Improvements in Clinical and other Thermometers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Oct., 189C-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clinical and other Thermometers.
I, JAMES JOSEPH HICKS of 8 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex,
Meteorological Instrument. Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention a communication to me from abroad by John Barry of 62 Fulton Street
in the City, County and State of New York in the United States of America to be as
follows:-
The object of the invention is to produce a thermometer which is very sensitive to
changes of temperature and the bulb of which is comparatively strong.
Heretofore thermometers have been made with ring and link shaped bulbs formed
of comparatively fine tubing but whilst these bulbs are very sensitive to changes of
temperature they are also very easily broken as each part of the same is entirely
disconnected from the other except at the ends.
In order to obviate the above objection the bulb is formed according to the present
invention of a twin or double tube that is to say of two tubes drawn together and
connected by a thin intermediate film of glass preferably of only the same substance
as that of the general walls of the tubes.
A bulb formed of such twin tubing has the two tubes connected to and communi-
cating with the bore of the tube or stem of the thermometer and their bottom ends
are sealed together.
000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clinical and other Thermometers.
I, JAMES JOSEPH HICKS of 8 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex,
Meteorological Instrument Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication to me from abroad by John Barry of 62 Fulton Street
in the City, County and State of New York in the United States of America, and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon:-
The object of the invention is to produce a thermometer which is very sensitive to
changes of temperature and the bulb of which is comparatively strong.
Heretofore thermometers have in some cases been made with single bulbs and in
others with ring or "link" shaped bulbs, or with forked or double bulbs formed of
comparatively fine tubing, but the single bulb does not act or respond as quickly as
desired in taking the temperature of the body or other temperature and the ring or
"link" shaped or forked bulbs while quick acting lack strength to resist the pressure
often exerted thereon in wiping the same clean after use or by the muscles of the
body against the opposite sides of the tubular parts of the bulb as there is a space
between the parts of the same and they are therefore very easily broken. They
also require a comparatively large case and are difficult to keep clean.
In order to obviate the above objections the bulb is formed according to the
present invention of a twin or double tube, that is to say of two parallel tubular
portions drawn together and united throughout by a film or web of glass, preferably
of only the same substance as that of the general walls of the tubes, by which

page_text: construction great strength is obtained in the bulb to withstand the pressure
frequently resulting from the contraction of the muscles upon the bulb when inserted
into the body or to withstand other pressure to which they may be subjected.
Such twin tubing has the two tubes connected to and communicating with the
bore of the tube or stem of the thermometer and their bottom ends are sealed
together.
In the drawing Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved thermometer,
Figure 2 is a vertical section and Figure 3 a cross section at c. x of the connected
tubes or cylinders of glass which form the bulb of the improved thermometer.
A represents the graduated tube or stem of the improved thermometer and B the
bulb. This graduated tube or stem A may be made of any usual shape and in any
desired manner.
The tubes or cylinders c. c¹ shown separately at Figures 2 and 3 are produced by
drawing, they are connected together throughout their entire length by a web d.
These connected tubes or cylinders c. c¹ are cut in the desired lengths and one end
is sealed, as at e, and the opposite end of the tubes are drawn together and united to
the lower end of the graduated tube or stem A in the usual manner, and the
thermometer is filled and otherwise completed.
The parallel tubes or cylinders forming the bulb B are stronger than a single or
forked, linked or ring shaped bulb would be, and the same can be readily introduced
beneath the tongue or into or in contact with any other part of the body, and,
because of the large extent of surface presented, the action is sensitive and quick in
recording the temperature and the thermometer is easily kept clean. The parallel
connected tubes or cylinders are more compact than divided bulbs and take a smaller
case and less room in the pocket.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
A thermometer consisting of a graduated tube or stem and a bulb composed of
two parallel tubes having a connecting and supporting web throughout their length,
closed at one end and opening together and into the graduated tube substantially as
herein shown and described.
Dated October 9th 1890.
J. J. HICKS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.