IMPROVEMENTS IN DISINFECTING, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR to
Year: 1886

page_text: I THOMAS BRADFORD of Salford in the County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby
déclare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN DISINFECTING, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR to be as follows :—
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
disinfecting linen clothing and other similar articles by means of superheated
vapour generated in the first place in a boiler which is fed by gravitation from an
equal level and is therefore practically only under atmospheric pressure.
The apparatus consists of a closed boiler made of iron, copper or other suitable
material and supplied with water from a feed cistern provided with a ball valve
and placed at such a level that the said boiler is kept about half filled with water.
The boiler is provided with outlets of such a capacity that the pressure in the
boiler never exceeds that of the atmosphere, and the vapor from these outlets is
conveyed through a superheating coil to the disinfecting chamber into which it
can be delivered at any required temperature according to the extent of the super-
heating coil.
I propose to fix the furnace underneath the disinfecting chamber in such a
manner that the floor of the chamber (which I propose to form of non-conducting
material) shall be heated to such an extent as to prevent the condensation thereon
of the superheated vapour.
I also propose to connect a ventilating flue to the chamber in such a way that
as the vapour enters the latter the cold air therein shall be passed into the smoke
flue and thus the conductibility of the vapour is not impaired by admixture
with air.
Also, after the process of disinfection is finished, the said flue assists in drying the
articles operated upon, by removing the vapour and moisture which are replaced
by dry air.
GEORGE DAVIES,
Agent for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.

page_text: Improvements in Disinfecting and in Apparatus therefor.
I, THOMAS BRADFORD of Salford in the County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DISINFECTING, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus, for
disinfecting furniture, linen, clothing and other similar articles by means of super-
heated vapour generated in the first place in a boiler which is fed by gravitation
from an equal level and is therefore practically only under, atmospheric pressure.
The apparatus which I propose to employ for this purpose and the method of
using the same will be readily understood on reference to the annexed two sheets of
drawings and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. (sheet 1) is a vertical longitudinal section and Fig. 2. a plan or horizontal
section of my improved disinfecting apparatus, and Fig. 3 (sheet 2) is a transverse
section of the same,
a, a is the brickwork of the furnace b, b the fire bars c, c the bridge and d, & the
flue or chimney, e, e is a closed boiler (at the side of the fire place) made of iron
copper or other suitable material and supplied with water from a feed cistern f, f
provided with a ball valve and placed at such a level that the said boiler e, e
is kept about half filled with water; or more than one boiler may be used if
preferred.
The boiler is provided with two or more outlets g, g of such a capacity that the
pressure in the boiler e, e never exceeds that of the atmosphere.
The vapour from these outlets passes by a pipe h, h through a stop tap i, i and
pipe k, k into a superheating coil or into a superheating chamber 1, 1 placed in the
furnace, and thence by the branch pipes m, m to the disinfecting chamber into
which it can be delivered at any required temperature according to the extent or
capacity of the superheating coil or chamber 1,
The disinfecting chamber may be enclosed in any suitable manner but I prefer
to provide it with a "container" o, o constructed as described in the Specifications
of previous Patents granted to me Nos. 3455 of 1884 and 6653 of 1885.
The branch pipes m, m may be provided with distributing covers m¹, m¹ see
Fig. 3, or with nozzles, for directing the superheated steam against the sides of the
container" o, o or for otherwise directing the said stream,
C
I propose to fix the furnace underneath the disinfecting chamber in such a
manner that the floor n, n of the chamber (which I form of tiles, asbestos or other
non-conducting material) shall be heated only to such an extent as to prevent the
condensation thereon of the superheated vapour.
Valves p, p are provided for allowing of the escape of the superheated vapour
when required.
I also sometimes connect a ventilating flue to the chamber, communicating with
the smoke flue d, d in such a way that as the vapour enters the chamber the cold
air therein shall be passed into the smoke flue and thus the conductibility of the
vapour is not impaired by admixture with the air.

page_text: In this case after the process of disinfection is finished the said flue assists in
drying the articles operated upon by removing the vapour and moisture which are
replaced by dry air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. The method of disinfecting furniture linen, clothing, or similar articles by
means of superheated vapour substantially as herein before described.
Secondly. I claim the combination of the furnace, steam boiler, superheating coil
or chamber, and disinfecting chamber, substantially in the manner and for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth, and illustrated by the drawings annexed,
Dated this 13th day of October 1886.
GEORGE DAVIES,
Agent for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,