Improved Appliance for Utilizing Heat and Maintaining any desired Temperature at a Point Removed from that where the Heat is Generated or Stored.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Appliance for Utilizing Heat and Maintaining any desired
Temperature at a Point Removed from that where the Heat is
Generated or Stored.
I, EDWARD WILSON, of Commercial Road, Exeter, in the County of Devon,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
and
The present invention relates to an appliance which will enable heat to be
utilized at a point removed from that where the heat is generated or stored,
any desired temperature to be maintained at such point, and while the appliance
is capable of various applications, it will be found of particular advantage for the
medical treatment of patients when it is desired to maintain the body, or any part
thereof, at a given temperature, or to apply heat to any part of the body, or
in other words it will form a substitute for the method at present employed
of poulticing, and while effecting the same object much more efficiently it
will entirely avoid the disadvantages and inconveniences attending such method.
In carrying out my invention I employ a stationary vessel or reservoir, or a coil
pipe for water or other suitable liquid, which may be heated by a lamp or by a
tank containing boiling water heated by a lamp, or by any other suitable means, or
which may simply be a reservoir containing water or other suitable liquid at any
desired temperature, and which if desired is jacketed to prevent loss of heat
by radiation as much as possible, and thus maintain the heat of the liquid as
long as possible.
From the top of the reservoir a pipe or tube proceeds to the point at which the
heat is desired to be utilized, where it is connected with a second vessel (which
may be in the form of an india rubber bag), the latter being also connected by a
second pipe or tube to the reservoir at or near the bottom thereof, or such
tube projecting down to near the bottom of the reservoir.
The second mentioned vessel must be situated at a point higher than the
reservoir, and is provided with means for filling it. The vessel, the reservoir and
the connecting pipes or tubes are all filled with the heating liquid, and it will
be seen that a circulation will be set up between the reservoir and the vessel, thus
constantly replacing or restoring any heat which is given off by the vessel when in
use, and consequently maintaining the latter at practically the temperature of the
liquid in the reservoir.
One or other of the tubes may be fitted with a cock, by opening or closing which
the rapidity of the circulation may be regulated, and the temperature of the upper
vessel consequently be controlled as desired.
The connecting tubes or pipes are preferably flexible so as to permit of the
upper vessel being shifted about, and thus enable it to be applied at different points,
such as to different parts of the body.
It will be readily understood that two or more vessels may be connected
by tubes or pipes either to a single reservoir or to each other, and each vessel
placed at any desired point.
The vessel may be applied either directly to the body, or a poultice made of any
substance it is desired to apply to the body may be placed round the vessel (in an
enclosing cloth or envelope if necessary) and the whole placed in the desired
position, when the vessel will, by the circulation through it, maintain the poultice
at the required temperature for any length of time.
It will be readily understood that the apparatus described may be employed
for various purposes, other than for heating poultices or different parts of the

page_text: body, particularly where it is essential that the point at which the heat is to be
applied is not permanent or fixed.
Dated this 25th dow of Santambor 1802
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Appliance for Utilizing Heat and Maintaining any desired
Temperature at a Point Removed from that where the Heat is
Generated or Stored.
I, EDWARD WILSON, of Commercial Road, Exeter, in the County of Devon,
Engineer, 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 :-
The present invention relates to an appliance principally intended for the
medical treatment of patients when it is desired to maintain the body or any part
thereof at a given temperature, or to apply heat to any part of the body, or in other
words it will form a substitute for the method at present employed of poulticing or
applying hot water bottles, and while effecting the same object much more
efficiently it will entirely avoid the inconveniences and disadvantages attending
such method.
The appliance consists essentially of a closed heater which is connected by two
tubes with a pad of india rubber or other suitable material, one of such tubes
entering the heater at top, while the other enters or projects down to near
the bottom of such heater. The pad, tubes and heater are filled with water
or other suitable liquid, and the whole is hermetically closed. The heater is
inserted in an outer vessel or reservoir containing water, and upon such vessel
being heated by a lamp, fire, or other source of heat, it will cause a continuous
circulation to be established between the heater and pad through the tubes
connecting same, so that such pad can be applied to any part of the patient to be
treated and maintained at any desired temperature for any required period. As
the heater is not exposed directly to the source of heat, but is only heated through
the water in the outer reservoir in which it is inserted, all chance of steam being
generated in the heater, tubes and pad, is avoided, and all risk of the latter bursting
is thus removed.
In the accompanying drawing illustrating an appliance embodying my invention,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete appliance, shown as being heated by an
oil lamp.
Fig. 2 a vertical section through the heater and outer reservoir, and
Fig. 3 shows the method of connecting two pads, to be applied to different parts
of the body, together, and to a single heater, so that a continuous circulation will
be maintained through both pads.
Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the heater which consists of a closed
véssel with a screw plug a at its lower end for the purpose of filling and emptying
such heater and also the pad and connecting tubes with water or other suitable
liquid. From the top of heater A a pipe or tube B proceeds and is of any desired
length, the opposite end of such tube being connected to the pad D to be applied
to the body, and communicates with the space inside such pad. A second pipe or
tube C proceeds from near the bottom of heater A and is also connected to pad D.
The space within pad D may be of serpentine form, and if desired coiled wire
or other suitable material may be inserted within the passage to prevent the pad
collapsing (or its sides being forced together) if weight is brought to bear upon
it, such as when a patient lies on same.
The heater and pad are charged by holding the heater above the level of the

