IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE DISINFECTING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's
Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE DISINFECTING
APPARATUS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
It has been found necessary in all large towns and cities, in order to prevent the
spread of contagious diseases, and in order also to preserve as far as possible the
general health of the community, to provide not only for the disinfecting and
purifying of houses and other places where contagious diseases have existed, but.
also for the disinfecting and purifying of all buildings and other places, which
either from being overcrowded or in a filthy condition, or from any other cause, are
likely to originate and promote the spread of disease.
This work is usually performed by officers appointed for the purpose, and in the
case of houses or other places which are infected with contagious diseases, such as
small-pox, cholera, fevers and the like, the disinfecting is accomplished by burning
or vaporizing some suitable disinfectant on or about the premises so that the smoke
or vapor produced carries the disinfectant into all places where contagion exists.
In addition to this some suitable liquid disinfectant is sometimes sprinkled about
the premises.
In the case of buildings and other places which are not infected but are in such
condition as to be likely to originate disease, the disinfecting, or more properly
speaking, the purifying, is commonly accomplished by simply sprinkling some
suitable disinfectant about the premises.
In large and densely populated cities where great numbers of people live in
crowded and filthy buildings and particularly at times when contagious diseases are
prevalent or in time of an epidemic, the work of properly disinfecting and purifying
the infected and filthy places is one of considerable magnitude and owing to the
poor facilities for the work which have heretofore existed, has frequently been
imperfectly performed and the general health of the community has suffered in
consequence.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple and portable apparatus
by which an infected or filthy building, or other place, can be quickly and thoroughly
disinfected or purified, and by which the disinfectant can be applied either in liquid
or vapor form as may be found most desirable and efficacious in any particular
case.
To this end the invention consists in an apparatus which is constructed and
operates in a manner which will now be explained, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings in which
. Fig: 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the complete apparatus.
L

page_text: 1
Fig: 2 is a sectional elevation of the medicating or tincturing apparatus thereof,
which will be hereinafter referred to and
Fig: 3 is a view of the foraminous nozzle through which the disinfectant is applied.
Referring to said figures it is to be understood that the apparatus therein shown
consists essentially of a force pump B a medicating or tincturing apparatus C, by
which the water passing through the pump is properly tinctured with a suitable
disinfectant, a heater D by which the water containing the disinfectant is properly
heated for use, a hose E connecting the pump with a water supply, a hose F through
which the water containing the disinfectant is conducted to the place of use, and a
suitable vehicle G, upon the platform H of which the several parts just mentioned
´are mounted.
The pump B may be of any suitable form, either single or duplex, and arranged
either vertically or horizontally, and may be operated either by hand or by any
suitable motor mounted upon the vehicle. The pump will preferably however be a
direct-acting steam pump, as illustrated in the present case. When the pump is of
this form the vehicle will usually be provided with a suitable boiler, as A, for
supplying steam for operating the pump, though in some cases where the streets
are provided with steam pipes the boiler may be omitted, the steam for driving the
The boiler A, when one is
pump being drawn from the pipes in the streets.
provided, may be of any suitable construction, but will preferably be of the vertical
form shown and be provided at its base with a fire box or furnace 15, arranged
below the platform H of the vehicle, the boiler and furnace being arranged and
mounted in substantially the same manner as in 'an ordinary steam tire engine.
The steam from the boiler A is conducted to the engine, or to the steam end 16,
of the pump B, through a pipe 10, which is arranged in the usual manner and is
provided with the usual throttle valve 11. It is to be remarked in passing that
the size of the pump B is considerably exaggerated in the drawing for the purpose
of illustration.
The suction pipe 9 of the pump proper 17, is connected by a detachable coupling 8,
with the hose E which is of suitable length and is provided at its opposite end with
a coupling 12 by which it can be attached to a hydrant or other source of water
supply.
The tincturing apparatus C is of substantially the construction shown and
described in the Specification of Letters Patent in the United Kingdom N° 5233
bearing date 2nd November 1882 and granted to William Morgan Brown on behalf
of the present communicant, and consists essentially of a chamber 19 for containing
a solid disinfectant, a chamber 21 for containing a liquid disinfectant and a
chamber 20 for containing a volume of air to prevent the water from passing
upward and mingling with the liquid disinfectant contained in the chamber 21.
The chamber 21 is air tight and communicates with the chamber 20, by means
of a glass pipe 30, and two ducts 6-7. The duct 7, extends from the pipe 30
to the bottom of the chamber 21, and affords a passage through which the
liquid disinfectant contained in the chamber 21, flows downward into the
chamber 20, to mingle with the water. The duct 7, is provided with a suitable
cock or valve 5 by which the flow of the liquid from the chamber 21, can be
properly regulated. The duct 6, extends from the pipe 30, to the bottom of the
chamber 21, where it communicates with a pipe 29, which extends upward in the
chamber 21, and terminates at a point above the surface of the liquid therein.
The chamber 21, is provided at its top with a suitable opening through which it
can be filled, and this opening is hermetically closed by a screw plug 28.
The chamber 19 is provided at its top with a removable cap 31 and upon its
interior with a removable perforated cup 32, the purpose of which will hereinafter
appear.
This tincturing apparatus,, as before stated, is of the same general construction
as that described in the specification hereinabove named to which specification
reference is made for a more detailed description of its construction and operation.

