Evaporation apparatus for active ingredients such as pyrethrum incorporated into solid carrier materials

Apparatus for releasing active ingredients in an active ingredient carrier panel by subjecting the panel to an elevated temperature, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing defined by a downwardly open base of a given cross section and a top of a relatively lesser cross section in fluid communication with an interior of the base and including a window adjacent an upper portion of the top which communicates the interior of the top with the exterior of the housing;
• means connected with the housing for replaceably positioning the carrier panel across the window so as to provide space for flowing hot gas from the interior of the housing about a periphery of the panel and through the window to the exterior of the housing;
• catalytic heating means including a fuel tank adapted to be located interiorly of the base and a catalytic burner in fluid communication with the tank through which fuel vapors can pass, the burner being positioned in the interior of the top and generally beneath the window opening so that gas heated thereby flows towards a side of the carrier panel facing the housing interior and hence about the periphery of the panel to the exterior of the housing;
• snap-on means defined by the housing and the catalytic heating means for releasably retaining the tank interiorly of the base so that the burner is proximate the interior of the top;
• the housing defining air inlet apertures proximate the burner to sustain a catalytic combustion of the fuel;
• and
• cutouts in the base positioned to provide finger access to the tank for manually forcing the tank and thereby the heating means out of the housing to facilitate the replacement of the heating means.