US3371985A - Vaporizer device - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1968 E. w. WYKA 3,371,985

VAPORI ZER DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1964 INVENTOR Edward W. Wy k0 BY 3W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,371,985 VAPORIZER DEVICE Edward W. Wyka, 716 Bermuda Road, West Babylon, NY. 11794 Filed Sept. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 396,849 Claims. (Cl. 21-91) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE A disinfectant-crystal vaporizing device having a hollow cylindrical casing, a cylindrical cartridge removably received within the casing, said cartridge containing disinfectant crystals. An impeller assembly is rotatably and slidably mounted within the casing to sealingly cover outlet openings disposed through one end of the cartridge. When air is forced into said cartridge through an inlet opening at the other end thereof, the impeller assembly will be caused to rotate and uncover said outlet openings, to thereby permit egress of disinfectant vapors and to accomplish the uniform mixing thereof.

This invention relates generally to the disinfecting art and more particularly to the provision of a vaporizer device which may be utilized in conjunction with conventional vacuum cleaner apparatus to the end of disinfecting, exterminating or otherwise cleansing articles used in sick-rooms, in either homes or hospitals, or to purify the air within such articles.

Whereas matresses, e.g., because of insufficient ventilation and because of the sustenance for long periods at temperatures conducive to germ and harmful bacteria incubation, are frequently the cause of prolonging the illness of one member of a family and of occasioning the transmittal of disease to other members of the family.

Accordingly, and consonant with the foregoing, the desideratum of the present invention resides in facilitating the ventilation of articles such as mattresses and simultaneously therewith to effectuate disinfecting of the interior of the mattress to the end of minimizing promulgation of disease and to thus rid an area of otherwise hazardous contamination.

Essentially the invention is directed to providing a vaporizer device which can be expediently utilized in combination with a household vacuum cleaner and appro priate lengths of conduit to enable the forceful introduction of disinfected purified air interiorly of a mattress and concurrently occasion the removal of stagnant air pocketed therewithin.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer device which can be readily interposed intermediate the blower exhaust outlet of a vacuum cleaner and the mattress to be treated, suitable conduits being utilized to carry the disinfected air to'the mattress.

A further object of this invention is to provide a vaporizer device which includes impeller means for homogeneously mixing the vapors of the disinfectant crystals with the air forced therethrough by the vacuum cleaner.

Another object of the instant invention resides in the provision of a vaporizer device of the foregoing character which is adapted to removably receive a replaceable disinfectant crystal-containing cartridge.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a device of the described character which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, easily and quickly installed and highly effective in use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant vaporizer device will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrorn, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the Same being realized and attained by ice means of the structure defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagrammatic view of the mattress disinfecting system referred to herein, pairs of conduits being shown respectively introducing purified air to and exhausting stagnated air from the interior of the mattress;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the vaporizer device, the cylindrical hollow casing thereof being shown in cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional side elevati-onal view of the hollow casing, cartridge and impeller assembly, the slidable attribute of the latter being illustrated therein; and

FIGURE 4 is a reduced exploded perspective view of the crystal-containing cartridge and the impeller assembly.

Similar reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the vaporizer device designated generally by numeral 1 and interposed between a conventional vacuum cleaner designated generally by numeral 2 and a mattress 4. Flexible conduit 6 is shown connecting the blower exhaust outlet 8 of the vacuum cleaner to said vaporizer device, conduits 10 and '12 effectuating the connection between the vaporizer device to one side 14 of the mattress. It will be appreciated that mattresses of the type treated in accordance with the present disclosure include openings along the sides thereof for purposes of ventilation, it being these openings through which conduit nozzles 16 and '18 may be inserted as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Should ventilation openings perchance be absent in certain mattress constructions, suitable openings may be cut therein, eyeletted for strength and utilized to receive the conduit nozzles 16 and 18. As will be further observed, conduit 20 which connects to the suction outlet 22 of the vacuum cleaner is connected to the interior of mattress 4 in a manner like that aforedescribed with respect to conduits 10 and 12, branch conduits 24 and 26 and nozzles 28 and 30 thereof, respectively, being particularly utilized in accomplishing the connection.

Accordingly, as generally illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the air circulation of the operating mattress disinfecting system will include the introduction of disinfected or purified air designated by arrows 32 through side 14 of the mattress and the withdrawal of the stagnated and/or disinfected air through side 34 of the mattress, the air within the mattress subsequent to the cessation of circulation being substantially disinfected, the germicidal content thereof being greatly minimized.

