AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING AND DEODORISING THE INJURIOUS GAGO ADTOING FROM SEWERS AND DRAINS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Dixon, of Cliftonville, Brighton, in the
County of Sussex, Surgeon, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING AND DEODORISING THE INJURIOUS
GAGO ADTOING FROM SEWERS AND DRAINS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Dixon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th July 1874.
I, FREDERICK DIXON, of Cliftonville, Brighton, in the County of Sussex,
Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature and object of my said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING AND DEODORISING
THE INJURIOUS GASES ARISING FROM SEWERS AND DRAINS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to effectually disinfect and deodorise
the gases given off at the ventilating shafts or other openings of sewers
and drains by causing such gases to pass through flannel, cloth, sponge,
or other porous material saturated with a disinfectant or deodoriser; and
in carrying out the said Invention I employ the apparatus heroin-after

page_text: described-A tank or trough is fitted at the bottom of the trap,
ventilator, or other opening of the sewer or drain; in this is placed a
wooden or iron frame covered with flannel or other porous material.
At the top of such frame is placed another tank or cistern. The disin-
fectant or deodoriser is placed in both tanks; that from the lower tank
is drawn up by capillary attraction, and that from the upper tank is
drawn down by woollen strands inserted in such upper tank or cistern,
and falling over the sides thereof on to the flannel or other porous
material; thus the flannel or other material is always kept saturated.
The trap or ventilator, which is made of iron, stone, wood, or brick in
cement, is divided into two portions, on one side communicating with
the sewer or drain, on the other it is open to the outward air through a
grating. The upper part of the division in the ventilator or trap is fitted
with a frame to be covered with canvas, wire, or zinc gauze, or with
other similar material in order to prevent the dust, sand, or dirt from
the outward opening accumulating on the flannel, and preventing its
proper action. The road dirt and stones falling through the gratings are
accumulated in a box immediately under such gratings, and these can
be readily removed when necessary. Should surface or other water
pass through the gratings it is carried into the sewer or drain bencath
the disinfecting cistern either by a trapped tube or by a spring trap.
The tray or trough in which the flannel or other porous material is
placed may be made of iron, zinc, or earthenware, and it will be kept in
position by projecting flanges resting on fillets, and being thus arranged
for the purpose of ready renewal or cleaning.
The fluid disinfectant will be (when necessary) poured into the cisterns
by opening the upper portion of the trap, which when closed will be
impervious to dust or other injury.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Frederick Dixon, Her special licence that I,
the said Frederick Dixon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Frederick Dixon, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for“ AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR DISINSECTING AND DEODORISING THE INJURIOUS GASES ARISING FROM SEWERS
AND DRAINS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Frederick Dixon, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Dixon, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say:-
The object of this Invention is to effectually disinfect and deodorise
the gases given off or emitted at the ventilating shafts or other openings
of sewers and drains by causing such gases to pass through flannel, cloth,
sponge, or other similar absorbent and porous material saturated with a
disinfectant or deodorizer; and in carrying out the said Invention I
employ the following apparatus :-At the bottom of the trap, ventilator,
or other opening 1 of the sewer or drain I fit a tank or trough 2, in
which I place a wooden or iron frame 3, covered with flannel, cloth,
sponge, or other similar porous material 4, and carrying at its top a
second tank or cistern 5. Both tanks 2 and 5 contain the liquid disin-
fectant or deodoriser; that from the tank 2 is drawn upwards by capillary
attraction, and that from the tank 5 is drawn downwards by woollen
'

page_text: strands 6 placed in and falling over its sides on to the flannel or other
porous material 4, which is thus always kept saturated.
The tank 2 may be made of iron, zinc, or earthenware (as may also the
tank 5), and it is kept in position by projecting flanges 12 resting on
fillets 13 of the frame 1; the tanks are thus arranged for ready removal
or cleaning.
The trap or ventilator 1 may be made of iron, stone, wood, or brick in
cement; it is divided by a partition 7 into two portions 8, 9, one of
which 8 communicates directly with the sewer or drain, and the other of
which 9 opens to the air through a grating 10, which is hinged to the
frame 1 in the usual manner. The upper part of the division 7 is fitted
with a frame 11, covered with canvas, wire, or zinc gauze, or with any
other material suitable for preventing dust or dirt entering by the
grating 10 having access to the flannel 4, and checking its proper
action. The road dirt, stones, and surface water which fall through the
grating 10 accumulate in the compartment 9, which is immediately
thereunder, and can be readily removed therefrom when necessary. Or
the surface water may be carried from the comparrment 9 into the sewer
or drain beneath the tank 2 either by an ordinary trapped tube or spring
tap. If required a narrow gutter may also be run round inside of the
upper edge of the compartment 8, and leading into the compartment 9
so as to carry away thereinto any surface water which may possibly
obtain access to the compartment 8, and prevent its diluting the liquid
therein.
The liquid disinfectant or deodorizer is poured into the tanks 2 and 5
after lifting the grating 10, the solid portion 14 of which when closed
covers both tanks, and prevents any dust or other extraneous matter
obtaining access thereto.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figure 1 represents a plan of
the grating 10 and cover 4; Figure 2, a plan shewing the tank 5;
Figure 3, a plan shewing the tank 2; Figure 4, a cross section; Figure 5,
a longitudinal section; and Figure 6, a section of the compartment 9.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my said Invention, together with the manner in which the
same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the disin-
fecting and deodorizing of the gases emitted at the ventilating shafts or

page_text: impurities to pass through flannel or other absorbent and porous material
saturated with a liquid disinfectant or deodorizer, substantially as in the
manner above specified, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Dixon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
FREDERICK DIXON. (L.S.)