IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE OF ARTIFICIAL INCUBATORS, CONSERVA- TORIES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO REGULATING THE · TEMPERATURE OF FLUIDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Howard Stott, of Preston, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Spinner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE OF ARTIFICIAL INCUBATORS, CONSERVA-
TORIES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO REGULATING THE
· TEMPERATURE OF FLUIDS."
Sealed the 14th December 1877, and dated the 15th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Howard Stott at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th June 1877.
SAMUEL HOWARD STOTT, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE OF ARTIFICIAL
INCUBATORS, CONSERVATORIES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO
REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE OF FLUIDS."
My Invention consists in employing the expansion or contraction of fluids or
rigid bodies to make or break an electric current passing through a magnet,
whereby the regulation of temperature is effected. Thus I place a tube, charged
with mercury, in the structure requiring a certain temperature, which tube at
either end is provided with a conducting wire; but when the temperature is at a
proper degree the mercury is free of one of these wires, but on an undue tempera-
ture taking place the expansion of the mercury causes it to reach the said wire,
and then an electric current is established, which, by charging the magnet, draws
towards it a keeper, and the motion thus effected opens a valve by means of any
ordinary arrangement of. levers, the said valve closing again when the mercury
contracts from the conducting wire.
In regulating the temperature of fluids (say water) the operation is the same,
excepting that instead of opening an air valve a tap for admitting cold or hot

page_text: Instead of the magnet being used to act on a valve it may be employed to check
or increase the source of heat by turning a gas cock when that heating medium
is employed, or by acting on a damper or similar ordinary apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Howard Stott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
December 1877.
SAMUEL HOWARD STOTT, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE OF ARTIFICIAL
INCUBATORS, CONSERVATORIES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO
REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE OF FLUIDS."
My Invention consists in employing the expansion and contraction of fluids or
solid bodies to make or break an electric current passing through a magnet,
whereby the regulation of temperature is effected; and I will, in the first place,
describe a construction of thermometer whereby I cause the said regulation to be
effected.
In Fig. 1a represents the tube, bulb, and mercury of a thermometer, through the
upper end of which tube is passed a wire c of platinum or other conducting material,
and through the bulb b there projects a similar wire d, both wires being sealed to
the glass by any ordinary means, and that shown at c projecting downward into
the tube to a point corresponding to the degree of temperature which it is desired
shall not be exceeded. The tube a is enlarged just about the point of the wire c to
• prevent an obstruction to the rise of the mercury.
I now proceed to describe how this thermometer may be used for the purposes
of my Invention. At e is a box, which I will at present suppose to be that of an
incubator, at f being a drawer with a latticed bottom g for carrying the eggs. The
box e I suppose to be heated by radiation through the medium of a hot-water
vessel h, the flow and return pipes being at i, k, connected to a small boiler heated
by gas or by any other suitable means, and within the said box is placed the thor-
mometer above described. At l is a metal frame formed at one end as a box m, n,
but not provided with a bottom, and separated into two distinct portions by a mid-
feather o; each of these compartments has a lid p, q, capable of turning on centres,
and to each of them is adapted a hook t, u, embraced by loops formed upon rods
v, w, (see the plan view, Fig. 3) which are jointed at their upper end to a lever x
mounted on a centre y, and carrying a balance weight 2, but which is not quite
equal to the two lids or shutters p, q. At 1 is the keeper of a magnet suspended
from the lever x, and at 2 is a cylindrical magnet, the core being a bobbin of wire,
as is well understood; and at 3, 4, are the wires proceeding from the same, the
former being connected to any suitable battery, and the latter to the wire d, while
the wire c is connected to the wire 5, such connexions being made by binding
screws 6, 7. When the temperature in the box e rises above that which is deter-.
mined upon, the mercury, expanding upward, rises in contact with the wire c, and
thus completes the electric circuit; and the magnet 2 being thus charged draws
down the keeper 1, thereby turning the lever x upon its centre, and opening the
shutters p, q, and they thus remain until the temperature having been reduced the
mercury leaves the wire c, the electric current is broken, and they close by their
own weight.

page_text: Instead of the above arrangement the apparatus on the top of the box e may be
applied in duplicate, two thermometers being used, the wires c being set to act
at different degrees of temperatures, so as to affect an additional ventilation if
necessary.
From the above description it will be understood that the shutters p, q, may be
considered as applied to horticultural buildings and other structures in which the
temperature is required to be regulated, and it is evident that any desired form of
shutter or valve to open on a centre or to slide may be adapted by suitable inter-
vening mechanism; or instead of causing ventilators to be opened and closed tho
source of heat may be regulated by causing the contact of the keeper and the
magnet to turn down or off the gas when that heating medium is used, or to open
or close a damper, or act in any similar manner.
Fig. 3 shews another application of my Invention, the magnet 2, keeper 1, and
lever being as before, but the said lever in this instance carries a rod 8 upon
which are two valves 9, 10, for two seats 11, 12, such valves being respectively in
boxes 13, 14, the said boxes being in connexion with two pipes 15, 16, one being
for hot water and the other for cold. According to the position shewn hot water
is flowing through the pipe 16, valve seat 12, and pipe 17 to circulate as before;
but should the temperature rise above the fixed point, then the keeper 1. being
drawn down, as above described, will close the valve 10, and open that shewn at 9,
thereby admitting cold water to the pipe 17, and which will lower the temperature,
the superabundant quantity flowing off through an escape pipe; or instead of the
cold water passing through the pipe 17 it may be allowed to flow through a pipe
18, shewn by dots, leading to a coil placed in the vessel through which the hot
water circulates, or in a vessel containing a fluid to be evaporated or heated to a
certain temperature; but in these cases the valvo seats must be separated, as shewn
by dots at 11*.
In another arrangement the temperature may be regulated by use of one valve,
as at 10, only, for the closing of that will arrest the circulation, and check the access
of heat.
For keeping liquids at an uniform temperature for evaporation or other purposes
the electric thermometer is of course placed in the said liquid.
I have above described the use of an instrument constructed in a similar manner
to an ordinary thermometer, but it will be evident that it may be replaced by
other apparatus, which, by expansion and contraction, will make or break an
electric current.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent and for the
purposes above set forth, the use of the expansion and contraction of mercury or
other conducting substances, for establishing and cutting off an electric current
used in combination with a magnet.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Howard Stott, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.