US3186693A - Thermometer fixing machine and method of fixing - Google Patents

Description

Fig.)

June 1, 1965 F. M. WINCHELL 3,136,693

THERMOMETER FIXING MACHINE AND METHOD OF FIXING Filed May 6, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 x? o k I N (a v 8 9 g\ 0 Q v "3 Q r g n i g Frederic M. Mnche/l N INVENTOK June 1, 1965 F. M. WINCHELL THERMOMETER FIXING MACHINE AND METHOD OF FIXING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1963 w Mm M M N o A .m m W m H M. m C

My 8 M w F w. 8 Q vw mm \A .Wk v mm mm vm t mm mm I mh N Q\ 0 O O 0 0 O O O O.\O O O 0 O O O O 0 0 O O O 6 7 X mm a mm a g a0 Q T 6 mm NM June 1, 1965 F. M. WINCHELL 3,186,693

THERMOMETER FIXING MACHINE AND METHOD OF FIXING Filed May 6, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 6

Frederic M. Winchell INVENTOR.

BY WWW 3m United States Patent 3,186,693 THERMOMETER FLKHQG NEACHINE AND METHGD 8F FIXING Frederic M. Winchell, Leeshurg, Flzn, assigner to Joseph .l. Ballo, Leesburg, Fla. Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,315 Claims. (1. 263-2) This invention relates to apparatus for uniformly dimensioning the constrictions in the bores of clinical types of thermometers.

The apparatus of the present invention is concerned with the standardization of constrictions in clinical types of thermometers necessary to obtain accurate temperature readings as well as to control the movement of mercury to and from the bulb end of the thermometer through the bore therein. It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide facilities in connection with the manufacture of clinical thermometers or the like whereby the constrictions in the bores thereof may be uniformly dimensioned in accordance with required specifications for proper operation of the thermometers.

In accordance with the foregoing object, the apparatus of the present invention pertains to a thermometer fixing operation which involves the rotatable support of a plurality of thermometers, maintained rotating in the same direction and at a predetermined speed so that the flames from an elongated burner may apply a controlled amount of heat to each of the thermometers at a preadjusted spacing from the bulb ends thereof in order to open and tighten the constriction in the mercury conducting bores. The apparatu therefore is provided with facilities 'for adjustably spacing the bulb ends of the thermometers from the roller supports on which they are rotatably mounted above the elongated burner. The supporting rollers are driven in the same direction and are disposed in overlapping relation to each other for support of the thermometers therebetween. Facilities are also provided whereby the flames issuing from the elongated burner may be varied in order to control the amount of heat applied while the thermometers are being rotated and heated for a predetermined period of time.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the Present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus.

FiGURE 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by the section line 44- in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the apparatus showing the mounting of a clinical thermometer thereon.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by the section line 6-6 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by the section line 77 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a clinical type of thermometer with the constriction formed therein by the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed from FIGURES l, 2 and 3 that the apparatus generally referred to by reference numeral it) includes a base or frame generally referred to by the reference 3,186,593 Patented June 1, 1965 numeral 12 including a pair of parallel spaced plate members 14 and 16 which are interconnected by a plurality of spaced connecting rods 18 to form a rigid frame assembly with a mounting platform 20 on which an electric motor 22 is mounted. The electric motor is thereby operative to impart movement to a rotating supporting assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 24 mounted between the frame plates 14 and 16. Also mounted in parallel spaced relation to the rotating supporting assembly 24, is an elongated burner 26. The burner 26 therefore includes a plurality of spaced outlets 23 through which flames issue when the fuel mixture contained within the manifold conduit 30 is ignited. The fuel mixture within the supply manifold 30 is therefore derived from a gaseous fuel inlet conduit 32 and an air inlet conduit 34. A settable control assembly 36 is therefore provided whereby the flame and heat produced by the burner 26 may be regulated in accordance with varying requirements.

