Device for vaporizing oxalic acid containing a conduit for diffusing vaporized oxalic acid

Abstract

A device for vaporizing oxalic acid is described comprising a container (16) receiving oxalic acid to be vaporized, heating means (13) of the container (16), a removable cap (5) or a dispenser for containing oxalic acid in the solid state, a 10 first duct (11) passing through a base wall (12) of the container (16), a diffuser tube (2) connected to the first duct (11) to allow vaporized oxalic acid to escape from the container (16) towards the hive, a second through-duct (14) which passes 15 through the side wall (18) of the container (16) which does not intersect the first duct (11), and a passage tube (34) having a first end inserted into the second through-duct (14) and a second end inserted into the first duct (11) for the escape of 20 the oxalic acid vapour from the container (16) towards the hive through the diffusion tube (2).

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR VAPORIZING OXALIC ACID CONTAINING A

[0002] CONDUIT FOR DIFFUSING VAPORIZED OXALIC ACID

[0003] The present invention refers to a device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid comprising a conduit for the di f fusion of vapori zed oxalic acid .

[0004] In particular, the invention refers to a temperature-regulated electrical device for the vapori zation of dehydrated oxalic acid used in beekeeping, comprising a duct for the di f fusion of vapori zed oxalic acid made in such a way as to make its obstruction di f ficult and facilitate cleaning of the boiler of the device .

[0005] Devices for the vapori zation of oxalic acid are known, which comprise a heater powered by an electric current that produces heat , used to heat one or more doses of oxalic acid contained in a boiler, causing them to evaporate .

[0006] In known devices for the vapori zation of oxalic acid, in order to obtain an optimal treatment , it is very important to guarantee the cleanliness of the boiler while preventing the obstruction of the duct for the diffusion of vaporized oxalic acid.

[0007] Devices for the vaporization of oxalic acid are known which comprise a diffusing tube for the vaporized acid which, being inserted vertically inside the boiler, limits the possibility of cleaning it; furthermore, since only a small part of the tube is close to the heating elements, there remains the risk of its obstruction caused by the crystallization of the vaporized oxalic acid in contact with a cold part of the diffuser tube.

[0008] Other known devices for the vaporization of oxalic acid comprise a diffuser tube that comes out from the upper part of the boiler and then bends, so as to position the outlet mouth of the tube at the height of the lower part of the boiler, with the consequent need to use a long tube that tends to cool at the end and therefore clog with solidified oxalic acid.

[0009] Object of the present invention is providing a device for the vaporization of oxalic acid comprising a duct for the diffusion of vaporized oxalic acid, which makes it difficult to block the duct and at the same time facilitates cleaning of the boiler of the device. The above and other obj ects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are achieved with a device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid comprising a conduit for the di f fusion of vapori zed oxalic acid such as that described in the independent claim . Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention form the subj ect matter of the dependent claims .

[0010] It is understood that all attached claims form an integral part of this description .

[0011] It will be immediately obvious that countless variations and modi fications can be made to what has been described ( for example relating to shape , dimensions , arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the attached claims .

[0012] The present invention will be better described by a preferred embodiment thereof , provided by way of example and not by way of limitation, with reference to the attached drawings , in which :

[0013] - Figures 1A, IB show a front view and a side sectional view of a first embodiment of a device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid according to the present invention; - Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a side section of a first embodiment of a device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid according to the present invention;

[0014] - Figures 3A, 3B show a front view and a side sectional view of a second embodiment of a device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid according to the present invention; and

[0015] - Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a side section of a second embodiment of a device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid according to the present invention .

[0016] Referring to the Figures , a preferred embodiment of the device for vapori zing oxalic acid is shown and described, and comprises a conduit for the di f fusion of vapori zed oxalic acid according to the present invention, comprising a container or boiler 16 configured to receive oxalic acid to be vapori zed, heating means 13 configured to heat the container 16 and maintain its temperature at a pre- established value , a removable cap 5 or a dispenser configured to contain oxalic acid in a solid state , for example in powder, to be introduced into the container 16 ; the device for vapori zing oxalic acid of the invention also comprises a di f fuser tube 2 removably connected to the container 16 and configured to allow vapori zed oxalic acid to escape from the container 16 towards the hive .

