Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Hot Air for Inhalation.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Hot Air for Inhalation.
I, ROBERT MACDONALD, of 42 White Street, in the city, county and state of New
York, United States of America, Importer, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus specially contrived for obtaining a full supply
of pure air at a temperature of about 400°, in readiness for inhalation in the treatment
of diseases of the lungs, and for the administration in connection therewith of suitable
medicinal agents.
It has for its object to provide, within the smallest compass and in portable form
a convenient apparatus which shall produce, with economy of fuel, a sufficient volume
of air of the temperature required.
It consists in the novel combination and arrangement of air-supply pipes and
chambers with a suitable heating device, and with a medicating-chamber, substantially
as follows:-
A closed vessel of sheet metal is supported and suspended within an outer casing
of suitable form, open at the bottom but closed at the top and which is provided
with a discharge vent or flue, and is supported upon suitable legs so that its lower
edge is elevated above the table on which it may rest.
The inner, closed vessel constitutes the heating-chamber in the apparatus and is so
far smaller in its dimensions than the outer casing as to leave an open space or
passage between the two communicating at the top with the discharge vent or flue.
This inner vessel is moreover inwardly-recessed at the bottom to form a downwardly-
projecting, annular extension of the heating-chamber, co-incident with the outer
circumference thereof.
An air-supply pipe is connected to the bottom or lower end of the heating-chamber.
An eduction-pipe is fitted to its upper end to extend thence outwardly through the
casing, and to this eduction-pipe is fitted an inhaling-tube provided, as is customary,
with a month-piece, a suction-valve which opens towards the mouth-piece when air
is being inhaled through it, and a delivery-valve which closes when the valve opens
and opens when an expiration is made of the inhaled air.
A Bunsen burner, or other equivalent heating device, is placed under the heating
chamber, so that the hot flame shall be carried against the bottom of the chamber and
with the heated gases and products of combustion be deflected therefrom and carried
up through the encircling passage over the entire outer surface of the chamber, and
finally discharged through the flue.
To render the heating device more efficient, the pipe, by which the supply of fresh
air is admitted to the heating-chamber, is preferably extended in a coil under the
bottom of the chamber before entering it, so as to be exposed directly to the heat of
the burner, and this coil may be so extended, and enclosed laterally within the external
recess in the bottom of the chamber, as that the heating of the air-supply may be
largely effected in the coil before it is delivered into said chamber.
In a modification of the apparatus, the coiled-pipe may be substituted wholly for
the heating-chamber.
In such case the outer casing is preferably made of a conical form and the coil
mounted therin occupies the entire space above the burner, the openings between
its bends being sufficient only for the free passage of the heat and products of -
combustion over and around the same before reaching the discharge vent or pipe,
whilst the conical shape of the outer casing serves to concentrate the heat upon the
noner turns of the coil

page_text: The casing of the apparatus is preferably lined interiorly and exteriorly with
asbestos, or other equivalent, non-conducting material.
An auxiliary chamber is preferably combined with the air-supply pipe leading to
the heating-device for the purpose of facilitating au impregnation of the air with any
suitable medicament.
This medicating-chamber is formed upon, or attached to, the side of the casing, and
is made to communicate on one side with the pipe leading to the heating device, and
with a fresh-air supply pipe on the other.
It is provided with a door or lid to permit of ready access thereto & preferably,
with an inner grating upon which the medicament may be placed in position to be
exposed to the current of air flowing through the chamber.
Dated this 15th day of May 1889.
ROBERT MACDONALD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Hot Air for Inhalation.
I, ROBERT MACDONALD, of 42 White Street, in the City, County and State of
New York, in the United States of America, Importer, 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 an improved apparatus for promoting the inhalation of
hot-air as a remedial agent for the cure of diseases of the lungs.
It has for its object to obtain, within the smallest compass and with the greatest
economy of heat, the maximum efficiency in producing a constant supply of
pure air heated to a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit and upwards,
and to provide for the combination therewith of any required medicinal agents.
