IMPROVEMENTS IN KITCHEN RANGES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Chambers Newton and George Dawson,
both of the Thorncliffe Iron Works, near Sheffield, in the County
of York, for the Invention of “ IMPROVEMENTS IN KITCHEN RANGES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Chambers
Newton and George Dawson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 29th March 1873.
We, THOMAS CHAMBERS NEWTON and GEORGE DAWSON, both of
the Thorncliffe Iron Works, near Sheffield, in the County of York, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KITCHEN RANGES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to improvements in that form of kitchen range
used for cooking and heating purposes, in which a close fire is used
having flues connected with it by which hot plates, and chambers, and
ovens, and boilers containing water are heated, and has for its objects an
improved arrangement of such flues by which the fierce draft of such

page_text: close fire-ranges as hitherto constructed is avoided, and by which the
cooking apparatus and ovens are heated and kept at the proper
temperature more readily and with less expenditure of fuel than has
heretofore been the case, and the ovens, and the hot plate, and the flues
are more readily and conveniently accessible than in such close fire-
cooking ranges as heretofore constructed.
Also of improved apparatus for converting the close fire into an
ordinary open fire when required.
In order to carry our Invention into operation we take a hot plate of
a kind similar to those ordinarily constructed and used in close fire
kitchen ranges, and having suitable openings (provided with loose.
covers) into or upon which different cooking vessels may be placed.
We arrange this hot plate (which may be of any convenient length and
width) at a height from the floor much less than has heretoforo been
usual in such ranges, and we prefer that such height should be about 1
twenty-one inches, and underneath the hot plate at or near its centre we
arrange a fire-grate having grate bars below a few inches only from the
ground, and bars (preferably moveable) in front which can be closed
entirely or partially by a hinged door, as and when required.
The sides of the fire-grate are formed by the inner sides of hollow
chambers in the upper part of which are formed horizontal flues which
communicate by means of openings with the sides of the fire-place
immediately beneath the hot plate, the bottom of which is thus kept
hot through its full length and width. Along the front edge of the hot
plate we arrange a bracket shelf which may be made moveable, and
which greatly facilitates the lifting on and off of kettles and other heavy
cooking vessels, since they may be drawn forward upon the bracket shelf
with great ease, and they may also be there readily looked into to ascertain
the progress of the cooking.
The hot plate may be made in two or more sections readily removeable
and changeable; or it may consist of a fixed frame into which different
plates constituting the hot plate are fitted.
The hollow chambers described above, which form the sides of the
fire-grate and which occupy the spaces between the fire-grate, and the
lower part of the ends of the entire structure which constitutes the range
may themselves be fitted with doors and used as hot chambers or ovens,
but we make two principal ovens of sheet iron rivetted, screwed, or

page_text: otherwise fastened together, and we arrange them upon a horizontal plate
which stretches across the full width and depth of the range to the ends
and back of which it is attached. This plate is arranged at such a height
as to leave convenient space for attending to the cooking processes which
are going on upon the hot plate already described. We prefer that the
plate should be about three feet six inches from the ground, and the
ovens resting upon it will therefore be at the most convenient height for
looking into them and for inserting and withdrawing any articles of
food which have to be baked in them.
Great advantage is thus obtained over that form of kitchen range
known as the "Leamington" kitchen range, and over other kitchen
ranges in which the ovens are placed inconveniently near the floor. We
make the plate upon which the ovens rest as described slope slightly
downwards in front, so that any steam or vapours rising from the hot
plate below may more readily escape to a chimney through openings as
herein-after described.
We do not confine ourselves to any particular form of ovens which
may be of any of the ordinary kinds provided with doors and with
openings for ventilation, and with internal fittings for trays or dishes.
Between the two ovens we arrange upon the supporting plate described
a chamber in which racks or other fittings are placed for the purpose of
heating plates, dishes, and other articles.
In order to heat each oven we make a hollow space between its outer
end and the outer end wall against which the range is fitted, and wo
carry up the hollow space or flue already described, which passes from
the side of the fire-grate underneath the hot plate to another flue or
space formed between the ends of the part of the range between the hot
plate and the plate upon which the oven rests and the outer end
wall of the range, and we also make a flue or hollow space passing
round the bottom of the oven, then up its inner end (between the oven
and the plate warming chamber) and over its top, and on the plate
forming the top of this flue above the oven we make an opening which
communicates with a chimney at any convenient point. By this
arrangement the hot air and gases from the fire after passing under the
hot plate proceed in a continuous current underneath the oven, along
its inner end and over its top, whilst its outer end, round which there
is no current is formed of a chamber which is constantly filled with
hot air.

