Self-acting Apparatus for the Periodic Dispersion of Disinfectants, Antiseptics, or other Substances of a like Nature in the Form of Jets and Sprays.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 9th Dec.. 1889--4ccented 8th Feb 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Self-acting Apparatus for the Periodic Dispersion of Disinfectants,
Antiseptics, or other Substances of a like Nature in the Form of
Jets and Sprays.
ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD of 150 Holland Road London W., Electrical Engineer do
hereby declare the nature, of this invention to be as follows:-
In these apparatus a jet of water is utilized to produce an air blast which actuates
the sprays or jots. I prefer to arrange these apparatus for carrying into effect the
above as follows:-
A high pressure jet of wator issuing from a nozzle of small aperturo passes into a
passage somewhat larger than the nozzle immediately opposite to the nozzle: the
mouth of the receiving passage is open to the air so that the air is drawn through and
into this passage by & with the water in its course through this passage. The
delivery end of this receiving passage is fitted airtight into an airtight vessel: this
vessel is fitted with a float actuating a waste valve this float is placed and adjusted
so as to provide an air space in the airtight vessel between the surface of the water
& the top of the airtight vessel. A pipe fitted airtight into the airtight vessel &
communicating with the airspace in the vessel supplies the spray with the necessary
airblast when the apparatus is in action.
:
When the water is allowed to issue from the nozzle by opening the tap or valve
which supplies the water it passes into the receiving passage & thence into the air-
tight vessel drawing air with it & carrying & forcing the air with it into the airtight
vessel which acts as a separator. The waste valve being in its normal position that is
closed by a non corrodible spring working against the float, the water will now rise
in the vessel until the float rising with it opens the waste valve & allows the water to
escape at the precise rate at which it enters from the delivery end of the receiving
passage. It will be seen that although the water pressure in the water main supplying
the jet of water may vary, the amount of water in the vessel will remain practically
constant since the float will at once adapt itself to all variations.
The compressed air in the airspace between the surface of the water & the top of
the airtight vessel passes into a pipe which terminates in an ordinary spray jet: the
tube of the spray jet is inserted in a receiver containing the substance it is wished to
disperse & sprays are thus produced in the ordinary way. Where convenient as in
steamships & other places where there is no pressure water supply a jet of steam
may be utilized in these apparatus in place of the jet of water first above mentioned
to produce an airblast to actuate the sprays & jets.
The intermittency may be obtained & the period governed by a pipe fitted with an
accurately adjustable valve & connected with the water supply: this pipe provides
for the delivery of a definite volume of water in any required time: this volume of
water is the precise amount necessary to actuate either of the following appliances
which open & close the valve supplying the jet of water.
(. A small bucket attached to the lever of the valve connecting the nozzle with
the water supply actuates the valve by the variation of its weight by successive filling
& emptying into this bucket the sight feed of regulated water supplied inde-
pendently of the apparatus above described, drops.
(b. A small bydraulic ram in place of the bucket fed by the regulated stream of
water.
Where the spray is only occasionally required the valve connecting the nozzle
with the water supply is so connected with the door of the place in which the spray
jet is placed that it is opened by the opening of the door. Tuis valve is fitted with a
dash pot which only allows the valve to close slowly.

page_text: Where it is desired to actuate a number of sprays distributively as in the case of
hospitals hotels large buildings steamships & the like a large size apparatus as abovo
described may be placed in the basement engine room or other convenient place & a
pipo carried from it to the various spray jets.
The wasto water from any of these apparatus may convoniently be used for 5
flushing.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Self-acting Apparatus for the Periodic Dispersion of Disinfectants,
Antiseptics, or other Substances of a like Nature in the Form of
Jets and Sprays.
1, AirEED RENÉ U'PWARD, of 150 Holland Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly de-cribed and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
My invention relates to apparatus for producing dispersion of disinfectants, anti-
soptics, or other substances of a like nature in the form of jets, and sprays, and
consists in apparatus adapted to milison water supply to produce the required air
blast to actoate the sprays or jets, which water supply is further utilised to ronder
the production of the said jots or sprays periodic.
I prefer to arrange the apparatus for carrying my invention into effect as follows:-
and in order that any invention may be the better understood I now proceed to
describe the same, in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had
to the letters and figures marked thereon; Figure 1 is a part rectional view of one
form of my apparatus.
In order to obtain a blast of air for operating the said sprays or jets I causo a
high pressure jet of water from a main A or other supply to issue from a nozzlu of
small aperturo B which passes into or is surrounded by a tube or passage C some-
what larger than the nozzle and immediately opposite to, or surrounding the nozzle.
The mouth of this external passage or tube is open to the air so that the air is drawn
through, and into this passage by, and with the water in its course throngh this tube
or passage. The delivery end of this tube or passage is fitted into an air-tight
vessel D, and when the water jet is set in operation, the water and air are together
discharged into this intermediate vessel, the water falling to the bottom and the air
collecting and being compressed in the upper part of tho vessel.
To provent the said vessel from becoming filled with water, I fit theroin n flont E
attached to, and actuating a water waste valve Fin the lower part of the vessel.
This float E is so adjusted in height as to float and lift the valvo F when tho
accumulated water has only partly risen in the vessel, leaving an air space above tho
said level of the wator and the top of the air-tight vessel.
When the water is allowed to issue from the nozzle by opening the tap or valve
which controls the supply of water to the nozzlo, the water, drawing air with it in
the manner described passos into tho nir-tight vossol which nets as a separator. The
waste-wator valve aforesaid is normally closed by a non-corrodible spring & working
against the aforesaid float . The water will now rise in the vessel until the float ki
rising with it opens the wasto-valve F' and allows the water to escape at the precise
rate at which it enters from the water nozzle.
It will be seen that although the water pressure in the water main supply may vary,
the amount of water in the vessel will remain practically constant, since the float will
at once adapt itself to all variations of level.
The compressed air in the air space between the surface of the water and the top
of the air-tight vessel passes into a pipe II which is connected to any ordinary known
form of spray nozzle.
The tube of the spray nozzle is insertod in a reservoir containing the substance

