Improvements in the Process of and in the Apparatus for Preserving Articles of Food.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Process of and in the Apparatus for
Preserving Articles of Food.
We, LEOPOLD BREGILA, of Hauptstrasse, 8, Ober Döbling, near Vienna, in the
Empire of Austria, Engineer, and FRANZ BREZA, of Krems-upon-Danube, Lower
Austria, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturer, 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 :-
The present invention relates to certain improvements in the process of preserving
articles of food and in the means for carrying out this process, and is based upon
the generally known quality of the vapours of glacial acetic acid to provoke the
coagulation of the albumen of all proteine bodies brought in contact with these
vapours, the layer of coagulated albumen thus obtained forming a protecting coat
which preserves the proteine body against all further influences.
The particular quality of the vapours of glacial acetic acid to prevent the
decomposition of organic bodies has already been utilised for the preservation of
articles of food.
The improved process hereinafter described consists, in substance, in subjecting
the articles which are intended to be preserved in fresh condition to the action of
the said vapours of glacial acetic acid, in excluding the same from the influence
of the atmospheric air in a closed vessel from which the atmospheric air has been
previously driven by the said vapours. In this manner, all possibility of any
noxious influences of the micro-organisms suspended in the atmospheric air is
absolutely excluded.
The drawing annexed to this Specification shows an apparatus appropriate for
carrying out the above indicated process; said apparatus being represented in
vertical section.
The
As can be seen from this drawing, the apparatus is composed of a vessel a having
a double bottom. The space c, left between the exterior bottom plate 6 and the
interior bottom plate d (which is provided with perforations and is so arranged as
to be easily removable), is filled with a material appropriate to absorb easily great.
quantities of liquids, such, for instance, as felt, sponge and the like, the porous
material in question being previously saturated with glacial acetic acid.
vapours of the latter, emanating from the space e, penetrate through the apertures
of the perforated bottom plate d into the space of the vessel a, in which the bodies
to be preserved are disposed, preferably by introducing these bodies into a net f
and freely suspending the latter to the cover of the vessel. By means of the
threaded cross bar h and the screw i, the cover g, provided with suitable and well
fitting packing, is fitted tightly upon the top of the vessel a, and closes the same
quite hermetically. The cover g is besides provided with an air-exhaust-valve or
cock k.
As soon as the cover is hermetically closed, the valve or cock & is opened and left
open until the vapours of the glacial acetic acid commence to escape through the
same. This is a certain proof that the air is entirely driven out from the vessel u.
The valve or cock k is then closed, whereupon the proteine bodies which are
intended to be preserved are left to the exclusive influence of quite pure and
inmixed vapours of the glacial acetic acid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim :-
-
1. The process of preserving articles of food intended to be kept in a fresh
condition, substantially as herein described; said process consisting in subjecting

page_text: the bodies which are to be preserved to the action of vapours of glacial acetic
acid, in a closed and perfectly air-tight vessel, from which the air has previously
been driven entirely by the said vapours of glacial acetic acid.
2. For carrying out the process indicated in the foregoing claim, an apparatus,
consisting substantially of an air-tight and hermetically closing vessel a provided
with a double bottom and with a hermetically fitting cover, said cover 9 being
provided with an exhaust valve or cock k, in order to let the air contained in the
vessel a escape from the same in the same measure as this vessel is filled with
vapours of glacial acetic acid emanating through the apertures of the perforated
upper bottom plate d of the vessel a.
Dated this 22nd dor of Deanmber 1000
LEOPOLD BREGHA.
FRANZ BREZA.
Per G. G. M. Hardingham,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Associate Agent.