AN IMPROVED DIFFUSING AND INHALING APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Benjamin Robson, of 62, Bolsover Street,
Portland Place, in the Parish of Saint Marylebone, Barrister's Clerk, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED DIFFUSING AND INHALING APPARATUS FOR
MEDICAL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 12th March 1878, and dated the 19th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Benjamin Robson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1877.
CHARLES BENJAMIN ROBSON, of 62, Bolsover Street, Portland Place, in the Parish
of Saint Marylebone, Barrister's Clerk. "AN IMPROVED DIFFUSING AND INHALING
APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for diffusing and inhaling
warm air and steam or medicated vapour.
This apparatus consists of two principal parts, viz, an outer vessel in which is
contained hot water and vapour, and an inner chamber containing air.
The vessel has a lid and mouth-piece, either separate or connected together, and
may also have a perforated tray or receiver to hold any substance for medication or
infusion.
The chamber, being surrounded by the hot water, has an inlet for the passage of
external air through an orifice in the bottom or side of the vessel; it has also an
outlet or outlets by which the air issues into the vessel. The air passing through
the chamber becomes heated before mixing with the vapour contained in the vessel,
and sets in a current towards the mouth-piece, from which it is diffused or inhaled.
But when it is required that air should be inhaled after passing through the medicated
water, a cap fits on to the top of the chamber, which causes the air to descend into
the water by one or more outlets connected either with the cap or the chamber,
after which it rises for the purpose of inhalation.
The apparatus may be constructed either to be used by itself or with a lamp or
an ordinary fire.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Benjamin Robson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th March 1878.
CHARLES BENJAMIN ROBSON, of 62, Bolsover Street, Portland Place, in the Parish
of Saint Marylebone, Barrister's Clerk. "AN IMPROVED DIFFUSING AND INHALING
APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for diffusing warm air
and steam or medicated vapour, and admits of several modifications.
This apparatus consists of two principal parts, videlicit, an outer vessel in which
is contained hot water and vapour, which may be medicated, and an inner chamber
containing air.
The vessel has a lid and mouth-piece, which may be either separate and distinct
or connected together.
The chamber, being surrounded by the hot water, has an inlet for the passage of
external air through an orifice in the bottom or side of the vessel; it has also an
outlet or outlets by which the air passes to the vessel; and it may be constructed
so as to contain medicine or disinfectants without interfering with the passage of
air through it. The air passing through the chamber becomes heated before mixing
with the vapour contained within the vessel, and sets in a current towards the
mouth-piece, from which it issues in a stream, and is diffused or inhaled. But when
it is required that the air which is to be inhaled should first pass through the water,
a cap is used, which may be of greater height and diameter than the chamber, so as
to pass down loosely over it, or otherwise shorter, and so shaped as to fit tightly
inside the upper part of it.
The lid of the vessel is made air-tight by means of an india-rubber band around
the rim; and on suction being applied at the mouth-piece, the air, which rises up
through the chamber, is caused to descend into the water through holes in the body
of the cap or through hollow arms connected therewith. By this arrangement the
air becomes thoroughly impregnated with the medicine, and very little effort is
required on the part of the patient.
By another arrangement of my improved apparatus, the medicine may be diffused
or inhaled in the form of spray. For this purpose I use a spray producer for a
mouth-piece, and the medicine may be contained in the chamber.
But in order that my Invention may be fully understood, I now proceed more
particularly to describe the same, and for this purpose I refer to the accompanying
Drawings, in all of which the same letters are used to distinguish the same or
corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Figs. 2 and 3 are sections of one form of my improved
apparatus constructed for use by itself.
A is the outer vessel; B, the air chamber; C, the cap having hollow arms c, c,
connected with it; D is the lid; d, d, the india-rubber band around it; E, the
mouth-piece; F, an elastic band for connecting E with D; G, the stand or lower
rini with holes for the passage of air to the chamber; and H is the handle.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the cap C, showing holes in the body, in addition to the
hollow arms.
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively an elevation and a section of my improved ap-
paratus constructed for use with a lamp, and showing one form of the spray arrange-
inent.
The inlet of the chamber B, which is constructed so as to contain medicine or
disinfectants without interfering with the passage of air through it, is in the side of
the vessel, and is fitted with a stopper or screw cap for the purpose of preventing
the issue of steam or medicine when the spray arrangement is used.
The lamp is enclosed by the rim G, which has a bottom attached, and also has
holes for the escape of vitiated air.
The spray producer consists of an outer conical-shaped mouth-piece E terminating

page_text: at one end in a small orifice, and at the other having an elbow joint to enable it to
fit over the top of the lid, and having fixed within it a smaller tabe e by means of
a plate I, through which the tube e passes, and to which it is attached at or near
the elbow joint. The upper end of another and longer tube J also passes through
the plate into E while the lower end dips into the medicine contained within the
chamber. The lid being made as near as may be steam-tight by the collar or band
around its rim, and the lamp being lit, the steam generated by the heat rises from
the water into the lid, and passes through e into E, and on towards its orifice, and
drawing along with it the medicine which rises up the tube J into E, partly by
suction and partly also by the pressure of the steam upon the surface of the
medicine within the chamber, diffuses it at the orifice in the form of spray.
Fig. 7 shows the cap C made to fit tightly inside the air chamber; Fig. 8 is a
section of the same.
Figs. 9 and 10 show another modification of my Invention constructed for use
either with or without an ordinary fire.
The sides of the outer vessel rise from back to front, and the top K dips down
from the sides towards the middle, whereby the steam is caused to rise and to be
carried by the air from all parts of the vessel towards the mouth-piece.
The mouth-piece is made in joints, which fit one within another, and the upper
end has an elbow for changing the direction of the steam.
The air chamber has a continuation in the form of a removeable spout to increase
the current of air, and to prevent the entrance of smoke when the apparatus is used
with a fire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I do not claim any of the mechanical parts of the apparatus before described,
separately or apart from the application and combination thereof, as herein-before
described, but what I do claim is,-
First. The combination and arrangement of parts, as and for the purposes herein
described, and as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Secondly. The combination and arrangement of parts, as and for the purposes
herein described, and as shewn in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Thirdly. The combination and arrangements of parts, as and for the purposes
herein described, and as shewn in Figs. 9 and 10.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Benjamin Robson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness to the signature and
seal of the above-named
Charles Benjamin Robson,
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Patent Agent,
91, Queen Street,
CHA. B. ROBSON. (LS.)
Cheapside.