IMPROVEMENTS IN AMERICAN STOVES OR CLOSE COOKING RANGES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Dobbie, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
• North Britain, Ironmonger and Stove Manufacturer, for the Invention of.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AMERICAN STOVES OR CLOSE COOKING RANGES."
ed the 8th December 1876, and dated the 15th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Dobbie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th Juno 1876.
JAMES DOBBIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Iron-
monger and Stove Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AMERICAN STOVES OR CLOSE
COOKING RANGES."
This Invention consists substantially in a new or improved mode and means of
or arrangements of the flues for heating the ovens and water boilers of American
stoves or close cooking ranges, all for the purpose of heating these more direct and
effectively by the hot flames and gases from the fire and fuel, with the greatest
possible economy of the latter and utilization of the heat therefrom.
And the nature and novelty of these improvements consist in having a division
plate or partition between the sides of the fire-place next the oven and the water
boiler, leaving a heating flue space between these and the plate open at the top and
continued round the under side of these and up the far or outer sides, and along
the top of the oven, all so that the flames and hot gases from the top part of the
fire on either or both sides may pass down the said open flue next the fire, and
through it under and up the far or outer side of these vessels, to heat them before
passing off to the outlet flues or chimneys, which, in the case of the ovens, might be
placed at or over the middle and back of the upper heating flue, and be fitted with
one or two sliding or tilting throttle valves or dampers, to allow the heat from the
fire either to pass direct to the chimney or round the oven to heat it. When a
water boiler is used the escape flue or pipe leading to the chimney would be at the
top and back, on either the inside or outside of the boiler, and be fitted with a
damper also, so as to be opened when the boiler is to be heated, and closed when
this is not required; and this flue beyond the valve might be either led direct to the
chimney of the house or to the other or main flue, leading from the fire and oven
beyond its dampers. A grating or guard plate would be fitted over the entrance to
each flue, at the sides of the fire-place to prevent the fuel, in charging the fire, from
getting into these flues.
37

page_text: A further improvement consists in closing in the space below the fire-place or
ash-pit, and the lower flues of the oven and water boiler, to form a hot chamber for
plates or other purposes, with doors in front, which would be most applicable
(instead of the usual feet), where these stoves are placed in the recesses or fire-places
now used for ordinary cooking ranges.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Dobbie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
December 1876.
JAMES DOBBIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Iron-
monger and Stove Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AMERICAN STOVES OR CLOSE
COOKING RANGES."
My said Invention consists substantially in a new or improved mode and means
of or arrangement of the flues for heating the ovens and water boilers of American
stoves or close cooking ranges, all for the purpose of heating these more direct and
effectively by the hot flames and gases from the fire and fuel, with the greatest
possible economy of the latter and utilization of the heat therefrom.
And in order that the nature, novelty and mode of performing my said Invention
or improvements may be properly understood, I will now proceed to describe the
several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for that
purpose, the same reference letters and numerals indicating the same or like parts in
all the Figures where shown.
---
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a front elevation and a plan partially in section,
and Figures 3 and 4 are longitudinal and transverse sectional elevations, respec-
tively taken on the lines 1---1 and 2- 2 in Figure 2, all of an American stove
or close cooking range, constructed in accordance with and illustrative of one modi-
fication of my said Invention, showing a general arrangement or adaptation of the
improvements thereof to such like stoves and ranges.
Referring to these Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, showing the construction of this stove
or range, the nature of the Invention or improvements and mode of putting these
into effect or practice consist as follows:-1, 11, are the front and back outside
plates of the stove, and 2, 2¹, are the left and right ends, while 3, 3¹, are the top
and bottom plates, all secured together as a close stove or range in a usual manner,
with the fire-grate 4 and ash-pit and pan 41, 411, in the middle, between the oven 5 and
water boiler 6, and their heating chambers 5 and 6¹ in this case respectively placed
at the left and right sides of the fire-place and ends 2 and 21 of the stove or range;
but they might be at the opposite or reverse sides or ends, all as in many other
stoves, the whole being carried on the lower edge of the front plate, at 1* and two
back feet 3. The front of the fire-place is fitted with the usual hinged or portable
fuel-supplying grate and ash-pit, or air-supplying doors, 7, 71, and 71, respectively,
above the projecting hearth plate 411 in front, with the portable ash pan 4" below
it. The top hot plate 3 of the close range is formed with the usual round and
oblong openings, fitted with removable lids 3111 over the fire and oven 4, 5, for
inserting and heating pots, pans, and other cooking vessels. The water boiler 6 for
cooking or other purposes is inserted into its heating chamber 6¹ through an opening
in the top plate 3, which it closes when properly placed, and resting on its carrying
flanges 611, and fitted with the usual drawing-off tap 6111 screwed tightly in from the
front, the screwing out of which leaves the boiler 6 free to be removed for cleaning
in a few seconds. The oven 5 is fitted with the usual shelves and close fitting door
5 in front, small doors 5111 being fitted in the front plate 1 and bottom 3¹ for
cleaning out the spaces 5 and 6 below the oven and boilers 5 and 6. The sides
and back of the fire-place 4 are lined or fitted with fire-bricks 9, 9¹, as usual, and
either with or without iron circulating water heater behind, as shown at 10, fitted

