US2612432A

US2612432A - Vaporizer

Info

Publication number: US2612432A
Application number: US130796A
Authority: US
Inventors: Boddy Leonard
Original assignee: King Seeley Corp
Current assignee: King Seeley Corp
Priority date: 1949-12-02
Filing date: 1949-12-02
Publication date: 1952-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1969-09-30

Description

Sept. 30, 1952 L, BQDDY 2,612,452

VAPORIZER Filed Dec. 2, 1949 ff@ QW@ f gw y /7 Trai/V575.

Patented Sept. 30, 1952 TENT OFFICE VAPRIZER Leonard Buddy, Ann Arbor, Mich., assignor to King-Seeley Corporation, Ann Arbor, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application December 2, 1949, Serial No. 139,796

(Cl. l--llll v 26 Claims. r

The present invention relates to vaporizers and, in the illustrated embodiments, provides such structures wherein material containing or composed of an active ingredient is vaporized by the application of heat thereto, and wherein the heat transfer characteristics of the material are utilized to maintain thev heating action during vaporization and to cause it to be automatically terminated when the vaporizing process has been carried to a predetermined degree oi completion.

In the presently preferred practice of the invention, the aforesaid material is placed in. la container provided with an electric heater. The heater circuit includes a thermally responsive control element which is heated as a consequence of the flow oi heating current. This control element is positioned iny good heat transfer relation to the material, and as specifically disclosed herein, is embedded in the body of the material. During the vaporizing action, the material serves to conduct heat away from the control element rapidly enough to maintain it below its critical operating temperature. The vaporizing action, when entirely or partially completed, however, deprives the control element of this heat transfer effect and, consequently, the temperature of the control element rises to its critical operating point land it opens the heating circuit. j

The present vaporizers may, of course, be adapted for use with any of a widev variety of materials such u as insecticides, deodorizers, fumigants, iungicides, Aand the like. In certain instances, as, for example, in the use of insecticidal paradichlorobenzene, the material may be entirely composed of the active ingredient. On the other hand, in the event the active ingredient is one which is not adapted to perform the heat transfer function, the material may be made up of the active ingredient and a carrier which is capable of performing the heat transfer function. Preferred materials are those Which, While in crystal form, can readily be molded or pressed into cake-like form and which, when subjected to the heat of the vaporizer, pass through a liquid phase. While in the liquid phase, such materials serve eiiectvely as heat transfer agents to maintain the temperature oi the heating control element below the critical value.

With the foregoing considerations in View, principal objects of the present invention are to provide vaporizers wherein material composed of or containing an active ingredient is vaporized by the application of heat thereto and wherein the heat transfer characteristics of the material serve to control the heating action; toprovide such structures Wherein-heat is applied under control of an electric circuit containing a thermally responsive element which is heated as a consequence of the yheating action and from which heat is transferred to the material during the vaporizing action; to provide such structures wherein the control element is directly exposed to a vaporizable material which passes through a liquid phase during the course of the Vaporizing action;'to provide such structures wherein the control element is initially embedded in the vaporizable material and is operatively associated with the heating control circuit as an incident to the placing of the material Ain the vaporizer; and to provide'structures of the above indicated type which reliably maintain the heating action until the vaporizing action is conrpleted or has progressed to a predetermined degree, and then reliably interrupt the same.

With the above as well as other'and more detailed objects in view, which appear in the following description and in the appended claims, preferred but illustrative embodiments of rthe invention are shown in the accompanying drawings throughout the several views of which corresponding reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical 'section' of ay vaporizer embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the encircled portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View in vertical section of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a View in vertical section, taken alone the line liof Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section of another Lcavity i5 accommodates the heater 22.

The illustrated heater 22 is electrical, and comprises an insulated Wire 24 wound upona by the partition I2.

piece of insulating material 26, such as mica.

Elements

24 and 26 are supported on a deck 23.

One end of wire 24 extends to one terminal of the illustrated plug 3U, and the other end thereof is connected to a terminal 32 xedly carried The companion wire 34 is connected to the other terminal of the plug 30, and to a second terminal 36, fixedly carried by the partition I2.

The vaporizable cake 20 has embedded within it a fusible link 40 and a pair of companion terminals 42 and 44 which are, in turn, electrically connected to the ends of the link 40.