The rotating supporting assembly 24 includes a plurality of parallel spaced rotating spindles 38 rotatably mounted between the frame plates 14 and 16. Alternate spindles 3% have secured thereto a pair of disks 40 and 42 which are axially spaced from each other and radially overlap adjacent disks 44 and 46 secured to the adjacent spindle, the disks 44 and 46 therefore being axially spaced with respect to the disks 4i? and 42 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 3 and 5. Thus, clinical types of thermometers 43 may be rotatably supported between adjacent disks of adjacent spindles as more clearly seen in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. The disks are therefore made of yieldable friction material such as rubber so as to support t-e thermometers Without damage thereto and impart rotation to the thermometers in the same direction. Accordingly, each of the spindles 38 are driven in the same rotational direction. Toward this end, a plurality of gear elements 59 are secured to the spindles 38 at ends thereof projecting from the frame plate 14. Adjacent gear elements 54 therefore intermesh with a lower set of gear members 52 which are also rotatably mounted by the frame plate 14. Thus, the gear element 5% at the extreme right end of the apparatus as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 3, will mesh with a drive gear member 54 so that rotation will be imparted to each of the gear elements 5!} in the same direction which is opposite to the rotational direction of the gear members 52. The drive gear member 54 also rotatably mounted by the frame plate 14 the efore meshes with the output gear member 56 connected to the output member of the gear reducer 5'8 driven by the electric motor 22. It will therefore be apparent, that each of the thermometers 48 will be rotated in one direction at a predetermined speed.

As more clearly seen in FIGURE 3, each of the thermometers 48 includes an elongated inner bore 60 through which mercury moves to and from the bulb end 62 of the thermometer. A constriction 64 is formed in the bore 60 at a predetermined distance from the bulb end 62, this constriction being of such dimensions so that the passage of mercury will be controlled in order to provide proper readings of temperature from the indicia formed on the thermometer tube. Thus, the flame 65 issuing from the elongated burner 26 must be applied at the proper spacing from the bulb end of the thermometer. The thermometers supported on the rotating disks will therefore extend therefrom aspaced distance above the elongated burner as more clearly seen in FIGURE 6. Accordingly, the bulb ends 62 of the thermometers will abut against an elongated bar 68 adjustably mounted in spaced relation to the frame plate 16 so as to predetermine the points at which the flames 66 are applied to the thermometers. A pair of adjustment screw members 70 are therefore fixed to the frame plate 16 and extend rearwardly therefrom for support of the elongated bar 68 in adjustably spaced relation to the frame plate 16 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. It will also be appreciated, that in order to obtain the required constriction in the thermometer bore, the amount of heat applied must be controllably regulated, this being accomplished through the regulation of the supply of the fuelmixture to the burner manifold 30.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that the fuel mixture supply manifold 30 is connected by the elbow 72 to a mixing chamber 74 within which the gaseous fuel supplied through the conduit 32 is mixed with the air supplied through the conduit 34. Each of the conduits 32 and 34 is therefore connected to the mixing chamber by manually set globe valves 76 and 78 which regulate the flow of gas and air to the mixing chamber. In order to control the size of the flame issuing from the elongated burner, a control valve 80 is connected into the gas supply conduit 32 preceding the globe valve 76. The regulating valve 80 is therefore provided with a control knob 82 which is adapted to be-held in diiferent control positions by the settable control mechanism 36 so as to controllably vary the flame issued by the elongated burner. The settable control mechanism 36 therefore includes a linkage member 84 having an inclined portion 86 engageable with the valve knob 82 in order to hold the knob in predetermined positions. One end of the linkage member 84 is therefore pivotally connected by the link element 38 to one end of the lever member 90. The lever member 90'is sup ported by a fulcrum support members 92 secured by the clamp 94 to the burner manifold 30. It will therefore be apparent, that movement of the manual handle end 96 of the lever 90 will displace the linkage member 84 against the bias of the anchoring spring 98 between two limit positions. Accordingly, the limit positions are determined by the heads of adjustment screws 100 and 102 mounted on top of brackets 104 and 106. It will therefore be apparent, that by actuation of the lever member 90, the linkage member 84 may be displaced to one of the two limit positions determined by the adjustment screws 100 and 102 in order to hold the valve knob 82 in one of two control positions. The highth of the flames issuing from the burner and the heat thereby applied to the thermometers may be regulated.

