Laboratory work, particularly in chemical teaching and research laboratories, comprises several stages, in which an appropriate equipment always has to be separately built of detached elements for various syntheses and crystallizations and/or purifications of substances.

For example, the substance used in crystallizations and/or purifica- tions of substances is generally a solution in an appropriate solvent, the solu- tion generally being in a glass bulb. Then, the equipment needed typically has to be assembled of at least a stand, a thereto attached clamp, to which a glass bulb is, in turn, attached, an appropriate bath, by which the temperature of the glass bulb and its contents can be regulated, and an attachment means from the bath to the stand or a lifting device needed for raising and/or lowering the bath. A stirrer, like a magnetic stirrer, is also often needed. In general, it takes a lot of time to assemble and correspondingly to disassemble such an appro- priate equipment, which, in turn, delays the start of the actual work and ex- tends the total time thereof. Furthermore, many occupational accidents, which have occurred in laboratories, have been associated with assembling, use and/or disassembling equipment built of detached elements.

In chemical laboratories various syntheses and crystallizations and/or purifications of substances are generally performed by placing a sub- stance as a solution into a vessel, such as a glass bulb, where the substance is heated and/or cooled.

A water or an oil bath or an electric sock can be used for heating the substance. Correspondingly, a mixture of ice and water, various other freezing mixtures containing different salts or liquid nitrogen can be used for cooling the substance. The vessel, in which the substance to be heated or cooled is placed can, for example, be immersed in a heating or cooling me- dium or the like.

Temperature adjustment can in such systems be handled, for ex- ample, by regulating the temperature or heating effect of the bath, which can be done when an electric sock or a bath placed on an electric hotplate, espe- cially an oil bath, is used. The most accurate system in use is a bath that can

be adjusted by a thermostat. Another way to regulate cooling or heating effect is to adjust the vessel's immersion length to the bath or its distance to the heating or cooling medium. Such a heat regulation system is also used which employs a sand bath, in which the vessel is immersed, whereby the adjust- ment of the reaction temperature is accomplished by regulating the distance between the heating apparatus of the bath and the bath. The distance adjust- ment is carried out, for example, with a scissor lifter.

An essential problem related to laboratory work, particularly to a synthesis laboratory, has for long been the adequate management of a cooling process. Consequently, when the reaction is performed in an ice and water bath, the temperature of the mixture, which may vary depending on the crea- tor, is not always indicated. An accurate temperature adjustment is required, for example in substance crystallization, so that the substance should crystal- lize as clearly as possible and that the crystal should become as large and as perfect as possible. Distillation, sublimation, extraction and chromatography also need accurate temperature adjustment.

Plenty of such reactions are also performed in laboratories, in which tests are at first performed at temperatures below room temperature and be- low 0°C., then the temperature is raised to room temperature and finally the reaction mixture is heated. The presence of a chemist is required in order to perform the reaction stages and possibly also to change the bath and to ob- serve and complete the ice baths used particularly in cooling. This is laborious, and implementing long reaction times is very difficult.

In order to solve the problem concerning temperature adjustment the German Auslegeschrift 35 25 860 discloses a thermostat apparatus com- prising a metal part with recesses for one or more test tubes, and to which metal part a heating/cooling apparatus including a peltier element is attached.

Since a peltier element is used in this solution, the apparatus enables both heating and cooling of substances. The peltier element also enables to accu- rately adjust the heating or cooling effect. In addition, the publication shows that the thermostat apparatus may also comprise an electronic control and adjusting device.

A problem with the above arrangement is, however, that it does not solve all problems associated with the laboratory work described above.

As previously depicted, a chemist or the like has to use an equip- ment assembled of various elements when working in the laboratory. These

elements are not very often in one and the same place and ready for use. Therefore the equipment must be assembled into working order before starting to work, and this usually is very time consuming. In addition, the apparatus must be disassembled after work.

The thermostat apparatus described in the German Auslegeschrift 35 25 860 only partly solves the problem, since it lacks an equipment which can hold the vessel containing the substance to be cooled/heated in place.

The thermostat apparatus depicted in the German Auslegeschrift 35 25 860 is not either suitable for tests performed at high temperatures, which is why the chemist generally must use another apparatus for heating, since the peltier element generally only reaches +60°C.

The thermostat apparatus described in the German Auslegeschrift 35 25 860 cannot either simultaneously cool and heat two different substances placed in two different flasks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a thermoset that solves the above problems.

