Improvements in Vacuum Forming Apparatus, applicable for Medical and other Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1900-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vacuum Forming Apparatus, applicable for Medical
and other Purposes.
I, JEAN FRANÇOIS (called Charles) BREUILLARD, of 5, Rue Coëtlogon, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for forming a vacuum, which
is adapted for use in medicine and for industrial purposes.
Hitherto water injectors have only been employed for the formation of a
vacuum when fixed upon a conduit of water under pressure, the water being con-
stantly renewed; I have devised a plan for sending water under pressure into
an injector by means of a pump of any suitable kind, in which the same water
returns to its point of departure, so as to form a closed and uninterrupted circuit.
In order that my invention may be readily and clearly understood, I have
represented in the accompanying drawing, but by way of example only, the
arrangement which forms the subject thereof.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the apparatus as a whole,
at the level of the axis of the three cylinders which are shewn.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, and
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section.
In these figures similar letters of reference designate like parts.
As appears from the drawing, my apparatus consists in principle of two suction
and force pumps & arranged upon a base which forms a vessel r provided with
a filling aperture e. The piston rod of each of these pumps is connected with
a beam terminating in handles m and pivoted at upon the dome of a central
closed cylinder d. Each of the pumps is provided with a valve c upon one
of the two apertures which are formed at its base and is continued by a pipe
extending to the bottom of the vessel r. The other aperture which is not pro-
vided with a valve, is the starting point of a tube, which, passing beneath the
upper portion of the base vessel filled with water, opens into the central cylinder d
at its entrance to which it is provided with a valve c'.
The central dome or cylinder d is traversed throughout its length by a tube t
which starts at one centimetre from its base and passes out through the top of
the dome where it is curved so as to form a swan-neck.
At the upper extremity of the swan-neck curve is fixed a water injector h
the lower extremity of which traverses the upper wall of the base vessel at g
and enters the water in the vessel to a depth of two or three centimetres. This
injector, the object of which is to form a vacuum, is provided with a socket a
adapted for the reception of an india rubber tube placing the injector in com-
munication with the vessel in which it is desired to create a vacuum.
The injector
may also be provided with a vacuum indicator.
In order to operate the apparatus it is only necessary to place the hands upon
the handles m and impart to the beam a movement of oscillation around its

page_text: axis of rotation i. During the movement of descent of one of the pistons, the
valve of the water supply tube c closes and the water contained in the pump
cylinder is forced through the tube n into the central dome, raising the valve c¹;
the other piston, in rising, sucks in water from the reservoir, this water entering
the pump cylinder in raising the valve c, and so on alternately.
The air contained in the dome d is compressed in the upper part of this latter
and acts by pressure upon the surface of the water which rises in the tube t
and enters the injector h whence it again falls into the vessel r through the
aperture 9.
Under these circumstances, the movement of the water constitutes an uninter-
rupted circuit and with a very small quantity of water this circuit may be main-
tained, such water passing through the cones of the injector, produces a vacuum
by carrying with it the air which is drawn into the socket a.
This being so, if this socket a be placed in communication with a cupping-
glass for example by means of an india rubber tube u, this cupping-glass may
be applied over the whole surface of the body by moving it as desired, thus
producing all the effects of the operation which I have termed pneumatic massage.
If this tube u is connected with a bell or closed vessel of any kind, a vacuum
will be formed therein.
It will of course be understood that the form, dimensions, details and materials
employed in the construction of my apparatus may vary without in any wise
affecting the principle of my invention. Thus for example the reciprocating
movement of the two pistons may be converted into a circular movement and they
may be operated by a motor of any suitable kind.
Dated this 14th day of Santamhan 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C..
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Vacuum Forming Apparatus, applicable for Medical
and other Purposes.
1, JEAN FRANCOIS (called Charles) BREUILLARD, of 5, Rue Coëtlogon, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for forming a vacuum, which
is adapted for use in medicine and for industrial purposes.
Hitherto water-ejectors have only been employed for the formation of a vacuum
when fixed upon a conduit of water under pressure, and with constant supply.
I have devised a plan whereby water under pressure is forced through an ejector,
by means of a pump of any suitable kind, and in which the same water returns
to its point of departure, so as to form a closed and uninterrupted circuit.
In order that my invention may be readily and clearly understood, I have
represented the same in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the entire apparatus
in the axial plane of the three cylinders with which it is provided.
Figure 2 is a plan view, and
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section, of the same.

