IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING BY ELECTRICITY, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Oswald Rose of Manchester in the county of Lancaster
for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING BY ELECTRICITY, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Oswald Rose at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1882.
OSWALD ROSE of Manchester in the county of Lancaster
HEATING BY ELECTRICITY, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
IMPROVEMENTS IN
The objects of my invention are to obtain heat by the use of electricity, and to
apply this heat to various purposes such as warming buildings rooms or carriages
of all descriptions, cooking, evaporating fluids, obtaining steam, and every other
object in which heat is necessary or useful. To carry out these objects I take
a rod or small cylinder of iron or other suitable material of convenient length for
my purpose, and cover it completely with asbestos or other non-conducting sub-
stance. Round this I coil iron or other metallic wire in a spiral coil of suitable
pitch, sufficient to prevent the contact of two adjacent parts of this wire. When
this first coil has been made I lay outside of it four or more or less longitudinal
strips of asbestos or other non-conducting substance, and carry the wire from the
inner coil outside the strips and proceed to lay a second coil in the same manner
over these strips. The strips of asbestos or other substance are of such a size and
thickness as to keep the one coil quite clear of, and free from, the other, In the
same manner I can lay any number of other coils, the one being outside the other,
as may be expedient for the purpose to which I apply the heater. I can also if I
should deem it desirable insert any substance or contrivance in these coils to check,
or set up a resistance to, the current of electricity. When I have laid a sufficient
number of these coils, I insert this apparatus in a tube, which may be closed at
one end, which tube is slightly larger in diameter than the outer coil of wire; and
when it is placed in position in this tube and secured therein by a suitable method,
I hermetically close the tube in any convenient manner so that the heat generated
by the coils of wire inside, may be retained. I can either exhaust the air out of

page_text: .
this tube or not as I may deem expedient. This tube so closed is inserted in
another tube of a slightly larger diameter, and the annular space between the two
tubes is filled with water. Electricity is then applied to the coils of wire inside,
the ends of the wire having been left projecting out when the inner tube was
hermetically closed. The electricity may be generated or applied by the use of
dynamo machines or accumulators or otherwise, and the heat generated by the
coil in the closed tube will be communicated to the water in the annular space.
If I require a very high degree of heat, the water in the annular space will be in
communication with the water in a pipe or series of pipes, closed in all parts, in
which the water can be heated to a very high temperature, without any generation
of steam, under the system commonly known as the high pressure or Perkin's
system. This hot water so heated by electricity may then be used for warming
buildings, rooms, or carriages of all descriptions, cooking, boiling or evaporating
fluids and any other object by means of any usual or convenient appliances: or
I can create steam if I please direct from this heater instead of through the medium
of superheated water, by removing the outer tube and placing the inner closed tube
in direct contact with the water in the boiler.
In modifications of this apparatus, the wire used for developing the heat may be
coiled in sections connected or not together as I may determine, or it may be
fastened or wound longitudinally on the central rod or cylinder instead of trans-
versely. I can also use carbon or any other semi-conductor or bad conductor of
electricity to generate the heat instead of the wire. The carbon or other substance
may be used either in the form of thin plates or washers, or in the form of powder.
I may also place the water to be heated inside of the coil instead of outside. In
this case, a hollow tube would form the central rod or foundation, and the strips
of asbestos or other substance would be laid longitudinally on this tube to keep
the wire from contact therewith, and the wire would be coiled round as before
described, and outside all would be placed a suitable casing of non-conducting
material secured as required to retain the heat inside. I can also use any suitable
regulating apparatus to regulate the amount of electricity allowed to enter this
heater, and thereby the amount of heat developed. I can also so arrange the
shunting or cutting off appliances, when I use a number of these heaters in com-
bination either in series or parallel, that the current can be cut off from one or
more of the heaters or coils without prejudice to the rest. The wires may also be
insulated from the tube or rod, or the end or ends may be connected therewith
so as to complete the circuit through the tube or rod. The carbon or other material
may be treated in the same manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Oswald Rose in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th November
1882.
OSWALD ROSE of Manchester in the county of Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN
HEATING BY ELECTRICITY AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
The objects of my invention are to obtain heat by the use of electricity and to
apply this heat to various purposes such as warming buildings rooms or carriages
of all descriptions cooking evaporating fluids creating steam and every other object
in which heat is necessary or useful. I carry out these objects by utilizing the
heat developed by the passage of a current of electricity through wire or other
substance as is hereinafter explained chiefly through the medium of hot water or
other fluid under the system commonly known as the Perkins or high pressure
system in which the water or other fluid is heated to a high temperature in a pipe
or series of pipes closed in all parts as is hereinafter described.
