Improved Means to be Used in the Preservation of Perishable Substances by Fumigation.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means to be Used in the Preservation of Perishable
Substances by Fumigation.
I, GEORGE DAVIS WHEATON, of Chicago Club, Chicago, in the United States
of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improved apparatus to be used in the preservation
of human bodies and of other substances of a perishable nature.
The improved apparatus is designed for use with antiseptic preparations or com-
pounds which are applied to the purpose aforesaid by fumigation thereof. The
Invention, however, embraces the use of such compounds in the improved. manner
herein described.
The improved apparatus consists essentially of an hermetically closable chamber
(constructed of any required dimensions and of any suitable material) the lower part
of which is adapted to receive the body or substance to be fumigated and preserved,
and the upper part of which is adapted with receptacles (closed from communication
with the chamber) and adapted for containing ice or any suitable refrigerant com-
pound, such receptacles being so arranged relatively to each other and to the top and
side walls of the chamber as to form therewith a combustion chamber for the fumigating
compound which is placed in a suitable receptacle at the upper part of the chamber and
between the refrigerant receptacles, and flues through which the fumes are caused
to traverse and to be thereby cooled before obtaining access to the body or substance
under treatment, which, as aforesaid, is placed in the lower part of the chamber; the
arrangement being such that after the body or substance to be treated is placed
in the chamber and the fumigating compound is ignited and the chamber closed the
combustion of the compound and the continuous circulation of the fumes thereof about
and around the body proceeds. The chamber and ice receptacles are respectively
provided with suitable doors for obtaining access to the interiors thereof and they are
respectively adapted with suitable means for drawing off the gas or liquid if and when
required, the chamber being also if required adapted with means for supplying air to
support combustion of the fumigating compound.
Dated this 11th day of December 1888.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means to be Used in the Preservation of Perishable.
Substances by Fumigation.
I, GEORGE DAVIS WHEATON, of Chicago Club, Chicago, in the United States of
America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 improved apparatus to be used in the preservation
of human bodies, articles of food, and other substances of a perishable nature, by
fumigation.
The improved apparatus has been especially designed for use with the improved
antiseptic compound described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 17843
of 1888 granted to William Hoskins Daniels, and with the modification of such

page_text: compound described in the specification of the said William Hoskins Daniels'
application for Letters Patent No. 2858 of 1889, but it may also be used with such
other antiseptic compounds or preparations as can he applied and used for the purpose
of the Invention in like manner as such aforesaid antiseptic compound is applied
and used. The Invention further embraces the use of all such compounds in the
improved manner hereinafter described.
"
Such being the nature of the said Invention I will hereinafter and by the aid of the
accompanying drawings particularly describe and ascertain in what manner the same
is to be performed.
On the accompanying drawings.
"
Fig. 1. represents a front elevation of the improved apparatus. Fig. 2. repre-
sents a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3. represents a sectional elevation looking from
the front. Figs. 4 to 7 are detail views and will be hereinafter more particularly
. referred to:
The improved apparatus consists essentially of an hermetically closable chamber, 8,
the lower part of which is adapted to receive the body or substance to be fumigated
and preserved, and the upper part of which is fitted with receptacles, 9; the interiors
of which are closed from communication with the interior of the chamber, and are
adapted for containing ice or any other suitable refrigerant compound, and which
receptacles are so arranged relatively to each other and to the top, 10, and side
walls, 11, of the chamber, (and also, if required, to the back, 12, and front, 13, thereof
as in the modification represented in Fig. 2. of the accompanying drawings) as to
form therewith a combustion chamber, 14, for the fumigating compound which is
placed in a suitably supported receptacle, 15, at the upper part of the chamber, 8, and
between the refrigerant receptacles, 9;-and flues 16, through which the fumes
resulting from the combustion of the compound are caused to traverse and to be
therein cooled before obtaining access to the body or substance under treatment.
The chamber may be constructed of any required dimensions and of any suitable
material, but I prefer to construct it of wood,. filling in the back, front and side
panels, 17, with non-absorbent card board or with the material known as "Willesden
paper, the top, bottom, back, front and sides of the chamber being tongued and
grooved and bolted as at, 18, or sc otherwise secured together as to be air-tight
at all parts.
