IAGenWeb Project - Allamakee co. Misc. Historical Items

Blow-pipe Patent

John Martin Hancock, of Lansing, Iowa.
Improvement in Self-Acting Blow-Pipes


Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,275,
dated August 3, 1875; application filed June 5, 1875.


pg 1

To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, John M. Hancock, of Lansing,
Allamakee county, Iowa, have invented a new and Improved
Self-Acting Blow-Pipe, of which the following is a
specification:
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my self-acting
blow-pipe, partly in section ; and Figs. 2 and 3,
respectively, top views of the alcolho lamp and
blow-pipe.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts.

The object of my invention is to furnish for jewelers and
others a self-acting blow-pipe for hard and soft
soldering, by which the flame may be fully and instantly
controlled, and the power of the same regulated without
interrupting the working of the blow-pipe.

The invention consists of a pipe attached sidewise and
projecting to some distance from the alcohol-vessel,
which is exposed to the heat of a small flame, being
about the same distance from the main flame of the lamp
as the bottom of the alcohol-vessel is from the outermost
end of the blow-pipe.

In the drawing, A represents a vessel or receptacle for
the generation of the alcoholic vapors, which is filled
in the customary manner with a quantity of alcohol and
closed by a cork. The blow-pipe B is arranged sidewise
of the bottom of the vessel, being bent up at the inside
and extending up to a point near the top of the vessel to
convey the steam or vapor of the alcohol to the
issuing-orifice of the pipe. The blow-pipe is extended
outside of vessel A to a distance corresponding to the
size of the lamp c, which is used therewith. The
alcohol-lamp C has two flames, the main or soldering
flame at the end of the spout, and a small flame at the
top for heating the generating-vessel A. The distance of
the two flames

corresponds to the distance of the bottom part of the
vessel from the issuing-orifice of the blow-pipe, so that
the vessel can be held steadily above the heating-flame
and the orifice be in close proximity to the
soldering-flame.

The action of the blow-pipe on the flame is instantly
suspended by diverting the orifice from the
soldering-flame, and the generating of alcoholic vapors
and the intensity of the flame regulated by bringing the
vessel A nearer to or from the small flame.

The soldering-flame is readily guided or removed from the
work, and the effect and power of the flame on the work
continually under observation, by having the orifice of
the blow-pipe at some distance from and not below the
alcohol-vessel.

The pipe is controlled by the right hand and the work
held steadily by the left hand, the flame being directed
and fully regulated by blow-pipe and lamp, furnishing a
superior instrument to similar devices used for the same
purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and
desire to secure by Letters Patent _______

The combination of vapor-chamber A, having blow-pipe B
and the hand movable alcohol-vessel C having one burner
at the top and another at the side, as shown and
described, to enable jewelers, in braxing or soldering
gold or silver articles, to guide the flame to the work,
regulate accurately the degree of heat, and then
instantaneously remove the flame when it has performed
its function.


  John Martin Hancock.

Witnesses:
F.W. Hancock
Julius Rieth

pg 2

- source: US Patent & Trademark Office
- transcribed by: S. Ferrall

Return to "other history" Index