Improvements in the Production of Vapours of Formic Aldehyde, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Deing date of
France),
Foreign Application
3rd Jan., 1850
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 4th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 4th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Vapours of Formic Aldehyde, and
in Apparatus therefor.
I, JEAN JOSEPH AUGUSTE TRILLAT of 3 Rue Franklin Paris in the Republic of
France Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the production of vapours of formnic aldehyde for
the purpose of disinfecting places and objects and rendering them healthy and
wholesome.
The several forms of apparatus constructed according to this invention bave for
object to oxidize methylic alcohol and to transform it into vapours of formic aldehyde
by means of a body heated to a high temperature. They operate either by the
projection of vapours of alcohol or by capillarity.
The apparatus which operates by the projection of vapours of alcohol avoids the use
gas or petroleum for the action of the apparatus within the place to be disinfected,
and permits of regulating from the exterior of such place the delivery of the formol
or forinic aldehyde.
The apparatus is composed of (1) the oxidizer-distributor; (2) the alcohol container
and generator; (3) the compressed air producer.
The oxidizer distributor consists of a chamber of lenticular or other form furnished
at its upper part with metallic tubes, the top of which is closed by a perforated
metallic plate; this chamber is fixed by means upon a hollow support provided with
a connecting tube. The support may have a purge cock at its lower part. It may
be heated.
Upon the metallic tubes are fitted oxidizing cylinders with sockets or Bunsen
regulator permitting of regulating the admission of the air by an orifice.
The chamber instead of being of lenticular form may be in the form of a grating.
The alcohol container consists of a simple copper box resting in a water bath and
in the interior of which is a tube with cock and connecting piece for the supply of
air. This tube may either be submerged in the alcohol itself or be maintained above
the level of the liquid; in both cases there is obtained a current of air saturated with
alcoholic vapors.
The alcohol receptacle has also a screw capped aperture for the introduction of the
alcohol and an elbow tube with cock and connecting piece for delivery of the alcoholic
vapor. This piece has also a screw cap. The heating of the water bath is obtained
with the aid of a gas burner or of an alcohol lamp. The gas burner and a table for
the alcohol lamp may be joined upon one and the same collar fixed at a suitable

page_text: neignt upon one of the legs of the apparatus, this allowing of the employment of
either mode of heating.
The air necessary for the operation is furnished by a simple gasometer or by a
glazed cloth container; employment may be made of a compressing apparatus
operating by means of a clock work movement, or further for the disinfection of
large spaces, by the aid of a pump compressing the air in a container of very. large
capacity.
To put the apparatus into operation the connecting tube of the oxidizer is connected
with the connecting piece of the alcohol container and the connecting piece of the
leading-in tube of the alcohol retainer with the air reservoir. The oxidizer alone
is situated in the place to be disinfected, the alcohol container and air reservoir
remaining outside.
The compressed air, after being saturated in the alcohol container passes to the
oxidation apparatus and escapes under a small pressure by the tubes of same it is
then oxidized by its passage over the metallic gauze contained in the oxidizing
cylinders. The delivery is increase:l or diminished at will by more or less heating the
methylic alcohol contained in the alcohol receptacle or by increasing the delivery
of air.
The oxidizer may be modified in the following manner. The mixture of air and
alcohol arrives in suitable proportion in a cylinder which may be heated and which
is pierced laterally with a large number of orifices. The oxidation takes place in
the interior of this cylinder, previously heated; the formic gas escapes by the
orifices. The cylindrical tube may be of copper, platinum or retort carbon; it may
also contain in its interior oxidizing substances.
The oxidizer distributor may be mounted directly upon the generator.
When the apparatus is constructed to operate with a continuous delivery of
alcohol so as to dispense with the heating of the alcohol and to permit of regulating
the flow of the alcohol from the exterior of the place to be disinfected it is composed
of (1) the continuous alcohol deliverer; (2) the generator; (3) the oxidizer
distributor.
