Improvements in Electrically Heated Ironing and similar Appliances.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrically Heated Ironing and similar
Appliances.
We, ARMAND LABRE, and AUGUSTE COUSSINET the younger, both of 77, Rue
Denfert-Rochereau, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, and accompanying drawings, that is to say:-
Our present invention has for its object a novel form of apparatus, heated by
the passage of a suitable current of electricity, through a series of bars of carbon,
capable of offering such resistance to the passage of the current that they become
sufficiently heated to be used in the construction of ironing tools, and similar
appliances used for the purposes of heating, mangling, pressing, glazing, embossing,
linen and other fabrics in the usual way, either on a large scale in factories, or for
domestic purposes.
The improved apparatus is therefore especially applicable to the ironing and
finishing of woven fabrics, and clothes, and in the manufacture and finishing of
hats. It can also be applied to the purpose of heating cylinders of calendering
and hot pressing machines for treating woven fabrics, leather, and the like; as
well as to presses used for flattening, and smoothing, embossing, and moulding
such materials, and in combination with ordinary irons to smoothing and finishing
linen and other articles.
Our improved apparatus consists essentially of one or more bars, rods or strips,
of carbon, the form and dimensions of which depend upon those of the ironing and
other appliances in or upon which they are to be fitted, as well as to the degree of
temperature desired, and the cost of the electricity to be used.
When more than one of such bars or rods are to be used to form an electrical
circuit they may be arranged side by side vertically, horizontally, or in any
position most suitable to the purpose for which the heating apparatus is to
be used,
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of our invention;
Figure 1 shews in plan, and Figure 2 in end view, a series of the rods or strips
arranged to give a supply of heat for the passage of an electric current.
Crepresents a series of such carbon or imperfectly conducting strips arranged
side by side and separated at their ends by alternate non-conducting insulating
pieces I, of incombustible and infusible material such as mica, asbestos, glass, terra
cotta, porcelain, or the like, and alternate metallic conducting pieces M, the whole
being firmly held together in insulating frames or holders P, so that the current
enters at and after passing backward and forward through all the strips passes
out at, or vice versa.
Figure 3 shews in longitudinal section, the sole of a smoothing iron of the kind
used by tailors and others. F represents in section the bottom of the iron, C the
carbon or compound strips held in the frames P.
Figure 4 is a plan of the same iron, and Figure 5 is a plan of a similar iron in
which the carbon strips or bars C, instead of being carried in frames P (Figures 1, 2,
and 3) are held by screws passing through the sides of the iron as shewn, the
inner ends of the screws being insulated from the carbon by insulating material
between these screws and the carbon against which they press.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the entire iron as used by tailors and others.

page_text: The insulated non-conducting wires which are brought through the handle are
shewn leaving it at + and
Our improved heating apparatus can be operated with an electric current from
any convenient source, as for instance, galvanic batteries, accumulators, or dynamos
of any kind.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The apparatus for the application of electricity to the development of heat
by the passage of an electric current, consisting of one or more bars, strips, or
rods of carbon, of such resistance that it is heated by the passage of the electric
current to the degree required, the bars, strips, or rods being connected and held
together in such manner that they form a single continuous conductor,, substantially
as described and illustrated.
2. The combination with the apparatus described in Claim 1, of hollow irons,
cylinders, and the like, which it is desired to heat, substantially as described,
and illustrated.
Dated this 25th day of April 1895.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.