Improvements in Gas Heated Laundry Irons and like Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1897-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Heated Laundry Irons and like Instruments.
We, RICHMOND AND COMPANY, LIMITED, Gas Engineers, and EDMOND
WALTER TYRRELL RICHMOND, Managing Director, all of Academy Street,
Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to gas heated irons used for ironing in laundrys, and for
ironing by tailors, and others; and has for its object more particularly to provide
improvements in such instruments, by which the heating thereof is more efficiently
effected, and the work performed by them improved, to render the action of the
heating burner more effective and reliable, and generally to provide improvements
in such irons and produce a more serviceable and better instrument.
According to this invention, in a laundry iron, tailors goose, or like instrument,
the flame of a Bunsen burner is distributed along the interior of the iron and
directed onto the bottom of same. An aperture or apertures is or are provided in
the sides of the box by which air is admitted to effect complete and proper
combustion of the gas; and air is also admitted to the interior at the back end of
the box, at which end the burner inlet, which is outside and at the upper part
of the box, is placed, while at the front end a short funnel, directed upwards and
away from the user of the instrument is placed, for carrying away the products
of combustion and directing them away from the user.
The burner is arranged internally longitudinally along the upper part of the
box and has a number of nozzles or holes along it at which the flames burn in
jets, such flames being directed onto the box bottom, and this burner in one case
is cast on and forms part of the upper part of the box.
The inlet of the burner at the back end, standing at an inclination upwards, is
provided at the upper part with the gas inlet and nozzle, and with a transverse
tube open at both ends through which the air to support combustion is introduced.
By this construction, when the iron is being moved to and fro, air is not forced
into or away from the inlet, thereby preventing the firing back of the burner;
also by this construction, when the iron is moved sideways, the air can pass freely
through the tube without affecting the proper action of the burner or causing
back firing.
The bottom of the box inside, is of irregular formation, as corrugations or the
like, onto which the flame jets impinge. By this a greater heating area is
provided than by a flat surface, and by the longitudinal arrangement of the
burners and distribution of the jets of flame, the heating of the bottom of the box
is distributed and rendered equal all over.
Above the top plate or roof of the box, a non-conducting layer of asbestos or
equivalent material is provided, and above this a top plate or cover is fitted, on
which the handle carriers are fixed; and, in some cases, a shield consisting of
double thin sheet metal plates, with a non-conductor, as asbestos, between them,
is provided, such shield being fastened at the ends of the handle, say by the bolt
which passes through the handle and its supports.
In one form of general construction of the box, it (the box) is made in three
parts, namely, the lower part or bottom, the roof or upper main part of the box,

page_text: and the top cover; and bolts, projecting from the bottom, up through the interior
of the box and the upper parts, fasten all these parts together.
The air apertures at the side in this case are conveniently provided by forming
slots along the sides between the bottom part and the upper main part, ledges or
lips being provided on the sides of the lower part inside, to cause the air to pass
upwards. Then to prevent a direct outflow onto the flame jets, the sides of the
box, in this case, are formed partly on the lower part or bottom of the box, and
partly on the upper part or roof of the box.
Dated this 31st day of March 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.
We, RICHMOND AND COMPANY, LIMITED, Gas Engineers, and EDMUND
WALTER TYRRELL RICHMOND, Managing Director, all of Academy Street,
Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, 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 gas heated irons used for ironing in laundrys, and for
ironing by tailors, and others; and has for its object more particularly to provide
improvements in such instruments, by which the beating thereof is more efficiently
_effected, and the work performed by them improved, to render the action of the
heating burner more effective and reliable, and generally to provide improvements
in such irons and produce a more serviceable and better instrument.
According to this invention, in a laundry iron, tailors goose, or like instrument,
the flame of a Bunsen burner is distributed along the interior of the iron and
direct onto the bottom of same. An aperture or apertures is or are provided in
the sides of the box by which air is admitted to effect complete and proper com-
bustion of the gas; and air is also admitted to the interior at the back end of
the box, at which end the burner inlet, which is outside and at the upper part of
the box, is placed, while at the front end a short funnel, directed upwards and
away from the user of the instrument is placed, for carrying away the products of
combustion and directing them away from the user.
The burner is arranged internally longitudinally along the upper part of the
hox and has a number of nozzles or holes along it at which the flames burn in
jets, such flames being directed onto the box bottom, and this burner in one case
is cast on and forms part of the upper part of the box.
The inlet of the burner at the back end standing at an inclination upwards, is
provided at the upper part with the gas inlet and nozzle, and with a transverse
tube open at both ends through which the air to support combustion is introduced.
By this construction, when the iron is being moved to and fro, air is not forced
into or away from the inlet, thereby preventing the firing back of the burner;
also by this construction, when the iron is moved sideways, the air can pass freely
through the tube without affecting the proper action of the burner or causing
,back firing.
The bottom of the box inside, is of irregular formation, as corrugations or the
like, onto which the flame jets impinge. By this a greater heating area is
provided than by a flat surface, and by the longitudinal arrangement of the
burners and distribution of the jets of flame, the heating of the bottom of the
box is distributed and rendered equal all over.