"
The interior of the chamber is provided with a removable board, 19, or other
suitable means resting on brackets, 20, secured to opposite parts of the chamber,
for supporting the pan or container, 15, of the antiseptic compound; and with
removable angle irons, 21, or other suitable means resting in brackets, 22; also
secured to opposite parts of the chamber for supporting the ice or refrigerant
receptacles, 9; and- with removable cross bars, 23, or other suitable means resting:
in brackets, 24; also secured to opposite parts of the chamber for supporting the
meat or other materials to be fumigated and preserved, and which cross bars may
also be made use of for supporting removable longitudinally channelled bearers, 25,
vide Fig. 4, for supporting fruit, eggs and the like; and with removable drip-trays, 26,
resting on brackets, 27, also secured to opposite parts of the chamber, for catching
any drippings of moisture which may condense on and fall from the refrigerant
receptacle. These receptacles are preferably constructed of metal and may either_be
removable from the chamber and be adapted with closely fitting lids, 28, seated on
rubber cushions, 29, surrounding the top edges of the receptacles, as in the modifica-
tion represented in Figs. 2 and 3; or, as I prefer, they. may be closed at the top,
bottom, side and back and only open at the front as in the modification represented in
Fig. 5, the edges of the open front being soldered to or otherwise closed airtight
against the front of the chamber so as to close off communication with the interior
thereof, the receptacles. in such latter modification being preferably formed with a
ridged bottom, 30, upon which the block, 31, of ice rests, and with a front bridge, 32,
for confining the water which melts from the ice, and with an outlet pipe or tap,
as at, 34.

page_text: The chamber is also provided with suitably disposed doorways, 35, 36, 37, for
obtaining access respectively to the interior of the chamber for placing the substance
to be treated therein and for removing the same; to the refrigerant receptacles, 9; and
for the placing and removal of the container, 15, of the fumigating compound and for
igniting the latter; and all such doorways are fitted with airtight-closing hinged
doors, 33, which are preferably fitted with bolts, as at, 38, and with locks, as at, 39,
and are also preferably formed of the construction represented in the enlarged views,
Figs. 5, to, 7, of the accompanying drawings; the doorways being formed with a
surrounding bead, 40, fitting into a corresponding groove, 41; made in the door, and
with an inner surrounding, groove, 42, adapted to receive a correspondingly disposed
elastic tubular cord, 43, surrounding an inner projecting part, 44, of the door.
The panel of the door fitted to the opening, 37, consists of glass so as to permint of
the combustion of the compound being inspected in case it may require attention, and
the panel of the door fitted to the main doorway, 35, is fitted with a thermometer, 45,
vide Fig. 7. by means of which the temperature of the fumes circulating in the
chamber can be ascertained, the preferred temperature being about 40° Fahrenheit, or
tbereabouts.
The modus operandi is that the body or substance to be treated is placed and
suitably supported in the lower part of the chamber, after which the main doorway is
closed, the refrigerant receptacles are charged and the doorways thereof closed, and
the pan of antiseptic compound is placed in position and the compound is ignited and
the doorway thereof closed, all other inlets into and outlets from the chamber (if any)
being also closed: whereupon the combustion of the compound ensues and the fumes
which arise therefrom are cooled and circulate within the chamber and about and
around the substance under treatment.
When the fumigating process is completed the sulphurous and other fumes may be
drawn off from the chamber by means of a tap or like outlet, 46, and any suitable
exhaust apparatus connected therewith after which the chamber may be opened and
entered for the removal of the contents.
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 hereinbefore described improved apparatus to be used in the preservation of
perishable substances by fumigation.
2. Apparatus to be used in the preservation of perishable substances by fumigation,
consisting of an hermetically closable chamber the lower part of which is adapted to
receive the body or substance to be fumigated and preserved, and the upper part of
which is fitted with refrigerant receptacles, the interiors of which are closed from
communication with the interior of the chamber, and the exteriors of which are so
arranged relatively to each other and to the top and side walls of the chamber (and
also, if required, to the back and front thereof) as to form therewith a combustion
chamber for the fumigating compound placed in a suitably supported receptacle
between the refrigerant receptacles, and flues through which the fumes resulting from.
the combustion of the compound are caused to traverse and to be therein cooled before
obtaining access to the substance under treatment; constructed and arranged
substantially as herein before described.
3. The construction of such a chamber in the manner hereinbefore described,
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. The construction of such a chamber with suitably disposed doorways for obtaining
access respectively to the interior of the lower part thereof, to the refrigerant
receptacles, and for the placing and removal of the container of the fumigating
compound and for igniting the latter, all such doorways being fitted with airtight
closing hinged doors substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The construction of such doorways and doors in the manner hereinbefore
.described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 6. The method of effecting the preservation of perishable substances consisting in
subjecting them to the fumes arising from the combustion of suitable antiseptic com-
pounds in a hermetically closed chamber: the .interior of which is artificially cooled by
means which are also effective in cooling the said fumes before they obtain access to
the substance under treatment.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1889:
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.