Improved Means for Disinfecting Ships and other Structures.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Disinfecting Ships and other Structures.
I, HENRY RENNER CASSEL, of 26 West 115th Street, New York City,
New York, United States of America, Chemist, 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 :-
This invention relates to improved means for disinfecting ships or buildings by
electrolytically producing a disinfecting fluid, mixing it with a carrying stream of
water, and conveying the mixture to the various points where disinfection may be
needed.
The accompanying drawing represents a cross section of a ship equipped with my
improved apparatus.
The numeral 1, represents a reservoir into which salt water is pumped, such
reservoir being when on ship board the usual tank containing sea water for
cleaning purposes. A feed pipe 3, provided with a regulating cock connects the
reservoir 1, with a decomposing tank 4, in which the disinfecting fluid is developed.
This tank is preferably made of iron and lined' with lead, pitch or other material
capable of resisting the action of the products of decomposition. Within the
tank 4, are contained a series of anodes 5, and cathodes 5, preferably. made of
retort carbon or plumbago and which are connected in multiple with the supply
terminals marked + and -, leading to a source of electric energy, such as a direct
current dynamo electric machine and of sufficient energy to decompose the salt
water in the quantities desired. The tank 4, is provided with a water tight
perforated cover through which the terminals of the anodes and cathodes which
are insulated from the cover protrude, to enable the electric connections to be
effected. At their lower end the electrodes are engaged by a grooved insulating
frame n, of wood or other material, which holds them against displacement.
The tank 4, is preferably provided at its upper end with an auxiliary tank,
pocket, or compartment 6, with which the induction pipe 3, and also an overflow pipe 7,
leading to the main distributing pipe 2, communicate. A partition m, placed
between the compartment and the main tank is provided with a lower contracted
feed opening for the supply of water to the main tank. By this auxiliary
compartment, the disinfecting fluid developed by electrolysis is prevented from
going to waste, for the reason that an excessive supply of water, when the tank is
filled, will flow off through the pipe 7, without mixing with the chlorinated water
produced by the decomposition.
The lower end of tank 4, and also the tank 1, are connected by branches 8, 9,
having regulating valves, to the main distributing pipe 2, which by branches 2º, 2º,
leads to the various decks or floors of the ship or building. Here it communicates
with the different rooms, points or closets where disinfection is needed, and taps,
valves, sprays or nozzles may be suitably located for controlling or regulating the
distribution of the liquid. For example at 10, is shown a tank for flushing and
disinfecting a system of water closets, at 11, are urinals into which the chlorinated
water may be allowed to drip, at 12, is shown a supply reservoir from which water
for washing the floor of the steerage or other parts of the ship may be supplied;
similar provisions may be adopted on the decks and other parts of the vessel.
At 13, is a spray pipe controlled by a cuck 14, by which the disinfecting fluid
may be mixed with the bilge water in the hold. At certain points where continuous

page_text: disinfection is desirable, the disinfecting fluid may be permitted to flow or drop
continuously, as for example in ships, where it is desired to counteract the foul
odors arising from the bilge water. At other points where occasional disinfection
only is required, the cocks and valves which permit the escape of the disinfecting
fluid may be arranged to be manually or automatically operated periodically.
In practice the tank 1, is charged with salt water or any other fluid from which
the disinfectant is to be derived, and which contains preferably chloride of sodium.
A stream of this water flows directly into the pipe 2, while a second stream flows
through induction pipe 3, into the tank 4, where it is subjected to electrolytic
decomposition. The compartment 6, will prevent the pressure in reservoir 1, into
which the sea water is pumped under strong pressure, from being transmitted to the
decomposing tank 4, which is under very little if any pressure, because any
excessive supply of the water will be discharged from compartment 6, through the
overflow 7.
The primary action of the electrolytic decomposition in tank +, is to liberate
chlorine at the anode, and by secondary reaction, hypochlorites are formed, which
together with the free chlorine taken into solution by the water, form a most
powerful oxidizing agent and an excellent disinfectant. The disinfecting solution
generated in the decomposing tank flows through branch 8, into the main 2, where
it mixes with the salt water from tank 1, the mixture being conveyed to the various
closets and other points to be disinfected.
By a relative adjustment of the valves controlling the egress of the salt water
and the chlorinated water, the mixture distributed through the vessel or building
may be made of any desired disinfecting strength.
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. The process of disinfecting ships and buildings which consists in electrolytically
decomposing a solution of chloride of sodium, mixing the disinfecting solution thus
formed with a stream of water and conveying the mixture to the various points to
be disinfected, substantially as specified.
2. A disinfecting apparatus comprising a reservoir, an electrolytic decomposing
tank, and a distributing pipe for conveying a mixture of water and the decomposed
liquid to the various points to be disinfected, substantially as specified.
3. A sea water reservoir under strong pressure combined with an electrolytic
tank under little or decreased pressure, an intermediate auxiliary tank or compartment
that prevents a transmission of the pressure, and a system of pipes connected to the
reservoir and tank, and adapted to convey the mixture to the points to be
disinfected, substantially as specified.
4. The combination of an electrolytic tank having a raised compartment with an
open partition, a distributing main, and a pair of branch pipes that connect the
compartment and the lower end of the tank respectively to the distributing main,
substantially as specified.
5. A disinfecting apparatus comprising a reservoir, an electrolytic decomposing
tank connected therewith, a pipe distributing system communicating with the
reservoir and tank and adapted to convey the disinfecting mixture to the different
points to be disinfected, and valves for regulating the flow of the disinfecting fluid
through the system, substantially as specified,
Dated this 29th day of September 1898.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.