An Improved Portable Disinfecting Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Dec., 1895-Accepted. 25'h Jan., 1896
An Improved Portable Disinfecting Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM DALEY, of 64 Wadham Road, Bootle in the County of Lancaster,
Inspector of Nuisances, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a portable disinfecting apparatus adapted to disinfect
the person and clothing of those who have been in contact with infection of any
kind, and the object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of rapidly
disinfecting a number of persons, such as sanitary officers returning from infecte
houses etc., and also adapted, if necessary, to be readily transported to an infected
house or ship and there used to disinfect the inmates and thus obviate the necessity
of the latter having to be transported in an infected state to a disinfecting
station.
My invention comprises a box in which the individual may, with the exception
of. the head, be readily and completely enclosed; means for adapting the box to
suit the height of the individual occupant; means for filling the box with a
disinfecting gas and, if need be, steam; means for rapidly withdrawing the gas
through a chimney so that the box may be emptied before it is opened to allow
the disinfected person to come out; and provision for facilitating the easy transport
of the apparatus as a whole.
The box which may be made of wood, is of rectangular configuration and its
vertical dimension is such that the head of a person of average height standing on
the bottom just protrudes through an aperture provided in the top; the box is
divided into two parts by a vertical plane bisecting the aperture through which
the head protrudes, and the two parts are hinged together along one of the vertical
sides, provision being made for securing the two parts together, either from within
or without, when the person has entered the box. The parts fit comparatively
gas-tight, and a wrap or wadding is placed round the neck of the occupant, and as
the box is closed an air-tight joint is made between the neck and the edges of the
aperture through which the head protrudes. A shelf adapted to slide into any two
of a series of grooves is used to adapt the apparatus to the various heights of the
occupants.
The disinfecting gas is preferably sulphur di-oxide stored in a liquid state under
pressure in a cylinder, the latter being provided with a suitable regulating valve
and connected by a pipe with the interior of the box, the liquid of course assuming
the gaseous state as it is freed; a small boiler heated by a spirit lamp may also be
provided to quickly generate steam which is allowed to enter the box and which
in virtue of its heat and moisture, assists the disinfection.
The box is surmounted by a chimney, and a fan driven by suitable gear is
employed to exhaust the gases after the disinfection, so that the apparatus is
ready, as soon as one occupant leaves it, for the next to enter. The portability of
the apparatus is ensured by providing it with wheels and handles so that it may be
transported after the manner of a truck; and the chimney is adapted to be housed,
tother with the other accessories, within the box during transport.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1895.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Portable Disinfecting Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM DALEY, of 64 Wadham Road, Bootle in the County of Lancaster,
Inspector of Nuisances, 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 portable disinfecting apparatus adapted to disinfect
the person and clothing of those who have been in contact with infection of any
kind, and the object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of rapidly
disinfecting a number of persons, such as sanitary officers returning from infected
houses, etc., and also adapted, if necessary, to be readily transported to an infected
house or ship and there used to disinfect the inmates and thus obviate the necessity
of the latter having to be transported in an infected state to a disinfecting
station.
My invention comprises a box in which the individual may, with the exception
of the head, be readily and completely enclosed; means for adapting the box to
suit the height of the individual occupant; means for filling the box with a
disinfecting gas and, if need be, steam; means for rapidly withdrawing the gas
through a chimney so that the box may be emptied before it is opened to allow
the disinfected person to come out; and provision for facilitating the easy transport
of the apparatus as a whole.
.
I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation on the line A. A. of Fig. III,
Fig. 1 an outside elevation of the back of the disinfector,
Fig. I a plan view and Fig. IV an elevation of the apparatus ready for
transport.
Throughout the drawings similar parts are indicated by the same reference
figures, and in the case of the section, the direction in which it is viewed is
indicated by the small arrows placed adjacent to the letters denoting the plane of
section.
The box 1, 1', which may be made of wood, is of rectangular configuration and
its vertical dimension is such that the head of a person of average height standing
on the bottom just protrudes through an aperture 2 provided in the top; the box
is divided into two parts 1 and 1 by a vertical plane bisecting the aperture
through which the head protrudes, and the two parts are hinged together by
hinges 3 along one of the vertical sides, provision being made for securing the two
parts together, either from within or without, when the person has entered the
box. In the apparatus illustrated the door 1' is secured when closed by the
latch 4, and a similar latch is provided inside so that the door can be closed from
within in the case of persons wishing to disinfect themselves.
The joint between the door 1' and the main portion of the box 1 is made by
inserting rubber, felt, or material such as is used for draught excluders, between
the abutting surfaces, and a wrap or wadding is placed round the neck of the
occupant to make the joint between the neck and the edge of the aperture 2.
A shelf 5 adapted to slide into any two of a series of grooves 6 is used to adapt
the apparatus to the various heights of the occupants.
The disinfecting gas is preferably sulphur di-oxide stored in a liquid state under
pressure in a cylinder 7, the latter being provided with a suitable regulating valve
and connected by a pipe 14 to the interior of the box, the liquid of course assuming
the gaseous state as it is freed; a small boiler heated by a spirit lamp may also be
provided to quickly generate steam which is allowed to enter the box and which
in virtue of its heat and moisture, assists the disinfection.
When a number of persons have to be rapidly disinfected it is necessary to

page_text: exhaust the gas after each individual has been disinfected, and this must be done
before the door is opened, otherwise the process is most disagreeable. I accomplish
this by providing a portable chimney 8, a fan or exhauster 9, and an inlet door 10;
after the disinfection is complete, and before the individual leaves the box, the fan
is worked and the inlet 10 is opened; as a result the disinfecting gas is in the first.
place forced out through the chimney and then a large volume of air is drawn
through the apparatus which removes the last trace of the gas and renders the box
fit for the occupancy of the next individual. A number of persons may, in this
way, be expeditiously disinfected.
The fan is driven by the chain gear 11 as shown, or in any other suitable way;.
in some cases I find it convenient to drive the fan from one of the wheels 12 by
friction, spur, or chain gear. I have found it desirable to work the fan as the gas
is allowed to enter, so that air may be expelled in order that the disinfecting gas
may not be too much diluted thereby.
The apparatus is fitted with a pair of wheels 12 which are preferably rubber
tyred, and detachable handles 13, so that it may be transported with facility after
the manner of a truck, as shown in Fig. IV. The chimney and other accessories
are adapted to fit in the box during transport, so that the apparatus is very
portable.
I have found that the apparatus, as illustrated in the drawings, is extremely
useful in practice and meets the ordinary requirements as to cost, etc., it may
however be modified in respect to the details; for instance the wheels may be
mounted on springs, the handles may be made to pivot, and the general construction
may be made very much lighter, and the apparatus built more after the manner of
a carriage. The fan may also be adapted to be driven from within, in the case of
persons disinfecting themselves, though this is not usually necessary.
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;
The improved portable disinfecting apparatus substantially as herein set.
forth.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26 Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Aplpicant.