IMPROVEMENTS IN BOX IRONS AND IN MECHANISM FOR APPLYING PRESSURE THERETO WHEN IN USE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lano, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN BOX IRONS AND IN MECHANISM FOR APPLYING PRESSURE THERETO WHEN
IN USE." A communication from abroad by Jean Georges Ruger, of Paris;
France.
Sealed the 21st December 1877, and dated the 6th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th July 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOX IRONS AND IN MECHANISM FOR APPLYING
PRESSURE THERETO WHEN IN USE." [A communication from abroad by Jean
Georges Ruger, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to what are called box irons, which are heated by a
combustible within them.
The improvements have for object,-
First. To so regulate the combustion as to enable the beat of the iron to be varied
at will.
Secondly. To provide means or apparatus for applying the necessary pressure to
the iron, which merely requires to be guided, thereby avoiding fatigue even when
ironing the thickest materials; moreover, the apparatus being worked by a treadle,
as herein-after described, both hands are free to give the desired form to the fabric
being ironed.
The improvements in the iron consists in a rotary valve for regulating the ad-
mission of air to support the combustion, a movable chimney for the escape of the
gaseous products of combustion, the chimney being adjustable to discharge the gases
in the direction least liable to interfere with the operator or to injure the material.
The chimney has the further advantage of being out of the way of the iron handle,
which is not liable to become heated by its proximity.
The iron is a metal box heated internally by fuel burning upon a grate, the
combustion being governed by regulating the air supply. -

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing shows a side elevation of a box iron, the
chimney being turned towards this side.
n
Figure 2 is a plan with the top of the iron removed.
Figure 3 is a rear end elevation.
Figure 4 is a section taken through the longitudinal axis, the chimney being
turned backwards.
Figure 5 is a plan of the entire iron.
Figure 6, a plan and face view of the door of the ash pan.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The iron shewn of the kind used by hatmakers, but it will be understood that the
form may be varied ad libitum.
A, box iron with a polished face a; B, grate for the fuel supported on small
blocks b cast or fixed to A; C, partition by which the air is conducted beneath
the grate B. The partitions separating what I will call an inlet air chamber from the
rest of the space in A, with which it can only communicate between the grate
bars B, so that the air for combustion is separated from the gaseous products of
combustion.
The air supply is regulated by the rotary plate or valve E, covering the air
inlet openings d, d, formed in the heel plate D of the box iron in one above, and
the other below the level of the fire-grate.
The plate E turns on a centre e, and is adjusted to cover, more or less, the inlet
orifices d, d¹, d¹. G, cover hinged at g to the heel end of the iron, and locked at
the front end by a thumb screw g¹.
The chimney H is mounted over an aperture in cover G at the back part, in
which it is secured by the flanged thimble . J, ash pan; K, handle made of non-
conducting material, mounted to turn between upright h, k, fixed on or formed
with cover G; L, Figure 6, cover plate with spring catches l, l, for the opening dat
which the ash pan is emptied; M, sheet-iron baffle slate fixed by screw m to cover
G, the burnt gases escaping through m¹, m¹, to the chimney H. The gases are thus
obliged to traverse the whole length of the iron, so as to impart the maximum amount
of heat, the air supply being also distributed equally through the whole area of the
grate surface, thus rendering the combustion uniform at all points.
Figure 7 shows a longitudinal elevation, and Figure 8 an end view of the
apparatus for applying pressure to the iron as it appears when in use.
Figure 9 is an elevation of the apparatus, the iron being raised.
In these three Figures the same method are used to indicate the same parts.
a, ironing table; b, a pillar fixed thereon; c, a vertical shaft passing through
pillar b, and carrying at its upper end the horizontal arm & rigidly fixed thereto;
d, e, bow spring fixed between and connected to the top of shaft c, and a bracket f
attached to pillar b; g, hand wheel and screw to regulate the pressure of spring e;
h, lever mounted on a fulcrum beneath table a, and connected at j to shaft c,
and at the other end to a treadle k, by pressing on which the iron n may be raised
off the table for arranging the fabric to be ironed; 1, spring catch to prevent the
treadle rising; m, carriage from which the iron is hung by a rod p. The carriage
runs along arm d, and has friction rollers O at either side of and beneath the arm;
bow or crank for turning round the rod p and iron n.
The Invention is applicable to all kinds of box irons of any size, shape, or
material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
January 1878.
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BOX IRONS AND IN MECHANISM FOR APPLYING
PRESSURE THERETO WHEN IN USE." A communication from abroad by Jean
Georges Ruger, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to what are called box irons, which are heated by a
combustible contained within the iron.
The improvements have for their object,―
1st. To so regulate the combustion as to enable the heat of the iron to be varied
at will or maintained at any desired temperature.
2nd. To provide means or apparatus for applying the necessary pressure, so that
the iron merely requires to be moved along and guided, thereby avoiding fatigue
even when ironing the thickest materials. The pressure being applied by a treadle,
as herein-after described, both hands are free to give the desired form to the fabric
being ironed.
