IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COOKING APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Develin at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 4th July 1877.
THOMAS DEVELIN, of 0, Upper Spring Street, Portman Square, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COOKING APPARATUS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in portable cooking apparatus.
The apparatus constructed according to this Invention is well adapted for military
use in the field. It consists of a boiler of annular form arranged in an upright
position, and with a fire-place in the centre. The fire-place is conical, becoming
smaller in diameter in ascending from the fire-bars at the bottom of the boiler to
the chimney which rises from the top of the same.
The vessel to contain the meat or food to be cooked is contained within the
boiler, which it nearly fills; this vessel is also of annular form, and its rims or upper
edges fit accurately to the rims or upper edges of the boiler, the parts which come
together being turned, so that they may fit closely.
The cooking vessel is provided with a cover made in three parts; the middle part
is fixed when the apparatus is in use, and the two side portions are hinged to it,
and can be lifted at pleasure; when closed they can be fastened with hand screws
provided for the purpose. There is a valve in the cover to allow of the escape of
steam from the cooking vessel, and there is another valve to give exit to steam
generated in the outer boiler; it serves also for filling the boiler with water.
The boiler is clothed externally with felt, and the felt is protected by an outer
covering of sheet zinc.
The boiler is provided with a cock by which water can be drawn from it, but not
below a proper working level, and there is also another cock by which it can be
emptied for cleaning. The cooking vessel is furnished with a cock at the bottom for
drawing off liquid from it.
The parts of the boiler and of the cooking vessel which are in proximity to the
fire and are above the water level are protected by a casing, and a non-conducting
material, such as ashes, is interposed between the casing and the surface it is intended
to protect.
The fire-bars are arranged in the form of a bottomless basket around an arched
and perforated bottom, and for the purpose of stirring the fire the basket can be
moved or rotated first in one direction, and then in the other, the arched bottom
remaining stationary whilst the bars move around it. The fire is fed through an

page_text: opening in the chimney which can be closed by dropping into it a hollow drum or
cover having a deep cylindrical rim or flange on its under side which projects
vertically downwards into the neck of the chimney. In the side of this rim or
flange there is an opening to correspond to the mouth of a flue passing out from the
side of the neck of the chimney, and connecting it with the part of the chimney
above the feeding hole. The cover of the feeding hole serves also to regulate the
draft, for it can be turned round so as to close the mouth of the flue more or less
completely.
The apparatus is furnished with rings, by which it may conveniently be lifted or
carried, and a carriage is also provided for its transport, and when upon the carriage
it is fixed in its place by means of screw bolts.