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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
WILLIAM GRAFTON, OF CUERO, TEXAS.
INSECT-DESTROYER.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,877, dated Decembcr 25, 1883.
Application filed November 11, 1880. Renewed July 16, 1883. (1o model.)
To all whom it nzay concern:
Be it known that I, WILLIAM. GRAFTON. a
citizen of the United States, residing at Cuero,
in the county of De Witt and State of Texas,
5 have invented certain new and useful Im-
provements in Insect-Destroyers; and I do
hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,
and exact description of the invention, such
as will enable others skilled in the art to which
Io it appertains to make and use the same, refer-
ence being had to the accompanying drawings,
and to letters or figures of reference marked
thereon, which form a part of this specifica-
tion.
15 The present invention relates to improve-
ments in that class of devices which are em-
ployed for destroying ants, insects, and ver-
min in general by means of noxious fumes or
gases, the patent granted to me on the 27th
20 day of July, 1875, No. 166,083, being a type of
an apparatus belonging to the class in ques-
tion.
The invention consists in the construction
and combination of parts, which will her einaf-
25 ter be more fully described, and then set forth
in the claim.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation
of an apparatus adapted for destroying ants
and vermin. Fig. 2 shows the spark-arrester,
30 to be applied to the apparatus when used for
destroying weevil in corn and wheat. Fig. 3
is a detailed view of a long earth-tube to be
applied to the fixed delivery-tube of the gas
or smoke generator.
35 The vessel A, of cylindrical or other shape,
serves as a generator for noxious fumes or
poisonous gases, the same being produced by
filling the vessel with stone-coal, sulphur, or
wood and igniting the same, a top packing of
40 earth and a removable lid or cover, B, fitted
into the cylinder, serving to prevent the egress
of the fumes or gases except through the dis-
charge or delivery tube C. The combustion
of the fuel is supported by means of air enter-
45 ing the cylinder A through the tube D. This
tube is located at the bottom of the cylinder or
generator A, and is provided at any desired
pointbetween said generator and an air-supply-
ing funnel, E, with an enlargement, F, contain-
50 ing a pivoted flap-valve, G. This valve opens
only in an inward direction to permit the air
to enter the generator, and its objectis to pre-
vent the backward passage of the fumes or
gases from the generator into the air-funnel E.
The air-supply funnelis made in the form of a 55
long tapering bag, provided at its reduced end
with a short tube, P, for connecting it with the
air-inlet tube D. The large end of the funnel
or bag is held open and distended by means of
a metallic or rigid rim, which is so shaped as 6o
to form two legs, H, which penetrate the
ground and serve to support the funnel at a
suitable distance above the same, for permit-
ting the air to readily enter the same.
It will of course be obvious that an air-sup- 65
ply funnel of the present construction is only
serviceable during the prevalence of wind-cur-
rents. In calm weather, or when no wind ex-
ists, I propose to connect a bellows or air-
pump to the inlet-tube D, as in my Patent No. 70
166,093, previously referred to. The flexible
air-funnel is designed to be used whenever
possible, first, because the expense thereof is
less than that of an air-pump or bellows, and
secondly, the useof an operator for the bellows 75
or air-pump is dispensed with.
When the apparatus is used for destroying
red or stinging ants, the discharge or delivery
tube C is passed through a plate or flange, I,
placed over the mouth of the customary main o80
cell or vertical opening made in the ant-hill.
The object of this plate is to prevent the fumes
or gases from passing out through the mouth
of the cell, and hence they are distributed
throughout the nest in a most perfect manner. 85
It will be obvious that the air-current en-
tering through the funnel is not only sufficient
to support the combustion of the fume or gas
generating materials, but it also serves to
forcibly expel said gases from the generator 90
and drive them through the ant-nest in the
manner above stated.
A suitable tool or auger is generally em-
ployed for making vent-holes in the ant-nest
from the surface of the ground to the cells, 95
whereby the fumes are caused to reach every
portion of the nest, and consequently destroy
the ants. In certain instances I may employ
a detachable earth-tube, K, as seen in Fig. 3,
the object of said tube being to convey the ioo
gases or fumes deeper into the ground than
the tube C.