Improvements in Sulphur Candles and their Holders.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sulphur Candles and their Holders.
I, CHARLES THOMAS KINGZETT, F.I.C., F.C.S., Analytical Chemist, of
Elmstead Knoll, Chislehurst in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to sulphur candles used for disinfecting purposes and by.
means of it there can be provided sulphur candles that can be easily ignited and
will continue to burn until all the sulphur is consumed; moreover the holder is so
constructed as to enable the user if so desired to cause the generation of water
vapour in association with the sulphurous anhydride that results from the
combustion of the sulphur. This last named improvement is of importance because
the disinfecting property of the sulphurous anhydride is greatly intensified in
practice by association with aqueous vapour, the latter securing more complete
contact between the sulphurous anhydride and the articles which require to be
disinfected. This is to he explained by the condensation of the aqueous vapour
upon the said articles and the sulphurous anhydride being soluble in water is
brought thereby into material and intimate contact therewith.
It is difficult to ignite an ordinary mass or candle of sulphur but I have found
that this difficulty can be entirely overcome by the use in connection with the
sulphur blocks or candles of either a wick constructed as hereinafter described or
of an igniting fuse standing up from it composed of sulphur admixed with an
oxidizing agent such as chlorate of potassium, nitrate of sodium or permanganate
of sodium or the whole candle may be composed of sulphur admixed with a small
quantity of an oxidizing agent.
It is not absolutely necessary to incorporate any oxidising agent with the sulphur
of which the body of the candle is composed but the incorporation promotes the
rapidity of the combustion which it also ensures.
The wick may be of cotton or other combustible material or of some non-
combustible material as for example, asbestos, and is prepared either by
impregnating it with finely divided sulphur which may be dusted on or deposited
by steeping the said wicks in a solution of sulphur dissolved in bisulphide of carbon,
and allowing the solvent to evaporate off leaving the sulphur behind, or by coating
the wick with a fuse made by melting together sulphur and some oxidizing agent
such as chlorate of potassium.
The fuse however may be employed if desired without any wick in which case it
is made to form a small projection preferably a conical projection standing up from
the top of the candle
The candle with the conical fuse projecting from it may be cast in a mould of
suitable form. A conical hollow at the bottom of the mould may first be filled with .
the fuse composition poured into it in a melted or plastic state and then the body
of the mould may be filled with melted sulphur or with sulphur having a small
proportion of oxidizing material admixed with it.
Or the fuse may be made first in the form of a short rod with one end pointed-
the pointed end of such a rod might be placed into the conical hollow at the bottom
of the mould and then have melted sulphur or sulphur compound poured on the top
of it to fill the body of the mould-or a mould without any conical hollow at the
bottom might be used and when such a mould had been filled with melted sulphur
the flat end of the short rod of fuse compound might be pressed down into the upper
surface of the sulphur whilst it is still in a soft state. When a wick is used the
wick may be inserted in the same way. The fuse compound may be formed of
'

page_text: say 75% of sulphur and 25% chlorate of potassium-these may be mixed together
in a powdered form and then melted.
The body of the candle may be formed from the same compound or from a
compound having in it a less percentage of chlorate of potassium or from sulphur
alone as above stated.
The wick or fuse may be lightly covered at the point which is uppermost with
amorphous phosphorus just as matches are tipped.
On applying a light to a prepared wick or fuse ignition is at once secured and
continues until the whole of the sulphur candle or block is consumed.
Of course such candles or. blocks or masses of sulphur thus prepared in accordance
with that part of my invention may be burnt in any suitable or ordinary holder but:
for the reasons above stated it is of advantage to use the particular form of holder
forming the other part of my invention.
In such case a double vessel is used, the sulphur candle occupying the inner or
outer vessel as the case may be the other vessel or part of the holder being charged
with water or with any other medicament (such as Sanitas oil) alone or in
admixture. If the vapour would take fire it must be kept away from the flame.
The heat which is generated by the combustion of the sulphur serves to
evaporate the water or volatilise the medicament or both as the case may be.
Dated this 15th day of June 1893.
C. T. KINGZETT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sulphur Candles and their Holders.
L
I, CHARLES THOMAS KINGZETT, F.I.C., F.C.S., Analytical Chemist, of
Elmstead Knoll, Chislehurst, in the County of Kent, 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 :—
My invention relates to sulphur candles used for disinfecting purposes and by
means of it there can be provided sulphur candles that can be easily ignited and
will continue to burn until all the sulphur is consumed; moreover the holder is so
constructed as to enable the user if so desired to cause the generation of water
vapour in association with the sulphurous anhydride that results from the com-
bustion of the sulphur. This last named improvement is of importance because
the, disinfecting property of the sulphurous anhydride is greatly intensified in
practice by association with aqueous vapour, the latter securing more complete
contact between the sulphurous anhydride and the articles which require to be
disinfected. This is to be explained by the condensation of the aqueous vapour
upon the said articles and the sulphurous anhydride being soluble in water is
brought thereby into material and intimate contact therewith.
It is difficult to ignite an ordinary mass or candle of sulphur but I have found
that this difficulty can be entirely overcome by the use in connection with the
sulphur blocks or candles of either a wick constructed as hereinafter described or
of an igniting fuse standing up from it composed of sulphur admixed with an
oxidizing agent such as chlorate of potassium, nitrate of sodium or permanganate,
of sodium, or the whole candle may be composed of sulphur admixed with a small
quantity of an oxidizing agent.
It is not absolutely necessary to incorporate any oxidizing agent with the
sulphur of which the body of the candle is composed but the incorporation promotes
the rapidity of the combustion which it also ensures.
The wick may be of cotton or other combustible material or of some non-coin-
bustible material as for example, asbestos, and is prepared either by impregnating"
it, with finely divided sulphur which may be dusted on or deposited by steeping the
said wicks in a solution of sulphur dissolved in bisulphide of carbon, and allowing
→
."
4

