IMPROVED PORTABLE STEAMING APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING VERMIN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Tongue, of Wolverhampton,
in the County of Stafford, Factor, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
PORTABLE STEAMING APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING VERMIN, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
'Sealed the 1st December 1871, and dated the 3rd June 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Tongue
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd June 1871.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS TONGUE, of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Factor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED PORTABLE STEAMING APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING. VERMIN, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists of a small portable steam generator which
can be conveniently carried from place to place by hand for the purpose
of injecting a jet of steam into crevices and other places for the
destruction of bugs, and other domestic insect pests and vermin
generally, for producing steam for vapour baths and other purposes,

page_text: and to which is fitted a valve which will be found particularly useful
where a perfectly air-tight joint is required, such as the supply valves
for railway fountain lamps.
An apparatus constructed according to this Invention may consist
of a small closed boiler of any convenient shape or form, by preference |
constructed with a chimney or flue through the body of the vessel to
allow the products of combustion to pass therethrough. The steam
generator may be heated by lamps, charcoal, or coke, placed in a
chamber attached to the bottom thereof. A small steam pipe is attached
to the upper part of the vessel, which is carried down through the
interior of the body of the steam generator and out through the front
thereof, where a short length of the steam pipe projects forward in a
horizontal or nearly horizontal direction, its outer end being fitted with
a small steam nozzle, and the upper portion of the pipe with a valve
or tap for turning on or off the steam to prevent condensation in the
pipe where the steam is turned off. The boiler is fitted with small
gauge cocks, as also with a safety valve for ascertaining the height of
the water; the inlet valve of a peculiar construction for supplying the
apparatus with water, and which valve will be found useful for many
other purposes.
This improved valve consists of a small vertical :
cylinder, the lower end or bottom of which is formed with a circular
opening surrounded with a vertical collar, forming a recessed seat for
a cork, leather, or other suitable packing ring, the upper surface of
which is somewhat lower than the annular collar surrounding the
opening in the bottom of the valve so as to form a small channel to a
receive the edge of a mushroom-shaped cover on the valve spindle,
the lower end of which carries a taper plug taking into the lower valve
opening, and the upper end of the spindle is fitted with a cover which
screws into a thread on the inside of the top of the valve cylinder. The
top of the cover is constructed with a cross handle for sending it home; a
a packing may also be fitted to the under side of the upper cover of the
valve. It is preferred to cut away portions of the male and female
screw threads, that when the valve cover is dropped into its place it will
only require to be turned round a quarter of a revolution or less to press
it home on to its seats.
The object-of, this arrangement is that at all times the lower valve
cover may be covered with liquid, thereby securing a perfectly tight
joint. In some cases it may be desirable to construct the binding screw

page_text: at the lower end of the valve spindle in place of on the edge of the
upper valve cover, or both the upper and lower covers may be con-
structed with binding screws. In place of making the lower valve cover
mushroom-shaped the valve spindle may be formed with a semi-spherical
termination, taking on to the lower valve seat, or the mushroom cover
may be dispensed with by covering the plug with a leather, cork, or other
suitable material, or by packing the side of the valve port with cork,
leather, or other like substances, but it is preferred in most cases to use
the first-described modification with the mushroom-shaped lower valve
cover. These improved valves may be made from metal, porcelain,
ebonite, or other suitable material. In some cases the valve plug may
be placed horizontally, like an ordinary tap with a waterway through it;
and in filling the vessel through a pipe which extends above the faucet
of the tap, that a certain quantity of liquid may be placed above the
plug, and the top of which vertical pipe it is proposed to close by a
screw cover packed in the same way as the improved valve described.
For the convenience of moving the steam generator about it is fitted
with a looped or other shaped handle or handles.
In using the apparatus for (say) the destruction of bugs, on the steam
being got up, hold the nozzle before the position in which they are, then
the valve and let the jet of steam play upon them for a short time,
when they will be effectually destroyed.
open
For destroying cockroaches or blackbeetles, or other like insect
vermin which cannot be perfectly killed by steam alone, the Inventor
makes use of a small trough formed of sheet metal or other material
which has along one of the longitudinal edges a lip which slopes
inwards, and on the opposite side a flap cover, which on being turned
over closes the trough itself, which is wider at the bottom than at the
top, and the sides of which are lined with glass to prevent the insects
which may be therein from crawling out. This part of the apparatus
is also formed with a handle on one side in the centre of its length, by
which it can be conveniently held in the left hand. On going into the
room infested with these vermin, when it is dark, they will be found
chiefly on the walls of the apartment, when by turning on the jet of
steam they immediately fall and are caught in the trough, where they
may be destroyed by fire or in any other manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Thomas Tongue in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd December 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
THOMAS TONGUE, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Factor,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Thomas Tongue, Her special licence
that I, the said William Thomas Tongue, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Thomas Tongue,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVED PORTABLE STEAMING APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING VERMIN, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Thomas Tongue, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Thomas Tongue, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say) :-
This my said Invention consists of a small portable steam generator
which can be conveniently carried from place to place by hand for the
purpose of injecting a jet of steam into crevices and other places for
the destruction of bugs and other domestic insect pests and vermin
generally, or producing steam for vapour baths and other purposes, and
to which I fit a supply valve which will be found particularly useful

