Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification. Left, 6th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1888
I WILLIAM EDWIN THURSFIELD of Victorgasse 22, Vienna, in the Empire of
Austria, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the construction of a stationary or portable disinfecting
apparatus for purifying wearing apparel, bedding and the like by passing a current
of live steam through them.
The improved apparatus comprises a cylindrical boiler the inner tube or shell of
which forms the casement or outer shell of the actual disinfecting chamber.
The said boiler is heated from below, with any kind of fuel and can be arranged in
a vertical, or horizontal position, on a masonry or other foundation when stationary,
or on wheels when portable.
In carrying my said invention into practice the steam generated in the boiler is
conducted through one, or more openings, either by means of tubes or otherwise, to
the lower part of the disinfecting chamber and, after passing through the articles to
be disinfected, is allowed to escape through one or more openings in the upper part of
the disinfecting chamber.
The boiler is preferably an open one and can be filled through a suitable tap or
valve provided with a funnel.
The advantages of the improved disinfecting apparatus are; that owing to the
disinfecting chamber itself being surrounded by boiling water and steam, its
with that of
temperature cannot fall, moreover its temperature rises "pari passu
the water in the boiler, consequently premature condensation of the steam entering
the disinfecting chamber is prevented. By this arrangement there is scarcely any
condensation and no loss of heat by radiation. Further by the said arrangement the
necessary space for disinfecting larger articles such as inattresses and the like is

page_text: incorporated with the steam generator in the most compendious manner possible.
The result is a more prompt, and certain performance than yet obtained by any similar
apparatus.
The steam can if desired be conducted from several points without departing from
the nature of my invention.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Apparatus for Disinfecting Bedding,
Clothes, and the like.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN THURSFIELD, of Victorgasse 22, Vienna, in the Empire of
Austria, 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 :—
My invention relates to the construction of a stationary or portable disinfecting
apparatus for purifying wearing apparel, bedding and the like by passing in au
upward direction a current of live steam through them.
The improved apparatus comprises a cylindrical boiler the inner tube or shell of
which forms the casement or outer shell of the actual disinfecting chamber.
The said boiler is heated from below with any suitable kind of fuel and can be
arranged in a vertical, or horizontal position, on a masonry, or other foundation when
stationary, or on wheels when portable.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 shows, in longitudinal section, a portable apparatus constructed according
to my invention, and
Figure 2 is a cross section of the same.
a, a is a cylindrical boiler the inner shell of which forms the outer shell or
casement of the disinfecting chamber 6, b. The steam generated in the boiler is
conducted through one, or more openings c either by means of a screen, or by
tubes d, to the lower part of the disinfecting chamber and, after passing upwards
through the articles to be disinfected, allowed to escape through one or more
openings e in the upper part of the disinfecting chamber b, b.

page_text: The boiler is preferably an open one and can be filled through a suitable tap or
valve provided with a funnel f. g is the fire-box and the chimney.
The advantages of the improved disinfecting apparatus are; that owing to the
disinfecting chamber itself being surrounded by boiling water and steam, its
temperature cannot fall. Its temperature rises pari passu with that of the water in the
boiler, consequently premature condensation of the steam entering the disinfecting
chamber is prevented more especially as the steam rises in the disinfecting chamber from
below upwards, and as the boiling water cannot have more than 212 degrees Fahrenheit,
whereas the upper part of the disinfecting chamber is surrounded by steam of some-
what more than 212 degrees, the steam rising through the articles to be disinfected
has the tendency rather to increase than to diminish in temperature. The influx and
efflux of the steam are so proportioned that the latter is in no way throttled but the
steam allowed a free and constant upward passage through the chamber.
The result is a more prompt and certain performance and a much higher disinfecting
temperature than yet obtained by any similar apparatus.
The steam can, if desired, be conducted from several points without departing from
the nature of my invention. The invention moreover is not confined to the exact
construction of the apparatus shown in the drawing.
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
First. A disinfecting apparatus, in which the outer casing, or shell of the disinfecting
chamber forms the inner shell of an open boiler, or steam generator, constructed and
combined in such manner that the steam, generated in the upper portion of the
boiler, is conducted to the lowest part of the said chamber before entering the same
and is forced to pass upwards through, and to escape at the top of, the chamber,
substantially as described.
Second. In a disinfecting apparatus, consisting of an open boiler or steam generator
in combination with a self-contained disinfecting chamber, the arrangement of inlet
and outlet for steam in such a manner and of such relative proportions, that the steam
compelled to enter the chamber from below, flows upwards in a constant and
unimpeded current through the articles to be disinfected, substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of September 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.