page_text: Figure 4 18 a longitudinal vertical section of a slightly modified construction
of apparatus.
Figure is a horizontal section, and
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the same.
In all these figures the same letters of reference designate like parts.
As will be seen from the drawing, my apparatus consists broadly of two suction
and forcing pumps k arranged upon a base which forms a vessel r provided with
a filling aperture e. The piston rod of each of these pumps is connected with
a beamterminating in handles m and pivoted at i upon the dome of a central
closed cylinder d. Each of the pumps k is provided with a valve cupon one
of the two apertures which are formed at its base and is continued by a pipe
extending to the bottom of the vessel r. The other aperture which is not pro-
vided with a valve, is the starting point of a tube which, passing beneath the
upper portion of the base vessel filled with water, opens into the central cylinder d
at its entrance to which it is provided with a valve c'.
The central dome or cylinder d is traversed throughout its length by a tube t
which leads from a point at about one centimetre above its base and passes out
through the top of the dome, where it is curved into the form of a swan-neck.
At the upper extremity of the swan-neck is fixed a water ejector h, the lower
extremity of which traverses the upper wall of the base vessel at and enters
the water in the vessel r to a depth of two or three centimetres. This ejector,
the object of which is to exhaust the air and thereby produce the vacuum, is
provided with a branch a adapted to receive an india rubber tube placing the
ejector in communication with any vessel in which it is desired to create a vacuum.
The ejector may also be provided with a vacuum gauge.or indicator.
In order to operate the apparatus it is only necessary to place the hands upon
the handles m and impart to the beam a movement of oscillation around its
fulcrum . During the descent of one of the pistons, the valve of the water
supply tube e closes, and the water contained in the pump cylinder is forced
through the tube n into the central dome, raising the valve ; the other piston
is at the same time ascending, and water from the reservoir is thereby caused
to enter its pump cylinder, raising the valve c, and so on alternatively.
The air contained in the dome d is compressed in the upper part of this latter
and acts by pressure upon the surface of the water therein; which rises in the
tube and enters the ejector h whence it again falls back into the vessel r through
the pipe g
Under these circumstances, the movement of the water constitutes an uninter-
rupted circuit and with a very small quantity of water this circuit may be main-
tained, such water passing through the cones of the ejector, produces a vacuum
by carrying with it the air drawn into the branch.
This being so, if this branch a be placed in communication with a cupping-
glass for example by means of an india rubber tube u, this cupping-glass may
be applied over the whole surface of the body by moving it as desired, thus
producing all the effects of the operation which I have termed pneumatic massage.
If this tube u is connected with a bell or closed vessel of any kind, a vacuum
will be formed therein.
In the modification shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the suction and forcing pumps
are replaced by elastic membranes or bells of rubber or other convenient
material.
These membranes or bells 6 are hermetically fixed to the base of the apparatus
by means of rings f formed with lugs. These rings f may be constructed to
receive, or be integral with, brackets to which levers o are hinged for operating
the bells b. Each lever is furnished with hinged claws composed of two por-
tions and reposing upon the bells. The stroke of the levers which may be
operated either with the hands or with the feet, is limited by stops s of rubber
fixed upon the base r.
It is evident from the foregoing description that when the bells or membranes

page_text: are extended, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, and if then one of them is depressed
by acting on the lever o the liquid contained therein, owing to suction, is forced
into the cylinder by compressing the rubber as will be readily understood.
By lifting one lever the other becomes depressed and the bell in connection with
the raised lever draws in water whilst the other bell discharges; and this action
is effected in a continuous manner.
It will of course be understood that the form, dimensions, details and materials
employed in the construction of my apparatus may vary without in any wise
affecting the principle of my invention. Thus for example the reciprocating
movement of the two pistons may be converted into a circular movement and they
may be operated by a motor of any suitable kind. I also reserve to myself the
right of replacing the two pistons or the two membranes by a rotary pump; in
this case the air reservoir may be omitted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:_
A portable apparatus for creating a vacuum, comprising a water ejector to
which water under pressure is supplied in a continuous manner by the action of
any convenient type of pump, or pumps, which may be suction and forcing, rotary
or other pumps, so arranged as to cause the same water to return always to its
starting point and thus form an uninterrupted and closed circuit, substantially
as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 14th day of J......
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.