Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Currents having various Temperatures of Air or Gas for Therapeutic and other Purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Currents having various
Temperatures of Air or Gas for Therapeutic and other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM TAYLOR, M.D., F.R.C.P.E., of 12, Melville Street, Edinburgh, in
the County of Mid-Lothian, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said Invention has for its object to combine or arrange apparatus for con-
veniently and expeditiously producing currents of air or gas of any required
temperature, within modern limits, for therapeutic and other purposes. And as
an example I may state that when neuralgic or other pain is due to a cold draught
or chill, relief is obtainable by directing a suitably heated current of air upon
the affected part.
The apparatus comprises means for imparting motion to the air or gas combined
with means for heating or cooling it.
The apparatus for giving motion to the air or gas may be a piece of clockwork
actuated by a spring or weight, and such for example as is employed for supplying
air to some kinds of lamps, the clockwork being arranged to drive a fan which
propels the air through a tube. Or when an electric current is available the fan
may be driven by a small electric motor.
In one modification of the apparatus for heating the air or gas, electricity is
employed, a coil of fine wire through which the electric current passes being placed
on a tube which is preferably of glass, and which is placed within a larger tube,
the current of air or gas being passed through the inner tube and also between it
and the outer tube, which latter terminates in a nozzle suitable for directing the
heating current as required.
In a second modification of the heating apparatus, for use when electricity is
not available, a shallow closed pan of thin metal is provided, this pan being
divided by a metal diaphragm part of which is perforated. The air or gas is led
by a tube into the upper space of the pan and after passing over the unperforated
part of the diaphragm passes through the perforations into the lower space, whence
it passes off through an outlet tube to the directing nozzle. Heat is applied to
the bottom of the pan by means of a Bunsen gas burner, or in any other con-
venient way.
For cooling the air or gas it may be made to pass through narrow spaces in a
casing formed with one or more compartments in which is placed ice or a suitable
refrigerating or cooling mixture or liquid.
Dated this fifth day of March 1897.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent,

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Currents having various
Temperatures of Air or Gas for Therapeutic and other purposes.
I, WILLIAM TAYLOR, M.D., F.R.C.P.E., of 12, Melville Street, Edinburgh, in
the County of Mid-Lothian, North Britain, 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:-that is to say:-
-
My said Invention has for its object to combine or arrange apparatus for con-
veniently and expeditiously producing currents of air or gas of any required
temperature, within moderate limits, for therapeutic and other purposes. And as
an example I may state that when neuralgic or other pain is due to a cold draught
or chill, relief is obtainable by directing a suitably heated current of air upon
the affected part.
The apparatus comprises means for imparting motion to the air or gas combined
with means for heating it.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to in particularly describing my improvements.
Figure, 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a plan, Figure, 2, an
elevation, and Figure, 3, a vertical section of one modification of my improved
apparatus. Figures, 4, and 5, are elevations of two variations of parts of the
apparatus. Figure, 6, is a sectional elevation of a second modification of the
heating apparatus. Figure, 7, is a horizontal section and Figure, 8, a sectional
elevation of a third modification of the heating apparatus. In these drawings
the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts whereever they
are repeated.
In the modification shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3, of the drawings there is a
piece of spring-actuated clockwork, enclosed in a casing, A, and such as is
employed for supplying air to some kinds of lamps, the clockwork being wound
up by means of a thumb key, B, and being arranged to drive a fan, C, through
a starwheel, D, and worm, E. The fan, C, and its motor are enclosed in an outer
casing, F, the bottom of which serves as a stand for the apparatus. The upper
end of the casing, F, is fitted with a lining ring, G, of rubber or other suitable
material adapted to receive the lower open end of a tube, H, preferably of glass,
within which a smaller glass tube, J, is held. The fan, C, draws air (or it might
be gas) from the interior of the casing, F, the air entering the casing through
holes K, in the bottom part, and the fan propels the air through the inner tube, J,
and also between it and the outer tube, H, which latter terminates in a nozzle, L,
suitable for directing the current as required.
Electricity is employed to heat the air or gas in its passage through the
tubes, H, J, a coil of fine wire preferably platinum and shown by dotted lines, M,
being wound on the inner tube, J, and the ends of the wire, M, being attached to
screw terminals N, fixed in the outer tube, H. External conducting wires, P,
are attached to these terminals, N, and an electric current is sent through these
wires, P, of such a voltage as serves to heat the platinum wire, M. The current
of air or gas in passing through the tubes, H, J, as herein before described becomes
heated and emerges from the directing nozzle, L. The air may possibly be
electrified in passing over the wire, M.
A slight hollow, Z, is formed in the lower side of the tube, H, near the nozzle, L,
in which hollow, Z, a small quantity of volatile liquid may be placed the vapor
from such liquid mixing with the heated air or gas.

page_text: The temperature to which the heated current of air or gas is raised may be
modified to suit different cases by means of adjustable resistances (not shown)
through which the electric current is passed.
In the variation of the apparatus shown in Figure, 4, the outer glass tube, H,
is made with the directing nozzle part, L, of considerable length in comparison
with that part of the modification herein before described; and the inner glass
tube, J, with the heating platinum wire, M, is held in that part, L. In Figure, 3,
the nozzle, L, is shown as formed on the unbent end of the tube, H.
Figure, 5, shows a variation of the apparatus suitable for being easily handled
so as to permit of the heated current of air or gas being conveniently directed or
introduced in any desired way. The casing, F, is made without a bottom stand
part, the holes, K, for admitting air to the interior of the casing being formed
in a ring, Q, which turns with the tumb key, B.
Figure, 6, shows a second modification of the heating apparatus, for use when
electricity is not available. A shallow closed pan, R, of thin metal is provided
this pan being divided by a metal diaphragm, §, part of which is perforated. The
air or gas is led by a tube, T, into the upper space, U, of the pan, R, and after
passing over the unperforated part of the diaphragm, S, passes through the
perforations into the lower space, V, whence it passes off through an outlet tube, W,
to the directing nozzle (not shown). Heat is applied to the bottom of the pan R,
by means of a Bunsen gas burner, X, or in any other convenient way.
Figures, 7, and 8, show a modification of the heating apparatus in which the
metal pan, R, is divided by several partitions, Y, into a tortuous passage through
which the air from the inlet tube, T, passes on its way to the outlet tube, W, these
tubes, T, and, W, being in this modification connected to the sides of the pan, R.
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. Apparatus for producing currents, having various temperatures, of air or gas
for therapeutic and other purposes, comprising a fan for propelling air or gas
through a directing tube in which it is eated by means of an electric current
passing through a coil of wire within the tube, substantially as herein before
described with reference to Figures, 1, to 5, the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus such as that forming the subject matter of Claim, 1, sub-
stituting for the electric heating device, a pan through which the current of air
or gas is passed and which is heated by means of a Bunsen gas jet or the like
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures, 6, 7, and 8, of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this thirtieth day of November 1897.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.