page_text: where a perfectly air-tight joint is required, such as the supply valves
for railway fountain lamps.
An apparatus constructed according to this my said Invention may
consist of a small closed boiler of any convenient shape or form, by
preference constructed with a chimney or flue through the body of
the vessel to allow the products of combustion to pass through. The
steam generator may be heated by lamps, charcoal, or coke placed in a
chamber attached to the bottom thereof. A small steam pipe is attached
to the upper part of the vessel, which is carried down through the
interior of the body of the steam generator and out through the front
thereof, where a short length of the steam pipe projects forward in a
horizontal or nearly horizontal direction, the outer end of which is
fitted with a small steam nozzle, and the upper portion of the pipe is
fitted with a valve or tap for turning on or off the steam to prevent
condensation in the pipe when the steam is turned off. The boiler I fit
with small guage cocks for ascertaining the height of the water, also'
with a safety valve.
My improved inlet valve for supplying the apparatus with water is
of a peculiar construction, and which valve will be found useful for
many other purposes. This my improved valve consists of a small,
vertical cylinder, the lower end or bottom of which I form with a
circular opening surrounded with a vertical collar forming a recessed
scat for a cork, leather, or other suitable packing ring, the upper surface
of which is somewhat lower that the annular collar surrounding the
opening in the bottom of the valve so as to form a small channel to'
receive the edge of a mushroom-shaped cover on the valve spindle, the'
lower end of which carries a taper plug taking into the lower valve
opening; and the upper end of the spindle I fit with a cover which
screws into a thread on the inside of the top of the valve cylinder.
The top of the cover is constructed with a cross handle for sending
it home. A packing may also be fitted to the under side of the upper
cover of the valve. I prefer to cut away portions of the male and female
screw threads, that when the valve cover is dropped into its place it will
only require to be turned round a quarter of a revolution or less to
press
it home on to its seats.
The object of this arrangement is that at all times the lower valve
cover may be covered with liquid, thereby securing a perfectly tight.
joint. In some cases it may be desirable to construct the binding screw.

