Improvements in Vapourising Apparatus, more especially for Use in Producing Vapours of Formic Aldehyd or Formol for Disinfecting Purposes
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 30th Apr, 1895
Complete Specification Left 30th Jan 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar,
1896
Improvements in Vapourising Apparatus, more especially for
Use in Producing Vapours of Formic Aldehyd or Formol
for Disinfecting Purposes
I JEAN JOSEPH AUGUSTE TRILLAT of 3, Rue Finklin, Paris in the
Republic of France, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing vapours of
formic aldehyd or formol for disinfecting contaminated places
Apparatus constructed according to my invention may be of various forms for
example it may be constructed so as to operate by capillary attraction and
arranged as an ordinary lamp whether single or compound, or it may operate
by the direct vapourization of the heated methyllic alcohol or by drawing in air
after the manner of an injector
According to my invention the apparatus consists of a receiver constituting a
lamp which is provided on its upper side with an orifice through which the wick
passes down into the said receiver Over the said orifice is screwed or otherwise
fixed a cylinder or chimney, its height being preferably twice its diameter, open at
its lower end and capable of being closed at its upper part by a removable cover
This cylinder which constitutes the part of the apparatus where oxydation takes
place is formed in two parts which are flanged where they meet and open on a
hinge provided preferably mid-way between the top and bottom
Between the
adjacent edges or flanges of the hinged parts a fabric of platinum copper platinized
asbestos or the like is held in position while at the lower part of the said cylinder
is a regulating device such as a ring provided with holes which may be caused to
rotate so as to expose or cover corresponding holes in the cylinder
To work the apparatus the receiver is hlled say 3 with methyllic alcohol, the
regulating device is then placed so that air can enter and after having opened the
upper part of the cylinder by causing it to turn back on its hinge the wick is
The fabric
lighted the platinum fabric having been removed for this purpose
is then replaced and the cylinder closed while the cover is removed and the
regulator shut The closing of the regulator causes the flame to disappear but by
again partially opening the regulator the met il fabric becomes incandescent
incandescence is produced by the oxydation of the vapours of alcohol and supplies
the vapours of formic aldehyd The admission of an is so regulated that the
Incandescence takes place at a dull-red heat For extinguishing the flame the
receptacle is closed by placing the cover on the cylinder
This

page_text: A compound lamp is formed by the combination of several cylinders or chimneys
with one receiver and the arrangement may be modified as desired An elongated
form may be given to the wick or it may be arranged horizontally or vertically and
in a straight line or in a circle and a single metallic fabric may then be arranged
over or around the wick
In another form of apparatus according to my invention the alcohol is projected
directly in the form of a jet of vapour against the oxidizing device and the air
necessary for the oxidation is mixed with the jet of alcoholic vapour by the action
of the jet
In this case the apparatus consists of an inner closed vessel of copper
or other suitable metal encased towards its lower end in an outer receptacle which
acts as a water bath the said vessel being supported on legs or the like in the said
receptacle The upper part of the inner vessel terminates in a cap on which are
fixed tubes of copper or the like arranged horizontally or vertically closed at
then outer ends save for an injection orifice through which the vapours from the
inne vessel are projected outwardly On each of these tubes slides a device
consisting of an open cylinder of copper or the like containing a small inner roll of
metal fabric for example of platinum or copper or a combination of two fabrics of
different metals or any suitable porous substance By displacing the said cylindeı
along its corresponding tube, a longitudinal slot formed in the tube and surrounded
by the inwardly contracted portion of the said cylinder is uncovered so as to admit
r Air can also enter by orifices preferably formed in the neck of the aforesaid
cylinder at the part situated between the contracted portion and the cylinder
proper
I be interier of the said cylinder is preferably lined with charcoal or the like
for promoting oxidation and preserving the heat of the metal fibiic
The inner
vessel is provided with a safety valve and an oufice for the introduction of the
liquid to be vapourised which also serves for the entrance of the air in special
cases
I he receptacle forming the water-bath is filled with water and is provided at its
upper part with a thermometer and a gas governor or regulator bath dipping into
the water The water bath is heated by means of a circular gas burner or the
like adjustable and removable at will and in communication with the aid gas
governor or regulator
When it is desired to work the apparatus the temperature of the water bath is
