US96940A - Improvement in vapor-bath apparatus - Google Patents

Description

JOHN MCNEVEN, OFNEW YORK, N.

Letters Patent N 96,940, dated November 16, -1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN VAPOR-BATH APPARATUS.

The Schedule referred to in these `Letters Patent and makingpaxt of the sama To all whom it may concern Be it known that vI, J ons McNEvEN, ot' the city, county', and State of New York, have invented a newV and improved iBathiinf-qlparatus; vand I do hereby declare the following to be a full,- clear, and exact description thereof', which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part ot'l this specification, in which drawing-.

Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention. i

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

Similar let-ters indicate `corresponding parts.

This invention consists, among other things, in the arrangement ot'a series of boilers in the base-plate of a bathingapparatus, in combination with a perforateddripping-plate, which covers the boilers, and forms the support for the person using the apparatus, in such a manner that by tilling the boilers with water or other fluid, and heating the same, the person enclosed in the apparatus is soon enveloped in a volume of steam, while the drimiing-plate protects theli'eet or other parts oi' the body Vot' said person against the direct action of the heat, and serves to carry the water resulting from the condensation of the steam, back into thc pan underneath.

The water in the boiler or boilers is heated by gas or other flames, fed with the requisite burning material, through' pipes situated in the interior of the bathing-apparatus, and provided with stop-cocks, so. that the person enclosed in the apparatus can heat either or vall ofthe boilers, as may be desirable.

- A hinged partition-plate, in the upper part of the apparatus when let down, serves to prevent the steam y or heated airv from escaping iu a direct course through the top of the apparatus, and if said partition-plate is turned up, and an aperture in the lower part ot' the apparatus is opened, a current ot' cold air passes through the apparatus and cools the same audits occupant ot in a short time.

A condenser, secured in the top of the apparatus,

prevents the escape of steam into the room, and with..l

this condenser is combined a vessel, support-ed by trunnions, which, when filled with water, can be emptied byV pulling a cord, so that theperson occupying the apparat-us cau have a shower-bath whenever it may be desirable.

In the drawing, the letterA designates a case iliade ot wood, or any other suitable material, and large enough to admit one or more grown persons.

t A door, B. gives admission to. said case, and this door can be fastened by any suitable device.

In practice, the door will be provided with panes ot glass, so that the light has free access to the interior of the case when the door is closed.

In 4the bottom part of the case A is secured a metal pan, O, which is perforated with a series ot holes, to receive the boilers D, and over themetal pan extends the base-plate E, which is hinged-t0 thel case, and

provided with ribs a on its lower surface, so that said base-plate, when turned down to its working position', will be kept at a certain elevation above the boilers D, as shown in the drawing.

This base-plate serves as the 'bottom for the person occupying the `case A to stand upon, aud it is slightly curved upward, and provided with a number otsmall holes, l1, so that the waterresulting from the condensation of steam .in the apparatus, has a' chance to find its way. down into the pan C.

The boilers D are intended to be filled with water or other fluid, which is heated by llames c, supplied with gas or other burning-material, through pipes l (l.

These pipes branch oil` from a common supply-pipe, c, and they are situated in the. interior of the case A, and provided with stop-cocksf, so that the person oc' cupying the case is enabled to regulate the heat under the several receivers, to suit convenience.

The steam rising from the Huid in the boiler or boilers, passes up through the pert'orations b, in the' base-plate E, and comes, in contact with the body of the person enclosed in said case, and the water re-j sulting from the condensation ofthe steam runs back into the pan C.

To the inner sides of the case A are secured the chairs F, the seats vof which are perforated, and made ot'sheet-metal, or other suitable material, and which are so arranged that they can be turned -up or down. In the upper part ot the case A is the partitionplate G, which is madeot metal or other suitable material, hinged to the sides ot' the case A, near its back, so that it can be raise-d by means of a rope, y,

which extends from the front edge ot the said partition-plate through an eye-bolt or staple, h, down into the bathing compartment of the case A, so that the person occupying said compartment can readily raise or lower the partitionplate. v

If the partition-plate is down, it confines the heat in the bathing compartment, but if said plate is raised, a current of air may be passed through the case A, for the purpose of cooling.

To effect this object, an aperture, fi, is cut into the sides of the case A, close over the base-plate, and thisl aperture is to be furnished with a door or cover, so that it can be opened or closed at convenience.

The top of the case A is perforated with a` large aperture, j, either square, round, or of any other deit may be desirable.

' sirable-form or shape, and in this aperture is secured a Vessel, 7g, made of sheet-metal, or any other suitable material, and in this vessel is secured a second vessel, I, which swings on gudgeons m, and is intended to he illed with cold water.

In the bottom of the outer vessel lc, isa hole, m', through which the steam from the caseA exhausts, and as this steam comes in Contact with the cold sides ofthe inner vessel l, it eondeuses, and is thus prevented from lling the room.

From the inner vessel Z extends a cord, down into the ease A, so that the person' occupying said case, by pulling said cord, can empty the water contained inthe vessel l, and thus take a shower-bath whenever If a hot-air bath is desired instead of a steamrba-th, the boilers D are removed, and the openings iii the pen C are closed by suitable covers,'aud,v by heating said pan, the air in the case A can be readily brought to the desired temperature.

While taking the bath, the mouth or the nose, orl both, may be protected by fresh air-caps n, from which extend pipes, through openings in the sides of the case,

VD, substantially as described.

so that the person enclosed in said case is supplied with fresh air for breathing.

Having thus described my invention,

XVhat I claim as new, and' desire to secure by Letters Patent, is g l. The perforated base-plate Ein combination with ease A, and with the pan C and the boiler or boilers 2. The pipes d d @,Yprovided with stop-cocks f, in the interior of the case A, in combination with ythe pan C and base-plate E, and Yboiler or boilers D, sub- `'stantiall y asset forth.

3. The arrangement ofthe hinged partitionfplate G, between the steaming or heating-apparatus, at the yibase of the caseA, and the exhaust at the top there-

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