page_text: with screw couplings 10¹ for attaching the inlet or return and outlet water
circulating pipes for conveying hot water to lavatories or other parts of the house.
The essential improvement consists in having a division plate or partition A, B,
between the sides 9, 9, of the fire-place 4, next the oven 5 and the water boiler 6,
leaving a heating flue space a, 51, and b, 61, between these 5 and 6 and the plate A
and B, open and grated at the tops a¹ and 6', and continued round the under and up
the far or outer sides of these, and back along the top of the oven at 5*, all as
indicated by the sharp black and dotted arrows in the heating chambers and spaces
5¹ and 6¹ respectively, so that the flames and gases from the top part of the fire 4
on either or both sides A, a¹, and B, 61, may pass down the said open flue a, b, near
the fire, and through it under and up the far or outer side of these vessels 5 and 6 to
heat them before passing off to their outlet flues or chimney Z, z, which in the case
of the oven 5 is preferably placed, as shown in Figure 3, at or over the middle and
back of the upper heating flue 5*, at a, a, (but it might be near either end 2, 5¹,
or 5, a,) and be fitted with one or two new or improved double acting sliding (or it
might be tilting) throttle valves or dampers C, C¹, to allow the heat and flames from
the fire-place 4 either to pass to the chimney Z direct by the throat or duct a² or
round the oven 5, as before stated, and indicated by the arrows in the flue spaces
a, 51, to heat it before passing out through the throat or duct all to the same
chimney Z. The throttle valves or chambers C, C¹, are made the full width of the
lower part of the chimney Z, and of half its length, the same as the throat ducts
a¹¹, a², over which they are fitted to shide in grooves c by their handles c", c², con-
ducted outside to actuate them, and so cause one or both valves C, C¹, to partially.
or wholly open the throat all, and wholly or proportionally close the throat a², to
heat the oven 5, as before stated; the position of these valves, as seen in Figures 1
and 2, is that for giving the full or maximum heat to the oven 5, and vice versa, the
closing of the throat all with either or both of the valves C, C³, would give the least
possible heat to the oven by "damping" back and preventing the heat current from
passing round it, and the opening or closing of the throat a² by either of the valves
would regulate the draught and "damp" back the fire, or cause the heat to circulate
round the boiler 6 when the stove or range is fitted with one, as in this case.
A new or improved swivelling (or it might be sliding) opening and closing
division plate C2 is fitted below the division between the throats or ducts all and a
for being opened when the oven 5 is not required, or being heated, and the whole
surface and heating power of the top 3 of the stove is required, and opening only the
further part of the throat a", when the hot gases and flames would pass over the
grate a¹, through the flue or heating space 5*, between the top of oven 5 and
under side of the top plate 3, towards the end 2 and throat all to the chimney Z,
and thus heat the top plate 3 without imparting much heat to the oven.
When a water boiler 6 is ranged and fitted, as shown, the escape flue or pipo 611
leading to its chimney z would be fitted, preferably at the top and back far end 2¹,
either on the inside or outside of the boiler heating flues 61, having a sliding or
tilting damper z¹ fitted near its throat 6", so as to be opened when the boiler 6 is to
be heated and closed when this is not required; and this flue z beyond the valve ¹
might be led either to the chimney of the house or to the othor or main flue or
chimney Z leading from the fire and oven 4, 5, beyond its dampers C, C¹.
A grating or guard plate would preferably, as shown at a and b, be fitted over
the entrance to each flue, a and b, between the slides A, B, of the fire-place 4 and
the oven 5 and boiler 6, to prevent the fuel (in charging the fire) from getting
into the flues a and b.
A further improvement consists in closing-in the space below the oven 5 or boiler
6, and their lower flues 5¹ and 61, as at D, D¹, D", (or below the fire-place or ash-
pit) to form a heating chamber for plates and other dishes, or for other purposes,
fitted with doors D¹, D", in the front plate 1, which would be continued quite
down to the base 1* and do instead of the usual feet in front, making these stoves or
close cooking ranges most suitable for being placed in and filling up the recesses or
fire-places now used for ordinary cooking grates or ranges. A small pipe 6* is fitted

page_text: at the top of the boiler 6 to allow of the free escape of the steam therefrom into the
chimney, as shown in Figure 3.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of perform-
ing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
First. The general construction or arrangement of American stoves or close
cooking ranges, with new or improved modes and means or arrangement of flues
and their dampers (as indicated by the reference letters, in contradistinction to the
numerals) for the better heating of the ovens and water boilers thereof, all substan-
tially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings,
or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The forming of a division and flue A, a, and B, b, open at the top between
the ovens and water boilers and the fire space, for the hot flames and gases to pass
down and round, and so heat the ovens and boilers of American stoves or close
cooking ranges, all substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Dobbie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JAMES DOBBIE. (L.S.)