Improvements in Devices for Applying Air to Certain Orifices and Ducts of the Human Body.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct.; 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Applying Air to Certain Orifices and
Ducts of the Human Body.
I, BRADFORD MCGREGOR, of Covington, Kenton County, State of Kentucky, and
United States of America, Mechanician do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
It relates to improvements in devices for applying air, pure or medicated, to
certain orifices and ducts of the human body, particularly to those mediating res-
piration as for instance, nasal and bronchial-ducts. It consists of four principal
parts of which the first is the air-compressor which is of a nature that an uninter-
rupted out-flow or exhaust of air is obtained.
The second is a receiver and mixer whereby the air may be mixed and more or
less saturated with chemicals or other matter, having medicinal and therapeutical
properties and which matter becomes then mixed with the air entering the device
and is expelled by it.
The third are those parts which are specifically fitted to permit application to
the outer openings of the particular ducts through which the air is to be introduced
as for instance nostrils and mouth.
The fourth is a cut-off device whereby the discharging air may be directed so
as to discharge only out of certain outlets, to enter certain openings only, being
then prevented from discharging out of other outlets.
Minor parts, relating to features of construction in general and in detail will
be mentioned more specifically hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.
In the following specification is found a full description of the invention, its
operation, use and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawing, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional side-elevation of the device complete.
Fig. 2 is a top-view of the same with parts broken away.
Figs. 3&4 are views of opposite surfaces, resulting from a section taken on
line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is an underside view of the mixer detached and
Fig. 6 shows in a side elevation, a modified arrangement of the air-compressor.
9 is the air-chamber receiving its charge alternately through one of two air-
inlets 10 from a double acting air compressor which in this case consists of two
bellows 11, 11, so connected that when one receives, the other discharges, so that
a continuous and uninterrupted current of air leaves the outlet 12 of the air-
chamber 9.
Each of the bellows has an inlet-valve 13 and is connected by an air-conduit 14,
with air-chamber 9, additional valves 15 being provided at 10 where these conduits
enter chamber 9. These valves open and close alternately in this way, that when
valve 13 of one of the bellows closes on depression of the latter; its corresponding
discharge-valve 15 is open, so that chamber 9 is always receiving air through one
of valves 15.

page_text: The swinging flaps of the bellows are pivoted at 16 and the means whereby they
are connected to said pivots are also connected to each other or form integral
members so that operation of one of the bellows, causes also operation of the other,
only in reverse order. Handles 17 are provided at the outer ends of the swinging
flaps for convenient operation.
The air-outlet 12 from chamber 9 is continued upwardly in form of a tube 18
leaving which, it enters a larger tube 19, the upper end of which is closed and
descends within the annular space 21 between the two tubes. It discharges from
the lower end of the outer tube 19 into a mixing-chamber 22 which it leaves
at 23, passing out through neck 24 and through a lateral opening 26 therein into
distributing-chamber 27.
If the air is to be charged with any substance or medicine, the same, preferably
in liquid form, is contained in said chamber 22, so that the air while rising through
the latter, passes through the solution and becomes more or less saturated there-
with. To obtain a thorough intermingling of the air, the same is caused to spread
in leaving the lower end of tube 19 so as to discharge in jets therefrom.
This is accomplished by providing a circular flange 28 around the lower end of
tube 19 from which a number of lugs 29 all of even height project downwardly,
resting with their lower ends upon the bottom of chamber 22, thereby keeping the
lower end of tube 19 sufficiently elevated to make discharge from it possible.
These lugs are furthermore arranged in two circular rows, the spaces of one row
alternating with the lugs of the other, whereby the air while passing out between
said rows of lugs is cut up and divided as may be readily understood.
From the top of distributing-chamber 27 the air may leave through openings 31,
each terminating on the outside in a nipple 32 upon which the lower end of the
rubber discharge-tubes 33 may be stripped.
Since the medicated air is to be injected, not inhaled, it is essential that close
connection is made with the orifices receiving the charge and the ends of these
tubes.
For such purpose two of them are provided with nozzles 34, so fitted as to entirely
close the nostrils when introduced thereinto, so that when im position, none of the
air issuing from them may escape. The remaining tube, when the device is also
to be used for mouth-injection, is fitted with a mouth-piece 35 to be inserted
between the lips when the air is to be injected through the mouth.
Nipples 32 are so located as to bring the tubes with nozzles 34 and the mouth-
piece in the most convenient position for use for which purpose those for nozzles 34
are close together on one side, while the one for the mouth-piece is on the other
side about diametrically opposite thereto.
Below the top of distributing-chamber 27 and closely fitted against the inside
thereof, is a plate 36 which is supported in a manner to be capable of rotation, the
upper end of neck 24 being preferably utilized to form the supporting center
thereof. This plate has holes corresponding with the inner terminals of nipples 32,
but so located that when two of these openings register with those nipples which
lead to nozzles 34, the remaining opening does not register with the nipple leading
to the mouth-piece, so that by means of this plate which acts as a cut-off-valve,
the air may be directed according to whether it is to be injected into the nostrils
or into the mouth.
This plate projects beyond the outside of chamber 27, carrying a pin 37 on its
projecting part which, when brought up against either one of two stops 38, indi-
cates open communication, either for nasal or mouth-injection, while an inter-
mediate position, indicated by a suitable mark 39, closes all three of the outlet
openings. In addition to this means for closure, a check-valve 41 is provided
within neck 24. which during use prevents reaction and after use acts as a stopple,
closing automatically and preventing evaporation of the medicine.
All parts above air-chamber 9 are preferably of hard rubber with the exception
of tubes 24, 33 which should be of rubber having a certain degree of elasticity

