Improvements in Portable Disinfecting Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Disinfecting Apparatus.
I, WILHELM BUDENBERG, of Bremerstrasse 36 Dortmund, Prussia, Manu-
facturing Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in disinfecting apparatus.
Circulating steam at a temperature of about 100° C. is a very efficacious and
advantageous disinfectant for disinfecting articles capable of resisting heat, and
consequently steam disinfecting apparatus are frequently employed in large
hospitals and disinfecting establishments, but as it is necessary that such apparatus
should communicate with steam boilers already used for some other purpose, or with
boilers mounted specially for the purpose of supplying the disinfecting apparatus,
such apparatus is seldom used in small hospitals and disinfecting establishments.
The object of this invention is to construct a disinfecting apparatus specially
applicable for domestic use and in small hospitals which shall offer all the
advantages of disinfecting apparatus of large dimensions and which shall at the
same time be inexpensive.
According to this invention a disinfecting box or chamber (hereinafter called a
disinfecting chamber) is arranged above a simple stove, the cover of which is made
to form a steam generator, the construction being such that the apparatus shall occupy
a small space and at the same time can be easily attended to and controlled, and
that any danger of explosion is avoided.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is an end elevation,
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section; and
Fig. 3 a cross section of disinfecting apparatus according to this invention.
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views hereinafter referred to.
The lower part of the apparatus consists of a stove A, which for greater trags-
portability can be taken to pieces. The stove is either placed in communication
with an existing chimney, or provided with a separate chimney. Directly above
the stove is the steam generator B so arranged that it forms the cover of the stove
and is heated directly.
"
The steam generator consists of an evaporating vessel above which is placed a
water reservoir. The evaporating vessel a b is preferably of round shape and is
made in parts which are connected together by means of screw-bolts so that it can
be readily taken to pieces for cleaning purposes. In order to heat a small quantity
of water rapidly the vessel is made of a flat form and its central part opens into
a steam space c from which the disinfecting chamber is fed. The water reservoir
which is of suitable height and feeds the evaporating vessel continuously through
apertures d is separated by air spaces from the cover of the evaporating vessel and
the space c.
The disinfecting chamber C is supported at its ends by supports while its central
part is carried directly by the steam space c.
The disinfecting chamber is furnished with double walls i and at one of its ends
is provided with a door which advantageously is provided with nonconducting layers
so as to avoid any loss of heat by radiation.
The steam rises between the double walls i, where at first it is condensed, the
water of condensation flowing back into the dome. The disengaged heat of the
condensing steam heats the wall of the disinfecting chamber so that upon the steam
entering the upper part of the disinfecting chamber the condensation thereof which
wets the articles to be disinfected too much at first, is avoided.

page_text: The steam is preferably introduced through a slot or perforated pipe n running
along the ceiling of the disinfecting chamber from which tube the water of con-
densation flows towards the doors or into a special discharge channel o. K is the
inlet for the steam to the pipe n. A simple valve or other similar device mis
arranged in the inlet pipe by means. of which the steam is conducted either into the
pipe n or through the discharge piper into the atmosphere.
In Figs. 2 and 4 a threaded spindle is shown which is actuated from outside and
provided at. its end with a piston in which closes, according to its position, either
the inlet pipe n or the discharge piper; but this construction may of course be
variously modified.
The steam entering the apparatus expels the air through a discharge pipe s
(Figs. 1, 2) which serves as an outlet pipe for the water of condensation and the
used steam which return through a pipe or a cooling coil into the feeding
reservoir efgh. In consequence not only fuel will be saved but owing to the
continuous feeding of the reservoir, the apparatus will not readily become short of
water; in addition to this the regulation of the apparatus is rendered very simple
as it is only necessary to keep up the fire in the stove.
When the disinfecting operation is finished the valve l m is reversed and the
steam which is cut off from the upper part of the chamber allowed to escape into
the atmosphere, the disinfecting apparatus being still heated from the outside.
Ports arranged opposite each other in the end walls i are closed during the dis-
infecting operation by steam tight revolving slides p and y; but as soon as the
disinfection is finished, these slides are opened so that an energetic air current can
pass through the apparatus, expelling rapidly the steam which may be still therein
and which owing to the continued heating of the disinfecting box is not yet con-
densed. The revolving slides 9 and are then closed again for some minutes and
the disinfected articles exposed to dry heat in the apparatus so that the said articles
may be withdrawn from the chamber without any apparent trace of moisture.
The arrangement of the reservoir such as shown in the drawing is quite sufficient
for filling the apparatus with steam having a temperature of 10° C. A ther-
mometer t fixed in the discharge pipe s serves to indicate the temperature at this
part. When for certain purposes, steam at a higher temperature than 100° C. is
required it may be obtained by closing the upper part of the dome and arranging
in the upper part of the stove a steam pipe so as to form a superheating coil one
end of said pipe opening into the steam space and the other into the space between
the walls of the apparatus, the arrangement being such that the steam is cansed
to pass from the steam dome through the superheating coil into the space between
the walls i.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1892.
W. BUDENBERG,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Disinfecting Apparatus.
I, WILHELM BUDENBERG of Bremerstrasse 36, Dortmund, Prussia, Manu-
facturing Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what 4
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to improvements in disinfecting apparatus.
Circulating steam at a temperature of about 100° C. is a very efficacious and
advantageous agent for disinfecting articles capable of resisting heat, and
consequently steam disinfecting apparatus are frequently employed in large
hospitals and disinfecting establishments. As it is necessary however that such
apparatus should be supplied with steam from a steam boiler that is already in use
for some other purpose or with a boiler specially provided for the purpose of

