IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC INDICATION AND REGULATION OF TEMPERATURES, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO VARIOUS USEFUL, ECONOMIC, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES.
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Lawrence Winch at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th December 1882.
GEORGE LAWRENCE WINCH of Madras in the East Indies but at present of
22 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane' in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC INDICATION
AND REGULATION OF TEMPERATURES, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO
VARIOUS USEFUL, ECONOMIC, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES.'
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This invention takes advantage of the well known law of nature vizt the
expansion and contraction of gaseous liquid and solid bodies...
Most known bodies expand as the temperature is increased and contract. as the
temperature is reduced. Some may expand as the temperature is raised and
contract as the temperature is reduced and then expand again on, passing a known
degree in the descending scale as water does in passing into the solid slate.of ice. .)
The exact degree or extent of expansion or contraction of many compound and
simple bodies is known and may be tabulated upon a scale. . u
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Many of these compound and simple bodies are conductors of electricity and others
are capable, by admixture with other simple or compound bodies' of being made
conductors or improved conductors of electricity whilst on the other hand other
bodies good conductors of electricity by admixture with other simple or compound
bodies may be rendered less conductive or what is popularly known as non-
conductors of electricity.
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Some bodies are enabled by their specific gravity to float or carry upon their
surface other bodies that are or may be rendered conductors
Thus most simple gaseous liquid and solid bodies and compound gaseous liquid
and solid bodies may be described as conductors of electricity of varied degree.
If therefore a column of water in a hermetically sealed tube constructed on the
principle of a thermometer be put in connection by means of a conductor of
electricity with one pole of a galvanic battery or source of electric energy when the
tube has a vacuum of six inches at its upper end and a conductor of electricity is
introduced through a hermetically sealed aperture in the glass tube or extending
down three inches from the upper end of such tube: and connected with the other
[Price 4d)
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page_text: pole of the galvanic battery or source of electric energy and the water heated until
it expands to the level of the upper conductor so as to complete the electric circuit
a current will pass in the proportion that the resistance of the water and galvanic
battery or source of electric energy bears to the electro motive force and quantity
of the current given out by the galvanic battery or source of electric energy.
The reduction of the length of the column of water would reduce the resistance
and if a float of cork or bubble of glass were inserted carrying a copper or metallic
wire of greater or less length the resistance of the column of water would be
reduced by the superior, conductivity of such metallic wire.
In like manner the solution of an electrolyte such as sulphate of soda or sulphate
of copper or the admixture of sulphuric acid. by making the column of water a
better conductor would reduce the resistance and permit a larger current to flow
without greater expenditure of electric energy.
The same result may be obtained by water contained in an open cistern or
vessel, one pole of the galvanic battery or source of electric energy being attached
to the vessel itself, if a good conductor, or brought into communication with the
water direct whilst the other pole of the galvanic battery or source of electric
energy is insulated from contact and the circuit only completed on the water
expanding to a prearranged level in such vessel or cistern.
The combination supposed could be varied by having the tube in sections of glass
and metal non conductors and conductors of electricity to correspond with different
degrees of expansion or what is the same thing temperature and the junctions of
the poles of the galvanic battery or source of electric energy might be with such
sections or the tube might be pierced by metal, insulated from such tube, and
hermetically sealed at various points and the poles attached to such metals at
different selected points, or the tube made entirely of a conductor one pole of the
galvanic battery or source of electric energy being put in connection with such
tube, the tube being pierced at various points or at the top of one or more
thermometers by insulated wires (or in any convenient manner) which may be
attached at pleasure to the other pole of such galvanic battery or source of electric
energy, or the tube constructed of conductors non conductors and conductors
combined or non conductors only and pierced by insulated or uninsulated wires or
conductors so as to form varied means of making and breaking contact and thus
completing or breaking the circuit of the electric current.
There are many objections. to the use of such a liquid or liquid solutions as for
instance the electrolysis of same with the disengagement of gases in more or less
bulk and in the case of an open vessel there are difficulties in maintaining the
exact quantity of liquid permanently owing to evaporation and electrolysis whereby
the exact degree of expansion or temperature at which contact would be made is
rendered liable to fluctuation.
I use these illustrations for the purpose of demonstrating the basis of my claims
and the principle upon which I purpose to work and it is in no way intended to be
laid down as a description of the particular combinations by which I will complete
or break the circuit of the electric current.
In using the term "pole" of a galvanic battery or source of electric energy I
wish it to be understood that the galvanic battery source of electric energy may
occupy any convenient position in such circuit and thall earth water mechanical
contrivances coils magnets electro-magnets and other galvanic batteries or sources
of electric energy may be interposed at any convenient point to suit the purposes
desired to be attained.
For all temperatures not exceeding those that may be conveniently registered by
mercurial or other thermometers mercury may be advantageously used either in
combination with other suitable liquid bodies alloyed with other metals or in a pure
state and may be applied as in a thermometer.
The means of forming a circuit may be by metallic wires passed through the
glass or other tube made of a non conductor or conductor. of electricity and. the
external ends of such wires or conductors may be attached to binding screws to

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enable the poles of the galvanic battery or source of electric energy to be attached
to any two points not in communication except by means of the column of mercury
or other simple or compound body forming the expanding contracting column
of the thermometer
The method of communication with the mercury may be by any other means
such as using a tube composed in sections of conducting and non conducting bodies
the opposing poles may be attached alternately to the conducting bodies or in other
order or one pole of the galvanic battery or source of electric energy may be
connected with the conducting sections or a part of the conducting sections or
insulated from the same but communicating with the inner side so as to come in
contact with the expanding or contracting column of the thermometer and the
other pole may be connected with the conducting sections or a part of the
conducting sections or insulated from the same by communicating with the inner
side so as to come in contact with the expanding or contracting column of the
thermometer but the junctions with the galvanic battery or source of electric
energy on all occasions must be so arranged that the electric circuit is formed
by the interposition of the expanding and contracting column only.