The object of the invention is achieved by a thermoset which is characterized by comprising a stand, a saddle attached to a vertical supporting rod of the stand, a heating/cooling part arranged to the saddle comprising at least one first recess measured and formed in such a manner that the vessel can at least partly be lowered into the first recess, at least one second recess measured and formed in such a manner that the vessel can at least partly be lowered into the second recess, a cooling apparatus arranged to cool at least one first recess in such a manner that the substance in the vessel can be cooled therein and the cooling apparatus comprising a peltier element, and a heating apparatus arranged to heat at least one second recess in such a manner that the substance in the vessel can be heated therein, an attachment clamp attached to the vertical supporting rod of the stand and arranged to hold the vessel in place in relation to the first or the second recess during heat- ing/cooling.

The preferred embodiments of the thermoset of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

It is an advantage of the thermoset of the invention that one appa- ratus comprises the previously separate parts, like the stand, the attachment

clamp and the accurately adjustable heating and cooling apparatus, which form a uniform whole in the thermoset of the invention. This substantially re- duces the work to assemble and disassemble the equipment in everyday labo- ratory work.

Another advantage achieved with the thermoset of the invention is that it is easy to carry from one place to another, since all previously separate parts are combined into a uniform whole, preferably into a compact thermoset.

This is a great advantage, for example, in field work.

An addition advantage achieved with the thermoset of the inven- tion is safety. This is partly affected by the fact that the hot and cold sections of the thermoset of the invention can preferably be shielded, for example, by encapsuling, since all parts are included in the same whole. This allows the thermoset of the invention to be widely used, for instance for educational pur- poses in schools.

Still another advantage achieved with the thermoset of the invention is that freon, ice, salts or the like are not needed in cooling, as the cooling ap- paratus comprises a peltier element. This enables the use of a laboratory in field work, and allows a wide temperature range. Compared with liquid nitro- gen or dry ice, electric cooling is more economical and less complicated.

A further advantage achieved with the thermoset of the invention is that it is versatile, because the same apparatus can be used for heating and cooling the substance.

An advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the ther- moset of the invention is that the peltier element included in the heating appa- ratus allows a wide temperature range.

Another advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that tests can be performed with the thermoset of the invention even at high temperatures, since the heating apparatus com- prises an electric resistance.

A further advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that the accuracy and safety of work improve, since the distance between the heating/cooling apparatus and the attachment clamp can be adjusted, and therefore reduce the number of times when the user has to touch the vessel containing the substance.

Still another advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that the accuracy and safety of work improve,

since the thermoset comprises a lifting device which can alter the position of the heating/cooling part on the stand, and because the vessel containing the substance can be held in place during operation.

Another advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that the substance placed in the vessel can si- multaneously be stirred and heated or cooled, as the thermoset comprises a magnetic stirrer.

An additional advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that the accuracy of work performed by the thermoset of the invention improves since the heating and cooling appara- tuses are controlled by a micro-controller. This also improves the management and control of tests. In addition, the arrangement allows to program cooling and/or heating to occur in accordance with a desired formula. For example, crystallizing a good and pure substance requires that the crystallization tem- perature is gradually attained in such a manner that the temperature varies above and below the crystallization temperature. The micro-controller can also control the magnetic stirrer possibly included in the thermoset and the device for adding reagent substances.

A further advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that the accuracy and safety of work improve since the heating/cooling part is movably arranged to the saddle in such a way that each recess can be moved beneath the attachement clamp, which is why the vessel attached to the attachment clamp can be lowered into the desired recess.

Another advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that the accuracy and safety of work improve, since the heating/cooling apparatus is reversibiy arranged to the saddle in such a manner that each recess can be reversed beneath the attachement clamp, which is why the vessel attached to the attachement clamp can be lowered into the desired recess.

Still another advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that since the recesses are measured and formed at least partly to correspond with the measures and shape of the ves- sel placed therein, the transition of heat energy to the substance in the vessel becomes more effective during heating and correspondingly the transition of heat energy from the substance in the vessel becomes more effective during

cooling. The substance to be heated/cooled is thus heated/cooled more eco- nomically and more evenly. This is a great advantage particularly in heating, because such an arrangement reduces the danger of overheating. As the re- cesses are measured and formed in this way, work will be safer, because then liquid baths or the like are not needed.