In order to explain my invention and enable the same to be clearly understood
I refer to the accompanying drawings. In Sheet I I shew various forms of my
electric heater and in Sheet II I shew some of the methods of utilizing the heat
developed in this heater. The letters are the same in all the Figures.
In Sheet I Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of one form of my electric
heater shewing also one method of applying it to an endless tube or pipe.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same.
In this heater I coil the iron or other metallic wire A round a central rod or
small cylinder B which is covered with the asbestos or other nonconducting
substance C. In all the cases hereinafter mentioned in which I require this asbestos
or other nonconducting substance I would state that I find that a mixture of
powdered asbestos and silicate of soda makes a very good material for my purposes
as hereinafter described but that I do not limit myself to this mixture for that any
nonconducting substance may be used. The wire A is coiled round the rod B in a
spiral coil of suitable pitch sufficient to prevent the contact of two adjacent
parts of this wire. If I desire to coil more wire than the length of the central rod
will permit and thereby obtain a greater heat when this first coil has been made
I lay outside of it a suitable number of strips of asbestos or other nonconducting
substance D D and carry the wire from the inner coil outside these strips D and
proceed to make a second coil A¹ in the same manner over these strips. The
strips D are of such dimensions as to keep the one coil quite clear of and free from
the other. In the same manner I can make any number of coils that I may deein
expedient. I then insert this apparatus so made in a tube E which. I prefer to
make closed at one end as shewn and I secure it therein in any convenient manner.
A very suitable method is shewn. Two discs of asbestos or other nonconducting
substance F F are secured on the ends of the rod or cylinder B which discs exactly
fit the interior of the tube E and prevent the escape of the heat generated inside
the said tube by the coils of wire A A. The ends of the wire A are passed
through the outer disc F to be connected to the wires from the electric generator
or accumulator. The tube E is then secured in another tube G of a slightly larger
diameter and the annular space between these two tubes is filled with water or
other fluid which absorbs the heat generated inside the inner tube E. The
annular space aforesaid is in communication with the space inside a pipe or series
of pipes which are also filled with water or other fluid. One method of effecting
this is shewn in Figure 1 where the water in the annular space is in communication
with the water in an endless pipe. In this case an expansion or air chamber H is

page_text: formed in connection with the highest part of the circulating endless pipe I into
which the water can rise as it expands under the influence of heat. The water
then is poured into the endless pipe I and the annular space aforesaid and the pipe
is tightly closed in all parts leaving the air space H as aforesaid. Electricity is
then applied to the coils of wire inside and the heat generated thereby is
communicated to the water or other fluid which circulates through the endless pipe.
As the water expands under the influence of the heat it compresses the air in the
air chamber. I can also use a pipe which is closed at both its ends as is hereinafter
explained.
In Figure 7 I shew another method of coiling the wire. In this method I do
not coil the wire A round and round the rod B but coil it backwards and forwards
transversely on the same as shewn. The central rod or cylinder B has strips of
asbestos D laid on it for the purpose of keeping the wire A free from contact with
the said rod or cylinder.
In Figure 8 I coil the wire longitudinally backwards and forwards on the rod or
cylinder B the wire being kept from contact therewith by the annular discs or
rings of asbestos K K. In both these cases other series or coils of wire may be
laid outside these inner series or coils in the manner hereinbefore mentioned namely
laying strips of asbestos over the inner series or coils at right angles or thereabouts
thereto and placing the outer series or coils on these strips.
Figure 5 is an elevation of an electric heater in which carbon or other semi.
conductor of electricity is used instead of wire.
Figure 6 is a cross section of the same.
Round the central rod B is formed the frame L of any refractory insulating
material in cross section of a star shape in the compartments of which are placed
the plates or peices of carbon M M. The end of one of the piles of carbon is
connected to the terminal of the heater and the current of electricity flows through
the peices of carbon forming one pile and at the other end is conducted by a long
peice M' of carbon or other conductor to the end carbon of the next adjoining pile
and so on until the said current has traversed all the piles in the heater. Instead
of using the frame L the piles may be separated by independent rods of
nonconducting substance such for instance as strips of slate. I may also use
annular discs or rings of carbon and dispense entirely with the frame L and connect
the end disc or ring with the central rod B so that the circuit may be completed
through the said rod. Rods or filaments of carbon may also be used instead of
plates and the current sent through them in turn one after the other. Powdered
carbon can also be used the frame in this case being made to hold securely the
same. Instead of carbon I can also use a mixture of carbon and semiconductors
or nonconductors such as a mixture of carbon and sulphur or carbon and plaster of
Paris.