page_text: Above the top plate or roof of the box, a non-conducting ay
quivalent material is provided, and above this a top plate or cover is fitted, on
hich the handle carriers are fixed; and, in some cases, a shield consisting of
ouble thin sheet metal plates, with a non-conductor, as asbestos, between them,.
provided, such shield being fastened at the ends of the handle, say by the bolt
hich passes through the handle and its supports.
In one form of general construction of the box, it (the box) is made in three
arts, namely, the lower part or bottom, the upper part of the box, and the top
over; and bolts, projecting from the bottom, up through the interior of the box
nd the upper parts, fasten all these parts together.
The air apertures at the side in this case are conveniently provided by forming
lots along the sides between the bottom part and the upper main part, ledges or
lips being provided on the sides of the lower part inside, to cause the air to pass
upwards. Then to prevent a direct outflow onto the flame jets, the sides of the
box, in this case, are formed partly ou the lower part or bottom of the box, and
partly on the upper part or roof of the box.
Referring to the drawings illustrating this invention,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a gas heated laundry iron according to this
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan in section taken at the line A. A Figure 1, and
Figure 3 illustrates the construction of the iron in transverse section.
In the drawing, a is the burner proper, which is an elongated one and disposed.
longitudinally within a chamber formed in the iron; and it is fed with air and gas.
through the inlet conduits b and c, respectively, which are fixed upon, and supply
downwards
the mixed air and gas through, the mixing tube d. The flame nozzles al of the
burner are arranged in a row at either side, and direct the jets of gas
towards and onto the bottom of the iron.
The body of the iron, in the case shewn, is made, mainly, of two parts, the
lower part e, and the upper part ; whilst above these there is a roof or covering
plate ; all three parts being held together by the studs and nuts i. The inner
surface of the lower part e is corrugated as shewn; and upon these corrugations
the flames of the burner impinge. The corrugations form an extended surface for
the reception of heat, and its transinission to the iron bottom.
Between the bottom part e, and the upper part f, along each side of the iron,
5 there is an aperture k for the inlet of air; and just within this aperture there is
provided an upwardly projecting ledge e on the bottom portion e of the iron, which
prevents the direct flow of air from the outside onto the burner and flames; but
causes it to first ascend as shown by the arrow, thereby protecting the flame against
direct currents of air, and consequent improper action of the burner. Then, also,
10 at the back of the iron there is another aperture for the entrance of air. These
secondary air supplies promote the perfect and desired combustion of the gas within
the iron.
In the case shewn, the burner a, with its mixing tube d, are cast in one with the
upper part of the iron, the burner extending down from same into the body o
45 the lower part e, in the manner shewn. Generally, the upper part forms a wal
all round the iron, being open both at the top and bottom; and it is supporte
upon the bottom part e, at the nose, and at each angle of the back of the iro
where it is carried down and rests on the ledge of the part e directly below.
The roof of the iron is generally designated A, and encloses the whole of th
5 iron, it being held down upon f, us stated, by the stud bolts i. This cover
provided on its inside, above the burner a, with a plate or casing ; and in th
case, between 1 and the cover proper h, a filling of asbestos m or other suitable ba
conductor of heat is provided. This construction affords a non-conducting cov
or shield, and diminishes the radiation of heat towards the handle of the ir
55 At the front part of the cover, the outlet or funnel o is provided, the mouth
which is carried forward and to one side, as shewn. This funnel carries away
the products of combustion from the interior of the iron.

page_text: The handle p of the iron is made of wood or other suitable heat non-conductor ;
and is carried by a bolt g, supported by the brackets r, one of which is formed on
the funnel o, and the other upon the mixing tube d of the burner. Between this
handle and the roof or cover h of the iron, a shield of double thin sheet metal
with asbestos or the like between them, s is provided, which serves as a shield
between the handle and the iron. It is supported and held in place by the bolt g,
which clamps its ends, they being carried up, as shewn, and placed between the
handle p and the brackets r.
The conduit d by which the air is supplied to the burner to support combustion
of the gas, is open at both ends, and communicates with d at the centre. It is
horizontally disposed, its axis being arranged transversely to the direction of length
of the mixing tube b. The effect of this arrangement is, that the flow of air into
the mixing tube and burner is not interfered with by the movement of the iron in
action; and cross.currents of air also do not affect the action of the burner, or
cause it to fire back or act improperly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A gas heated laundry iron or like instrument, comprising a hollow body,
a burner within it arranged and adapted to act as described, supplemental air inlets
around it, air and gas supply mixing tube, and gas discharge funnel; arranged and
adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a gas heated laundry iron or like instrument, a horizontal burner, such as a,
arranged inside same, and having flame nozzles; and the upper surface of the
bottom of the iron body being provided with corrugations or equivalent formations;
on which the flames of the burner are adapted to act; substantially as and for the
purposes described.
3. A gas heated laundry iron or like instrument comprising a burner a disposed
longitudinally within the body of same, and having a shielded or protected supple-
mental air inlet along the sides, and an air inlet at the back; substantially as set
forth.
4. In a gas heated laundry iron or like instrument, a gas and air burner in which
the air is introduced to the air and gas mixing tube by a conduit open at two points,
and connecting with said mixing tube at a point between said points: substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
5. A gas heated laundry iron or like instrument, comprising a burner within the
body of same, and having above it a protected cover or roof filled or packed with
heat non-conducting substance; substantially as and for the purposes set forth..
6. A gas heated laundry iron or the like having its parts constructed, arranged,
and adapted to operate, as set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings
hereto annexed.
Deted this 21st dor of December 1906
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.