Nova Patents
US3023293A

Constant temperature heater for microtome object discs

Abstract

This record has no abstract on file.

US3023293A, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 4

Term

Term ended

Expired 27 February 1979, 47.6 years ago.

  1. Priority and filed
  2. Granted
  3. Expired
  4. Today

3 claims: 3 independent, 0 dependent

  1. 1
    I claim:1. A cylindrical tank having a plurality of apertures uniformly spaced about its circumference, insert means 70 being held in each of said apertures, each of said insert means consisting of a metallic bar which extends into the interior portion of said tank, and having a hole drilled 3 023 293 CONSTANT TEMPERATURE HEATER FOR MICROTOME OBJECT DISCS Edwin R. Cornish, Jr., Frederick, Md., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Nov. 16,1959, Ser. No. 853,429
  2. 2
    2 Claims. (Cl. 219—19) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon. This invention relates to an apparatus for attaching and removing of microtome object discs to and from paraffin blocks. The usual method for attaching microtome object discs to paraffin blocks is to heat the heads of the microtome object discs in an open Bunsen burner flame until the head of the microtome object disc becomes warm enough to melt the surface of the paraffin block when the two are brought into contact. Likewise the usual method for removing microtome object discs from paraffin blocks is to hold the ends of the shafts of the microtome object discs in an open Bunsen burner flame until enough heat is conducted to the head of the microtome object disc to melt the surface of the paraffin block and allow the paraffin block to fall off. There are a number of disadvantages to these methods, the main one being that the process is very time consuming. It was felt that a device that would heat a number of microtome object discs to the proper temperature for attachment to or removal from paraffin blocks would be of great use in the histology laboratory. The object of this invention is an apparatus which overcomes the above named deficiencies. FIG. 1 shows a side assembly view of my apparatus. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along lines 2—2 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows example of microtome object disc. Referring to the drawing, the device consists of a cylindrical brass water bath 10. There are approximately twenty tubular inserts 12 soldered into apertures 14 drilled several inches from the bottom of the bath and spaced uniformly around the circumference of the bath. Each insert consists of a solid brass rod wherein a hole 16 is drilled a distance about 95% of the rod’s length. The apertured ends of these inserts project a small distance through the outside wall of the water bath. A smaller insert 18 is provided near the top of the tank and is angled downwardly from the top section. This insert has a hole drilled completely through its entire length for the purpose of inserting a thermometer 20 into the bath. The water baih is provided with a loosely fitting brass 55 cover 22 by which the water level can be checked and additional water added as required. The bath is filled with distilled water to which has been added a proprietary non-corrosive germicide-disinfectant to inhibit microbial growth and to minimize corrosion. Attached to a mounting bracket 24, which is connected to the cover, are a thermostat 26, a thermostat dial 27, an electrical outlet 28 controlled by the thermostat, and a pilot light 30 connected in parallel with the thermostatically controlled outlet. The sensing element of the thermostat is a fluid filled capillary tube 32. It passes through a small hole in the water bath cover and is formed into a large coil 34 which rests upon the circle of inserts inside the water bath. The water bath is placed upon an electrical hot plate 7l 36 which is plugged into the outlet controlled by the thermostat mounted on the top of the water bath. The
  3. 3
    3,293 heat transfer fluid contained inside said tank, and heat producing means in contact with said tank for heating the heat transfer fluid. 3,02. into it most of its entire length, a microtome object disc means comprising a knurled cap connected to a metallic bar, said metallic bar being held by said insert means and said knurled cap positioned to the outside of said insert means, a cover attached to said cylindrical tank, automatic temperature control means, support means attached to said cover for holding the automatic temperature control means, a heat transfer fluid inside said tank, and heat producing means in contact with said tank for heating the heat transfer fluid. 2. A cylindrical tank having a plurality of apertures uniformly spaced above its circumference, insert means being held in each of said apertures, and extending into the interior portion of said tank, microtome object means being held by said insert means, cover and support means attached to said cylindrical tank, automatic temperature control means attached to said cover and support means, References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,579,476 Dominguez-------------Apr. 6, 1926 1,691,562 Bissell----------------Nov. 13,1928 2,313,015 Hesse__________________Mar. 2, 1943 10 2,562,821 Rothweiler-------------July 31,1957 2,678,026 Rue et al.--------------May 11,1954 2,730,608 Axelsson---------------Ian. 10,1956 2,763,766 Lyon_________________Sept. 18,1956 2,932,718 Masters ------------— Apr. 12, 1960 15 FOREIGN PATENTS 609,517 Great Britain------------Oct. 1, 1948
Independent claims3