Improvements in the Construction of Ozonisers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Ozonisers.
I EMILE ANDREOLI of 18 Somerleyton Road, Brixton in the County of Surrey,
Journalist, 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 :-
This invention relates to some improvements upon the means of generating ozone
constituting the subject of an application for a Patent made by me on the 13th of
October 1891, No. 17,426, the object being to facilitate the adaptation of the
invention to different commercial uses, and also to hygienic and therapeutic purposes.
In the Specification of the above mentioned application, I described a mode of
obtaining ozone in relatively large quantities, consisting in effecting silent electric
discharges, by aid of point-bearing metallic electrodes, into atmospheric air or
oxygen, whereby a larger proportion of the oxygen present became converted in
ozone, than by the processes hitherto employed.
In adapting this invention to commercial purposes, such as bleaching fibres or
tissues, treating oils or other liquids, ozonising organic or inorganic substances, or
applying ozone to therapeutic or hygienic purposes, I propose to employ various
forms of apparatus, which have been severally designed for special uses, and will
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Before referring to my improved arrangements of ozonisers, I will first describe
some improvements which I have made on the electrodes used by me under the
before mentioned Patent. In the Specification, I described and shewed point-
bearing plates set point to point, in pairs, or set opposite to plain plates. These
arrangements were wanting in compactness and simplicity, and to
these ends, I now propose to use electrodes of the kind illustrated at Figs. 1, 2,
24, and 3.
secure
Fig. 1 shews an electrode of the kind illustrated in my Patent of October 1891
duplicated, that is to say, a plate is constructed bearing points on both sides, or two
pointed plates are soldered back to back; such a plate is placed between two
electrodes, each formed of a plain metallic plate, with plates of glass, mica, or
other dielectric intervening. In place of these plain plates, I may use electrodes
enamelled on one or both faces, as illustrated in the edge views Fig. 2 and Fig. 2ª ;
the advantage thus gained is to render unnecessary the use of the intervening
plates of glass, mica, or other dielectric shewn at Fig. 1, and to that extent simpli-
fying the building up of the apparatus.
Another improvement in electrodes is shewn at Figs. 3, which represent in side
and plan views a pointed electrode having the form of a comb. The length of the
points represented by the teeth of a comb, may vary greatly, and may be as small
as the teeth of a fret saw. This electrode, as will be seen hereafter, lends itself
to the production of very simple and efficient ozonisers.
The ozonisers to be presently described are of two classes, the one receiving the
air which is to be ozonised, directly from the atmosphere, and the other receiving
the air, or it may be oxygen, from any suitable force pump, the idea in all cases
being to provide a free circulation of air through the ozonisers, for the oxygen of
the air to be acted upon by the silent electric discharges.
Referring again to Fig. 1, A. shews in edge view a double or compound pointed
plate similar in character to that which I use for one terminal of my electric
circuit. This form of plate is intended to be used with two plates (or other form
of terminals) BB, which are separated therefrom by interposing dielectric
plates CC. The double pointed plate A 1 connect with one end of a Ruhmkorff
coil, and to the other end of the coil I connect the terminals B B. This arrange-
ment is shewn as applied in the form of an inhaler at Figs. 4 and 5, Fig. 4 being

page_text: a side view, and Fig. 5 a cross section of that instrument. It may be described as
a tube, rectangular in cross section, closed at its ends, and fitted with a supply
pipe D, which is to be connected with a force pump or other injector, and a mouth-
piece E for inhaling the ozone generated in the instrument. The tube is formed of
strips of glass (or it may be of porcelain), and it encloses a double or compound
pointed plate A, two dielectric plates CC, and two tinned iron plain plates B B,
connected together as explained with reference to Fig. 1, and constituting a
duplicated terminal of an electric circuit, of which the double pointed plate A is
the other terminal. On electricity being passed through the instrument, silent
discharges will take place, and ozone will be formed, which, on applying the mouth
of the patient to the mouth piece, may be drawn into the lungs, or air may be
forced through the apparatus, and simply breathed by the patient as it escapes,
ozonised, therefrom.
An efficient and economic inhaler may also be formed by placing an ozorising
apparatus of suitable size, preferably of one of the forms shown in Figs. 8, 10,
and 12, in one of the earthenware inhalers in common use, constructed so as to
admit the air by a tube passing nearly to the bottom of the vessel, and having an
outlet at the upper part, to which is fitted a mouth piece through which the
ozonised air may be inhaled.
