mproved Method and Apparatus for Drying, and for Keeping Dry, Damp Walls and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification.Left, 17th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
mproved Method and Apparatus for Drying, and for Keeping Dry,
Damp Walls and the like.
A communication by JOHANN GLEICHI, of Pfaffenhofen on Ilm, Bavaria, in the
Empire of Germany, Brewery Proprietor.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street Birmingham
in the County of Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has for its object to dry and to keep dry, damp walls, partitions or
the like, in as rapid and thorough a manner as possible.
In order to attain this object, the plaster is removed from the wall over the
whole extent of the part which is damp and a series of passages or channels is
formed in the masonry. This series consists preferably of vertical and horizontal
which intersect each other, and also oblique or diagonal passages
passages
bisecting the rectangles formed by the intersecting vertical and horizontal
passages. The distance apart of the passages is determined in each case by the
local circumstances.
In walls which are only slightly damp, diagonal passages may be omitted and
similarly in the case of weak walls where the carrying strength would be too much
The passages thus
weakened the horizontal passages may be dispensed with.
formed are covered with thin sheets of suitable material, such as roofing paper
pasteboard or the like, and the whole well is then again covered with plaster like
an ordinary wall. The lowest horizontal passage is connected with the surrounding
air by means of a passage which if necessary may run through the wall to the
outside. The uppermost passage is also provided with a similar outlet passage
in the same way and for the same object. The air circulates uninterruptedly
through the series of passages formed in the masonry, and the walls are dried
and maintained dry with, certainty. The inlet and outlet passages which in the
case of extended walls may be arranged above and below in large number, are lined
in order to afford, less resistance to the inflowing air than does the rough masonry.
In these linings hygroscopic bodies such as chloride of calcium may be placed in
order to dry the air before it enters the series of passages.
In very damp walls, in addition to the series of passages on one side of the wall
and that preferably the inner side, a similar series of passages may also be
arranged on the other or outer side, but not exactly opposite to the others. This
however will not be necessary in most cases.
In order to accelerate the drying, a stove may be arranged at a suitable place,
for instance in the cellar, whereby the air employed may be dried and warmed
before entering the series of passages. The stove which has been designed for
this purpose consists of a sheet metal casing below which there is a suitable
furnace or source of heat and in which a vessel is inserted for holding a
The air is heated by the
hygroscopic substance such as chloride of calcium.
furnace and rises upwards through the chloride of calcium holder, whilst fresh
I

page_text: air is drawn in through a grating or perforations at the top. The heated air,
dried by the chloride of calcium passes through a pipe to the series of passages,
and the circulation of the air may be assisted if desired by means of a fan.
When the chloride of calcium is saturated with moisture, the passage of the air
through the pipe is prevented, preferably by means of a valve or tap. Valves
or slides in the pipes leading to and from the stove are simultaneously opened.
The heated air passes through a pipe into the series of passages in the masonry,
whilst the moisture is expelled from the chloride of calcium by another pipe.
When it is not necessary to dry the air the vessel containing chloride of calcium
may be dispensed with in connection with the stove, and the air to be heated may
be drawn in at the bottom of the stove casing and discharged from the top.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1895.
Improved Method and Apparatus for Drying, and for Keeping Dry,.
Damp Walls and the like.
A communication by JOHANN GLEICH, of Pfaffenhofen on Ilın, Bavaria, in the
Empire of Germany, Brewery Proprietor.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street, Manchester
both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer 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 has for its object to dry and to keep dry, damp walls, partitions
or the like, in as rapid and thorough a manner as possible.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 shows a front view of a prepared wall, unplastered;
Figure 2 a horizontal section of a plastered wall;
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of a plastered wall in combination with
a stove for accelerating the drying process.
In order to attain the object of this invention, the plaster is removed from the
wall over the whole extent of the part which is damp and a series of passages or
channels is formed in the masonry. This series consists preferably of vertical and
horizontal passages ab which intersect each other, and also oblique or diagonal
passages c bisecting the rectangles formed by the intersecting vertical and hori-
zontal passages. The distance apart of the passages is determined in each case by
the local circumstances.
In walls which are only slightly damp, diagonal passages may be omitted and simi-
larly in the case of weak walls where the carrying strength would be too much weakened
the horizontal passages may be dispensed with. The passages thus formed are
covered with thin sheets d of suitable material, such as roofing paper pasteboard or
the like, and the whole wall is then again covered with plaster e like an ordinary
wall. The lowest horizontal passage is connected with the surrounding air by
means of a passage f which if necessary may run through the wall to the outside.
The uppermost passage
also provided with a similar outlet passage in the same
way and for the same object. The air circulates uninterruptedly through
the series of passages formed in the masonry, and the walls are dried and
maintained dry with certainty. The inlet and outlet passages, (f..which in the

page_text: case of extended walls may be arranged above and below in larger number are
lined in order to afford less resistance to the inflowing air than does the rough
masonry. In these linings hygroscopic bodies such as chloride of calcium may be
placed in order to dry the air before it enters the series of passages.
In very damp walls, in addition to the series of passages on one side of the wall
and that preferably the inner side, a similar series of passages may also be
arranged on the other or outer side, but not exactly opposite to the others. This
however will not be necessary in most cases.
In order to accelerate the drying, a stove A, Figure 3, may be arranged at
suitable place, for instance in the cellar, whereby the air employed may be drie l
and warmed before entering the series of passages. The stove which has been
designed for this purpose consists of a sheet metal casing g below which there is a
suitable furnace or source of heat and in which a vessel is inserted for holding a
hygroscopic substance such as chloride of calcium. The air is heated by the
furnace and rises upwards through the chloride of calcium holder, whilst fresh air
is drawn in through a grating or perforations k at the top. The heated air, dried
by the chloride of calcium passes through a pipe to the series of passages, and
the circulation of the air may be assisted if desired by means of a fan. When the
chloride of calcium is saturated with moisture, the passage of the air through the
Valves or slides n
pipe is prevented, preferably by means of a valve or tap m.
and o in the pipes r and q leading to and from the stove are simultaneously
opened. The heated air passes through the piper into the series of passages in
the masonry, whilst the moisture is expelled from the chloride of calcium by the
pipe 9.
When it is not necessary to dry the air the vessel containing chloride of calcium
may be dispensed with in connection with the stove, and the air to be heated may
be drawn in at the bottom of the stove casing and discharged from the top.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me.
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is : -
or
1. An improved method of drying and keeping dry damp walls and the like,
consisting in forming vertical, horizontal, and oblique or diagonal passages (a b c).
beneath the plaster on one or both sides of the wall and in covering said passages
with thin sheets d of suitable material, such as roofing paper, pasteboard, or the
like, said passages being connected above and below with the surrounding air or
with an air warming device whereby a constant circulation of air in the wall is.
maintained, the air being dried if desired by means of a hygroscopic substance,
such as chloride of calcium, before entering the series of pipes, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
2. An apparatus for use with the hereinbefore described method of drying and
keeping dry damp walls and the like, comprising a stove or casing (g) a vessel (h)
for holding a hygroscopic substance (chloride of calcium), means for heating the
stove and suitable pipes and valves substantially as described, whereby heated air
or air dried by passage over the hygroscopic substance may be conducted into the
series of passages for the purpose set forth, a de-hydration of the hygroscopic
substance to allow of its re-utilisation being effected when desired by adjusting
Baid valves.
Dated this 16th day of October 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.