US273205A - wentzell - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. W. 8: J. B. WENTZELL.

MOISTENING APPARATUS FOR CIGARS AND TOBAOGO. No. 273,205. Patented Feb.2' 7 ,1883.'

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(No Model.) A 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

- W. W. 81 J. B. WENTZELL.

'MOISTENING APPARATUS FOROIGARS. AND TOBACCO, No. 273,205. Patented ,Peb.' 27 1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. WENTZELL AND JOHN B. WENTZELL, OF HARPEBS FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA.

MOlSTE-NING APPARATUS FOR CIGARS AND TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 273,205, dated February 27, 1883.

Application filed September 22, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM IV. VVENT- ZELL and JOHN B. WENTZELL, of Harpers Ferry, in the county of Jefferson and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moistening Apparatus for Cigars and Tobacco; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention has relation to the class of tobacco-preservers in which the tobacco is maintained in a moist condition in the box.

The invention has forits object to gradually moisten tobacco automatically to such an extent as to preserve it in its natural freshness and flavor, and also to revivify tobacco which has lost its flavor and freshness and add a considerable percentage to its value.

Heretofore tobacco and cigars have been treated by a moistenin g process by various means of more or less merit; but the cases embodying these means were not provided with controlling and graduating devices for regulating the humidity or moisture of the tobacco or cigars being treated. With our invention we provide controlling means whereby the tobacco may be given any degree of moisture desired.

To this end our invention consists in certain means whereby moisture may be supplied in suitable quantities to and diffused throughout a casing containing the tobacco, and in means for regulating the supply of moisture, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

It further consists in the combination of a cigar-case with a tobacco-case with separate compartments, each communicating with a fluid-reservoir, said fluid-reservoirs discharging into and operating with a large or main reservoir to keep the cigars and tobacco contained in their respective cases moist,the fluidreservoirs having suitable apertures for filling them with a fluid, the amount contained in The admission of moisture to the cigar-case is through valved tubes connecting therewith from the larger or main reservoir, and any excess of fluid therein may be tapped therefrom by a suitable tapping device, shown at the bottom of the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of refer ence marked thereon, Figure 1 represents an elevation in perspective of our improved combined tobacco and cigar case. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation, in section, through the entire apparatus and easing, showing one of the vapor-tubes partly in section and partly in dotted lines. These tubes f establish communication between thereservoirG and cigar-case; Fig 3,atransverse section,on thelineyyof Fig. 2, through the case and apparatus, clearly illustrating the communicating tubes or tlues between the lower finid-reservoir and the cigarchamber above. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the shelves of the tobacco-receptacle. Fig. 5 is a plan view ot'one of the shelves of cigarcase. Each of these shelves is provided with elongated slits. Fig. 6 is a section oi one of the controlling-valves in an open position, and which forms an important feature of our invention, which will form the subject-matter of a separate application.

In the drawingsthe same letters denotelike parts in all the figures.

A is the base-section of the apparatus, embodying the principal portion of our invention. B is the top section, constructed in the usual way, the former being much wider than the latter, and both being provided with doors a b.

The lower portion of the base-section forms a ledge, 6, through which we pass the valveste'ms of our inlet-valves (Z.

In the base-section A we locate a series of fluid-chambers, 1'2 3 4, divided off from each other, which are supplied with liquid by means of valves or openings 0, and beneath these is a reservoir, G, into which all the fluid-chambers may be emptied, or as many of them as we may desire. The fluid-chambers 1,. 2, 3, and 4 are separated from the tobacco- compartments 5, 6, 7, and 8 by means of partitions I, and communicate with the said tobacco-compartment-s 5, 6, 7, and S by means of openings 61, and the reservoir 0 communicates with cigar-compartment D by means of tubes fff, which extend upward from the horizontal partition c, which separates the compartments 1, 2, 3, and 4 from the reservoir 0. These tubes fare also provided with hand opening and closing valves g g g for controlling the amount of moisture which it is desired should be admitted into the cigar-compartment.