As more specifically disclosed in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the structure of the vaporizer device comprises a hollow cylindrical casing 36 formed of two complementary sections threadedly connected at threaded region 38, and end walls 40 and 42, the former having conduit-receiving- openings 44 and 46 disposed therethrough and the latter having conduit-receiving-opening 48 disposed therethrough. End wall 4d further includes a shaft-receiving-bore 5d axially and centrally disposed therein, said bore extending partially into the wall and facing inwardly of the casing as shown, compression spring 52 being positioned within the bore to bias the impeller assembly 54 in the manner hereinbelow described.

The impeller assembly 54 shown in perspective in FIG- URE 4 and in side elevation in FIGURES 2 and 3 will be observed to comprise cylindrical cup-shaped hub 56 having a circular rim 58 on one side, a fiat disc-shaped end wall 60 on the other side, a plurality of impeller vanes 62 arranged radially thereof and a shaft 64 extending axially and through end Wall 60.

Disinfectant-crystal-containing-cartridge 66 is formed of end portions 68 and 76 'and cylindrical jacket 72 which is substantially similar in diameter to the inside diameter of said hollow cylindrical casing. End portion 68 includes a passage 74 disposed axially therethrough and a plurality of apertures 76 arranged proximately about said passage, the [greatest distance between the centers of any two apertures being smaller than the inside diameter of said cuplike hub. The second end portion 70 is provided with an opening 78 disposed therethrough, said opening being, as shown, preferably in alignment with said conduitreceivin-g-opening 48 provided through said end Wall 42 of the cylindrical hollow casing, and resilient closure flaps 80 and 82 being provided within said opening to function in combination as a check-valve to permit unidirectional communication from without to within said cartridge. That is, air (arrow 84) being forced through conduit 6 from the blower exhaust of the vacuum cleaner or forced air convector causes said valve flaps to spread open as shown in broken line in FIGURE 3 whereby the air will be permitted to enter the cartridge. When the system is not in use, the flaps will close thereby sealing opening 78 in end portion 70 thus precluding vaporization loss of the disinfectant crystals therethrou-gh.

In accordance with the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the vaporizer device, in assembled form as shown, includes the impeller assembly 54 intermediate end wall 40 of the hollow casing and end portion 68 of the cartridge. End '86 of shaft 64 is slidably and rotatably disposed within bore 50 and is biased outwardly therefrom by spring 52, the other end 88 of said shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within said passage 74, the circular rim 56 of the impeller assembly being in normally biased seating engagement with end portion '68 of the cartridge to thereby enclose said plurality of apertures 76.

In operation, air 84 flowing forcefully through conduit 6, will cause flaps 8t) and 82 to open whereby 'air will flow into the cartridge and cause vaporization of the disinfectant crystals '90, whereupon air and crystal vapor will fiow through apertures 76 and act against the inside of wall 60 of the hub and upon overcoming the bias due to spring 52, the impeller assembly will move away from the cartridge and occupy the position as shown in broken 4 line designation in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. The circular rim, thus in the unseated attitude, will permit the air and disinfectant vapors to flow between the rim and the end portion 68 and thence against impeller vanes 62 to thereby rotate the impeller assembly and occasion substantially thorough mixing of the air and disinfectant vapors to produce a homogeneous mixture thereof. This mixture, so produced, will then flow through conduits ltl and 12 and into the mattress in the manner aforedescribed, the suction conduit 20 thereafter withdrawing the mixture from the other side of the mattress for subsequent and continued recycling and repurification.

It will be understood that the described components of the disinfecting system may be constructed within a single housing, the required conduits being the only elements thereof extending exteriorly therefrom. Also, the system may be modified by utilizing only the blower exhaust of the vacuum cleaner and allowing the air-disinfectant mixture to egress through the walls of the mattress and thereby circulate therewithin without the assistance of the suction conduit embodiment.

