Improved Means of Distributing Formic Aldehyde Vapours.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th June, 1897-Accepted, 31st July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Distributing Formic Aldehyde Vapours.
A communication from abroad by LA SOCIETE CHIMIQUE DES USINES DU RHÔNE,
anet. GILLIARD P. MONNET & CARTIER, of Lyons, France, Manufacturer.
I, GEORGE BELOE ELLIS of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn & Ellis of 55 and 56
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to the means for facilitating the production and 'dis-
tribution of formic aldehyde vapours in a dry state by evaporation of a combination
of pure formic aldehyde with a liquid of a low point of ebullition.
Formic aldehyde is known for its great disinfecting power and several scientific
men have proved that even in very diluted solutions formic aldehyde is of great
efficiency in destroying microbes but until quite recently no one had succeeded in
obtaining vapours of formic aldehyde in sufficient quantity, dryness and purity for
disinfecting rooms and objects which cannot be treated by liquids and which are
injured by moisture.
Trillat has described an apparatus for the production of large quantities of formic
aldehyde vapours for the purpose of disinfecting dwellings, school-rooms, hospitals
and other public buildings, etc.
For some purposes it is however desirable to have a convenient portable means of
disinfecting an object or confined space instantaneously with formic aldehyde
vapours.
In carrying out the present invention a combination of pure formic aldehyde is
made with ethyl chloride or some other liquid which has a very low point of
ebullition and which has no chemical action on formic aldehyde at ordinary tempera-
tures but which will dissolve or mix with pure forinic aldehyde in various proportions
and form a homogenous liquid. This combination is enclosed in vessels strong
enough to resist the vapour pressure under all ordinary conditions of transport and
storage, and allowing of the expulsion in a jet or otherwise of any desired
quantity.
For small quantities, sufficient for example for enabling persons when travelling
to disinfect a railway compartment, sleeping-car, ship-cabin, mail-coach or similar
places, the tubes which are employed for the preservation and use of ethyl chloride
in dental operations may be conveniently used.
The quantity of ethyl chloride or other liquid to be used in combination with the
formic aldehyde should be of such a proportion as to ensure that the pressure inside
the receptacle will be sufficient to bring the invention into operation if when used
in cold climates a very small amount of heat by way of example the heat of the
hand is applied to the containing vessel.
D
3000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved 'Means of Distributing Formic Aldehyde Vapours.
A communication from abroad by LA SOCIÉTÉ CHIMIQUE DES USINES DU RHÔNE,
anet. GILLIARD P. MONNET & CARTIER, of Lyons, France, Manufacturers.
I, GEORGE BELOE ELLIS of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn & Ellis of 55 and 56
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, 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 present invention relates to the means for facilitating the production and
distribution of formic aldehyde vapours in a dry state by evaporation of a combination
of pure formic aldehyde with a liquid of a low point of ebullition.
Formic aldehyde is known for its great disinfecting power and several scientific
men have proved that even in very diluted solutions formic aldehyde is of great
efficiency in destroying microbes but until quite recently no one had succeeded in
obtaining vapours of formic aldehyde in sufficient quantity, dryness and purity for
disinfecting rooms and objects which cannot be treated by liquids and which are
injured by moisture.
Trillat has described an apparatus for the production of large quantities of formic
aldehyde vapours for the purpose of disinfecting dwellings, school-rooms, hospitals
and other public buildings, etc.
For some purpose it is however desirable to have a convenient portable means of
disinfecting an object, or confined space instantaneously with formic aldehyde
vapours.
According to the present invention a combination of pure formic aldehyde is made
with ethyl chloride or some other liquid which has a very low point of ebullition
and which has no chemical action on formic aldehyde at ordinary temperatures but
which will dissolve or mix with pure formic aldehyde in various proportions and form
a homogeneous liquid. This combination is enclosed in vessels strong enough to
resist the vapour pressure under all ordinary conditions of transport and storage, and
allowing of the expulsion in a jet or otherwise of any desired quantity.
For small quantities, sufficient for example to enable persons when travelling to
disinfect a railway compartment, sleeping-car, ship-cabin, mail-coach or similar places,
the tubes which are employed for the preservation and use of ethyl chloride in dental
operations may be conveniently used.
The quantity of ethyl chloride or other liquid to be used in combination with
the formic aldehyde should be of such a proportion as to ensure that the pressure
inside the receptacle will be sufficient to bring the invention into operation if when
used in cold climates a very small amount of heat, by way of example, the heat of
the hand is applied to the containing vessel.
In carrying out the invention it is preferred to make the combination or volatile
product of formic aldehyde, methylic alcohol and ethyl chloride with or without
ethyl chloride. An alcoholic solution of formaldehyde is first made by introducing
formic aldehyde gas into methyl alcohol which readily absorbs it.
In this way
solutions can be obtained containing up to 60 per cent. of formic aldehyde. For the
purpose of the present invention a 40 to 45 per cent. solution is employed as a
stronger solution polymerizes too readily. It is mixed with varying quantities of
ethyl chloride according to the degree of concentration desired. For solutions above
15 per cent. formic aldehyde it is desirable to add methyl chloride to render the
product inore volatile.
The following quantities may be given as suitable :-

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
as communicated to me and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare
that what I claim is :-
The means herein before described of distributing formic aldehyde vapours, which
consists in combining an alcoholic or other suitable solution of formic aldehyde in
suitable proportions with a liquid such as ethyl chloride which has a very low point
of ebullition and has no chemical action on formic aldehyde at ordinary temperatures
but which will dissolve or mix with the solution of formic aldehyde and form a homo-
geneous liquid, and in enclosing this mixture or combination in suitable vessels
provided with a jet nozzle or other like device to allow of the expulsion of any desired
quantity, as set forth.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.