page_text: Suitable dampers and openings for the purpose of cleaning the flues
are provided wherever necessary, and each oven is provided with an
arrangement of flues precisely similar, except that for one oven the flues
travel in one direction, and for the other oven in the other direction,
and by properly adjusting the dampers the supply of heat may be cut
off or regulated with either oven as required.
By the arrangements described the draft in the flues is always in an
upward direction, and as the flames never reach the ovens a perfectly
regular and uniform degree of heat may be attained and preserved with
much greater ease and certainty than in any such kitchen range as
heretofore constructed, and an inferior kind of fuel may be used for the
purpose of which a very small quantity is required, and great econony
is thus effected.
Ranges constructed according to our Invention may if desired be
made with only one oven instead of with two, as described.
In kitchen ranges constructed to be used with a close fire, as already
described, an arrangement is sometimes adopted by which when
required the close fire can be converted into an open fire.
The next part of our Invention consists of improved apparatus for
effecting this purpose in our kitchen range above described. For this
purpose we form the back of the space between the hot plate and the
plate upon which the ovens rest of a plate or plates in the centre of
which immediately opposite the fire-grate we make an opening of
suitable size communicating directly with the chimney. This opening
is ordinarily closed by two doors turning upon vertical hinges in such
manner that when opened they form sides which continue the sides of
the fire-grate upwards to the bottom of the plate on which the ovens
rest. The centre of the hot plate is then removed and is placed in a
position inclining backwards at its upper end and fitting between the
two opened doors described, with its lower edge resting in a groove
formed at the upper edge of the back of the fire-grate or of the hot
plate frame, and its upper end resting against the front of a boiler
(preferably of wrought iron) which we arrange at the back of the range
so that its lower part forms the back of the fire-place, and its upper
part forms a back to the lower part of the opening between the two
opened doors described, and to as large a part as may be required of the
back of the kitchen range.

page_text: We make the hinges or pivots upon which the doors described turn
consist of a shorter pivot below and a longer one above, so that when the
doors are lifted for the purpose of removing them the lower hinge is
disengaged and the doors can be inclined forward sufficiently for the
upper hinge also to be disengaged. In order to allow them to be
lifted we make them too short at the top to fill up the entire space
they cover when closed, and through the opening thus left any steam
and vapours rising from the hot plate escapes to the chimney. By
opening the doors just described, throwing back the centre of the hot
plate in the way described, closing the dampers of the ovens, and
opening the door in front of the fire-grate, the close fire-range is at onco
converted into an open fire-place in the usual way. We make an
opening in the top plate where it covers the plate warming chamber
between the ovens, and we make a moveable sliding cover to this
opening for the greater convenience of sweeping the chimney, or for
other purposes.
The hot water cistern described may be arranged and used in the
usual way for the purpose of supplying hot water to any part of the
house, and pipes with suitable taps may be brought from it to the front
of the range to any convenient position.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letter
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Thomas
Chambers Newton and George Dawson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th October 1878.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
CHAMBERS NEWTON and GEORGE DAWSON, both of the Thorncliffe Iron
Works, near Sheffield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Chambers Newton and George
Dawson, Her special licence that we, the said Thomas Chambers Newton
and George Dawson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such

page_text: others as we, the said Thomas Chambers Newton and George Dawson,
our 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 i
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN KITCHEN RANGES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Thomas Chambers Newton and George Dawson, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and 1
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 on or before the Fourteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Chambers Newton and 1
George Dawson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
Drawing (that is to say) :—
Our Invention consists of improvements in that form of kitchen 2
range used for cooking and heating purposes, in which a close fire
is used having flues connected with it by which hot plates and
chambers, and ovens, and boilers containing water are heated; and
it has for its objects an improved arrangement of such flues by which
the fierce draft of such close fire-ranges as hitherto constructed is 2
avoided, and by which the cooking apparatus and ovens are heated
and kept at their proper temperature more readily and with greater
economy of fuel than has heretofore been the case, and the ovens, hot
plate, and flues are more readily and conveniently accessible than in
such close fire-cooking ranges as heretofore constructed.
Also of improvements in apparatus for converting the close fire, as
described, into an ordinary fire when required.
3
In order to carry our Invention into operation we take a hot plate
of a kind similar to those ordinarily constructed and used in close
fire kitchen ranges, and provided with suitable openings (fitted with 3
loose removeable covers) into or upon which different cooking vessels
may be placed. We arrange this hot plate, which may be of any

