Improvements in Apparatus for Vapourizing Oils and other Liquids for Medicinal and Disinfecting Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Vapourizing Oils and other Liquids
for Medicinal and Disinfecting Purposes.
WILLIAM HENRY SPENCER, of 11 Warrior Square, St. Leonards-on-Sea, in
the County of Sussex, Doctor of Medicine of the University of Cambridge, &
Member of the Royal College of Physicians of London, Physician, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention consists in improved apparatus for vapourising eucalyptus and
other oils liquids or materials possessing allied qualities at such temperatures as
have been found from experience to produce the highest remedial effects under
varying conditions of disease, by charging the air with the vapour evolved to any
desired degree of saturation over extended periods of time, without any further
adjustment of apparatus after preliminary setting.
To this end I suspend over a suitable lamp or flame an adjustable pan containing
water resting upon this pan, and partly immersed in the water contained therein
is a vapourising pan formed of porcelain or other suitable material in which the
liquid or material replacing the same to be vapourised is placed. I usually
construct the adjustable water pan in such a manner as that the aqueous vapour
arising therefrom shall mix freely with the vapour of the oils, liquids or equivalent,
contained in the vapourising pan, since several of such volatile substances only
develop their most beneficial effect when admixed with aqueous vapour..
The water pan is suspended from a frame attached to one or more sliding sockets,
which are free to move up or down upon one or more vertical metal bars. The
sockets are fitted with triggers, catches, or an equivalent suitable device, having
the same effect, whereby the height of the water pan and its contents may be varied
with regard to the lamp or flame.
Above the vapourising pan I suspend in any suitable manner, an adjustable
thermometer by means of which the temperature of the liquid or substance
vapourised may be ascertained.
By means of the apparatus described, oils, liquids, gums or resins, and the like,
suitable for producing a medicated atmosphere, for the treatment of disease, or for
disinfecting purposes, may be vapourised over extended periods, and any prede-
termined degree of saturation of the air obtained without further attention after
the preliminary adjustment has been made.
Dated May 20th 1891.
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Vapourizing Oils and other Liquids
for Medicinal and Disinfecting Purposes.
WILLIAM HENRY SPENCER of 11 Warrior Square, St. Leonards-on-Sea in
the County of Sussex, Doctor of Medicine of the University of Cambridge &
Member of the Royal College of Physicians of London, Physician, 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 consists in improved apparatus for vapourising eucalyptus and
other oils liquids or materials possessing allied qualities at such temperatures as have
been found from experience to produce the highest remedial effects under varying

page_text: conditions of disease, by charging the air with the vapour evolved to any desired
degree of saturation over extended periods of time, without any further adjustment
of apparatus after preliminary setting.
To this end I suspend over a suitable lamp or flame an adjustable pan containing
water resting upon this pan, and partly immersed in the water contained therein
is a vapourising pan formed of porcelain or other suitable material in which the
liquid or material replacing the same to be vapourised is placed. I usually
construct the adjustable water pan in such a manner as that the aqueous vapour
arising therefrom shall mix freely with the vapour of the oils, liquids or equivalent
contained in the vapourising pan, since several of such volatile substances only
develop their most beneficial effects when admixed with aqueous vapour. The water
pan suspended from a frame attached to one or more sliding sockets, which are
free to move up or down upon one or more vertical metal bars. The sockets are
fitted with triggers, catchies, or an equivalent suitable device, having the same
effect, whereby the height of the water pan and its contents may be varied with
regard to the lamp or flame.
Above the vapourising pan I suspend in any suitable manner an adjustable
thermometer by means of which the temperature of the liquid or substance
vapourised may be ascertained.
By means of the apparatus described, oils, liquids gums or resins, and the like,
suitable for producing a medicated atmosphere for the treatment of disease or for
disinfecting purposes may be vapourised over extended periods, and any prede-
termined degree of saturation of the air obtained without further attention after
the preliminary adjustment has been made.
I attain my object by means of the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying
drawing in which :-
Fig. 1. is an elevational view of the complete apparatus.
Fig. 2., is a plan.
Fig. 3. is a vertical section of spring socket candle and shade.
Fig. 4. shews in elevation a vapouriser mounted upon a single rod fitted with an
atmospheric burner.
Fig. 5. is an enlarged detail of trigger and ratchet.
