Improvements in or relating to Hand Irons employed for Laundry and other purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1898- Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
PROVIDIUNAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Hand Irons employed for Laundry
and other purposes.
I, JAMES WILLIAM BLAKEY, of 1, Wrangthorne Terrace, Hyde Park, Leeds,
in the County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in hand irons which are heated by say
carburetted hydrogen and are used say for laundry and other purposes.
The object of this invention is to produce a cheap, effective, and easily. used
gas heated hand iron in which the amount of gas used for heating purposes
may be controlled by the user, that is to say, when the iron is at rest less gas is
used for heating purposes than when the iron is in use.
According to this invention the hand iron may be made in the following
number of parts, namely;-an outer shell in the usual shape of the ordinary box
or sad iron, a gas chamber, a washer or layer of asbestos, or other non-conduct-
ing material, and a top or cover for the shell armed with a handle and a swivel
gas supply pipe in which is arranged the gas controlling mechanism.
The outer shell may be made of metal and suitably glazed on its bottom surface
to form the face for ironing purposes. In its rear end,-which may be lower
than its side walls, as well as along a portion of its sides are provided one or
more apertures or openings, of any suitable size and shape-say two in the end
and one in each side wall-respectively for the admission of air and the exit of
the products of combustion. Should more air be required in the combustion
chambers, than is obtainable through the end of the iron, then any desired number
of small holes may be perforated through the side walls of the outer shell.
Within the shell is placed the gas chamber which consists of a longitudinal and
rectangular trough of or about the full internal length of the iron and about the
same depth but much narrower in width. The gas trough is provided with a
bottom, which may or may not rest upon the inner surface of the bottom of the
shell. The gas chamber is provided with projecting flanges on each side of the
trough which are shaped to fit the interior of the outer shell. The top of these
flanges may be arranged about level with the lower edge of the apertures or
openings in the side walls of the outer shell. Perforations of the same or varying
sizes are also provided in the side flanges. An end flange is also provided on the
gas chamber to make it the same depth as the side walls of the outer shell. The
trough forming the gas chamber may be perforated on each side thereof, and its
bottom also, if so desired, to permit of the gas passing into the combustion
chambers, formed and provided on each side of the gas trough for ignition and
heating purposes.
Above the gas chamber is laid a washer or layer of asbestos or other non-con-
lucting material of any suitable thickness and shape to fit the outer contour of
the outer shell, and which forms the lid for the gas chamber as well as preventing
the heat being conducted to the handle of the iron. Near the front or pointed

page_text: end of the iron a hole is provided in the said washer for the admission of gas to
its chamber.
The lid or cover, the upper surface of which may be glazed or burnished,-is
provided with a downwardly projecting flange made to enclose the outer walls
of the outer shell, but preferably not its end.
On the under side of the lid or cover-which is screwed or otherwise fixed to
the outer shell is provided for a portion of its length, say extending from near
its front or pointed end, a longitudinal recess of suitable depth and width, which,
as it approaches the rear end of the iron, is bifurcated to form two separate air
passages which communicate with the rear of the iron.
The longitudinal passage is for conveying the gas and air to the hole in the
asbestos or other packing.
The handle is mounted in a longitudinal direction over the lid and is carried
by suitable supports screwed or otherwise fixed to the top of the lid.
Under the handle, but suitably attached to the top of the lid, is mounted a
swivelling gas pipe connection provided with a semi-circular or other shaped
recess. The said recess communicates at its upper end with a gas pipe of any
suitable length to which a flexible pipe may be attached for connecting it to the
gas supply whilst the lower portion of the recess is in communication with one
or more holes bored or otherwise formed in the lid at a suitable angle thereto,―
but leading directly into the longitudinal recess therein which conveys the gas
to the gas chamber.
In the swivelling gas pipe connection is provided a vertical spindle arranged to
form a valve for controlling the supply of gas to its chamber according to the
work to be performed; that is to say to admit more gas to the said chamber when
the iron is at work than when it is at rest. The vertical spindle may be connected
to a spring or other lever arrangement attached to the underside of the handle in
order that whenever the iron is raised from its stand the said spindle may be
raised for admitting a larger supply of gas to the chamber.
