Improvements in Sterilising Water and other Liquids and Apparatus therefor
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sterilising Water and other Liquids and
Apparatus therefor
I, HENRI ROUART of the firm of La Société Rouart Freres et Cic. of Paris in
the Republic of France do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for sterilising water and other
liquids and freeing them from all the noxious microbes or germs that they may
contain by exposing the liquid to temperatures of about 120 degrees Centigrade
and upwards as hereinafter described. When a liquid is simply boiled before being
used it is commonly believed that the microbes or like organisms which it contains
are entirely destroyed but this is not the case in fact and inoreover the air which
the liquid contained in solution is driven off and has to be restored by agitation or
otherwise that is to say with great risk of introducing a fresh supply of germs or
noxious organisms. Certain microbes require a temperature of at least 120 degrees
Centigrade in order to destroy their vitality and I have now invented a combina-
tion of apparatus enabling liquids containing such microbes to be heated to
120 degrees Centigrade and upwards without causing them to part with the air
which they contain thus simultaneously destroying the microbes contained in the
air as well as those contained in the liquid.
The operation is conducted in principle as follows in sterilising water for
example:-
-
A closed vessel, which I will call a boiler, containing the water to be treated
and capable of resisting considerable pressure is heated either by the direct action
of a gas or other furnace or by means of steam for example until the water which
it contains is heated to a temperature of at least 120 degrees. This water is
directly supplied to the boiler through a pipe placed in communication with the
ordinary main or service pipes or other supply under sufficiently high pressure
which may be obtained by means of pumps or otherwise.
The water having been exposed to the high temperature of the closed vessel or
boiler for a suitable time enters a cooler such as a coiled pipe or worm immersed in
water wherein it is cooled being drawn off in a cold condition retaining the air
which it holds in solution and deprived of all the living microbes or germs which
may have been present either in the said air or in the water and which have been
destroyed or deprived of vitality by exposure to the temperature of 120 degrees
Centigrade.
The sterilising apparatus is preferably continuous in its action which is regulated
by cocks with micrometer screws for controlling the admission and escape of the
liquid with the aid of a gange glass provided in the top of the boiler.
In constructing the apparatus in practice it may be mounted on wheels or it may
stand upon the ground or any suitable fixed support, and may be combined with a
pump which causes the water to pass in the first place through a filter from which
it flows through a pipe into a closed chamber where it ascends in contact with a
coiled pipe or worm in which the sterilised water flows downwards in order to be
cooled by the cold water entering the apparatus. From this chamber the water
passes into cuils or worms which are enclosed in a case or chamber and are heated
by the direct action of a furnace for example to 120 degrees Centigrade and
upwards on leaving the coils the sterilised water is conducted by a pipe to the
aforesaid cooling worm and is discharged through a tap. The circulation is
continuous and regulated as stated by the admission and discharge cocks or taps
or by the action of the pump.

page_text: According to another arrangement of the apparatus the water is heated in a
closed sterilising vessel by a steam pipe or worm. The liquid supplied by a pipe
provided for this purpose circulates in a closed vessel in contact with a cooling
worm and flows through a connecting pipe to the aforesaid steam bented storilising
vessel in which its temperature is raised to 120 degrees Centigrade or upwards.
The sterilised water is then cooled by the cold water entering the apparatus and is
drawn off through a suitable pipe.
These apparatus may be arranged in such a manner as to adinit of meat being
boiled in the water. Meat so treated may be preserved for a considerable period
if protected from the atmosphere.
Pharmaceutical and other products may also be prepared and dissolved by these
means; water and other liquids when heated to 120 degrees Centigrade and upwards
having great power for dissolving or saturating such materials. This apparatus
may also be employed for the destruction of microbes in wine, beer, and milk, being
especially well adapted for destroying the microbe of tuberculosis which is
frequently present in milk.
The boiler may be provided with a safety valve and a thermometer or the like
may be employed to indicate the temperature.
For household purposes the operation may be performed in a closed vessel
provided with a discharge cock and having an admission tube closed by a stopper
neting as a safety valve. In this case the action is intermittent. The cover of the
vessel may be of the same diameter as a flange running round the edge of the
vessel and be secured by bolts with wing nuts or the cover may be of smaller
dimensions and open inwardly being attached to a small chain by which it can be
drawn up so as to close the orifice being fixed in position by a transverse har
and a screw.
The sterilised water is applicable to many useful purposes such as the manufacture
of nerated waters or in brewing, in the manufacture of ices and in general in all
trades in which water is employed in the production of articles of food when it is
of the greatest importance to employ none but water that is absolutely free from
microbes and other like organisins.
It is also a great advantage to the public to have at its disposal and for daily
use bottles filled with sterilised water and which may be substituted for mineral
waters commonly used as a beverage especially during the prevalence of an
epidemic.
Dated this 6th day of September 1890.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sterilising Water and other Liquids and
Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRI ROLANT of the firm of La Societe Rouart Frères et Cie. of Paris in
the Republic of France 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 a process and apparatus for sterilizing water and other
liquids and freeing them from all the microbes or germs that they may contain by
exposing the liquid to high temperatures in apparatus constructed for the purpose
as hereinafter described.