' The amount or degree of moisture of course can be graduated as occasion may require; or the moisture may be cut off en tirely from either of the compartments, when found necessary, either by opening valves 6, or by closing the valve 01- of that particular compartment and drawing off the liquid therein; or the degree of moisture in each of the compartments may be graduated at pleasureindependently of the others.

When it is desired to empty any one of the chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4, all that is required to be done is to open its valve (1, when the fluid runs into the reservoir 0 below. This fluid may be of any kind of flavor which will impart a pleasant flavor to the tobacco and cigars, and thus enhance their value. The fluid in the reservoir may be drawn off by means of cook it, and be again used in replenishing the fluid-chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4, or either ot'them. This operation ot'emptying and refilling may be repeated as long as there is any fluid in the reservoir 0.

The spring compression-valve has on its stem a spring, i, which ordinarily keeps the valve cl to its seat in partition 0. The valve has a guide-piece, J, secured to the lower side of the ledge e, which maintains the val ve-stem in a true position. The valve-stem 7c is provided with a catch or catches for holding the valve open when desired. It is evident that any suitable meansmay be employed for retaining the valve in an open position.

Each of the valves has surrounding it a perforated cage, M, which, when the fluid is drawn off from the chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4t, prevents any particles of tobaccoorothersediment from passing through with the fluid into the reservoir G.

The object of perforating or slotting the shelves is to permit the moisture to be transmitted through them to the cigars from shelf to shelf throughout the entire casing.

The doors of the casing should be properly packed with rubber or other suitable packing to prevent leakage of the moisture or admission of air to the chambers. We prefer to make the walls hollow for obvious reasons, and among others may be stated, as one, that the air in the hollow of the walls is a good non-conductor of heat or cold, thereby keeping the contents of the chamber at an even temperature. It is evident that the structure shown by Fig. 1 may be made in upper and lower sections, not only for ready removal in the usual way, but because it often happens that only the lower section or tobacco-moistener is required. In this case the tubesfff are not needed.

The structure may be built of one or more chambers, according to the demands or necessities of the user.

Should it so happen that the tobacco in any one or more of the tobacco-compartments should get too damp or wet, the doors of such can be opened and external air admitted without interfering with the process in the adjoiningcompartments. Thetobacco-compartments are preferably constructed to hold a box of tobacco in bulk of the. usual size, and the shelves to hold the usual cigar-boxes.

The entire structure is preferably lined with zinc; but any of the metals in common use may be employed for this purpose.

It must not be forgotten that the valves, with the exception of valves 9, are all operated from the outside, and thus always accessible.

We are aware that it is not entirely new to keep cigars and tobacco moist in suitable casings in certain manners, and such idea we do not broadly claim.

Having thus described ourinvention and the means of carrying the same into effect, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus for moistening and preserving tobacco and cigars, consisting of the separate fluid-chambers, provided in their tops with inlets for the flavoring-liquid, and outletvalves in their bottoms for drawing oif the liquid, in combination with separate and independent tobacco compartments provided with suitable apertures in the bottoms thereof for the admission of the moisture arising from the fluid, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in an apparatus for ,moistening tobacco, of separated fluid-resen voirs, the series of separated tobacco chambers or compartments, and the main reservoir, the communication between said fluid-reservoirs and the main reservoir being arranged to be controlled by valves, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for treating tobacco and cigars with moisture, as described, the combination of the upper or cigar-holding section and the lower or tobacco-holding section, consisting of the several compartments, with the fluid-reservoirs communicating respectively with the tobacco-compartments, and the main reservoir communicating with the cigar-compartment by valve-controlled tubes, whereby the vapor arising from the liquid in the main reservoir is conducted thereto and the amount of moisture increased or decreased at will, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. WENTZELL. JOHN B. WENTZELL.

Witnesses GEO. W. GRAHAM, G. N. SMITH.

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