page_text: convenient length and width, at a height from the floor much less
than has been usual in such ranges as heretofore constructed, which
we are enabled to do by the improved arrangemement of ovens herein-
after described. We prefer that the height of the hot plate from the
floor should be about twenty-one inches (but it may be more or less),
and underneath it, at or near its centre, we arrange a fire-grate having
grate bars below, a few inches only above the floor, and bars in front
(preferably moveable), the spaces between which can be closed partially
or entirely by a hinged door as and when required.
The sides of the fire-grate are formed by the inner sides or ends of
hollow chambers, in the upper part of which are formed horizontal
flues extending to the ends of the hot plate, and communicating with
the fire by means of openings through the sides of the fire-place
immediately beneath the hot plate, the bottom of which is thus kept
hot through its entire length and width. Along the front edge of the
hot plate we prefer to arrange a bracket shelf which may be made
moveable, and which greatly facilitates the lifting on and off of kettles,
saucepans, and other heavy cooking vessels, since they may easily be
drawn forward upon the bracket shelf and may there be readily looked
into to examine the progress of the cooking.
The hot plate may be made in one piece or in two or more sections,
readily removeable and changeable; or it may consist of a fixed frame
into which different pieces, constituting the hot plate, are fitted.
The hollow chambers above described, which form the sides of the
fire-grate beneath the hot plate, and occupy the spaces between the
fire-grate and the lower part of the ends of the entire structure which
constitute the kitchen range, may themselves be fitted with doors and
used as hot chambers or ovens%; or one or both of them instead of
being hollow chambers may be built of suitable solid material, such as
masonry or brickwork having the horizontal flues above described formed
in their upper parts under the hot plate.
We make the principal ovens of sheet iron, rivetted, screwed, or
otherwise fastened together, or of other suitable material, and we
arrange them upon a horizontal plate which extends across the full
width and depth of the range, to the ends and back of which it is
attached. We arrange this plate at such a height as to leave con-
venient space for attending to the cooking processes which are going

page_text: on upon the hot plate already described, and we prefer that the height
of the plate from the floor should be about three feet six inches (but
it may be more or less), and the ovens resting upon it will then be
at the most convenient height for looking into them, and for intro-
ducing and withdrawing any articles of food which have to be baked
in them.
"
Great advantage is obtained by our method of arrangement over that
form of kitchen range known as the " Leamington kitchen range,
and over other kitchen ranges in which the ovens are placed incon-
veniently near to the floor.
We do not confine ourselves to any particular form of ovens, which
may be of any of the ordinary kinds provided with doors and with
openings for ventilation, and with internal fittings for trays or dishes.
We make the plate upon which the ovens rest, as above described,
inclined slightly downwards in front, so that any steam or vapours
rising from the hot plate below may more readily escape to a chimney
through openings herein-after described. Between the two ovens we
arrange upon the supporting plate described a chamber in which racks
or other fittings are provided for the purpose of heating plates, dishes,
or other articles.
In order to heat the ovens we make a hollow space between the
outer end of each and the outer end wall against which the range
is fitted, and we carry the horizontal flue already described (which
passes under the hot plate from the side of the fire-grate) up through
another vertical flue or space formed between the end of the part
of the range forming the space between the hot plate and the plate
upon which the ovens rest and the outer end wall of the range; and
we also make a flue or hollow space passing from the flue last
described first underneath the bottom of the oven, then up its inner
end (between the oven and the plate-warming chamber already
described) and over its top, and in the plate forming the top of this
flue above the oven we make an opening which communicates with
a chimney at any convenient point. By this construction and arrange-
ment of flues, as just described, the hot air and gases from the fire,
after passing under the hot plate, proceed in a continuous current
underneath the oven, up its inner end, and over its top; whilst its
outer end, round which there is no current, is formed of a chamber

page_text: which is a continuation of the vertical part of the flue, and is constantly
filled with hot air.
We provide suitable dampers and openings for the purpose of cleaning
the flues, whenever necessary, and cach oven is provided with an
arrangement of flues precisely similar, except that where in one oven the
flues travel in one direction laterally, in the other oven they travel in tho
opposite direction laterally. By properly adjusting the dampers the
supply of heat may be cut off and regulated to either oven as required.
By our arrangements of flues described the draft in the flues always
tends in an upward direction, and, as the flames never reach the ovens, a
perfectly regular and uniform degree of heat may be attained and
preserved with much greater ease and certainty than in any such kitchen
range as heretofore constructed, and an inferior fuel may be used, of
which only a small quantity is required, and great economy is thus
effected.
Ranges constructed according to our Invention may, if desired, be
made with only one oven, instead of two, as described.
In kitchen ranges constructed to be used with a close fire, as already
described, an arrangement is sometimes used by which the close fire can
be converted, when desired, into an open one. Where it is wished that
such an arrangement should be applied to ranges constructed according
to our Invention, we form the back of the space included between the
hot plate and the plate upon which the ovens rest of a plate or plates, in
the part of which immediately opposite the fire-grate we make an
opening of suitable size, communicating directly with the chimney
through a vertical flue at the back of the plate-warming chamber. This
opening we ordinarily close (when a close fire is used) by two doors
turning upon vertical hinges, and overlapping each other when closed,
so that when opened they form sides, which continue the sides of the
fire-grate upward to the bottom of the plate on which the ovens rest.
The centre of the hot plate is then lifted up, and is placed in a position
inclining backwards at its upper end, and fitting between the opened
doors, and having its lower edge resting in a groove or recess formed on
the upper edge of the back of the fire-grate or of the frame of the hot
plate, and its upper end resting against the front of a boiler which we fix
at the back of the range, so that the front of its lower part forms the back
of the fire-place, and its upper part forms a back to the lower part of the

