. The advantage of this kind of pump can be seen
that it will be portable, efficient, and cheap in its construction, a thing
most essential in the apparatus above described.
In some cases the drying and refrigerating may be omitted, but in
general it will be found necessary, as in the case of drying it will be
dependent on the humid state of the atmosphere for the time being;
and in the case of cooling it will depend on the rapidity in which the
air is deoxygenised in its passage through the red hot materials in
the furnaces herein described.
Having now described the several improved and new apparatus in
their construction and conformation necessary in effecting the objects
desired, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself precisely
to the details as herein described and shown in the Drawings referred
Various
to, as they may be varied to suit circumstances and place.
alterations may be effected without departing from the nature of the
Invention, I therefore claim,-
Firstly. The conformation and arrangements in the construction of
silos or vessels for the holding of vegetable and animal substances, as
fully described in Chapter 1 and shown in the Drawings referred to.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of my improved
deoxygenising furnaces as described and shown in the Drawings,
Sheet 2, and also the mode of desiccating the air before the deoxy-
genising process, and also the manner of refrigerating the deoxygenised
air after it has passed through the furnaces and before entering the
silos, and also the construction and conformation of the pump or pumps
both for air and water in the above processes, and for water alone for
other purposes, as fully described in Chapters 2, 3, and 4, and shown in

page_text: Thirdly. In the general arrangement of the several improvements
in combination in themselves as being new or in combination with
the improvements and Inventions in the Patents before referred to in
this Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Spencer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witnessed by
PAUL R. HODGE.
THOS. W. WILLIAMS.
GEORGE SPENCER. (L.S.)