page_text: pad with the screw plug a upwards. The plug is removed and water poured through
the opening and passing down the tubes B and C fills the pad D, driving the air out
before it until the water overflows from the opening in the heater, when the screw
plug a is replaced.
After being charged the heater A is introduced into an outer vessel or reservoir E
filled with water to a suitable height, and which reservoir is then heated by any
suitable means, such as the lamp F, situated at a point lower than that at which
the pad D is to be applied, whereby a circulation of the liquid in the heater A and
pad D is established, the temperature of which can be regulated at will by adjusting
the lamp F.
In the drawings the lamp F is placed on a suitable base or plate G with an
upright or frame H serving to shift the lamp and heater from place to place,
also to maintain and hold the reservoir E containing the heater A in position.
When not in use the reservoir and heater can be raised and supported above
the lamp F, as shown in Fig. 1, the handle e of reservoir E being engaged with
the hook h at the top of support H, thus enabling the chimney of the lamp to
be removed for trimming and lighting the lamp, and the lamp to be refilled when
necessary. When in use the reservoir E with heater A. is lowered to the
position shown in Fig. 2, the base of the former resting on the top of chimney.f.
The reservoir E is made with double walls, the top of chimney fitting into an
opening in the bottom of the outer wall, so that the space between the two
walls forms a continuation of the chimney, the products of combustion from
the lamp escaping through openings el formed near the top of the outer wall of
reservoir E.
In order to ensure the circulation of the liquid being right round the heater A,
a block of cement or other suitable material K may be placed therein, and
supported by projections k formed thereon at suitable points, so as to leave a
clearance all round between the outer surface of such block and the walls of the
heater, thus constituting a narrow channel which the liquid is bound to follow in its
circulation on its passage from tube C to tube B, so that the raising of such liquid
to the required temperature is expedited.
The arrows in the drawing indicate the flow and return of the liquid between
heater A and pad D. In order to prevent loss of heat the pipes B and C and
also pad D may be enclosed in a casing, as indicated at 1, Fig. 1, of any suitable
material.
For the purpose of enabling two or more pads to be applied to different parts
of the body, to be used with a single heater, I form the tubes B and C. with screw
unions and cat suitable points in their length. Fig. 3 shows the method
of connecting two pads D, D', together, from which it will be seen that one of
the unions, c, is disconnected and the short length of tube fixed to pad D is then
connected to one of the tubes of the pad D¹, while the other tube of the latter
is connected with the tube C from the heater A. The circulation when the
apparatus is in use will thus be continuous from the heater A through the two
pads D, D'.
The chimney or glassf of lamp F may be lined or coated with asbestos or other
suitable material f so as to obscure the light in case same should be annoying to
the person being treated with.the appliance; a small opening f³ may be left in such
lining or coating for the purpose of enabling the height of the flame to be seen and
adjusted as required.
Instead of the heater A being of the form shown, same might consist of a coil
pipe to the opposite ends of which the tubes B and C are connected respectively.
It will be readily understood that the appliance may also be used as a portable
heating apparatus for other purposes than that described, such for example as a
substitute for warming pans or hot water bottles for heating beds.
The tubes B and are preferably made of india rubber or other flexible
material to facilitate the shifting of the pad D from one position to another when
necessary.

page_text: Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A heating appliance consisting of a closed vessel or a coil from or near the top
and bottom of which respectively tubes proceed and are connected with a pad or
receptacle so as to constitute a closed circuit which is filled with water or other
suitable liquid, substantially as specified.
2. A heating appliance consisting of a closed vessel or a coil from or near
the top and bottom of which respectively tubes proceed and are connected with a
pad or receptacle so as to constitute a closed circuit in combination with an
outer vessel or reservoir containing water in which. the vessel or coil is immersed,
and which outer vessel is heated by a lamp or other suitable means substantially as
-specified.
3. The means described and illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings for enabling two
or more pads or receptacles to be connected together and to a single heating appliance
constructed and operating substantially as specified.
4. The improved pad or receptacle provided with tubes made in one therewith
for connecting such pad to the flow and return pipes of a circulating heating appliance
substantially as specified.
5. The improved portable heating appliance constructed or operating substantially
as specified and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1894. •
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.