Improvements in Means or Appliances for Indicating Temperatures.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left 11th Nov. 1897 Accepted 11th Mar.
1898
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Appliances for Indicating Temperatures.
I, HERBERT RAMSDEN, of Sunnyside, Dobcross, Saddleworth, near Oldham, in
the County of York, Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-―.
My invention consists in improvements in means or appliances for indicating
temperatures, and its principal objects are the provision of simple, efficient and
cheap means or appliances for rendering it easy to ascertain whether buildings,
chambers, baths, ovens or other places or solutions or substances undergoing treat-
ment of any kind are raised to certain or required temperatures; and the pro-
vision of simple and cheap means or appliances for enabling persons with little or
no skill or medical knowledge to readily ascertain whether or not they themselves
or children or other persons are in feverish states and in need of medical attention.
According to some forms of my invention, I provide means or appliances formed
of or provided with or containing substances or liquids which when subjected to
certain temperatures indicate their arrival at such temperatures by exhibiting
marks, inscriptions or colours ordinarily concealed or disguised; or by undergoing
or exhibiting changes of colour or transparency or opacity or degrees thereof; or
by undergoing changes of condition, such as from a solid or liquid state to a liquid.
or less solid or less fluid or solid state or other changes of consistency, or by releas-
ing indexes or shutters or other parts ordinarily held in position; and according
to other forms of my invention, I provide appliances so arranged that when sub-
jected to certain temperatures they will indicate their arrival at such temperatures
by the movement of parts or indexes moved by the expansion or contraction of
metals, liquids or gases or other mechanical means.
According to one form of my invention, I provide a piece of paper, celluloid,
metal or other suitable material coated with, or formed with a hollow or recess con-
taining a substance, mixture or material of any kind, which will change in opacity
or transparency or colour or consistency or other characteristic at the temperature
for the indication of which the appliance is intended to be used; and in combina-
tion with such substance or material in cases in which the substance, mixture or
material employed is such as will change in opacity or transparency or colour at
the temperature which the appliance is intended to indicate, I may employ any
mark or inscription or marks or inscriptions which is or are ordinarily hidden or
exposed by such substance, mixture or material and are exposed or
or characteristics of such
hidden by the change in the characteristic
substance, mixture or material at the said temperature, or any colouring matter
or other material the appearance of which may be modified by the change in the .
characteristic or characteristics of the said substance, mixture or material at such
temperature.
According to a second form of my invention, I provide a tube or receptacle
preferably hermetically sealed and containing a liquid or substance or mixture of
materials of any kind or kinds, which is opaque or nearly so, or transparent or
nearly so, at temperatures below or above those to be indicated by the appliance,

page_text: but when subjected to such temperature will become transparent or less opaque
or opaque or less transparent; and in any suitable position in such tube or recep-
tacle, I provide a mark or inscription or coloured portion or marks or inscriptions
or coloured portions which, normally hidden by the said liquid or substance or
mixture, will be revealed when such liquid or substance or mixture is subjected
to the temperature which the appliance is intended to indicate, or being normally
visible will be hidden when such liquid or substance or mixture is subjected to the
temperature of which the appliance is intended to give an indication.
According to a third form of my invention, I provide a tube or receptacle prefer-
ably hermetically sealed and containing a liquid or substance or mixture of any
kind or kinds which will change colour or become less opaque or less transparent
when subjected to the temperature of which the appliance is intended to give an
indication. The change of colour or opacity or transparency of the said substance
or liquid or mixture may be provided for by employing a liquid or substance or
mixture, which will itself change colour or become less opaque or less transparent
when subjected to the temperature for the indication of which the appliance is
intended; or by employing a coloured or other substance or coloured or other
substances which is or are more or less opaque or transparent at temperatures
different from that to be indicated by the appliance, and mixing therewith another
or other differently coloured substance or substances which, when the said coloured
or other opaque material is subjected to be said temperature, will become more
visible or less visible, and so modify or produce less effect upon the colour of such
coloured or other more or less opaque or transparent material.
