Improvements in Receivers of Thermometers.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 4th. Nov., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 25th Jan., 1887.
Improvements in Receivers of Thermometers.
I HUGH GRAHAM ALDOUS of 93 Warwick Road Kensington in the County of
Middlesex Brewer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 improvements in receivers of thermometers whereby the
temperature of fluid and dry non solid masses at any point may be easily and
expeditiously ascertained while the bulb of the thermometer is always protected. The
said improvements consist in the mode of applying in manner hereinafter described
a valve () in combination with a guide (b) and crossbar (a) to the receiver of a
thermometer. The tube and scale of the thermometer are attached to a strong handle
so that the axis of the tube is parallel to the axis of the handle. The bulb of the
thermometer (H) is preferably cylindrical. To that end of the handle where the bulb
is situated is attached a hollow cylindrical receiver open at its top (E) and preferably
terminating at its bottom in a portion of a hollow cone with an open mouth (d); but
the bottom of the receiver may be of any form that will afford a seating for the
valve (c) hereinafter described. The axes of the cone and cylindrical receiver are
respectively in the same straight line with each other and with the axis of the tube of
the thermometer. The tube of the thermometer is so adjusted that the bulb (H) lies
within the hollow receiver and immediately below the bulb (H) is a cross bar (a)
placed at right angles to the axis of the cylinder. This cross bar (a) carries a guide
pin (b) which runs along the axis of the cone down to its mouth (d) and acts as a
guide for a button or valve (c) which slides up and down it. That part of the internal
surface of the cone which is near its mouth (d) acts as a seating for the button or
valve (c). The thermometer with its receiver are used as follows. The thermometer
is immersed into the mass whose temperature is roquired until the bulb reaches that
position in the mass where the temperature is required to be ascertained. The
thermometer is retained in this position a sufficient time to allow the mercury to
rise or fall to its maximum or minimum height at that temperature as the case
may be. While the thermometer is being immersed into the mass a portion of the
substance of the mass enters the mouth of the cone (d) and forces the button or
valve (c) from its seating at the mouth of the cone (d) up as far as the cross
D17

page_text: bar (a) and thus obtains free ingress to the receiver. When the thermometer is
withdrawn the weight of the substance in the receiver causes the valve (c) to drop into
its seating and thus the mouth of the cone (d) is closed and the substance is retained
in the receiver and surrounds the bulb.
By this means the mercury of the thermometer is retained for a considerable time at
or approximately at the point to which it rose or fell when it was immersed in the
mass and the temperature can thus be conveniently observed. If it be required to
obtain a second temperature the thermometer is again immersed till it reaches the
required position.
While it is being immersed a fresh portion of the substance of the mass enters the
mouth of the cone (d) as hereinbefore described and forces out of the top of the
hollow receiver the greater portion of the substance that was formerly in it. Upon
the thermometer being withdrawn the valve (c) again drops into its seating and the
bulb is in the manner above described surrounded by the fresh substance that has
entered the receiver. Thus the new temperature can be observed. The thermometer
fitted with this receiver is particularly useful in ascertaining the temperature of the
mash in the course of brewing beer but it is applicable to other fluids as well as dry
non solid masses for example a mass of grain.
The receiver can be easily cleaned by swilling some water through its top and
bottom and the bulb of the thermometer is far less liable to injury than are the bulbs
of thermometers at present in use by reason of its being always protected by the
receiver.
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 :-
The mode of applying in manner hereinbefore described a valve (c) in combination
with a guide () and crossbar (a) to the receiver of a thermometer.