AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING HEAT AND LIGHT AND THE VARIOUS APPLICATIONS THEREOF
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 "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING HEAT AND LIGHT AND THE VARIOUS
APPLICATIONS THEREOF." A communication from abroad by Claude André
Paquelin, Doctor of Medicine, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 14th July 1876, and dated the 31st January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commisioners of Patents, with his Petition on the 31st
January 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING HEAT
AND LIGHT AND The Various ApplICATIONS THEREOF.”
This Invention relates to an improved method of and means for producing com-
bustion for the obtainment, separately or simultaneously of heat and light, and it
also relates to the various applications thereof, amongst which may be mentioned
the application to surgical purposes herein-after described.
The method of combustion of this Invention consists in effecting the combustion
with or without flame, of a mixture of combustibles and supporters of combustion
in a metal or other chamber, arranged or constructed so as to afford in the smallest
possible compass as large a heating surface as possible, which amongst other means
used is packed or closely fitted with wire or metal, or both combined.
The chamber may be of any suitable form and dimensions according to the
purpose to which it is applied, and either filled with metal wire or fragments or
otherwise, or its sides may be so arranged as to produce a maximum heating surface,
and it is also provided with orifices at one or more points. Into this chamber, which
is preferably made of platinum or other metal having similar properties, is intro-
duced under pressure a mixture of combustible matters, and matters which are
supporters of combustion in the form of gases or vapors and in proper proportions,
which matters are caused to percolate through the wire or metallic or other par-
ticles contained, and thereby become consumed, this result being produced either
by previously raising the chamber and its contents to a state of incandescence, or
by igniting the gases or vapors on their introduction into the chamber, in order
to produce the incandescence which is to maintain their combustion. The gaseous
mixture may be made to burn with or without flame, according to the arrange-
ment of the chamber, and to whether the combustion is or is not complete, and to
[Price Gd.

page_text: the nature and proportions of the combustible matters and supporters of com-
bustion. The mixture may also consist of solid or liquid substances instead of
gases or vapors, and the combustible and combustion supporting matters in the form
of gases or vapors may be employed for burning liquid or solid matters, and even
substances not generally used for producing light and heat, or both simultaneously.
The Invention may be employed either alone or in combination with existing
apparatus cither for lighting or heating purposes, or both combined, for effecting
the fusion of metals in chemical analysis and synthesis, for motive power, and for
other purposes and applications which result from the use of light and heat, or the
action of both combined.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing as applied in a
surgical instrument termed a "thermo-cauter," in which the operative part itself
constitutes the combustion chamber. a, Figures 1 and 2, is the combustion chamber
or receiver made of platinum, and either tubular and combined with a lancet or
knife, as in Figure 1, or in the form of a thimble or cap, as in Figure 2, or it may
be otherwise formed as desired. b, platinum wires or particles more or less firmly
packed in the chamber a; c disc of platinum or other metal, shown in plan in
Figure 3. This disc forms the base of the receiver to which it is secured; d,
escape orifices made in disc c; e, small platinum tube passing through the centre
of disc c into the interior of chamber to within a little distance of the opposite
end; f, tube forming a continuation of tube e, and communicating by a rubber
or other pipe with a bellows or other suitable apparatus for maintaining a con-
tinuous supply of the mixture of combustible and combustion supporting matters.
The advantages of this instrument are that it may be instantly heated to the
required degree and maintained permanently at that heat however long the
operation. That no assistance is required by the operator, as the apparatus may be
carried in the pocket.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Alexander Melville Clarke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st July
1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD. OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING HEAT
AND LIGHT AND THE VARIOUS APPLICATIONS THEREOF." A communication to me
from abroad by Claude André Paquelin, Doctor of Medicine, Paris, France.
This Invention relates to an improved method of and means or apparatus for
instantaneously producing a great amount of heat within the smallest possible
compass, the heat produced being constant and capable of being utilised for scientific
and other purposes.
The
The apparatus is based on the property which platinum and some other metals
possess of determining when brought to a certain temperature the combination of
combustible gases or vapors, with gasoous supporters of combustion. I utilize this
property for producing heat or light in the manner herein-after described.
combustible I chiefly use for the purpose is the vapor of mineral oil, air being used
to support combustion. I introduce air by means of a flexible ball or bellows into
a reservoir of mineral oil, where the air becomes charged with the vapor of said
oil; it is then brought by a pipe into contact with a mass of platinum wire or
fabric previously heated to a proper temperature, which may be enclosed in a
metallic or other combustion chamber. The air and vapors when thus introduced
will produce, on combining in contact with the platinum a temperature which may
even be raised to the melting point of platinum.
The apparatus of this Invention thus consists of three principal parts, viz., the
platinum or other metallic mass, either enclosed or not, in a metallic or other
envelope; 2nd, the reservoir of volatile mineral oil; 3rd., the bellows. Metal wire
or fabric other than platinum, but possessing similar properties, may be used and

