IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HEAT BY THE COMBUSTION OF GASES OR VAPORS, APPLICABLE FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HEAT BY THE COMBUSTION OF GASES OR VAPORS,
APPLICABLE FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by Claude André Paquelin, of Paris, France, Doctor of Medicine.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th July 1870.
ALEXANDER Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HEAT BY
THE COMBUSTION OF GASES OR VAPORS, APPLICABLE FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
This Invention relatos to means of instantaneously producing a high degree of
heat, and maintaining the same with or without light by the combination of
combustible gases or vapors with gaseous supporters of combustion, and the Inven-
tion consists in employing for this purpose a tubular or other hollow body of
platinum (or other metal having similar properties) into or through which the
gaseous mixture is passed; the internal surface of the platinum tube or other hollow
Body (which has been first heated) serving to determine upon their contact therewith
the combustion of the said mixture of combustible gases or vapors and gaseous
supporters of combustion, and the Invention further consists in the adaptation of
this means of obtaining intense heat to the wants of science and the arts. The
tube or hollow body may be of various forms and dimensions, and provided with
one or several orifices for the admission of the combustible mixture and the exit of
the products of combustion. To determine this combustion the tube or conduit is
first heated, in the flame of a candle for instance, and the gascous mixture is then
passed through it by means of a flexible ball, the platinum when once raised to a
certain temperature determining and maintaining the combination of the gaseous
mixture. This mixture may be composed of air and the vapor of mineral essence,
or any other mixture of combustiblo vapors and gaseous supporters of combus-
tion. The tube may be straight or curved, or of other form, or a number of
tubular or hollow bodies may be combined or connected together in various
TD 017

page_text: ways, and the apparatus may be differently arranged, according to the purpose to
which it is to be applied, and I may introduce platinum or other similar metal in
the form of wire, wire cloth, fragments, or other divided form into the tubular
hollow body, and the latter may be wholly or partly enclosed in a metallic or other
envelope or casing. The internal surface also of the tubular or hollow body may
be either plain or corrugated, ribbed, or otherwise roughened, as likewise the ex-
ternal surface.
The inflammable mixture may be obtained by passing a current of air through
a vessel containing a volatile hydrocarbon, or I may use a mixture of air and
a combustible gas, and if a constant temperature is required I may use special
apparatus by which the relative proportions of the component gases or vapors
of the mixture are maintained constant. The mixture may be supplied by one or
more forcing or exhausting apparatus, working cither intermittently or constantly.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shown the Invention as applied, by
way of example, to several forms of the surgical instrument known as Dr.
Paquelin's thermocauter. Figuro shows a general view of the apparatus
complete, the medium by which the combustion is determined consisting in this in-
stance of a straight tube bent or doubled back upon itself, as seen more clearly
in Figures 2 and 3, which show an elevation and longitudinal section of the thermo-
cauter proper drawn on a larger scale. The same letters of reference serve for the
three Figures.
d
The tube a is of platinum or other metal having similar properties. Its external
surface constitutes the cauterizing part of the instrument, and it is within this tube
that the combustion of the gaseous mixture is effected. The tube « is connected to
and forms a prolongation of a tube b by which the gaseous mixture is supplied.
The tube b which may be made of copper or other inaterial screws into a hollow
handle c, an annular space being left between them for the passage of a current of
air to cool the pipe b. The products of combustion escape from tube a by the
orifice e into a chamber f which encloses the base of the tube a, leaving its cauteriz-
ing part exposed, and from the chamber f they escape by openings g, g, at the rear
end;
small bottle containing the liquid hydrocarbon, to the neck of which may be
attached a double hook for hanging the bottle to a button hole, coat button, or
pocket, or in other convenient position. The bottle is closed by an india-rubber
stopper, in which are inserted two metal tubes i, j; the tube i receives atmospheric
air from a flexible ball, while tube j conveys the air saturated with the hydro-
carbon vapors to the instrument. The hydrocarbon which gives the best results
is that commonly known as mineral oil, but alcohol heated in a water bath, or
preferably wood spirit, may be used in the same manner as the mineral oil. l, m, are
tubes of stout india-rubber connecting the three parts of the apparatus. Figure 4
shows the combustion tube a bent back upon itself as before but entirely enclosed
within an enveloping chamber or sheath, whose external surface forms in this case
the cauterising part of the instrument. In Figure 5 the combustion tube a is not
bent as before but entirely straight, and is also enclosed in a sheath f, as in the last
case. In Figure 6 the combustion tube a is of spiral form, enclosed within a
chamber f, which is of a form suitable for a utorine cauter. In Figure 7 the tube a
is bifurcated or composed of two branches a¹, u, enclosed in a chamber f.
