IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GAS STOVES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas, of Colchester, in the County
of Essex, Bank Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF GAS STOVES."
Sealed the 26th July 1870, and dated the 25th May 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th May 1870.
I, GEORGE THOMAS, of Colchester, in the County of Essex, Bank
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GAS STOVES," to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to an improved mode of constructing gas
stoves, in which I form the stove with an outside casing, in the lower
part of which I fix a small tank or annular vessel for receiving water.
A circular opening is made in the tank so as to supply air directly to the
gas flame. The gas is conveyed to the burner by an ordinary service
pipe; the burner is of circular form, and is so arranged that atmospheric
air mixes with the gas, intensifying the flame, and by so doing causing

page_text: it to burn without smell. Around the burner I fix an inner casing of a
conical form which is open at the top, there being a space between the
top of the said conical inner casing and the top of the outer casing of
the stove; this space occupies about one-third of the interior space of
the stove, a side opening connects the interior of the said inner casing
with the outer air so that a supply of air is thereby admitted to the
burner; the heat of the gas from the strong current of atmospheric air
supplied through the openings of the stove above mentioned is forced
through the conical inner casing, and enters the interior of the stove.
The stove from the evaporation of the water below becomes more or less
charged inside with vapour and the draught causes the heat from the gas
to descend after mixing with the aqueous vapour, which frees it from
sulphurous fumes, and it then returns purified. The volume of air intro-
duced into the interior of the stove is increased by atmospheric currents
admitted through pipes communicating with the bottom which have
telescopic sliding ends and effect communication with the external air by
means of other pipes or channels which may pass through the outer wall
of the room or place where the stove may be situated, thereby regulating
the too great warmth and moisture, and improving the atmosphere. The
stove can be supplied with water either by pouring it in at the top by a
supply pipe, or by a water gauge which may be made partly of glass,
so as to indicate the quantity of the water in the tank. The outer
case of the stove may be made of any suitable metal, stone ware, clay,
or glass in all or in part, and of any shape or size, as may be required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, a
filed by the said George Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st November 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
THOMAS, of Colchester, in the County of Essex, Bank Manager, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of May in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Thomas, Her special licence;

page_text: that I, the said George Thomas, my executors, administrators, and.
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Thomas, my executors.
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,, and . no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term:
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GAS STOVES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said George Thomas, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should. particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Thomas, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention relates to an improved mode of constructing gas stoves
in the manner herein-after more particularly described, and of which two
modifications are shewn in the Drawings annexed.
I form my improved gas stoves respectively with an outside casing, in
the lower part of which I fix a small tank or annular vessel for receiving
water; a circular opening is made in the tank, so as to supply air directly
to the gas flame. The gas is conveyed to the burner by an ordinary
service pipe; the burner is of circular form, and is so arranged that
atmospheric air mixes with the gas, intensifying the flame, and by so
doing causing it to burn without smell. Around the burner I fix an
inner casing of a conical form which is open at the top, there being a
space between the top of the said conical inner casing and the top of
the outer case of the stove; this space occupies about one-third of the
interior space of the stove, a side opening connects the interior of the
said conical inner casing with the outer air so that a supply of air is
thereby admitted to the burner, the heat of the gas from the strong
current of atmospheric air supplied through the openings of the stove
above mentioned is forced through the conical inner casing, and enters
the interior of the stove. The stove from the evaporation of the water

page_text: below becomes more or less charged inside with vapour, and the draught
from the heat causes the gas to descend after mixing with the aqueous
vapour which frees it from sulphuric fumes, and the heat from the gas
then returns purified into the apartment.
In some cases I use a modified arrangement in which I place in the
stove a partition running from top to bottom through the body of the.
casing, but leaving space between it and the outer casing of the stove for
return of the heat. The volume of air introduced into the interior of the
stove may be increased by atmospheric currents admitted through the
pipe or pipes communicating with the bottom, which have telescopic 1
sliding ends, and effect communication with the external air by means of
other pipes or channels which may pass through the outer wall of the
room or place where the stove may be situated, thereby regulating when
necessary the warmth and moisture and improving the atmosphere, I
use two pipes for the purpose of admitting the air when the size of the
stove makes it desirable to do so, and one pipe only when the partition
above referred to is employed. The stove can be supplied with water
either by pouring it in at the top by a supply pipe or by a water gauge
which may be made partly of glass, so as to indicate the quantity of the
water in the tank. At the bottom of the water gauge (where one is :
used for the water supply) is a movable cap which permits the water to
be drawn off when the stove requires emptying. The outer case of the
stove may be made of any suitable metal, stone ware, clay, or glass, in
all or in part, and of any shape or size, as may be required.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, I have?
annexed hereto two Sheets of Drawings shewing respectively in section
and in plan view, and in outside front elevation, two modifications of
stoves constructed with my improvements; the same letters are used to
denote correspondiug parts in the respective Figures.
A, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, represents the casing of the stove.
a, a, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, is a perforated top to stove.
B, Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, the tank or annular vessel for water.
C, Figs. 12, 4, 5, 6, circular opening through bottom of tank to supply
air to gas burner.
C, C, Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7, door or opening for lighting gas.
D, Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6 is the gas burner which is so arranged that
atmospheric air mixes with the gas before burning, decreasing the

page_text: consumption of gas, and intensifying the heat therefrom, and causing
the gas to burn without smell.
E, Figs. 1. 2, 5, 6, is the conical casing inclosing the burner which is
surrounded by water at foot B. The heat from the gas is driven through
the top of the conical casing by the draft admitted at the openings C,
and C, C, into the body of the stove, which becomes charged with
aqueous vapour, through which the heat returns by the outlet at foot of
pipe, marked F in Fig. 1, or by the outlet at foot of partition, marked K
in Fig. 5, freed from any unpleasant or sulphurous fumes.
F, Fig. 1, and F in Fig. 4 is a pipe open at top, and running through
to the bottom of the stove, open also about 1 inches from surface of
the water in tank B, and is the only outlet for the heat from the gas.
This pipe getting intensely hot from its proximity to the burner
consumes any surplus steam or vapour arising from the water.
F, F, in Figs. 2, 4, are two pipes passing through body of stove, and F*
in Fig. 5, is a single pipe running through the body of stove. Those
pipes which are open at top and bottom become heated, and external or
atmospheric air may be introduced into them by others leading from an
outer wall or from the floor where sufficient draft may be obtained,
thereby supplying a continual current of fresh warmed air into the
room, making the atmosphere of the apartment most agreeable and
healthy.
G, G, Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, are telescopic sliding ends, through which
external air may be communicated from holes in the floor where prac-
ticable to the pipes F, F, in Figs. 2 and 4, and F in Fig. 5, running
through the body of the stove.
H, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, is a gauge to indicate the supply of water in the
tank B, and by which the tank may be supplied.
I, Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, is a movable cap at foot of the gauge for the
purpose of emptying the tank B, when required.
K, in Fig. 5, and Fig. 8, is a partition from top of stove, running
through the body of it, leaving sufficient space between it and the outer
casing of the stove for the return of the heat, which passes through
an open space at foot of the said partition about an inch and a half
from surface of the water in tank B, and is the only outlet for the heat
from the gas.

page_text: Having now described my Invention, I would have it understood that
I claim the combination of parts forming respectively my improved
gas stoves, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Thomas, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Signed, sealed, and delivered,
by the above-named George
Thomas, in the presence of
HORACE PHILBRICK,
Solicitor,
Colchester,
GEORGE THOMAS. (L.S.)