AN IMPROVED SPRAY PRODUCER FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MEDICATED VAPOURS
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Peter Harrower and John
Chiene Stuart at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 22nd January 1868.
We, PETER HARROWER and JOHN CHIENE STUART, both of the City
of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SPRAY PRODUCER FOR
THE PRODUCTION OF MEDICATED VAPOURS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This said Invention consists generally in a new or improved con-
struction of a small portable apparatus for producing a stream or jet
of fine spray or vapour, used for medicinal and odoriferous purposes
through inhalation and otherwise by the combined action of a jet of
steam from a heated vessel, and a stream of liquid of a medicinal
character from a phial or other vessel not heated containing it, to be
termed or called the "Adams' spray inhaler," to connect it in honour
with the name of the medical gentleman who was the first to test the
merits of the Invention for producing jets or streams of fine spray
or vapour for such purposes generally, all effected by this said improved
construction of apparatus in a more safe, convenient, and economical
manner than by those heretofore in use.

page_text: And under one modification this Invention or its features of novelty,
particularly and essentially consists in constructing the steam generator
in the form of a vertical hollow internal and external "walled" conical
vessel of a double, tubular, or annular form in horizontal section and
triangular in radial vertical section, by having the lower part of its outer
case cylindrical, either attached to or formed by the upper part of the
ordinary hollow vertical cylinder forming the main portable case con-
taining the usual spirit or other lamp passed in through a door or lateral
opening in the side near the flat bottom on which the lamp rests and
the whole stands, and, having the handle secured to and projecting out
laterally from the lower part of this case, where there' is little or no
heat, for the greater convenience and comfort of lifting and carrying
the apparatus in its operation and use. This improved construction of
the steam vessel set concentrically over the lamp besides being stronger
gives a much longer and greater heating surface to the internal conical
tube forming the actual heating surface and funnel of the vessel, and
the outer crown being also conical gives greater elegance, strength, and
height to the vessel, besides giving a longer, narrow, or tubular water
space all round the lower and greater part of the heating surface, and
gives a greater height, and capacity of steam space at the top of the
vessel or boiler above the water inlet, exposed also to a small part of
the direct heating surface of the top so as to insure pure steam slightly
dried or superheated passing off at the very top, where the branch pipe
is formed for inserting, and jointing the back end of the steam tube
of the actuating nozzle through which the jet of steam acts, which are
as short as possible to prevent condensation therein, which improve-
ments taken together enables this apparatus to be set to work sooner
after applying the lamp with less waste of heat, and prevents "priming"
or the blowing out of hot water through the steam tube and nozzle, and
is a great security to its proper working without trouble or management,
and safety against burning the person using the apparatus over those
heretofore in. use. "'The steam tube and nozzle being set by preference
in a horizontal position, while that of the liquid nozzle attached to it
at right angles descends vertically from it into the phial or other small
vessel containing the medicinal or other liquid desired' to be made into
fine spray or vapour placed at the side of the main case within a small
sheath or case attached near the upper part thereof for its reception,
and inserted therein by preference from the under side of the sheath
so as to go up over the liquid tube through the open mouth, or a hole

page_text: in the cork for the purpose, until the tube reaches to near the bottom
of the liquid at the time the phial is quite raised up to its proper
position, when a hinged bottom is then clasped up by the spring or
elasticity of the "bezels"" for the purpose, or fixed by any other equivalent
convenient fastening preferred, all without requiring to disturb the
position of the duplex spray producing nozzle, which can thus be always
fixed and jointed in the steam branch pipe or faucet in its proper position
ready for use. The spray producing tubes, which are of the usual well-
known construction, are preferred to be made of glass, but they may
also be made of metal or other substance, which is proof against the
action of the liquid chemicals likely to be used, and safe also in being
used with hot steam. The water orifice for filling, the boiler or steam
vessel is placed at such a height or position as to regulate, show, and
ensure that the boiler shall be sufficiently and yet not over filled with
water at any time, and is by preference stopped by a plug of cork,
wood, or india-rubber; but it, may be stopped by a screw head or stop-
cock if desired; and a small safety pressure valve may be fitted at the
upper part of the steam chamber, although this is not necessary, as the
open nozzle would always carry off the steam generated; and the whole
vessel may be made of sheet copper, brass, tin, or other metal usually
employed for making such liquid boiling vessels.
Another modification of this said Invention or improved spray
producer for the production of medicated vapour consists in putting
the medical substances in a solid, powdered, or in a partially fluid
state into a small glass boiler or other vessel or retort, capable of
standing the heat and chemical action of the substances placed within
it, so placed over the top of the steam or water boiler and end of the
heating chimney, up through it before named that the heated currents
from the lamp escaping thereat will heat the vessel and vaporise or
volatilise the matters within it, which thus rise in the vessel and pass
off by a neck or tube formed or placed in it so as to be conveyed and
escape either by an ordinary open orifice, or some of the well-known
forms of nozzles used for spray producers, as desired, near enough to
the steam nozzle to cause the jet of steam therefrom by its lateral action
to draw the volatilised vapour or gas from the vessel and tube, and
combine with it in the form of a fine medicated spray or vaporous
stream in a direction favorable for being inhaled or otherwise used or
applied, as described in reference to the former modification. The steam
tube and nozzle in this arrangement is by preference formed of metal,

page_text: and conveyed upwards from the top of the superheating steam chamber
before named, and bent so as to deliver the jet by preference in a
horizontal direction and position adjacent to the escaping tube of the
volatilising vessel, which vessel may be made of various forms, such as
that of a tube or globe, or of a cup or saucer shaped with a lid and
tube for conveying away the vapour as it is volatilised, and the vessel
itself and its tube and the nozzle, when it has one, may be all made
of glass, porcelain, or metal enamelled, or other material or substance
employed for the manufacture of volatilising or boiling of chemicals,
and which will stand their action and the heat necessary for so doing,
and this boiler may be placed in a small fixed or a portable open metal
frame for its reception at the top of the steam boiler, all otherwise as
herein-before described.