It consists in the novel combination and arrangement of the several parts of the
device co-acting to produce the desired result as is hereinafter described and
claimed.
In the accompanying drawings:-
:-
Figure 1, is a sectional view illustrating the construction of my improved inhalating
apparatus in one of its most approved forms.
Figure 2, illustrates by a similar view modifications in the apparatus shown in
Figure 1, whilst,
Figure 3, is an elevation; and, Figure 4, a central vertical section of a modification
in the invention wherein the air for inhalation is heated wholly within a coiled
tube.
Similar letters indicate like parts in all of the figures.
In the drawings; A, represents an outer casing of suitable form closed at the top
and open at the bottom and preferably made of sheet-metal.
This outer drum or casing is preferably supported upon legs C, C, by which it is
upheld far enough above the table upon which it may be placed, to allow a free
access of air under the same and is fitted at the top with a central discharge
flue B.
In the form of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, an inner, closed vessel D
of thin sheet-metal, is suspended within said outer casing A, its dimensions being so
proportioned as that an open space or flue E, will be left between the two; said space
or passage being made preferably of an uniform width to completely surround the
vessel D, which constitutes the heating-chamber of the apparatus. The bottom of
this inner vessel or heating-chamber D, is preferably inwardly recessed, and a
narrow, marginal downward extension D' of the chamber is thus produced to encircle.
a central space under the bottom thereof.
An air-supply pipe F is connected to the bottom or lower end of the chamber D.
An eduction-pipe G is fitted to its upper end. to extend thence outwardly through
the casing A and to this eduction-pipe G is fitted an inhaling-tube H, provided, as

page_text: s customary, with a mouth-pipe I, a suction-valve J, which opens towards the
mouth-piece when air is being inhaled through it, and a delivery-valve K, which
closes when the valve J opens and opens when an expiration is made of the
inhaled air.
A Bunsen burner L, or other equivalent heating device, is placed under the
chamber D, so that the hot flame shall be carried against the bottom of the chamber
and with the heated gases and products of combustion be deflected therefrom and
carried up through the encircling passage E, over the entire outer surface of the
chamber D, and finally discharged through the flue B.
To render the heating device more efficient, the pipe F by which the supply of
fresh air is admitted to the chamber D, is preferably extended in a coil M, Figure 1,
under the bottom of the chamber before entering it, so as to be exposed directly to
the heat of the burner, and this coil may be so extended, as shown at M¹ in Figure 2,
and enclosed laterally within the external recess in the bottom of the chamber, as
that the heating of the air-supply may be largely effected in the coil before it is
delivered into said chamber.
N, Figures 1 and 2, represents an auxiliary chamber formed upon the side of
the casing A for the purpose of impregnating the supply of air delivered to the
heating-chamber D with any suitable medicament needed in the treatment of the.
lungs by inhalation. This medicating-chamber N, is made to communicate directly
with the chamber D by means of the connecting-pipe F, and is supplied with air by
means of a pipe P to which may be fitted a tube P¹ to extend, through the apartment
in which the apparatus is used, to the outer air, and thereby ensure freshness and
purity in the supply.
The chamber N, is provided with a door or lid R, through which the medicament.
may be introduced, and with a perforated partition or grating S upon which to
support it, so that the current of air may pass freely over or through the medicament,
this end being facilitated, where the eduction-port of the medicating-chamber is
formed near the lower end thereof, by means of a partition-plate T, see Figure 1,-
extending from the bottom nearly to the top of the chamber in front of said
port.
In the use of the apparatus, a supply of pure, fresh air, preferably drawn out of
doors, is introduced through the induction-pipe P, into the medicating-chamber N,
and thence through the connecting-pipe F and coil M to the heating-chamber D.
Thence it is delivered through the discharge-pipe G to the inhaling-tube H, to be
drawn into the lungs of the patient at the mouth-piece I, the suction-valve J being
opened and the discharge-valve K closed by the act of inhalation. The exhalation of
the foul air from the lungs is effected through the valve K, the suction-valve J
closing automatically so soon as the return pressure is exerted thereon.
