An Improved Method of and Means for Deodorizing Sewers and other places similar and dissimilar thereto.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Deodorizing Sewers and
other places similar and dissimilar thereto.
I, JOHN BURTON of 138 Widnes Road, Widnes, in the County of Lancashire,
Alkali Horeman and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of, and means for, disinfecting or
deodorizing sewers, drains or other underground bye ways or conduits, or mortuaries,
sheds, warehouses or any other place or building wherein noxious vapors or gases,
dangerous to human and animal life are likely to generate or accumulate, or for
sanitating or disinfecting houses or dwellings that have been inhabited by persons
suffering from contagious diseases. The object of my said invention is that, by the
method and means by me employed in carrying the same into effect, I am enabled
to thoroughly and perfectly destroy or neutralize all such vapors or gases, and all
lurking germs of disease, without unduly exposing the operators thereto, and effect
a great saving in the time, labour and material employed as compared with the
methods and means hitherto employed for imperfectly attaining the same end.
In carrying my invention into effect in so far as relates to sewers and other
underground conduits for liquified refuse matter, provide at varying intervals
therein suitable systems of luting, which may be by placing wooden, brick, stone or
other vertical partitions a short distance apart within and upon the bottom thereof,
or equivalents therefor, of a height somewhat below the level of the liquid, and
depending from the roof of said sewer or conduit, and occupying the entire width
thereof, I place wooden or other frames covered with brattice cloth, canvas, felting
or other suitable porous fabric, in such a manner that, the lower surface of said
frame dips between, and below the upper edges of the partitions aforesaid, so that
the passing more or less liquified matter passes over the top of the latter and beneath
the former and a water seal is formed thereby, and the sedimental debris of the
sewer or the like would be collected thereat to facilitate removal thereof, and for
this purpose it may be more convenient in some cases that, the said luting be
arranged to occur at or near the usual manholes.
In order to destroy or neutralize the noxious gases or vapours generated in said
sewers or conduits, I inject thereinto under pressure sprays or jets of any suitable
deodorizing agent either in liquid form by preparing a saturated solution of same,
or in the form of fine powder as may be most convenient or desirable.
I attain this by the employment of any suitable kind of fan or blower, situated at
any convenient point above ground, and operated either by manual power, or driven
When
by or from the shaft of a portable engine, or by any other convenient means.
a pulverulent deodorizing agent is employed, this may be placed within a hopper or
the like connected to or forming part of the said fan or blower, and an elastic tube
from the delivery nozzle of same may be connected to a pipe or tube, the upper end
of which is situated in any convenient or accessible position at or near the surface
of the road, while the lower end passes downward, and through the upper portion of
the brattice frame, or where the latter fixed or stationery pipe has not been
provided, the elastic tube from the blower or fan would be passed down the manhole
and through the brattice frame in a like manner, this being provided with a hole
with a removable cover for that purpose, and in either case the fixed or portable
tube would terminate with a vulcanite or other suitable spraying nozzle for
distributing the pulveriferous deodorizing agent in fine particles, and this would be
fed from the hopper into the fan or blower and forced thereby through the conducting
tube- and said nozzle in sufficient quantities to perfectly neutralize or destroy all

page_text: noxious gases therein, so that if necessary workmen may enter the sewer or conduit
for the purpose of effecting repairs, or the removal of the collected debris aforesaid.
Or when a liquid deodorizing agent is employed a pump or injector would be used
in lieu of the fan or blower, and operated by the same or other means, with or
without the said liquid agent being accompanied by steam. A tank or other
container for the said liquid deodorizing agent may be fixed upon, or form part of
the said engine when such is employed for operating the pump or injector.
By moving the injecting apparatus and the power for operating the same from
place to place I am enabled to perfectly deodorize each section of the sewer or
conduit formed by the brattices aforesaid, and by injecting the agent employed into
the upper surface of the sewer in fine sprays instead of by shoveling or throwing in
the same as hitherto, I am enabled to save at least 50% of material, and a corre-
sponding saving of labour and time, and without unduly exposing the operators, or
allowing the noxious gases to escape into the air to the danger of passing pedestrians
or adjacent houses.
I may in certain cases where desirable employ the use of sulphuric or other acid
for injection as aforesaid, in which case the pump or injector may take its feed
from adjacent carboys containing the same.
In using my method for cleansing houses infected with the germs of contagious
diseases, a flexible tube may extend from the delivery nozzle of the injector or
blower into any suitable part of the dwelling, and sprays of pulveriferous or liquid
deodorizing agent be injected thereinto, the latter if necessary accompanied by a
jet of steam, or any shed, warehouse or building may be placed in a perfect hygienic
condition by the same or similar means.
