A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING DEAD OR SUPPOSED DEAD BODIES TILL BURIAL
Year: 1884

page_text: I HUGO PATAKY, Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor in Berlin S W
Hedemannstr 2 do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING DEAD OR SUPPOSED DEAD BODIES
TILL BURIAL" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement.
The object of this Invention is to supply a receptacle for bodies prior to burial
in which they can be freely inspected by friends without danger from noxious or
infectious vapours and which while destroying foul vapours provides fresh air in
case the person should not be really dead.
The apparatus which is in the form of a catafalque consists of the box shaped
receptacle a Figs. 1 and 2 into which the upper part b together with its lid d &c.
can be lowered by means of cords g wound on a spindle fin the bed w actuated by
a winch handle and prevented from falling by the ratchet wheel and catch k these
cords pass over rollers h supported on beds m m and are secured to the bottom of
the upper part b Figs. 3 and 4.
An india rubber cord c prevents air from entering between the upper and lower
parts when being moved.
The trestle for the reception of the coffin can also be raised or lowered in the
same manner by the cords p passing over the rollers q and secured to the legs o
which slide in hollow pillars n while the other end of the cord is wound on the
spindle moving in the common bed u controlled by the ratchet wheel w and
catch v Figs. 3 and 4.
These legs are connected longitudinally by the bars s upon which the short barst
rest so as to be regulated to the length of the coffin.
The panels F. and top G of the upper part 6 are of glass those of the lower
part, H may when extraordinary lightness is required be made of oilcloth &c.
perfectly airtight.
Two lamps xx Fig. 2 are placed on the lid so closed by guards y as to compel it
to draw its air from the interior of the apparatus with which it communicates
through the stand T and oil reservoir S by means of a tube U Fig. 6.
The fresh air enters the bottom of the apparatus through openings z Fig. 4 and
passes first through the ice chests A. B. and then by openings CC into the channel E
leading to the lamps where it is burnt.

page_text: A thermometer may be fixed inside this apparatus close to the glass in order to
regulate the temperature.
Fig. 5 shows a cheaper form of apparatus in which R is the lamp, L the lid
which is adapted to fit all sizes of coffins by means of air tight frames M and N,
and K the ice chest.
The air enters the ice chest K by the opening O and is conducted by the pipe P
to the coffin space 2 from whence it is drawn by the lamp R.
Fig. 6 shows the lamp combined with an alarm apparatus for persons aparently
dead.
The stand T rests on a wooden box the door w of which is pressed open by a
spring x but is secured by a latch y held in the tube u by the rod a¹.
The rod a¹ is supported by a bolt z connected by springs to the extremities of
the person the slightest movement of which draws back the bolt z upon which the
rod a falls releasing the latch y which drawn by the door w strikes against the
catch b' of an alarm apparatus e¹ which rings for some hours.
A glass pane is inserted in the upper part of the casing T through which a piece
of white cotton stuff soaked in acetate of lead e' fastened to the rod a¹ can be seen
and which in case of decomposition turns brown.
This last apparatus can be used after burial by lengthening the stand T tube u
and rod a¹ so that the lamp R alarm c¹ and prepared white cotton stuff e¹ is above
the grave mound.
The whole apparatus can easily be carried by two persons and as it can be taken
to pieces can pass through any doorway.
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 The employment of an airtight receptacle a and b adjustable to any size of
coffin by turning the spindles f and thus raising or lowering the middle part b
and the trestle for supporting the coffin consisting of legs o sliding in hollow pillars n,
longitudinal bars S and cross bars t.
2nd The employment of one or more peculiarly constructed lamps x to draw off
and consume the vapours generated in the receptacle a. b.
3 The employment of one or more ice chests for cooling the air passing through
the receptacle and thus preventing or delaying decomposition.
4th The whole apparatus in a cheap form as shown in Fig. 5 consisting of a coffin
lid L with glass pane, which by means of a frame M. N. can be regulated to any
size and the employment of the single lamp R.
5th The employinent in connection with the lamp of the alarm safety apparatus,
consisting of the bolt z, connected by strings to the supposed dead person, of the
bar a', door w, latch y, and alarm c¹ as shown in Fig. 6.
6th The employment of the white cotton stuff soaked in acetute of lead which
becomes brown when decomposition commences.
P
"1100