page_text: opening between the two doors described, and to as large a part of the back
of the kitchen range as may be required. We make the hinges or pivots
upon which the doors turn consist of a shorter pin or pivot at the lower
edge of each door, and a longer one at the upper edge of each door, so that
when the doors are lifted for the purpose of removing them the lower
pin or pivot is disengaged, and the door can be inclined forward below
sufficiently for the upper pin or pivot also to be disengaged. In order
to allow the doors to be lifted for such purpose we make them too short
at the top to fill up the entire space they cover when closed, and
through the opening thus left any steam or vapours rising from the hot
plate or the cooking vessels upon it escape to the chimney. By opening
the doors just described, throwing back the central part of the hot plate
in the way described, opening the door in front of the fire-grate, and if
required closing the dampers which regulate the heat supplied to the
ovens, the close fire range is at once converted into an open fire-place.
We make an opening in the top plate where it covers the plate-warming
chamber between the ovens, and we make a moveable cover to this
opening for greater facility in sweeping the chimney or repairing the
kitchen range or flues.
The hot water boiler described may be arranged and used in the usual
way for the purpose of supplying hot water to any part of the house, and
pipes having suitable taps and valves may be fitted to it for the purpose
of keeping it supplied with water, or for bringing the hot water from it
to any convenient position at the front of the range.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of our Invention.
Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of a kitchen range or stove con-
structed according to our Invention; Figure 2 is a cross vertical section
of the same on the line A in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front sectional
elevation of the same with the front plates removed; Figure 4 is a
sectional plan of the same on the line B in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a sec-
tional plan of the same on the line C in Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a
plan of the top plate over the ovens. The same letters of reference
indicate the same parts in the several Figures.
a is the hot plate provided with openings fitted with covers, as shewn
in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5, and arranged at a height of about twenty-one
inches from the floor; 6 is the fire-grate, the front of which can be
partially closed by the door c. A hollow chamber or oven d, closed by

page_text: the door e, is shewn at one side of the fire-grate, and a similar one may
be provided, if required, on the opposite side. f is a bracket shelf,
arranged along the front edge of the hot plate a; g, g³, are horizontal
lateral flues passing from the fire under the hot plate a and into the
vertical flues h, h', whence the horizontal flues i, i¹, pass under the
roasting ovens k, k¹, then vertically up at I, I, between the ovens k, k',
and the plate-warming chamber m, then horizontally over the top of the
ovens at n, n¹, and through openings o, o¹, into the chimney p, as shewn
by the dotted lines in Figure 3. The ovens k, k¹, fitted with the doors j,j³,
and the flues i, 2, beneath them, are supported by the plate r, which is
made to incline down slightly in front, as shewn in Figure 2, where also
openings are shown through which the air can pass, as shewn by the
arrows under the bottom of the plate-warming chamber m into the
vertical flues at the back of the chamber n into the chimney p. The
spaces t, f, at the other end of the ovens k, k³, are constantly filled with
hot air. Dampers v, v³, and openings w, w, 20, w, for cleaning the flues
are provided where necessary. y is a boiler fixed at the back of the
fire-grate 6, and communicating with the tap z.
In Figures 1, 3, and 5, are shown the hinged plates by which the close
range is converted into an open fire. E, E¹, are the doors overlapping
each other when closed (Figure 5), and turning upon the pivots or
pins F, F. The doors are shewn partly opened in Figures 1 and 3.
Having now described our Invention, and the manner in which it is
to be performed, we claim,-
The novel construction and arrangement of the fire-grate, hot plate
flues, and oven or ovens above the hot plate, substantially as and for the
purposes described and shewn in the Drawing.
Also the novel construction and arrangement of the doors, the flue at
the back of the range, the moveable part of the centre of the hot plate,
for the purpose of converting the close range into an open fire-grate,
substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in the Drawing.
Also the arrangement of plate-heating chamber above the hot plate,
and adjoining the oven or ovens, and the method of heating such plate-
warming chamber, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.
Also the arrangement, in combination with the hot plate and oven or
ovens above the hot plate, of one or more heating chambers below the
hot plate, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.

page_text: Also the general arrangement of the apparatus, substantially as
described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Chambers Newton and
George Dawson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.