The engine or other power employed for disinfecting as aforesaid may carry a
crane or derrick, so that the same power may be used for raising debris from, or
lowering bricks or other material into, the said sewer or conduit.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1809
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Deodorizing Sewers and
other places similar and dissimilar thereto.
I, JOHN BURTON of 138 Widnes Road, Widnes, in the County of Lancashire,
Alkali Horeman and Contractor, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved method of and means for, disinfecting or
deodorizing sewers, drains or other underground by ways or conduits, or mortuaries,
sheds, warehouses or any other place or building wherein noxious vapors or gases,
dangerous to human and animal life are likely to be generated and accumulate. Or
for sanitating houses or dwellings that have been inhabited by persons suffering
from contageous diseases. The object of my invention is, that by the method and
means by me employed in carrying the same into effect, I am enabled to thoroughly
and perfectly destroy or neutralize all such vapors and gases, and all lurking germs
of disease, without unduly exposing the operators thereto, and effect a great saving
in the time labour and material employed as compared with the methods and means
hitherto employed for imperfectly attaining the same end.
In order that the method and means employed by me in attaining the object of
my invention may be the better understood, reference may be made to the accom-
panying drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of part of an ordinary main sewer in
which I illustrate two divisions or partitions forming part of the subject of my
invention

page_text: Figs. 2 and 3 are elevational views of the said partitions or divisions shewn
within a vertical section of the conduit portion of Fig. 1.
In carrying my invention into effect in so far as relates to sewers and other
underground conduits for liquid refuse matter, I provide within such conduit A, at
suitable intervals, and preferably, in close proximity to the ordinary man-holes B,
a suitable system of luting, which I prefer to effect by fixing in the bottom of A,
two, wood, stone, brick or other partitions C and C¹, a short distance apart, and of
a height corresponding to that of the liquid refuse D, and between C and C¹I fix
a wooden or other framed partition, which occupies the whole of the cross sectional
internal area of A above D, and forming an air tight joint therewith, which may be
perfected by the use of any suitable packing between said frame and A, or the
edges of said frame may carry a layer of felt or the like for this purpose. The
said frame I prefer to make in two equal parts E and E', which, when placed
together in airtight contact with each other, would occupy a position in A such as
shewn by Fig. 2. The lower extremities of said partition terminate horizontally
at or about midway of the height of C C', so that a water seal or luting is formed
thereby in connection with the liquid D, which in its passage through A must pass
over C and C and under the lower end of the partition. Each half E and E¹ of
said partition I cover upon either or both sides with brattice cloth, canvas, felting
or other porous fabric E", the whole of which including E and E¹, I coat with
creosote, tar or other suitable substance or material by which the said partition
may be rendered perfectly air and water tight, and impervious to the action of the
liquid D, or any acid matter contained therein. By reason of the airtight junction
of E and E', and the whole with the inner surface of A, an airtight chamber is
formed between each partition and its neighbour on either side, and in E or E' or
both, but preferably only that one which may be nearest the manhole B, and as
near the top as possible, I provide an airtight door F. The said partition I prefer
to fix in positiou by first connecting to the inner surface of A, a wooden or
galvanized iron ring G, to which the partition may be bolted or otherwise
connected.
By this means the noxious gases generated in A between any two partitions is
kept from contact with the gas in the adjoining chambers formed by the next
partitions, so that if workmen are required to effects repairs or remove the sedi-
mental debris in one chamber, or between any two partitions, that chamber may be
deodorized and the noxious gases therein destroyed by the means hereinafter
explained, without the workmen when in such chamber being exposed to a con-
tinuous current of such gases, as has hitherto been the case.
In order to effect the disinfecting of said chamber before the workmen enter
thereinto I inject into said chamber, under pressure, through the door F or its
equivalent a suitable deodorizing agent in the following manner.
I employ the use of any suitable portable engine and boiler, which may be that
of an ordinary traction engine, upon which I mount. any suitable form of rotary
blower or fan, in the upper surface of which an opening with an air tight cover is
provided. The said engine by whatever means conveyed, is, for the purposes
under consideration, brought as near as convenient to the manhole B, of the
chamber next the one into which the workmen are to enter, and an elastic tube
placed upon and connected to the ejector or outlet nozzle of the blower or fan, which
extending therefrom is passed down the said manhole and through the door F of
the nearest partition.
In Fig.
the conduit A is divided into three such chambers, and marked
respectively No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, and presuming that the men are required to
work in No. 1, the manhole B in No. 2 would be opened, and the tube H passed
down and through F into No. 1 as shewn in Fig. 1.
