GB421076A - Improvements in apparatus for heat treatment of the human body - Google Patents

Abstract

421,076. Hot-air baths. CLARK, G. H., The Maples, Pottstown, and CLARK, W. F., 3703, Baring Street, Philadelphia, both in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Aug. 30, 1933, No. 24047. Convention date, Aug. 30, 1932. [Class 26] [See also Groups VI, XIII, and XXXVII] Apparatus for heat treatment of the human body comprises a cabinet adapted to receive the patient, means for raising the body temperature of the patient, means responsive to the air temperature of the cabinet for controlling the temperature-raising means, and means responsive to the patient's body temperature for additionally controlling the temperature-raising means. The cabinet 2 is provided with a metallic lining 3, at the bottom of which is disposed the resistance heating unit 5 and a vaporizing pan 6 filled with water. A stretcher 9 is supported by aboard 8 provided underneath with a heat deflector 7. The cabinet is provided with a hinged cover 16 containing an observation window 19. A perforated enclosure 25 contains the electrical elements, a flood light 27 and mercury thermometer 24, and is provided with a panel supporting pilot lights 23 and switches 22. A body temperaturerecording instrument 28 is disposed at this end of the cabinet. The alternating current supply lines 30 are connected to flood light 27 and pilot light 37, and to relays 40 and 40a. Relay 40 comprises a magnetic core having windings 43, 44. Winding 43 is connected in series with condenser 45, the two being designed to have equal reactance values when winding 44 is open circuited. Under these conditions, the current flow through winding 43 is a maximum, and the relay armature 46 makes contact at 47 so that the heating resistances 67, 68 are energized. When switch 49, which is controlled by the body temperature, is closed, the resonant condition is disturbed, thereby causing a drop of current in winding 43 whereby armature 46 opens the line circuit at 47, and de-energizes the heating coils 67, 68. The device actuating switch 49 is shown in Fig. 5. A bulb 79, adapted to be placed on the patient's body as in Fig. 1 is connected to a bourdon tube 78 by capillary tube 80. A pen 77, attached to the tube 78, traces a record of the body temperature on the rotating cylinder 76, and contacts 81, 82 constitute the switch 49. Contact 82 is adjustable vertically and may be set in any position corresponding to a predetermined body temperature. Relay 40a, which is controlled by the air temperature of the cabinet, acts similarly to relay 40. The thermometer 24 contains contacts which are engageable by the mercury to form switches 64, 65, operating for example at 130‹ and 160‹ F. Either temperature may be selected by use of switch 66. When the predetermined air temperature is attained, switch 64 or 65 is closed, destroying the resonance in the circuit containing winding 43a and condenser 45a and causing armature 46a to drop. In this position, the current flows through the resistances 67, 68, in series, i.e., via connection 62, resistance 67, resistance 68, contacts 57, 53 and conductor 61. When the air temperature is not attained, armature 46a is energized, and the current flows through the resistances in parallel, i.e., via contacts 60, 51 and common lead 73 branching at point 70. The return from resistances 67, 68 is via lead 71 and connection 62, and lead 72 and contacts 52, 56 respectively. Pilot lamps 74, 75 indicate whether the heating elements are connected in parallel or series. Specification 386,118, [Group XIII], is referred to.