These heaters are all inserted in tubes after the manner hereinbefore described
and shewn in Figure 1 and if I should deem it expedient I can exhaust or partly
exhaust the air out of the tube E so as to create a vacuum or a partial vacuum
therein or I can fill the said tube E with a neutral gas such as nitrogen.
A modification of this heater is shewn in Figures 3 and 4. According to this
modification I use a hollow tube to form the central rod or cylinder hereinbefore
described in which tube is contained the water or other fluid to be heated. This
tube may be part of the tubes or pipes which form the heating apparatus.
Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section of the heater constructed in this
manner.
Figure 4 is a cross section of the same.
On the hollow tube N I lay a convenient number of strips of asbestos D and
coil the wire A round these strips as hereinbefore described in regard to Figure 1.
When a sufficient length of the tube N has been covered with the coil of wire and
a sufficient number of coils have been made in manner aforesaid I place and secure
over the wire any suitable casing of nonconducting material to retain the heat
inside. A convenient method of effecting this is shewn, Two rings or peices of

page_text: asbestos or other nonconducting. substance 00 are placed round the tube N outside
of the wire and are secured in position by two peices of metal P P semicircular in
sectional shape connected together by bolts through their flanges and outside the
metal is secured the nonconducting material R necessary to retain the heat inside.
The ends of the wire A are passed through one of the rings O. I can also coil the
wire as shewn in Figures 7 and 8 on a central tube instead of a rod in the same
mauner. I can also place the carbon or other semiconductor as shewn in Figures
5 and 6 round a tube instead of a rod. These are all covered by casings as herein-
before described and the space inside the casing can also be made a vacuum or a
partial vacuum or filled with a neutral gas as I may determine.
In all these methods as herein before described of. making my electric heater I
can coil the wires or form the carbon in sections connected or not together as I
may deem expedient and instead of a single straight wire or wires I may use a
spiral coil or coils of wire and coil the spiral coil round or on the central rod or
tube as hereinbefore described and shewn. The coils of wire or piles of carbon may
also be so arranged that they may be electrically connected together either in series
or in series multiple or in multiple. This combination affords facilities for adapting
one form of heater to work with varying strengths and intensities of current.
The wire or wirès or carbon may either be insulated from the central rod or tube
as shewn in the drawing or the end or ends or end peices thereof may be connected
to the central rod or tube so as to complete the circuit through the same. If I
deem it desirable I can also insert any substance or contrivance in the coils of
wire to check or set up a resistance to the current of electricity. Any suitable
regulating apparatus may be used to regulate the amount of electricity allowed to
pass through the heater and thereby the amount of heat developed. I can also so
arrange the shunting or cutting off appliances when I use a number of these
heaters in combination that the current of electricity may be cut off from one or
more of the heaters or coils or sections of coils without prejudice to the rest. The
electricity may be generated or applied by the use of dynamo machines or
accumulators or otherwise.
I will now proceed to shew some methods in addition to that shewn in Figure 1
of utilizing the heat developed in my electric heaters as hereinbefore described.
In Sheet II Figure 9 is an elevation of a domestic oven fitted with my heater.
Figure 10 is a horizontal section of the same.
The heater X is placed in the lower part of the oven which is duly enclosed
by some nonconducting material. The annular space herein before described
surrounding the heater X is in communication with the horizontal endless pipe S
to which are attached a series of vertical pipes T T placed round the back and
sides of the oven. The whole series of pipes are partly filled with water or other
fluid and closed in all parts leaving an air space at the upper end of each of the
pipes T. Electricity is then applied to the heater and the heat required is developed
in the oven.
Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal section of a large oven as arranged for large
bakeries or for military and other purposes. Figure 12 is a cross vertical section
of the same
A number of pipes VV with two ends are placed in an inclined position in the
upper and lower parts of the oven and in the drawing round the lower ends of
these pipes are placed my heaters X X constructed as hereinbefore described and
shewn in Figure 3 but I can also insert the heaters inside the ends of the pipes V
if I so prefer. Each of the pipes V is partly filled with water or other fluid and
then tightly closed in all parts leaving an air space in the upper end of the said
pipe into which the water can expand under the influence of heat compressing the
air therein and by this heat the oven is duly heated.