The continuous alcohol deliverer consists in this case of a container into which the
methylic alcohol is introduced by an aperture. This container is provided at its base
with a cock which terminates in a drop counting device having a glass casing. The
regularity of the delivery is assured by means of a glass tube immersed in the liquid
in the container.
The deliverer is in communication with the generator of the formic aldehyde vapor
placed within the place to be disinfected the deliverer being outside.
The generator is formed of a kind of balloon capable of being heated by means of a
sand bath or of an air bath by a simple petroleum or spirit lamp. The alcohol
coming from the deliverer arrives by a tube and falls drop by drop into the balloon and
there vaporizes. This vaporization can be facilitated by the presence of copper
turnings which increase the evaporating surface. The upper part of the balloon is
provided with a tube upon which the receptacle of the oxidizer distributor may be
fixed. It is always to be understood that this oxidizer distributor may be independent
and be connected with the generator.
A simple form of projection apparatus may consist of a cylindrical container
intended to be filled with say three quarts of methylic alcohol. This container rests
in a bath containing water which may be brought to a given temperature by a gas,
spirit or petroleum lamp. Whatever mode of heating be employed suitable means of
regulating the temperature must be provided in order to obtain a regular heating,
This container is in communication with the oxidizer distributor, which may be of
very varying form. This oxidizer may be sometimes disposed at the upper part of
the container or on the side, it is composed of a small receiver upon which are
soldered laterally or vertically a series of tubes upon which are fitted the oxidizing
cylinders of the kind of those above described. The vapors of alcohol escape by
Fese cylinders.
These oxidizing cylinders contain in this arrangement a tube of, retort carbon in

page_text: which is placed a roll of gauze. This gauze may be of copper, silver, platinum,
platinized asbestos or formed of threads of some porous substances. The roll may
also be formed by a mixture of metallic fabrics or sheets of various natures.
To put this arrangement in action alcohol is poured into the container and raised
to ebullition by suitable means of heating. The alcohol soon issues in the form of a
jet from the capillary orifices, these jets mix with the air which enters by the Bunsen
regulator and impinge upon the gauze contained in the cylinders. These having been
previously heated the oxidation of the alcoholic vapors at once commences. This
oxidation takes place with development of such an amount of heat that the r.lls of
gauze become incandescent. The entrance of the air is so regulated that the incan-
descence does not exceed a cherry red. The oxidation continues automatically so
long as there is a production of vapors of alcohol. The result of this oxidation is to
transform the methylic alcohol into vapors of formic aldehyde.
Instead of the capillary orifice larger orifices may be employed. For example a
modification may be adopted similar to an ordinary gas burner.
In this arrangement as in those preceding, the number of the oxidizing cylinders
may vary at will, and that in the simple arrangement above described there may be
employed in the place of the roll of gauze several washers of gauze superposed and
separated by spaces of some millimetres; or further the gauze may be replaced by
metallic plates of cylindrical, conical &c., form.
When the apparatus is constructed to operate by capillarity it is based upon the
known principle of the incandescence of metallic cloths by the vapors of alcohol
disengaged from a wick; it can be simple or compound.
The simple arrangement consists of a receptacle of variable capacity and form for
the reception of the methylic alcohol; the upper part of this receptacle is screwed or
soldered to a tube projecting some centimetres and which contains a wick. Facing
this wick is a metallic gauze washer (platinum, platinized copper, asbestos &c.,)
fixed to the interior of a metallic cylinder; the lower part of this cylinder is pierced
with holes; the upper part contains means for the regulation of air. In order to put
the apparatus in operation the wick is lighted and covered with the cylinder containing
the gauze. This operation extinguishes the flame, the incandescence is regulated by
more or less opening the upper regulator.
For greater facility the cylindrical portion may be made in two parts. Finally
in this system as in that which followed there may be employed in place of a simple
stretched metallic gauze, a roll of metallic gauze arranged above the wick.
Several lamps may be coupled together by joining up several oxidizing cylinders
upon one simple receptacle of any form.
Another modification of apparatus comprises an annular receptacle at the centre
of which is disposed the oxidizing cylinder or substance. Inside the receptacle is a
metallic tube one end of which opens above the level of the alcohol contained in the
receptacle, the other end being bent back and terminating in one or several small
orifices, capillary or not, facing the oxidizing cylinder. Finally a system of regulation
allows of the introduction of the oxygen of the air at the lower part of the cylindrical
orifice. The apparatus can be heated by a simple spirit lamp. In order to put it
into operation the alcohol is raised to ebullition; this escapes in the state of vapour
by the capillary orifice and is oxidized upon the roll of wire gauze as before. This
apparatus when once in operation will continue to act without necessity for direct
heating of the apparatus; the heat which is produced from the oxidation suffices to
maintain the alcohol in ebullition.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE STIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Vapours of Formic Aldehyde, and.
in Apparatus therefor.
I, JEAN JOSEPH AUGUSTE TRILLAT of 3 Rue Franklin, Paris in the Republic of
France, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 the production of vapors of formic aldehyde for the
purpose of disinfecting places and objects and rendering them healthy and wholesome,
and one of the chief objects of this invention is to evaporate, or regulate the evaporation
of, the methylic alcohol outside the place where the vapor of the formic aldehyde is to
be generated or utilized.
The several forms of apparatus constructed according to this invention have for
object to-oxidize methylic alcohol and to transform it into vapors of formic aldehyde
by means of a body heated to a high temperature. They operate either by the
projection of vapors of alcohol, or by capillarity.
The apparatus which operates by the projection of vapors of alcohol avoids the use
of gas or petroleum for the action of the apparatus within the place to be disinfected,
and permits of regulating from the exterior of such place the delivery of the formol or
formic aldehyde.
An apparatus of this kind is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3; it is composed of-
(1) the oxidizer-distributor; (2) the alcohol container and generator; (3) the
compressed air producer.
The oxidizer-distributor, shown in vertical section in Figure 1, consists of a
chamber A of lenticular or other form, furnished at its upper part with metallic
tubes a, the top of which is closed by a perforated metallic plate; this chamber A is
fixed by suitable means, such for example as by a union screw v, upon a hollow
support B provided with a connecting tube h. The support B may have a purge
cock i at its lower part. It may be heated.
Upon the metallic tubes a are fitted oxidizing cylinders C with sockets cor
Bunsen regulator, permitting of regulating the admission of the air by an
orifice b.
The chamber A instead of being of lenticular form may be in the form of a
grating.
The alcohol container (shown in vertical section Figure 2) consists of a simple
copper box D resting in a water bath E, and in the interior of which is a tube d with
cock and connecting piece j for the supply of air. This tube may either be submerged
in the alcohol itself or be maintained above the level of the liquid; in both cases there
is obtained a current of air saturated with alcoholic vapors.
The alcohol receptacle D has also a screw-capped aperture e for the introduction of
the alcohol, and an elbow tube with cock and connecting piece f for delivery of the
alcoholic vapor. This piece f has also a screw cap g. The heating of the water bath
may be effected by a gas burner F or by an alcohol lamp. The gas burner and a
table for the alcohol lamp may, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, which latter is a
plan of same, be joined upon one and the same collar fixed at a suitable height
upon one of the legs of the apparatus, this allowing of the employment of either mode
of heating.
The air necessary for the operation is furnished by a simple gasometer or by a
glazed cloth container; employment may be made of a compressing apparatus
operating by means of a clockwork movement, or further, for the disinfection of large
spaces, by the aid of a pump compressing the air in a container of very large capacity..
Neither of these are shown in the drawings.

page_text: To put the apparatus into operation the connecting tube of the oxidizer 15-
connected, for exainple by rubber tubes, with the connecting piece of the alcohol
container and the connecting piecej of the leading in tube d of the alcohol container
with the air reservoir. The oxidizer alone is situated in the place to be disinf cted,.
the alcohol container and air reservoir remaining outside.
The compressed air, after being saturated in the alcohol container D passes to
chamber A of the oxidation apparatus by the hollow support B and escapes under a
small pressure by the tubes a of same; it is then oxidized by its passage over the
metallic gauze contained in the oxidizing cylinders C. The delivery is increased or
diminished at will by more or less heating the methylic alcohol contained in the
alcohol receptacle D or by increasing the delivery of air.
The oxidizer may be modified in the following manner: The mixture of air and
alcohol may be caused to arrive in suitable proportion in a cylinder which may be
heated and which is pierced laterally with a large number of orifices. The oxidation
takes place in the interior of this cylinder which is previously heated; the formic gas.
escapes by the orifices. The cylindrical tabe may be of copper, platinum or retort.
carbon; it may also contain in its interior oxidizing substances.
The oxidizer-distributor may if desirable be mounted directly upon the generator,
as for instance by means of a union such as v which would then take the place of the
cap g (Figure 2) of the said generator.
When the apparatus is constructed to operate with a continuous delivery of alcohol
so as to dispense with the heating of the alcohol and to permit of regulating the flow
of the alcohol from the exterior of the place to be disinfected it is composed of
(1) continuous alcohol deliverer; (2) generator; (3) oxidizer distributor..
The continuous alcohol deliverer is represented in Fig. 4, which is a vertical
section of same. It consists in this case of a container H mounted upon an elevated
support and into which the methylic alcohol is introduced by an aperture 1. The-
container H is provided at its base with a cock m which terminates in a drop-counting
device n having a glass casing I. The regularity of the delivery is assured by means.
of a glass tube o immersed in the liquid in the container.
"
The alcohol deliverer is in communication by a suitable tube with the generator of
the formic aldehyde vapor, which is situated within the place to be disinfected, the-
deliverer being outside."
The generator is shown in vertical section in Fig. 5. It is formed of a kind of
balloon J capable of being heated by means of a sand bath K or of an air bath by a
simple petroleum or spirit lamp L. The alcohol coming from the deliverer arrives by
a tube p and falls drop by drop into the balloon J and there vaporizes. This
vaporization can be facilitated by the presence of copper turnings which increase the-
evaporating surface. The upper part of the balloon is provided with a tube q upon
which the receptacle A of the oxidizer distributor may be fixed by means of a.
union v.
It is always to be understood that this oxidizer distributor may be
independent and be connected with the generator by a flexible tube; in this case
the tube q would be provided with a connecting piece and cock such as Fig. 2.
A simple form of projection apparatus, which will be readily understood without.
illustration, and which is therefore not shown in the drawings; may consist of a
cylindrical container intended to be filled with say three quarts of methylic alcohol..
This container rests in a bath containing water which may be brought to a given
temperature by a gas, spirit or petroleum lamp. Whatever mode of heating be
employed, suitable means of regulating the temperature must be provided in order to
obtain a regular heating.
This container is in communication with the oxidizer distributor, which may be of
very varying form. This oxidizer may be sometimes disposed at the upper part of
the container or on the side. It is composed of a small receiver upon which are
soldered laterally or vertically a series of tubes upon which are fitted the oxidizing
cylinders of the kind of those above described. The vapors of alcohol escape by these
cylinders.
These oxidizing cylinders contain in this arrangement a tube of retort carbon in

page_text: which is placed a roll of gauze. This gauze may be of copper, silver, platinum,
platinized asbestos or formed of threads of some porous substances. The roll may
also be formed by a mixture of metallic fabrics or sheets of various natures.
To put this arrangement in action, alcohol is poured into the container and raised
to ebullition by suitable means of heating. The alcohol soon issues in the form of a
jet from the capillary orifices; these jets mix with the air which enters by the
Bunsen regulator and impinge upon the gauze contained in the cylinders. These
having been previously heated, the oxidation of the alcoholic vapors at once
commences. This oxidation takes place with development of such an.amount of heat
that the rolls of gauze become incandescent. The entrance of the air is so regulated
that the incandescence does not exceed a cherry red. The oxidation continues
automatically so long as there is a production of vapors of alcohol. The result
of this oxidation is to transform the methylic alcohol into vapors of formic
aldehyde.
Instead of the capillary orifice larger orifices may be employed. For example a
modification may be adopted similar to an ordinary gas burner.
In this arrangement, as in those preceding, the number of the oxidizing cylinders
may vary at will, and in the simple arrangement above described there may be
employed in the place of the roll of gauze, several washers of gauze superposed and
separated by spaces of some millimetres; or further the gauze may be replaced by
metallic plates of cylindrical, conica! &c. form.
When the apparatus is constructed to operate by capillarity, it is based upon the
known principle of the incandescence of metallic fabrics by the vapors of alcohol
disengaged from a wick; it can be simple or compound.
A simple arrangement of apparatus of this kind is shown partly in vertical section
in Fig. 6. The simple arrangement consists of a receptacle M of variable capacity
and form for the reception of the methylic alcohol; the upper part of this receptacle
is screwed or soldered to a tube N projecting some centimetres, and which contains a
wick W. Facing this wick is a metallic gauze washer P (platinum, platinized copper,
asbestos &c.) fixed to the interior of a metallic cylinder O; the lower part of this
cylinder is pierced with holes; the upper part contains means for the regulation of
air. In order to put the apparatus in operation, the wick is lighted and covered
with the cylinder 0 containing the gauze P. This operation extinguishes.
the flame; the incandescence is regulated by more or less opening the upper
regulator Q.
For greater facility, the cylindrical portion O may be made in two parts as shown
in Figure 6. Finally, in this system, as in that which follows, there may be
employed in place of a simple stretched metallic gauze, a roll of metallic gauze
arranged above the wick. From an examination of Fig. 6 it will be seen that the
apparatus shown comprises
(1) A cylindrical receptacle M for the methylic alcohol;
(2) A chimney O formed in two portions, the one fixed, connected to the
receptacle M by a bayonet joint, the other and upper portion being movable;
(3) A fabric made of platinum or other suitable material fixed in the interior of
the chimney O;
(4) An air regulator Q placed at the upper part of the chimney.
It will be understood that several lamps may be coupled together by joining up
several oxidizing cylinders upon one simple receptacle of any form.
Another modification of apparatus not shown in the drawings, comprises 'an
annular receptacle at the centre of which is disposed the oxidizing cylinder or
substance. Inside the receptacle is a metallic tube, one end of which opens above
the level of the alcohol contained in the receptacle, the other end being bent back and
terminating in one or several small orifices, capillary or not, facing the oxidizing
cylinder. Finally a system of regulation allows of the introduction of the oxygen of
the air at the lower part of the cylindrical orifice. The apparatus can be heated by
a simple spirit lamp. In order to put it into operation the alcohol is raised to
ebullition; this escapes in the state of vapor by the capillary orifice and is oxidized

page_text: upon the roll of wire gauze as before. This apparatus when once in operation will
continue to act without necessity for direct heating of the apparatus; the heat
which is produced from the oxidation suffices to maintain the alcohol in
ebullition.
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. Improved process for the production of vapors of formic aldehyde from methylic
alcohol for the purposes of disinfection, wherein methylic alcohol is evaporated or
regulated outside the place to be disinfected whilst the vapors of formic aldehyde
are produced in the place to be disinfected.
2. Apparatus for the production of vapors of formic aldehyde from methylic
alcohol for the purposes of disinfection so arranged that the methylic alcohol is
evaporated or regulated outside the place to be disinfected whilst the vapors of
formic aldehyde are produced in the place to be disinfected.
3. The apparatus for the production of vapors of formic aldehyde substantially as
described and shown in Figures 1 and 2, 4 and 5.
DLM 1907
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.