page_text: at the lower end of the valve spindle in place of on the edge of the upper
valve cover, or both the upper and lower covers may be constructed
with binding screws. In place of making the lower valve cover mush-
room-shaped the valve spindle may be formed with a semi-spherical
termination taking on to the lower valve seat, or the mushroom cover
may be dispensed with by covering the plug with leather, cork, or other
suitable material, or by packing the side of the valve post with cork,
leather, or other like substances, but I prefer in most cases to use the
first described modification with the mushroom-shaped lower valve cover.
These improved valves may be made from metal, porcelain, gutta
percha, ebonite, or other suitable material. In some cases the valve
plug may be placed horizontally like an ordinary tap with a waterway
through it, and in filling the vessel through a pipe which extends above
the faucit of the tap that a certain quantity of liquid may be placed
above the plug, and the top of which vertical pipe it is proposed to
close by a screwed cover packed in the same way as the improved valve
described. For the convenience of moving the steam generator about
it is fitted with a looped or other shaped handle or handles.
In using the apparatus for the destruction of bugs, on the steam
being got up, hold the nozzle before the position in which they are, then :
open the tap valve and let the jet of steam play upon them for a short
time, when they will be effectually destroyed.
For destroying cockroaches or blackbeetles, or other like insect
vermin which cannot be perfectly killed by steam alone, I make use of
a small trough formed of sheet metal or other material, which has along a
one of the longitudinal edges a lip which slopes inwards, and on the
opposite side of a flap cover, which on being turned over closes the
trough itself, which is wider at the bottom than at the top, and the
sides of which are lined with glass to prevent the insects which may
be therein from crawling out.
This part of the apparatus I also form with a handle on one side in
the centre of its length, by which it can be conveniently held in the
left hand, when by turning the jet of steam on them they immediately
fall, and are caught in the trough, when they may be destroyed by fire
or in any other manner.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and under-
stood, I have hereunto annexed Drawings illustrating so much of my
Invention as will be necessary to enable any person acquainted with
2

page_text: the art to carry the same into practical effect, like letters and figures
marked thereon being used to denote similar parts.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved portable steam
generator, and Figure 2 is a partial top view or plan of the same;
Figure 8 is a section of one of my improved valves, and Figure 4 shows
another modification of the same; Figure 5 is a partial side clevation
showing the mode of locking the valve cover, which is seen in plan at
Figure 7; Figure 6 illustrates another modification of my improved
inlet valve, and Figure 7 is a top view or plan of the same; Figure 8 is
another modification of my improved valves applied as a draw-off tap ;
Figure 9 is a top view or plan of a valve with the cover removed,
showing two quarters of the female screws removed; and Figure 10 is a
plan of the valve cover showing two portions of the male screw cut
away; Figure 11 is a top view or plan of the glass lined and glass
ended trough for receiving the blackbeetles or other vermin as they fall
from the sides of the walls on being acted upon by the steam; and
Figure 12 is an end elevation of the same.
A, external shell of the steam generator; a, steam dome, into which
opens the upper end of B, steam pipe, carried through the body of the
boiler and out through the front thereof where it forms O, steam nozzle;
D, steam cock, the faucit of which projects beyond the steam dome, and
is fitted with the handle d; E, guage cock, one only of which is shown,
but in all cases I prefer to use two, one above the other; F, my
improved inlet valve; G, handle for lifting the same; H, fire chamber.
attached to the bottom of apparatus by bayonet or other convenient
joint, and which is fitted internally with J, a chafing dish for containing
live charcoal, the products of combustion from which passes up through
K, a fluo extending through the body of the steam generator; L, a dome
cover with openings in the side for the escape of the products of com-
bustion; M, the cylinder of the valve; N, valve covers and spindles
formed in one piece; P, valve seatings of cork, leather, or other suitable
material; Q (Figure 6) shows the valve plug covered with cork,
leather, or other suitable material; R (Figure 8), valve cover, covering
a chamber in which opens S, inlet port; T (Figure 8), faucit or plug
constructed with a thumb piece; U (Figures 11 and 12), glass lined
sides of trap trough; V, glass ends of the same; W, sloping ledge, to
prevent the escape of the insects falling into the trough; X, lid of the
trough; Y, handle of do.
1

page_text: Having now fully described and'ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to the relative detailed several proportions or dimensions, as it will be
readily seen that the same may be considerably varied without departing
from the Invention; but what I claim is,-.
Firstly. The construction and use of the portable steam generator, con-
structed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before
illustrated and set forth.
Secondly. The improved inlet valve with its several modifications
constructed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described, set forth, and illustrated by Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
and 9.
Thirdly. The construction and use of the tap valve herein-before
described and illustrated by Figure 10.
Lastly. The peculiar construction and use of the glass-lined trough
constructed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described, set forth, and illustrated at Figures 11 and 12.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Tongue, have
hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this First day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-one.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
WILLIAM THOMAS (L.S.) TONGUE,