Improvements in Disinfectors.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Disinfectors.
We, SHERIDAN DELÉPINE, M.B., M.Ch., B.Sc., Professor of Pathology at the
Owens College, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and JOHN CLOUGH
TIRESH, M.D., D.Sc., of New London Road, Chelmsford, in the County of Essex,.
Medical Officer of Health to the Essex County Council, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to disinfectors of the kind in which clothing and
other articles are disinfected by means of a current of steam at a pressure slightly
above that of the atmosphere; our aim is to provide a disinfector of the kind
referred to that shall be simple, cheap and portable and in which steam can be
rapidly produced in sufficient quantity and be maintained at a suitable temperature
whilst it is in the disinfecting chamber, and after a disinfecting operation can
be readily replaced by a current of hot air for drying the disinfected articles.
Heat from a flame or flames used to generate the steam is according to this
invention utilized to maintain such steam whilst in the disinfecting chamber at
a sufficiently high temperature (say about 100°) to prevent condensation.
An arrangement of disinfector in accordance with this invention comprises a
casing or jacket within which is arranged a disinfecting chamber provided at
the top with a loaded blow off valve and at the bottom with a shallow water well
or receptacle that is of proportionally large superficial area and is in connection
with a draw off pipe extending through the casing and provided with an external
cock or closure. The arrangement is such that upon running a comparatively
small quantity of water into the well or receptacle which constitutes and is herein-
after called the boiler, the draw off cock or closure being shut, and applying one
or more flames to the boiler, steam at a suitable pressure, say of about two pounds
to the square inch above atmospheric pressure, will be rapidly produced in large
quantity and caused to flow through the disinfecting chamber which will be
maintained at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent condensation, by the
hot gases which are caused to flow through the space left between the said chamber
and the casing. By opening the loaded blow off valve, and the draw-cock or
closure so as to draw off the water remaining in the boiler after the disinfecting
process is completed and interposing a plate or baffle between the flame or flames
and boiler to prevent overheating of the latter without interfering with the
passage of the hot gases through the space between the chamber and casing, a
current of hot air will be caused to flow through the chamber and dry disinfected
articles therein.
In one construction the disinfecting chamber, preferably of cylindrical or
approximately cylindrical shape, and provided at one end or both with a door,
is arranged horizontally within a casing the upper part of which is also prefer-
ably of cylindrical shape and in one end or both of which is an opening through
which the disinfecting chamber is passed. The disinfecting chamber is provided
at the top with a large outlet pipe having a loaded valve, preferably a hinged flap
valve and the inner aperture of which pipe is guarded by a plate conveying any
5 Q77

page_text: water of condensation to the sides of the steam chamber. At the bottom of the
chamber is a boiler that may be of circular shape in plan, and is connected by a
pipe and valve with an external water tank capable of holding the quantity of
water it is desired to run into the boiler for one operation of the disinfector.
Instead of the reservoir the draw off pipe may be used as an inlet for the water,
by being connected with a side tube provided with a cock or closure and a funnel
and so arranged that the level of the water within the boiler can be accurately
ascertained. The boiler is also connected with a draw off pipe a portion of which
is preferably arranged to surround the depending boiler as a coil or otherwise so
as to afford an increased heating surface, the outer end of the pipe being provided
with a cock. The pipe may also be surrounded by a suitable casing by means
of which its temperature may be regulated. Above the boiler and the surrounding
part of the bottom of the chamber, which preferably inclines towards the boiler
is a perforated or reticulated baffle plate or any other suitable kind of baffle above
which the articles to be disinfected are placed and which serves to distribute the
steam through the chamber and prevent boiling water coming in contact with
the said articles. The door or doors of the disinfecting chamber is made hollow
and filled with wool or other material that is a bad conductor of heat, and is pro-
vided on its inner side with a flange adapted to direct water of condensation that
may trickle down its inner surface towards the boiler. The steam chamber is
provided with suitable apertures for the insertion of the necessary recording
apparatus.
