Improvements in Vapourising Apparatus suitable for converting Methyl Alcohol into Formic Aldehyde.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1897--Accepted, 12th Feb.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vapourising Apparatus suitable for converting
Methyl Alcohol into Formic Aldehyde.
I, FÉLIX RICHARD, of 4, Place du Musée, Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It has long been known that if a mixture of air and vapour of methyl alcohol
comes in contact with heated platinum wire formic aldehyde is produced.
According to this invention an apparatus suitable for producing the abovo
reaction consists of a reservoir containing methyl alcohol, to which is connected
one or more vapourisers.
The vapouriser consists of an annular chamber provided with a wick and so
arranged and connected with the reservoir that the methyl-alcohol flows into it;
and above the annular chamber is a layer of platinised asbestos or the like.
.
There are two air supplies, one whose delivery-orifice reaches above the top of
the wick, passes up inside the annular chamber and the other passes to the platin-
ised asbestos by a duct concentric with the annular chamber. The outer edge of
this duct is constructed to support a chimney such as is used in lamps, which is
provided with a cover. Means are provided to cut off or regulate the first mentioned
air supply.
of
The platinised asbestos is contained in a box, the top and bottom of which are
The air supply is lead in at its periphery.
gauze.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
-
The inner air supply being open, the box of platinised asbestos is removed and the
wick lighted. The platinised asbestos is replaced and when it has become red the
inner air supply is cut off and if necessary the flame is blown out. The heat of
platinised asbestos causes the methyl alcohol at the top of the wick to evaporate and
it is mixed in the platinised asbestos with air derived from the outer air supply
and is converted into formic aldehyde. To stop the action of the apparatus the cover
is placed on the top of the chimney.
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2008
Improvements in Vapourising Apparatus suitable for converting
Methyl Alcohol into Formic Aldehyde..
I, FÉLIX RICHARD, of 4, Place du Musée, Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:
It has long been known that if a mixture of air and vapour of methyl alcohol
comes in contact with heated platinum wire formic aldehyde is produced.
According to this invention an apparatus suitable for producing the above 5
reaction consists of a reservoir containing methyl alcohol, to which is connected
one or more vapourisers.
The vapouriser consists of an annular chamber provided with a wick and so
arranged and connected with the reservoir that the methyl alcohol flows into it;
and above the annular chamber is a layer of platinised asbestos or the like.
Air is supplied to the apparatus through the annular passage formed by the
annular chamber and by a duct concentric with it and preferably also by a tube
inside the annular chamber whose delivery orifice reaches above the top of the
wick.
The outer edge of this duct is constructed to support a chimney such as is used 1
in lamps, which is provided with a cover. Means are provided to cut off or regulate
the first mentioned air supply.
The platinised asbestos is contained in a box, the top and bottom of which are of
gauze. The air supply from the duct is lead in at its periphery.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
The air supply through the annular passage being open, the box of
platinised asbestos is removed and the wick lighted. The platinised asbestos is
replaced, and when it has become red the above mentioned air supply is cut off
and if necessary the flame is blown out. The heat of the incandescent platinised
asbestos causes the methyl alcohol at the top of the wick to evaporate and it is
mixed in the platinised asbestos with air derived from the other air supply or
supplies and is converted into formic aldehyde. In each case the air will be heated
before it reaches the asbestos. To stop the action of the apparatus the cover is
placed on the top of the chimney.
The annexed drawing shews a vapouriser and reservoir, the vapouriser being in
section, made in accordance with this invention.
a is the reservoir connected to the vapouriser by the pipe b. The pipe 6 leads
the methyl alcohol contained in the reservoir to the annular chamber c containing
the wick d. At the top of the chamber c is a chimney holder e perforated on its
underside with holes ff. Resting on the chimney holder is a cap g which both
acts as a support for the box i containing the platinised asbestos, and with the top
of the annular chamber c makes an air duct k. The top and bottom of box i are
made of gauze and its periphery of sheet metal. The periphery has a ring of
perforations around it which coincide with the top of the duct when the
box is in place. Inside the annular chamber is a tube m with holes n and a delivery
orifice o which reaches above the top of the wick d. This tube carries on it a
screw valve P for regulating the flow of air through the annular passage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a vapourising apparatus the combination of a tubular wick, a layer of
platinised asbestos or like material above the wick and an air supply to the
platinised asbestos substantially as described.
2. In a vapourising apparatus the combination of an annular chamber containing
a wick, a layer of platinised asbestos or like material above the wick, an air supply
through the annular passage formed by the annular chamber and another air
supply to the platinised asbestos substantially as described.
3. In a vapourising apparatus the combination of an annular chamber containing
a wick, a layer of platinised asbestos or like material above the wick, an air supply

page_text: through the annular passage formed by the annular chamber, a valve in the
passage, and an air supply to the platinised asbestos substantially as described.
4. Vapourising apparatus substantially as described and shown in the drawing.
Dated this 10th day of Doomho
1907