Improvements in Disinfectors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
Improvements in Disinfectors.
I, JOHN CLOUGH THRESH, of The Limes, New London Road, Chelmsford,
Essex, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Medicine, and Medical Officer of Health, to
the Essex County Council, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to improvements in disinfectors of the kind invented
by me and for which I obtained Letters Patent No. 4989 of the year 1895.
According to my present improvements the disinfecting chamber is still mainly
surrounded by a solution having a higher boiling point than water, steam is
generated from such solution, and is conducted through the same and delivered to
the disinfecting chamber to act upon the articles to be disinfected, but instead of
boiling the solution by the heat of a furnace applied directly to the boiler
containing the same, as in my previous arrangement of disinfector I boil by means
of steam. For this purpose I introduce steam directly into the solution. I also cause
steam to circulate through a pipe or pipes or coil or conduits in the solution so that
heat is imparted to the solution through the wall or walls of such pipe or pipes or
coil or conduits. Thus the furnace used in my previous arrangement can be
dispensed with and the apparatus simplified, in cases where a separate external
supply of steam is available. The steam to be introduced into the solution may be
injected by means of one or more perforated pipes arranged to extend through the
solution and adapted to be connected with an external steam supply pipe. In one
arrangement the injection pipe (or it may be each of several injection pipes) is
connected at one end to one end of the boiler by an internally and externally screw
threaded ferrule and provided at the other end with a screw plug, the intermediate
portion of tube having a row of holes for exit of steam.
The heat imparted by conduction from steam to the solution serves to obviate
excessive condensation of steam introduced into the solution at starting and also for
re-evaporating any steam condensed. In one arrangement for circulating heating
steam within, but isolated from, the solution there are one or more groups of
straight pipes, the pipes in each group being connected at one end to a junction
piece common to the group having supply or exit pipe, as the case may be, adapted
to be connected to the boiler shell, the pipes at the other end of each group being
connected to a junction piece common to all the pipes, the arrangement being such
that steam admitted by one pipe to the corresponding junction piece will flow
simultaneously through all the pipes of the corresponding group to the common
junction piece at the other end and thence pass to the pipes of the other group
from which water of condensation can flow away by the exit pipe. The boiler in
this case may be carried by a pair of suitable base pieces or supports, or be
mounted on a truck, as may be found convenient. The steam space of the boiler
of my apparatus is in one modification arranged to be alternately placed in com-
munication with the atmosphere, and with the upper end of the pipe or conduit for
conducting steam generated in the boiler through the solution to the disinfecting
chamber, by a cock the conical plug of which is fixed upon a spindle that extends
through a stuffing box at one end of the boiler and is provided with an operating
handle arranged to work between suitable stops. The plug, which may be kept up
to its seat by a spring and washer, is made hollow, open at one end and formed

page_text: with a peripheral slot that can, by rotation of the plug, be brought opposite one or
other of two branch ways in the valve casing, one of the branches being adapted
to be connected as by a flange joint, to the upper end of the said steam pipe, and
the other to the top of the boiler opposite the steam discharge pipe. Conveniently
the valve casing may be fixed in place within the boiler by stud bolts which pass
through an annular block arranged external to the boiler and co-axially with the
discharge opening therein, and are screwed into the corresponding flange of
the casing, suitable packing being placed between the block and the boiler and
valve casing. The stud bolts also serve for the attachment to the block of the
flanged end of an elbow piece or socket for carrying the steam discharge or
escape pipe.
The lower end of the steam pipe is connected to a coil of steam tubing located
between the bottom of the boiler and disinfecting chamber and connected to the
latter below a perforated baffle plate therein, as in my previous arrangement, the
said coil having at one end of the boiler an air inlet controlled by a valve in
the form of a plate pivoted at one end.
I sometimes construct my disinfector with a copper (or other) pipe steam and
air conducting device for conducting steam from the solution through the solution
to the disinfecting chamber and for conducting air through the solution to the said
chamber and in one modification this device is mainly constructed with a single
straight pipe. This part of my invention can be used in my disinfectors
whether the solution be heated by a furnace as in my original arrangement or by
steam.
As will be evident disinfecting apparatus wherein according to my invention
a solution having a higher boiling point than water is employed in conjunction
with steam for causing evaporation injected into such solution and caused to
flow through conduits therein so as to heat by conduction or either may be
constructed in various forms and may embody all or some only of my above
described improvements.
improvements in Disinfectors.
I, JOHN CLOUGH THRESH, of The Limes, New London Road, Chelmsford,
Essex, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Medicine, and Medical Officer of Health to
the Essex County Council, 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 :-
My invention has reference to improvements in disinfectors of the kind invented
by me and for which I obtained Letters Patent No. 4989 of the year 1895.
According to my present improvements the disinfecting chamber is still mainly
surrounded by a solution having a higher boiling point than water, steam is
generated from such solution, and is conducted through the same and delivered to
the disinfecting chamber to act upon the articles to be disinfected, but instead of
boiling the solution by the heat of a furnace applied directly to the boiler
containing the same, as in my previous arrangement of disinfector I boil by means
of steam. For this purpose I introduce steam directly into the solution. I also

page_text: cause steam to circulate through a pipe or pipes or coil or conduits in the solution
so that heat is imparted to the solution through the wall or walls of such pipe or
pipes or coil or conduits. Thus the furnace used in my previous arrangement can
be dispensed with and the apparatus simplified, in cases where a separate external
supply of steam is available. The steam to be introduced into the solution
may be injected by means of one or more perforated pipes arranged to extend
through the solution and adapted to be connected with an external steam
supply pipe.
The heat imparted by conduction from steam to the solution serves to obviate
excessive condensation of steam introduced into the solution at starting and also
for re-evaporating any steam condensed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows partly in end elevation and partly in cross section, and Fig. 2 in
longitudinal section, disinfecting apparatus of the kind referred to constructed
according to my present invention.
Fig. 3 shows in side elevation a steam injection pipe with fixing device
therefor.
Fig. 4 shows in plan a steam circulating arrangement for heating the solution in
the boiler.
Fig. 5 shows part of the steam pipe or coil that serves to conduct steam from
the boiler to the disinfecting chamber; it also shows the pipe for admitting hot air
to the said chamber.
Fig. 6 shows partly in cross section and partly in end elevation, and Fig. 7
partly in longitudinal section and partly in side elevation, means for controlling the
communication between the boiler and the disinfecting chamber and external
atmosphere.
1 is the boiler within which is arranged the disinfecting chamber 2 which is
provided at the ends with hollow hinged doors 3, which is in constant communi-
cation with the external atmosphere by a pipe 4 and is nearly surrounded by a
solution 5, such as a solution of chloride of calcium, having a higher boiling point
than water all substantially as in the disinfecting apparatus described in my said
former specification.
6 is an injection pipe by which, according to my present invention, steam at a
suitable pressure say for example seventy pounds to the square inch can be
introduced directly into the solution 5. This injection pipe (or it may be each of
several injection pipes) is connected at one end to one end 1 of the boiler 1 by an
internally and externally screw threaded ferrule 7 (Fig. 3) and provided at the
other end with a screw plug 8, the intermediate portion of tube having at its
underside a row of holes at 9 for exit of steam into the solution 5.
For circulating and heating steam within, but isolated from, the solution, there
are provided, in the example shown in Figs. 1 and 4, two groups of straight
pipes 10, the pipes in each group being connected at one end to a junction
piece 11 that is common to the group and having a supply or exit pipe 12, as
the case may be, adapted to be connected as at 13, to the front wall 1ª of the
boiler shell, the pipes at the other end of each group being connected to a
junction piece 14 common to all the pipes, the arrangement being such that
steam which may be for example at a pressure of 70 lbs. per square inch
admitted by one pipe 12 to the corresponding junction piece 11 will flow
simultaneously through all the pipes 10 of the corresponding group to the
common junction piece 14 at the other end and thence pass to the pipes 10 of
the other group from which water of condensation can flow away by the exit
pipe 13. The boiler in this case may be carried by # pair of suitable base
pieces or supports 15, or it may be mounted on a truck, as may be found
convenient.