From the foregoing description, the construction, operation and utility of the apparatus of the present invention and the thermometer fixing method involved will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated,'that a plurality of thermometers may be standardized as to location and dimension of the constrictionsfin the bores thereof in view of the controlled application of the burner flames at an adjustable distance from the bulb ends while the thermometers which are supported in a rotating condition 'above the elongated burner. Controlled variation in the size of the burner flame and thetime during which the thermometers are subjected to the flame will therefore enable one to uniformly control the size of the constrictions formed in the bores of the thermometers.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 1. A method of obtaining dimensional uniformity in the constrictions of the bores in thermometers wherein each bore is sealed adjacent opposite ends of the thermometer and has a bulb formation adjacent one end of the thermometer, comprising the steps of: locally heating the thermometers simultaneously to dimensionally vary the constrictions formed therein; rotating said thermometers about parallel spaced axes while being heated; aligning the bulb ends of the thermometers while being rotated to localize said heating at the constrictions equally distanced from the bulb ends; and regulating the duration and intensity of the heat locally applied to the thermometers't'o dimensionally correct deviations in the constrictions from a standard.

2. Apparatus for standardizing the constriction in the bores of thermometersspaced from the bulb ends thereof comprising, supporting means for establishing a plurality of parallel spaced rotational axes about which said thermometers are adapted to be rotated, burner means fixedly mounted below a plane defined by said parallel spaced axes along a line extending in transverse relation to said axes, adjustable guide means mounted in transverse in tersecting relation to said axes in spaced alignment with the burner means relative to said axes on the same side of the supporting means, and flame height control means operatively connected to the burner means for preset variation in flames emitted therefrom locally applying heat at locations equally spaced from the guide means along said axes, whereby said constrictions in the bores of the thermometers are rendered uniform in dimension by the locally applied heat when the thermometers are the bulb ends in engagement with the guide means.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said adjustable guide means comprises, an elongated bar mounted on the same side of the supporting means as the burner means and adjustment mounting members secured to the supporting means for support of the elongated bar in parallel spaced relation of the burner means.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said flame height control means comprises, fuel valve means 0peratively connected to the burner means for regulating the supply of fuel thereto, selectively actuated linkage means engageable with said valve means for controlling the duration of the flames emitted from the burnermeans, and li mit means engageable by the linkage means for presetting the height of said flames when'emitted.

5. The combination of claim 2,wherein said flame height control means comprises, fuel valve means operatively connected to the burner means for regulating the supply of fuel thereto, selectively actuated linkage means engageable with said valve means for controlling the duration of the flames emitted from the burner means, and limit means engageable by the linkage means for presetting the heightof said flames when emitted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,055,402 3/13 Kimble 65279 1,897,640 2/33 Millar 65278 X 1,948,560 2/34 Bornman Q. 65279 X 2,103,585 12 /37 Kimble et al. Q. 65279 X 2,228,010 2/41 Koenig 65272 FOREIGN PATENTS 383,545 3/ 08 France.

CHARLES SUKALO, Primary Examiner.

JOHN J, CAMBY, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A METHOD OF OBTAINING DIMENSIONAL UNIFORMITY IN THE CONSTRICTIONS OF THE BORES IN THERMOMETERS WHEREIN EACH BORE IS SEALED ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE THERMOMETER AND HAS A BULB FORMATION ADJACENT ONE END OF THE THERMOMETER, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: LOCALLY HEATING THE THERMOMETERS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO DIMENSIONALLY VARY THE CONSTRICTIONS FORMED THEREIN; ROTATING SAID THERMOMETERS ABOUT PARALLEL SPACED AXES WHILE BEING HEATED; ALIGNING THE BULB ENDS OF THE THERMOMETERS WHILE BEING ROTATED TO LOCALIZE SAID HEATING AT THE CONSTRICTIONS EQUALLY DISTANCED FROM THE BULB ENDS; AND REGULATING THE DURATION AND INTENSITY OF THE HEAT LOCALLY APPLIED TO THE THERMONETERS TO DIMENSIONALLY CORRECT DEVIATIONS IN THE CONSTRICTIONS FROM A STANDARD..

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