Improvements in Disinfecting Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by GENESTE HERSCHER & Co., of 42 Rue du
Chemin-Vert, Paris, France, Sanitary Engineers.]
Improvements in Disinfecting Apparatus.
I, WOLF DEFRIES of 147 Houndsditch in the City and County of
London E.C., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a self contained apparatus for
disinfection with saturated steam, and the improvements which it embodies are
increased simplicity in construction and working, and entire freedom from
mechanical risks.
The apparatus consists essentially of a boiler preferably partly enclosed by a
furnace, upon the top of which is mounted a disinfection chamber, the pressure in
the boiler and in the chamber being controlled by a liquid seal in an adjoining
cylinder.
The boiler is preferably horizontal, and at its lower part is fitted with a tube
having a vertical return terminating at a suitable height above the top of the
boiler in a funnel from which the boiler is filled. Alternatively this pipe may be
placed in a covered tank provided with a ball-cock or equivalent contrivance, and
connected on the one side to any convenient water supply and on the other side to
the boiler, at the level of which the tank is placed, the ball valve closing at the
normal water-level of the boiler. In the upper part of the steam space in the
boiler a tube is fitted leading to the control cylinder hereinafter described, and at
one end of the steam space there is another pipe leading to the disinfection chamber
and controlled by a cock or valve. The boiler is fitted with a water gauge, and
draw off cock.
The disinfection chamber may have any suitable shape, for instance, that of a
horizontal cylinder. A screen preferably of tinned copper, extends round its
whole inner surface at a small distance from it, apertures or a longitudinal slot
being provided at the top. The lower part of the annular space thus made
communicates with a tube from the boiler. A hinged door is preferably provided
at each end, secured in a suitable manner. The iuterior of the chamber is fitted
with racks, books, or other contrivances for carrying the objects to be disinfected,
preferably made movable.
At the lower part of the chamber at the end opposite to the inlet from the
boiler is attached a pipe leading to the upper part of a vertical tube fixed in
the control cylinder. This tube is closed at top and fitted with a thermometer. The
cylinder is partially filled with water or other suitable fluid, and the open tube
from the boiler extends in it vertically downwards nearly to the bottom, the tube
connected with the disinfection chamber terminating somewhat higher. A sufficient
space is left at the top of the cylinder to accomodate the fluid from the vertical
tubes when they are filled with steam, and an overflow is provided slightly above
the level which the fluid then attains. The cylinder may be provided with a
cover through which these tubes pass in the upper part of which a chimney pipe..
may be fitted. Instead of water any suitable fluid, such as mercury or disinfectant
solution, may be used.
"

page_text: The furnace gases are led through coils arranged within a chamber of suitable
size intended for drying, after traversing which they escape up a chimney. This
chamber is preferably made with a vertical central division, and the lower part
may be separated from the upper, and used for storing fuel or for accomodating a
wheeled fuel-box.
In operation the boiler is filled through the funnel up to a height indicated on
the gauge glass and the fire is lit. When it is desired to disinfect, the valve
or cock on the connection between the boiler and the disinfection chamber is
opened. The steam enters and circulates in the annular space between the screen
and the outer wall of the chamber, and enters the chamber divested of superfluous
moisture through the perforations or slot in the top of the screen.
It passes out through the pipe connecting the chamber with the control cylinder
so soon as the pressure has reached that which corresponds to the depth to which
the tube is sealed in that cylinder, and in this way the working steam temperature
is determined. The thermometer indicates directly the temperature in the stove.
When the pressure in the boiler exceeds that corresponding to the depth to which
its vertical tube in the control cylinder is sealed, the steam escapes until the
pressure is sufficiently reduced. In this way the possibility of an undue pressure
in either boiler or disinfection chamber is absolutely prevented without the use of
mechanism of any kind.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of April 1895.
1, WOLF DEFRIES of 147 Houndsditch, in the City and County of
London, E.C., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
--
The object of my invention is to provide a self-contained apparatus, for dis-
infection with saturated steam, possessing increased simplicity in construction and
working over those at present in use and entire freedom from mechanical risks.
The apparatus consists essentially of a boiler preferably partly enclosed by a
furnace, upon the top of which is mounted a disinfection chamber, the pressure in
the boiler and in the chamber being controlled by a liquid seal in an adjoining
cylinder.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, for a fuller explanation,
Figure 1, is a side élevation and part section of my improved disinfecting
apparatus, and
Figure 2, is an end elevation and part section of the same.
The boiler A is preferably horizontal, and at its lower part. is fitted with a
tube B having a vertical return terminating at a suitable height above the top of
the boiler in a funnel b from which the boiler is filled. Or this tube may be joined
to a reservoir furnished with a ball-cock or any equivalent device in connection
with a water supply. The level constantly maintained by the ball-cock in this
reservoir should be above the level of the boiler at least to, such an, extent, as to
correspond to the pressure in the boiler. In the upper part of the steam space in
the boiler, a tube may be fitted leading to the control cylinder F, hereinafter
described, and at one end of the steam space is a pipe Crleading to the disinfection.
chamber D and controlled by a cock or valve. The boileris fitted with at