Fig. 6. is an enlarged sectional view showing air passages under shade.
1, is a stand which may be made of wood or metal. Up pon this stand is mounted
by means of sunk nuts 2, run upon the screwed end 3, of each leg the metal
frame 4, the metal forming the frame may be of round or rectangular section, and I
prefer to mount a ring 5, at its upper part to enable it to be carried about or
suspended.
Each leg of the metal frame 4 is graded in inches or in an equivalent manner 6,
and for a distance of say 9 inches a series of teeth or ratchets 7, are cut upon the
sides. A recess 8, is formed in the base of the stand in which is placed the lamp,
night light or other source of heat 9. This is covered with a glass shade 10, of
any desired colour or when an atmospheric burner is employed the shade may be
dispensed with. To enable the air to enter freely to the lamp or equivalent source
of heat 9, a series of radial grooves 11, are cut beneath the recess 8, upon which
the shade 10 sets, see enlarged view Fig. 6. Mounted upon a metallic ring 13,
having two sockets 14 is a metal dish 15, which is partly covered with a perforated
rim 16, within this is fitted a porcelain glass or metal basin 17. Upon each
socket 14, is pivoted a trigger 18, fitted with a spring 19. The point 20, of each
trigger 18 engages with the corresponding ratchet 7, on each leg of the frame 4,
see also Fig. 5. By depressing the triggers 18, the metallic dish 15, with the
porcelain glass or metal basin 17, may be raised or lowered. Upon one of the legs
of frame 4, is a sliding socket 21, fitted with a semicircular clip 22, which holds a
thermometer 23. By means of this clip the thermometer may be held fast when
immersed in the fluid or in any other position.
The apparatus is operated as follows:-
:--
Eucalyptus oil or the substance employed for producing a medicated atmosphere

page_text: or for disinfecting purposes is placed in the basin 17. The lamp or other source of
heat is lighted and the basin slid down and secured in position above it. The
thermometer is now immersed in the fluid in the basin 17. By noting the
temperature of most effective vapourisation or the degree of vapourisation desired
and adjusting the metallic dish and its contents so as to maintain this temperature
the atmosphere may be saturated to any required degree over prolonged periods.
The only attention required by the apparatus being the addition of a little water
and fresh material to be vapourised from time to time. Some volatile substances
only develop their most beneficial effects when admixed with aqueous vapour;
the perforations in the rim of the metal dish 15 enables this to be perfectly
effected.
I sometimes employ a spring socket as shewn in Fig. 3. This consists of an
inner cylinder 24 having a flange 25 secured by screws to base 1. Within the
cylinder 24, is a cup 26, which contains a candle 9, beneath the cup 26, is a
spring 27, and over the candle and inner socket 24 is an outer cylinder-28, having
an opening 29, through which the flame of the candle 9, passes. A bayonet joint 30
is formed at the base of the outer tube which engages with the pin 31 upon inner
cylinder 24.
The operation of the spring socket is as follows. As the candle 9, burns away
the spring 27, continually forces it upward and thereby maintains the flame at a
constant distance from the metal dish, so securing uniformity of heat.
To recharge the spring socket the outer cylinder 28, is turned backward so as to
disengage the pin 31, from the bayonet joint and removed. A fresh candle is now
placed in the cup 26, the outer cylinder placed over it, forced down and secured by
the bayonet joint.
For disinfecting purposes an atmospheric burner is convenient, see Fig. 4, in
which 32, is the burner 33, the cock and 34, the connection for gas. This figure
also shews my improved vapouriser mounted upon a single rod, this modification
of my invention is operated in a similar manner to that described previously.
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. In apparatus for vapourising oils, liquids and other substances suitable for
medicinal and disinfecting purposes the combination of an adjustable jacketed pan
heated by a suitable flame, with an adjustable thermometer for determining the
temperature of volatilisation.
2. In vapourising apparatus the particular combination of parts herein set
forth operating together in the manner and for effecting the purposes described.
3. In vapourising apparatus for medicinal and disinfecting purposes, the com-
bination of the spring socket device described under Fig. 3 for maintaining a
constant distance between the flame of the candle and the jacket after once
setting.
4. The combination with vapourising apparatus employed for medicinal and
disinfecting purposes of an atmospheric burner for supplying constant heat
thereto.
Dated October 19th 1891
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent.