An Improved Desiccating Apparatus for Keeping Dry the Interior of Pianofortes, Organs, and other Enclosed Chambers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1897--Accepted, 12th Feb., 1898
An Improved Desiccating Apparatus for Keeping Dry the Interior of
Pianofortes, Organs, and other Enclosed Chambers.
HANNAH OSBORNE Tanner, married, of Alexandra Cottage, Rack Park, Kings-
bridge, Devon, and THOMAS ERNEST WINTER, of Waverley Terrace, Kingsbridge,
Devon, a Pianoforte Tuner and Repairer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
--
The apparatus consists of (1) a receiver (2) hygroscopic salts.
(1) The receiver is a vessel composed of glass & other material and of various
forms. It is open at the top and divided into two chambers by an intervening
drainage plate, which is perforated & removable. The edges of this plate are
covered with india-rubber or other non-resonant material. The base is covered on
the outside with either india rubber, felt or cloth. The outside of the upper and
open chamber is, in some cases, also muffled.
(2) The hygroscopic salts consist of fused calcium chloride or a mixture of
this salt with anhydrous copper sulphate. A little flavouring matter is also added,
namely essential oils such as otto de roses and the like.
METHOD OF APPLICATION.
The upper and open chamber of the receiver is filled with the hygroscopic salts
in question, which thus rest upon the perforated drainage plate. It is then ready
to be placed inside pianos, organs & the like, or inside chambers intended to be
kept dry.
ACTION.
As portions of the salt absorb the aqueous vapour they deliquesce and the
resultant liquid trickles down amongst the mass of the salt, through the perfora-
1
1
1.
L
the maninse
kept dry.
ACTION.
As portions of the salt absorb the aqueous vapour they deliquesce and the
resultant liquid trickles down amongst the mass of the salt, through the perfora-
the drainage plate into the bottom chamber
tions
CLAIMS OF INVENTION.
Prevents rusting of wires, the swelling of the bushing cloth, sluggishness of
action, & other inconveniences arising from damp in musical instruments.
Dated this second day of March One thousand eight-hundred and ninety-
Seven.
HANNAH OSBORNE TANNER.
THOMAS ERNEST WINTER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Desiccating Apparatus for Keeping Dry the Interior of
Pianofortes, Organs, and other Enclosed Chambers.
HANNAH OSBORNE TANNER, of Alexandra Cottages, Rack Park, Kingsbridge,
Devon, Married, and THOMAS ERNEST WINTER, of 2, Waverley. Terrace, Kings-
Di 11
An Improved Desiccating Apparatus for Keeping Dry the Interior of
Pianofortes, Organs, and other Enclosed Chambers.
HANNAH OSBORNE TANNER, of Alexandra Cottages, Rack Park, Kingsbridge,
Devon, Married, and THOMAS ERNEST WINTER, of 2, Waverley. Terrace, Kings-
Di 11

page_text: bridge, Devon, Pianoforte Tuner and Repairer, 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 apparatus consists of
(1) Receiver.
(2) Hygroscopic salts.
(1) The receiver is made in two shapes, namely. circular and oval, marked
Figs. I. and II. respectively on annexed drawing. Each kind is a vessel, composed
of suitable material, such as glass, porcelain, and approximates in shape to that
of the figure 8, with the exception that the top part is open, in order to contain
the salts, and the bottom or base is flat for purposes of stability. Each receiver
is divided into two chambers by an intervening drainage plate, marked C on
drawing, which fits in the middle or the constricted part of each receiver, corre-
sponding to that part of the figure 8 where the two circles meet. By this means
there is formed an upper and open chamber, marked A on drawing, and a lower
and closed chamber, marked B on drawing. The drainage plate, in each kind of
receiver, is composed of various substances, such as wood, glass, porcelain, vulcanite
or other hard material. It is perforated and removable and possesses a small knob
screwed in the centre, by means of which the plate is lifted. In the circular form
of receiver, the drainage plate is circular, whilst in the oval form the plate is
oval. In each case, the edge is bevelled, in order to prevent the possibility of the
drainage plate falling through into the closed chamber of the receiver. In those
instances, where, owing to a misfit of the plate or otherwise, vibration is likely
to occur, the edge is covered with india-rubber or other non-resonant material.
The base of each receiver is covered on the outside with either india-rubber, felt,
or cloth. The outside of the upper and open chamber is, in some instances,. also
muffled, in order to prevent vibration.
(2) Hygroscopic salts. These salts consist of a mixture of about 98 per cent. of
fused calcium chloride and 2 per cent. of anhydrous copper sulphate. A little
flavouring matter, namely essential oils, such as otto of roses and the like, is
also added. These salts are placed in the upper and open chamber of each kind
of receiver, and then rest upon the drainage plate. On the receiver, containing
these salts, being placed inside a piano, organ, cabinet, case, or other enclosed
chamber, the aqueous vapour therein is absorbed by the salts, which, in conse-
quence, deliquesce and trickle down through the perforations of the drainage plate
into the closed chamber of the receiver. By this means, the air inside the chamber,
where this apparatus is placed, is kept dry, and any injuries, defects, or incon-
veniences caused by damp, such as in the case of a piano, the rusting of wires and
swelling of the bushing cloth, is prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
(1) The particular construction of each kind of receiver.
(2) The special mixture of hygroscopic salts.
Dated this twentieth day of Nazombo 1907