first raised to about 75° Centigrade the inner vessel having been previously filled
say about with methyllic alcohol Ihe vapours rising from the heated alcohol
pass out by the injector orifices in the tubes and the jets of alcohol are then lighted
by the orifices in the cylinder neck, the said cylinders being drawn back so that
air can enter by the aforesaid slots At this moment the flame is extinguished
and the metal fabric contained in the cylinders becomes incandescent
The process
of oxydation then continues after the admission of air has been properly regulated
without incurring the risk either of explosion or extinction
Instead of forming the jet of alcohol by means of heat a current of air may be
employed For this purpose the air is introduced by the feed tube by which the
liquid was supplied to the inner vessel and becoming saturated with alcohol leaves
the vessel by the injector orifices in the tubes
The lighting of the jets and the regulation of the air supply is effected as
already described
In some cases the heat produced by the incandescence of the metal fabuc may
be made use of and direct heating dispensed with The apparatus then consists of
a vessel preferably of annular form and provided at its centre through its axis
with an orifice in which the oxydızıng cylinder is placed
The pulverizing or ejector tube is arranged beneath the aforesaid orifice opposite
to or facing the oxydizing cylinder When the alcohol has once been raised to
boiling point by means of a spirit lamp or the like the latter is extinguished the
incandescent state of the cylinder sufficing to keep the alcohol at boiling point and
produce the vapours

page_text: The apparatus may be supported on a tripod or stand the supply of air being
suitably regulated and it is preferably provided with a safety valve
Dated this 30th day of April 1895
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC, Agents
Improvements in Vapourising Apparatus, more especially for
Use in Producing Vapours of Formic Aldehyd or Formol
for Disinfecting Purposes
I, JEAN JOSEPH AUGUSTE TRILLAT of 3 Rue Franklin, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same Is to be performed to be particularly described an
ascertained in and by the following statement
This invention elites to improvements in vapourising apparatus more especially
intended for use in producing vapours of formic aldehyd or formol for disinfecting
contaminated places
Apparatus constructed according to my invention may operate by capillary
attraction and be ranged somewhat like an oidma lamp whether single or
compound, or it may operate by the dect vapourisation of heated methyllic
alcohol or by drawing in ur after the manner of an injector
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying diawings in
which Figure 1 shews one form of the apparatus in clev ition and Figure 2 another
form of the apparatus in section in which capillary attraction is not employed
Referring to Figure 1 the apparatus consists of a receiver A somewhat like
lamp body which is provided on its upper side with an orifice through which a wick
passes down into the said receiver
Over the said orifice is crewed or otherwise fixed cylinder or chimney B (sary
of copper) its height being preferably about twice its diameter It is open at
its lower end and capable of being closed at its upper part by a removable
cover
This cylinder B which constitutes the part of the apparatus in which oxydation
takes place is formed in two parts which are flanged where they meet (preferably
about midway of the length) and open on a binge a
Between the adjacent edges or flanges of the hinged puts a fabric of platinum
copper platinized asbestos or the like is placed and held in position while at the
lower part of the said cylinder B is a regulating device such as a ring provided
with holes which may be caused to rotate so as to expose or cover or putly cover
corresponding holes in the cylinder
To worl the apparitus methyllic alcohol is introduced into the receiver say to
the extent of two thnds its capacity
The regulating device then placed so that the an can enter and after having
opened the upper part of the cylinder by turning it back on its hinge the wick is
lighted the platinum fabric having been removed for this purpose The fabric 15
then replaced and the cylinder closed while the cover is then removed and the
regulatoi shut
The closing of the regulator causes the flame to disappear and on
again partially opening the regulator, the metal fabric glows the admission of air
being so regulated so as to cause the glowing to take place at a dull red This
glowing is produced by the oxidation of the vapours of alcohol and supplies the
vapours of formic aldehyd By means of the cover the apparatus can be
extinguished when required
A compound lamp is formed by the combination of sever il cylinders or chimneys
with one receiver and the arrangement may be modified in form a desired
For

page_text: instance an elongated form may be given to the wick and it may be ari inged
horizontally, or vertically, and either in a straight line or in a circle the metallic
fabric being arranged over or around the wick
closed
In another form of apparatus as shewn in Figure 2 the alcohol is projected
directly in the form of a jet of vapour against the oxydising device and the r