page_text: thing apparatus, such apparatus 15 seldom
used in small
hospitals and disinfecting establishments on account of the high cost.
The object of this invention is to construct a disinfecting apparatus specially
applicable for domestic use and in small hospitals which shall offer all the
advantages of disinfecting apparatus of large dimensions and which shall at the
same time be inexpensive.
According to this invention a disinfecting box or chamber (hereinafter called a
disinfecting chamber) is arranged above a simple stove the cover of which is made
to form a steam generator, the construction being such that the apparatus will
occupy only a small space and at the same time can be easily attended to and
controlled, all danger of explosion being avoided.
In the drawings left with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 is an end elevation,
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section; and
Fig. 3 a cross section of disinfecting apparatus according to this invention.
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views hereinafter referred to.
The lower part of the apparatus comprises a stove A, which for greater
portability can be so constructed that it can be taken apart. The stove is either
placed in communication with an existing chimney, or is provided with a chimney
of its own. Directly above the stove is a steam generator B so arranged that it
forms the cover of the stove and is heated directly.
The steam generator consists of an evaporating vessel a b above which is placed
a water reservoir. The evaporating vessel is preferably of circular shape, and is
made in parts which are connected together by means of screw-bolts so that it can
be readily taken to pieces for cleaning purposes. In order to heat a small quantity
of water rapidly the vessel is made of a flat shallow form and its central part
opens into a steam dome e from which the disinfecting chamber is fed. The water
reservoir which is of suitable height and feeds the evaporating vessel continuously
through apertures d, is separated by an air space or spaces from the top of the
evaporating vessel and the dome r.
The disinfecting chamber C is carried at its ends by supports that rest on the
floor, while its central part is carried directly by the steam dome c.
The disinfecting chamber is constructed with double walls i, and at one of its
ends is provided with a door which may advantageously be provided with
layers of non-conducting material, in order to avoid, as far as possible, loss of heat
by radiation.
The steam rises between the double walls i, where, when first starting the
apparatus, it is condensed, the water of condensation flowing back into the dome.
The heat of the condensing steam thus heats the wall of the disinfecting chamber
to such an extent that upon the steam entering the upper part of the disinfecting
chamber liability of the articles to be disinfected becoming wetted too much when
first starting the apparatus into use, as heretofore, is avoided.
The steam is preferably introduced through a slotted or perforated pipe n running
along the top of the disinfecting chamber and from which tube the water of
condensation flows towards the doors, or into a special discharge channel o. K is
the inlet for the steam to the pipe n. A suitable valve is provided by means of
which the steam can be conducted either into the pipe n, or through the discharge
piper into the external atmosphere. The valve shown in Figs. 2 and 4 for this
purpose comprises a screw threaded spindle arranged to be actuated from the
outside, and provided at its end with a piston m which closes, according to its
position, either the inlet pipe nor the discharge piper; but this construction may
of course be modified in various ways.
The steam entering the apparatus expels the air therein through a discharge
pipes (Figs. 1, 2) which also serves as an outlet pipe for the water of condensation,
and the used steam which return through a pipe or a cooling coil into the water
reservoir ef gh. In consequence of this arrangement not only will fuel be saved,
but owing to the continuous feeding of the reservoir, the apparatus will not readily

page_text: become short of water; and the regulation of the apparatus is rendered very
simple as it is only necessary to keep up the fire in the stove.
When the disinfecting operation is finished, the position of the valve l m is
reversed, and the steam which is cut off from the upper part of the chamber
allowed to escape into the atmosphere, the disinfecting apparatus being still heated
by the steam jacket formed by the double walls i. Ports arranged opposite each
other in the end walls are closed during the disinfecting operation by steam tight
revolving slides p and 9. As soon however as the disinfection is finished, these
slides are opened so that an energetic air current can pass through the apparatus,
rapidly expelling the steam which may be still therein and which owing to the
continued heating of the disinfecting chamber by its steam jacket is not yet
condensed. The revolving slides q and p are then closed again for some minutes
and the disinfected articles exposed to dry heat in the apparatus so that the
said articles may be withdrawn from the chamber without any apparent trace of
moisture.
A steam generator and water reservoir such as shown in the drawing, is quite
sufficient for filling the apparatus with steam at a temperature of 100° C. A
thermometer t fixed in the discharge pipe s serves to indicate the temperature at
this part of the apparatus. When for certain purposes, steam at a higher
temperature than 100° C. is required it may be obtained by closing the upper part
of the dome, and arranging a steam pipe in the upper part of the stove A so as to
form a superheating coil one end of the said pipe opening into the steam dome and
the other into the space between the double walls i of the apparatus, the arrange-
ment being such that the steam is caused to pass from the steam dome through
the superheating coil and into the said space between the double walls.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A portable disinfecting apparatus constructed with a shallow steam generating
vessel, a stove arranged preferably directly below the said vessel and so as to heat
the same, a water reservoir arranged above and so as to continuously feed the
steam generating vessel, and a disinfecting chamber constructed with a steam
jacket that is in communication with the steam dome or space of the steam
generating vessel and with the interior of the disinfecting chamber, the arrangement
being such that steam generated in the said vessel will first circulate through the
jacket of the disinfecting chamber and heat this chamber and will then enter this
chamber at the upper part thereof, and water of condensation and steam will flow
from the said disinfecting chamber to the water reservoir wherein the steam will be
condensed, substantially as herein before described.
2. In disinfecting apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, the
combination with the steam jacketted disinfecting chamber, whether or not the
same be provided with an inlet and outlet apertures controlled by slides or valves
such as and 9, of a valve whereby the steam jacket of the said chamber can be
placed at will, either in communication with the interior of the disinfecting chamber,
or with the external atmosphere substantially as hereinbefore described for the
purpose specified.
3. The improved portable disinfecting apparatus substantially as described and
shown.
1
T
CL
SM 1800
WILHELM BUDENBERG,
By L. W., per F. B.