The casing is provided with a hot gas outlet that may conveniently surround
the steam outlet from the disinfecting chamber or be connected with any other
part of the jacket, and with a perforated bottom in which there is formed below
the boiler a large opening controlled by a horizontal slide or damper. To the
bottom of the casing is or may be secured a carrier for holding in position the
heating device used for heating the boiler. This chamber or carrier may con-
veniently be formed of sheet metal with inclined sides and an opening at one end
or side only. The perforations in the bottom of the casing are arranged over this
chamber so that when the large opening in the bottom of the casing is closed by
the slide or damper, hot air and products of combustion can pass through such
perforations from the chamber containing the heating device to the chamber or
space surrounding the disinfecting chamber. The heating device according to
one arrangement is a removable or portable petroleum burner or furnace con-
structed to burn with a number of smokeless or practically smokeless flames. A
gas burner adapted to produce one or more smokeless flames or an electrical
furnace may also be used if desired. The burner or furnace chamber may however
in some cases be dispensed with and the apparatus be adapted to be supported
over a fixed burner or furnace.
A disinfector of the kind herein described may when desirable be mounted
upon wheels to facilitate its being moved about.
Dated this 30th day of September 1897.

page_text: THRESIT, M.D., D.Sc., of New London Road, Chelmsford, in the County of Essex,
Medical Officer of Health to the Essex County Council, 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 has reference to disinfectors of the kind in which clothing and
other articles are disinfected by means of a current of steam at a pressure slightly
above that of the atmosphere. Our aim is to provide a disinfector of the kind
referred to that shall be simple, cheap and portable and in which steam can be
rapidly produced in sufficient quantity and be maintained at a suitable temperature
whilst it is in the disinfecting chamber and, after a disinfecting operation can
be readily replaced by a current of hot air for drying the disinfected articles.
Heat from a flame or flames used to generate the steam is according to this
invention utilized to maintain such steam whilst in the disinfecting chamber at
a sufficiently high temperature (say about 100° C.) to prevent condensation.
An arrangement of disinfector in accordance with this invention comprises a
casing or jacket within which is arranged a disinfecting chamber provided at
the top with a loaded blow off valve and at the bottom with a shallow water well
or receptacle that is of proportionally large superficial area and is in connection
with a draw off pipe extending through the casing and provided with an external
cock or closure. The arrangement is such that upon running a comparatively
small quantity of water into the well or receptacle which constitutes and is herein-
after called the boiler, the draw off cock or closure being shut, and applying one
or more flames to the boiler steam at a suitable pressure say of about two pounds
to the square inch above atmospheric pressure, will be rapidly produced in large
quantity and caused to flow through, the disinfecting chamber which will be
maintained at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent condensation, by the
hot gases which are caused to flow through the space left between the said chamber
and the casing. By fully opening the loaded blow off valve and also the draw off
cock or closure so as to draw off the water remaining in the boiler after the disinfect-
ing process is completed and interposing a plate or baffle between the flame or flames
and boiler to prevent overheating of the latter without interfering with the
passage of the hot gases through the space between the chamber and the casing a
current of hot air will be caused to flow through the chamber and dry disinfected
articles therein.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figure 1 shows in end elevation,
Fig. 2 in plan, Fig. 3 in longitudinal section and Figure 4 in cross section one
construction of disinfecting apparatus according to this invention.
In this construction the disinfecting chamber 1 of cylindrical or approximately
cylindrical shape and provided at one end as shown or it may be at each end,
with a door (2) is arranged horizontally within a casing (3) the upper part of
which is also of approximately cylindrical shape and in one end of which is an
opening through which the disinfecting chamber (1) is passed the arrangement
being such that a hot air space or jacket (4) is formed between the two parts.
The disinfecting chamber is provided at the top with a large outlet pipe (5) having
a loaded valve (6) preferably a hinged flap valve as shown, adapted to open slightly
with an internal steam pressure of about two pounds to the square inch above
atmospheric pressure. The inner aperture of the pipe is guarded by a plate (4")
formed with steam exit openings (4b) and adapted to convey any water of condensa-
tion falling upon it to the sides of the disinfecting chamber. At the bottom of
the disinfecting chamber (1) is a boiler (12) which in the example now being
described, is in the form of a shallow well or receptacle of circular shape in plan
and is connected at its lower part to an inclined draw off pipe (7) a portion of
which is preferably arranged as shown, to surround the depending boiler (1) as a
coil or otherwise so as to afford an increased heating service, the outer end of
the said pipe being provided with a cock (7°). (8) is an external water tank
capable of holding the quantity of water it is desired to run into the boiler for
one operation of the disinfector. The bottom of this tank is provided with a

page_text: cock or valve (82) and is connected with the boiler (1"). For this purpose it may
be connected to the outer end of the pipe (7) above the cock or valve (7) as
shown, the pipe (7) then serving as a water inlet pipe as well as a draw off pipe.