رو
When the invention is applied to, say, a large tailor's " goose" it may be
mounted upon one or more swivelling or jointed arm or arms to which pressure
may be imparted by a treadle or other suitable means.
Dad 41 1 December 1907
Improvements in or relating to Hand Irons employed for Laundry
and other purposes.
I, JAMES WILLIAM BLAKEY, formerly of 1, Wrangthorne Terrace, Hyde Park,
Leeds, but now of 2, Saint Michael's Road, Bradford, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in hand irons which are heated by say,
carburetted hydrogen and are used for laundry and other purposes.
The object of this invention is to produce a cheap, effective, and easily used
gas heated hand iron in which the amount of gas used for heating purposes
may if desired, be controlled by the user, that is to say, when the iron is at rest
less gas may be used for heating purposes than when the iron is in use.
According to this invention the hand iron may be made in the following
number of parts, namely:—an outer shell in the usual shape of the ordinary box

page_text: or sad iron, a gas chamber, a washer or layer of asbestos, or other non-conduct-
ing material, and a top or cover for the shell armed with a handle and a swivel
gas supply pipe in which may, or may not, be arranged the gas controlling
mechanism.
In the drawings hereunto annexed:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hand iron constructed according to this inven-
tion drawn to a smaller scale than the remainder of the views.
Fig. 2 a plan looking at the top of a hand iron constructed according to this
invention.
Fig. 3 an end elevation.
Fig. 4 a transverse section on line Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 a part longitudinal section on line ww Fig. 2.
Fig. 6a plan looking at the top with the handle, top or cover, and non-con-
ducting washer removed.
Like parts in all the views are marked with similar letters of reference.
A is the outer shell in the usual shape of the ordinary box or sad iron. It
may be made or cast in one or more portions.
In the drawings I have shown it made in two portions, that is to say, a bottom
or base plate A¹ hereafter termed the base plate, and the walls or shell portions A,
as I find by experiment, that not only are better castings produced, but also
better results are obtained than when made in one piece. The said portions may
be suitably fixed together say, by rivets or screws, one or both. The outer shell A
and the base plate A¹ are made of metal, and suitably glazed on its bottom and
sides to form a face for ironing purposes.
In the rear end of the outer shell A is formed an inverted T shaped recess a.
A recess a¹ is also formed at the top of each wall of the outer shell A as hereafter
described. A series of vertical openings A2 formed between and by the bridge
pieces a² which also act as heat conductors are also provided. Into the lower
portion of the T shaped recess a is placed the projecting flange a³ of the base
plate A¹.
The projecting flange a³ is carried to about the top of the gas chamber B
to be hereafter described. The flange a also aids in retaining the gas chamber in
position, as well as in directing the air into the combustion chambers C C arranged
on each side of the gas chamber B.
The series of bridge pieces a² commence at a suitable distance from the rear
end, and are continued to within a suitable distance of the front or pointed end
of the iron.
The walls of the outer shell A which are closed at the top are not carried as
high as the front or pointed end A* of the iron, and at the rear end projections a
are provided in order to fix the top or cover E and non-conducting washer D
thereto level with the end A, as well as to provide for the free admission of air
through the apertures a¹ to the combustion chambers C, C.
Air is also admitted to the combustion chamber C, C, through any desired
number of transverse openings or apertures say for example four on each
side, from partly in the base plate A' and partly in the side walls of the outer
shell A.
Within the shell is placed the gas chamber B which consists of a longitudinal
and rectangular trough or tube let into a recess extending a portion of the length
of the base plate A' as shown at Fig. 5 and about the same depth as the flange a³
but much narrower in width.
The gas trough B is provided with a bottom, which rests upon the inner surface
of the bottom of the base plate A¹ as described as well as with an end piece at its
rear end. The front end is provided with a projection b which fits into the
horizontal portion of the passage A³ in the front portion A³ of the outer shell.