page_text: the tube which conveys the mixture of air and vapors into contact therewith, pre-
ferably terminates in a nozzle of platinum or other metal having the same properties
which is perforated at the extremity with a number of holes.
The combustion chamber or envelope may, as above mentioned, be either metallic
or non-metallic, and if of metal may be made of platinum or other metal having
similar properties; it may be made of any form and size desired.
In order to afford an exit for the products of combustion one or more perfora-
tions are made either in the sides of the combustion chamber or in an extension
thereof, according to the purpose to which the apparatus is to be applied, so that
the interior of the combustion chamber is always in communication either directly
or indirectly with the external air.
The reservoir and bellows also may be made of any suitable form and dimensions.
The scientific, technical, and industrial uses of such an apparatus are very
numerous, as an example, I will proceed to describe and illustrate it as applied to
the surgical instrument known as the thermo-cauter.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing shows the instrument complete, and
Figures 2 and 3 are an elevation and section respectively of the thermo-cauter
drawn on a larger scale..
The same letters of reference apply to all three Figures.
proper
The instrument may be used as a substitute for the galvanic cauter, and in all
operations in which heat is employed, the heat being obtained by the combustion
of a hydrocarbon without flame. The instrument, as before mentioned, is based on
the property possessed by platinum (or other metal of the same class) when raised
to a certain heat of becoming incandescent in presence of a mixture of air and
hydrocarbon vapors, and of remaining in this incandescent condition as long as the
supply of air and vapors is maintained.
use.
The instrument may be made in any form required for surgical purposes, a six
ounce bottle full of liquid would be a sufficient supply for several hours' continuous
The apparatus may be raised by the operator to any degree of heat (ranging
from a dull red to a white heat), and maintained thereat as long as required, or the
heat may be quickly moderated or increased as desired. The thermo-cauter will
traverse the tissues and organic liquids and even cold water, without any sensible
loss of effect, and even should it fall below the degree of heat required it may be
at once raised to the desired degree without interrupting the operation. Owing to
the slight radiation the hand which is at liberty is enabled to closely assist the one
engaged in operating, and the task of the assistants is facilitated. The apparatus
which with its accessories occupies but a small space is easily handled, and may
even be used without assistance. Its use is free from danger and does not require.
any special precautions. Referring to the Drawing, a is the mass of platinum wire
or wire fabric, or its equivalent enclosed within a chamber b, also of platinum or its
equivalent constituting the cauter properly so called. This chamber whose external
surface forms the cauterising part of the instrument may be in any of the various
forms usually employed in surgery. To the cauter are attached two concentric
tubes, the inner one c made of platinum or its equivalent, at that part which enters
the chamber b, serving to convey the gaseous mixture, while the products of com-
bustion pass away through the outer tube d and out at orifices e, e, in the end of same.
The inner tube c passes freely into the tube d, and its end screws into a hollow
wood handle which may, if necessary, have an additional length of metal pipe
attached. is a 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 h, i. The pipe h receives
atmospheric air from a flexible ball j, while pipe i supplies the air saturated with
hydrocarbon vapors to the instrument. The hydrocarbon used is that commonly
known as mineral oil, and may be obtained everywhere, but alcohol heated in a
water bath or preferably by a spirit lamp may be used in lieu thereof.

page_text: V
By adapting an india-rubber band to the flexible ball it may be operated by
the pressure of the foot, and thus dispense with the need of any assistance in using
the apparatus.
The three parts of the apparatus are thus connected by two tubes of india-
rubber, the tube leads from the liquid receptacle to the handle of the cauter,
and the other tube 7 connects the said receptacle with the bellows. The tubes k, l,
should be made of extra stout rubber, as otherwise they are liable to kink and
obstruct the flow of the gases.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The method of and apparatus herein described and shown for producing
light and heat, either separately or simultaneously, and the application thereof to
all scientific or other purposes, for which the same may be adapted, whether as in
the thermo-cauter a chamber or envelope be employed to enclose the metallic mass,
or whether the latter be introduced with or without any envelope into different
bodies or media which it is desired to raise, and maintain at a certain temperature
for various purposes, or whether it be otherwise employed..
2nd. The improved surgical instrument or thermo-cauter herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)