page_text: sustaining them in their upright position, but permitting them at the same time
to yield for convenient insertion and to accomodate inadvertant movements of the
head, preventing also transmission of any motions or jars to mouth or nose.
The flange and lugs at the lower end of tube 19, as well as valve-plate 36 may
be metal, preferably aluminum. The bellows are enclosed by a metal casing 42,
resting on feet 43 and having slots through which handles 17 project.
In Fig. 6 the construction is modified to the extent of changing the position of
the bellows, which is upright with a space between, to receive air-inlet pipes 44.
Valves and all other parts as to operation are the same.
The bellows are completely incased, the sides 45 of the casing connecting the
outer or swinging flap of the bellows, thereby causing them to work together.
They are operated by taking the device in hand and alternately pressing first
against one side and then against the other. 46 are simply braces connecting base-
plate 47 with the lower end of the cylindrical body containing the air and mixing-
chambers.
To prevent tube 19 from being lifted by the air-pressure which might cause it
to rattle, a suitable extension 49 and shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, is provided
hetween the upper end of tube 19 and the top of chamber 22. The device' is
preferably intended for individual and domestic use, to be operated without the
aid of any machinery and is therefore constructed of a size and weight to permit
it to be set upon a table in front of the person using it, or it may be held in the
hand while the bellows are operated by the thumbs.
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 I
claim is:
1. In an air-injector, the combination of an air-chamber, a double-acting air-
compressor supplying it with air in a manner that a continuous current of it is
caused to leave therefrom, a mixing-chamber which the air so compressed is caused
to enter and in which it is brought in contact with certain substances which it is
adapted to take up, said two chambers connected by a conduit which has an ascend-
ing and descending branch and air-discharge-pipes having their outer ends pro-
vided with suitable nozzles fitted for insertion into the outer openings of the
respiratory ducts.
2. In an air-injector, the combination of an air-chamber, a double-acting air-
compressor supplying air in a manner that a continuous current of it is caused to
leave the former, a distributing-chamber receiving the compressed air from the
air-chamber first mentioned, air-discharge-pipes communicating with said dis-
tributing chamber and a cut-off device controlling all air-outlets and whereby the
air may be entirely cut off from the discharge-pipes, or be permitted to pass out
through certain ones only.
3. In an air-injector, the combination of an air-chamber, an air-compressor
supplying air to it, a mixing-chamber 22, a connecting conduit through which it
receives the air from the air-chamber, said conduit having an ascending and
descending branch whereby the air is caused to enter the mixing-chamber near
the bottom thereof, the outlet thereat being constructed to cause the air to dis-
charge in jets, and air-discharge-pipes having their outer ends provided with suit-
able nozzles adapted for insertion into the parts and openings where the air is to
be applied.
4. In an air-injector, the combination of an air-chamber, an air-compressor
supplying air to it, a mixing-chamber 22, a connecting conduit through which it
receives the air from the air-chamber, which conduit is formed by a tube 18
extending upwardly from the outlet of the air-chamber and a tube 19 of larger
diameter, closed at its upper end, surrounding tube 18, the air passing up in the
latter and down in the space between the tubes, the outer tube having a flange 28
around its lower end with downwardly extending lugs whereby such end is
on time in numerous
elevated to permit the air to pass out, dividing it at the

page_text: jets, and air-discharge-pipes having their outer ends provided with suitable nozzles
adapted for insertion into the parts and openings where the air is to be applied.
5. In an air-injector, the combination of an air-compressor, an air-chamber
receiving air from it, a mixing-chamber superimposed upon and in communica-
tion with the air-chamber from which it receives the compressed-air, a distributing
chamber above the mixing-chamber which receives the compressed and medicated
air after it has passed through the two chambers first mentioned, a neck 24 pro-
vided with a check-valve connecting it with the mixing-chamber, air-discharge-
pipes communicating with the said distributing-chamber and a cut-off device
whereby the air may be entirely cut off from the discharge-pipes or be permitted
to pass out through certain ones only.
6. In an air-injector, the combination of an air-compressor, an air-chamber
receiving air from it, a distributing-chamber receiving the air from the air-
chamber, air-discharge-pipes mounted upon the top of the latter and communicat-
ing with the interior thereof, a pivotally supported cut-off-plate with openings
controlling the outlet from the distributing-chamber through said air-discharge-
pipes and capable of adjustment to cut off such outlet entirely or limit it, and
stops indicating certain positions of said cut-off-plate for certain purposes.
7. In an air-injector, the combination of an air-chamber, two bellows connected
to each other in a manner which causes them to act simultaneously, one for receiv-
ing, the other for discharging air, so that one is always supplying air to the
air-chamber whereby an uninterrupted current of it is caused to leave the latter, air-
conduits 14 connecting the bellows with the air-chamber, receiving and discharge-
valves for both, a mixing-chamber 22, a connecting-conduit through which it
receives the air from the air-chamber, said conduit having an ascending and a
descending branch whereby the air is caused to enter the mixing-chamber near
the bottom thereof, the outlets thereat being constructed to cause the air to dis-
charge in jets, a distributing-chamber receiving the air from the mixing-chamber,
three air-discharge-pipes mounted upon the top of the distributing-chamber and
having their ends fitted with suitable nozzles for application and a pivotally
supported cut-off plate with openings, controlling the outlet from the distributing-
chamber through said air-discharge-pipes and capable of adjustment to cut off
such outlet entirely, or limit it, and stops indicating certain positions of said cut-
off-plate for certain purposes.
Dated this 5th day of Octalion 1807
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.