IMPROVED APPARATUS AND MEANS FOR DISINFECTING CLOTHING, BEDDING, FURNITURE, UPHOLSTERY, AND ARTICLES OF LIKE NATURE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Nelson, of Leeds, in the County of
York, Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS AND
MEANS FOR DISINFECTING CLOTHING, BEDDING, FURNITURE, UPHOLSTERY, AND
ARTICLES OF LIKE NATURE.”
Sealed the 12th February 1869, and dated the 14th August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Nelson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th August 1868.
I, GEORGE NELSON, of Leeds, in the County of York, Ironfounder,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS AND MEANS FOR DISINFECTING CLOTHING, BEDDING, FURNITUre,
UPHOLSTERY, AND ARTICLES OF LIKE NATURE," to be as follows:-
The purport of my Invention is to disinfect clothing and the articles
specified or referred to in my title. For this purpose I use a suitable
rectangular double chest or box mounted upon supports or feet, and
made of iron, wrought or cast. Across the top of the box are arranged

page_text: (resting on a suitable framework) a series of adjustable iron bars, upon
which rest the articles to be disinfected when such articles consist of
clothing or articles of a like nature. Underneath the plate which forms
the bottom of the box are arranged a series of gas jets running from
end to end of the chest or box. These jets are enclosed with the
exception of the underneath part (where air is admitted for the com-
bustion of the gas) and the heat so generated is caused to pass between
the inner and outer casing of the above-named double chest. Angle
irons, however, placed at intervals within such casing and running round
the sides of the chest and at each end alternately, prevent the direct
ascent of the hot air and cause it to traverse from end to end until it
reaches the top, where it escapes into a flue provided for the purpose.
By this arrangement the whole box is equally and thoroughly heated
and the articles generally disinfected in a few minutes. The lid forming
the top of the box may be opened by means of a chain and weight
passed over a friction pulley and connected to the front edge of the
same. If desired a cold air valve may also be introduced in any con-
venient part of the chest for the purpose of clearing it of noxious
vapours, the same being carried by means of a fluc valve into the flue.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said George Nelson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
NELSON, of Leeds, in the County of York, Ironfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 2
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Nelson, Her special licence that
I, the said George Nelson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said George Nelson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein

page_text: expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS AND
MEANS FOR DISINFECTING CLOTHING, BEDDING, FURNITURE, UPHOLSTERY, AND
ARTICLES OF LIKE NATURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said George Nelson, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Nelson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to.
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The purport of my Invention is to disinfect clothing, bedding, furniture,
upholstery, and articles of like nature. For this purpose I use a double
chest or box, rectangular by preference, mounted upon supports or feet
and made of iron, wrought or cast, or of other suitable material. Across
the top of the box are ranged (resting on a suitable framework) a series
of adjustable iron bars, upon which rest the articles to be disinfected
when such articles consist of clothing or articles of a like nature. When
flocks, feathers, bedding, or small articles are to be disinfected perforated
iron trays or shelves resting on the aforesaid framework are used to
hold the same.
Underneath the plate which forms the bottom of the
box are arranged means of producing dry heat expeditiously, which as
shown in the Drawings consists of a series of gas jets running from
end to end of the chest or box. These jets are enclosed with the
exception of the underneath part (where air is admitted for the com-
bustion of the gas), and the heat so generated is caused to pass between
the inner and outer casing of the above-named double chest. Angle
irons or partitions placed at intervals within such casing and running
round the sides of the chest and at each end alternately prevent the
direct ascent of the hot air, and cause it to traverse from end to end until
it reaches the top, where it escapes into a flue provided for the purpose.
By this arrangement the whole box is equally and thoroughly heated

page_text: Fig. 1 elevation of apparatus constructed according to my Invention;
Fig. 2 plan of same showing lid removed; Fig. 3 longitudinal section
of same; Fig. 4, transverse section of same.
A, A, outer box; B, B, inner box; C, C, space between inner and
outer casing; D, D, angle irons placed between inner and outer casing
causing the heat to wind round the box instead of ascending directly;
E, outlet for the products of combustion from gas jets; F, outlet
from interior casing for affluvia; G, damper in outlet (F); H, thermo-
meter; I, valve for admission of cold air; J, gas jets; K, rails for
supporting articles to be disinfected; L, L, grids to prevent articles
touching the bottom of interior; M, lid; N, chain balance weight
and pulley; O, catch for securing lid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or
put in practice, I hereby declare that I claim, the Invention of
"Improved Apparatus and Means for Disinfecting Clothing, Bedding
Furniture, Upholstery, and Articles of like nature," herein-before,
described, in which apparatus peculiar and useful features of construction
are its arrangement as a double chest or box provided with adjustable
bars for articles to be disinfected to rest upon, and a bottom plate
having beneath the means of introducing dry heat expeditiously, angle
irons or partitions being so placed in the casing as to prevent the
direct ascent of the hot air, causing it to traverse from end to end

page_text: and thoroughly effect the disinfecting of the articles required to be
disinfected, it being understood that the mere details of construction
shown by the Drawings are not claimed per se and apart from the
scope and intention of my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Nelson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eight day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
0 Witness,
FRANCIS SOMERS.
GEORGE NELSON. (L.S.)