According to a fourth form of my invention, I provide any suitable appliance or
appliances which acting by the expansion by heat of metals or other substances
or by the expansion by heat of gases or liquids will effect the mechanical movement
of an index or indexes or the movement of a slide or slides, which when moved
into a certain position will disclose an indicator or inscription or indicators or
inscriptions, or enable an inscription or inscriptions formed by perforations in a
metal plate or plates or other appliance or appliances to become coincident with
other perforations or a space or spaces so that light may be made to pass through
it or them. The expansible metal or substance or gas or liquid employed according
to this form of my invention may be mounted upon or in or enclosed in any suit-
able casing preferably formed of a material which does not expand much when
warmed or heated. Appliances provided according to this form of my invention
may be and are preferably so arranged that if such appliances be subjected to a
change of temperature in the direction of the temperature of which an indicatioa
is to be afforded by such appliances but beyond such temperature the indications
afforded by the appliances shall not be concealed or obliterated by the continued
movement of the moving parts of such appliances.
According to a fifth form of my invention, I provide a tube or receptacle prefer-
ably hermetically sealed and containing a substance or substances which will
change in consistency when subjected to the temperature to be indicated by an
appliance provided according to this form of my invention.
According to a sixth form of my invention, I employ any of the expedients or
devices herein before mentioned or any other suitable expedients or devices arranged
to act in any suitable manner and arrange in conjunction therewith an index or
shutter or indexes or shutters which ordinarily held in one position, will be released
and allowed to move or drop into another position when the appliance constructed
according to this part of my invention is subjected to the temperature of which an
appliance provided according to this form of my invention is intended to afford an
indication.
I would have it understood that the devices and expedients herein before
described as being employed according to the several forms of my invention which
have been described above may be combined, two or more or all together in one
appliance, as may be considered desirable in the construction of an appliance
according to my invention at any time.

page_text: In an appliance constructed according to any form of my invention there may be
employed any surrounding or enclosing or protecting tube or casing which it may
be necessary or desirable to provide.
The appliances provided according to my invention are necessarily adapted in.
their construction and arrangements and the substances or liquids or gases or
mechanical devices employed therein, to the purposes for which they are to be
employed and the temperatures to be indicated thereby, and there may be combined:
therewith or applied thereto any information or directions relative to the mode in
which, or the purposes for which, such appliances are intended, or any other in-
formation or appliances.
Amongst materials which may be used according to my invention to give indi-
cations of temperature by undergoing changes of transparency or opacity may be
mentioned paraffin wax, and mixtures of paraffin wax and paraffin oil, and amongst
materials which may be used according to my invention to give indications of
temperatures by undergoing changes of consistency may be mentioned paraffin
wax, mixtures of paraffin wax and paraffin oil, solid carbolic acid, godic acid,
thymol, menthol, the solution of water and carbolic acid, and mixtures of palmitine
and stearine.
Appliances made according to my invention for use in determining whether or
not human beings are in feverish states and in need of medical attention may le
adapted to be placed under the arm-pits of the children or persons whose con-
dition is to be ascertained, or to be applied to the bodies of such children or persons
in any other suitable manner; or may be made in the form of rings, lockets, brace-
lets or other suitable forms, and may be provided with any suitable devices to
enable them to be secured in position when applied to the bodies of children or
persons whose condition is to be ascertained, and there may be applied to an
appliance of any of the forms constructed according to this application of my
invention, directions regarding the steps to be taken for the assistance of children
or persons found to be suffering from fevers or other diseases, or advertisements
regarding remedies which it may be desirable to employ, or information or adver-
tisements of any other kind, or any information or appliances which it may at any
time be considered desirable to apply thereto..
Dated this Tenth day of February 1897
HOWARD CHEETHAM,
. Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.
Improvements in Means or Appliances for Indicating Temperatures.
I, HERBERT RAMSDEN, of Sunnyside, Dobcross, Saddleworth, near Oldham, in
the County of York, Doctor of Medicine, 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:-
-
My invention consists in improvements in means or appliances for indicating
temperatures, and its principal objects are the provision of simple, efficient and
cheap means. or appliances for rendering it easy to ascertain whether buildings,
chambers, baths, ovens or other places or solutions or substances undergoing treat-
ment of any kind are raised to certain or required temperatures; and the pro-
vision of simple and cheap means or appliances for enabling persons with little
or no skill or medical knowledge to readily ascertain whether or not they them-
selves or children or other persons are in feverish states and in need of medical
attention,

page_text: According to my invention, I provide means or appliances formed of or pro-
vided with or containing substances or liquids which when subjected to certain
temperatures indicate their arrival at such temperatures by exhibiting marks,
inscriptions or colours ordinarily concealed or disguised: or by undergoing
changes of transparency or opacity or degrees thereof; or by undergoing changes
of condition such as from a solid or liquid state to a liquid or less solid or less
fluid or solid state or other changes of consistency; or by releasing indexes
ordinarily held in position.
