IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BAKING OF BREAD, BISCUITS, AND OTHER FARINACEOUS ARTICLES.
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Yeldham Betts, of Coventry, in the County
of Warwick, Corn Factor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
BAKING OF BREAD, BISCUITS, AND OTHER FARINACEOUS ARTICLES.'
Sealed the 29th September 1865, and dated the 20th April 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Yeldham Betts at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with ais Petition, on tho
20th April 1865.
I, JOHN YELDHAM BETTS, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Corn
Factor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE BAKING OF BREAD, BISCUITS, AND OTHER FARINACEOUS ARTICLES," to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved process of baking, whereby the
quality of the bread and other farinaceous articles operated upon will be
greatly improved, the chemical change set up by the heat of the oven being
more thorough throughout the loaf, and from which there results an economy
to the manufacturer, and lighter and more wholesome bread (with an improved
appearance) than is ordinarily obtained. These advantages I attain by the
introduction of steam into the ordinary or any approved oven charged with tho
dough to be baked, and heated in any well-known or approved way. The
steam will be supplied from an adjacent steam boiler. The oven I keep
charged with an atmosphere of steam for the greater portion of the time that
the charge of bread, biscuits, or other articles is submitted to the heat of the
oven, but a quarter of an hour (or more or less) before the oven is drawn [

page_text: cut off the supply of steam. The heat of the oven will superheat the steam
admitted thereto; and the more effectually to ensure this result I may coil the
steam supply pipe, or give it a turn or two round the interior of the oven.
The steam admitted to the oven will serve to keep open the pores of the
bread, and allow the heat effectually to penetrate the mass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Yeldham Betts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
YELDHAM BETTS, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Corn Factor,
send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Yeldbam Betts, Her special licence that I, the said John
Yeldham Betts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Yeldham Betts, 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 BAKING OF BREAD, BISCUITS, AND OTHER FARINACEOUS
ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Yeldham
Betts, 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 John Yeldham Betts, 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 (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to an improved process of baking, whereby the
quality of the bread and other farinaceous articles operated upon will be

page_text: greatly improved, the chemical change set up in the dough by the heat of the
oven being more thorough throughout the loaf than when baking in the ordinary
way. From my improved process of baking there results an economy to the
manufacturer, and lighter or more wholesome bread, combined with a better
appearance than is ordinarily obtained. These advantages I attain by the
introduction and use of steam in a peculiar way in the oven, which should be
a close one, and may be heated in any well-known or approved manner. The
steam may be introduced either immediately before or simultaneously with
the charge of dough being put into the oven, the object of the Invention being
to prevent the radiation of too great a heat from the roof of the oven, and to
equalize the heat therein; by so doing the formation of crust is retarded until
the heat has had time to penetrate to and act upon the centre of the loaf.
The steam will be supplied to the oven from an ordinary steam boiler
conveniently placed near to the oven, which is to be kept charged at the
commencement of the baking process with an atmosphere of steam for a
portion of the time, not exceeding fifteen minutes, after which time the steam
is to be cut off, and the baking is completed in the ordinary way without the
supply of any more steam.
The time and mode how and when to apply the steam are essential points
in carrying out the Invention, I would therefore observe that the steam should
be introduced into the oven either simultaneously with or immediately before
charging the oven, and that the supply of steam should be continued for a
certain time during the baking operation, as herein-before mentioned. It is
also important that the steam should be supplied by means of a pipe or pipes
placed either just above the dough or near to the roof of the oven. These
steam pipes are to be perforated laterally on each side, so as to supply the
steam in horizontal jets above the articles to be baked, and thus prevent its
being blown directly on to them. The steam without soddening the dough,
pastry, or other articles will thus be enabled to modify the ordinary dry heat
of the oven, and will produce the results and effect the advantages already
mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Yeldham Betts, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand sight hundred and sixty-fise.
J. Y. BETTS. (L.S.)