The improvements in the iron consist in a rotary valve for regulating the
admission of air to support the combustion, and a movable chimney for the escape
of the gaseous products of combustion, the chimney being adjusted so as to discharge
the gases in the direction least liable to interfere with the operator or to injure the
material. The chimney has the further advantage of being clear of the iron
handle, which is not liable to become heated by its proximity.
The iron is formed of a metal box heated internally by fuel burning upon a grate,
the combustion being governed by regulating the air supply.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shows a side elevation of a box iron, the.
chimney being turned towards this side.
Figure 2 is a plan with the top of the iron removed.
Figure 3 is a rear end elevation with the chimney turned towards the left.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, the chimney being turned backwards.
Figure 5 is a top plan of the iron.
Figure 6, a plan and face view of the door of the ash pan.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
The iron shown is of the kind used by hatmakers, but it will be understood that
the form may be varied, ad libitum.
A, box iron with a polished face a; B, grate for the fuel supported on small
blocks b cast or fixed to A.; C, partition by which the air is conducted beneath the
grate B, the partition separating what I will call an inlet air chamber from the
fuel chamber which can only communicate between the grate bars B, so that
the incoming air for combustion is separated from the outgoing products of
combustion.
The air supply is regulated by the rotary plate or valve E covering the air inlet
openings d, d¹, d, formed in the heel plate D of the iron, the one below and the
others above the level of the fire-grate.
The plate E turns on a centre e, and is adjusted to cover, more or less, the
inlet orifices d, d¹, d¹. G, cover hinged at g to the heel of the iron, and locked at the
front end by a thumb screw g¹.
The chimney H is mounted over an aperture in cover G at the back part, in
which it is secured by the flanged thimble h; J, ash pan; K, handle made of non-
conducting material, mounted to turn between uprights k, k, rivetted or otherwise
connected to cover G; L, Figure 6, cover plate for the opening d, at which the ash
pan is emptied, secured by spring catches 1, 1; M, sheet-iron baffle plate fixed by
screws m to cover G, the burnt gases escaping through ml, m, to the chimney H.
The gases are thus obliged to traverse the whole length of the iron, so as to impart
the maximum amount of heat, the air supply being also distributed equally through-

page_text: out the whole area of the grate surface, thus rendering the combustion uniform at
all points.
In a modified arrangement, the air for supporting combustion is admitted at the
front end of the iron through apertures at either side instead of at the heel below
the chimney, as before, the air orifices being covered by shields on the inside of the
iron. The draft is in this manner improved, while the shields prevent the heat
escaping except at the chimney, so as not to inconvenience the operator.
In order to regulate the heat of the iron, a sliding damper is disposed just
beneath the cover, adjusted by a button working in a slot in said cover, for closing
more or less the outlet to the chimney.
The above modifications are represented in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the
Drawings; Figure 7 is a longitudinal elevation of the iron; Figure 8, a plan with
the cover removed; Figure 9, a rear end view; and Figure 10, a longitudinal
vertical section of same.
Figure 11 shows separate views of the ash pan cover; and Figure 12, a view of
the key for removing said cover.
E.
L
The letters of reference serve for all these Figures.
a, box iron; b, cover hinged at c between ears &; e, handle; f, chimney; g, grate;
h,-shields enclosing the air inlet orifices i, i, and forming passages to conduct the
air down beneath the grate; j, damper for regulating the draft in chimney f,
fitted to slide beneath cover b, and operated by a button k working in a slot lin
the cover b; m, ash pan cover, to which spings n are attached at each end;
o, opening in which key p is inserted for removing cover m.
.
Figure 13 shows a longitudinal elevation; and Figure 14, an end view of the
apparatus for applying pressure to the iron as it appears when in use.
Figure 15 is an elevation of the apparatus, the iron being raised.
In these three Figures the same letters are used to indicate the same parts.
a, ironing table; b, a pillar fixed thereon; c, a vertical shaft passing through
pillar b, and carrying at its upper end a horizontal arm d rigidly fixed thereto;
e, bow spring fixed between the top of the shaft c and a bracket f attached to
pillar b; g, hand wheel and screw to regulate the pressure of spring e; h, lever
hung on a fulcrum i bencath the table a, and connected at j to shaft c, and at the
other end to a treadle, by pressing on which the iron n may be raised off the
table for arranging the fabric to be ironed; l, spring catch to prevent the treadle
rising again; m, carriage from which the iron is hung by a rod p. The carriage runs
along arm d, and has friction rollers o at either side of and beneath the arm; r, bow
or crank for turning round the rod p and iron n.
The Invention is applicable to all kinds of box irons of any size, shape, or
material.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by
the lierein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
1st. The means of regulating the air supply and governing the combustion of
fuel for heating the iron, substantially as sliown and described.
2nd. The combination with a box iron, as described, of the adjustable chimney,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. The mechanism or apparatus constructed and operating, substantially as
shown and described, for applying pressure to the iron while in use, the ironi
being so supported as to be moved freely in any direction without fatigue to the
operator.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)--