According to one form of my invention I provide a piece of paper, celluloid,
metal or other suitable material coated with or formed with a hollow or recess con-
taining a substance, mixture or material of any kind which will change in opacity
or transparency and in combination with such substance or material, I may employ.
any mark or inscription or marks or inscriptions which is or are ordinarily hidden
or exposed by such substance, mixture or material and is or are exposed or hidden
by the change in the opacity or transparency of such substance, mixture or material
at the said temperature or I may mix with such substance, mixture or material any
colouring matter or other material the colour of which may be revealed or hidden
or modified by the change in the opacity or transparency of the said substance,
mixture or material at such temperature.
This form of my invention can obviously be carried into effect in a number of.
ways and therefore only two types of appliances provided in accordance with this
form of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2
showing one type and Figs. 3 and 4 another.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 is a plan showing a piece (a) of paper, cellu-
loid, metal or other suitable material coated in part with a substance, material or
mixture (6) capable of changing in its opacity or transparency at a particular
temperature, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4 is a plan showing a piece (c)
of paper, celluloid, metal or other suitable material formed with a hollow or recess
containing a substance, mixture or material (d) capable of changing in its opacity
or transparency at a particular temperature.
Any desirable inscriptions or marks such as are indicated by the dotted lines in
Figs. 2 and 4 may be placed on the piece of paper, celluloid, metal or other
material employed in the appliances illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4.
According to a second form of my invention.I provide a tube or receptacle,
preferably hermetically sealed, containing a substance or liquid or mixture of any
kind or kinds which will reveal colour or become less opaque or less transparent
when subjected to the temperature of which the appliance is intended to give an
indication. The change of colour or opacity or transparency of the said substance
or liquid or mixture may be provided for by employing a substance or liquid or
mixture which will become less opaque or less transparent when subjected to the
temperature for the indication of which the appliance is intended; or by employ-
ing a coloured or other substance or coloured or other substances which becomes
or become more opaque or transparent or less opaque or transparent when subjected
to temperatures different from that to be indicated by the appliance, and mixing
therewith another or other differently coloured substance or substances which, when
the said coloured or other more or less opaque or transparent material is subjected
to the temperature to be indicated by the appliance, will become more visible or
less visible and so modify or produce less effect upon the colour of such coloured
or other more or less opaque or transparent material.
This form of my invention can also obviously be carried into effect in a number
of ways, and no illustration or further description of the tubes or receptacles
employed according to this form of my invention is necessary, and therefore no
appliances provided according to this form of my invention are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings but to facilitate the preparation of appliances according
to this form of my invention, I will mention by way of instances some of the
materials which may be employed in the preparation of appliances according to
this form of my invention and so as an instance of a material which may be used

page_text: in the preparation of an appliance which being normally opaque or nearly so will.
become transparent or less opaque on being warmed to the temperature to be indi-
cated by it I may mention a mixture of paraffin wax and oleic acid which whilst
opaque at ordinary temperatures becomes clear at one hundred and one degrees
Fahrenheit or at some other temperature according to the proportions between the
constituents of such mixture. As an instance of a material which normally clear
shall become more opaque at the temperature to be indicated by the appliance in
which it is employed I may mention a mixture of paraldehyde and water in suit-
able proportions according to the temperature for the indication of which it is to
be employed which mixture in consequence of water being capable of dissolving
more paraldehyde when cold and less when warmed will while remaining clear at
ordinary temperatures become more or less turbid or opaque when warmed to the
temperature to be indicated by the appliance in which it is employed in conse-
quence of some separation of paraldehyde from the water in which it was dissolved
being caused by the warming to which the mixture is subjected. As instances of
materials which may be used in the preparation of mixtures which shall reveal
colour when subjected to the temperatures to be indicated by the appliances in
which they are employed I may mention Prussian blue and other pigments which
either in the form of powder or incorporated with porous materials such as plaster
of Paris may be mixed with or placed in and hidden or revealed by the changes
in the condition of mixtures such as the herein before described mixtures of paraffin
wax and oleic acid and paraldehyde and water.
