Untitled record

Application filed September 28, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Charles Warren, of Wellesley, in the county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new 5 and useful Improvement in Inhalers, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled . in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, referio ence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which—

Figure .1 is an isometrical perspective view of my improved inhaler, a portion of the body being represented in section or broken away 15 to show the interior; Fig. 2, a front elevation;

Fig. 3, a rear elevation, and Fig. 4 a vertical longitudinal section.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the draw20 ings.

My invention relates to that class of inhalers which are employed for administering amesthetics in performing surgical operations, extracting teeth, &c.; and it consists in a novel 25 construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a more effective device of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improve30 meat will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the followingexplanation, the extreme simplicity of the invention rendering an elaborate description unnecessary.

In the drawings, A represents the body of the inhaler, and B the mouth-piece, which may be composed of metal, hard rubber, or any other suitable materials. The body is divided into three principal compartments—to wit, the air-tube G, ether-tank D, and hot-water tank E. The air-tube opens outwardly into the mouth-piece, and is provided with a foraminousbottom, through which the air is inhaled or passed into the tube. The ether-tank D 45 is semicircular in form, being located between the water-tank and air-tube E, and provided with the screw-cap or plugged opening d in its bottom m. The water-tank E is also semicircular in form, being located outside of and partially surrounding the ether-tank,and provided with a screw-cap or plugged opening,/, in its bottom h, both of the tanks D E abutting against the under side of, and being permanently closed by, the mouth-piece B, which serves as a top for each. A valve, G, is pro- 55 videcl for closing the openings in the bottom x of the tube C, this valve consisting of an annular metallic disk, i, provided with an inwardlyprojecting stud, g, which works freely in a hole in the bottom of the tube, the inner face 60 of the disk being packed or covered with leather or chamois-skin to prevent the valve from leaking when shut. A truss or cap, L, is attached to the bottom of the tube 0, the truss being provided with a centrally-arranged 65 screw, M, which passes through the truss, valve, and bottom x, in which it freely turns, its inner end, v, being upset or headed to prevent it from being withdrawn. This screw is not provided with threads, except on that 7c portion which passes through the valve i, so that when it is turned in or to the right the valve will be raised or. lifted off its seat and the holes through the bottom x opened, and vice versa, the pin g preventing the valve from 75 revolving with the screw. A hinged gravitating or pump valve, N, is disposed on top of the air-tube 0, near the mouth-piece, through which the breath is exhaled, and the outer rim of the mouth-piece is covered with a soft rub- 80 ber or cloth packing, H, to render it tight at the point of contact with the face of the patient, thereby preventing the escape of the vapor. An opening, J, leading to the tank D, is formed in the lower side walls of the tube C, through 85 which the liquid ether passes into said tank.

In the use of my improvement a sponge, K, is inserted in the tube C, the sponge being of a proper size to closely fit into the tube without being compressed to such an extent as to 90 prevent the air from passing readily through it, a portion of the sponge preferably extending through the opening J into the chamber D, to absorb the ether in said chamber. The tank E is then filled with warm water and the plugs 95 / d and valve i closed, after which ether is poured into the open mouth of the tube 0, from whence it passes through the sponge into the tank D by way of the opening J. The valve i is then opened by the screw M, and the vapor ioq

298,802 inhaled in a manner which will be readily obvious without a more explicit description.

In filling the inhaler, as described, the sponge become^ thoroughly saturated, the surplus fluid 5 passing into the tank D through the hole J, where it is rapidly evaporated by the heat from the water-tank E, the vapor passing back through said hole into the tube 0, where it is mixed with the air which enters through the io bottom x. After the inhaler hasbeen used, the ether is drawn off through the plug or cap d and the water through the cap or plug f. As the breath of the patient is exhaled the sponge checks its passage through the tube 0, thus 15 causing it to lift and escape through the valve N, which falls or closes at each inhalation.

I do not confine myself to constructing the valves i N as shown, as any other valves adapted to perform the same functions may be 20 used instead. Neither do I confine myself to closing the openings in the tanks by means of the screw caps or plug§ f d, as any suitable means for that purpose may be employed; or to filling the tank I) through the air-tube 0, as 25 the ether may be introduced through the cap or plug d; or to closing one end of the tanks D E with the mouth-piece B, as other means may be used, if desired.

The bottoms x m h are preferably made in 30 one piece, but may be macle separately, if desired.

Having thus explained my invention, what.