page_text: The tincturing apparatus will in practice usually be considerably larger in
proportion to the other parts than is shown in the drawing.
* The discharge pipe 13, of the pump 17, enters the chamber 19, of the tincturing
apparatus, and this chamber is connected by a pipe 14, with the air chamber 20, at
a point near its bottom, and this latter chamber is in turn connected by a pipe 18,
with the top of the heater D. The pipes 13-18, will preferably be provided with
throttle valves as 22-23, by which they can be closed if desired. The heater D is
of any suitable form and is provided at a point near its bottom with an outlet 25,
which is controlled by a cock 4, and is provided with a coupling 3, to which is
connected the hose F which is of considerable length and is provided at its opposite
end with a coupling 1, to which can be attached a foraminous nozzle as N. This
nozzle may be of any desired or suitable form, but will be so constructed as to
deliver a large number of small jets. The form shewn in Fig: 3 consisting of a
number of perforated pipes 26, connected to a T-shaped pipe 33, is well suited for
the purpose. The pipe 10, is provided with a branch 27, which connects with a
coil 24 located in the heater D, and having an outlet 2, near the bottom of the
heater, and through which, steam from the boiler is allowed to circulate so as to
heat the water containing the disinfectant.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-Assuming that the necessary
steam pressure exists in the boiler A and that the apparatus has been brought into
the neighbourhood of the building or other place which it is desired to disinfect or
purify the hose E will be coupled to the inlet pipe 9, of the pump 17, and to the
hydrant or other source of water supply. The disinfectant, if in liquid form, will
be placed in the chamber 21, and the chamber then closed. The hose F will be.
coupled to the outlet 25, of the heater D and the nozzle N after being secured
to the coupling, will be carried to the point or near to the point where the
disinfectant is to be applied. The pump will then be set in operation and the
valve 5 opened so as to allow the proper quantity of the liquid disinfectant
contained in the chamber 21, to flow downward through the duct 7; and the body
of air confined in the chamber 20 and mingle with the water as it is forced by the
pump 17 through the pipes 13-14-18 into the heater D and thus form a disinfecting
tincture of suitable strength for use for disinfecting purposes.
As the disinfectant tincture passes downward through the heater Dit will become
heated by the steam in the coil 24 so that when it is discharged through the
nozzle N it will be in the proper condition to operate most efficiently.
If it is desired to apply the disinfectant in liquid form, the perforations in the
nozzle N. may be comparatively large so that it will be delivered in the form of a
shower or spray. If on the other hand, it is desired to use the disinfectant in the
When this is
form of vapor, a nozzle having very small perforations will be used.
done and the disinfecting tincture is of a temperature of, from 130° to 200°
Fahrenheit it will be almost wholly converted into vapor as it issues through the
perforations of the nozzle and comes into contact with the air and thus the
disinfectant can be applied in this form. The small amount of the water not.
vaporized will be caught in any suitable vessel placed under the nozzle N.
By means of the pump B and the hose F the disinfectant can be forced to almost
any height so that it can be used in any part of a building that may be desired or
if a hose of sufficient length is provided it can be delivered at almost any distance
from the apparatus.
If the disinfectant which is to be used is of solid, instead of liquid form, it will
be placed in the cup 32, of the chamber 19 instead of in the chamber 21, the
operation will then be the same as before described, except that the water will
become tinctured with the disinfectant by coming in contact with and dissolving a
portion of it-in passing through the chamber 19 instead of by mingling with it in
passing through the chamber 20.
It is of course to be understood that, if preferred, the chamber 19 may be placed
beneath the chamber 20, as shown in the specification of Letters Patent above

page_text: referred to, or if it is not desired to employ a solid disinfectant, the chamber 19
may be omitted.
T'he vehicle G will preferably he provided with suitable reels, as K, upon which
the hose E, F can be wound for transportation, and when not in use. The vehicle
will also be provided with a box or 'small bin, as L in which a suitable quantity of
fuel can be carried for use in heating the water in the boiler A, and also with a
.tank or reservoir M in which a quantity of the disinfectant can be carried.
It is to be remarked that the relative arrangement of the parts may be varied
considerably. without departing. from the essential features of the invention. The
heater D instead of being provided with a steam coil for heating the water
containing the disinfectant, may be provided with a furnace or any other suitable
means for that purpose. The heater may also be arranged so that the water will
be heated before it reaches the pump, if preferred. So also the tincturing apparatus,
instead of being interposed between the pump and heater, may be arranged to
mingle the disinfectant with the water before it reaches the pump, or after it
leaves the heater. So also in some cases metal pipes may be used in place of the
hose E, F.
The apparatus thus constructed in addition to its utility for disinfecting and
purifying infected and filthy houses, and other similar places, may be employed for
purifying infected ships.
The apparatus shown in the drawing illustrates the invention in its most complete
and desirable form. A less complete and desirable form of the apparatus might be
made by omitting the tincturing apparatus, and connecting the outlet of the heater
to the suction pipe 9, of the pump. In such case the previously prepared
disinfecting tincture would be supplied to the heater D and would be drawn
therefrom by the pump and forced directly into the hose F. So also in some cases
the pump might be omitted, the pressure in the water pipes being depended upon
to force the water through the heater and the hose F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same may be performed, as communicated
to me by my Foreign Correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
1. In a portable disinfecting apparatus, the combination with a heater, as D for.
holding a quantity of the disinfecting tincture, of the hose or pipe F and a force
pump for forcing the disinfecting tincture from the heater through the hose, the
whole being mounted upon a suitable vehicle substantially as described.
2. In a portable disinfecting apparatus, the combination with the tincturing
apparatus C of the heater D, and the hose or pipe F, the whole being mounted
upon a suitable vehicle, substantially as described.
3. In a portable disinfecting apparatus the combination with a force pump, of a
heater, the tincturing apparatus C, and the hose or pipe F, the whole being mounted
upon a suitable vehicle, substantially as described.
4. The herein described portable disinfecting apparatus, consisting of the force
pump B and a suitable motor for operating the same, the tincturing apparatus C,
the heater D, and the hose or pipes E, F, these several devices being mounted upon
a suitable vehicle and arranged to co-operate substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.