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Binding screws are not essential. and it is only intended to indicate a ready.
method by which contact may be made springs or pins moveable at will cups of
mercury or any other known means of forming contact may be adopted.
For all temperatures above those ordinarily registered by mercurial and other
thermometers metal rods pure or alloyed may be used according to the degree of
temperature they may be required to register and these may be simple or multiple
in character so as to exercise a more or less exact action upon the galvanic battery
or source of electric energy.
Thus a rod of iron expands or contracts lengthwise proportionately.
This being a very minute expansion so as to ensure contact at the precise
moment the particular degree of temperature has been obtained the first bar is
fixed rigidly at one point and is passed through bearings at frequent intervals
so that the free ends will extend to the full degree of expansion in one or other
direction without deflection.
The free end or ends may be attached to the short end of a lever or levers firmly
pivoted in any convenient manner to a frame or support and this end of the lever
may travel in an arc radially according to the expansion of the heated rod.
The longer arm of the lever will describe an arc of two three four or more times
this length according to its length.
The longer arm of the lever may be attached to a similar iron bar which is
similarly passed through bearings at frequent intervals.
This bar will thus be elongated at the other end by the length of the arc
described by the long end of the lever and the amount of its own expansion.
This end which we will term for distinction the free end is attached to a lever
of large dimensions to admit of the greater action demanded of it, with its longer
arm in due proportion to the first mentioned, this is two three four or more
times that of its shorter arm and. this will consequently move two three four or
more times the length of the arc described by the shorter arm.
Attached to the longer end of this lever may be a third similar iron bar
similarly sustained which will thus move at its free end two three four or more
times more than the second bar plus its own expansion.
This action may be extended through a series of such bars and levers if desired
and the current from a galvanic battery or source of electric energy may be com-
municated through this series of bars and levers or be in communication with the
free end of the last bar or to a prolongation of the same so that on a given expansion
being attained it may come in contact with the other pole of the galvanic battery
or source of electric energy and complete the circuit.
The degree of expansion necessary to attain this contact may be controlled by
bringing that portion of the contrivance not necessarily subjected to the change of
temperature nearer to or removing it further from the last bar or prolongation of

page_text: the last bar and such movement backwards or forwards may be indicated by a scale
and the motion regulated by screws or otherwise.
The contact may be ensured by using platinized points or plates or any other
known means.for ensuring a good contact.
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The base of the supports for carrying this contrivance must be placed outside of.
the influence of the extreme temperature or if placed outside of the influence of such
temperature constructed of; a metal, or alloy with a less degree of expansion or
constructed in parts detached from 'one another and, embedded or attached
materials of less and known expansibility...
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Any metal substance compound or material capable of withstanding the degrees:
of temperature minus or plus and preserving the characteristics of expansion-or
contraction with needful adhesion of its respective parts may be substituted solely.
or in combination.
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Electric contact by any of these several means made or broken, broken or made
may be utilized to make a break, break.or make, or contact in a circuit of greater:
or less strength and the electric contact made or broken, broken or made; may h
utilized in setting in motion reversing the action or in stopping the motion of one
or more mechanical contrivances worked by gravitation of parts for whole of a
machine or contrivances, springs, clockwork, taps cocks, steam, water, liquids,
solids, gases, fire, heated gases, liquids, or solids, machinery fuel or combinations of
the same, or by putting in circuit another current or breaking contact: in a circuit:
of another current of a galvanic battery or source of electric energy. or contrivance
that may set in motion one or more mechanical contrivances worked. by gravitation'
of parts or whole of a machine or contrivances springs 'clock work, taps cocks,
steam, water liquids, solids, gases, fire: heated gases; liquids solids machinery, or
fuel, or combinations of the same, or by putting in a circuit. another "current or
breaking contact in a circuit of another current of a galvanic battery or source of
electric energy.
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Stop the motion of one or more mechanical contrivances worked by gravitation
of parts or whole of a machine or contrivances, springs clock work, taps, cocks,
steam, water, liquids, solids, gases, fire, heated gases, liquids, solids, machinery, or
fuel, or combinations of the same, or by putting in circuit another current or
breaking contact in a circuit of "another current of a galvanic battery or source of
electric energy or stop the motion of a similar series and. set in motion another
similar series or any part or parts of the same or another similar series 'or cause a
reversal or change in any series or combination of such forces. ~ : **
The useful economic and scientific purposes to which I apply the electrical
thermometer are the following
. The automatic ventilation of buildings structures and places.
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The automatic maintenance of fixed temperatures by controlling the influx or
consumption of air gas water; fuel and ventilating, refrigerating and heating
appliances generally.
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The automatic signalling of temperatures.
1stly Giving notice of a temperature indicating presence of fire or undue heating
of any part or whole of a building structure or place. T
7. * *
2ndly The attainment of a certain temperature by a building structure or place
liquid substance, gas or body in' process, of manufacture, required to be maintained
at or raised or lowered to any fixed degree of temperature. I
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The automatic registration of temperatures.
How t
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