A further advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that since the heating and cooling part is divided into a separate heating part and a separate cooling part, and since the heating part and the cooling part are at least partly isolated from each other, work can be carried out more rapidly when using the thermoset of the invention, for ex- ample, when operations are conducted first at high and then at low tempera- tures. Consequently, on account of isolation the heating part does not heat the cooling part and vice versa. Such an arrangement also enables to rapidly op- timize crystallization, when reactions occurring at various temperatures can be simultaneously carried out.

Still another advantage achieved with a preferred embodiment of the thermoset of the invention is that it can rapidly optimize syntheses since it comprises a device for adding reagent substances, as several syntheses us- ing different adding speeds can be simultaneously carried out. Such a thermo- set comprising a device for adding reagent substances can carry out low tem- perature reactions more selectively, since the reagent substance can be added slowly and above all in a controlled manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following the invention will be described in greater detail in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a thermoset of the invention, and Figure 2 shows a cross-cut of a heating/cooling part of the thermo- set of the invention comprising heat isolation elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows a thermoset of the invention for heating and cooling a substance.

The thermoset of the invention is intended for heating and cooling a substance (not shown in the Figure) placed in a vessel, such as a flask (not shown in the Figure).

The thermoset of the invention comprises four main parts, a stand 1, a saddle 2, a heating/cooling part 3 and an attachment clamp 4.

The stand 1 of the thermoset according to Figure 1 is preferably formed of a base part 5 and a vertical supporting rod 6.

The saddle 2 is attached to the stand 1. The saddle is aimed to function as a support element and shield for the heating/cooling part 3.

The heating/cooling part 3 is arranged to the saddle 2. The saddle 2 preferably comprises a recess 7 for the heating/cooling part 3, into which the heating/cooling part 3, shown for example in Figure 2, can be arranged. The heating/cooling part 3 can alternatively be arranged to the saddle 2 in another way.

The heating/cooling part 3 comprises at least one first recess 8 measured and formed in such a manner that the vessel can at least partly be lowered therein, and at least one second recess 9 measured and formed in such a manner that the vessel can at least partly be lowered therein.

The thermoset of Figure 1 preferably comprises two first recesses 8 different in size and two second recesses 9 equal in size with the first re- cesses but mutually different in size. Thus, the thermoset according to the Figure can preferably cool and heat the substance in vessels of various sizes.

The number of the first recesses 8 and second recesses 9 can al- ternatively differ from the one shown in the Figure.

The first recesses 8 and the second recesses 9 are preferably made such that their measures and shape at least partly correspond with the measures and shape of the vessel or vessels used in the thermoset. Such an arrangement enables a better transition of heat energy to the substance in the vessel during heating or a transition of heat energy from the substance in the vessel during cooling. Preferably the first recesses 8 and the second recesses 9 are measured and formed in accordance with standard measures of the vessels generally used in the field.

The heating/cooling part 3 comprises a cooling apparatus 10 ar- ranged to cool at least one first recess 8 in such a manner that the substance in the vessel can be cooled therein, and a heating apparatus 11 arranged to

heat at least one second recess 9 in such a manner that the substance in the vessel can be heated therein.

The cooling apparatus 10 of the thermoset of the invention com- prises a peltier element. The function of the peltier element is known per se, and will therefore not be described in greater detail in this context. The heating apparatus 11 of the thermoset of the invention preferably comprises a peltier element or an electric resistance. Alternatively, the heating may also function in another way.

The heating/cooling part 3 is preferably heat isolated from the envi- ronment. This allows, for example, to adjust the temperature more accurately, as the isolation at least partly prevents the heat energy from conveying to the environment or from transferring the heat energy from the environment to the thermoset. The saddle 2 can also preferably be made such that it also func- tions as a heat isolation element.

The heating/cooling part 3 according to Figure 2 preferably com- prises heat isolation parts 12 and 13, which are intended to function as heat isolation elements regarding the environment.

The structure in Figure 2 also preferably comprises a plate 14, into which the first recesses 8 and the second recesses 9 are formed. The plate 14 is preferably replaceable. The plate 14 to be used in the thermoset of the in- vention can thus preferably be changed into such a plate that comprises first recesses 8 and/or second recesses 9 of different sizes. The plate 14 is pref- erably a copper plate.

The heating/cooling part 3 of the thermoset of the invention is pref- erably divided into at least one separate heating part 3a and at least one separate cooling part 3b, which are at least partly isolated from each other.

In Figure 1 the heating/cooling part 3 of the thermoset of the inven- tion is preferably divided into a separate heating part 3a and a separate cool- ing part 3b, which are at least partly isolated from each other. This enables a fast transition, for example, from a low temperature reaction in the cooling part 3a to a high temperature reaction in the heating part 3b. This also allows to simultaneously carry out two reactions of different temperatures.