page_text: water-gauge and draw-off cock. Where desirable to avoid increase of height in
the apparatus the boiler may be divided into two or more cylinders.
The disinfection chamber D may have any suitable shape, for instance, that of a
horizontal cylinder. A screen d, preferably of tinned copper, extends round its
whole inner surface at a small distance from it, apertures or a longitudinal slot d'
being provided at the top. The lower part of the annular space thus made com-
municates with a tube C from the boiler. A hinged door is preferably provided at
each end, secured in a suitable manner. The interior of the chamber is fitted with
racks, hooks, or other contrivances for carrying the objects to be disinfected,
preferably made movable. At the lower part of the chamber at the end opposite
to the inlet from the boiler is attached a pipe E leading to the upper part of a
vertical tube fixed in the control cylinder F. This tube is closed at top and fitted
with a thermometer. The cylinder F is partially filled with water or other suitable
fluid, and the open tube from the boiler extends in it vertically downwards nearly
to the bottom, the tube connected with the disinfection chamber terminating some-
what higher. A sufficient space is left at the top of the cylinder to accommodate
the fluid from the vertical tubes when they are filled with steam, and an overflow
is provided slightly above the level which the fluid then attains. The cylinder
may be provided with a cover through which these tubes pass, in the upper part
of which a chimney pipe ƒ may be fitted. Instead of water any suitable fluid, such
as mercury, or disinfectant solution, may be used, and whatever the fluid, the whole
or a large part of the germs which are initially carried over will be arrested.
The furnace gases are led through coils arranged within a chamber of suitable
size intended for drying, after traversing which they escape up a chimney. This
chamber is preferably made with a vertical central division and the lower part may
be separated from the upper, and used for storing fuel or for accommodating a
wheeled fuel-box. Alternatively the hot air may be derived from tubes a passing
through the steam space in the boiler preferably containing baffles, metal gauze, or
other devices for increasing the heating surface, and the drying is then performed
in the disinfection chamber, with which the tubes communicate under the control
of a cock.
In operation the boiler is filled through the funnel b up to a height indicated
on the gauge-glass, and the fire is lighted. When it is desired to disinfect, the
valve or cock on the connection C between the boiler and the disinfection chamber
is opened. The steam enters and circulates in the annular space between the
screen d and the outer wall of the chamber D, and enters the chamber divested of
superfluous moisture through the perforations or slot.d' in the top of the screen.
It passes out through the pipe E connecting the chamber with the control
cylinder F so soon as the pressure has reached that which corresponds to the depth
to which the tube is sealed in that cylinder, and in this way the working steam
temperature is determined. The thermometer indicates directly the temperature
in the stove. When the pressure in the boiler exceeds that corresponding to the
depth to which its vertical tube in the control cylinder is sealed, the steam escapes
until the pressure is sufficiently reduced. When the stove is used for current
steam the depth of the seal is arranged so that the steam escapes when the working
pressure is attained. In this way the possibility of an undue pressure in either
boiler or disinfection chamber is absolutely prevented without the use of mechanism
of any kind.
The stove may be mounted on a wheeled underframe if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In steam disinfection stoves the control of pressure by means of a seal of
water, disinfectant solution, or other fluid, as described.
2. A disinfection stove in which the air for drying is heated by passage through

page_text: tubes surrounded by steam, either with or without baffles or equivalent devices for
increasing heating surface.
3. The improved disinfector, constructed, combined and arranged for the
urposes and as described and shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of February 1896.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.