Constant temperature bath for laboratory use

• US 3,985,511 A
• Filed: 08/25/1975
• Issued: 10/12/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul J. Betts
• Original Assignee: Inter Dyne
• Inventors: Betts, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scovronek, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US05/607,227
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 23/292, 23/259, 21/105, 21/90, 21/86, 21/87, 21/99, 248/312, 248/315, 219/328, 219/331, 219/333, 220/9 F, 220/256, 220/287, 126/374, 126/376, 126/377
• US Class Current: 422/561
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/02 Water baths; Sand baths; Air baths
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/902 Foam

Abstract

The specification discloses a constant temperature bath for laboratory use including a one-piece, molded, structural expanded foam tank and an apertured cover for supporting laboratory containers. A steam heating pipe is disposed within the tank as well as an overflow stand pipe. The tank includes a peripheral lip adapting the unit for flush mounting on a laboratory countertop. A plurality of cross sectionally Z-shaped rings are disposed within the cover apertures.

Claims

1. A constant temperature bath for laboratory use containing a liquid and being capable of maintaining a laboratory container at a relatively constant temperature and possessing qualities of structural rigidity, relative low cost, and ease of manufacture, comprising:

a rigid, self-skinning resin foam, one-piece integrally molded tank, said tank having an open upper end, sides, and a bottom; and

an inner and outer skin of closely packed reacted resin and an expanded reacted resin between said inner and outer skin;

liquid supply means connected to said tank for supplying a liquid;

overflow means disposed within said tank for allowing excess fluid to drain out of said tank without flowing over the top edge of the tank; and

heating means disposed in said tank for heating a liquid and maintaining said liquid at a constant temperature.

2. A constant temperature bath as defined by claim 1 wherein said overflow means comprises an aperture in said bottom of said tank and an overflow stand pipe disposed within said bottom aperture.

3. A constant temperature bath as defined by claim 1, wherein said one-piece tank is a rigid, self-skinning urethane foam tank.

4. A constant temperature bath as defined by claim 2, wherein said one-piece tank further includes a peripheral flange extending around the upper edge of said tank thereby adapting said bath for flush mounting on a laboratory countertop.

5. A constant temperature bath as defined by claim 1 wherein one of the sides of said one-piece tank has an aperture formed therein, and wherein said liquid supply means connected to said tank and said heating means comprises:

a steam pipe assembly entering said tank through said side aperture, said steam pipe assembly including at least one pipe having a plurality of apertures formed therein permitting the steam to bubble through the liquid maintained within the bath to thereby heat the liquid and replenish it.

6. A constant temperature bath as defined by claim 1 and including a structural expanded foam cover having at least one opening formed therein through which a laboratory container may be suspended into the liquid within the tank.

7. A constant temperature bath as defined by claim 6, further including:

a plurality of generally cross sectionally Z-shaped rings of different diameters concentrically supported within said opening of said cover, each ring of a smaller diameter being supported by each ring of the next largest diameter.

8. A constant temperature bath for laboratory use as defined by claim 6 further including a removable structural expanded foam top adapted to rest on the upper peripheral edge of said cover.

9. A constant temperature bath for laboratory use as defined by claim 8 wherein said top includes a depending, peripheral skirt adapted to rest on said cover.