Improvements in the Preservation of Wood and Iron Imbedded or Buried in the Earth.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
VODIT LEIE
DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preservation of Wood and Iron Imbedded or
Buried in the Earth.
I ROBERT AUGUSTUS CHESEBROUGH of No. 17 East Forty-fifth Street in the
City and County of New York, in the State of New York, United States of
America, 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 invention relates to improvements in the preservation of wood and iron
imbedded or buried in the earth, and consists in a coating of ozokerite applied
to the portion of the wood or iron which is to rest in contact with the earth.
I have discovered that a coating of the substance commonly known in the art as
ozokerite, when applied to the surface of the wood or iron which is to be exposed
to the earth, will completely protect such wood or iron from decay or oxidization,
so that there will be no impairment whatever of the wood or iron from an external
source, no matter how long it be exposed to the earth.
The ozokerite may be prepared for use by simply melting it, or heating it to a
temperature of about 140° Fahrenheit, to bring it to a sufficiently fluid state to
permit it to be applied to the surface to be exposed to the earth.
It should preferably be first purified of the volatile matters which are generally
contained in it, by subjecting it to a temperature of, say, 400° Fahrenheit, in open
kettles, at which temperature such volatile matters will be evaporated. It may
afterwards be further purified by filtration through bone black.
It should not be refined by distillation, because distillation destroys its structure,
and converts it into paraffine wax, which would be liable to flake off, and would not
answer the purpose.
The ozokerite, on the contrary, clings with great tenacity to the surface to which
it is applied, and when applied in its fluid state, creeps into and fills or lines all the
interstices. The tamping of earth around the article coated with it, as, for example,
a fence post, a railway tie or stringer, an underground pipe, will not break or disturb
the integrity of the coating. It is absolutely proof against any alkaline or acid
solutions which may percolate through the ground, as well as against moisture, and
it is also absolutely proof against worms or insects.
The above statements have been proved by actual tests and experiments.
In applying it to fence posts, ties, or sleepers, and sections of underground pipes,
I find it convenient to keep it in a melted state in a suitable trough or other
receptacle, and to immerse the article to be coated in it, then remove the article.
and allow it to drip, when it will be found that the ozokerite has formed a complet
thin coating over the entire portion immersed. If the article to be coated be such
that it cannot be conveniently immersed, the ozokerite may be applied by an
ordinary brush.
The ozokerite which I use, is either that formed in a natural state in the earth,
or such as is known as rod wax, obtained from the sucker rods of oil wells, and
from the settlings in tanks containing crude petroleumn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
A coating of ozokerite applied to wood or iron which is to be imbedded or buried

page_text: in the ground, to preserve the imbedded or buried portions against impairment
by the action of the earth and fluids contained therein, substantially as set
forth.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.