Specification of James Childs : manufacture of artificial gums, teeth, &c.

  • Childs, James.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of James Childs : manufacture of artificial gums, teeth, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/10 (page 4)
    >* Childs Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Gums, Teeth, <§c. of a great variety of other articles, elastic or non-elastic as required, and various modes have before been resorted to for applying the heat to such articles requisite to produce the change which renders such compounds per¬ manently elastic, or into a hard condition resembling horn or bone. Amongst other methods of applying the requisite temperature to such 5 compounds, saturated steam of very high pressure has been resorted to, the use of which is subject to considerable difficulty, and is dangerous. Now, according to my Invention, I employ steam of comparatively low pressure, which is, when out of contact with water, heated to the requisite high degree of temperature known to be necessary for converting articles made of the 10 compounds above mentioned into the elastic or the hard or bone, or horn-like condition as may be required. The Drawing shows a section of an apparatus suitable for the application of superheated steam, as above mentioned, a is a boiler or steam generator, which is supplied with water at the pipe h by a pump or other convenient 15 means ; c is a safety valve; d is a steam pipe to supply steam to the vessel e. The steam boiler is heated by gas jets from a gas supply pipe, on which is a cock to regulate the heat. The vessel e is also heated by gas jets from the gas supply pipe, as shown, which has a cock to regulate the quantity of gas passing to the jets under the vessel e. The vessel or apparatus e is provided with a 20 tube / to contain a thermometer, so that the heat of the interior of the vessel may be observed and regulated to the degree requisite. The articles to be heated (usually contained in suitable moulds) are introduced into the vessel or apparatus e through the opening e\ and they are placed on the false perforated bottom e2, under which the steam pipe from the boiler a is introduced into the 25 apparatus e, and such pipe is coiled and perforated with numerous small holes. The opening d is closed and the cover kept closely shut, as shown, or by other convenient means; is a safety valve which I prefer to use, but it is not essential so long as the one on the boiler acts freely. The under part of the vessel e being heated as above explained, the steam will become further heated 30 in this vessel, that is to say, to a temperature exceeding the natural temperature of the steam in the vessel a. The apparatus e may at its upper parts and sides be c]othed over with non-conducting materials to prevent the escape of heat, and such is also the case in respect to the boiler; ex is a cock to draw off any water resulting from the condensation of the 35 steam. I would remark, that the form or construction of the apparatus e may be varied, and it may be placed at a greater or less distance from the boiler or generator which may be used to supply steam thereto, and the steam may be