page_text: which it is wished to disperse and sprays are produced by the air blast in the
ordinary way.
In steam ships or other places where there is no pressure main of water a jet of
steam may be utilized in this apparatus in place of the jet of water above described to
induce a volume of air into the vessel, condensation of the steam being effected in the
said vessel.
It is obvious that the air blast may be equivalently produced by other known
mechanisms such as by the direct displacement of the volume of air in a closed
vessel by direct admission of water under pressure; or by a water motor operating a
fan or air pump, but I consider the above described combined induction jet and
vessel to be the most effective and simplest form of apparatus for the purpose.
The periodic action or intermittent functioning of the sprays or jets may primarily
be obtained by the application of a minute flow, or drip of water capable of exact
adjustment to actuate any convenient form of intermittency producing apparatus
which in turn determines the number of air blasts in a given time passed to tho
spray or jet producing nozzle.
The above method may be conveniently carried into effect by providing an
independent pipe L from the water supply fitted with a delicately and accurately
adjustable valve or cock K by which any definite volume of water can be delivered
in a given time.
This minute and adjustable flow of water actuates a periodically reciprocating
appliance such as hereinafter described, making it function with any required
frequency; and which is connected so as to open and close the valve supplying the
jet of water to the air-blast producing vessel.
The equivalent but alternative controlling appliances are:-
(a) A small bucket M attached to a counter balanced lever N which lever is fixed
to the spindle of the cock, or valve, connecting the jet nozzle with the water supply,
so that the fall and rise of the bucket end of the lever will open and close the said
valve or cock A¹. The minute and adjustable flow or sight feed of water above
described passes into a small tipping cup O placed immediately over the lever bucket.
When this tipping cup is nearly filled it over-balances throwing its contents into
the lever bucket M beneath which in consequence suddenly falls opening the
valve A' to whose spindle it is by means of the lever N attached.
There is a minute aperture P in the lower part of the lever bucket M which allows
of a very gradual outflow of the water it contains so that after descent it gradually
rises by virtue of the counterbalance weight which keeps the lever normally horizontal
and the valve closed.
(b) Where the spray is only occasionally required, the valve connecting the
nozzle with the water supply is so connected with the door or other movable
flap, or object in the chamber in which the spray jet is placed, that the jet valve is
opened by the opening of the door or the moving of the said flap or object; the
valve closes as before described by a reacting weight or spring, the action of the
weight or spring being retarded by a dash pot, thus allowing the valve to close
slowly, so as to keep the spray in operation during a suitable period.
Where it is desired to actuate a number of sprays distributively, as in the case of
hospitals, hotels, other large buildings, steam ships and the like, a large sized apparatus
as above described may be placed in the basement of a building, in the engine room
or other convenient place and a pipe carried from it to the various spray jets, to
supply them with the required air blast.
The waste water from any of these appliances may conveniently be used for
flushing.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed be it known that what I
claim is :-
1st. The application of water power by a suitable apparatus to provide the required
air blast and also to cause periodic functioning of the apparatus for the periodic

page_text: self-acting distribution of disinfectants and other substances in the form of sprays
and jets, substantially as described.
2nd. The combination of a spray jot operated by a blast of air with au air
vessol in which air is induced and collected at a slight pressure by the water or
steam jet, substantially as described.
3rd. Tho combination with a spray jot and air vessel as abovo, of the
periodically controlled tap or valve on the water or steam supply pipo, the periodic
control apparatus being
a) A counter balanced lever and bucket
bucket lever periodically opening and
filling and emptying by an independent
sight drip or flow from the main."
fitted to the cock or valve, the
closing the latter by successive
innto and accurately adjustable
b) A door or flap connected to the cock or valve to open the same and
controlled by a dash pot for retarding the closing of the valve, substantially
Us described.