According to a third form of my invention, I provide a tube or receptacle, prefer-
ably hermetically sealed, containing a substance or liquid or mixture of materials
of any kind or kinds which is opaque or nearly so, or transparent or nearly so, at
temperatures below or above that to be indicated by the appliance, but when
subjected to such temperature will become transparent or less opaque or opaque or
less transparent; and in any suitable position in such tube or receptacle, I provide
a mark or inscription or coloured portion or marks or inscriptions or coloured por-.
tions which, norinally hidden by the said substance or liquid or mixture, will be
revealed when such substance or liquid or mixture is subjected to the temperature
which the appliance is intended to indicate; or being normally visible will be.
hidden when such substance or liquid or mixture is subjected to the temperature of
which the appliance is intended to give an indication.
This form of my invention can also obviously be carried into effect in a number
of ways, and therefore only one type of appliance provided in accordance with this
form of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings by Figs. 5 and 6,
which are respectively a plan and side elevation showing a tube or receptacle (e)
of glass or other transparent material in the part (e¹) of the interior of which is
placed and preferably hermetically sealed a liquid, substance or mixture capable of
changing in opacity or transparency at a particular temperature. Any desirable.
inscription or mark or coloured portion may be formed or placed upon the side (e²)
of the part (el) of the tube or receptacle which is charged with the said substance,
liquid or material so as to be sometimes hidden and sometimes revealed by the
said substance, liquid or material according as the said substance, liquid or material
is or is not at the temperature for the indication of which the appliance is intended.
According to a fourth form of my invention, I provide a tube or receptacle,
preferably hermetically sealed, containing a substance or substances which will
change in consistency when subjected to the temperature to be indicated by an
appliance provided according to this form of my invention.
As this form of my invention also can obviously be carried into effect in a
number of ways, only one appliance provided according to this form of my inven-
tion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Figs. 7 and 8 thereof, Fig. 7
being a front elevation and Fig. 8 a side elevation illustrating a receptacle in the
form of a flat box (f) made of glass or celluloid or other suitable transparent
material and containing a substance (9) which is solid at one temperature and
becomes liquid when subjected to another temperature. On the said box (f) are

page_text: provided marks or other indications which may serve as means of verifying the
position occupied by the said substance (g) when solid and of ascertaining whether
it has changed in position between two observations in consequence of having been
subjected to a temperature bringing about its liquefaction between such observa-
tions. When the appliance illustrated in Figs. and 8 is in use it is placed in
contact with the person or in contact with or in the body or space whose tempera-
ture is to be tested, in such position that the substance (g) is raised above the lowest
part of the said box and then if the temperature of the said person, object or space
is such as to liquefy the said substance (9), such substance (9) will on being lique-
fied assume a new position in the box (f) and thus whether the next observation
of the appliance be made while the said substance is liquid or after it has again
solidified an indication will be afforded that the appliance has been subjected to
the said temperature.
According to a fifth form of my invention, I employ a substance which will
change in consistency at the temperature to be indicated by an appliance provided
according to this form of my invention and arrange in conjunction therewith an
index or indexes which ordinarily held in one position will be released and allowed
to move or drop into another position when the appliance constructed according to
this part of my invention is subjected to the temperature of which an appliance
provided according to this form of my invention is intended to afford an indication.
This form also of my invention is capable of being carried into effect in a number
of ways and therefore only one type of appliance provided in accordance with this
form of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings by Figs. 9, 10 and 11
thereof, Figs. 9 and 11 being side elevations and Fig. 10 a plan showing a tube (h)
preferably hermetically sealed, containing a substance which is solid or practically
solid at some temperatures while liquid at others and a movable piece (2) which
may be a glass ball or globule of mercury or any other suitable object which at
such times as the substance in the said tube is solid will be prevented from moving
in the said tube, but when the said substance becomes liquefied will fall from one
end to the other of the said tube. Fig. 9 shows the movable piece (i) at one end
of the tube (h) and Fig. 11 shows it in the position at the other end thereof which
it would assume if the substance within the said tube or receptacle had been sub-
jected to the temperature which would render it liquid while in a vertical or other
position in which the said movable piece could be moved by its weight when the
substance aforesaid became liquefied.