page_text: the solvent to evaporate off leaving the sulphur behind, or by coating the wick-
with a fuse made by melting together sulphur and some oxidizing agent such as
chlorate of potassium.
The fuse however may be employed if desired without any wick in which case it
is made to form a small projection preferably a conical projection standing up from
the top of the candle.
The candle with the conical fuse projecting from it may be cast in a mould of
suitable form. A conical hollow at the bottom of the mould may first be filled
with the fuse composition poured into it in a melted or plastic state and then the
body of the mould may be filled with melted sulphur or with sulphur having a
small proportion of oxidizing material admixed with it.
Or the fuse may be made first in the form of a short rod with one end pointed-
the pointed end of such a rod might be placed into the conical hollow at the bottom
of the mould and then have melted sulphur or sulphur compound poured on the top.
of it to fill the body of the mould-or a mould without any conical hollow at the
bottom might be used and when such a mould had been filled with melted sulphur
the flat end of the short rod of fuse compound might be pressed down into the
upper surface of the sulphur whilst it is still in a soft state. When a wick is used
the wick may be inserted in the same way. The fuse compound may be formed of.
say 75% of sulphur and 25% chlorate of potassium-these may be mixed together
in powdered form and then melted.
The body of the candle may be formed from the same compound or from a
compound having in it a less percentage of chlorate of potassium or from sulphur
alone as above stated.
'
The wick or fuse may be lightly covered at the point which is uppermost with
amorphous phosphorus just as matches are tipped.
On applying a light to a prepared wick or fuse, ignition is at once secured and
continues until the whole of the sulphur candle or block is consumed.
Of course such candles or blocks or masses of sulphur thus prepared in accordance
with that part of my invention may be burnt in any suitable or ordinary holder but
for the reasons above stated it is of advantage to use the particular form of holder
forming the other part of my invention.
In such case a double vessel is used, the sulphur candle occupying the inner or
outer vessel as the case may be the other vessel or part of the holder being charged
with water or with any other medicament (such as Sanitas oil) alone or in
admixture. If the vapour would take fire it must be kept away from the flame.
The heat which is generated by the combustion of the sulphur serves to
evaporate the water or volatilise the medicament or both as the case may be.
Figure 1 is a plan view, and Figures 2 and 3 are vertical sections showing one
form in which the candle with conical fuse projection standing up from it may be
made.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a candle formed with an ordinary cotton wick
impregnated or coated with sulphur or with sulphur admixed with an oxidizing
agent.
a is the cylindrical body of the candle and the conical fuse projecting from it
at the top.
The candle may be made by casting it point downwards in an open mould.
The conical hollow at the bottom of the mould in which the projecting fuse is to
be moulded may first be filled with fuse compound poured into it in a melted state
and then the body of the mould filled with melted sulphur or with sulphur which
has oxidizing material admixed with it. Or the fuse may be made first in the
form of a short rod with one end pointed. The pointed end of such a rod might
be placed into the conical hollow at the bottom of the mould and then have melted
sulphur or sulphur compound poured on the top of it to fill the body of the mould.
Or a mould without any conical hollow at the bottom might be used and when
such a mould had been filled with melted sulphur the flat end of a short rod of
fuse compound might be pressed down into the upper surface of the sulphur whilst

page_text: it is still in a soft state. Figure 3 is a vertical section of a candle formed in these
two latter ways.
Sulphur or fumigating candles constructed in the above manner can readily be
lighted by applying a light to the point of the fuse and as the fuse burns down it
ignites with certainty the upper surface of the sulphur block and the ignition
continues until the whole of the candle is consumed.
Figure 5 shews one of the candles placed into a double cylindrical holder ready
for burning. The holder is as shewn formed in such a manner that the candle is
surrounded by a water casing so that water or other liquid may be evaporated by
the burning of the candle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manuer the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A fumigating candle formed of a block of sulphur having a conical or other
projection of sulphur admixed with oxidizing material standing up from it.
2. A fumigating candle formed of a block of sulphur having on or embedded in
its upper surface a mixture of sulphur and oxidizing material.
3. A fumigating candle formed of a block of sulphur having in it a wick of cotton
or like fibre impregnated with finely divided sulphur or with sulphur and oxidizing
material.
4. A fumigating candle and holder arranged substantially as described in such
manner that water or other liquid may be evaporated by the burning of the candle.
Dated this 12th day of February 1894.
C. T. KINGZETT.