IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DENTAL PLATES OR ARTIFICIAL GUMS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF DENTAL PLATES OR ARTIFICIAL GUMS" 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 apparatus for use in the manufacture of artificial gums
or dental plates and comprises improvements in the vulcanizers and also in the
flasks for holding the gums or plates during the process of vulcanization. The
objects of my Invention being to so construct the oven as to enable it to contain
two or more flasks and also to enable the operator to obtain any degree of heat
with or without moisture in the oven. A further object of my Invention is to
properly lock and secure together the parts of the flask.
To the above ends my Invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction
of the oven and in the peculiar and novel arrangement of the oven, the steam
generator, and the steam-conducting pipes, and further in the peculiar and novel
construction of the flask, all as hereinafter described and claimed.
When artificial teeth are to be inserted into artificial gums of india-rubber, or
celluloid, the gums are placed into what are known as dental-flasks and the teeth
are inserted into the gums.
This operation is performed while the flask is subjected to heat; the best results
being, attained with a temperature between 300° to 350° Fahr. While the flask is
being subjected to this temperature its two parts-the cope and the nowel-must
be gradually forced together until the flask is completely closed and then the two
parts are locked together and the vulcanizing process is continued. The closing
and locking of the flask is preferably performed under a dry heat, before steam is
dinitted to the oven; and should be carefully done in order that the teeth may be
[ Price Gi

page_text: firmly and properly embedded into the rubber or celluloid sheet. When the flask
is locked it is placed in the lower part of the oven and other flasks are similarly
treated and placed in the oven till the same is filled. The oven is now closed' and
steam is applied. until the process of vulcanization is completed. The flasks should
be so made as to close properly and lock securely in order to properly embed the
teeth in the gums and retain them in such proper position during the operations of
closing and vulcanizing respectively.
My improved structures attain and facilitate the accomplishment of the above-
mentioned requirements.
In the accompanying Drawing..
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved dental vulcanizer showing the
steam generator suspended below the oven..
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the upper end of the oven.
Figure 3 is a top view of the cover for the oven.
Figure 4 is a top view of the end. of the oven.
Figure 5 is a front view of my improved dental flask showing the locking pin
and the dovetail.
..
Figure 6 is a side view, partly in section of the same showing the position of
the locking pin and also the dovetailed bottom plate.
Two
A designates a conical case forming the support for the apparatus and it consists
of the standards a the rings a¹ to which the standards are secured the outer sheet
metal casing a² and a lining a³ of asbestos or other slow-heat conducting material
by which the heat from the gas-burner is retained within the casing and utilized in
heating the oven. B designates the steam-generator constructed in a similar
manner to an ordinary vertical tubular steam-boiler. b, b, designate tubes open at
each end so that the products of combustion from the gas-burner-which is placed
beneath the steam-generator B-shall pass through the tubes. b₁, b¹, designate
tubes which extend from the top of the steam-generator B to the steam-chamber C
which partially or wholly surrounds the upper end of the oven D.
pipes b', b, are shown in the Drawing but a greater number may be used if
desired. d designates the cover of the oven D and said cover is provided with the
sight-opening d¹ which is protected by a glass plate. The holes d², for the bolts
which secure the cover to the oven, are each enlarged at one end in such manner
that when the cover is turned in one direction and then lifted the bolt-heads may
pass through the holes; thus permitting the cover to be removed, the cover being
replaced in a similar manner and secured by a reversed movement of the cover.
designates openings provided each with a hinged cover so as to be readily
opened and closed. d designates the screws by means of which pressure is exerted
upon the flask during the process of heating and closing it. E, E', designate the
flasks the upper one of which is shown as partially closed and resting on a plate
supported upon brackets extending from the sides of the oven D. The screws d*, d
are shown also as bearing against the cover of the upper flask. When the closing
of the flask upon the plate is completed, the plate is removed and the flask is
lowered into the oven till it is filled; the last flask being left upon the plate.
Before steam is turned on from the generator, a plain cover is preferably secured
upon the oven D, in lieu of the cover d before described.
The steam-valve F is now opened and steam is admitted into the oven so as to
surround the flasks.
The products of combustion from the burner surround, not only the oven D
but also the steam-pipes b¹ and the upper part of the generator B, whereby the
steam is superheated; thus facilitating the vulcanizing process. f designates a
blow-off cock, g a safety-valve, and h a steam-gauge, all of which serve the usual
purposes of such devices.
In case the cover d is used during the vulcanizing process a thermometer may be
inserted into one of its holes d³ for the purpose of testing the temperature of the
oven. The ordinary cover may be provided with a thermometer, set into it, for
the same purpose. The upper flange c of the oven D is faced true so as to secure a