Another form of appliance prepared in accordance with my invention is illus-
trated in Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 12 being a side
elevation and Fig. 13 a plan of a disc or block moulded or formed out of a sub-
stance or mixture or material capable of becoming more transparent or less trans-
parent when subjected to a certain temperature. A mark or label may be made
upon or attached to one face of the appliance so as to become more or less visible
at the other face thereof when the appliance is subjected to the temperature for the
indication of which it is intended.
Amongst materials which may be employed according to my invention to give
indications of temperature by undergoing changes of transparency or opacity may
be mentioned paraffin wax, mixtures of oleic acid and spermaceti, mixtures of
paraffin wax and paraffin oil, mixtures of paraffin wax and oleic acid and
mixtures of paraldehyde and water, and amongst materials which may be
used according to my invention to give indications of temperature by under-
going changes of consistency may be mentioned paraffin wax, mixtures of paraffin
wax and paraffin oil, solid carbolic acid, gidic acid, thymol, menthol and mixtures
of palmitin and sterin. Among the mixtures which may be used in the forma-
tion of the appliances illustrated by Figs. 12 and 13 may be mentioned mixtures
of oleate of lead and wax, mixtures of wax and resin and mixtures made of nul-
verized glass mixed with and held in the required form by gelatine or celluloid
and then soaked in melted wax so as to become charged therewith. The usual
melting points of some of the materials which I use are reputed to be as follows,

page_text: namely, paraffin wax 82.94° F. to 101-84° F. and 113.9° F. to 120'2° F., solid
carbolic acid 107.6° F., thymol 1112° F., menthol 96-8° F., palmitin 1436° F.,
sterin 127.4° F., 136'4° F. and 141.8° F. wax 1436° F. to 147.2° F., oleate of
lead 176° F., resin 212° F. to 275° F.
I find in practice that different quantities of a material, though reputed to have
the same melting point, have melting points differing very considerably from one
another and consequently in the preparation of substances or mixtures of materials
for use according to my invention I have to use different proportions of the solid
or less fluid materials and the fluid or less solid materials in different cases; and
for this purpose in the preparation of a mixture to indicate any particular tempera-
ture, I place part of the materials to be employed in a vessel kept by means of a
water-bath or other means at the said temperature and add further quantities of
either of the materials until the mixture receives the character which it is required
to have at such temperature; a thermometer of any suitable kind being employed
to indicate the temperature of the materials undergoing mixture in order that it
may be ascertained that the mixture shall have the requisite characteristics at the
temperature for the indication of which it is intended. It is obvious that an
increase in the solid or more solid ingredient or ingredients of a mixture to be
prepared will cause the mixture to have for and be adapted to indicate by its
change of consistency or opacity or transparency or revealing colour a higher
temperature, while an increase in the liquid or less solid ingredient of a mixture
will cause such mixture to have for, and indicate by, its change of consistency or
opacity or transparency or revealing colour a lower temperature.
In further description of the method which I adopt to obtain mixtures of
materials which undergo the desired changes in opacity or transparency or colour
at the temperatures to be indicated by the appliances in which they are to be used,
I will describe the process which I have adopted in order to produce a wax or
mixture of wax and other material which will melt at 101° F. In carrying
out this process I obtain from a chemist or other dealer in materials of
the kind which I have mentioned as being employed according to my invention
a quantity of paraffin wax reputed to melt at 101° F., but in practice I
find that the paraffin wax sold as melting at 101° F. does not melt quite at that
temperature but at a somewhat different temperature, for instance I have found it
to melt at 1025° F. and in such a case I lower the melting point by adding suc-
cessive small quantities of oleic acid, using in one instance about one fluid drachn
of oleic acid to one ounce avoirdupois of paraffin wax. In order to absolutely
determine that the mixture melts at 101° F. I have found it convenient to employ
the arrangement used by chemists in determining the melting points of materials
such as those which I employ and which consists, in the form which I have used,
in a vessel containing water in which are placed a glass tube or glass tubes contain-
ing a quantity of the mixture to be tested or a quantity of a mixture in process of
preparation or it may be an appliance or appliances which is or are to undergo a
final test after completion, a thermometer, and an appliance by which the supply
gas to a Bunsen burner used to apply heat to such vessel may be regulated by.
