An Improved Brand or Hot Stamp for Live and Inanimate Subjects.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1891--Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
COME LIID SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Brand or Hot Stamp for Live and Inanimate
Subjects.
I JAMES SIMCOE FITZMAURICE of Sydney in the Colony of New South
Wales Electrical 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved brand or stamp or device which may be
continuously and regularly heated and by means of which stock cattle and
inanimate subjects markable by hot branding singeing or burning may be so
branded or marked with a certainty speed lightness and regularity hitherto
unattainable.
This improved brand or hot stamp for live and inanimate subjects consists of a
symbol or symbols or mark made of material having relatively high electrical
resistance to that of conductors which conductors connect it with a dynamo electric
machine an electric battery or other electric generator so that the energy of a
current from such source of electricity may be localised in and heat such symbol
or symbols or mark. The symbol or symbols or mark has relatively high
electrical resistance to that of conductors with which it is connected in use and is
preferably mounted on or in a non-conductor of heat and electricity or on or in a
non-conductor of heat from which it may be electrically insulated. It may further
be combined and arranged in the circuit of a transformer or induction coil so that
a high tension alternating or intermittent electric current will be transformned
into an induced current of low tension and large quantity of sufficient capacity to
heat said symbol or mark.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood it will now be
described in detail in its preferable form drawings being dispensed with owing to
the simplicity and variableness of construction of the said improved brand or hot
stamp for live and inanimate subjects.
I
The brand consisting of letters figures or symbols of any required design is
made of any suitable material which will have relatively high electrical resistance
to that of conductors.to which it may be connected in use for instance iron steel
or carbon or copper or alloys of small section may be used mounted on or in any
suitable material being a non-conductor of heat and preferably also a non-
conductor of electricity such for instance as asbestos mica or porcelain. This
mounting may take any convenient form for handling or for providing attachment
for a handle. Separate letters figures or symbols of the brand are electrically
connected preferably in series (although of course they might be connected in
parallel) by relatively good electrical conducting material say by metal of high
electrical conductivity of sufficient sectional area to offer little or no resistance
to the passage of the electrical current required to heat said letters figures or
symbols constituting the brand. The two outside ends of the brand aro then
connected by means of terminals or binding screws to conductors from the
terminals of a dynamo electric machine or battery or other source of electricity.
It will thus be seen that when electricity is being generated the lettors figures or
symbols of the brand offering a resistance to the passage of the current become
heated and may be applied to the subject for the purpose of marking it by heat
singeing or burning. Preferably means of regulating the temperature of the
brand are arranged in a suitable position on or in or convenient to the mountings
in the form of a rheostat or other well known electric current regulator through
which the generated current is passed before reaching the letters figures or
Bymbols.

page_text: In a modified construction of this brand the terminals of the symbols are
electrically connected to a transformer independent of or forming portion of said
brand or its mountings. In this transformer the primary coil is wound for a high
tension alternating or intermittent current and the secondary for a low tension and
large quantity current the brand being connected to the latter and the electric
generator to the former so that when the main current is passed through said.
former an induced current is sent through the secondary of sufficient capacity to
heat the letters figures or symbols.
It is to be understood that it is not desired to confine the practical application
of this invention to any particular kind or shape of brand nor to any particular
substance or material of which the brand may be manufactured so long as the
nature of the said invention be retained.
Having now particularly described and explained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed what is claimed is :-
First. The improved brand or hot stamp consisting of a symbol or symbols or
mark having relatively high electrical resistance to that of conductors to which it
is adapted to be attached appropriately mounted and connected with an electric
generator or source of electricity so that the energy of an electric current may be
localised in and heat such symbol or symbols or mark substantially as herein
described and explained.
Second. The improved brand or hot stamp consisting of a symbol or symbols
of relatively high electrical resistance mounted on or in a non-conductor of heat
and electricity or a non-conductor of heat electrically insulated therefrom and
adapted to be joined up in an electric circuit of relatively low resistance
substantially as herein described and explained.
Third. In a brand or hot stamp of the kind set forth the combination and
arrangement with symbol or symbols of relatively high electrical resistance
appropriately mounted and electrically connected of a transformer or induction
coil by which a high.tension current is converted into a low tension large quantity
current to pass through said symbol or symbols substantially as herein described
and explained.
Fourth. In a brand or hot stamp of the kind set forth the combination and
arrangement with symbol or symbols appropriately mounted and electrically
connected (and whether or not in connection with a transformer or induction coil)
of a rheostat or other current rogulator in a suitable position on in or near to said
brand substantially as herein described and explained.
Fifth. The particular construction of brand or hot stamp herein described and
explained.
Dated this Second day of June One thousand eight hundred and ninety-one.
JAMES SIMCOE FITZMAURICE.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.