In place of using interposed dielectric plates CC, I may used. enamelled
electrodes B, like that shown at Fig. 2, as I find that a coat of pure enamel will
act as a dielectric. The advantage derivable froin enamelled electrodes is, that
instead of requiring five plates for each element, as just explained, I use only
three plates, viz. the double pointed electrode, and on either side thereof an
enamelled plate.
:
Figs. 6 and 7 shew an arrangement of ozoniser which I propose to apply to
ordinary apartments, setting it in the line of an air current, the natural draught
being in this case relied on for supplying the instrument with the air to be ozonised.
Fig. 6 is a front view of the ozoniser, and Fig. 7 a cross section of the same.
It consists of a frame of non-conducting material, in which are set a series of
point-bearing plates A and plain plates B, with interposed dielectric plates C, all
the plates A of the group being connected together by wires A, and all the
plates B by wires B'. These wires A and B connect respectively with their
terminals A and B at the base of the ozoniser. On the instrument being
put into circuit, a silent discharge of electricity will take place, and a con-
siderable portion of the air circulating between the pairs of plates will become
ozonised.
The
An instrument suitable for suspension in ordinary apartments is shewn at Figs. 8
and 9, Fig. 8 being a side view, and Fig. 9 a cross section of the same.
frame of this instrument consists of a pair of flat rings connected by radial arms to
a central axle, which is fitted with a loop for suspending it.. The rings are grooved
radially, on their inner faces, to receive, at equal distances apart, the electrodes A,
which carry a line of points at opposite sides thereof. Intermediate of the grooves,
are other radial grooves, in which are inserted the ends of three plates, two being
dielectric plates CC, between which is inserted an electrode B. The frame thus
charged with plates A and B (which are respectively connected, as above described,
with the opposite poles of the source of electricity) may be suspended in any con-
venient position, and the air circulating within and around the instrument will, as
the current passes, be rapidly ozonised to an appreciable extent, no artificial
draught being provided for the purpose.
In place of the dielectric plates CC, enclosing between them the electrode B, I
may use an electrode enamelled on both faces, as indicated in Fig. 2ª.
Figures 10 and 11 shew an arrangement of ozoniser in which the comb shaped
terminals or electrodes, (illustrated at Figures 3) are employed. Set radially
around a glass tube or dielectric C, is a series of nine electrodes or terminals A.
These combs A are all connected together at their opposite ends by. wires a, which
are coiled around the tube C, and are soldered to the combs.

page_text: This mode of connecting gives structural strength to the instrument, while it
permits of a circuit wire A¹, soldered to one of the combs, passing a current from.
the source of electricity into the instrument. The glass tube C is fitted with a
metal core B, which, by means of a wire B', connects with the source of electricity,.
and completes the circuit.
In this.
Another form of ozoniser, built up of comb plates, is shewn in side elevation at
Figure 12, in plan view at Figure 13, and in cross section at Figure 14.
instrument, double combs A, or comb plates, are used, the same being arranged to
form triangles, the bases of the triangles forming the perimeter of the instrument.
The drawing shews the instrument as hexagonal in plan view, but it may con--
veniently take the form of a square, an octagon, or other polygonal figure. The
construction of this instrument may be thus described.
FF is a pair of wheels made of wire, and having radial arms corresponding in
number with the radial comb plates with which the instrument is fitted, (six, in the.
present example). These wheels are fitted to a central tube of glass C, which is
filled with a metal core B, constituting an electrode. Secured by solder to these
radial arms, are the radial comb plates A, which stand between the central.
These outer
tube C, and other glass tubes set at the angles of the instrument.
tubes are fitted with metal rods B*, like the central tube, and constitute also-
electrodes.
The rods B are held together by being severally attached, at their opposite
ends, to radial arms G G, and together with those arms they form the frame of the
instrument.
The rods B are also put into electrical connection by means of wires b, as
shewn best at Figure 13. The comb plates A, which form the sides of the
hexagonal figure, are inserted between the outside tubes C, and are connected by
solder to the wheels F, and it is through these wheels that the electric current from.
the source of supply is distributed to all the comb plates. The lead wires are
shewn at A¹ and B¹.
Figure 15 shews the mode of adapting the double comb plates to form ozonising
sections, which, when brought together, and suitably arranged in an air-tight com--
partment, may be used for generating ozone in large quantities, for bleaching and
kindred purposes.
