AN IMPROVED METHOD
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Constantien Marillier, of Nice, in the Republic
of France, at present residing at 123, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Constantien Marillier
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st October 1881.
JAMES CONSTANTIEN MARILLIER, of Nice, in the Republic of France, at present
residing at 123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer.
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TEA."
My Invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing tea and to
apparatus therefor.
According to the present system of manufacture the leaves of the tea plant
previous to being rolled are allowed to wither for some time by being exposed on
trays to the action of the atmosphere, by which means a suitable degree of
withering is not always attainable owing to the unfavourable state of the weather,
and a loss of leaf consequently ensues.
Now my Invention consists in obtaining the necessary degree of withering
regularly and rapidly by placing the leaves in a special airtight chamber or
chambers, composed according to one arrangement of galvanized iron plates (but
may be of any other desired shape or material), closed and rivetted together on all
sides except the front, where it is closed by a door hinged to the side of the
chamber or tank. This door when closed takes against an india rubber ring placed
between it and the rim surrounding the mouth of the chamber or tank, and for
tightly securely the door in its closed position hooks or catches are provided which
are fixed on a vertical rod or bolt carried by lugs, the latter being secured to the
chamber or tank. To the rod or bolt is fixed a closing lever by means of which
the hooks or catches are thrown forward, so as to close over and hold the edge of
the door,

page_text: In the chamber or tank are arranged horizontally one above the other galvanized
iron trays which are supported on brackets, and occupy the entire sectional area of
the chamber or tank except at their side and back edges, where they are cut away
so as to form air passages.
The chamber or tank communicates by means of a pipe with a valve box
containing an air exhaust valve and an air inlet valve. These valves are
respectively regulated by screwed stems operated by handles. From the valve
box below the air exhaust valve is a pipe communicating with the air pump
(or pumps).
The manner in which the leaves of the tea plant are treated by this apparatus is
as follows: The leaves being first placed on the trays in the chamber or tank and
the door tightly closed, as described, the air inlet valve is closed and the air
exhaust valve opened, when the air pump being set in action the air is drawn from
the chamber or tank, and a more or less vacuum thereby set up in the latter, which
vacuum causes the leaves to wither.
This being effected the air exhaust valve is closed and the inlet valve opened,
when air thereby entering the chamber or tank the door can be opened and the
leaves withdrawn ready for rolling.
By this method of withering the leaves may be rolled without the delay
necessitated by the open air process, and their flavour or aroma more perfectly
preserved.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Constantien Marillier in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st April 1882.
"
JAMES CONSTANTIEN MARILLIER, of Nice, in the Republic of France, at present
residing at 123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer.
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TEA."
My Invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing tea, and to
apparatus therefor. According to the present system of manufacture the leaves of
the tea plant previous to being rolled are allowed to wither for some time by being
exposed on trays to the action of the atmosphere, by which means a suitable degree
of withering is not always attainable owing to the unfavourable state of the
weather, and a loss of leaf consequently ensues.
Now my Invention consists in obtaining the necessary degree of withering
regularly and rapidly by placing the leaves in a special airtight chamber or
chambers of any suitable size, shape, material, or arrangement, whether fixed,
revolving, or otherwise. In the chamber or chambers a more or less vacuum is
produced by means of air pumps or other form of exhausting apparatus, either
worked by hand, steam, hydraulic, gas, electricity, or any other motive power that
may be most suitable. And in order that my said Invention may be well
understood, I shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, reference
being made to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, like letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in the respective Figures.
Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation of one form of my improved apparatus for
manufacturing tea; Figure 2, a sectional plan of the same partly broken away, and
Figures 3 and 4, detached views of parts of Figures 1 and 2.
A represents a specially constructed air tight chamber or tank which in this
case is of a square or rectangular form composed of galvanized iron plates (but
which may be of any other desired shape or material), closed and rivetted together
by angle irons as shewn, on all sides except the front, where it is closed by a
door B (seen also in part elevation, Figure 3), properly strengthened and hinged
at C, C, to the side of the chamber or tank A. This door B when closed takes
against an india rubber ring D placed between it and the angle iron rim E
surrounding the mouth of the chamber or tank A, and for tightly securing the
door B in its closed position hooks or catches F are provided which are fixed on a
vertical rod or bolt G carried by lugs H, the latter being secured to the chamber
or tank A To the rod or bolt G is fixed a closing lever I, by means of which the
hooks or catches F are thrown forward so as to close over and hold the edge of the
door B. In the chamber or tank A are arranged horizontally, one above the other,
galvanized iron trays J which are supported on brackets K, and occupy the entire
sectional area of the chamber or tank A, except at their side and back edges,
where they are cut away so as to form air passages L.
The chamber or tank A communicates by means of a pipe M with a valve box N
(seen more particularly to an enlarged scale in Figure 4) containing an air exhaust
valve O and an air inlet valve P. These valves O, P, are respectively regulated
by screwed stems Q, R, operated by rods and handles S, T. From the valve box N,
below the air exhaust valve O, is a pipe U communicating with the air pump (or
pumps) V.
The manner in which the leaves of the tea plant are treated by this apparatus
is as follows:-The leaves being first placed on the trays J in the chamber or
tank A and the door B tightly closed as described, the air inlet valve P is closed,

page_text: and the air exhaust valve O opened, when the air pump V being set in action the
air is drawn from the chamber or tank A, and a more or less vacuum thereby set
up in the latter, which vacuum causes the leaves to wither. This being effected
the air exhaust valve O is closed and the inlet valve P opened, when air thereby
entering the chamber or tank A the door B can be opened and the leaves with-
drawn ready for rolling.
By this method of withering the leaves may be rolled without the delay
necessitated by the open air process, and their flavour or aroma more perfectly
preserved.
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 I do not confine myself to the precise
form and arrangement of the apparatus here described for carrying my Invention
into effect, for these may obviously be varied according to location, motive power
obtainable, and other regulating circumstances, but what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as my Invention is,―
Withering the leaves of the tea plant by subjecting them in a specially con-
structed chamber or tank to the action of a more or less vacuum, substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Constantien Marillier, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JAS. CONSTN, MARILLIER. (L.S.)