The cooperating pairs of terminals 32-42 and 36-44 are illustrated as being of the plug and jack type. Specifically, terminals 32 and 36 are female elements, and terminals 42 and 44 are male elements.

As aforesaid, cake 20 may be formed of or contain an active ingredient. In the case of paradichlorobenzene, for example, the entire cake may be formed of crystals of this material pressed or molded into shape, with

elements

40, 42 and 44 embedded therein.

In use, and assuming that cake 2B is positioned as shown, and that the device is plugged in, it will be apprecatedvthat current will pass through the series connected heater 22 and link 45). Heat generated by heater 22 passes through the partition I2 and is absorbed bythe cake 20, thereby elevating its temperaturev and causingY it to liquefy. The heating current also raises the temperature of the fusible link 40. The fusing temperatureof this link is, however, well above the boiling point of the cake material.

With some materials, the heat conducting characteristics` thereof in solid form may be such that heat is conducted away from the link 40 through the solid body too rapidly to enable the link 40 to reach the melting point of the cake material. In such cases, the liqueiication of the cake material will be due entirely to the heating effect of heater 22. The heating effect of heater 22, of course, greatly exceeds that of the link 40. In other cases, the solid cake material may not be able to conduct heat away from the linkl 40 fast enough to maintain it below the melting point of the cake material. In such cases, liqueflcation of the cake material will take place progressively from the outside under the influence of heater 22 and progressively from the inside under the influence of link 40. In either case, the entire cake will be liquefied before link 48 approaches its fusing temperature. As aforesaid, this fusing temperature is well above the boiling point of the vaporizable material.

The continued vaporization of the material ultimately brings the level of the liquid in cavity I4 to a point below the level of link 40, exposing the latter to atmosphere. TheA atmosphere is, of course, a comparatively poor conductor of heat and, consequently, the continued flow of current promptly elevates link 40 to its fusing temperature and ruptures it, interrupting the heating action.

It will be understood, of course, that after ruptureof the link 40 the used terminals 42 and 44 are withdrawn before the succeeding cake of vaporizable material is moved into place.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 differs from that of Figures l and 2, primarily in that the vaporizable cake incorporates a handle or equivalent element to facilitate the removal of the initially embedded terminals. The fusible link and terminal structure are received in a well, and the fusible link is provided with a heater to better insure its maintenance below fusing temperature during vaporization, and its prompt rupture at the end of the vaporizing process.

More particularly, in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the dividing partition 50 is provided with a depressed central portion 52 which receives that part of the cake 54 which encloses the link assembly 56 and the terminals 58 and 60. In this instance, terminals 58 and 6D are illustrated as being female terminal elements, and the cooperating fixed terminals 62, and 64 are male elements.

Itwili be appreciated that well 52 may be deep enough and narrow enough to make it difficult for a user to touch the exposed terminals 62 and 64, thus improving the safety characteristics of the device. On the other hand, to facilitate removal of the used terminals 58 and B0, after the associated cake has beenvaporized, the cake may be provided with the illustrated embedded handle 63, the lower ends` of which are connected to but insulated from the terminals 58 and 60.

In this instance, the control assembly 56 comprises the fusible link 66, and a heater therefor comprising the insulated length of wire 68. Coil 68 and link 6B are connected in series between terminals 58 and 60..

As in the case of Figure 1, until such a time as the level of the vaporizable material falls below the level of the link assembly 5B, the temperatures of elements 66 and 68 are maintained well below the fusing temperature of link 66. Dependingupon the heattransfer characteristics of the material, liqueflcation of the material may take place entirely under the influence of the external heater 22 or partly under the influence of the fusibleassembly 56. In either event, as soon as assembly 56 is exposed to atmosphere, coil 68 is enabled to promptly elevate link 66 to its fusing temperature, thereby rupturing the same. By virtue of the series connection between link 66 and coil 68, the fusing of link 66 interrupts the heating action.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 may, if desired, embody the well and handle construction of Figures 3, 4, and 5, but is illustrated as embodying the construction of Figures 1 and 2 with the exception that the fusible link 40 is replaced by an interrupter assembly 10. Assembly 10 comprises a bimetallic element 12, which carries an insulated heater coil 14. Bimetallic element 12 also carries a moving contact 16, which normally engages a fixed contact 18.. Contact 18 is carried by, but insulated from, a supporting member 80, which also serves as a support for element 12,. One spring-like end 82 of support 80 is laterally turned and, when the contacts 16--18 are closed, overlies the end of element 12. Heating of element 12, of course, causes. it to, warp downwardly as viewed in the figures and separate the contacts, enabling the spring-likeportionSZ to move into blocking relation to element 12 and prevent a reclosure of the contacts 16,-18.

