IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING DECOCTIONS OR INFUSIONS OF COFFEE, TEA, AND LIKE BEVERAGES, AND MAINTAINING THE HEAT THEREOF
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hugh Adams Silver, of Sun Court, Cornhill, in the City of
London, Merchant and Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING DECOCTIONS OR INFUSIONS OF COFFEE, TEA,
AND LIKE BEVERAGES, AND MAINTAINING THE HEAT THEREOF."
Sealed the 7th February 1879, and dated the 7th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hugh Adams Silver at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1878.
HUGH ADAMS SILVER, of Sun Court, Cornhill, in the City of London, Merchant
and Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING DECOCTIONS
OR INFUSIONS Of Coffee, Tea, AND LIKE BEVERAGES, AND MAINTAINING THE HEAT
THEREOF."
For the purposes of my Invention I construct a casing of any convenient shape
and size and line the interior with loose fibres, hair, or other non conductor of heat
over which a fabric is fitted to retain the fibres in a conpact form.
The packing
within the casing is shaped to receive a metal or an earthenware vessel within
which is another vessel for holding or containing the coffee, tea, or other body from
which the decoction or infusion has to be produced. A space between the two
vessels is provided into which water can be placed, and the aperture or water inlet
closed by a screw, or plug, or cap. The inner vessel has a tap or spout leading to the
outside of the casing to enable the contents to be drawn off when desired, and a lid
is fitted to the upper part to prevent escape of the aroma or vapour that may arise
during the infusion.
In some cases the inner vessel only is of earthenware.
The outer casing is in two parts and the meeting edges of it and also those of
the lining fabric touch each other when in position to prevent atmospheric contact
with the vessels. The inner vessel in most cases has a rim near the upper part to
carry a bag or receptacle for holding the ground coffee, tea, or other substance to
keep it apart from the water.

page_text: The two vessels as one article can be easily removed from the casing and can be
placed over a fire or over gas jets to effect the necessary heating of the water within
the outer vessel, which heat is communicated to the contents of the inner vessel there-
from. The two vessels as one article can then be arranged in the packed outer
casing and enclosed to prevent loss of heat by radiation and consequently to maintain
a high degree of heat for a long period.
The apparatus is particularly adapted for restaurants and cafés where large con-
sumption is effected, and also for private families.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hugh Adams Silver in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th June
1879.
HUGH ADAMS SILVER, of Sun Court, Cornhill, in the City of London, Merchant
and Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING DECOCTIONS
OR INFUSIONS OF COFFEE, TEA, AND LIKE BEVERAGES, AND MAINTAINING THE HEAT
THEREOF."
For the purpose of my Invention I construct a casing of any convenient shape
and size and line the interior with loose fibres, hair, or other non conductor of heat
over which a fabric is fitted to retain the fibres in a compact form.
The packing within the casing is shaped to receive a metal or an earthenware
vessel, within which is another vessel for holding or containing the coffee, tea,.or
other body from which the decoction or infusion has to be produced.
A space
between the two vessels is provided into which water can be placed and the aperture
or water inlet closed by a screw or other plug or cap. The inner vessel has a tap
or spout leading to the outside of the casing to enable the contents to be drawn off
when desired and a lid is fitted to the upper part to prevent escape of the aroma or
vapour that may arise during the infusion.
In some cases the inner vessel only is of earthenware.
The outer casing is in two or more parts and the meeting edges of it and also
those of the lining fabric touch each other when in position to prevent atmospheric
contact with the vessels. The inner vessel in most cases has a rim near the upper
part to carry a bag or receptacle for holding the ground coffee, tea, or other substance
to keep it apart from the water.
The two vessels as one article can be easily removed from the casing and can be
placed over a fire or over gas jets to effect the necessary heating of the water within
the outer vessel, which heat is communicated to the contents of the inner vessel
therefrom. The two vessels as one article can then be arranged in the packed outer
casing and enclosed to prevent loss of heat by radiation and consequently to maintain
a high degree of heat for a long period.
The apparatus is particularly adapted for restaurants and cafés where large
consumption is effected, and also for private families.