When a liquid is simply boiled before being used it is commonly believed that
the microbes or like organisms which it contains are entirely destroyed but this is
not the case in fact, and moreover the air which the liquid contained in solution is
driven off and has to be restored to the liquid by agitation or otherwise that is to
say with great risk of introducing a fresh supply of germs or organisms.

page_text: Certain microbes require a temperature of at least 120 degrees Centigrade in
order to destroy their vitality and my present invention relates to a combination of
apparatus enabling liquids containing such microbes to be heated to 120 degrees
Centigrade and upwards without causing them to part with the air which they
contain thus simultaneously destroying the microbes contained in the air as well as
those contained in the liquid.
The operation is conducted in principle as follows: in sterilizing water for
example.
A closed vessel which I will call a boiler containing the water to be treated and
capable of resisting considerable pressure is heated either by the direct action of a
gas or other furnace or by means of steam, for example, until the water is heated to
a temperature of not less than 120 degrees Centigrade. This water is directly
supplied to the boiler through a pipe placed in communication with the ordinary
nain or service pipes or other source supplying water under a sufficiently high
pressure preferably greater than 2 kilogrammes.
The water after having been exposed to the high temperature of the closed
vessel or boiler for a suitable time enters a coo er such as a coiled pipe or worm
immersed in water whence it is drawn off in a cold condition, retaining the air
which it holds in solution, and deprived of all the living microbes or germs which
may have been present either in the said air or in the water, and which have been
destroyed, or deprived of vitality by exposure to the temperature of 120 degrees
Centigrade. When a supply of water under pressure is not available or in case
the pressure is insufficient the pressure is obtained or supplemented by the aid
of a small pump or other feeding or forcing apparatus with continuous action for
example.
The sterilizing apparatus is preferably continuous in its action which is regulated
by cocks with micrometer screws for controlling the admission and escape of the
liquid with the aid of a gauge glass provided at the upper part of the boiler. The
outlet must be regulated in such a manner as to compel the liquid to remain in
the heating apparatus for a sufficient period to enable the sterilization to be
completed.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings represent in plan side elevation
and end elevation respectively a portable apparatus to be employed in carrying out
this invention.
Figure 4 drawn to a larger scale represents in vertical section a stationary
apparatus constructed according to this invention.
Figure 5 illustrates a modified arrangement of the parts hereinafter described
and Figure 6 represents a detail connected therewith.
In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 12 and 3 and which in place of being
mounted on wheels as represented in the drawing may stand upon the ground or
upon any suitable fixed support. The water (for example) is drawn by a pump
such as that represented at A from a filter at B in which it is freed in the first
place from matter held in suspension. From this pump the water flows through a
pipe C into a closed chamber D where it ascends in contact with a coiled pipe or
worm E shewn by dotted lines in Figure 2 in which heated water that has been
previously treated flows downwards in order to be cooled by the cold water
entering the apparatus. From this chamber D the water passes through a pipe F
into a pipe forming one or two series of coils or worms G (Figure 2) enclosed in a
case or chamber Hand heated by the direct action of a furnace at Z for example.
The water circulating in this coiled pipe G has its temperature raised to about
120 degrees Centigrade and upwards and on leaving the coils is conducted by a
pipe to the worm E where it is cooled by the water entering the apparatus.
After being thus sterilized and cooled the water is discharged through a tap J.

page_text: The circulation is continuous and can be regulated as stated by manipulating the
admission and discharge cocks or taps or by the action of the pump. Before the
sterilized water is drawn off from the apparatus is preferably caused to pass
through a clarifier or filter arranged in between the boiler or heater and the
cooler or any other convenient position, Before commencing operations all the
parts of the apparatus in contact with the liquid must be sterilized this precaution
being specially necessary in the case of the clarifier and cooler. With this object
it is sufficient to cause water to flow for a few minutes directly into the coil G
without previously passing it through the cooler so that it runs off for the time at a
temperature of about 120 degrees Centigrade.
In the apparatus arranged as illustrated in vertical section in Figure 4 the water
is heated in a closed sterilizing vessel II by means of a steam pipe or worm K.
The water or liquid to be sterilizes) in this apparatus being supplied by a pipe
ascends in a vessel D' in contact with a worm containing water to be cooled and
flows through a connecting pipe I to the heating or sterilizing vessel IP in which
its temperature is raised to 120 degrees Centigrade or upwards by means of the
steam heated coil K. The sterilized water from the vessel II is then cooled by
eireulating in the cooling worm E' in the vessel D' receiving the cold water
entering the apparatus and is drawn off through a pipe G
In place of wing heated by steam or direct action of a furnace the liquid may be
conveniently heated by gas. For this purpose it is simply necessary to arrange
suitable gas burners in the fire place or furnace of the apparatus,
Figur illustrates another disposition of the parts which may be employed for
domestic purposes but is more particularly intended for hospitals or other large
establishments. This apparatus is automatic in its action and enables the sterilised
water to be drawn off either in a heated or in a cold condition. In this arrangement
the area of heating surface is increased by causing the water to pass through a
heating coil before entering the boiler which also contains a clarifier.