It will be evident from the above that the form of the combustion chamber or
medium by which combustion is effected may be indefinitely varied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th 50
January 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HEAT BY THE

page_text: COMBUSTION OF GASES OR VAPORS, APPLICABLE FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Claude André Paquelin, of Paris, France, Doctor
of Medicine.
This Invention relates to means of instantaneously producing a high degree of
heat, and maintaining the same with or without light by the combination of com-
bustible gases or vapors with gaseous supporters of combustion, and the Invention
consists in employing for this purpose a tubular or other hollow body of platinum
(or other metal having similar properties into or through which the gaseous
mixture is passed, the internal surface of the platinum tube or other hollow body
(which has been first heated) serving to determine upon their contact therewith
the combustion of the said mixture of combustible gases or vapors, and gaseous
supporters of combustion, and the Invention further consists in the adaptation of
this means of obtaining intense heat to the wants of science and the arts. The
tube or hollow body may be of various forms and dimensions, and provided with one
or several orifices for the admission of the combustible mixture and the exit of the
products of combustion. To determine this combustion the tube or conduit is first
heated, in the flame of a candle for instance, and the gaseous mixture is then passed
through it by means of a flexible ball. I thus utilize the known property peculiar
to platinum and some other metals of determining when once raised to a certain
temperature the combination of a mixture of combustible gases or vapors and
gaseous supporters of combustion. This mixture may be composed of air and the
vapor of mineral essence, or any other mixture of combustible vapors and gaseous
supporters of combustion. The tube may be straight or curved, or of other form, or
a number of tubular or other hollow bodies may be combined or connected together
in various ways, and the apparatus may be differently arranged, according to the
purpose to which it is to be applied, and I may introduce platinum or other suitable
metal in the form of wire cloth, fragments, or other divided form into the tubular
hollow body, and the latter may be wholly or partly enclosed in a metallic or other
envelope or casing. The internal surface also of the tubular or hollow body may be
either plain or corrugated, ribbed, or otherwise roughened, as likewise the external
surface.
The inflammable mixture may be obtained by passing a current of air through a
vessel containing a volatile hydrocarbon, or I may use a mixture of air and a com-
bustible gas, and if a constant temperature is required I may use special apparatus
by which the relative proportions of the compound gases or vapors of the mixture
are maintained constant. The mixture may be supplied by one or more forcing or
exhausting apparatus, working either intermittently or continuously.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shown the Invention applied, by way of
example, to several forms of the surgical instrument known as Dr. Paquelin's
thermocauter. Figure 1 shows a general view of the apparatus complete, the
medium by which the combustion is determined consisting in this instance of a
straight tube bent or doubled back upon itself, as seen more clearly in Figures 2
and 3, which show an elevation and longitudinal section of the thermocauter
proper drawn on a larger scale. The same letters of reference serve for the thrco
Figures.
