GB774933A - Disinfecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

774,933. Disinfecting apparatus. WINKELS., T. W., WINKELS, A. G. D., WINKELS, H. B. T., and WINKELS, H. W. Feb. 9, 1955 [Feb. 18, 1954], No. 3877/55. Class 81(1) An apparatus for disinfecting rooms and the like by means of a fumigant, e.g. formaldehyde and subsequent neutralization, e.g. by ammonia, comprises evaporation vessels for the fumigant and neutralizer respectively which are provided with electrical heating means, preferably adapted to be directly connected to the lighting mains, and automatic control means such that when current is supplied to the apparatus the heaters are heated independently in succession, the heater of each vessel being automatically switched off after a certain heating time or when the vessel reaches a certain temperature. As shown the apparatus comprises an upper and lower compartment and situated in the upper compartment is the formaldehyde evaporating vessel 5 which rests on an electrical heating plate 7 and is provided on the bottom in fluid-tight manner with the temperature-sensitive member of the electrical temperature-regulating means 11, e.g. a conventional bi-metallic thermostat or thermocouple instrument which is so adjusted that upon reaching a predetermined temperature, for example, 150 or 200‹C. i.e. when the formaldehyde introduced into the vessel 5 and sufficient for the disinfection operation has been evaporated and the dry vessel becomes heated, the heating current is switched off. A time switch or a timing relay 12 is also provided which', after a predetermined evaporation period, switches off the apparatus. The ammonia evaporating vessel 14 is similar but smaller than the formaldehyde vessel and is situated in the lower compartment. A time switch 15 is provided for automatically switching on the electrical heater of the ammonia vessel when the formaldehyde evaporation has been completed and after the formaldehyde vapours have had a certain time in which to act on the room being disinfected. the ammonia heater being switched off by the temperature regulating means 17 or by a further timing relay. Vapour outlet pipes 6, 16 on the vessels are provided with bayonet or other connecting elements suitable for convenient jointing to tubing so that the point where the vapours issue into the room being disinfected can be at a desired distance from the housing 1. The compartments 3, 4 may be provided with flaps e.g. 18, 19 for ventilation' purposes.