Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 21st Jan., 1887.
I, ANDREAS BUHE, of No. 8 Albrechtsplatz, Dessau, Germany, Engineer, 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:
This invention relates to an improved construction of flat-iron heated by gas and in
apparatus for heating the same, which I will proceed to describe with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
The flat-iron is shewn in longitudinal section at Fig. 1, in sectional plan at Fig. 4
and in cross section at Fig. 5. The heating apparatus is shewn in cross section at
Fig. 1, in side view at Fig. 2 and in plan at Fig. 3, the inclined front plate being
removed.
The flat iron consists of the ironing slab K' with heating chamber K above it.
Within this chamber is situated a loose iron plate S shewn in perspective at Fig. 6,
which plate, when the flat-iron is inclined backwards as at Fig. 1, lies against the top
of the heating chamber; it is guided when sliding up and down by the pins and the
angle piece W, so that when the flat iron is placed in the horizontal position, bottom
downwards, the plate S slides down and lies on the inner ribbed surface of the slab K'
as shewn at Fig. 5. The plate S fulfils two purposes, namely, when heating the flat-
iron, it prevents the top of the same from becoming unnecessarily heated and confines
the heat more to the parts where it is usefully applied, while when on the other hand
the flat iron is being used, it protects the inner surface of the slab K₁ from cooling by
radiation, and as the part W then closes the opening of the chamber, it also prevents
any cooling by circulation of external air through the chamber. By these means also
the operator is prevented from being inconvenienced by excessive radiation of heat.
The inner surface of the slab K' is ribbed or grooved as shewn in order to effect a
more perfect distribution of heat from the flat gas flame issuing from the Bunsen's
burner, as also to present a greater surface for the absorption of heat, and, in
particular, to promote a more perfect combustion of the gas and consequently a greater
heating power of the flame, in as much as air is drawn into the grooves between the
ribs by the draught of the flame and is thus brought into intimate contact with the
Intter. Unpleasant smell is also avoided by the more perfect combustion.

page_text: The flat iron is inclined backwards at a considerable angle during the heating as
shewn, and the nozzle of the Bunsen's burner is so arranged that the flame impinges
upon the inner surface thereof, the combustion gases being made to escape through
two openings o in the front end of the chamber, as shewn at Fig. 4.
The ribs and intermediate grooves are made to diverge somewhat from each other
at first, so as to correspond with the expanding flame, and then to converge again
towards the escape openings.
The heating apparatus consists of two side cheeks, which may be more or less
ornamental as shewn at Fig. 2, and a front plate v, thus forming a partially enclosed
chamber or stove in the lower part of which is the Bunsens burner fixed to a cross
plate p by screws as shewn. The front plate has a projecting flange to at bottom,
and the side cheeks have two ribs 11 as shewn, so that when the flat iron is slid into
the apparatus from the top, its lower end rests upon the flange to and its sides rest
against the ribs 4, thus forming an enclosed air space surrounding the outer surfaces
of the slab K whereby the radiation of heat therefrom during the process of heating
is prevented.
By heating the flat iron in an inclined position and inside a stove with protecting
air spaces, as described, and by effecting the more perfect combustion and consequent
greater heating power of the gas flame, a considerable economy in combustible gas
effected in heating the flat iron to the requisite degree, and by the use of the protecting
and closing plate the heat taken up by the iron is retained and utilised to the greatest
possible extent. The ironing surface remains bright and untouched by the gas flame
as with the flat irons heated continuously by an internal gas flame, while the
disadvantage in the latter of the deleterious combustion-gases continually rising up
from the iron and acting more or less injuriously upon the operator, is entirely
obviated, as is also the disadvantage of the blacking and deteriorating of the ironing
surface resulting from the mode of heating the irons over stationary gas flames.
It will be obvious that the heating apparatus described may be adapted for the
simultaneous heating of two or more flat-irons instead of only one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :
1. In flat irons to be heated by stationary gas flames, enclosing the upper surface of
tho iron by a chamber and forming it with ribs as described, whereby the absorption
of heat by the iron from the flame within the chamber is accelerated, and the more
perfect combustion of the flame by the intimate admixture of additional air therewith
is insured, substantially as herein described.
2. In combination with a flat-iron such as is referred to in the previous claim, the
use of a loose plate situated within the heating chamber, which prevents undue
radiation of heat during the heating operation and which closes the end of the heating
chamber so as to prevent the circulation of external air through the same, and also
protects the inner surface of the slab from loss of heat by radiation during the ironing
operation substantially as herein described.
3. The use for heating of flat irons such as are referred to in the first claim, of a
heating apparatus consisting of two side cheeks with a front plate, within which tho
flat-iron is supported in a backwardly inclined position while being heated by the
flame from a Bunsen's burner below, air spaces being made to intervene between the
flat iron and the said side cheeks and front plate so as to prevent loss of heat by
radiation from the flat iron substantially as herein described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.