When the solution has been raised to the boiling point the admission of steam
direct thereto may be cut off and the boiling maintained by the heat of the steam
passing through the pipes 10.

page_text: The steam space 16 of the boiler 1 of my apparatus is, in the example shown
in the drawings, adapted to be placed at will either in communication with the
atmosphere, or with the upper end of the pipe or conduit 17 for conducting
steam generated in the boiler through the solution 5 to the disinfecting
chamber 2, by a cock or valve 18 the conical plug 19 (Fig. 7) of which is
fixed upon a spindle 20 that extends through a stuffing box 21 at one end 1ª
of the boiler and is provided with an operating handle 22 arranged to work
between suitable stops 23. The plug, which may be kept up to its seat by a
spring 24 and washer 25, is made hollow, open at one end, as shown, so as to
be in constant communication with the steam space 16, and formed with a
peripheral slot 19 that can, by rotation of the plug, be brought opposite one
or other of two branch ways 26 and 27 in the valve casing, one of the branches,
viz. 26, being adapted to be connected as by a flange joint 26, to the upper
end of the said steam pipe 17 (Fig. 6), and the other, ris. 27, to the top of
the boiler opposite a steam discharge or escape pipe 28. Conveniently the
valve casing 18 may be fixed in place within the boiler by stul bolts 29,
which pass through an annular block 30 arranged external to the boiler and
co-axially with the discharge opening therein, and are screwed into the corre-
sponding flange 18" of the valve casing, suitable packing 31 and 32 being placed
between the block and the boiler and the block and the valve casing respectively.
The stud bolts 29 also serve, as shown, for the attachment to the block 30 of
the flanged end of an elbow piece or socket 28 forming part of the steam
discharge or escape pipe.
The lower end of the steam pipe 17 is connected to a coil 17ª of steam tubing
located between the bottom of the boiler 1 and disinfecting chamber 2 and
connected at 17 to the latter below a perforated baffle plate 33 therein, as in my
previous arrangement, the part 17 of the said coil extending round to one end of
the boiler and opening to the external atmosphere so as to form an air inlet that is
controlled by a valve in the form of a plate 33 pivoted at 33*.
I sometimes construct my disinfector with a copper (or other) pipe steam and
air conducting device for conducting steam from the solution through the solution
to the disinfecting chamber and for conducting air through the solution to the said
chamber and in one modification this device is maiuly constructed with a single
straight pipe. This part of my invention can be used in my disinfectors whether
the solution be heated by a furnace as in my original arrangement or by steam.
As will be evident disinfecting apparatus wherein according to my invention a
solution having a higher boiling point than water is employed in conjunction with
steam injected into such solution and caused to flow through conduits therein so as
to heat by conduction, may be constructed in various forms and inay embody all or
some only of my above described improvements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A disinfector, substantially such as hereinabove described wherein steam for
use in the disinfecting chamber is produced by subjecting a solution having a
higher boiling point than water to the action of both steam introduced directly
into such solution and heat derived from steam caused to circulate in contact with
one side of a wall or walls with whose opposite side or sides the said solution is in
contact.
2. The combination with the disinfecting apparatus hereinbefore described of a
cock or valve constructed arranged and operating substantially as described and
shown for controlling the communication between the steam space of the boiler and
the external atmosphere and the upper end of the pipe or conduit that serves to
conduct steam generated in the boiler through the solution to the disinfecting
chamber.

page_text: 3. The improved disinfector hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated thin 14th don of Nov 1007
JOHN
W. Lloyd Wise,
THRESH.
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.