Opening the Oven Door.
Year: 1885

page_text: Opening the Oven Door.
1 WILLIAM JAMES FOWLER Major Royal Artillery residing at Crookham End
Brimpton Reading Berks do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
BASTING MEAT WITHIN A CLOSED OVEN WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF OPENING THE
OVEN DOOR DURING THE OPERATION OF ROASTING to be as follows:-
A hydraulic process that of the Persian water-wheel, raises the liquid used for
basting, and distributes it over the meat by means of a colander. The motive
power is applied outside the oven door in such a manner that the latter may
remain closed during the operations of roasting & basting the meat. The claims
for features of novelty in this invention are the application of the Persian water-
wheel to basting within a closed oven; the application of the motive power outside
the oven; the construction of an apparatus suitable to basting meat within an
oven; the obviating of the necessity of frequently opening the oven door for
basting by hand, and the necessity for no alteration in existing ovens beyond that
of boring a hole in the oven door.
The
Referring to the drawings filed herewith the following is a description of the
application of the Persian water wheel to basting meat within a closed oven
baking dish B carries on two uprights F F a horizontal axis A the end of which is
flush with the outside of the oven door D when closed. This is effected by boring
a hole in the oven door. A key H is fitted on to the squared end of the axis from
the outside by means of the hole aforesaid, and the handle of the key is turned to
produce the rotation of the axis. A pentagonal wheel a revolving with the axis
carries on its arms two endless chains c c on which buckets b are fixed. As these
are carried by the revolution over the end of the colander C which projects within
the circumference of the wheel, they discharge successively their contents into the
colander whence the liquid is distributed over the meat J through the holes in
the colander. No pully is used at the lower end of the chains, the buckets at the
lowest point being immersed in the liquid in the well of the baking dish. If
continuous motion of the axis is desired, the axis may be turned by clockwork
instead of by hand outside the oven door.

page_text: Figure 1 is a transverse section showing my improved apparatus inside an oven.
Figure 2 is an end clevation of the apparatus for raising the basting fluid.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the apparatus for raising
the basting fluid, with the colander or perforated distributing tray.
Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing A is the oven door, and A¹ A² and A³ are
respectively the top, bottom and back of the oven. In the apparatus shown in the
drawing a small Persian water-wheel is used as the apparatus for raising the
basting fluid. This apparatus B consists of the pentagonal wheel b having radial
arms 61 bent or curved so as to extend horizontally as shown. Over these hori-
zontal arms 6' are carried two endless chains 62 and to the said chains are fastened
a series of buckets 63. The pentagonal wheel b is fixed on a horizontal shaft or
axis C having its bearings in the back D and front D₁ of the apparatus or in
suitable standards or supports secured to the back and front of the meat-stand
or dish E, the said shaft extending to the exterior of the oven through a hole in
the oven-door A as shown in Figure 1. The outer end of the shaft C is fitted with
a detachable crank handle, or key, c so that the apparatus may be operated by
hand; or the said shaft may be driven and the apparatus operated from the
exterior of the oven by clock work or other suitable motive power. The dish or
stand E on which the meat is placed is formed with a well e for containing the
basting fluid and juices of the meat, the said well being under the liquid-raising
apparatus B so that the buckets 63 of the said apparatus descend into the said well.
A colander or perforated distributing-tray F is arranged over the meat, and the

page_text: said colander has a narrowed portion f which fits within the arms b' of the
pentagonal wheel b. The colander F is slightly inclined from the pentagonal
wheel b towards the front of the oven as shown in Figure 1 and may be arranged
above the shaft C as shown in Figure 1, or below the said shaft as shown in
figure 3. The colander or distributing tray is supported in position by being
connected to the metal bar or rod a which is secured to the standard D₁ at the
front of the apparatus and to the strap or half hoop of metal a¹ which surrounds
the upper portion of the liquid-raising apparatus B and is rivetted or otherwise
secured to the back D as shown in Figure 1; or the said colander may be sustained
in position, from beneath, by suitable supports; or in any other suitable and con-
venient manner. The sides of the apparatus may be partially enclosed by vertical
metal plates to protect the sides of the oven from being splashed by the basting
fluid.
The revolution of the shaft or axis C imparts motion to the pentagonal wheel b
the buckets b³ being carried by the revolution of the wheel b over the end f of the
colander F. The buckets rise from the well e of the meat stand E filled with the
basting fluid and as they pass over the top of the wheel b discharge their contents
into the narrowed portion f of the colander from whence the basting fluid flows
over the colander or distributing tray F and is distributed over the meat through
the perforations in the said colander or tray.
Instead of the Persian water-wheel, as above described, a small chain-pump may
be used for raising the basting fluid, the said chain-pump being operated by a shaft
extending through the oven door and revolved by hand or other motive power as
above described for the Persian water-wheel apparatus. The form of the meat-
stand and of the colander or distributing-tray may be varied according to circum-
stances and the buckets & may be arranged at any desired distance apart on the
chains b. My improved apparatus can be used in any existing oven by forming a
hole in the oven-door for the end of the shaft C.
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
First. An apparatus for basting meat within a closed oven, said apparatus
being operated from the exterior of the oven and consisting of the combination and
arrangement of parts substantially as herein set forth.
Second. In an apparatus for basting meat within a closed oven, the apparatus
for raising the basting fluid in combination with the colander or distributing-tray
and with means for operating the said apparatus from the exterior of the oven,
substantially as herein set forth.
Twi
1
Th 1
T 1002
T. N. PALMER & Co.,
For the Applicant.