One end of heater 14 is connected to terminal44, and theother end thereof is connected to moving contact 16, either directly or through the body of the bimetallic element 12. The stationary contact 18 is continuously connected to the remaining terminal 42. With this relation, the heater circuit includes in series the primary heater 22, heating coil 14, and contacts 16-18.

As before, the interrupter assembly 1|] is embedded in the cake 20 as an incident to the initial formation thereof. In such embedding process, it is, of course, preferred that the crystals of vaporizablematerlal entirely surround and enn gage all surface areas of the assembly 1G.

In operation, assuming the calze 20 is in place in the vaporizer, and the unit is plugged into a source of supply, the main heater-22 acts to heat the cake 20 as a whole and liqueiies the same. The heating current also flows through the bimetallic heater T4, enabling it tol heat the bi- Inetallic element 12. Depending upon the heat transfer characteristics of the vaporizable cake 2B, it may extract heat from the interrupter assembly 'l0 rapidly enough to maintain it below the melting pointof the vaporizable material, in which event the liquefaction of the latter takes place from the outside in towards the center. In other instances, assembly T0 may ultimately reach a temperature above the melting point of the vaporizable material, before the latter has become entirely liquefied. Even in such instances, several factors contribute to prevent the opening of contacts 'iS-l until the material has been vaporized to a point at which the level of the liquidV in the container is below the level of assembly 1E.

In the iirst place, at least until the material immediately surrounding bimetallic element l2 has liquefied, the material itself is effective to mechanically restrain bimetallic element 12 and prevent it from separating the contacts 'I6-Slt.

In the second place, the heat capacity of element 12, the heating effect of heater lll, and the heating effect of the main heater 22, may be so related to the heat capacity of the cake 2B as to insure that liquecation of the calze has taken place before element 12 has absorbed enough heat from heater 'M to open the contacts. perhaps controlling importance, the temperature at which bimetallic element l2 opens contacts f6- 18 is `set well above the boiling point of the liquid vaporizable material. Consequently, contacts I6-JIS remain closed until the vaporizlng action has been completed, or :substantially so. When this stage is reached, assembly l@ becomes exposed to atmosphere, enabling heater 'M to rather `promptly bring bimetallic element l2 upto its critical temperature at which it opens its contacts 15S- '18 and interrupts the heating action. As aforesaid, finger portion 82 of support 80 springs into the path of element 'l2 when the latter opens contacts ifi-IES, and prevents a reclosure thereof.

Although only several embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated that various further modifications in the form, number, and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: r

l. A vaporzing device comprising a container for receiving vaporizable material which is normally in solid form but which is vaporizable upon the application of heat, thermally responsive control means normally embedded in and carriedr by said material in heat exchange relation therewith and having a critical operatingr temperature, means for supplying heat to said' material to vaporize it and to said element at such rate as to be normally effective to raise it to said critical operating temperature, said material having a vaporizing temperature below said critical temperature whereby said material is effective by Virtue of said heat transfer relation to maintain the temperature of said control means below said critical temperature until the vaporization of said Finally, and of material has progressed to a predetermined degrec, said control means being eiective when it reaches said critical temperature for reducing the heat supplied by said'heat supplying means, and means forminga releasable heat energy transfer connection between said control means and said supplyv means whereby said control means may be removed prior to the placing of a fresh charge of new material into said container.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said thermally responsive control means is positioned in the body of said material in direct conductive heat transfer relation thereto.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said heat supplying means includes an electric heating element for supplying vaporizing heat to said material and said control means includes an electrically conductive element connected to receive heating current concurrently with said heating element, said control means eecting said control by interrupting said flow of heating current.

4. The structure of claim l wherein said control means includes a fusible link disposed to receive heating current, and means rendering the fusing of said link effective to reducethe heat supplied by said heat supplying means.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a fusible link and an electrically conductive heater therefor disposed to receive heating current, and means rendering the fusing of said link effective to reduce the heat supplied by said heat supplying means.

6. The structure of claim l wherein said conw trol meansvincludes a member having a portion which moves in response to changes in its temperature, and a heater therefor, and means rendering movement of said portion effective to reduce the heat supplied by said heatV supplying means.