necessary for the oxydation is mixed with the jet of alcoholic vapour by the
nction of the jet In this case the apparatus consists of an inner
vessel A of copper, or other suitable metal supported (by legs or otherwise)
and encased as regaids its lower portion in an outer receptacle C which acts as
a water bath The upper part of the inner vessel A terminates in a cap around
which are fixed any
convenient number of tubes of
Copper o the like
(indicated at D D1 D2 D³) closed at their extremities sive for an injection office
through which the vapours from the vessel A are projected outward- The aid
tubes instead of being aanged horizontally as shewn may be arranged otherwise
for instance vertically On each of these tubes slides a device E consisting of an
open cylinder of copper on the lil e contuning small inner roll of metal fabric d
for example of platinum on copper or a combination of two fabrics of different
metals or any suitable porous substance By displacing the said cylinder E along
its corresponding tube D &c a longitudin il slot, formed in the tube and surrounded
by the inwardly contracted portion of the said cylinder E, is uncovered so as to
admit air
Air can also enter by orifices e preferably formed in the neck of the
aforesaid cylinder E at the part situated between the contracted portion and the
cylinder proper
The
The interior of the sud cylinder L preferably lined with charcoal or the like
for promoting the oxydation and preserving the heat of the metal fabric d
innei vessel A is provided with a safety valves and an orifice and pipe e for the
introduction of the liquid to be vapourised and also for the entrance of the air in
special cases
Water is introduced into the receptacle C which acts as a water-bath and is
provided at its upper part with a thermometer f and a gas governor or regulator g
both dipping into the water The water bath is heated by means of an adjustable
and removable gas burner which may be operated in connection with the gas
governor or regulator g When it is desired to work this apparatus the temperature
of the water bath is first raised to about 75° Centigrade the inner vessel A having
received methyllic alcohol to say about two thirds of its capacity
The vapours
rising from the heated alcohol pass out by the injector orifices in the tubes D D' &
and the vapour jets of alcohol are then lighted by the orifices c the sud cylinders E
being drawn back so that air can enter by the aforesaid slots > At this moment
the flames are extinguished and the roll of metal fabric d become incandescent
The process of oxydation then continues after the admission of air has been properly
regulated without incurring the risk either of explosion or extinction
Instead of forming the jet of alcohol by means of heat current of ur may
be employed For this purpose the antis introduced by the feed tube e the
air becomes saturated with alcohol and leaving the vessel by the orifices in the
tubes D D¹ &c
The lighting of the jets and the regulation of the air supply are effected as
hereinbefore described In some cases the heat produced by the glowing of the
metal fabric may be made use of and direct heating be dispensed with I he
apparatus then consists of a vessel preferably of annular form and provided at its
centre through ts axis with an orifice in which the oxydising cylinder is placed
The pulvising or ejector tube is arranged beneath the aforesaid orifice opposite
to or facing the oxydising cylinder When the alcohol has once been raised to
boiling point by means of a spirit lamp or the like the latter is extinguished, the
glowing state of the cylinder sufhcing to keep the alcohol at boiling point to
produce the vapours
The apparatus may be supported on a tripod and be adjusted or regulated by an
air regulator and be provided with a safety valve

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1 Means substantially as herein before described for producing vapours of formic
aldehyd by oxydising vapours of methyllic alcohol as explained and obtained by
capillary attraction, by vapourization or by drawing in air or in other suitable way
substantially as hereinbefore described
2 For producing vapours of formic aldehyd as claimed by the foregoing claiming
clause, the arrangement and combination of parts substantially as described with
reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, in single or in multiple form
or in its modifications as herein befoic described
3 For producing vapours of formic aldehyd as claimed by Claim 1 the
arrangement and combination of parts substantially as described with reference
to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings and the modification wherein the
glowing obtained by oxydation is utilized for heating the apparatus itself
substantially as herein before described
4 In apparatus for producing vapours of formic aldehyd as described the device
for regulating the supply of air substantially as herein before de cribed
5 In apparatus of the kind described the combination with means for causing a
Jet of alcohol to induce at its exit a supply of air, of an arrangement of metal
fabrics combined in such a manner that the heat of the one maintins the heat of
the other substantially as herein before described
Dated this 30th day of January 1896
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC, Agents.