In certain districts or where permissable and advisable I may provide a
permanent tube extending from the surface of the earth downward and through the
door F, and rendered airtight therewith. The upper or earth surface end of said
may be furnished with an airtight cap when not in use, and when needed this
tube

page_text: may be removed and the tube from the fan or blower connected thereto. By this
means the chamber to be entered may be disinfected without the need of removing
the cover of B for that purpose.
In either case, when connection is made between the chamber to be disinfected
and the blower, the cover of the hopper or opening therein may be removed, and a
sufficient quantity of any suitable pulveriferous deodorizing agent placed therein,
when the cover may be replaced, and the engine power employed to drive the
blower or fan, when the said deodorizing agent would be forced through H or its
equivalent, into the chamber No. 1, and distributed over the entire interior thereof
in very fine particles, and be brought in contact with, and permeate through and
neutralize the noxious gases therein, before falling and mixing with the liquid D.
A spraying nozzle K of vulcanite or the like may be provided upon the end of H
to facilitate the said distribution of the pulveriferous disinfectant.
By practiced hands it will be easy to determine when sufficient disinfectant has
been injected to neutralize the gases in No. 1, and when this is effected, the same
operation may be carried out with chamber No. 2, which, if not by that of a
permanent tube before mentioned H would be conveyed through the manhole B in
No. 3, and through the adjacent partition, in the manner described, and when No. 2
was cleansed the men would pass down the manhole B in No. 2, and remove E
of the partition dividing No. 1 and No. 2, as at Fig. 3, and enter and perform their
duties in No. 1, at the finish of which they would again replace E and retire the
way they came, first closing the door F if I had been passed through B.
vay
may in certain cases in lieu of said powder employ the use of any suitable
liquid deodorizer, in which case a force pump or injector provided upon the engine
would be used instead of the blower or fan, and operated by the same or other
means, with or without the said liquid deodorizing agent being accompanied by
steam. A tank or container for the said liquid deodorizer may be fixed upon the
said engine when this is employed for operating the said pump or injector. I may
under certain conditions or when the said engine was not available, arrange to
operate the before mentioned blower or fan, or the said pump or injector by
manual power.
By moving the injecting apparatus and the power for operating the same, from
place to place, I am enabled to perfectly neutralize the noxious gases in each or
any section of the sewer or other conduit, formed by the said partitions, and by
injecting the agent employed into the upper portion of said section in fine sprays
instead of shoveling or otherwise throwing in the same as hitherto, I am enabled
to save at least 50 % of deodorizing material, and a corresponding saving of labour
and time, and without unduly exposing the operators or allowing the noxious gases
to escape into the air.
I may if desirable employ the use of a solution of sulphuric, nitric or other acid,
or ammonia for injection as aforesaid, in which case the pump or injector may be
fed from adjacent carboys or other vessels containing the same.
In using my method for cleansing houses infected with the germs of contagious
diseases, a flexible tube may extend in any length from the delivery nozzle of the
injector, blower, fan or pump into any suitable part of the dwelling, warehouse,
shed or other building, and the same quickly placed in a perfect hygienic condition.
The engine or other power employed, may carry a crane or derrick, so that the
same power may be used for raising debris from, or lowering bricks or other
material into, the said sewer or conduit.
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
I claim is,
1st. In an improved method of and means for deodorizing, or disinfecting sewers
and other places, similar and dissimilar thereto, the employment therein of air tight
partitions, formed by combining two approximately semicircular wooden or other
frames E and E', covered with brattice or other suitable cloth or material E"

page_text: rendered proof by coating with creosote, tar or other similar waterproofing agent,
one or both being provided with an air tight door F, and fixed vertically at
suitable intervals within a sewer or other conduit A, the lower end of said partitions
forming a luting or water seal, in conjunction with wood, brick stone or other
vertical partitions C & C+, by which means the gases generated in A, by the refuse
matter D, in confined within the chambers formed by said partitions, any one of
which may be cleansed and the gases therein neutralized by the method and means
herein set forth, combined and operating substantially as herein described and
shewn by the appended drawings.
2nd. In combination with any suitable type of portable or stationery engine,
blower or fan, or force pump, the manner of injecting into any one of the chambers
formed by the partitions mentioned in the preceding claim any suitable pulveriferous
or liquid deodorizing or disinfecting agent for destroying or neutralizing the noxious
gases therein, by connecting to the delivery nozzle of said blower or fan or pump
a length of elastic tubing H and attaching the same to a fixed pipe communicating
with A, or by passing the same down a man hole B, and through F in E or E', and
the employment of a like means for disinfecting dwellings, warehouses, sheds or
other buildings infected with the germs of contageous diseases, connected, and
operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by the
accompanying drawings.
Nahan 1002
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.