variations in the temperature of the water in such vessel. Fig. 14 of the accom-
panying drawings is a diagram illustrating the said apparatus (5) being the vessel
containing water, (k) a glass tube containing the mixture to be tested, (m) the
Bunsen burner used to apply heat to the vessel (2), (o) the thermometer and (n)
the regulator by which the supply of gas to the Bunsen burner is controlled. Gas
may be led to the branch (n¹) with which the regulator is provided for the admis-
sion of gas by one indiarubber pipe and led from the branch (n) with which such
regulator is provided for the emission of gas to the Bunsen burner (m) by means
of another indiarubber pipe. The said regulator (n) contains mercury the level of
the upper surface of which may be adjusted by means of a screw (n³) so as to allow
gas to flow to the Bunsen burner at the rate requisite to keep the water in the
vessel at the temperature required, that is to say in the case being described 101° F.,..
of

page_text: and by rising and falling allow less, or more gas to pass to the Bunsen burner
should the temperature of the water in the vessel (1) rise or fall from any cause.
In filling an appliance such as that illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 with a mixture
of wax and oleic acid or other mixture I adopt a method analogous to that used in
filling thermometer bulbs with mercury, that is to say I heat the empty bulb and
immerse or dip the open end of the tube in the melted mixture so that as the tube
cools some of the mixture will be forced therein by atmospheric pressure and then
I cause the mixture so got into the bulb to boil and again dip the open end of the
tube in the melted mixture and ordinarily find that the bulb then becomes
sufficiently full as soon as its temperature falls to that of the melted mixture but
if it should not be sufficiently full I cause the mixture then in the bulb to boil
and again dip the open end of the bulb in the melted mixture. A tube with a bulb
filled with a mixture having a melting point of 101° F. being thus obtained it is
only necessary to fasten behind it a printed label bearing such a word as "feverish"
or urgent" and by varnishing it or covering it with some cement protect the label
from being torn off.
"
In the case of an appliance such as that illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 in which
a substance, mixture or material, which by undergoing a change in opacity or
transparency and so revealing or hiding an inscription or mark, indicates the
arrival of the appliance at the temperature for the indication of which it is
intended; the capacity of the cavity in which the said substance or mixture is
placed influences the accuracy of the indications afforded by the appliance, so that
a mixture becoming clear at a certain temperature in a bulb of one size does not
become quite clear in a bulb of a somewhat larger size and as it is practically
impossible to obtain bulbs of uniform size it is in practice necessary to test the
appliances and reject all those in which the marks are not revealed by the mixture
becoming clear at the proper temperature. In order that the inevitable slight
inaccuracies in the size of the cavities in the glass or other tubes or other receptacles
to be employed in the construction of appliances of the said kind may be prevented
from causing serious inaccuracy in the indications afforded by such appliances I
prefer in preparing to charge a number of such glass or other tubes or other
receptacles with the substance or mixture or material to be placed therein to pro-
vide three quantities of substance, mixture or material, one of which quantities
is capable of undergoing the required change of opacity or transparency at the
exact temperature for the indication of which the appliances are intended, while
of the other two of the said quantities of substance, mixture or material one is
capable of undergoing the required change of opacity or transparency at a slightly
lower temperature and the other is capable of undergoing the required change of
opacity at a slightly higher temperature. Having prepared the said three quanti-
ties of substance, mixture or material, I use the first in charging the appliances.
which are furnished with cavities of the size intended in the manufacture of the
tubes or receptacles and use the second in charging the appliances provided with
cavities of a size slightly larger than the size intended and the third in charging
appliances with cavities of a size slightly smaller than the size intended, for the
reason that in one bulb the film of substance, mixture or material being very thin
will require to be a mixture that melts at a temperature rather higher than that
to be indicated by the appliance whilst a bulb of larger capacity and having there-
fore a thicker film of the substance mixture or material requires to have a melting
point slightly lower than the temperature to be indicated by the appliance. Any
bulbs which on trial are found to become clear below the proper temperature or
found not to become clear at the proper temperature are rejected.