Although the preferred embodiment of the vaporizer device and disinfecting system have been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this inveniton various changes may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in 'a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mattress disinfecting system including a forced air convecting means, a vaporizer device comprising a hollow cylindrical casing, a cylindrical cartridge removably receivable within the latter, and an impeller assembly, said casing being formed of two threadably connected sections and including first and second end walls, each end wall having a conduit-receiving-opening disposed therethrough, a first conduit connecting one opening of said device to the forced air convecting means and a second conduit received in the other opening, said latter conduit being connectable to a mattress, said first end wall having a shaft-receiving-bore axially disposed therein, said bore extending partially into said first wall, a compression spring within said bore, said impeller assembly comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped hub having a circular rim on one side, a plurality of impeller vanes arranged radially thereof and a shaft extending axially therethrough, said cartridge having first and second end portions, the former having a passage disposed axially therethrough and a plurality of apertures arranged proximately about said passage, said second end portion having an opening therethrough, said opening having check-valve means adapted to permit unidirectional communication from without to within said cartridge, one end of said shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within said bore and biased outwardly therefrom by said spring, the other end of said shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within said passage, said circular rim being in normally biased seating engagement with said first end portion to thereby enclose said plurality of apertures, whereby air flowing from said cartridge outwardly of said apertures will unseat said circular rim and thence impinge upon said impeller vanes to thereby rotate the impeller assembly, the air thence flowing into said second conduit, and therefrom to the mattress.

2. In a mattress disinfecting system including a forced air convecting means, a vaporizer device comprising a hollow casing, a cartridge removably mounted within the latter, said cartridge containing disinfectant crystals, and an impeller assembly having impeller vanes arranged radially thereabout, said impeller assembly being in normally biased sealing relation over a plurality of apertures provided through one end of said assembly being movable between a position covering said plurality of apertures and a position spaced with respect to said apertures, said assembly being displaced away from said sealing relation by air flowing from said forced air convecting means into said cartridge through an opening provided through the other end thereof, said impeller assembly being caused to rotate when so displaced, the vanes thereof acting to mix the vapors emanating from said disinfectant crystals.

3. A disinfectant-crystal vaporizer device comprising a hollow cylindrical casing, a cylindrical cartridge removably receivable within the latter, said cartridge containing disinfectant crystals, and an impeller assembly rotatably interposed between respective end walls of said hollow casing and said cartridge, said casing being formed of separable sections and having first and second end walls, each end wall having a conduit-receiving-opening disposed therethrough, said first end wall having a shaftreceiving bore axially disposed therein, said bore extending partially into said first wall, a compression spring within said bore, said impeller assembly comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped hub having a circular rim on one side, a plurality of impeller vanes arranged radially thereof and a shaft extending axially therethrough, said cartridge having first and second end portions, the former having a passage disposed axially therethrough and a plurality of apertures arranged proximately about said passage, said second end portion having an opening therethrough,

said opening having check-valve means adapted to permit unidirectional communication from without to within said cartridge, one end of said shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within said bore and biased outwardly therefrom 'by said spring, the other end of said shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within said passage, said circular rim being in normally biased seating engagement with said first end portion to thereby sealingly enclose said plurality of apertures.

4. A disinfectant-crystal vaporizer device comprising a hollow cylindrical casing, a cylindrical cartridge removably receivable within the latter, said cartridge containing disinfectant crystals, and an impeller assembly rotatably positioned within said hollow casing and interposed therein between respective end walls of said hollow casing and said cartridge, said impeller assembly comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped hub having a circular rim on one side, a plurality of impeller vanes arranged radially thereof and a shaft extending axially therethrough, said cartridge having first and second end portions, the former having a passage disposed axially therethrough and a plurality of apertures arranged proximately about said passage, said second end portion having an opening therethrough, one end of said shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within said passage, and bias means acting against the other end of said shaft thereby causing said circular rim to 'be in removably biased seating engagement with said first end portion to thereby sealingly enclose said plurality of apertures.

5. A disinfectant-crystal vaporizer device comprising a hollow casing, a cartridge removably receivable within the latter, said cartridge being adapted to contain disinfectant crystals, and an impeller assembly rotatably positioned within said hollow casing and interposed therein between respective end walls of said hollow casing and said cartridge, said impeller assembly comprising a hub having a peripheral rim on one side, a plurality of vanes arranged radially of said hub and a shaft extending axially therethrough, said cartridge having first and second end portions, the former having a passage disposed axially therethrough and at least one aperture arranged proxi- =mately of said passage, said second end portion having an opening therethrough, one end of said shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within said passage, and bias means acting against the other end of said shaft thereby causing said peripheral rim to be in removably biased seating engagement with said first end portion to thereby sealingly enclose said at least one aperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,817,533 8/1931 Spanel 21--127 FOREIGN PATENTS 350,055 6/ 1931 Great Britain.

JAMES H. TAYMAN, JR., Primary Examiner.

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