page_text: This Invention is based upon a previous Patent granted to Henri Adrien Bonne-
ville, dated 23rd August 1867, No. 2417, and duly assigned to my Firm, S. W. Silver
& Company, under a deed of Assignment.
"
The present Invention clearly represented in the annexed Drawings, of which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus composed of an outer vessel or
casing A, preferably of wood, lined with a packing of loose fibre B held in place by
a canvas or a felted fabric jacket C shaped" to suit an earthen or pottery
ware or a metallic vessel D which it fits closely at the sides and at the bottom. The
casing A, packing B, and fabric C at the side or sides of the vessel D only reaches
a short distance up from the bottom of the apparatus, the body and the upper portion
of the vessel D being covered by a removable lid E, this being also similarly packed
and provided with a canvas or felted fabric lining shaped to the upper part of the
vessel D as to be in close contact therewith. The lower portion of the outer casing
has a deep flange or lip F to take well over the upper portion of the lower casing,
as shown, to make that portion, in combination with the meeting edges of the two
canvas or felted fabric linings, a hermetic joint to prevent atmospheric contact with
the vessel D when the apparatus is charged or in operation. G is an inner vessel
fitted as to leave a clear space for water between it and the vessel D, the upper
part having a screw plug aperture H to enable water to be poured in when
necessary. The inner vessel G is provided with a tap I leading to the outside of the
casing A that the contents may be drawn off, as before explained. The upper inner
edge of this inner vessel G has a fillet or rib for supporting a canvas or other bag
or strainer J. for containing the ground coffee, tea, or other solid ingredient from
which the infusion has to be made, and when this strainer is placed in position a
close fitting lid is arranged above to prevent escape of aroma or steam from the infusion
which is within the vessel G, the lid of the outer casing being then put on to
completely close the vessel, as will be understood.
This apparatus is preferably of moderate dimensions and capable of being placed
on, say, the counter of a restaurant, café, or coffee tavern, within easy reach for
serving customers, the outer casing being in two portions that on the removal of
the lid the vessels as one article can be removed without disturbing the bottom
casing, to enable a fresh infusion to be prepared, fresh water to be placed between
the two vessels D, G, or for cleaning or other purposes. Should the water between
the two vessels D, G, be put in in a cold state the vessels can be placed over a fire
or over gas jets to heat the water to the desired temperature and then the screw plug
can be inserted, but should boiling water be placed in the screw plug can be put in
at once, the vessels being then placed into the casing A and the lid put on, the heat
retaining properties of the packing preventing radiation or evaporation, consequently
the contents of the inner vessel G partake of the same temperature as that of the
water in the vessel D.
I have referred to the inner vessel G as being of earthen or pottery ware but it
may be of metal as well as that of the outer vessel D as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 shows the two vessels of earthen or pottery ware, these being fitted
within a packed casing in a similar manner as that described for Figure 1.
When it is not desirable that the apparatus be removable a gas jet can be ar-
ranged under the outer vessel D, as represented in Figure 4, to heat its water, the
metal ledge K upon which the vessel D rests being so arranged that no light nor
flame heat can pass up to interfere with the packing.
In Figures 1 and 4 I have shown the outer casing A of square shape, but in Figure
5 I have shown it of circular shape and the outer casing of metal, I do not, however,
limit myself to any particular shape, neither do I limit myself to placing or arranging
one double vessel within a packed exterior casing, as will be understood by the
examples shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings.
In Figure 6 I have represented an apparatus with three contents vessels in the
same casing A, within which three distinct beverages can be kept at a high temper-
ature by the packing, this apparatus being particularly adapted for picnic or boating
parties, or for outdoor sports or pastime, assemblies, or when travelling; a lighted

page_text: lamp placed under the centre vessel containing, say, water, being alone necessary to
raise the temperature to near boiling point for mixing with spirits for making
grog, etc., the teinperance liquors being also kept at the desired heat by the
packing.
By a simple connection of pipes between the three outer vessels the water of the
whole of the apparatus may be in communication.
Figure 7 shows three vessels (similar to that described for Figure 1) within á
single outer casing A and with the contents of the inner vessels indicated on the taps,
tea, water, coffee.
This apparatus is specially applicable for long journey railway travelling or for
river steam boats, sea going vessels, yachts, and the like; the capacity of the vessels
D, G, and the heat retaining properties of the packing serving to accomodate a
number of passengers or visitors for a long period without necessity of renewing the
contents or risk of the contents becoming cold. In warm weather by pouring brine
into the vessel D articles placed in the vessel G can be kept cold, or by placing ice
in the vessel G very cold water can be drawn from the vessel D.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The special combination of apparatus arranged as described with reference
to Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings, for the purposes set forth, as an improvement
upon the Norwegian apparatus described in Specification of Patent, No. 241767,
before referred to.
Secondly. I claim the modifications of complete apparatus heieinbefore described
and represented in the annexed Drawings, Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, for the purposes
set forth, as improvements upon the Norwegian apparatus described in Specification
of Patent, No. 2417, before referred to.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hugh Adams Silver, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent,
40, Fleet Street,
London.
HUGH A. SILVER. (L.S.)