In another way of preventing inaccuracies in the capacity of the glass or other
tubes or other receptacles to be employed in appliances in which indications of
temperature are afforded by a substance or mixture, or material undergoing a
change in opacity or transparency and so revealing or hiding an inscripton or
mark, from causing serious inaccuracies in the indications afforded by such appli-

page_text: ances I may grind or slightly roughen the said tubes or receptacles or otherwise
render them slightly less transparent than they, otherwise would be and so prevent
slight changes in the opacity or transparency of the substances, mixtures or
materials therein from rendering the inscriptions or marks clearly visible and so
ensure that only a very considerable change in the opacity or transparency of the
said substances, mixtures or materials shall render the inscriptions or marks clearly
visible and ensure that only sufficiently accurate indications of temperature shall
be afforded by the appliances.
When paper is to be used in the formation of appliances according to my inven-
tion either in the forms illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4 or in other
forms in which it may require to have applied to it wax or other greasy material
which
may have any tendency to enter its pores, it may be coated with or charged
with gelatine or any other material by which it may be prevented from absorbing
the said wax or other greasy material.
66
I will in further description of the preparation of appliances of the forms illus-
trated by Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4 describe the procedure which I adopt
in making an appliance of either of such forms to indicate a temperature of 101° F.
In so doing I take a piece of paper bearing a mark such for instance as doctor"
or "feverish," fill the pores of the paper with a strong solution of gelatine in water
and let it dry and then pour over the paper thus treated some wax which previous
trial has proved to melt at 101° F. or 102° F. and when this is cool I
Scrape ihe
surface of the wax level and immerse both wax and the thus prepared paper in
water at a temperature of 101° F.,, and if the inscription on the paper does not then
become legible I remove it from the water and scrape a thin layer. of wax from the
surface and test again and so on until get a layer of wax just thick enough to
allow the mark upon the paper to be seen at a 101° F. In other words it may be
said that a wax whose melting point is rather higher than 101° F., for instance
103° F. or 104° F. may be used to determine a temperature of 101° F. if only a
sufficiently thin layer is obtained. The paper and film of wax are then completely
covered with strong gelatine just before it begins to set. After the gelatine has
set it is made insoluble by being exposed to the vapour of formaldehyde and to
prevent the gelatine film from becoming too dry a little sugar or oxalic acid may
have previously been added to the gelatine solution. Finally the gelatine covering
is varnished with a solution of resin in amyl alcohol or other suitable transparent
varnish.
When an appliance formed in the manner illustrated by Figs. 12 and 13 is used
the more readily melted constituent of the mixture used in its formation by being
subjected to the temperature for the indication of which the appliance is intended,
undergoes a change in opacity or transparency and renders the appliance more
or less transparent; and may render a mark made upon one face of or attached in
any suitable way to one face of the appliance more or less visible at the other face
thereof. Appliances made in this manner may be made thinner or thicker in
order that they may be made to afford indications of any desired degree of accuracy.
Appliances of the form illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 or other forms into which
mixtures of the said kind may be moulded or formed may and it is practically
necessary that they should, be coated with collodion or with gelatine which latter
is subsequently to its application thereto subjected to the action of the vapour of
formaldehyde or to the action of bichromate of potash and light so as to be
rendered waterproof or with any other suitable and sufficiently transparent varnish
or covering material.
I would have it understood that the devices and expedients hereinbefore
described as being employed according to the several forms of my invention which
have been described above may be combined, two or more or all together in one
appliance as may be considered desirable in the preparation of an appliance accord-
ing to my invention at any time, and that two or more similar appliances may be
combined in any way which may be convenient.

page_text: In an appliance constructed according to any form of my invention there may
be employed any surrounding or enclosing or protecting tube or casing which it
may be necessary or desirable to provide.
The appliances provided according to my invention are necessarily adapted in
their construction and arrangements and the substances or liquids employed
therein, to the purposes for which they are to be employed and the temperatures.
to be indicated thereby, and there may be combined therewith or applied thereto
any information or directions relative to the mode in which, or the purposes for
which, such appliances are intended, or any other information or any other
appliances.
"
39 46
22 66
こ
When marks or inscriptions are arranged to be disclosed or hidden at the tem-
peratures for the indication of which appliances provided according to my inven-
tion are intended, it is desirable that they should be easily understood, and as
instances of marks which may be conveniently used in the cases for which they are
appropriate, I may mentioned a serpent as indicative of disease or the words
feverish," urgent," doctor" or the numbers "101 F." and "40 C." or "milk
sterilized or "bath. In cases in which as in the case of baths it is desirable to
ascertain both that a certain temperature is attained and that another temperature
has not been reached, two appliances provided according to my invention may be
employed and may be connected together and so arranged that one shall give an
indication by disclosing an inscripton such for instance as
"bath
or otherwise
that the desired temperature has been reached and another shall give an indication
by disclosing an inscription such as "too hot" or otherwise in case the desired
temperature is exceeded.