The heating apparatus 11 and the cooling apparatus 10 of the thermoset of the invention are preferably controlled by a micro-controller (not shown). This allows, for example, to adjust the temperature more accurately.

In addition, such an arrangement enables to program the thermoset to cool

and/or to heat the substance in accordance with a desired formula. Preferably the heating apparatus 11 and the cooling apparatus 10 of the thermoset are controlled by the same micro-controller.

The micro-controller may also comprise other control and meas- urement functions. The control unit (not shown) built around the micro- controller preferably comprises a user interface composed of a display (not shown) and a keyboard (not shown), by which the thermoset can be controlled and programmed. Furthermore, it preferably comprises a data transmission interface for a separate computer (not shown) enabling the remote operation of the thermoset. The computer may also be connected to a local area net- work or to the Internet, through which the thermoset may be used by remote control from elsewhere.

Advantages of such a micro processor control are, for example, the exact measurement of system variables and the chance to digitally process the measurement data, the programming of the system for long periods of time, the exact adjustment of the actuators, also particularly fast/slow adjust- ment periods, expandability by easily adding sensors/actuators, remote opera- tion with a computer or through a network, easy storing and visualization of measurement and adjustment data, automatic functions in problematic situa- tions, like overheating and the chance to control the apparatus that provides an inert atmosphere during the reaction.

The thermoset of the invention comprises an attachment clamp 4 attached to the stand 1. The attachment clamp 4 is arranged to hold the vessel in place regarding the recess during heating/cooling and also at other times, if needed. In the thermoset of Figure 1 the attachment clamp 4 is preferably at- tached to the vertical supporting rod 6 of the stand 1.

In the thermoset the distance between the heating/cooling part 3 and the attachment clamp 4 can preferably be adjusted. The thermoset of Fig- ure 1 preferably comprises a lifting device 15, by which the position of the saddle 2 on the stand 1 can be changed. The lifting device 15 preferably com- prises a spiral rod (not shown in the Figure) that raises or lowers the saddle 2.

In the thermoset of Figure 1 the lifting device 15 can be controlled by using an adjusting wheel 16 inside the base part 5 of the stand 1.

Alternatively the saddle 2 in the thermoset of the invention is fixedly attached to the stand 1, whereby the distance between the recesses and the

attachment clamp 4 can be adjusted by changing the position of the attach- ment clamp 4 with the vertical supporting rod of the stand 1.

The position of the heating/cooling part 3 and the attachment clamp 4 can alternatively be adjusted in the thermoset of the invention.

The heating/cooling part 3 of the thermoset of the invention is pref- erably movably arranged regarding the saddle 2, so that each first recess 8 and second recess 9 can be brought beneath the attachment clamp 4 in such a manner that the vessel attached to the attachment clamp 4 can be lowered into the desired recess.

In the thermoset of Figure 1 the heating/cooling part 3 is preferably reversibly arranged regarding the saddle 2 so that each first recess 8 and sec- ond recess 9 can be reversed beneath the attachment clamp 4 in such a man- ner that the vessel attached to the attachment clamp 4 can be lowered into the desired recess.

The vertical supporting rod 6 can also alternatively be placed in the middle of the heating/cooling part 3 in such a way that the heating/cooling part can be reversed around the vertical supporting rod.

Preferably the vessel can be lowered substantially vertically into the desired recess, and thus facilitating work.

The thermoset of the invention probably also comprises a magnetic stirrer (not shown) enabling the substance in the vessel to be stirred. The magnetic stirrer is then preferably placed in the saddle 2. The magnetic stirrer can preferably be controlled by a micro controller.

The thermoset of the invention may also comprise a device for adding reagent substances (not shown). The number of devices for adding reagent substances in the thermoset of the invention preferably equals the number of first recesses 8 and second recesses 9 in the thermoset.

The device for adding reagent substances preferably comprises a pump which is placed in such a manner that it can be used for adding the rea- gent substance to the flask.

The device for adding reagent substances is preferably attached to a control unit in such a manner that the increase of reagent substances can be controlled by a micro controller.

If a cooling water device (not shown) is used in the thermoset, the cooling water device is connected to the micro controller so that the micro controller can control the opening and closing of the cooling water.

It is obvious for those skilled in the art that as technology advances the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The in- vention and its preferred embodiments are thus nor restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.