[0017] Preferably, the device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid according to the invention comprises a first duct 11 made inside a base wall 12 of the container 16 and a second through-duct 14 which passes through the side wall 18 of the container 16, in detail made inside the side wall 18 of the container 16 ; said first duct 11 passes through the entire base wal l 12 until it meets the second through-duct 14 , and the di f fuser tube 2 is removably inserted inside said first duct 11 through a first end of the first duct 11 .

[0018] The device for vapori zing oxalic acid of the invention also comprises a groove 19 , obtained in the side wall 18 of the container 16 , which connects the internal volume of the container 16, in which the oxalic acid is vapori zed, with the second through-duct 14 in turn connected to the dif fuser tube 2 , allowing the oxalic acid vapor to escape from the container 16 .

[0019] In this way, in the container 16 there is a section 15 of the side wall 18 thinned in correspondence with the groove 19 , so as to create a thermal break which reduces heat dispersion .

[0020] The second through duct 14 , made in the side wall 18 of the container 16 , is closed by a removable closing element 22 , for example a screw, at each of its ends , with the function o f preventing the escape of steam from the ends , allowing cleaning the second duct 14 when removed and making contact with the di f fuser tube 2 allowing its correct positioning inside the first duct 11 .

[0021] Preferably, the device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid according to the invention comprises locking means 23 of the removable di f fuser tube 2 , preferably a screw 23 , inserted through the base wall 12 next to the first duct 11 until it comes into contact with the di f fusion tube 2 , inserted in turn into the first duct 11 , to block it .

[0022] Preferably the heating means comprise at least one heating element 13 connected to the container 16 and electrically connected to a control and regulation device configured to connect the heating element 13 to a power supply so as to heat the container 16 and maintain its temperature at a pre- established level . Preferably, the heating means comprise two heating elements 13 inserted in the base wall 12 , on the two sides of the removable di f fuser tube 2 so as to maintain it at a temperature such as to prevent the crystalli zation of the oxalic acid vapours that pass through the di f fuser tube 2 .

[0023] Preferably, the removable cap 5 , or the dispenser, is engaged on a flange 20 connecting to the container 16 .

[0024] Preferably, between the removable cap 5 , or the dispenser, and the flange 20 there is a gasket 21 configured to maintain the flange 20 at a predetermined temperature , trans ferring from the container 16 to the flange 20 the amount of heat capable of making the flange 20 assume the desired temperature .

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the oxalic acid vapori zation device of the invention, the second duct 14 continues through the f lange 20 and the removable closing element 22 , for example the screw 22 , is inserted into the end of the second duct 14 obtained in the flange 20 .

[0026] Preferably, the container 16 is surrounded externally by thermal insulation so as to protect the user from contact with the heated container 16 and reduce heat dispersion and therefore electricity consumption .

[0027] Preferably, the device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid according to the present invention comprises a handle connected to the container 16, for example by means of a connecting element made of material having a low thermal transmission coef ficient which does not trans fer heat to the handle .

[0028] In a second embodiment of the device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid according to the invention, the second through duct 14 is made through the side wall 18 of the container 16 , preferably in correspondence with the upper part o f the container 16 , so as not to intersect the first duct 11 , preferably substantially parallel to said first duct 11 , and connects the internal volume of the container 16 in which the oxalic acid is vaporised, with the outside ; the first duct 11 is made to pass through the entire base wall 12 and comprises a second end in which a first end of a passage tube 34 is removably inserted, said passage tube 34 having a second end removably inserted inside the second through-duct 14 to allow the oxalic acid vapor to escape from the container 16 towards the hive through the di f fusion tube 2 inserted in turn in the first end of the first duct

[0029] 11 .

[0030] Preferably, the device for vapori zing oxalic acid of the second embodiment also comprises the throat 19 made near the removable cap 5 , or the dispenser, above the second through-duct 14 ; in correspondence with the groove 19 the thinned section 15 of the side wall 18 is obtained, so as to create the thermal cut which reduces heat dispersion .

[0031] Preferably, the first duct 11 comprises a narrowing 35 , created at the point where the ends of the di f fusion tube 2 and the passage tube 34 meet together, to allow the removable tubes 2 , 34 to be positioned flush against each other .