"
It is obvious that the appliances illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 and the appliances
in which pieces of paper, celluloid or metal or other material are coated with or
formed with hollows or recesses containing substances, mixtures or materials which
will change in opacity or transparency at the temperatures to be indicated by such
appliances and are not provided with any protective coverings, are not adapted to
be placed in baths or other liquids or other materials the temperatures of which
are to be tested.
Appliances made according to my invention for use in determining whether or
not human beings are in feverish states and in need of medical attention may be
adapted to be placed under the arm-pits of the children or persons whose condition
is to be ascertained or to be applied to the bodies of such children or persons in
any other suitable manner, or may be made in the form of rings, lockets, bracelets
or other suitable forms or may be combined with ordinary clinical thermometers
and may be provided with any suitable devices or adhesive materials to enable them
to be secured or made to adhere in position when applied to the bodies of children
or persons whose condition is to be ascertained, and there may be applied to an
appliance of any of the forms constructed according to this application of my
invention directions regarding the steps to be taken for the assistance of children or
persons found to be suffering from fevers or other diseases associated with fever;
or advertisements regarding remedies which it may be desirable to employ, or
information or advertisements of any kind or any information or appliances which
it may at any time be considered desirable to apply thereto. When intended to be
made to adhere to the bodies of children or persons whose condition is to be ascer-
tained the tubes or other solid parts of appliances provided according to this inven-
tion are preferably formed of celluloid or other material which is flexible.
The appliances provided in accordance with my invention render it easy to ascer-
tain whether buildings, chambers, baths, ovens, milk sterilizers incubators or
solutions or substances undergoing treatment of any kind are raised to or kept at
certain or required temperatures and also render it easy for persons with little cr
no skill or medical knowledge to readily ascertain whether or not they themselves
or children or other persons are suffering from fever or other diseases associated
with fever and in need of medical attention.

page_text: 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 appliance for indicating temperature, consisting in a piece of paper,
celluloid, metal or other suitable material coated with or formed with a hollow or
recess containing a substance, mixture or material which will change in opacity or
transparency or reveal hidden or disguised colour or hide or modify colour at the
temperature which the appliance is intended to indicate; substantially as herein-
before described.
2. An appliance for indicating temperature consisting in a piece of paper,
celluloid, metal or other suitable material coated with or formed with a hollow or
recess containing a substance, mixture or material which will change in opacity or
transparency at the temperature which the appliance is intended to indicate and
expose or hide a mark or inscription or marks or inscriptions ordinarily hidden or
exposed, substantially as herein before described.
3. An appliance for indicating temperature consisting in a tube or receptacle
which is hermetically sealed or otherwise and contains a liquid or substance or
mixture of any kind which will change in opacity or transparency or reveal hidden
or disguised colour or hide or modify colour when subjected to the temperature of
which the appliance is intended to give an indication, substantially as herein before
described.
4. An appliance for indicating temperature consisting in a tube or receptacle
which is hermetically sealed or otherwise and contains a liquid or substance or
mixture of any kind which will change in opacity or transparency or reveal
previously hidden or disguised colour or hide or modify colour when subjected to
the temperature of which the appliance is intended to give an indication and expose
or hide a mark or inscription or marks or inscriptions ordinarily hidden or exposed,
substantially as herein before described.
5. An appliance for indicating temperature consisting in a tube or receptacle
which is hermetically sealed or otherwise, and contains a substance or substances
which will change in consistency when subjected to the temperature of which the
appliance is intended to give an indication,, substantially as herein before described.
6. An appliance for indicating temperature consisting in a tube or receptacle
which is hermetically sealed or otherwise and contains a substance or substances
which will change in consistency when subjected to the temperature of which the
appliance is to give an indication, and thus allow the movement of an index
normally held in position by such substance or substances substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawing.
7. An appliance for indicating temperature consisting in a disc or other body
moulded or otherwise formed out of a mixture of substances which will change
n opacity or transparency when subjected to the temperature of which the appli-
ance is intended to give an indication, substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this Tenth day of November 1897.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, 'Agent to the Applicant.