In this figure, five double comb plates A are shewn as arranged
in one plane, and placed between terminals B, enclosed in a dielectric. The whole
is secured in a frame, the top and bottom bars of which are of metal, and the
vertical supports of a non-conducting material. The bar H is electrically con--
nected with the combs A, and the bar H' with the cores B, the lead wires from.
which are marked A¹ and B¹ respectively.
Figure 16 shews the mode of packing these sections in a closed tauk, which is.
brought into connection with a force pump, by which air or oxygen is supplied to.
the apparatus, and from which the ozonised air or gas passes by the pipe I.
The electrodes of each instrument are connected with their respective lead wires:
in the same manner as the single instruments, care being taken that all the point-
bearing plates are electrically connected to the one pole of the source of electricity,.
and the rods or cores representing the other plates to the other pole.
I would here remark, that the comb plates, besides lending themselves to a
simple construction of ozonising apparatus, provide for a free circulation of air
through the apparatus, thus effectually preventing the rise of temperature, which, as
is well known, tends to retard, and even arrest, the production of ozone.
Another form of ozoniser which I have designed, and which I propose to employ
in ozonising large apartments and buildings, such as hospital wards, halls, offices,.
theatres, etc., is shown in Figures 17 and 18,-Figure 17 being a longitudinal
section, and Figure 18 a transverse section of a cylindrical ozoniser. In this
instrument, my plate A takes the form of a porcupine cylinder, bearing also,.
internally, points of a similar character to the external points. Within this
cylinder is situate a tube of glass or other dielectric C, which encloses a metallic
rod or core B. This tube is hermetically closed at its ends with an insulating.

page_text: substance, and the rod B. is put into connection with the source of electric supply
by a wire B'.
Surrounding the porcupine cylinder A A, is a dielectric cylinder C*, and sur-
, rounding this cylinder is a metal cylinder B*. The cylinder B is connected
electrically with the rod B in the tube C, by a wire b, and this wire conuects by
the lead wire B' with the source of electricity, as explained with reference to
Figures 6 and 7, the porcupine cylinder being also connected with the source of
electricity by the wire A', as before explained. The parts of this ozoniser are
connected together by means of end pieces K, which may be attached by solder, or
otherwise, to the metal cylinder B*. These end pieces permit of a current of air
from a pump or blower, being discharged into the instrument, and passed out in an
ozonised state. In applying this construction of ozoniser to the ward of a hospital,
for example, I place several of these instruments in a closed tank fitted with
vertical partitions made of insulating material, through which holes are cut to
receive the ends of the cylinders, and support them in position as indicated by the
diagrams, Figures 19 and 20.
One end of the tank I connect with a force pump or blower, which serves to
keep up a supply of air or oxygen, at any desired pressure, to the tank, and at
the opposite end of the tank, I provide an escape for the ozonised air, which may
flow directly into the apartments, or be diffused therein by the aid of distributing
pipes.
The plates and combs. A I prefer to coat. with tin; in order to protect them from
oxidation, and the same remark applies to all the electrodes which are not pro-
tected by a dielectric. The porcupine. cylinder A shewn in Figures 17 and 18, I
propose to make by combining two cylinders together. The external cylinder I
fit with pins in the manner practised by gill-roller mauufacturers, and the inner
cylinder fit internally with pins, driving them inwards through drilled holes made
in the cylinder.
The cylinders thus prepared I fit one within the other, as shewn, and connect
them together by soldering, or otherwise, to form a compound cylinder.
In place of using dielectric cylinders, as described with reference to. Figures 17
and 18, I propose, in some cases, to enamel the internal face of the metal cylinder
which encloses the porcupine cylinder.
By this means, I simplify the construction of the apparatus, using but one
enveloping cylinder instead of two.
A further modification which I may make in the cylindrical ozoniser, is to
enamel the central rod B, and thus render unnecessary the use of the enclosing
tube C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. The construction of double or compound point-bearing plates and toothed
plates, as and for the purpose above described.
2. The use of enamelled metal plates and cylinders, as and for the purpose
above set forth.
3. The construction of ozone inhalers as described.
4. The arrangements of ozonisers described with reference to Figures, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, and serving to generate ozone without a forced draught.
5. The construction and arrangement of comb-plate ozonisers as described with
reference to Figures 15 and 16.
6. The construction and arrangement of cylindrical ozonisers as described with
reference to Figures 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Dated this 20th day of May 1892.