US1704607A - Fumigant cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Mamh 5, i929, H. w, HOU'GHTON 4 L70407 FUMIGANT CARTRIDGE Original Filed July 16, l925 Patented Mar. 5, 1929.V

UMTED STATES-1 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY W. HOUGHTON, F GLEN ECHO, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR *TO SAFETY FUMIGAN T COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CARTRIDGE.

.Application filed July 16, 1925, Serial No. 44,126. Renewed Tuly 3, 1928i- This invention relates to a fumigant gas having toxic and warning properties' of the general nature of that described in my Patent No. 1,521,537, dated December 30,

1924, and comprises a convenient means for generating such a fumigant gas in the space to be fumigated.

The invention has for its main object to make readily available to the public a gas that can be safely used by those not having the technical skill and facilities 'for handling acids and chemicals necessary for generating hydrocyanic acid and cyanogen chloride gas mixture according to the procedure disclosed in saidy patent.

Further objects and advantages of the invention appear hereinafter in connection with the description of the illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side view of a fumigant cartridge as manufactured for sale;

F ig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3- 3 in Fig. 2.

lThe invention comprises suitable chemicals for generating the gas, mixed in proper proportions, and packed in a container ready for use by merely adding water. For illustrative purposes the invention is shown in the drawings as in cartridge form developed for general household use Where the spaces to be fumigated will range froml a cedar chest orcupboard to a closet, small room or attic space, one or more cartridges of suitable size being used as the occasion demands.' Trunks, moth-proof` bags and 'similar containers may readily be fumigated 40 by this means without injuring the contents. I

The cartridge 10 consists of a tubular fibre or metal shell having screw caps 11 or other suitable removable end vcovers and inner end vclosures 12. The closures 12 are provided with perforations 13 for permitting entrance of air and moisture and escape of gas when theffcartridge is made readyfor use. A paper tube 14, filled with wicking or the like 15, and likewise provided with perforation's 16 may ladvantageously be arranged centrally within the cartridge from end to end for assisting in conductin air and moisture to the contents of the tu e and in promoting the escape of the gas as it is generated.

At one end of the cartridge there is a sponge 17 or other moisture absorbing and diffusing materiahandthe end ofthe cartridge containing the absorbent' material is preferably painted red or colored on the exterior with a distinctive color 18. A legend Dip this end in water or other suit-- able instructions may be printed on the outside of the cartridge at the end containing the absorbent material to aid the user in preparing the cartridge for use.

The remaining space within the cartridge is illed with a mixture 19 of a cyanogen containing salt and bleaching powder or other ingredient that will liberate chlorine when exposed to air and moisture and form cyanogen chloride. A suitable mixture contains two` parts by weight of fullers earth and one part each of sodium cyanide andy bleaching powder, thoroughly *mixed* together in the dry state. When this mixture is exposed to dampness and air it is decomposed and a gaseous mixture of cyanogen chloride and hydrocyanic acid is evolved, the bleach being broken up by the water and carbonio .acid gas in the air with liberation of chlorine, which'reacts with the sodium cyanide to form cyanogen chloride. Some of the cyanide is fixed as hydrocyanic acid gas and escapes as such.

The reactions leading to the production of the gaseous mixture may be expressed as follows:

4NacN cacizo 4c1 aco2 2H2o= This reaction starts slowly and takes a considerable period of time Ifor its completion, so that the heat produced isodissipated before it can increase the temperature of thecartridge to a dangerous degree.`4

From the foregoing it is apparent that the user of the cartridge need only remove the end `caps and immerse the painted end in water until the absorbent materials are well soaked, and then place `it in the space to be fumigated, which need not be emptied ,of its contents but should be closed tight and left for from two to twenty-four hours for the generation of the gas and the destruction Jof the pests with which'itis infested. As many cartridges may be used as are found necessary, depending 0114 the size .of the lsie space, the rate of leakage of the gas, and the character of the pests inhabiting it. For rodents and vermin a cartridge containing four ounces of sodium cyanide will suflice for a small room containing one thousand cubic feet of space.

The facility with which the invention may be utilized by non-technical persons, and its freedom from danger from fre\or accidental inhaling of the fumes in lethal quantity, make it of great value for general domestic and commercial use in combating rodents, vermin, plant lice, disease germs and other pests and organic growths.

Having described an illustrative embodiment of the invention, without' restricting myself thereto, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows, the term fumigant cartridge being used to designate any portable container of convenient size for transporting and handling the mixture of dry ingredients in quantities suitable for fumigating spaces of from a few hundred to ten thousand cubic feet or more if desired:

1. A l fumigant cartridge containing a mixture of a cyanide and a chlorine liberating agent in proportions to produce cyanogen chloride when acted upon by moist air. 2. A fumigant cartridge containing a mixture of a cyanide and a chloride liberating. agent in proportions to produce cyanogen chloride whenl acted upon by moist air,

' portions for and means for admitting alr and moisture thereto.

3. A fumigant cartridge containing a cyanide salt and bleaching powder in progenerating cyanogen chloride and hydrocyanic acid upon exposure to air and moisture.

4. A fumigant cartridge containing a mixture .of sodium cyanide and bleaching powder with inert material and provided with removable means for preventing access of air and moisture thereto.

5. A fumigant cartridge containing a mixture of sodium cyanide and bleaching powder with inert material and provided with an absorbent material in contact therewith and removable means for preventing access of air and moisture thereto.

6. A fumigant cartridge containing a' mixture of a cyanide and bleaching powder adapted to generate cyanogen chloride moisture from said receiver to said mixture. y

8. A fumigant cartridge containing a mixture comprising means for liberating a cyanogen derivative by exposure to moisture, a sponge-like material, and Wick-like device for feeding moisture from said sponge-like material to said mixture.

9. A fumigant cartridge having a shell 10, provided with removable end covers 11 and inner perforated end walls 12 connected by a perforated tube 14 filled' with wicking 15 and provided at one end withspongy material 17, and a filling of gas producing mixture comprising sodium cyanide and bleaching powder for the purposes described. d l

10. Af fumigant cartridge having a shell 10, provided with removable end covers 11 and inner perforated end walls 12 and provided at one endwith spongy material 17, and a filling of gas producing mixture comprising sodium cyanide and bleaching powder for the purposes described.

11. A fumigant cartridge containing a mixture of a cyanide and a chlorine liberating agent in proportions to produce cyanogen chloride and hydrocyanic acid when acted upon by moist air.

12. A fumigant cartridge containing a mixture of a cyanide and a chlorine liberating agent in proportions to produce cyanogen chloride and hydrocyanic acid when acted upon by moist air, and means for admitting air and moisture thereto.

13. A fumigant cartridge containing a mixture of a cyanide and bleaching powderl adapted to generate cyanogen chloride and hydrocyanic acid when exposed to air and moisture, moisture storing rmeans, and removable means for preventing access of air and moisture to said mixture.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. Y

. HARRY W. HOUGHTON.

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