'7. The structure of claim 1 wherein 'said control means includes a member having a' portion which moves in response to changes in its temperature, circuit controlling contact means actuable by said movement of said portion, an electrically conductive heater forsaid member, and means rendering the energization of said heat supplying means and said heater subject to said contact means.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a member having a portion which moves in response to changes in its temperature, circuit controlling contact means actu able from a first circuit controlling position to another by said movement of said portion, an electrically conductive heater for said member, means rendering the energization of said heat supplying means andsaid heater subject to said actuation of said contact means, and means effective after a said actuation for preventing a return of said contact means to said first position.

9. A vaporizing device comprising a container adapted to receive a body of vaporizable material normally in solid form, a thermally responsive electrically conductive control means carried by and positioned within said material and in direct conductive heat transfer relation to said material, electric heating means carried by said container and arranged to supply heat to said material, means adapting said heating means and said control means for connection to a source of current so as to concurrently receive heating current at rates suflicient, respectively, to vaporize said material and, normally, to actuate said control means, said adapting means including a partable connection one portion whereof aeiaaaa being carried ,by said container'and another portion whereof being carried by `said material, said control means' when actuated being effective to interrupt said fiow of heating' current, said material having a vaporizing temperature below said critical temperature whereby said material is effective by virtue of said heatA transfer relation to maintain the temperature of said control means sumciently low to prevent said actuation thereof until the vaporizati'on of said material has progressed to a predetermined degree.

10. The structure of claim 9 wherein said control means comprises a fusible link, fusing whereof interrupts said flow of heating current.

11. The structure of claim 9 wherein said control means comprises a fusible link and an electrically conductive heater therefor, fusion of said link serving to interrupt the ow of current to said heater and said heating means.

12. The structure of claim 9 wherein said control means comprises a member having a portion which moves in response to changes in its temperature, an electrically conductive heater therefor, and means responsive to movement of said portion for interrupting the ow of current to said heater and said heating means.

13. The structure of claim 9 wherein said control means comprises a member having a portion which moves in response to changes in its temperature, an electrically conductive heater therefor, means responsive to movement of said portion for interrupting the flow of current to said heater and said heating means, and means forming part of said control means for maintaining said interruption after cessation of the flow of heating current.

14. A vaporizing device comprising a container for receiving a body of vaporizable material, which body carries a thermally responsive circuit controlling element and terminals leading thereto, said device comprising an electric heating element, partable spaced terminals for electrical connection to saidrst-mentioned terminals when the body of the material is positioned in the container, one of said terminals being carried by said material `and another of said terminals being carried by said container, |and circuit means adapting said electric heating element for connection to a source of power in series with said terminals.

15. As an article of manufacture, a body of vaporizable material, a thermally responsive circuit controlling device carried by said body for and connectible between associated supply terminals of an associated vaporizing device.

16. The article of claim wherein said circuit controlling element comprises a fusible link and an electric heater therefor and connected to receive current through said link.

17. The article of claim 15 wherein said circuit controlling element includes a thermally responsive member having a portion which moves in response to changes in temperature, contact means controlled by said movement, and an electric heater for said member connected to receive current under control of said contact means.

18. The article of claim l5 wherein said circuit controlling element includes a thermally responsive member having a portion which moves in response to changes in temperature, contact means controlled by said movement, an electric heater for said member connected to receive current under control of said contact means, and

means for maintaining said circuit in interrupted condition, after interruption thereof.

19. As an article of manufacture, a body of vaporizable material disposed to be positioned in a container and to receivevaporizing heat therefrom, a thermally responsive control element carried by said body in direct conductive heat transfer relation thereto, and connecting means for said element carried by said body and having exposed portions adapted to make an operative connection with associatable means carried by said container.

20. As an article of manufacture, a body of normally solid vaporizable material, a thermally responsive circuit controlling device carried within said body, terminals carried by said body and connectible with associated supply terminals of an associated vaporizing device.

21. A vaporizing device comprising a container for receiving a vaporizable material which is normally in solid form but which is vaporizable at a temperature below a critical temperature upon the application of heat, said container having a heater associated therewith for supplying heat to said material, a control circuit for said heater and having control terminals facing the interior of said container for association with thermal responsive control means originally embedded in said material and releasably contactable with said terminals upon the placing of said material in. said container, means for supplying a source of energy to said terminals whereby said thermal means is heated independently of said heater at a rate such that when said thermal means is in heat exchange relation with said material said thermal means is maintained below said critical temperature and maintains said heater energized, said rate being such that when said thermal means is not in heat exchange relation with said material said thermal means becomes elevated above said critical temperature to de-energize said heater.