During its passage through the coil M., and its momentary detention in the
chamber D, the fresh air is heated by means of the burner L as described, to the high
temperature required for the destruction of the bacilli in the lungs and the healing
of its tissues.
In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the outer
casing is made conical in form and the heating-chamber consists of a pipe M²,—
see Figure 4,--coiled within the upper portion and bent to return back and forth
upon itself in the lower portion thereof, leaving narrow intervals between the several
lengths or turns of the coils and bends for the passage of the flames and currents of:
hot gases of combustion over and around said pipe M², throughout its entire extent
within the casing, as they are carried upwar 1 to the discharge-flue B.
:
-"
The conical shape of the outer casing serves to concentrate the heat upon the upper
turns of the coil constituting the heating-chamber.
The casing is preferably lined interiorly or exteriorly with asbestos or other
suitable non-conducting material to prevent, so far as possible, an outward radiation
of heat therefrom.
The lower end of the heating-chamber or coil M² is left open, er, by preference, is
connected with the tube P' extending to the outer air.

page_text: Its upper end is carried through the top of the casing and is fitted with the
customary inhaling-tube H terminating in the mouth-piece I and fitted with suitable
suction and discharge valves J, K, as described.
The lower portion of the conical casing A,-Figures 3 and 4-is extended far
enough below the enclosed coil to overhang the heating device L which is placed
centrally beneath the coil so as to heat the same.
This form of apparatus is light, effective and may be furnished at comparatively
low cost and by its use a continuous supply of fresh air heated, to a temperature of
about 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or more if desired, is supplied to the inhaling-tube
from the coiled pipe or extended heating-chamber M², the casing serving to retain
and concentrate the heat derived from the burner upon the coil.
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 1
claim is :-
1. The combination in an apparatus for superheating air for inhalation, of an
air-heating chamber, an air-supply-pipe communicating with said chamber, a
delivery pipe also communicating with the chamber, and an external casing having
a discharge-pipe connected thereto for conveying the vitiated air and products of
combustion from said casing, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein
set forth.
2. The hot-air inhaling apparatus constructed substantially as described, and
comprising an outer casing open at the bottom and having at the top a discharge
vent, a burner placed in the lower portion of said casing, an air-chamber mounted
within the casing above the burner so that the products of combustion shall encompass
its walls in flowing to the discharge vent, an air-supply pipe extending outwardly
from the air-chamber, and an inhaling-tube communicating with said chamber and
having suitable suction and discharge valves, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein set forth.
3. The combination in a hot-air inhaling apparatus with the inhaling-tube and its
suction and discharge valves, of the heating-chamber D having a re-entrant recess or
pocket D' in the bottom thereof to form an annular space within it, a burner L fitted
directly under said recess, an encircling flue formed by an outer casing A,
covering and enclosing said chamber and burner, and an air-supply-pipe Pi
connected with the chamber, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein
set forth.
4. In an apparatus for superheating and medicating air, the combination of an
outer casing having a closed upper end and an open lower end arranged within the
casing and having the inlet pipe at its lower, and the outlet pipe at its upper end; a
medicating-chamber located exteriorly of the casing and communicating with the
inlet pipe; a fresh-air supply-pipe connected to the medicating-chamber; and an
inhaling-tube connected with the outlet pipe, all substantially in the manner and for
the purpose herein set forth.
5. A hot-air inhaling apparatus comprising an inhaling-tube and its suction and
discharge valves, an extended air-heating chamber or pipe bent in a series of super-
imposed coils and communicating at its upper end with said inhaling-tube and at its
lower end with an air-supply pipe, a heating and combustion chamber covering and
enclosing the coils of the heating-chamber and formed by an outer casing which is
open at its lower end and made to communicate at its upper end with a suitable
discharge-pipe, and a burner placed under said coils and the lower, open end of the
combustion chamber; whereby the products of combustion are carried upward directly
around and over the coils, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set
forth.
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