The tank may however be connected to the boiler by a separate pipe if desired.
Instead of the reservoir (8) the draw off pipe may be connected at its outer end
with a side tube provided at the bottom with a cock or closure and at the top
with a funnel and so arranged that the level of the water within the boiler (1)
can be accurately ascertained.
Above the boiler (1) and the surrounding part (1b) of the bottom of the disin-
fecting chamber (1) which preferably inclines towards the boiler is a baffle (9)
of any suitable kind above which the articles to be disinfected are placed and
which serves to prevent boiling water coming in contact with the said articles.
The baffle may consist of perforated or reticulated material but it is preferred to
use plain inclined metal sheets arranged as shown. The door (2) of the disin-
fecting chamber is made hollow and filled with wool or other material that is a
bad conductor of heat and may be provided on its inner side with a flange (2º)
adapted to direct water of condensation that may trickle down its inner surface
towards the boiler (1). The door is hinged as shown, so as to open laterally and
is held closed during the disinfecting and drying operations by any suitable means
such as by a series of hand levers (2ª). The disinfecting chamber (1) is provided
with suitable apertures (1°) for the insertion of the necessary recording apparatus.
The casing (3) is provided with a hot gas outlet (3) that may conveniently
surround the steam outlet (5) from the disinfecting chamber (1) or be connected
with any other part of the space or jacket (4); and it is also provided with a
bottom (3) perforated at 30 and in which there is formed below the boiler (1")
a large opening (10) controlled by a horizontal slide or damper (11) arranged to
be operated by a handle (11). To the bottom of the casing is or may be secured
a chamber or carrier (12) for holding in position the heating device (13) used for
heating the boiler. The chamber or carrier (12) may conveniently be formed of
sheet metal with inclined sides (12") and with an opening (12b) at one end or
side only. The perforations or channels (3°) in the bottom (3b) of the casing are
arranged over this chamber. When it is desired to submit the disinfecting
chamber (1) to a dry heat the cock (7") is opened and the water drawn off; the
damper (11) is closed thereby completely shielding the boiler (1") and coil (7)
from the direct heat of the flame and the valve 6 is opened. The hot air and
products of combustion can then pass through the perforations or channels (3)
from the chamber (12) to the chamber or space (4) surrounding the disinfecting
chamber (1) and a current of hot air will be caused to flow through the disinfecting
chamber and dry disinfected articles placed therein.
The heating device (13) according to the arrangement shown is a removable
or portable petroleum burner or furnace constructed to burn with a number of
smokeless or practically smokeless flames. A gas burner adapted to produce one
or more smokeless flames, or an electrical furnace, may also be used if desired.
The burner or furnace chamber (12) may however in some cases be dispensed with
and the apparatus be adapted to be supported over a fixed burner or furnace.
A disinfector of the kind herein described may, when desirable, be mounted
upon wheels to facilitate its being moved about.
Figure 5 shows, in cross section, a modified construction in which the disin-
fecting chamber (1) is made of approximately oval, elliptical or egg shape in
cross section and its lower portion (1) from end to end, utilized to form the
boiler into which a comparatively small quantity of water is run and heated as
herein before described. This form of combined disinfecting chamber and hoiler
is easier and cheaper to construct than that shewn in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
(1) A disinfector consisting of an inner chamber, an outer jacket or casing an

page_text: open boiler or other receptacle formed in or at the lower portion of the inner
chamber, and a heating device so arranged that the heat from the flame or flames
used to generate the steam can be utilized to directly maintain such steam whilst
within the inner chamber at a sufficiently high temperature to prevent condensa-
tion thereof, substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In a disinfecting apparatus, the combination of the chamber (1) the blow
off valve (6) the casing (3) the boiler (1) the draw off pipe (7) the baffle plate (11)
and the heating device (13) all constructed and arranged substantially as and for
the purposes described.
3. The improved disinfector constructed arranged and operating substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive
or modified according to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated
wow way
SHERIDAN DELEPINE.
JOHN CLOUGH THRESH.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.