i
The tube a is of platinum or other metal having similar properties. Its external
surface constitutes the cauterizing part of the instrument, and it is within this
tube that the combustion of the gaseous mixture is effected. The tube a is con-
nected to and forms a prolongation of a tube b by which the gaseous mixture is
supplied. The tube b which may be of copper or other material screws into a hollow
handle c, an annular space being left between them for a passage of a current of
air to cool the pipe . The products of combustion escape from tube a by the
orifice e into a chamber f, which encloses the base of the tube a, leaving the cauteriz-
ing part exposed, and from the chamber f they escape by openings g, g, at the rear
end; small bottle containing the liquid hydrocarbon, to the nock of which may
be attached a double hook for hanging the bottle to a button hole, coat button, or

page_text: pocket, or in other convenient position. The bottle is closed by an india-rubber
stopper, in which are inserted two metal tubes i, j; the tube i receives atmospheric
air from a flexible ball k, while tube j conveys the air saturated with the hydro-
carbon vapors to the instrument. The hydrocarbon which gives the best results is
that commonly known as mineral oil, but alcohol heated in a water bath or preferably
wood spirit may be used in the same manner as the mineral oil. l, m, are tubes of
stout india-rubber connecting the three parts of the apparatus. Figure 4 shows
the combustion tube a bent back upon itself as before but entirely closed within
an enveloping chamber or sheath f, whose external surface forms in this case the
cauterizing part of the instrument. In Figure 5 the combustion tube a is not
bent as before but entirely straight, and is also enclosed in a sheath f, as in the
last case.
In Figure 6 the combustion tube a is of spiral form enclosed within a
chamber f, which is of suitable form for uterino canters. In Figure 7 the tube a is
bifurcated or composed of two branches a¹, a¹, enclosed in a chamber f. It will
be evident from the above that the form of the combustion chamber or medium bý
which combustion is effected may be indefinitely varied in form.
A supply of 7 oz. of liquid is sufficient for several hours' continuous use. The
apparatus may be raised by the operator to any degree of heat, and maintained
thereat as long as required, or the heat may be instantly moderated or increased
as desired without interrupting the operation. The apparatus with its accessories
occupies but a small space, is easily handled, may be used without assistance, and
cannot lead to accident under any circumstances.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Drawings show the Invention as applied for
heating a soldering iron; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the tool; Figure 9 an
end view; Figure 10 a. transverse section on line 12, Figure 9; and Figure 11 a
horizontal section on line 3-4, Figure 8. The same letters of reference are used to
indicate the same parts in these four Figures.
a, tubular stem of metal or other material terminated at one end by a handle b
of wood or other non-conducting material; c, connection for the pipe lending to the
blowing apparatus, and through which the gaseous mixture is introduced. d, solder-
ing tool proper made hollow and attached in any suitable manner to a plate e
united to the tubular stem a. f, f, coupled tubes of platinum or other metal
having like properties forming the heating centre. The tubes pass a sufficient
distance into the hollow tool d, and are connected with the tubular stem a by
which the gaseous mixture is supplied. The products of combustion which escape
from the lower ends of tubes f, f, first impinge against the bottom or operating
part of the soldering tool are then distributed within its interior and escape at
orifices g.
The tool & is shown as attached to plate e by a screw clamp j, so that
the tool may be readily detached from the handle to expose the tubes f for the
purpose of heating them; after which the tool d is replaced.
Instead of the above arrangement the tool & may be permanently attached to
the handle, and have in one of its sides a sliding cover to give access to the tubes j
without unfixing the_tool.
In adapting the Invention to smoothing irons they would be made of box
form, and connected with a pipe or pipes for the introduction of the gascous
mixture.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, a combustion chamber consisting of
the internal surface of a tubular or other hollow body of platinum or other metal
having the property when heated of determining on contact therewith the com-
bination of a mixture of combustible gases or vapors with gaseous supporters of
combustion, the said hollow bodies being of such thickness, section, and arrange-
ment as to instantaneously produce and maintain an intense heat with or without
light; and the application and utilization of said combustion chamber (which my
vary in form and arrangement, according to circumstances) to various scientific and

page_text: industrial purposes, such as in the construction of the surgical instrument herein
called Dr. Paquelin's thermocauter, a soldering iron, a smoothing iron, and other
such like purposes, substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)