New or Improved Apparatus for Use in Embedding Objects in Liqueflable Matter preparatory to Cutting Sections thereof .for Microscopic Examination.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 12th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Apparatus for Use in Embedding Objects in
Liqueflable Matter preparatory to Cutting Sections thereof .for
Microscopic Examination.
I CHARLES EDWARD HEARSON of No. 5 Templar Street Camberwell in the
County of Surrey Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
"
My invention consists of the new or improved apparatus hereinafter described
for use in "embedding in vacuo objects such as portions of animal tissue and
organisms in matter which is liquefiable at moderate temperatures such as paraffin
preparatory to cutting sections of such objects for microscopic examination.
The said apparatus consists of a vessel (hereinafter termed the outer vessel) for
containing water beneath which vessel is arranged a gas burner for heating the
water therein the supply of gas to which burner is automatically governed by
means of a valve controlled by adjustable connection with a thermostat so arranged
that gas is allowed to pass to the burner or is automatically shut off therefrom
according as the temperature of the water in the said vessel is below or above the
degree at which the thermostat will act. I prefer to provide the thermostat with
means for adjustment in order that it may be caused to act at any desired
temperature within a given range and I provide for constant burning of a small
jet of gas at the burner by means of a by-pass the passage of gas through
which is uncontrolled by the thermostat. Within the said vessel is supported
another vessel (hereinafter termed the inner vessel) furnished with a removable
air tight glass cover and with means for putting its interior in connection with an
air pump and for admitting and excluding external air according to requirements.
The inner vessel is designed to contain the paraffin or other matter in which the
capsules charged with paraffin or other matter and containing the objects to be
"embedded are placed as usual when the apparatus is being used.
"
On first using the said apparatus the outer vessel is charged with water and gas
is admitted to the burner and ignited and the thermostat is so adjusted as to cause
the main supply of gas to be automatically shut off from the burner when the water
has acquired the temperature necessary for liquefying the paraffin or other matter
in the inner vessel.
The operation of "embedding" is performed by use of the said apparatus in the
ordinary manner but with much greater convenience than by use of apparatus such
as has been heretofore used.
The kind of thermostat which I prefer consists of a hermetically sealed
expansible and collapsible case or capsule containing a liquid which boils at about
the temperature required for the water in the outer vessel and the provision for
adjustment of the said thermostat consists or may consists of a spring acted on
by a screw.
Dated this Fourteenth day of Nove 1004
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: New or Improved Apparatus for Use in Embedding Objects in
Liquefiable Matter preparatory to Cutting Sections thereof for
Microscopic Examination.
I, CHARLES EDWARD HEARSON of No. 5 Templar Street Camberwell in the
County of Surrey Engineer 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 of the new or improved apparatus hereinafter described
for use in "embedding in vacuo objects such as portions of animal tissue and
organisms in matter which is liquefiable at moderate temperatures such as paraffin
preparatory to cutting sections of such objects for microscopic examination.
The said apparatus consists of a vessel (hereinafter termed the outer vessel) for
containing water beneath which vessel is arranged a gas burner for heating the
water therein the supply of gas to which burner is automatically governed by
means of a valve controlled by adjustable connection with a thermostat so arranged
that gas is allowed to pass to the burner or is automatically shut off therefrom
according as the temperature of the water in the said vessel is below or above the
degree at which the thermostat will act. I prefer to provide the thermostat with
means for adjustment in order that it may be caused to act at any desired
temperature within a given range and I provide for constant burning of a small
jet of gas at the burner by means of a by-pass the passage of gas through which
is uncontrolled by the thermostat. Within the said vessel is supported another
vessel (hereinafter termed the inner vessel) furnished with a removable air tight
glass cover and with means for putting its interior in connection with an air pump
and for admitting and excluding external air according to requirements. The
inner vessel is designed to contain the paraffin or other matter in which the
capsules charged with paraffin or other matter and containing the objects to be
" embedded are placed as usual when the apparatus is being used.
The kind of thermostat which I prefer consists of a hermetically sealed
expansible and collapsible case or capsule containing a liquid which boils at
about the temperature required for the water in the outer vessel and the provision
for adjustment of the said thermostat consists or may consist of a spring acted on
by a screw.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a plan of a convenient form of the
apparatus hereinbefore described and Figure 2 is a section thereof taken on the
line XX Figure 1.
In the following description of the said drawings the parts thereof are referred
to by the letters marked thereon. The same letters of reference indicate the same
parts in both the said figures.
a is the outer vessel in which the water is placed which vessel is surrounded by
a casing 6 open at the lower part and perforated at * and lined with asbestos
paper c and provided with legs d d the said vessel a being connected to the said
casing b by means of a plate e secured to and extending laterally beyond the upper
part of the said vessel. fis the gas burner which is connected to the gas supply
through a valve box g mounted in an aperture formed in the said plate e and
containing a valve which when the apparatus is being used is automatically
actuated according to the temperature of the water in the vessel a by means of a
thermostat placed in a box h connected to the valve box and supported thereby
in such a position within the vessel a as to be immersed in the water within the
said vessel a. The construction and arrangement of the said valve box and valve
and thermostat and their connections and the action of and method of adjusting the

page_text: said parts are identical with those of the like parts which are fully described in
the Complete Specification of my application for Letters Patent of even date
numbered 22013. is the inner vessel in which the paraffin is placed when the
apparatus is in use. The said vessel i is mounted in an aperture in the plate e and
is supported by engagement of a flange ; around its upper part with the part of the
plate e around the said aperture. k is the glass cover of the vessel i and is a ring
of india rubber placed in an annular groove in the mouth of the said vessel on
which ring the said cover rests and by means of which an air tight closure of the
said vessel is produced. m is a tube communicating with the interior of the said
vessel and admitting of its connection with an air pump. n is another tube provided
with a pin valve o and having a seating for the said valve formed therein by means
of which valve external air may be excluded from or admitted to the vessel i
according to requirements while working with the apparatus.
On first using the said apparatus the vessel a is about half filled with water and
gas is admitted to the burner f and ignited and the thermostat is so adjusted as to
cause the main supply of gas to be automatically shut off from the burner when the
water has acquired the temperature necessary for liquefying the paraffin or other
matter which is placed in the vessel i. The perforations 6*6* in the casing b admit
of escape of the products of combustion from the gas burner which pass into the
space between the said casing and the vessel a.
The operation of "embedding" is performed by use of the said apparatus in the
ordinary manner but with much greater convenience than by means of apparatus
such as has been heretofore used.
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 I
claim;-
First. The combination with a vessel for containing water and arrangements for
heating the same of means for automatically maintaining a predetermined temperature
therein and of a vessel so arranged as to receive heat from the said water the latter
vessel being fitted for the production of a vacuum or partial vacuum within it
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Secondly. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting the
apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twelfth day of August 1895.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.