A flange b is also provided on the gas chamber at this end to enable a gas tight
joint to be made. The gas chamber is provided with a projecting flange on each
side of the trough or tube at the rear end which are shaped to fit the interior of
the outer shell. The top of these flanges may be arranged about level with the

page_text: lower edge of the apertures or openings in the side walls of the outer shell. Per-
forations of same or varying sizes may also be provided, if desired, in the side
flanges. The trough or tube forming the gas chamber may be perforated as at b³
on each side thereof, and its bottom also when it does not rest upon the base
plate A¹, if so desired, to permit of the gas passing into the combustion
chamber C, C, formed and provided on each side of the gas chamber B for ignition
and heating purposes.
Above the gas chamber is laid a washer or layer 1) of asbestos or other non-
conducting material of any suitable thickness and shape to fit the outer contour
of the outer shell, for preventing the heat being conducted to the handle F of the
iron. Near the front or pointed end A* of the iron a hole d is provided in the
said washer D for the admission of gas to the vertical portion of the L shaped
passage A3 in the outer shell A, and from thence to the gas chamber B. By the
above described means a very efficient atmospheric gas chamber and burner is
produced. The lid or cover E, the upper surface of which may be glazed or
burnished, is provided with a downwardly projecting flange e made to enclose the
washer D. The cover or lid E is screwed as at e' or otherwise to the outer sheet A
as shown at Fig. 5.
Within the lid or cover E is provided for the greater portion of its length, say
extending from near its front or pointed end A* a longitudinal recess E¹ of suitable
depth and width, which, as it approaches the rear end of the iron may either be
bifurcated to form two separate air passages which communicate with the rear of
the iron, or it may communicate with a single air passage E2 formed in the top
of the lid or cover E as shown at Fig. 5. The longitudinal passage E¹ is for
conveying the gas and air to the hole d in the asbestos or other packing. D and
from thence to passage A³ and gas chamber B as described.
The handle F is mounted in a longitudinal direction over the lid and is carried
by suitable supports F1 F1, cast screwed or otherwise fixed to the top of the lid E.
Below the level of the handle F, but suitably attached to the top of the lid is
mounted a swivelling gas pipe G connection provided with a semi-circular or
other shaped recess at or near its top. The said recess communicates at its
upper end with a gas pipe g of any suitable length to which a flexible pipe not
shown in the drawings may be attached for connecting it to the gas supply; whilst
the lower portion of the recess is in communication with one or more holes g² bored
or otherwise formed in the lid at a suitable angle thereto,-but leading directly
into the longitudinal recess E¹ therein which conveys the gas to the gas chamber.
When required in the swivelling gas pipe connection may also be provided a
vertical spindal arranged to form a valve for controlling the supply of gas to its
chamber according to the work to be performed, that is to say to admit more gas
to the said chamber when the iron is at work than when it is at rest. The vertical
spindle may be connected to a spring or other lever arrangement attached to the
underside of the handle in order that whenever the iron is raised from its stand
the said spindle may be raised for admitting a larger supply of gas to the chamber.
When the invention is applied to, say, a larger tailor's
33
goose it may be
mounted upon one or more swivelling or jointed arm or arms to which pressure
may be imparted by a treadle or other suitable means.
6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and how the same is carried into practice, I would have it understood
that I am aware previous to the date of this application hand irons heated with
atmospheric burners and provided with air inlet holes and space left on each side
of the burner have been used, and I make no claim to such except when formed
and arranged in the manner hereinbefore described, and what I claim is :-
1. A hand iron constructed substantially as herein described comprising essen-
tially an outer shell formed in one or more portions having a number of vertical
and horizontal passages for the admission of air to the combustion chamber
extending nearly the whole length of the iron and provided with perforations in

page_text: its sides, a washer of non-conducting material let into a recess in the lid or cover
said lid or cover being fixed to the outer shell, and provided with a longitudinal
recess which is in communication respectively with the gas chamber, by a passage
in the outer shell, the outer air, and the gas supply which gas supply is conveyed
to the mixing chamber by a swivelling connection all arranged and combined
substantially as described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a hand iron substantially as herein described the combination of a swivel-
ling gas supply connection with the chamber in which the air and gas is mixed
said swivelling connection being fixed to the lid or other portion of the iron sub-
stantially as herein set forth and illustrated.
Dated this Fifth day of September 1898.
JAMES WILLIAM BLAKEY.