An Improved Method of and Appliances for Disinfecting Buildings, Rooms, Lavatories, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Appliances for Disinfecting Buildings,
Rooms, Lavatories, and the like.
I, RICHARD ROBERT HARPER, of 54 Willoughby Lane, Tottenham, Middlesex,
Telegraph Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as,
follows:-
The object of my invention is an improved method of keeping a sheet constantly
wet with disinfecting fluid whereby less attention is required, and further to construct
an appliance that such method can be effectually carried out.
For the purpose of my invention, I provide a trough or troughs which I fit over a
doorway, window, or other opening where an entrance for air is obtained, and in
connection with such trough or troughs I employ a sheet or sheets which hang from
the trough or troughs and completely envelop the doorway, window, or other opening,
so that no air can pass into the room or building without first passing through the
sheet.
The inside of the trough is provided with one, two, or more wire or other rods, and
the sheet is laced through between the rods so as to hold it in its hanging position.
Upon filling the trough with disinfecting solution the sheet will by capillary attraction
gradually become saturated and remain wet until the disinfectant in the trough is
used up, and should the bottom of the sheet drip, a tray or other vessel may be placed
beneath to catch the same and the solution used over again.
The troughs may also be used inside a room, or placed about the house on shelves
or otherwise, and when suspended say from a line, the sheeting may hang from both
sides of the trough.
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Robert Harper.
An Improved Method of and Appliances for Disinfecting Buildings,
Rooms, Lavatories, and the like.
I, RICHARD ROBERT HARPER, of 54 Willoughby Lane, Tottenham, Middlesex,
Telegraph 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:-
The object of my invention, is an improved method of keeping a sheet constantly
wet with disinfecting or other fluid whereby less attention is required, and further to
construct an appliance that such method can be effectually carried out.

page_text: For the purpose of my invention, I provide a trough or troughs which I fit over a
doorway, window, or other opening where an entrance for air is obtained, and in
connection with such trough or troughs I employ a sheet or sheets which hang from
the trough or troughs or in contact therewith and completely envelope the doorway,
window, or other opening, so that no air can pass into the room or building without
first passing through the sheet.
The inside of the trough is provided with one, two, or more rods, or other appliances,
and the sheet may be laced through between the rods so as to hold it in its hanging
position, or separate pieces of felt or other material may be fitted in the trough to
convey the liquid to the sheet.
Upon filling the trough with disinfecting solution or other liquid the sheet will by
capillary attraction gradually become saturated and remain wet until the liquid in the
trough is used up, and should the bottom of the sheet drip, a tray or other vessel may
be placed beneath or connected thereto to catch the same, and the liquid used over
again.
The troughs may also be used inside a room, or placed about the house on shelves
or otherwise, and when suspended say from a line, the sheeting may hang from both
sides of the trough.
My invention will be clearly understood by the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a section of one construction of appliance affixed to a bracket and with
the sheet in position.
Figure 2 is a perspective elevation of part of the trough showing the position of
rod and clipping bars.
Figure 3 is a perspective elevation of part of a trough with the rod and clipping
bar holding a piece of felt or other material for conveying the liquid to the sheet.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure but with the felt or other material arranged
in a tube, the top of the trough being covered in.
Figure 5 is a section of a trough arranged in a bracket and with the felt or liquid
conveying material encircling a rod and held in place by clipping bar arranged on an
adjustable plate, the top of the trough being covered in and a lever employed for
engaging the sheet with the felt.
Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 5 with the lever removed.
Figure 7 is a plan of a series of bars arranged along a trough to put the sheet in
contact with the felt at any desired part so as to regulate or determine the quantity of
liquid to pass down the sheet.
Figure 8 is a section of the appliance shown at Figure 7 with the trough and
bracket added.
Figure 9 is a perspective elevation of the bracket and trough holder I prefer to
employ which is so constructed as to keep the trough clear of the mouldings of
a door.
Figure 10 is a view of the trough used as at the bottom of the sheet to collect the
draining liquid and to also act as a weight to keep the sheet taut.
A, is the trough for containing the liquid (disinfectant or other) which trough is
preferably fitted over a doorway or other opening by a bracket or brackets B, and
fitted by solder or otherwise in said trough is a rod or rods C around which the
sheet D is wrapped and its end held by clips E, so that the portion of the sheet
between the rod C and clip E is held immersed in the liquid in the trough, the
remaining part of the sheet hanging over or against the doorway or opening and
having at its other end a weight or the trough appliance shown at Figure 10.
F is a cover or top of the trough A, which cover (in Figure 4) is provided with a
tube G for containing a felt or other strip H to act as a means for conveying the
liquid to the sheet, or as in Figure 5 the cover may be provided with an adjustable
plate I having a roller J which may compress the felt H to the degree required so as
to regulate the flow of liquid from the trough A. This plate I is fixed in position by
the screws K.
According to Figure 5, the sheet D is hung from a rod affixed above the trough A
and is placed in contact with the felt H to the required degree by the levers and rods L

page_text: according to the required dampness of the sheet. This also applies to Figures 7 and 8,
but according to Figure 7 the levers and rods L are separately operable to place any
required portion of the sheet D in contact with the felt H so as to regulate flow of
liquid down the sheet. P the plug of the filling hole arranged in the cover.
The bottom trough or collector shown in Figure 10 is preferably in the form of a
slotted tube Q having its ends closed, the sheet being fastened to a rod R arranged
and affixable inside the trough but the sheet may hang in a trough resting on or
permanently fixel in or to the floor.
According to Figures 1, 2, and 3 the troughs are open at the top, but when it is
desired that the appliances be fitted to a moving structure, such as a ship, railway
rolling stock, or other, the top of the trough must be covered in as at Figures 4, 5,
and 6 to prevent spilling of its contents.
In places where the appliance is used as a permanent fixture, in some cases it may
be found more convenient to place the tray for draining below the floor and cover it
with a suitable grating to the level of the flooring for the bottom of the sheet (which
may be weighted) to rest upon, the weight causing the sheet to fall into its proper
position over the grating if disturbed.
The rate at which the contents of the trough is drawn out and discharged down the
sheeting depends upon the material employed for the purpose and this may be increased
by strips of the same, or a more porous material being placed in the solution in the
trough, and folding one edge of the piece or pieces over the sheet overlapping each
other, or the sheet may have more folds at its immersed end, the rate being thus
increased according to the number of overlaps.
It is understood that the invention is equally applicable for cooling the air entering
buildings, rooms, and structures generally as for disinfecting and it may be used for
both at the same time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The improved method of and appliances for disinfecting buildings, rooms,
lavatories, and the like, substantially as described and shown.
2. The method of keeping a sheet (arranged to envelop a doorway or opening) wet
by capillary attraction of a liquid contained in a trough above, as set forth.
$11007
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Robert Harper.
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Robert Harper.