[0032] The operation of the device for the vapori zation of oxalic acid comprising a conduit for the di f fusion of vapori zed oxalic acid of the present invention is described below .

[0033] The removable di f fuser tube 2 is inserted into the first duct 11 until it abuts against the removable closing element 22 , for example the screw 22 , inserted into the second duct 14 at the base wall 12 , or until it abuts against the narrowing 35 The di f fusion tube 2 is removably connected to the container 16 to allow the di f fusion tube 2 to be replaced to adapt it to the various types of hives on the market and allow the use of tubes of dif ferent shapes , curvatures and materials .

[0034] The vapori zed oxalic acid inside the container 16 comes out from the di f fuser tube 2 passing through the throat 19 and the second duct 14 obtained in the side wall 18 and optionally the passage tube 34 .

[0035] Advantageously, the di f fuser tube 2 placed between the elements 13 is kept at a temperature such as to prevent the crystalli zation of the oxalic acid inside it and the consequent obstruction of the di f fuser tube 2 and of the first duct 11 , and is kept in the correct position due to the removable closing element 22 , for example the screw 22 , and the locking means 23 , for example the screw 23 inserted through the base wall 12 ; similarly, the passage tube 34 is held in the correct position due to the screws 22 inserted through the base wall 12 in correspondence with the first duct 11 and through the side wall 18 in correspondence with the second duct 14 . Another advantage is that it facilitates cleaning of the second duct 14 , facilitating access by removing the removable closing elements 22 , for example the screws 22 . A further advantage is given by the possibility of using interchangeable tubes of dif ferent shapes and curvatures .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for vaporizing oxalic acid comprising a container (16) configured to receive oxalic acid to be vaporized, heating means (13) configured to heat the container (16) and maintain its temperature at a predetermined value, a removable cap (5) or a dispenser configured to contain oxalic acid in the solid state, a first duct (11) passing through a base wall (12) of the container (16) , a diffuser tube (2) removably connected with said first duct (11) to allow the escape of vaporized oxalic acid from the container (16) towards the hive, a second through-duct (14) which passes through the side wall (18) of the container (16) , characterized in that the second through duct (14) is made so as not to intersect the first duct (11) , the device also comprising a passage tube (34) having a first end removably inserted into the second through-duct (14) and a second end removably inserted in the first duct (11) to allow the oxalic acid vapor to escape from the container (16) towards the hive through the diffuser tube (2) .

2. Device for the vaporization of oxalic acid according to claim 1, characterized in that the second through-duct (14) is made in correspondencewith the upper part of the container (16) .

3. Device for the vaporization of oxalic acid according to claim 2, characterized in that the container (16) comprises a section (15) of the side wall (18) thinned in correspondence with a groove (19) obtained near the removable cap (5) , or of the dispenser, in order to create a thermal break that reduces heat dispersion.

4. Device for the vaporization of oxalic acid according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises locking means (23) of the removable diffuser tube (2) inserted through the base wall (12) in correspondence with the first duct (11) until it comes into contact with the diffuser tube (2) to block it.

5. Device for the vaporization of oxalic acid according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises blocking means (22) inserted through the base wall (12) in correspondence with the first duct (11) and through the side wall (18) in correspondence with the second duct (14) to block the passage tube (34) .

6. Device for the vaporization of oxalic acid according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the heating means comprisetwo heating elements (13) inserted in the base wall (12) , on the two sides of the removable diffuser tube (2) in order to keep it at a temperature that prevents the crystallization of the oxalic acid vapours that pass through it.

7. Device for the vaporization of oxalic acid according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the removable cap (5) , or the dispenser, is engaged on a flange (20) connecting to the container (16) and in that, between the removable cap (5) , or the dispenser, and the flange (20) there is a gasket (21) configured to maintain the flange (20) at a predetermined temperature.

8. Device for the vaporization of oxalic acid according to claim 7, characterized in that the first duct (11) comprises a narrowing (35) created at the point where the ends of the diffuser tube (2) and the passage tube (34) meet together to allow the removable pipes (2, 34) to be positioned flush against each other.

Images