22. The combination of claim 21 in which said terminals are female and are located adjacent the bottom wall of said container.

23. The combination of claim 2l in which the bottom wall of said container is provided with a recess and` said terminals are in said recess.

24. A vaporizing device comprising, an upwardly facing cup-shaped container having av bottom wall and adapted to receive a body of normally solid material vaporizable upon application of heat thereto below a critical temperature, a pair of electrical terminals carried by said container, said body having a bottom surface. heating means supplying heat to said body, a thermal responsive control means within said body adjacent said bottom surface and controlling the energization of said heating means, contacts carried by said body and connectible with said first-named terminals with said body in said container, said heating means supplying heat to said body at such a rate that said material will vaporize below said critical temperature and thereby maintain the temperature of said control means below said critical temperature, said heating means rate being sufficiently great whereby when said material is substantially vaporized the temperature of said control means will increase to said critical temperature, said control means acting at said critical temperature to terminate the heating effect of said heating means.

25. The combination of claim 24 in which said heating means is electrically energized.

26. A vaporizing device comprising, an upwardly facing cup-shaped container having a bottom wall and adapted to receive a body of normally solid material Vaporizable upon application of heat thereto below a critical ternperature, a pair of electrical terminals carried by said container and facing the interior of said container bottom wall, said body having a bottom surface adapted to rest on said bottom wall, heating means supplying heat to said body, a thermal responsive control means Within said body adjacent said bottom surface and controlling the energization of said heating means, contacts carried by said body bottom surface and connectible with said first-named terminals upon insertion of said body in said container, said heating means supplying heat to said body at such a rate that said material will vaporize below said critical temperature and thereby maintain the temperature of said control means be- 20 at said critical temperature |to terminate the heating effect of said heatingvrneans.

LEONARD BODDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: l

.UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,232 Van Dyke Oct. 10, 1939 1,022,016 Andrews Apr. 2, 1912 1,561,243 Keene Nov. 10, 1925 1,718,412 Crooker et al June 25, 1929 1,907,845 Macrae et al May 9, 1933 2,000,266 Watson May 7, 1935 2,504,460 Slatkin Apr. 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 154,194 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1922 194,572 Great Britain Mar. 15, 1923 515,562 Germany Jan. 7, 1931 519,684 Great Britain Apr. 3, 1940

Claims

1. VAPORIZING DEVICE COMPRISING A CONTAINER FOR RECEIVING VAPORIZABLE MATERIAL WHICH IS NORMALLY IN SOLID FORM BUT WHICH IS VAPORIZABLE UPON THE APPLICATION OF HEAT, THERMALLY RESPONSIVE CONTROL MEANS NORMALLY EMBEDDED IN AND CARRIED BY SAID MATERIAL IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION THEREWITH AND HAVING A CRITICAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING HEAT TO SAID MATERIAL TO VAPORIZE IT AND TO SAID ELEMENT AT SUCH RATE AS TO BE NORMALLY EFFECTIVE TO RAISE IT TO SAID CRITICAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, SAID MATERIAL HAVING A VAPORIZING TEMPERATURE BELOW SAID CRITICAL TEMPERATURE WHEREBY SAID MATERIAL IS EFFECTIVE BY VIRTUE OF SAID HEAT TRANSFER RELATION TO MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID CONTROL MEANS BELOW SAID CRITICAL TEMPERATURE UNTIL THE VAPORIZATION OF SAID MATERIAL HAS PROGRESSED TO A PREDETERMINED DEGREE, SAID CONTROL MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE WHEN IT REACHES SAID CRITICAL TEMPERATURE FOR REDUCING THE HEAT SUPPLIED BY SAID HEAT SUPPLYING MEANS, AND MEANS FORMING A RELEASABLE HEAT ENERGY TRANSFER CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID CONTROL MEANS AND SAID SUPPLY MEANS WHEREBY SAID CONTROL MEANS MAY BE REMOVED PRIOR TO THE PLACING OF A FRESH CHARGE OF NEW MATERIAL INTO SAID CONTAINER.