1
When the apparatus is supplied direct from the ordinary service pipe the
variations in the pressure in the latter are able to interfere with its regular action.
In order to obtain a uniform pressure in the supply, the water, being supplied to a
cistern through a ball cork in Figure 5 may be caused to work, a hydraulic ram e
which, owing to the unchanging head of water in the cistern, delivers the water
at the required uniform pressure through a pipe d. This pipe conducts the water
to a cooler or temperature exchanger e where it is heated by the hot water that has
passed through the apparatus. The water then passes through a pipe into a
heating worm or oil which may be beated by a gas burner y for example.
From the coil the water passes through a boiler theared by the gas burner y
supplied by a gas pipo u) and a clarifier whence it is conducted through a pipe 7
into the cooler which is provided at its upper part with an enlarged part
formning a hot water chamber. The sterilised and cooled water is conducted by a
pipe to a cistern which may be provided if required with a ball cock, and
overflow pipe. Cold water is drawn off from this cistern through a tap q and hot
water can be drawn off from the hot water chamber through a pipe m and tap a.
The boiler g is provided with a pressure gauge and a safety valve h.
The gas pipe is provided with an automatie regulator illustrated in section
drawn to a larger scale in Figure 6. This regulator is constructed with a flattened
tube or chamber which projects into the boiler and contains mercury. This tube
communientes with a chamber I communicating at 2 with the pipe supplying gas
to the burner y. A vertical tube or cylinder 3 projects downwardly into this
chamber so that its lower extremity is within such a distance from the surface of
the mercury as to allow of the passage of the requisite amout of gas to the burner.
A rod passed through this cylinder is provided with a screw and a hand wheel i
which enables it to be adjusted vertically so as to displace a certain quantity of the
mercury for the purpose of regulating the level of the latter relatively to the lower
end of the tube 3 the upper extremity of which is connected at 5 with the gas
sunnly nine.

page_text: The gas entering through this pipe flows down the tube or cylinder 3 and
escapes between the lower extremity of the latter and the surface of the mercury.
When the temperature in the apparatus changes the level of the mercury rises or
falls correspondingly and contracts or enlarges the area of the passage for the gas.
When the temperature rises beyond a certain point the mercury is expanded to
such an extent as to completely cut off the supply of gas from the burner.
The apparatus herein before described may be constructed of any suitable size for
manufacturing, chemical, household, or other purposes. They may be arranged in
such a manner as to admit of meat being boiled in the water. Meat so treated
may be preserved for a considerable period if protected from the atmosphere.
Pharmaceutical and other products may also be prepared and dissolved by these
means; water, and other liquids when heated to 120 degrees Centigrade and
upwards having great power for dissolving or saturating such materials.
This apparatus may also be employed for the destruction of microbes in wine,
beer, and milk, being especially well adapted for destroying the microbe of
tuberculosis which is frequently present in milk.
The water sterilised by exposure to a temperature of 120 degrees Centigrade or
upwards as hereinbefore described is applicable to many useful purposes such as the
manufacture of aërated waters or in brewing, in the manufacture of ices and in
general in all trades in which water is employed in the production of articles of
food and when it is of the greatest importance to employ none but water that is
absolutely free from microbes or noxious organisms.
The sterilised water may be supplied in bottles and used with great advantage
by the public especially during epidemics of infectious diseases for example in the
same way as the mineral waters commonly used as a beverage.
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. For the purposes of destroying microbes or like organisms contained in water
and other liquids the process consisting in heating the said water or liquids to
temperatures of 120 degrees Centigrade and upwards in closed vessels under
pressure or water tight chambers coils, worms, or other suitable receptacles in which
the liquid is contained, or caused to circulate during the time necessary for its
complete sterilisation substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. For treating liquids according to the process hereinbefore described the
combination of a coil or worm G heated by the direct action of a furnace or
otherwise, a cooling coil or worm E a filter B and pipes C. F 1, and tap J with or
without a pump A being an arrangement which ensures the regulated or methodical
and continuous circulation of the liquid to be sterilised, the said liquid being caused
to act in the first place as a cooling agent for the liquid previously heated
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. For treating liquids according to the process herein before described the
arrangement of apparatus in which the liquid to be sterilised, after circulating about
or in contact with a coil or worm and acting as a cooling agent is heated in another
vessel by contact with a steam worm or coil and subsequently returns to the first
coil or worn in which it is cooled all in the manner and for the purpose substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure + of the accompanying
drawings.
4. For sterilising liquids according to the process herein before described the
boiler or heater g', containing a clarifier g and heated by a gas furnace having an
automatic regulator i in combination with a supply cistern b a hydraulic ram c, a
temperature exchanger e and a cistern p for the reception of cold sterilised water
all substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of
the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 5. As a new product of manufacture for use in the manufacture or preparation of
ices, beverages or articles of food and for other purposes for which water free from
germs or microbes is required, water that has been sterilised by exposure to
temparatures of not less than 120 degrees Centigrade substantially as hereinbefre
described.
Bad 1
1041
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.