Improvements in Gas Heated Smoothing Irons and Parts in Connection therewith.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 20th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 21st Jan., 1887.
Improvements in Gas Heated Smoothing Irons and Parts in
Connection therewith.
I, WALTER BEECROFT of Swinegate, Leeds in the County of York, Mechanical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
The object of my invention is to utilize the heat generated from gas for the base or
bottom portion of the iron and to keep the top portion cool.
The iron is cast of usual external form and the interior is divided horizontally by a
web or partition forming an upper and lower chamber.
The lower chamber contains the burner or burners and in it I provide a con-
siderable number of vertical pillars connecting the dividing web or partition and
the base.
When the gas is ignited the flame impinges upon the pillars which absorb a great
amount of heat, this is transmitted from them to the base of the iron and the flame is
confined by the partition to the lower chamber and therefore to a considerable extent
depriving the upper portion of the iron of the heat which would otherwise be imparted
thereto.
The top portion of the iron becoming hot is very objectionable to the user and is a
great waste of heat.
At the gas connection I employ the usual means for admitting atmospheric air, but
I also employ a loose gas check which can be renewed or changed at pleasure. This
gas check is inserted in a socket applied between the gas tube connection and the
point for admission of air.
In order to strengthen and stiffen the flexible tube at the connection with the iron
I cover the same to any required extent with a metal coil or spring which though pro-
tecting and strengthening the tube allows of the required amount of flexibility of the
tube and free movement of the iron.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 2 an end elevation shewing my improve-
ments. Figs. 3 and 4 are sections of details of the same.
The iron A is cast of usual external form, and the interior is divided horizontally
by a web or partition B thereby forming an upper chamber and lower chamber D.
The lower chamber D contains the burner or burners E and in such chamber I pro-
vide a considerable number of pillars F, connecting the dividing web or partition B
and the base G of the iron A.
When the gas is ignited the flame impinges upon the pillars F which absorb a great
amount of heat, this is transmitted from them to the base G of the iron A, and the
flame is confined by the partition B to the lower chamber D, and therefore to a con-
siderable extent depriving the upper portion H of the iron A of the heat which would
otherwise be imparted thereto.
The top portion H of the iron A becoming hot is very objectionable to the user and
is a great waste of heat.
The burner or burners E may be cast solid on the base G of the iron A as shewn
at Fig. 1 and separate from the end cover I, or cast solid with the end cover I as
shewn at Fig. 4.
The air is admitted above the base G of the iron A through holes J and also
through the gauze K provided in the end cover I, and the large holes L are provided
for the exit of the products of combustion.
At the gas connection M I employ the usual means for admitting atmospheric air,
but I also employ a loose gas check N which can be screwed or otherwise secured in
its position and can be renewed or changed at pleasure, for regulating the flow of gas.
This gas check N is inserted in a socket O applied between the gas tube connection P
and the point for admission of air R as shewn in details at Fig. 3.
In order to stiffen and strengthen the flexible tubo S at the connection I cover the
same to any required extent with a metal coil or spring T which though protecting
and strengthening the tube S allows of the required amount of flexibility of such tube
and free movement of the iron A.

page_text: The metal coil or spring T is applicable for other similar purposes than smoothing
irons.
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 :-
1st. The general arrangement and construction of smoothing iron A, having a
partition or web B forming an upper chamber and lower chamber D, substantially
as and for purposes herein set forth.
2nd. The arrangement and application of pillars F for absorbing the heat and
transmitting the same to the base G of the iron A substantially as herein set forth.
3rd. The application of gauze K provided in the cover I for the admission of air to
the lower chamber D, substantially as herein set forth.
4th. The employment of gas check N, substantially as and for purposes herein set
forth.
5th. The employment of a metal coil or spring T round the flexible tube S for pro-
tecting and strengthening the same, substantially as herein set forth.
6th. The arrangement and combination of smoothing iron A and the means employed
for heating the same, substantially as herein set forth.
J. W. HARDING,
For the Applicant.