page_text: tight joint between the same and the body of the device, and any suitable packing
may be used to insure the tightness of the joint so as to prevent the escape of steam.
It is obvious that other sources of heat than gas may be used, such as oils, &c.,
but in any event the heat is most thoroughly utilized by the apparatus.
As
When the process of vulcanization is completed the valve F is closed and the
flasks are removed, and the subsequent steps above described are successively
repeated till the desired number of artificial dental sets have been formed.
two, four, or more flasks are operated upon simultaneously in the apparatus it
saves much time and greatly increases the amount of work which may be turned
out in a given time.
As no flat or extended surfaces are subjected to steam-pressure in the apparatus
it is much more durable than would otherwise be the case and a high steam-pressure
may be carried with safety.
"
El designates the cope or upper part of the flask and E the nowel or lower part
of the same.
G designates an oblique guide-pin inserted into holes formed in
the projections H, H, on the flask. I, I, are the locking-pins inserted into holes
formed in the projections i, i, at an angle opposite to that of the holes formed in
the projections H, H, as is shown in Figure 6.
In locked flasks it is desirable that the top and bottom plates shall be held in
place during the process of vulcanization and while the flask is being handled in
placing it into and removing it from the vulcanizer, and for this purpose I form the
dovetails j and k on the parts j, k, as is shown in Figure 5.
When the plaster of Paris, indicated at J, in which the mold is formed has
become set it will firmly hold the top and bottom parts E, E', and will prevent
them from being moved in any direction until it is desired to place new plaster
into the flask to form a new mold.
In forming a new mold the plaster of the old mold is removed by soaking with
water until the plaster softens in the mold, when the old plaster may be readily
removed from the flask.
By this arrangement a dentist may have several flasks ready to be placed in
the vulcanizer so that as one flask is taken out another may be placed in without
danger of injuring the mold by movement of the parts of the flask.
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,―-
1 An improved dental vulcanizer consisting of an oven constructed to receive
the flasks, and a steam-generator so arranged as to permit the heat from the fire to
surround the oven and the steam-pipes connected with the oven, as described.
2nd A dental vulcanizer consisting of an oven constructed to receive the flasks
and exert pressure on the same during the operation of moulding, a steam-generator
placed below the oven and connected with the same, and a case surrounding the
whole so as to confine the heat in its passage around the oven, as described.
3rd In a dental vulcanizer, the combination with the oven D and cover d, of the
steam-generator B, the steam-tubes b¹, b1, the steam-valve F, and the case A
enclosing the whole, as described.
4th In a dental-vulcanizer, the combination with the case A constructed to
support the oven and steam-generator and enclosing the same, of the oven D and
the boiler B constructed to expose the oven to the heat of the fire externally and
supply steam internally, as described.
5th The combination, in a dental vulcanizer, of the oven D, the vertical tubular
boiler B, steam-tubes b', b¹, and case A arranged to pass the heat through the
boiler tubes and around the oven, as described.
6th The combination with the case A, the oven D constructed to receive two or
more flasks successively and exert pressure on each during the operation of
vulcanizing, of the steam-boiler B, the tubes b¹, b¹, valve F and the case A enclosing
the whole and supporting the boiler above the burner, as described.

page_text: 7th The combination with the oven D, the steam-boiler B, and tubes b₁, b¹, of the
steam-space C partially or wholly surrounding the upper end of the oven, as
described.
8th The combination with the oven D'constructed to receive two or more flasks,
of the cover-d, provided with the openings d³, d³, and the screws d³, d², constructed
to force the two parts of the flask together and observe the operation, as, described.
9th The combination with the oven D and the cover à provided with the
screws d, d, of a shelf constructed to support the flask during the, process of
moulding and allow a flask to be passed below the support, as described.
10th In a dental-flask, the combination with the guide-pins by which the cope
is held in place, of the locking-pins constructed to securely lock the two parts of
the flask together, as described.
11th The combination with the obliquely set' guide-pins G G of the locking-pins
placed at such angle as will hold the two parts of the flask together when inserted,
as described.
12th The combination with the flask E, E¹, of the plates 5,-k¹, provided with
dovetailed projections constructed to enter the flask and secure the plates, as
described.
∙Dated the 20th day of March 1981
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.