Figure 13 is a vertical section of heating stove for railway stations public
buildings rooms ships and general purposes. Figure 14 is a casing for the same.
The annular space hereinbefore described surrounding the heater X is in com-
munication with an endless pipe coiled inside the casing as required and which has

page_text: an expansion or air chamber fitted thereto at its highest level. The pipe is filled
with water and tightly closed in all parts and on heat being developed by the
heater the water rises and circulates through the pipe compressing the air in the
expansion chamber.
Figure 15 is a vertical section of an urn for heating or boiling water coffee tea
or the like.
The heater X in its closed tube is placed in the lower part of the urn and water
is poured therein until the heater is covered. When electricity is applied the heat
developed is absorbed by the water or other fluid.
Figure 16 shews an arrangement by which large spaces can be heated by one
circulating pipe and the water therein maintained at a high temperature not-.
withstanding the length of piping it has to pass through. X is the main heater
and X1 X2 are other heaters placed round the pipe at suitable intervals after the
manner shewn in Figure 3 to assist in maintaining the heat in and promoting the
circulation of the water or other fluid contained in the endless pipe.
Figure 17 shews a suitable apparatus for railway carriages in which the annular
space round the heater X is in communication with a double circulating pipe. The
heater is placed borizontally and has an air chamber on its upper side and the
water rising on each side in the said annular space flows out right and left through
pipes which return it again to the lower part of the space.
Figure 18 shews an arrangement for heating calendar embossing and other rolls.
It would also be applicable in the manufacture of paper printing and in various
processes in the manufacture of cotton. The roll is made hollow and the two ends
thereof are closed by asbestos or other nonconducting substance and the wire or
wires may be coiled round or on a central rod in the roll in manner as herein before
described or a small pipe may be placed inside the roll the water in which is
heated by one of my heaters as herein before described. The heat thereby generated
would heat the surface of the roll as is required.
I have thus shewn some of the adaptations of my heating apparatus but I would
have it clearly understood that I do not limit myself to these objects as herein-
before shewn but that I may utilize the heat developed in my heater for any
purpose or object that may be convenient or desirable. For instance if I use it to
create steam or evaporate fluids in a boiler I should insert a sufficient number of
my heaters in the tubes of the boiler using these tubes in place of the tube E
herein before described and close the two ends of these tubes with asbestos so that
all the heat generated therein may pass direct to the water or other fluid and
evaporate the same. It is obvious also that I do not limit myself to the particular
shapes or sizes or proportions of the various parts of my heating apparatus as
shewn, and that I do not consider that the shapes or sizes or proportions of my
different apparatus as shewn are of the essence of my invention but I may make
the heater and the tube or casing in which it is enclosed and the heating apparatus
which contains the water or other fluid of such sizes and shapes and proportions as
may be necessary or expedient for carrying out the object for which each particular
apparatus is formed.
Having thus particularly described and clearly explained my invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed and used I claim as my invention which
is secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent
1. The electric heater consisting of a wire or wires or a spiral coil or coils of
wire coiled or placed round or on a central rod or cylinder and enclosed in a
tube to which wire electricity is applied substantially as hereinbefore described and
declared and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. The electric heater consisting of carbon or other semi conductor of electricity
placed round a central rod and enclosed in a tube to which carbon or other semi-
conductor electricity is applied substantially as hereinbefore described and declared
and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
3. The electric heater consisting of a wire or wires or a spiral coil or coils of wire
coiled or placed round or on a central tube or pipe containing water or other fluid

page_text: the said wire being enclosed in a casing to which wire electricity is applied
substantially as hereinbefore described and declared and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
4. The electric heater consisting of carbon or other semiconductor of electricity
placed round a central tube or pipe containing water or other fluid the said carbon
or other semiconductor being enclosed in a casing to which carbon or other
semiconductor electricity is applied substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The heating apparatus consisting of the combination of the electric heater as
herein before described and claimed and an endless tube or pipe closed in all parts
and filled with water or other fluid and fitted with an expansion or air chamber
substantially as hereinbefore described and declared and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
6. The heating apparatus consisting of the combination of the electric heater as
herein before described and claimed and a tube or pipe with two ends closed in all
parts and partly filled with water or other, fluid substantially as hereinbefore
described and declared and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Oswald Rose have hereunto set my hand
and seal this thirtieth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.